Ginazzz

Gadget Lady.... PALEEZE put your paranoia to rest when it comes to JBoy! LOL!!! <Sorry...not laughing at you OR him. See, I have known him for years! He's BIG teddy bear!!!!! He would NEVER waste his time or energy in seeking you or ANYONE out! "Vindictive" is NOT a word that would describe him. Please DO NOT argue back, (as it seems that is the purpose of this thread!)...just wanted you do know you can sleep peacefully...he's a VERY busy man & I can guarantee you you are safe! Ay Vey! JBoy!!! I thought you only scared our clients!!!LOL!!!! Good job!!!!

Hi Everyone! It's been awhile since I have posted...but in a quick response and update, I have a few things to say....I was banded on July 5th, 2005 in Mexico!! The BEST thing I could have EVER done for myself...after losing 68 pounds I just returned 2 weeks ago to get a minor unfill as I am at my first GOAL weight!!!! I think I can lose another 10 pounds, but hope to have most of that covered in a tummy tuck and will wait until that is done before I decide if I need to lose any more weight. I went from pushing a size 18 to a size 4 and Levi's, (cant' believe..Me? in levi's??), in a size 2. Never never never did I think this would work for me...and afterall why would it? I tried diet after diet and never achieved close to the results that I have now. Nor did my face ever look as healthy as it does now. I couldn't do it without my doctor...I feel completely loyal and indebted to him as he has given me a new life...a new and unbelieveable experience with my children. Only he has done my fills and aftercare and I fly to San Diego every time...his driver picks me up and to the clinic for my adjustment. He calls me less frequently now..as he knows I am doing well...his office emails me to check my progress. I am telling you whole-heartedly, that my success is owed to Dr. Huacuz. Could another doctor have treated me with the dignity, respect and genuine care that Dr. Huacuz did? I'm sure...but I had Dr. Huacuz. My brother is planning on going to him...if my daughter decides to do this someday..I will ONLY support her doing this with Dr. Huacuz. A lthough..I'm sure there are other great surgeons...I'm just saying, Dr. Huacuz is my choice...and you can make up your mind on who is yours. So don't jump on me for having success with someone that is sadly being villified...how terrible sad if in fact that is the case. I have referred friends here in Vegas to him and they are happy!!!! All I can say is how happy I am that they didn't read these postings and change their mind...how terrible it would have been..they are happy people who are NOW living life. I was digitizing old pictures and came across a few pictures from just a year ago...I ever expected to see them and feel the way I did. I was terribly sad. It bothered me for days...I was sad for the person that I was seeing. She was unhappy, not agile, insecure and extremely self-conscious about what she was wearing...I could never find an outfit that made my body look 70 pounds lighter! It was awful. I grieved her and said goodbye...I am a new, happy, active person with a new life & if anything if some of you are there then you know the feeling. Those of you that are not...I TRULY hope with all my heart that you will be there one day. Best wishes, Gina.....FYI...I will be having DR. HUACUZ do my tummy tuck in a few months as soon as I can get the time off of work! I can't wait!

Missy! Knew you'd be fine! Congrats on your new life. Gina

Wow Fran!!......Banded & Happy, No, I am not a liar...definitely NOT a patient coordinator...I work in the legal field and work over 60 hrs a week for a company in Las Vegas. I hardly have time to write and keep up with this board or much else. I must say my personal time is VERY limited and NOT for sale at ANY price nor do I have the need to make any extra money. Here's what I know, that for obvious reasons, (the time involved in writing this!), I have not posted, nor did I want to embarrass anyone or sound like I am insensitive about what happened to Fran, before I do, I need to say that I am VERY sorry that Fran went through what she did and as such communicated that to her. I additionally expressed to her how worried I was and how I had her in my prayers for a quick recovery. It was very genuine and still is. In June when I had decided to get banded I met Cheryl. Cheryl was to go do TJ and get banded on the same day with me although she was doing it at The Molding Clinic & I at Huacuz Surgical Center. We spoke many times and I can tell you that I continue to speak to her on a regular basis, many times a week and she has become a dear treasured friend of mine. Through the planning stage prior to the surgery, she shared with me that she had met Fran and Caroline and that they too were going to get the surgery on the same day although, at the Molding Clinic, (MC). Cheryl was quite regretful that she wasn’t able to get into Huacuz Surgical Center and that was a total mishap due to telephone tags that she & Dr. Romero had. We hoped that we were going to stay in the same hotel so that we could meet up and be together. At least, that was the plan. There were some problems with her flight and it was cancelled. she called me the morning of. I was leaving and said that she’d be there later and to not worry if I didn’t see her at the airport…. she said that Fran should have already gotten there and to please check on her…that she was going by herself and we should look out for each other. No problem! Off I went to Huacuz Surgical Center. I had my surgery and btw, EVERYTHING was perfect…including the anti-nausea medication that Dr. Huacuz administers in his center, which btw, at $150/per dose, Molding Clinic refuses to give it to their patients. I had the dose every 4 hours for the first day. I never felt nauseous or felt the urge to vomit, not AT ALL. The day following my surgery I knew that Cheryl, Fran & Caroline had already went through the surgery. When Dr. Huacuz came to see me I asked how they were doing. EVERY ONE of them…I asked about Cheryl, Caroline, & Fran. He said that Cheryl was to be banded later that evening and that Fran & Caroline were resting and he was on his way to go see them…. I know that Fran & Cheryl talked quite a bit prior and Cheryl was worried about her being there by herself and being that I spoke Spanish, Cheryl wanted to make sure that we all band together and have the safety of knowing that one of us would have no problem communicating with the staff. I don’t know if Fran recalls that, I do & I was happy to do so for my new friend, Cheryl and any of her friends. Well, another day passed and Dr. Huacuz said that Fran & Cheryl were now at the hotel, a different one that the one I was at. Andres would not allow MC’s patients to be at the same hotel where Huacuz Surgical Center patients were staying. They were at The Emporium. He was quite upset about this and I was too. It seemed unfair that they kept us separated. I talked about it again with Dr. Romero & Dr. Huacuz and they BOTH told me how not even them being Doctors could be alone with MC’s patients…they were both visibly bothered by this and I detected that there was some discontent with MC and the administration thereof. I contemplated taking a taxi to The Emporium to make sure that they were okay and to this day I REGRET that I did not!!!!!!!!! I can’t tell you how much I beat myself up over that!!!! I know I could have done something, what exactly I don’t know. But I wish I had been there for them. I left Mexico w’/n an hour of that last meeting with Dr. Huacuz & Dr. Romero. 2 days later Cheryl got home…. I talked to her within minutes of getting home and heard the great concern in her voice for Fran. She also told me about how viciously nauseated she was following her surgery and even when she was in the hotel…. she told me how ANGRY Dr. Huacuz was when she had to go back to the hospital and he found out that MC NEVER administered the anti-nausea medication that he had ordered!!!!! Notoriously known for cutting costs where they could! She said that Fran was the same way and was extremely nauseated and lost touch with each other in the hotel. We were BOTH worried and Cheryl was trying to call her for days and could not get in touch with her…no answer on her cell or at home. Fran, maybe you should know that Cheryl & I talked for days, many times a day and were VERY concerned about your well being. I myself, made many calls to Dr. Romero to see if he had any updates about you. All we knew through Melissa was that you may have needed to stay back & get your band removed. I placed another call to Dr. Romero and he talked to Dr. Huacuz….Dr. Huacuz informed us that MC released you to return to U.S.!!!! That’s a whole other story. Just keep in mind that Dr’s do not have the same power in Mexico, as they do here. All the more reason why in Mexico, I would ONLY deal directly with a Dr. and not some patient coordinator or clinic that employs a variety of doctors. Anyhow, Cheryl continued trying to get a hold of Fran until she received an email from Fran letting her know that her son had found a dr in Florida and was taking her to see him in a couple days. She let Cheryl know that she continued to be ill and nauseated. We both knew that was not good and were anxiously waiting to see how her appointment went with the Dr.. She sent an email saying that she had to have surgery to remove the band. Fran communicated to Cheryl after her 2nd surgery, now with Dr. Grossbard that her stomach was punctured and that the band that had been inserted by Dr. Huacuz was a discontinued band from 2 years ago and that it had to come out! Boy!!!!! Cheryl was on the phone with me immediately and I was on the phone with Grace, (another prior Huacuz patient), immediately and we were all SCARED and worried. Worried about Fran and scared that we had a “discontinued” Inamed band inside of us as well!!! Fran was so upset that she vowed to Cheryl that she wanted to shut down Dr. Huacuz, the Molding Clinic and that she was going to go to 20/20, Primetime and everyone she could so that they could never practice again. Let me just say that we ALL could hardly sleep that night…We ALL wondered how do we tell our husbands, who were apprehensive anyways, that we had received a “discontinued” band that potentially may have problems! On 7/17/05, I called Fran and wanted to hear it from her….my call went to her voicemail and I left a very (I thought), heartfelt message. The following day, 7/18/05, I emailed Inamed inquiring about Dr. Huacuz. Don Mills sent me an email asking me to call him. I did, and he asked me WHY I was inquiring….I told him what we had heard….He LAUGHED! Have you guys talked to him????? He’s a very mellow, quiet man that is quite intelligent and mild mannered!!!! He laughed and said that it was not possible, since there was NEVER a “discontinued” band. He said Inamed made some design changes, but they were never mandated to do them and that he was “SURE” that we did not have “discontinued” bands. His exact words were, “It is not ‘highly’ unlikely, it is ‘just not possible…and ‘NOT’ likely, AT ALL.” He went on to further explain why and I don’t want to drag on about that here but if you want to know email me ginazzz@cox.net . He also said that Dr. Grossbard & Fran had called and that they were trying to raise ‘ruckus’ about Dr. Huacuz and that they don’t understand that Dr.’s are humans and that there is ALWAYS a possibility of problems happening during ANY medical procedure and that he has heard complaints on most, if not all doctors and that the best way to avoid ANYTHING from going wrong during a surgery, is to “NOT do it”. He also said to keep in mind that there is a POSSIBILITY of your body rejecting the band. He ALSO told me, “Dr. Huacuz is a fine doctor. You have nothing to worry about.” So now I’m being told that I am a liar????? He told me this! For him to turn to other people and say that he is NOT a “fine doctor”, well then I have to say, what IS true from this man. After this conversation I felt a lot better about the band that I had received….I called Grace, who was physically ill over thinking she was duped and feared never having the money to correct this, and I called Cheryl. I let them both know of my conversation with Don. It was a great relief for us and everything has been fine with us…all are losing pounds consistently and we have all received our first fill. Grace & I have both traveled to have Dr. Huacuz do it. While Cheryl tried to get to him, it was not cost effective for her to do so. After I called Grace and Cheryl, I called Fran again. On July 18, 2005, she answered and she was able to talk for a bit as she was back at work that day. She never said that her stomach had been punctured or that we had received “discontinued” bands. What she did say was that Dr. Grossbard felt that the band could have had better placement. Now, we all know that had Fran had Dr. Smith from Any town, USA do her band, Dr. Grossbard would NEVER had made that statement…Never. The fact that Dr. Huacuz is in Mexico makes him wide open to any criticism from anyone because these people think he will never sue. I continued to sincerely wish Fran the best and that was it. We hung up the phone. No need to argue with the poor woman after all she went through…I really just wanted to wish her well. Period. I just found it odd that there was no more mention about the “discontinued” band after I told her that I talked to Inamed. I have not seen her post that anywhere and that is interesting to me. A couple weeks later Fran had a conversation with Cheryl and told her that “Dr. Grossbard had taken her case to Dr. Ortiz and that Dr. Ortiz felt so bad for what she went through that he was going to perform the surgery for her, free of charge. However she needed to wait for her body to heal for at least 3 months.” Further, Dr. Grossbard is scheduled for a fill in September, and thought that she could come along then. She was ecstatic about this since Ortiz is one of the best, (& most expensive). We were happy for her as well. Now she’s denying she EVER had that arranged or that she EVER said that??????!!!!! I also happened to be reading Ortiz’s book, whereby he mentioned and credited Dr. Grossbard as his patient and as his colleague, and associate. PEOPLE! Wake up! Read Urodoc’s post!!!!! Dr. Huacuz is a well-respected doctor in Mexico and is considered competition. Possibly I am wrong, I’ll never know. I don’t care….If she says that she is getting banded by Ortiz for free and now she says she’s not…I don’t know what to believe, really. I am REALLY sorry for what happened to her and I spent many hours worrying about her well-being….I just don’t know what to believe and somehow this is the ONLY explanation I have. I feel a little bit duped here. I am a nurturing and sensitive person which is why I offered to be there next to her & Cheryl to try and help in any way I could. In fact, I have offered other people people on this site. I would do it for anyone of you, because I am a human, I care about humanity…and frankly just care that we have this surgery and CHANGE our lives. Knowing that every pound that comes off will NEVER return is an incredible feeling that I hope you all feel if you’re not already. It’s quite empowering. You can chose to believe me or not...I & those that I know & talk to on a daily basis know that I am a person of integrity, morals & truth and in the end, that's what matters. Not emails that you may want to send me, trashing me, accusing me or judging me when you do not know me, such as Shirley. I think I stayed quiet enough….don’t think I’ll have anything more to say on this board. Ignorance can be bliss, but truth is heaven.

Gitana.... I would trust Brad Pitt with my life!!!! LOL!!!!!

Sorry I didn't respond to this any sooner....I am a very busy person.... I most certainly had surgery same day as Fran.... what's your point??? Why do you care? Or challenge me? Diane, Cheryl, her & I....Who cares????? I talked to her days after her surgery, (corrective), who cares?????? I called her...I have her phone number, who cares??????....I kept track of her through one of the other women who went down for the surgery....so what???!!!! Shirley, what's your issue and why are you compelled to prove some point? I happen to ALSO know that Fran is getting a band for free from Dr. Ortiz in September...organized by Dr. Ortiz's close associate and patient, Dr. Grossberg, her doctor here in the US. In case you didn't know, Dr. Huacuz is a competitor of Dr. Ortiz. Perhaps Dr. Ortiz's book should be read....he writes about puncturing stomachs, and esophagaus', complications from the Lap Band surgery and how that happens and how that is not indicative of a substandard doctor...it just happens sometimes. Let's EDUCATE ourselves. Sorry Fran, didn't know if you already told the group about your arrangement with Dr. Ortiz. Gina

Missy....you can also contact me for any further information. I can tell you that I am SO happy and while I was scared initially I am so happy that I did this. I just had my first fill on Saturday, by Dr. Huacuz himself. He was perfect! I felt no pain and have perfect restriction. I trust him completely in his ability as a surgeon. Ginazzz@cox.net

Wow! What the heck is going on Shirley!!!! You are grossly misinformed!!!! I have talked with the patient that you are referring to...talked to people that she has talked to....talked to Don Mills...and FURTHER, was operated by Dr. Huacuz on the same day. We were all there TOGETHER. I'm not going to get into the LONG story as to what happened, but I will tell you this....He is MOST certainly able to get bands from Inamed...Don Mills, from Inamed & I talked several times. He assures me that Dr. Huacuz has got FULL authorization, (since "certification" is non-existant), to perform the LAP BAND surgery...Hell, I don't know what this "French Band" is, but that is a lack of responsibilty when you are speaking for him and what he does or does not do. Dr. Huacuz just operated my dear friend Friday night...the Inamed Band...as per Don Mills, he got it from Inamed...not on some black market. Forgive me I am not happy right now....I know this story very well. What a shame that his name has been dragged into this because of the Molding Clinic and their lack of following a Dr's patients orders. He did the right thing...he left that practice. He is focussing on his own, Huacuz Surgical Center. he has been doing the INAMED Lap Band surgery for 6 years! Hopefully people will educate themselves and not be frightened by lies or hearsay. I can be reached at Ginazzz@cox.net