moosemama

Thank you for all your ideas. I really feel like a failure and hate that I gained all the weight back. It totally sucks and I really need to lose the weight again as I already have problems with gaining the weight.

Is beliteweight in the USA? I am looking into them doing my surgery has they take medicare.

I was banded in 2006 removed in 2008 due to erosion and converted to gastric bypass but gained all 120 pounds I lost with LAP-BAND® back. I miss my band like crazy - I had restriction so I knew when to stop eating when I got the bypass I assumed I would have the same and maintain my weight loss but I never had any restriction like with the band. In fact I could eat anything and everything - I still can and do. I am desperate. I don't want to die due to my weight and the problems carry an extra 120 pounds, I have 5 kids to live for. I like to exercise and walk a mile or more a day I just can't stop eating - I never feel full. I don't know if it is possible to get the band again I have heard the fail rate after having one eroded is very high. I don't know what my options are and was wondering if there was anyone out there who could help me. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi: Was wondering if Dr Almanza had a website I could look at? Thanks for your reply.

I had surgery in TJ and in Ensenada. TJ was a little scarey after dark. I heard gun shots and yelling and lots of sirens. I never went out after 7pm. The hospital was first rate though. I went to Ensenada with Dr. Valencia and Ensenada was a very small pretty town. It is one of the cruise ship ports so the people are very American friendly with most of the shops and resturants speaking english. They even pureed all my Soups for me. I enjoyed walking the streets and taking a tour to the Blow Hole and a horse drawn carriage ride around the town. There was even a market place to bargain with venders. Overall I liked Ensenada better then TJ but the Ensenada hospital was smaller and not has modern as the one in TJ. So it just depends on what you are comfortable with. Dr. Valencia had a van meet us at the hospital with a sign with my name on it and drove us round trip to the hospital and then to the airport so I didn't have to worry about getting there. I think Dr. Joya does his surgeries at Hospital Angeles in TJ but I could be wrong. Good Luck with whatever you choose.

I also had to borrow more then $21,000 to pay for a band and all the complications from it but I don't discredit Mexico because with out the lower medical options I would never have considered WLS. We just need to research and find a good surgeon. It is the same here in the USA we have some doctors in it for the money and some who really care that they are helping people out.

Remember to research the doctor you are going to. I had my band placed three years ago and lost 125 pounds but then got complications due to a cheap surgeon who was in it for the money and then wouldn't help me once I had problems. I miss my band. Sure I overate and threw up and sometimes had that elephant sitting on my chest but that was because I was testing my band. We all do it otherwise a diet would have worked for us. You have to remember no matter what surgery you have it is just a tool and you have to be willing to work with it and except it's limitations. Good luck and keep us updatesd.

I first had Dr. Lopez and after many complications including infection and not having any follow up and not able to talk to the doctor directly - I looked around and the only two doctors who would take me where Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Valencia. I choose Dr. Valencia and have not regretted it. He still calls me personally and checks in with me. I wish I had researched and found this website before I had my lap band. I especially like the research Wasabubblebutt did on finding a doctor in Mexico. Good luck with who ever you choose but remember it is your life and you and you alone know what you want in a doctor. do you want follow up? Do you want to talk to the doctor directly or will a cordinator do? Do you want a hospital or a clinic? Etc Etc

Check out Dr. Valencia too. He helped me when I went to a small clinic with prices that were too good to be true ( and boy I found that out) and then ran into problems two years later and they wouldn't help me out. He does surgery in TJ at the Hospital Angeles which is very modern and way better then most hospitals in America or in Ensenada at Hospital Velmar. I liked the city Ensenada way better then TJ it was beautiful and very tourist friendly, but the hospital is better in TJ. Dr. Valencia does bands, bypass, and sleeves and help teachs these at UCLA. He will also give you his status and tell you about any mistakes. He will also tell you flat out whether or not he will even consider you for surgery not send me your money or a deposit and then you go down and all the sudden you can't get it done. I have heard good things about alot of doctors in Mexico and even had Dr. Ortiz's mom email me to help me out but no one called me when I was having problems but Dr. Valencia. I wish I had done research before heading over and had picked a good surgeon my first time. Good luck with whoever you choose just remember a few hundred (or thousand) dollors cheaper is not worth your life.

Don't forget to get your band checked once a year to make sure it is ok. I was told if I had kept waiting out the pain I would have been dead in two months. I wish I hadn't lost my band but my life is more important. I sure miss the band and the bypass is much harder. Good luck everyone on your journey and I really appreciate all your kind words.

Thank you everyone for your support and words of encourgement.

I haven't lost any weight with the bypass so I would have to say with the band. However at my bypass support group they told me that I should have some restriction which I don't. I did with the band and also could get it filled or unfilled as needed. Although my friend had bypass and can eat only small amounts like I did at first with the band and as lost 114 pounds. I guess it is what you do with your tool that makes you a sucess or not. Not what surgery you get.

Hi: I had two surgeries at the Hospital Angelas in TJ. It is a very beautiful and modern hospital. In fact it is nicer then most here in the United States. Most of the nurses speak some english and can help you. Good luck with you.