snarlene0214

I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Sanchez. He recommended my fill doctor. She is in Bryan , TX , was banded in Mexico by Dr. Sanchez, and is trained to do the fills the Inamed way. She is fantastic, and worth the drive from Houston. She only does fills on Saturdays, which makes it really convenient since I don't have to take time off from work. Here is her contact info: Dr. Stephanie Eijsink 3201 University Dr. East, Suite 405 Bryan TX 77802 (979) 774-1377 $200 cash – fills done with fluoro I won't go anywhere else.

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the best journey of your life. I am also in Texas - Houston. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

I was also banded in Mexico. I drive to Bryan for my fills. I want my fills done with fluoro - not just for the accuracy of the fill, but so that the doctor can see the condition of my pouch and be sure that the band is in the proper position. My doctor was banded by Dr. Sanchez in Mexico, was trained to do fills for him and does them the Inamed way which includes using fluoro. She is at goal, and is just a great fill doctor!!! By the way, she only does fills on Saturdays. Here is her contact information: Dr. Stephanie Eijsink 3201 University Dr. East, Suite 405 Bryan TX 77802 (979) 774-1377 $200 cash – fills done with fluoro

You probably will be banded by the time you read this post. The Sanchez team is awesome. Where are you in Houston?? I am near Willowbrook Mall. Who is going to do your fills? I get my fills from Dr. Stephanie. She was banded by Dr. Sanchez, and trained by him and Dra. Susanna to do fills the proper way. She is in Bryan, and worth the drive. She does all fills with fluoro. She only does fills on Saturdays, and she charges $200. Let us know how you are doing, and let me know if you need Dr. Stephanie's contact information.

I went to Mexico because my insurance had an exclusion for anything related to obesity. There are some great doctors an hospitals in Mexico. And once you talk to anyone who has gone to one of them you will find that we almost all will tell you that the level of care, the personal attention, the overall experience is top notch. The only warning is that you need to be sure that you will have after care for fills when you are at home. That is not a problem in cities like Houston, but it can be a problem in other parts of the country.

I know that I posted my information when this thread began, but I don't see my name on the list. I was banded 2/9/06 Dr. Rodolfo Sanchez, Monterrey, MX High weight 229 Day of surgery 202 As of 8/16/06 165.5 4 fills 3.3cc Goal weight 150

That is awful.... Did you end up with the band? Who was your doctor? It sounds like you have a malpractice case. If you did get the band find another doctor for your aftercare. You will never be able to trust this doctor again. Please keep us posted on your progress.

I live in Houston, and have a great fill doctor in Bryan, TX. Worth the drive from Houston or Austin. She is banded, at goal, does the fills on Saturdays, and is wonderful. Here is her contact info: Dr. Stephanie Eijsink 3201 University Dr. East, Suite 405 Bryan TX 77802 (979) 774-1377 $200 cash – fills done with fluoro I would not go to anyone else!!!

I have a great fill doctor in Bryan Texas, she was banded around a year ago in Mexico, and is now at goal. She was trained to do fills the way Inamed requires. She is fantastic. She does the fills on Saturdays, uses fluoro, and charges $200. I don't think any of the doctors in Houston do it with fluoro routinely, so any price you get is going to be without fluoro. A good filll doctor is important. Some doctors will not give you enough fill at one time and it takes too many fills to get to where you need to be. You want an experienced fill doctor who will give you as much fill as you need so that it does not take too many fills to get to a perfect fill. Especially if you have to pay for each fill. Her contact information is: Dr. Stephanie Eijsink 3201 University Dr. East, Suite 405 Bryan TX 77802 (979) 774-1377

You can drink right up until the time that you start eating. Then you need to wait around 60 minutes after eating before you drink again. Some docs say 30 minutes, some say 90, I just try to wait 60.

Sheriita - I have had 3 fills, and am going for a 4th fill this week. I have lost 31 1/4 lbs since 2/9/06, and I am satisifed with that because I only need to lose a total of 55 lbs. But I have stopped losing and I can eat more than I should. If you are not losing 1 - 2 pounds per week, and if you are eating more than bandster size portions you need a fill. It is not how many fills you have had, it is whether or not your fills have given you good enough restriction. BUT PLEASE STOP DRINKING WITH YOUR MEALS - The reason for not drinking with your meals is that it washes the food out of the pouch and through the band while you are eating and that defeats the purpose of the band. Don't drink foar aound and hour after you stop eating.

I have been going to a fill doctor in Bryan, TX who was banded by my doctor in Mexico. She was trained todo fills by his fill doctor and she is great.

I was banded 2/9/06 By Dr. Rodolfo Sanchez in Monterrey Mexico. I have lost 31 lbs, I have had 3 fills currently at 2.9 in a 4 cc band. Starting weight 202 Current weight 171 Goal weight 145

I was also banded in Mexico - Monterrey to be precise. I was banded by Dr. Sanchez, and could not have been happier. The hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine in Dallas TX. The facility is capable of handling any and all emergencies and traumas. Have you noticed that the people who bash having the surgery in Mexico are not people with horror stories about being banded in Mexico? They are always from a 3rd party perspective. Give those of us who went to Mexico some credit for researching and checking credentials. I went to Mexico after corresponding with at least 50 - 60 people who had been banded there by various doctors, and reading at least 1000 posts on various message boards. The biggest issue some people have is aftercare in the States. And that can be an issue. I made sure that I would not have to deal with that if I had a problem when I returned home by lining up several fill doctors and 2 surgeons who agreed to see me if I had complications. I have only read 2 posts from people who had "horror stories" and I have read as many from people banded in the States who had problems as well. There are good and bad docs everywhere, and good and bad hospitals everywhere as well.

Date Banded: 2/9/06 Country:Mexico Doctor:Dr. Sanchez Erodoed: N If Eroded Date Removed: n/a

Dr. Maese charges $200 for a fill and that includes fluoro. He has 2 offices, 1 in Ferris where he does fills on Tuesday and Friday and the other 1 is in Dallas. I have gone to the office in Ferris. It is just south of Dallas, and saves me around 1 hour round trip.

I had my first fill done by Dr. Maese on 3/24/06. My 2nd is scheduled for 4/24/06. By the way, he is Dr. Sanchez nephew. First of all, he is very nece, professional and competent. He is a cardiologist and beleives tha the band is a good thing and treats hs patients with respect. His staff is frienedly, and the whole experience was simple and quick. You never have to undress, and the entire prcess takes just a few minutes. He located the port with ultra-sound, and did the fill. And then I walked back to another room where he has a fluoro machine where you stand up, you see your band on a screen, he gives you the barium to swallow, and gives you a print out of the picture so that you can take it with you. Then he has you drink Water before you leave to be sure that you can swallow okay.

I was banded by Dr. Sanchez - wow, what a great experience. Everything is first rate from the driver who picks you up at the airport, to the hospital and its wonderful staff, to the guest house which is so much better than staying in a hotel. I would recomend Dr. Sanchez to anyone looking into getting banded. BUT DO BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AFTERCARE AND A FILL DOCTOR LINED UP BEFORE BANDING.

I also have problems, but after the second bite. And I also get the loud embarrassing hiccups. I think that I need to wait longer between the first few bites. For me, it is not a matter of the bites being too big or not chewed well enough, it is because I do not wait long enough between bites. Once the first few bits go down I am fine for the rest of the meal. Learning to eat as a bandster is quite an experience. Arlene in Houston

Does anyone know of any PCP in the Houston area who is familiar with banded patients? I keep thinking that it would be a good idea to have a doctor who understands the impact of medications and diet on banded patients. Someone who does not think that because I have a band I am like a bypass patient. I am being banded in Mexico, and therefore I want to be sure that I have aftercare that is appropriate. (Not only the aftercare for band issues, I have that covered)

Hi - I am self-pay and getting banded in Mexico on 2/6/06 and currently am soaking up all of the info I can pre-op so that I will not have any surprises. I have a low BMI (36) and I am 59 years old. I am looking forward to the journey, and I hope to give and take inspiration as the new me emerges.

I have not been banded yet, my surgery date is 2/10/06. I have been told that the Houston Area Bandsters meet at 12 Oaks Hospital the 3rd Saturday of each month @ 2:00 PM. Address is 4140 Southwest Freeway, Suite 100 contact # 713-960-7959

does anyone have any idea how much Dr. Spivak total cost would be for self pay?

I also found that my insurance had an exclusion. But as I always do in my life I have forged ahead and found a way. This is not always because I am motivated. Mostly it is because I am stubborn. Since self-pay is my only option, I have borrowed against the cash value in my life insurance and will have lap-band surgery on 2/10/06 in Mexico. Just making the decision to go ahead with the surgery is like lifting a huge weight off of my shoulders. (no pun intended)