Florida Pete

Thanks Vickie for the good luck! This is a great time ahead of us. I will be flying back to Florida on Sunday Dec. 7th so we will just miss each other. I know you will do so well there. The hospital looks just beautiful from everything I have seen about it and I hear the staff there is top notch. Make sure you check back in with us after your surgery!

I am going to Tijuana, Mexico for my surgery next Friday (Dec. 5th). Dr. Pedro Kuri is performing the surgery. He has performed this surgery over 4,000 times and has trained several surgeons in the US on how to perform this surgery. The cost is $7,500 to cover everything. I only have to add another $250 for my flight from West Palm Beach, FL to San Diego, CA. Dr. Kuri's staff will pick me up at the airport and will take me there to perform the surgery. If you want more information please feel free to contact me or do some research on the internet about it. Lap Band Surgery - Dr. Kuri & Associates

Hi Bill- I have heard the horror stories from the local surgeon here in Jupiter, Florida about people coming back from Mexico with just the port. The only thing I can say about that is I have only heard that from American Surgeons and have never once heard anyone come out and say it happened to them. On the flip side like I have said it's all about knowing doing the research to make sure you have a repitable surgeon. Even in getting surgery done here in the USA people should still research the surgeon they are going to use and make sure they are getting one who is well experienced and who is a good surgeon. Dr. Kuri only uses the Inamed LapBand which is the same that most surgeons use as most of you already know. Trust me Bill in that I had my doubts and was very skeptical about going to Mexico before I did my research. I wanted to make sure that the surgeon, their staff, and the facility was as good if not better then what I would get at home here. I believe from the people that I have talked to here on the forum whom have had their surgery done by Dr. Kuri, from talking with my aunt who had her surgery done by him, and from my research online that I will be going to one of Mexico's best.

It amazes me the amount of people who talk about Mexico who have never been there. Granted I have not yet been to Mexico but I have done my research and I have talked to peopel whom have. First off I will be going to Mexico next Thursday, Dec. 4th, 2008 for surgery on Dec. 5th from Dr. Pedro Kuri. In February of 2005 a close aunt of mine went to Dr. Kuri for the exact same procedure and she to this day praises him, his staff, and the facility. She has been a huge success on this surgery of course because she made it work for her. Recently a tv station in Sacremento, CA did a news article on the good and the bad on "Medical Tourism". In the news article they specifically used examples of good and bad surgeons in Mexico. It just so happens that Dr. Kuri was shown as their good example. They show the hospital that he works at, his staff, him, and even interview a patient of his. The main point of the news article is to tell people if you are going to go to Mexico or outside of the USA for medical treatment to do your homework ahead of time. I will be sure to be reporting back in here after my surgery to let others know how it went. Here is the news article: cbs13.com - Video Library Also here is Dr. Kuri's website: Lap Band Surgery - Dr. Kuri & Associates

Hi Yanira! I hope your surgery went well! This is a great website. I have been here for a few months now and will be banded next week. I have met some great people on here who are really looking to be good supporters in this change in our lives! Let us know how things are going and how your surgery went!

I have to agree. I just recently went under the 450 lbs mark and a lot of people don't call me huge. Yes they do say I am a very big guy cause of course I am and even still at 6'-3" tall most of them don't understand that 300 lbs at this point in time sounds thin to me. I have had a few not even believe me when I have told them my weight. It's like yes I do weight that much. You know I think a lot of people just have no concept on what a certain amount of weight looks like on one person or another.

Hiya! I am being banded on Dec. 5th also! Really I don't see this as any reason for any of us to be nervous. This operation is performed daily by so many surgeons. There is minimul cutting and damage done to our bodies. Remember they are not cutting any organs in our bodies. The recovery time is quick. In most cases this is an out patient operation. Looking at that and reminding yourself of that should help ease your nerves. Also remember that this is something you are doing to better yourself and your life. Yes this is a huge change but it is one that is managable. It is one that is controllable. Your life will never be the same afterwards. So be ready to enjoy life!!!

Ah thanks Joann! The way I see it, it really doesn't matter what our name is. What matters is that we're all making a better choice for our life and we're doing it together!

Self pay. Goint to Tijuana, Mexico with Dr. Pedro Kuri. Surgery is $7500. Add airfare and expenses. Still under $8000. Compared to the local surgeon who estimates the cost at $18,000.

In honor of all those who voted for December Diamonds I went ahead and made a logo for those that would like to use that one instead of the Holiday Hotties. Enjoy!

Hey all you December '08 Bandsters! If you haven't found it yet get one down to the December forum page! Just click my "Holiday Hotties" logo to open up that part of these forums! There are some great conversations going on in there!

I tell you what I have tried a few different brands of the shakes and I really have found the Atkins to be one of the best. Unjury is pretty good too but you have to order that online. I can't say myself but others have mentioned that the Kirkland Brand (Costco) is pretty decent.

I will be thinking of you and of everyone on their days! This is an exciting and nerve wracking time for all of us! Those of us having our surgeries early in the month need to get back here as quickly as possible to show the others how we are doing and encourage them in their times!

I have heard the same thing too. That we will quickly learn what our bodies will and will not accept as in food and that we will learn to eat small bites. The worst thing I have heard is the blockage. It's been described to me as very very very painful. Then of course the vomiting and flushing. None of it sounds to fun to me!!! Next week will be the big week for many of us! Someone should start a post about with the days before and the days after. I know for myself since I will be going to Mexico for my surgery I will be away from the forums from a couple days before and not until few days after my surgery. Good luck to everyone!:thumbup:

They use the Allergen Lap-Band system. Dr. Kuri also offers free fills if you come back to his location. But for those of us like me you have to find a fill center in your area. For me I have to travel to Ft. Lauderdale for my fills which is about an hour away. My coordinator for my surgery actually sent me a list of people in my area that do fills. Any more questions you have please feel free to ask away.

Congrats on getting your date set Bill!

Atkins shake at breakfast Low Carb snack Atkins shake at lunch Low Carb snack Low Carb Hight Protien dinner That is the basics of my pre-op diet. Because of my high BMI my surgeon instructed me to be on this diet for 3 weeks prior to surgery. So I am well into it. Actual diet attached. :thumbup: Liver_Shrinking_Diet.pdf

I am Peter and I am 36. My surgery date is Dec. 5th (next Friday). I currently weigh 447 lbs and have a target weight of 195 lbs. I will be banded at Angeles HealthCare Group in Tijuana, Mexico by Dr. Kuri.

Get your votes in on this poll if you haven't already! Just 7 hours left to vote!!!

It really has become a count down for many of us now! I can hardly believe that my surgery is only next Friday!!! I've been working so hard on my pre-op diet and making sure to get out walking every day. It is so exciting seeing so many others showing up with December dates also! We are all getting a real Holiday treat like no other any of us have ever had!

So I have started my pre-op diet. That means that for Thanks Giving, the biggest holiday meal of the year in my opinion, that I have to eat a very modified dinner. We're going to my in-laws for Thanks Giving and yesterday my mother in-law asked my wife if there is anything special that she needs to have for me or if there is anything they should not serve. My first reaction was don't make any special concessions for me. I don't want others to feel like they have to change the way they enjoy the dinners or the holiday festivities because I am changing the way that I do. Then I started thinking what really can I have for the dinner. I am on the Liver Shrinking Diet so it's low fat and low carb. No more then 30 carbs a day and no more then 1200 calories a day. So what does that mean? It means I have to completely rethink food and what food I should be having. Do you have any special plans on how you are going to handle the holiday dinners?

Thanks JoannMarie! It's this simple to me. I have made the commitment for change so why wait for surgery when I can already be making changes now.

Hey Angcal26! That's great that you have done so well! I am glad to see anyone and everyone move forward and be a real success with this! I do look forward to this surgery and I look very forward to the new life that will be once all is said and done. Keep in touch and message me any time! Soon we all will be enjoying our new lives thin, health, and happy!

I am currently on the Liver Shrinking Diet per my surgeons per-op orders. He said because my BMI is over 50 he wants me on it for 3 weeks prior to surgery. What the directions I was given was shakes for two meals a day with an Atkins type snack between meals and then a low fat low carb meal for my 3rd meal. I am allowed 30 carbs a day and 1200 calories a day. I had decided to work my way into this diet so one month prior to my actual start date I started having a shake at breakfast. Then after two weeks I added the one at lunch. Then at my started date I trimmed my dinners down to what they are suppose to be. This really helped me get used to having the shakes twice a day. I actually have the Atkins shakes and then I do have like a banana between meals in the morning and will have an Atkins bar in the mid afternoon. I have lost on this diet but more importantly I am doing everything I can to shrink that liver and make it easier for the surgeon to do his job. Oh and I have started an exercise program too. Every little bit helps and will make life easier in the end!