joliesmom

Ladies and gentlemen this is what you call a psychic vampire. You are quite disrespectful to be attacking Penni and she hasn't posted a response on this topic. Dodi take the money that you saved by having medicare pay for your surgery and get some therapy because you appear to be a very angry mean spirited person. Patti

I so agree with you, I'm an RN and I extensively researched my options. Dody is just one of the negative people. Before I booked my surgery I personally spoke with Don Mills from Inamed/Allergen to review the proctoring and surgeon knowledge with him.

Congrats and good luck. You'll adjust to the band requirements, because from what I read you only need to be stuck once to want to avoid it. For me it's been interesting how much food was a part of my everyday socialization. You'll be fine, relax, and enjoy your new life post-op.

Whimsical Clay, Hang in there, you're doing great! I lost 19lbs in pre-diet shrink the liver. A smaller liver makes surgery that much easier for the surgeon. Keep going only 4 more days!!!

I think you must be a bit delusional because I can give you the name of 3 surgeons in N Jersey that Dr Ortiz proctored. You don't get hell for your opinions you get hell for making incorrect statements. The OP asked why so many went to Mexico for bands, not why Dody would never consider Mexico for surgery. Sorry but I'm tired of misinformation trying to dissuade people. I have a good Dr in the US (who supported my decision to go to MX) and I am f/u with him post-op, but Mexico was a great decision for me.

Please, Clear liquids ha. I called Dr Miranda on post op day 4 to ask about cottage cheese, and she was like noo you can only have it if you can drink it. Suffice it to say wine- yes, tomato soup- yes, tequila- need it badly. Are you hungry yet? I'm gonna check out your pix.

I think when you're heavy you're either the ignored one or the outgoing funny person. It is quite funny how fat people are perceived. I'm very outgoing and when my daughter was in pre-school I mentioned how other parents just blatantly ignored me at school activities. When I mentioned it to my sister she said it was probably A) Because you're overweight and because you don't have the appearance of having money (most kids have nannies etc at pre-school). I never thought about it that way but after observing the parents I fully believe my sister was correct. I always say I'm looking forward to not always being aware if I am the biggest person in the room. On the other hand my best friend is also overweight and I'm now realizing how much eating we did together. Those people that ignore you really aren't real people they're just about appearances.

Quees are you one of the party girls??

All medical expenses can be written off tax wise. It sounds a little too much like an urban legend, don't go to Mexico type of situation. I'm a nurse we're skeptical by nature. I always say there are good Drs and bad Drs in the US and in Mexico. (What do you call the the person that graduates last in their med school class? Dr)

Your only problem will be if you were given an amount of weight to lose. If you're BMI is too high and you didn't lose weight Dr Ortiz may make you wait to have surgery or it could turn into an open procedure. I was banded on 8/16 by Dr Ortiz and not all of us had to do liquids. It's hard to stick to the liquids, and you're on them for 3 weeks post-op. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine.

That's such a scare tactic!! People have major complications in the US after surgery also. I've had pts die after routine surgery in the US. I'm an RN that had surgery in Mexico by Dr Ortiz and I also have his and his assistants cell phone #'s. I've already spoken to the Dr by cell phone with a question. Next time you talk to a surgeon in the US ask for his cell number and see what the answer is. Each person has to make a decision that they are happy with, I would go to mexico for surgery again in a heartbeat. My surgery was $8500, airfare was $600 r/t. Dr Ortiz also fixed 2 hernias which I didn't know I had, and my surgery was still done in 40 minutes.

I just love torturing myself by reading these threads since I'm still on liquids. I'll go to bed thinking of that chinese chicken salad.

Only some Drs use Lovenox, it's not common. I'm an RN and I've only had to teach a few pts the lovenox injection. My Dr just gave 1 injection of heparin pre-op. Lovenox does burn, I call it the afterburn. Good luck. Patti

Had my surgery 8/16, feeling better than I thought I would. Had some tomato soup which could have been filet it tasted so good. I miss my surgery compadres Littlebird and Kirsten117, hopefully Richard found the boards. I'm avoiding the scale because I still feel bloated, but I did lose 19 lbs pre-op with carnation instant breakfast. Good luck to everyone going soon, it'll be well worth it. Patti

Sorry Littlebird was still logged in, it's actually Patti

LMAO good one!!!

I actually had my thin cousin say "why don't you just eat less". I looked at him and said "Gee I never thought of that". Hang in there, some people just don't think. I'm on the liquid part of pre-op and my sister called and asked me if I wanted to go out for dinner:) Stopping smoking and not eating is a HUGE accomplishment:clap2:

Nancy, Your insurance should cover all of your pre-op testing. I did all of my pre-op testing through AETNA and then they wouldn't pay for surgery so I'm going to Mexico. I'm also an RN so although I know Mexico sounds scary it was no scarier than when I went to Temple Hosp and the Dr told me that they have done a couple of dozen bands. Your Dr should give you a script and then just schedule all of your pre-ops, they'll use obesity or GERD as a billing diagnosis. Question the Dr also, my surgeon in the states only required a colonoscopy if you are over 50. If your O2 Levels are fine maybe they won't require ICU. Good Luck and keep trudging through.

Congratulations and good luck!!

LittleBird you are so lucky, cause I think we are being banded on the same day by Dr Ortiz and I have to start the liquid diet. I just booked my surgical date last tuesday which gave me 2 weeks to lose 15lbs. Dr Miranda said I have to lose 15lbs or my surgery would have to wait a week. Gee thanks that shouldn't be a problem since I'm flying from New Jersey:) I've so far lost about 8lbs on Atkins but I'm starving today with the liquid diet. I can't drink thick liquids (yes it's a weird food hang up that I have), I tried an Atkins drink and Isopure both without success. So I've so far consumed a half a cucumber and some unsweetened tea. I e-mailed Dr Miranda the nutritionist for some ideas but if anyone else could offer some suggestions I'd be very appreciative. I leave for TJ next tues 8/15 and have to lose 7lbs (did I mention that I'm due for Aunt Flo?) Thanks for letting me vent, Patti

The first part of her story that doesn't make sense is she doesn't mention if she was in pain. There is an incidence of people in the US also that are not put under anesthesia correctly. When you undergo anesthesia for surgery they first give you something "to sleep", then they give you a paralytic and have the vent breath for you. Once you have the paralytic you cannot move voluntarily. There are people that report that they were asleep and wake up and cannot move from the paralytic but they feel all of the pain. This is rare. There are also people that are awake on purpose for surgery and feel no pain IE: c-sections, joint replacements etc. The OP is not clear which sounds shady.

I'm an RN with ICU experience any I have never had a patient lose 55lbs in 3 days from lasix. Do you know what that would do to your electrolytes. Why did you have to lose so much weight for the lap band? Sepsis which is a blood infection kills people after all types of surgey, but usually very invasive surgery. I'm not too concerned with this post, I agree with the others something seems fishy.

Are you having Dr Patel do your band? Patti

I'm an RN that does home care and I have taken care of more patients on feeding tubes, with seromas, or infections post gastric bypass than I can count. (I often joke that my job was trying to tell me something by sending the big girl out to see weight loss pts:) I've only had to teach 2 pts post lap bands how to give themselves lovenox injections to prevent blood clots. I'll be banded on 8/16/06 and I don't think I would ever have had gastric bypass. I can't imagine having major surgery and then gaining the weight back. I actually started this process by going to a GB seminar and after listening to the surgeon give the stats on both decided on the band. Give it time to lose, I'm AMAZED by some of the weight loss that I've seen on this board.