Pamaloo

I was banded in Mexico 11/2008. I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there who struggles with their fill doctor. I had problems after my surgery becasue my port was tilted. Fills were miserable, painful and time consuming. In August of this year, through floroscopy, i found out that my regular fill doctor (who doesnt use floro) had hit my line during an attempt to fill me. SO I went back to Mexico in December and had a new port and line put in. The day after surgery, UNDER FLORO, I was given a 1.1 cc fill. After about a week, I realized this wasnt enough. So I scheduled and went last week to have a fill with my previous fill doctor. I figured it wouldnt be a problem, now with my new port beautifully placed straight and perfect.... well I was wrong. After 4 tries, she couldnt get into the port. The closest place for me to get floro in the US is 7 hours away. I have spoken to a Dr. Brinkley's office in Maryland and have an appointment set for tomorrow at 12. She doesnt use floro either, but im hoping being that she has more experieince than my current fill doctor, that I will be ok...

I'm not exactly sure, I know my friend took a while because of the banding over her bypass, but honestly the nurse gave us something to "make us relax" and it knocked me out. I just remember waking up in recovery and looking at my watch around 10:00 so honestly he might have been done around 9. We chose Dr. Huacuz for 2 reasons. 1. He was seriously cheaper for my friend with the band over bypass, he charged her about 4,000 less than others were quoting. 2. He has a wonderful lady working with him that arranges groups trips. She was warm and kind, talked to us often pre-op on the phone and we were very excited to have her with us during the procedure. This lady had been a patient of his a year or 2 ago, and we really were convinced by her to use his clinic. She set up everything, our flights, transportation to TJ, and took us into town the day after surgery to look around and buy souveneirs.

I used Dr. Huacuz in november 1008. He was ok, but if i were you i would just pay a little more money and go somewhere else. I have not heard a word from him since the day I left his clinic. Search his name on this site and look at all of the entries about him. I have put my experience on here, which was not good nor bad, mostly dissapointing. Choose wisely. This is a major surgery, and i believe you do get what you pay for.

My husband and I were banded by Dr. Huacuz in 11/2008. My friend was also banded, over a failed bypass she had 3 years ago. I think when you decide to go to Mexico for a major surgery, that you need to think a long time about it. It is a very intense experience all crammed into 2-3 days. Not to mention, having to travel to get there. The whole experience is emotionally and physically exhausting. I was a little uncomfortable with the idea that Dr. Huacuz was doing all three of our surgeries the day we arrived, and then found out that he had another band to place before us. By the time we landed in San Diego, were picked up and taken to the clinic, it was 1:00. Then the surgeries began. 4 surgeries, starting at 1:00, with one being a band over a bypass and a longer surgery? We were not all done until after 10:00 at night. That night, My friend had a reaction the the anestesia, her blood pressure dropped and she did very poorly. Dr. Huacuz suggested she stay an extra day, and we did. The Dr. however kept saying, shes anemic and that this was causing the problems. He was also saying she was sensitive and "a baby." I dont think that he was taking the situation as seriously as it had been. For alost 2 weeks after the surgery she was pale, weak and sick. She even contacted a local doctor and was told that being anemic would not have caused all of the complications she was having. Since returning home my friend and I have gone through one dissapointment after another. I have not spoken to the Dr. since returning home. Many posts on here boast about him calling and checking on the patient, or giving them his personal cell number. We got neither. My incisions sites and scars that were left are terrible. The same for my husband and friend. My cousin, who was banded by a different doctor in mexico in 8/08, has healed beautifully and the incisions are barely noticable. Just when i started to feel better about the whole thing and think that i had been overreacting, I went in for my first local fill. I went to a USA fill center provider who was WONDERFUL. However, my port was turned and it took her almost an hour to get into the port. At one point she told me i would have to fly to Atlanta to have a floroscopy done because that was the closest person she knew of. I knew my port was turned from the beginning. The Dr. told me and showed me when he gave me a fill after surgery. Looking back, should I have asked him to fix it that weekend? I didnt know what to do, I was new to all of this. Finally my fill Dr. found the port and was able to give me a little fill, and I'm actually too full. BUT IM TERRIFIED TO GO BACK, because what if it takes another hour to get in there and again im faced with dissapointment? Not to mention having to spend the money for the appointment. My husband has done very well since his surgery. Dr. Huacuz put 1 cc in his band the day after surgery, and he has lost 48 pounds in 2 months. I think that any doctor can place a few bands well, and every doctor has complications. But with 2 out of 3 of us not being happy with our results? Not good odds to me. I'm not saying I don't think Dr. Huacuz was nice and adequate, but if you were to ask me if I would go to him again if I had the chance to do it over, then NO. Im not sure he is the best choice, or the most qualified. I think hes a nice guy, and a cheap choice for surgery. But now, i think all three of us would have paid more money to go to a different doctor.

I think for a fill, Dr. Huacuz would be a good choice. He uses floroscopy at a local clinic and is a very kind man. I was banded by Dr. Huacuz in 11/08. He did a fill for me the day after surgery, and I really appreciated being able to see the band and my restriction level. I would go to him anyday for a fill, if I was closer to him. I would not go back to him for any type of surgery.