I am leaving about 2:00 a.m. to head toward the airport to fly to Juarex, Mexico to be banded by Dr. Jose Rodriguez. I am a bit scared. I tried to talk to my family about going, but they were all certain that if I went to Mexico I would end up dead. I did my own research, and I don't think that it is likely but I am frightened -- frightened to go and frightened not to go. I will be back on January 14, 2011 in the evening if everything goes okay.

Mexico is safe and clean and professional. I've had other (non WLS) medical treatment there and would return in a heartbeat (i've had dental, IVF and general medical). My only issue with Mexico is you can't sue for malpractice! Hopefully a family goes to support you. Kinda silly for them all to stay behind, they are worried for you-so they leave you out to dry? Not cool.. Good luck. You will be fine and well taken care of.

Please be careful it is not the DRs. to be scared of . . . but the Cartels down there. Just stay alert all the time and try to stay with other people if you can, No wandering around at night by yourself. Good Luck and be safe!!

Cheri

I had my surgery in Mexico last month and the hospital is clean, the staff are efficient, and all of the nurses kept telling me I looked 10 years younger. Make sure the hospital transports you from the airport to Mexico and don't dress like you have a lot of money. But I felt perfectly safe inside while traveling to Tijuana, and my 60 year old mother did too.

Plus, the hospital had a room safe to put my passport in. The worse part is sometimes the nurses cannot speak English. But they do great with hand signals. Actually the nurses are some of the best I have seen period. I have small blood vessels and it is very difficult to draw blood or place an i.v. The were patient enough to find the right vein and I did not bleed out once. It is heredity and I have seen my father and grandmother bleed out multiple times for one i.v. and many unnecessary pokes here in the US. Even my mother was impressed.

But you shouldn't go out by yourself at night, and always stay alert anywhere you travel.

Vanessa