Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Another Erosion



Recommended Posts

PhotoNut/Susan,

Thank you for clarifying. I just want you to know I didn't mean any harm to your feelings, and I know you didn't mean what you said to hurt anyone as well. I just wanted to share my thoughts on how in OTHER threads (not this one) people ARE bashing on going to Mexico, they ARE pointing fingers, they ARE trying to hurt people.. and I KNOW YOU AREN'T!

Thanks for being willing to clarify and be open to conversation. I'm still open and ready to listen as well.

angie :puke:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

SMOOOOCCH! :puke:

P.S. I figured maybe Eileen was from a country where they called the backside, "bups." So I figured she wanted leaner bups. I'm glad I asked!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had to have my band taken out last month due to erosion. I too had it done it Mexico, but I think I had a wonderful doctor. I believe the reason it sounds like so many come from Mexico is because so many more people have theirs done there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I love the good ol' USA too - but, many, many, surgeons in Mexico doing Lap Band surgery are better than some U.S. doctors. They have been doing this surgery for a longer period of time and the surgery technique that was mentioned on this thread as being the best - has been used in Mexico forever. Actually I believe - but am not positive that they have advanced a step even further than that "newer" technique.

I went to Dr. Kuri in TJ, Mex - because I was self-pay and after doing as much research as humanly possible I decided that I would go to him even if I had insurance in the states that would cover it. Just looking for a doctor here who will fill a person banded in Mex - would make you think twice about them. They (and their office staff) can actually be mean - while they are turning you down, or accepting your $1,000. as payment for a fill. Please do not go into that liability excuse - because thankfully there are some consciencious U.S. doctor's who do accept other surgeons patients. I have found a very good surgeon at the U of M hospital in MN (very well respected head of bariatrics) who has willingly accepted me as a patient - if I'm unable to get to Dr. Kuri and the matter is pressing. His name is Dr. Sayeed Ikrumuddin and if he's willing and able to do this other doctors could be too.

And as far as erosion goes - it can happen to any one no matter who did their surgery. Erosion in Mexico is no more prevalent than in the U.S.

On another board a woman who was perfectly banded in Mexico went to a U.S. doctor for a fill and he wanted to actually move her port to her upper chest area - because it would be easier for him to fill.

There are horror stories everywhere.

Since this surgery is newly approved in the states (2 years) we need to remember who taught our surgeons about the lap band surgery in the first place.

Honestly, I just get so sick and tired of people puting down the Mex doctors - without any real knowledge of them.

I'm done now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr. Kuri might be experienced, but he made a mistake that cost me 8 months of port infection. According to 3 other Mexican surgeons and 2 American band surgeons, it's "standard operating procedure" to tuck the tube of a removed port into the abdominal cavity for safe keeping till a new port is replaced. Dr. Kuri instead left the tube floating freely at the surface, which prevented my wound from healing or closing up. He knew better. Mistakes happen everywhere, but skipping over a standard operating procedure isn't something American surgeons are allowed to do.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since this surgery is newly approved in the states (2 years) we need to remember who taught our surgeons about the lap band surgery in the first place.

Just for the record, the band was approved in the U.S. in June of 2001, getting on five years ago.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had to have my band taken out last month due to erosion. I too had it done it Mexico, but I think I had a wonderful doctor. I believe the reason it sounds like so many come from Mexico is because so many more people have theirs done there.

Dayna.. did you add your info to the Stats thread in the General Discussion forum? It's one of the sticky threads.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I love the good ol' USA too - but, many, many, surgeons in Mexico doing Lap Band surgery are better than some U.S. doctors. They have been doing this surgery for a longer period of time and the surgery technique that was mentioned on this thread as being the best - has been used in Mexico forever. <snip>

Not all Mexican surgeons have been doing this technique as long as some US surgeons. Certainly Dr Rumbaut was doing it long before others, but even Mexican doctors perfected the technique after many European surgeons did.

I went to Dr. Kuri in TJ, Mex - because I was self-pay and after doing as much research as humanly possible I decided that I would go to him even if I had insurance in the states that would cover it. <snip>

Uh, 'K...

Since this surgery is newly approved in the states (2 years) we need to remember who taught our surgeons about the lap band surgery in the first place.

(edited to add: As mentioned earlier...) Actually the band has been approved in the U.S. for more than 4 1/2 years. And although many surgeons learn from Mexico, I've been made to understand that initially most US surgeons learned the technique from European doctors such as Dr. Franco Favaretti & Dr Guy-Bernard Cadiere who actually developed the modern Lap-Band surgical technique.

Just an FYI.

Happy Band Journeys to All

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Newsho,

Most of the band surgeons in Oregon were in fact trained by Mexico surgeons. I'm sure there are others trained by european doctors but I don't know the percentages of U.S. doctors trained by Mexico vs. European doctors.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No offence but most of the errosions I hear of on this site have came out of mexico. I understand what you meant like I said I mean no offence but there may be a connection there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You know what hits me? Of all the questions I did think to ask, I never once thought to ask.. "And what if it does erode or slip? Do you guarantee your work? Will you fix it? Or will it cost me a fortune to save my life when it goes wrong?" Why oh why didn't I think of those questions before now? Ack!!

Ok. You are the bomb. I am going in tomorrow for my 1st initial consultaion with Dr. Morton in Nashville, Tn @ Southern Hills. I have just spent the last four hours reading post and this has been great. Even though I had stuff written down, it didn't occur to me until you, PhotoNut, said.. 'Why didn't I ask the following?" Well, now ~I~ will be asking.

THANKS:D

Synicalchick

Weight 326

Height 5'6"

age 37 on 1/31

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dont get your hopes up! Its a less than 1-2% complication occurance and NO they wont make a guarantee. The slippage is flet by my surgeon to be preventable based on what you eat and vomiting avoidance. There is no way to tell who will erode and who wont.

Thats a great question to alienate your surgeon!! I would avoid it. Just ask what the rate is in his practice and how can you avoid being that statistic!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×