I am beginning my journey with Dr Sanchez at Lovelace West side in Albuquerque New Mexico. Are there any bandsters here who have used this facility and Dr.? I am very impressed so far and am interested in anyones elsed experience.So far I have had my Consult, gotten insurance varification andstarted the 3 months supervised diet. I also have my EGD scheduled. I am hoping for a December banding Party! Thanks

I was banded Oct 4, 2010 by Dr. Sanchez and can only give her the highest of recommendation! Dr. Sanchez is a very caring and very competent doctor and has really taken care of me. I know you will be very happy with her.

The office staff is very supportive and encouraging. Let me know if you have other questions. jake

I was banded on January 27, 2011 by Dr. Sanchez. I found Dr. Sanchez to be very nice and personable but I have only meet with her twice, once for the initial consultation and then for the surgery. Patricia Bazinett, the Nurse Practitioner, is who I have seen for all my check ups and fills. I come from out of town and have had all my appointments on Friday so I think that is why I don't see her. Everyone in the clinic is so nice and friendly and I only have good thing to say about them. If you want to really get to know what other people from the clinic say about it, you should attend the support group meetings. Look on the web site and it will give you dates and times. I know that there is one on the first Monday of every month at the Lovelace west side. Good luck to you on your journey!

Thank you both for the response! As soon as I can arrange my schedule I plan to go the support group.

Wish I could have used DR SAnchez in abq as I live in Santa fe.......they did not take united insurance and I have to travel to Denver 5 hrs away ........funny thing is I am a nurse in Santa fe and have to travel out of state for a bariatric center of excellence.......

I forgot to ask......do they allow people like me, soon to be banded in another state attend the support meetings?

@ Laura RN, I believe that you would be able to attend the support group. I would call the clinic 505-272-2300.

I have a question about the west side lovelace....Did any of you go the seminar to start your journey? How long ago were you banded? And last question?? Are you happy with the results so far?

I am asking all these questions because I am going to seminar on Jan 7 2012. I am excited and scared at the same time.

I have a question about the west side lovelace....Did any of you go the seminar to start your journey? How long ago were you banded? And last question?? Are you happy with the results so far?

I am asking all these questions because I am going to seminar on Jan 7 2012. I am excited and scared at the same time.

I did start my journey by attending their seminar. I've been banded 1 year and 3 months. I have lost over 100 lbs. and feel great!!! Before the band I was in a terrible medical state and was on 8 medications for HB pressure, gout, arthritis, high cholesterol and was about to go on medications for diabetes. I also had severe sleep apnea and used a cpap for over a decade. One year after band install, I am only taking 2 meds for HB pressure, gout is gone, no more cholesterol problems, arthritis on knees and feet has gone from severe medicated to very mild non-medicated pain. I am completely off my cpap. I am running daily and feel absolutely great!!! My last complete blood work and physical all came back normal. Awesome!!! Brand new beginning for me. Wish I would have done this years ago.

It is a very scary decision and you must really make sure you understand that it is a life changing decision, but, it is very worth it! The seminar will introduce the process and things to start thinking about.

Dr. Sanchez is awesome! She has really taken care of me. I had a few complications at the beginning and Dr. Sanchez was extremely supportive . I have the upmost respect for Dr. Sanchez! The staff is also very supportive and encouraging. Another person posted that they saw Dr. Sanchez very little after their surgery. This is because fills are done by her PA, however, Dr. Sanchez is at the clinic every Wednesday for appointments and you can ask to be seen and get fills with her on those days.

It took me 4 months from the day I attended the seminar to surgery day. I had BCBS of NM insurance and had to meet their requirements. The clinic friendly personnel helped me every step of the way. You can tell that they enjoy their jobs.

I do have one bit of advice if you do decide to proceed. Make sure your Primary Care doctor is on board with you and the surgery. He/She will submit a letter of necessity which has a big impact on denial or approval if you are using insurance. Hope this helps. Jake

i have already got my lapband but had to take the liquid out due to overseas deployment....guess what. i found alll the weight i lost. i am hoping lovelace can help me as i was banded in another state. it will be about 3 hour drive so i hope i am making the right choice in a doctor. comments?

Glad to see this post I have a friend in ABQ and she is looking for someone thanks

i have already got my lapband but had to take the liquid out due to overseas deployment....guess what. i found alll the weight i lost. i am hoping lovelace can help me as i was banded in another state. it will be about 3 hour drive so i hope i am making the right choice in a doctor. comments?

You may contact Lovelace Bariatrics with questions. The number is (505) 727-2300. They also have another Bariatric doctor there, his name is Adam Smith. Doctor Smith is out of Texas and comes in to do surgeries here. He also see's patients for their follow ups. I personally prefer Dr. Sanchez, but, Dr. Smith is also a very good doctor. Jake

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   i have already got my lapband but had to take the liquid out due to overseas deployment....guess what. i found alll the weight i lost. i am hoping lovelace can help me as i was banded in another state. it will be about 3 hour drive so i hope i am making the right choice in a doctor. comments?
   

I was at the seminar on Sat and they did say that they take people from out of state, since they are the only hospital in NM that does the bariatric

I recently went through the process with Lovelace Westside and had an overall good experience. There were some annoying points, but for the most part it was just fine.

First, Dr. Smith was my surgeon. I went to his seminar and since Dr. Sanchez was going to be unavailable for a month or two that's ok. Smith is based out of Ft. Worth and comes in once or twice a month for surgeries. He has the most experience with somewhere around 1500 completed. He trained Dr. Sanchez and now that she's at the 150 mark she does most of the Albuquerque area surgeries now. For complicated patients with high BMI they both are there just in case.

Dr. Smith did an excellent job. I have never had a surgery (and unfortunately I've had more than I would like) with such a low amount of pain and quick recovery. His stitches are extremely well done too, which I appreciated. Overall the process on surgery day was over quickly and just as advertised.

The only issue I have was with one of the support staff. Specifically the social worker they have to do the mental health evaluations. She is rude, doesn't know what she's talking about, and makes a lot of threats to you while you're in the office. It's the "if you don't do such and such I'm not going to approve you for surgery" type comments that she makes over and over that get irritating. Waiting for other patients I've heard some more colorful complaining about her. If you just answer her questions and get it over with it's usually painful.

Everyone else from the front-office staff, to the dietician, to the post-op care PA are phenomenal to work with. They were very friendly and got every question of mine answered. Be prepared to be told everything about 6-10 times over the course of your "journey" with them. They have you look at a website that has everything, then for the next 3-4 months while you're going through the "journey" they will tell you it again, and again.

The process has been working. I've lost about 20 pounds since the surgery and it is very easy. I strongly recommend this process to anyone.

One thing to keep in mind is that they are now doing some form of bariatric surgery in Santa Fe at St. Vincent's now. I'm not sure if they do the lapbands or the gastric bypass, though.