I was banded in mexico on july 6th. I am starting to think it was a big mistake. I need some advice. The places I'm calling for my fills won't return my calls. I keep reading that drs in the states won't touch any person banded in mexico. Does that include emergencies? What do I do if I have a serious problem? And then the fills. God I feel like I did something illegal the way I'm being treated. I had a pretty good experience in mexico so why do I feel like I'm being punished?

Anyone have any information on my experience? Help

I'm very sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately it's very common. Most American doctors refuse to touch a patient banded in Mexico for fills or follow-up care.

Is there any way you can go back to the Mexican doctor for fills?

If not, where do you live? Perhaps someone near you who's also banded in Mexico will see this and be able to help you.

I have not heard anything about surgeons not working with patients who were banded in Mexico so I'm not going to claim to be sure about that but I really can't imagine that they won't work with you. It seems like a decent amount of people are banded in Mexico and I don't imagine that would still continue if no one will work with them in the US. I would say keep trying to get into contact with them. The staff at my surgeons office suck! I have to hound them for results sometimes and I was banded in the US. Just be persistent and you will get what you need.

Who banded you in Mexico?

Many surgeons will not accept another doctor's patients...mine will, and I know he is the exception, not the rule.

In the event of an emergency, you would need to go to the ER; they bend the rules there quite a bit. I believe by law, there are designated hospitals which are required to treat patients who present there needing emergency treatment, and not allowed to turn anyone away.

I would contact the clinic/physician who did your surgery; they may know of a network of follow up care providers in your area who they have a professional relationship with. Otherwise, I would visit the office of a local doctor and ask to speak with someone; it's much more difficult to ignore a person standing in front of you than it is to simply not return a phone call.

You might also attend a local support group to ask the hospital and/or facilitator if they have the name of doctors willing to accept patients of other doctors.

Best wishes...I hope you can get good results soon!

Thanks everyone. I live in phoenix, az but was banded by dr almanza jerusalem hospital. It was a very good experience. I can return to them for fills but I was trying to save the travel time bc of work and my children etc...but I just got scared reading some posts and just needed some advice. Thank you for all imput!

Oh and thank you for the reassurance that the phoenix drs won't leave me out the door to die if it ever came to that kind of emergency!

Oh and thank you for the reassurance that the phoenix drs won't leave me out the door to die if it ever came to that kind of emergency!

Noooo, they definitely wouldn't do that! If you had an emergency, they would be bound by law to treat you.

I would contact the office who did you surgery and see if they can recommend anyone near you.

Noooo' date=' they definitely wouldn't do that! If you had an emergency, they would be bound by law to treat you.

I would contact the office who did you surgery and see if they can recommend anyone near you.[/quote']

Sounds good. I have a call into them now. Thank you very much!

Lots of good advice here. It will be difficult to find someone. I know of only one doc here in Denver who will do fills for patients with no doctor.

Go to the top of this page and click on surgeons. There are 11 in the Phoenix area. You might find one you weren't aware of? Good luck and don't limit yourself to just phoenix. You may have to travel to Denver, Dallas or LA?

tmf