Up until about two months ago i had every intension on getting a lap band. i was saving up every dollar i had for this $6000 lap band. i almost saved all the money i needed and if everything went perfectly i would have had my lap band surgery in JULY.

BUT everything didn't go perfectly. I lost my job and with bills, food , and haveing to find a new apartment i ended up spending all the money i saved up for the lap band.

At that time i was VERY depressed about it. I have been looking foward to that band forever and just like that- i couldn't afford it anymore....

Fastfoward to now i have done a lot more reaserch about the band and i found out how many people reallly were struggleing with it. and how people had a hard time with restriction and hunger and i realize that the band probably wouldn't have worked that well for me. and i also found a cheaper place that did lapbands gastric sleeves for a very cheap price. and now i got a new (better paying)job, i saved all the money i previously spent, and i plan on having my gastric sleeve surgery in october(for less money than the other facility was charging for a lapband)

So if it wasn't for that finiancial crisis i went through i would have done the lap band and regretted it like a lot of bandsters..

so what i thought was a curse at that time ended up being a blessing.:thumbup:

Edited September 12, 200916 yr by mnb

he was my doctor your in good hands! i'm almost three weeks out

nikki

Glad to hear it Nikki,

keep me posted as to your progress...

I am hoping my age doesn't hamper me in any way.

Feel good about the reassurances that it won't from others in this forum.

Mnb, check in daily for new posts and stay involved, I am sure it will all help!

Dr. Almanza did my original sleeve in July 2008 and just did my revision on Sept 3, 2009. I really like him and all the staff - we received top notch care and attention. I would not hesitate to recommend him or his facility and associates.:lol0:

Re: A Blessing in the form of a curse

oh god i haven't celebrated holloween in years. i completely forgot. and how did u get free airfare. did u get the $300 off for october?

____________________________________________________________

Did you mean $3000 off for Oct, as $300 isn't very much.

No I got the $5000 total cost for Sept and because I was the first to reply to the ad for this special of book the 28th and get free round trip airfare, I got that too. Important as it is going to cost them about $600 to fly me there and back. (I'm in Canada)

OMG stoongal u paid $5000 for your sleeve?!?! dude i need the number for that place.(thank god i still didn't pay the other place yet. i called them cause i thought i did see that $5000 ad with dr.reyes but i thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Apperently dr.reyes work for 2 different companies cause the company i was planning on going with their original price was $6000 but they said their was a sale and they take off $300 if i book in october.... My original date was like nov 3. but i could stand to save $700 is the company those emmanuel people? or is it a different company please send me a message with their name and number if it isn't emmanuel medical.

he was my doctor your in good hands! i'm almost three weeks out

nikki

girl you are so lucky u already had your surgery. i'm so anxious about mine i just cant stop eating.:thumbdown:pathetic.

anyway please tell me i need to know.

did it hurt?

are u hungry?

do u feel nauseous or ever through up?

did u lose any weight? how much?

how long did they allow u to stay after surgery?

did you get off at calexico or san diego?

how much did u pay for ur surgery?

what was your pre op diet was it liquid the whole week or something else?

what's the wheather like overthere?

is tiijuana as dangerous as they say?

did anyone try to rob, kill or kidnap u?

please tell me evrything.... you don't have to answer everything.

Dr. Almanza did my original sleeve in July 2008 and just did my revision on Sept 3, 2009:thumbup1:

Just curious, why did you need a sleeve revision? Did you have to pay

again?

Just curious, why did you need a sleeve revision? Did you have to pay

again?

My band worked well for a while and then in Feb. I developed severe Bronchitus - long story short - I coughed so hard that I believe at that time my band stitches ripped and my band moved upwards. For the next few months I had a couple fills and defills - when I had fill I could not sleep at night - constant coughing and puking. Finally in July I had a barium swallow which confirmed the slip. I chose to have a sleeve instead of a repair cause I was tired of trying to find fill people in Alberta (not easty) and the cost of them and getting to the appointments. Also I had read that one slip often leads to another. I was self pay both times but as a returning client I was treated very fairly financial by Dr. Almanza. 10 days out and feeling great!!

mnb call me and stoongal you will be fine there was man that wa 68 getting a mgb so age has nothing to do and you look cute and sassy with that hair cut. as of to date i'm down 28 pounds *sigh* only 144 more pounds to go.:sad0:

nikki

i'm going the 29th the very last thrsday, you're so lucky you're leaving in two weeks. i feel like i've been waiting forever.

are u going on a tuesday or thrsday? u know they have those awesome tuesday/thrsday specials.

Just Curious....How Much Does he Charge?

Money is SUPER Important with this Recession!!! :cursing:

Just Curious....How Much Does he Charge?

Money is SUPER Important with this Recession!!! :cursing:

I am sure because of the recession, business must be down - as it seems that most are all having specials.

look at the sponsors ads to the right.

cllick on the one with the bright yellow sun. Call the number once you get to the medical center ad itself. Talk to Shlirley and see what she can do. I called 1st of the month and was able to get the best deal. But, seems they are all willing to deal right now, so check them out.

I agree, anything that reduces the costs makes a real difference to many of ys!

Good lluck!:thumbup:

i think it depends on where and when u call. if u call emmanuel medical they kinda grill u before they give u a price. but if u call sandy she will tell you they have these tuesday/thrsday prices $6000 but if you go in october it's $5700(that's why i'm going the very last week of october). but i know some people get it for $5000. Even though $5000 is the prefered price, they're all pretty darn good prices compared to everywhere else.