Just thought I would let everyone know, A year ago today I was on Life support do to the neglegeince of a surgeon in Mexico. :think I was put in a California Hospital because Mexico did not have the facilities for the complications that went wrong.. They saved my life. I had 2 more weeks to live and they was letting me go. Thank God I did pull through only by a miracle! I have had 6 surgerys since the first Lap-band surgery. It was hell and i hope many reads what I have to say, and if any questions please feel free to contact me. I went to Mexico to have the surgery done because of financial reason. Probably like most of you, It ended up costing me over $500,000 due to stupidity. So please, do much thinking and research before making the decision. Being alive is much better, then being dead and skinny!:clap2:

NewSho

Glad to see you tiptoe back in also, Feel free to dive in head first next time..LOL

Its really difficult for me to understand why everyone defends or tears down mexican doctors. I dont think anyone is trying to persuade other LBT people to stay away from Mexico -- they are just sharing stories and advising us to DO OUR RESEARCH.

I appreciate all this information, all the stories, and yeah-- to be honest.. Mexico does sound scary but I wouldnt discount it. I would contact a few patients of the surgeon that I wanted just as I would do in the U.S and see their opinion.

But people really... you get what you pay for.

BTW misfortune, I am very happy that you are alive and healing! Thanks very much for sharing your story. Im sure it will definitely stick in everyones mind and we will all continue to pray for your complete recovery

Thank you very much for your reply and I really really appreciate your thoughts and prayers! I can not say how much i appreciate it. No words can describe!:nervous And like I said before, I am not trying to dog Mexican surgeons at all! But like you said in your last sentence, "you get what you pay for." And all I am trying to get people to do is "think" something I didnt do.. No matter the research and how wonderful the doctor is, it doesnt change that accidents happen. And the facility is not there to take care of those random accidents, then why take the risk! Life is to short and valuable.. You cant put a $ sign on your life. And not everyone has great insurance , or tons of money just laying around. C'mon this is the real world! So if you do decide to do this surgery or any other procedure, just make sure they can take care of you no matter what can happen. And dont be dumb like me , and just take their word! Because when most or rather I say "alot" of people see money signs , they will say what you want to hear. Goodluck to everyone and best wishes.. I really hope everyone has a happy ending!

NEW SHO,

Have you ever met Dr. Rumbaut? Have you personally been to the hospital in Monterrey? Do you perform medical research? Have you ever been to the surgical facilities in Tijuana? If not, then true your "opinion" is worth 2 cents.

Misfortune,

I am really sorry you had such a horrendous experience. You are that small percentage that makes us all terrified to go under the knife. I am sorry it happened to you.

Okay...about the "you get what you pay for" thing. Not always. Insurance sets the fees for most US banded patients...and whether it's Joe Blow, MD doing his FIRST unproctored band placement or George Fielding doing his several thousandth placement, the price is the same.

For sure, Fielding is a good deal. But Joe Blow, MD coming out the gate? Not on MY body. Give me Rumbaut (my surgeon) at the hospital in Monterrey, MX.

Boo, I have met Dr. Rumbaut, he did my surgery at the hospital in Monterrey, and I returned to Monterrey for follow-up. I ALSO went to Kuri's old place--about eight rooms; a birthing center, really; the price listed on the board was $47/night...talk about getting what you pay for! In that case, Kuri was a bargain, but the facility was just not (yes, I'm a snob) good enough for ME. I'm just not a share-the-restoom with the other FOUR patients in your room kind of girl. Some people are fine with that. But for anyone who hasn't visited outside the US to go there without understanding that "hospital" means something different there...more like a kind of rustic urgent care center or something...with a FEW doctors who work out of the place...maybe three or five.

And, I see you are an Ortiz patient. He uses a much better equipped Radiological Center--I've been there several times--than Kuri's x-ray place. But there is no hospital in Tijuana that is on a par, in terms of staff size and training and equipment, with the even the most modest community hospital available in most areas of the US. Mexico City is different and there are banding doctors there in big ol' hospitals just like in Monterrey..and just like every US city of any size has.

I'm not fond of Mexico-bashing. But I'm not fond of Tijuana hospitals, either. Many, many people ARE okay with them, and I'd never say, "Oh! Don't go there!" I just hate to see someone go by what they read online and travel there and then panic when they encounter a four-doctor hosptial or the like.

Oh, you're addressing me?

I rarely get teased or challenged by ghosts, so this is a treat.

How nice to be flagged by a cartoon character. Priceless.

Let's see - recapping my posts (I'll try to stay away from the big words for you) :

• I admitted that I had major complications with my surgery IN THIS COUNTRY
  
• Surmised that I think I was saved in large part, due to my surgeon & top medical facility being minutes away
  
• Am not a Rumbaut patient but have most definitely had the pleasure of seeing him in person (*yum*)
  
• Have been banded 5 yrs. and have mentored literally dozens of patients, including those who were banded both in Mexico & domestically
  
• Am getting my Masters in Health Care Admin - with a nod to Bariatric Specialisation (if only the Academic G-ds will grant me full approval :phanvan )
  
• Speak Spanish fluently, spent time in Mexico and 'peeped out' the facilities in question - for both LapBanding and plastic surgery.
  
• His new place is better but Kuri's old place was a McSurgery Shack. Even by TJ standards, it sucked. I repeat, I refer to it as a McSurgery Shack. Got it?

If there is anything else you want to question me on about Mexican medical facilities? My opinion can be worth 2 cents to you, hon, but I stand by mine.

Enjoy your week.

Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All...

NEW SHO,

Have you ever met Dr. Rumbaut? Have you personally been to the hospital in Monterrey? Do you perform medical research? Have you ever been to the surgical facilities in Tijuana? If not, then true your "opinion" is worth 2 cents.

First of all, Misfortune, I am sorry if I diverted your thread in some way. Your story is so shocking and horrific! It is amazing you survived. You must have a very strong will. Your warning is valid and appreciated.

Sho, I apologize for I am not trying to pick a fight with you. I speak in defense of good doctors. This board can easily ruin doctors' reputations by opinions, and that is unfair. I also have a Masters Degree, so "big words" don't "scare" me away.

We are extremely blessed to live in this country with advanced technology, skilled surgeons, available health insurance, and easily obtainable antibiotics. For many of us, lapband surgery is not possible in the U.S. due to low B.M.I. levels. Yeah, the thought of going to Mexico for surgery, at first, is a "scary" one. Yet, I completely believe that there are highly skilled surgeons in countries that lack the resources available to the surgeons here.

My brother is a world-renowned surgeon. He travels to third world countries to train surgeons and to donate equipment and supplies. I have met some of these surgeons. They can barely support their families working in places like Indonesia, and countries in Africa. They attend seminars in the U.S. and love their profession. They are highly intelligent; they just happened to be born in another country.

My reason for posting on this thread:

1. I want to join other bandsters in wishing "Misfortune" a healthy future. I am so sorry for your terrible ordeal. It could have happened to any of us. We all know the risks, but the percentage is so small, we don't think it will happen to us. For me, it was a risk that I was willing to take because I have felt so miserable being obese. Again, I am so sorry this happened to you! Your warning is extremely important and helpful to all of us!

2. I value first-hand experience. The many patients of Rumbaut praise the Monterrey experience and his skill. I completely believe them. Ortiz is my surgeon. I received excellent care, and had no complications in an immaculate, modern surgery center.

3. I live in SoCal and speak in defense of our Mexican neighbors. For me, Tijuana is minutes away from top medical facilities and fairly close to home. Monterrey would be quite a distance for me to travel. Also, I am confident there are many excellent surgeons to select in Mexico. When I was going under for my surgery, I felt completely at peace in the hands of Dr. Ortiz.

Wishing a healthy future to all!

Jboy...I too live in Las Vegas and I called Fisher/Atkinson place since they are the best in town and been to the seminar twice.... ......I was told by the lady who answered the phone don't go to Mexico they sometimes put the bands in upside down! And Fisher charges a 3000 up front payment to take you on as a paitent after going to Mexico .... fills extra...........I guess its his little slap on the wrist......Considering I know from Inamed saying they have sat on the same "board of experts" at times........So even though Fisher is all warm and fuzzy and loves Ortiz you still get charged 3000......Sure I would love to stay and have the Fisher group do my band but HPN does not cover bands:mad:

First of all I would just like to say that I am so sorry that you had to go through something like this Misfortune. My thoughts are forever with you. I have never read anything so disturbing as your story.

Second, to the others that were jumping on Misfortune for telling her story... gimme a break. I don't even know this person, but my heart goes out to her and for you to say that she can't bad mouth the Dr. that did this to her is BS.

I be damned if I have a surgery and almost die and don't tell the whole world about it. She had every right to. I don't care if your Surgery was in Mexico, U.S., or any other place. I wouldn't touch this Dr. with a ten foot pole just because of this horrible story and you can tell from her post that she was simply stating her story, and that we should all do our research.

THANK you for sharing this with me!!!! Misfortune!

Misfortune (Miss Fortunate),

Thank you for sharing your story. It's completely amazing to me. It's also amazing that the doctor who did that to you could be so uncaring. I mean, sure, mistakes can happen, and yes, they may not have been prepared for it, but beyond that, there is so much more they could do for you.

I hope that you'll stick around so that we can help support you through your healing process and going forward.

Last thing that I should do is weigh in here but.... here I go.

Complications are awful in health care. Some are preventable. Some are not.

In choosing a surgeon, your best bet is someone who has done the procedure many, many times (research supports this) and who still cares. Because if they are experienced and they still care, your likelihood of serious complications is decreased.

Now how the heck is the average consumer going to discover this.

My big gripe with lapband in the US is that these surgeons just are not trained to do it. In Mexico and Europe and Australia, they have ten years on us. Our surgeons have not been trained in residency to do it. They moslly have not done it in fellowships. Finally, our insurance structure in the US drive Gastric Bypass and disallows lap band.

I am a self pay individual for whom location was not a barrier, i.e. I can pay to rates here and in Mexico. I also thought about Europe. Didn't think Australia would "fly" on the home front. I went with the trainer of trainers. I am very happy with my decision. I had a minor problem and I was glad that I was near the hospital. Most of the late complications of gastric banding do not require surgeon to necessarily work them up. And the treatment is usually fairly simple-removal of the band. Simple medically-but really cruddy if it is you (and not simple).

Post op complications can happen at any time-any medical person can tell you about the kid in for a knee scope who develops a PE during anesthesia and dies. Or the gall bladder that goes septic and dies. Or a prosthesis that becomes infected years after implantation. Always seems to happen to nice people.

I think the real issue in this thread is how do people choose. Consumers really do not have all of the facts. You don't get a report on you physician saying how he or she has screwed up in the past. I was researching one well respected local US doctor and contacted a woman on the boards and she admitted that this doc perforated her stomach. And yet the burden is on all of us.... And we get defensive about our decisions.

Tragically, I also think this is a disease that makes people desparate on so many levels. That is not a place for good decision making.

Oh and misfortune-I am so glad you survived. I hope you continue to recover-it will get better.

Jboy...I too live in Las Vegas and I called Atkins place since they are the best in town and been to the seminar twice.... ......I was told by the lady who answered the phone don't go to Mexico they sometimes put the bands in upside down! And Atkins charges a 3000 up front payment to take you on as a paitent after going to Mexico .... fills extra...........I guess its his little slap on the wrist......Considering I know from Inamed saying they have sat on the same "board of experts" at times........So even though Atkins is all warm and fuzzy and loves Ortiz you still get charged 3000......Sure I would love to stay and have the Atkins group do my band but HPN does not cover bands:mad:

Hootiebelle,

The first thing that would scare me is the telephone chick. I don't trust people who--when they should be telling me how good they are--try to accomplish that by telling how bad someone else is.

The next thing is that I don't know of Atkins or whether he's the best place in town or not...but I CAN tell you that three years ago or so, there were NO banding doctors in Las Vegas. so how experienced is he and how experienced are any other Las Vegas-based band doctors? The highest percentage of band complications come from doctors doing their first thirty to fifty bands.

What I think is dangerous about the band these days is how many blind-leading the-blind situations are going on. There are way too many doctors who have done just enough bands to be really piss poor at it. They may pull off the surgery okay, but they have no idea about the post-op management and that is the entire key to band success.