I just registered with this forum today and I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Geoffrey, 55yo, and live in Bothell ('burb of Seattle), WA. I have been a Registered Nurse for 22 years. I had my lap band surgery on Oct 3rd, '06, by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. Before any of you freak out about the location, I want you to know this facility was excellent, and so was my physician. Extremely clean, deluxe rooms, and excellent care. I decided to not battle with my insurance company, because I knew I wouldn't qualify. So I paid privately. Anyway, all is well with me and I have lost 17 lbs.. I am going to have my first fill in mid November. Hope to be talking with you soon.

Welcom Big Buck!

You'll love it here! lots of support and info.

congrats on the 17lbs gone forever!

Hi Geoffrey and :welcome: to LBT! I understand not wanting to hassle with insurance, I knew mine wouldn't cover, so I went self-pay as well.

So, it has been a couple of weeks since your surgery now, tell us how you are feeling. Have you started on mushies yet? I remember my first mushie, it was scrambled eggs and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Anyways, welcome again, we look forward to getting to know you.

Hi Geoffrey--sounds very familiar...many of us chose the same route! Glad to hear you are doing so well. You have found a great support site. Any questions you have you will find someone here to help you...I cannot tell you how fortunate I feel to have this bunch to turn to!!! Take some time to cruise around the site, you will find all kinds of forums...lot's of great advice, and lot's of laughs as well!

Continued good luck to you, and welcome to LBT!!!

Kat

Welcome to LBT and to bandland! Great weight loss! :) You know that old saying "we don't care how you got here, just so you made it?" Well, we are glad you made it regardless of where you were banded!:Banane10:

I just registered with this forum today and I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Geoffrey, 55yo, and live in Bothell ('burb of Seattle), WA.

Welcome to Band-land.

I grew up in Bothell, have you lived there long?

Greetings!

There's plenty to learn, and lots of great people here!

Enjoy!

Welcome Big Buck,

I know what you mean about saying anything about the location, doesn't anything make me any more upset than people that do that. I have worked in the nursing field too and I had mine done in Monterrey Mexico, first time I was ever in Mexico in my life and self pay and I can say from my heart that my hospital was much better than the ones I have worked in and I was treated much much better in Mexico than ever in the States. I had a very complicated neck surgery over a year ago, and didn't have health insurance at the time and it was from a car wreck that wasn't my fault, and Ky. is a no fault State and after this complicated surgery I went to have stitches out and was scheduled for a visit 2 weeks later and they called me at home and said, unless you have the 29,000.00 to pay on your next visit we won't see you, so, after this major surgery, I never seen my surgeon again and had to see my pcp for this.

I could never say enough good things about Dr. Sanchez and Mexico, it was a wonderful experience and I think unless someone has had they're surgery there and seen it firsthand they should not comment on this subject, it is a very sticky subject.

Good luck on your journey, and kudos for Mexico.