Hello! My friend had her surgery in Mexico and had an awesome experience. She has had no complications and has lost 50 pounds so far. I have been yo yo dieting my whole life. I am 33, 5'5 and currently 180 pounds. I am wondering if they will still do the lapband on me at this weight. I know my bmi is considered in the obese range. In order to maintain this weight, I have to constantly be watching what I eat and exercising. I was even replacing two meals with shakes.

I have two small children and never have any energy. I have struggled with my weight all my life. I was 220 after my daughters were born and lost some weight, but it always comes back.

I was thinking about going to a weight loss clinic, but just wonder if it will just be another diet in the many I have done and I have done them all!

Please let me know if you know of a doctor in Mexico who will do the lapband on someone with only about 50 pounds to lose. I will also be paying cash, so if you can let me know how much it cost. I prefer to have a doctor with a lot of experience in a medical facility or hospital.

Thanks, BGB

There may be Dr.'s who will do it, I personally have no idea. Most have similar guidelines, but there are of course exceptions.

The band is very successful for many of us, but it is not the easy way out. You still have to work hard with it. Heck most of us on here are thrilled when we work to get down to where you are now!!!

If you have any questions, then try the weight loss clinic--it can't hurt.

Otherwise you will just have to look around at the websites, and chat with a few offices, to see if you can fit into the established guidelines at different Dr.'s.

Good Luck

Kat

First...where you are now is practically my goal...so, to me, to have that height and weight would be just great.

Then...ON AVERAGE...the typical banding patient loses 60% of her excess weight. So, paying ten-to-thirty-grand out of pocket would, ON AVERAGE, help you lose about 30 pounds. (YMMV) Just so you know the likely outcome.

I think you need to find out why, with a BMI of 30, you are exhausted all the time. Mine is DOWN TO 33 from a high of over 50 and I feel like the Energizer Bunny. Maybe, it's just that I feel good relative to how I felt before...but exhaustion at your age and your weight may have other causes.

Mine will do it for only 30 pounds overweight. Dr. Rodolfo Sanchez in Monterrey Mexico. He charges 8500.00 and has done over 7000 surgeries and been doing them since 1985 in Sweden then 1995 in Mexico. He is fabulous and the sweetest man you'll ever meet. That covers everything including free fills for life. You can call them and have your surgery in 2 weeks usually.

My BMI is over 50 almost 60. I remember 180 and will be thrilled when I see that number again. The exhaustion you are experiencing may be from something else. How do you sleep? Being so tired all the time can be caused by other maladies. Check with your doctor, get all the blood chemistries done to look for any abnormalities. I just found out I have sleep apnea! I thought it was my weight. I wish it was just my weight but I found out it wasn't. I would try the weight loss clinic.

I was 183 and am 5'2 at surgery - my bmi was around 33 (I think) - while this is lower than alot of bandsters i am the same as you in the sense I was a yo yo dieter my whole life and have been up and down the weight range (125-250) my whole life - a struggle filled with heartache my whole life -

Yes, many mexican docs will do your surgery - I went to Dr.Ortiz in Tijuana and was very pleased and he does many patients at even a lower bmi than i -

I was and am very happy with him as a surgeon - however, i have struggled like mad with living with the band and have lost 7lbs since surgery last november - so not a steller result. However as a yo yo dieter you know i could have easily gaiined 40lbs over the last year so i'm trying to be positive.

plus i have learned what a hard head i am around food.eating etc and learning to stop before stuffed, chewing food and going slow has been harder than anything (almost) i've ever done in my life. after one year i am finally learning some things - again thankful for that.

getting to the right restriction, learning to eat in the manner above, etc etc have been very challenging and while I love Dr. Ortyiz and staff to pieces - i needed more after care support than i was getting with them. So, if you go to Mexico make sure you also have a local support group and doc (imo) that will help you if you are one of the few that struggle as I am.

am i glad i did it - yes - although some higher bmi folks might wonder about why to do it at your weight - i understand completely - just do your research, realizxe you will still have to work at being successful and there are no guarantees - you will have to address ALL of your issues around food and dieting etc. but you can do it. good luck. mary

I'm kinda with Geezer Sue...your weight is my target weight and for the weight you're at I'd never have the surgery...but that being said you have to do what is right for you. Good luck making your decision.

hi ,i'm 67 ,live every day hoping not to GAIN,5-8 ,219 ;BM1 33.1 . hAD A STROKE IN 2000 -WORKED OUT 5 DAYS AWEEK THEN -NOW HAVE GAINED40 LBS OVER 6 YRS. MY ABNORMALITIES are hi pain sensation, keeping me from working out 1/4 of my post stroke routine. the blood pressure goes up the cholestrol goes up , the meds cause me pain in my joints. I FEEL TRAPPED the desire to exercise is there but so is the pain -most often the pain winns out.i'm positive if i lost my weight the joint pain would lessen the blood press would go down . i believe i can do this BUT does the stomach cause u/me to drink less + slower? bob

I was contacted by Dr. Ortiz's patient coordinator and she said they would do my surgery. The more I think about it, the more I think I want to do it. I have yo yo'd my whole life, getting up to 240. No matter what I do I cant get lower than 180-185. I am constantly thinking about my weight, my clothes feeling tight, what I can and can't eat, feeling irratable, confused.

I need to lose about 55 pounds or so.

I just want to be, think and feel like a normal person. Not obsessed with food and weight.

Thanks,Audree

Hi, i'm schedule in january in Tijuana Mexico with Dr kelly, they are very nice and give me all the information about the procedure, the package are excelent and it doens't cost much, i recommend you Dr. Ricardo R. Kelly,his phone numbre here in us is 619-793-4869 and website www.obesitybusters.com hope that this information would be usefull

Gaby.

Choose your Dr. wisely---do not take a name and run with it, this IS surgery--one where complications can and DO happen. It is not something to take lightly. Research the surgery and the surgeon completely. There are people on here who will hawk not just their own Dr, also some who work for Dr.s and make it to seem they are patients.

My suggestion to you is to "pretend" if you will, that you are deciding this surgery for your own Mom or your daughter. You are responsible for making the safest and wisest choice for them. Sometimes we make less safe decisions for ourselves, than our loved ones. You are just as important...make it a wise decision. We can tell you how our surgery went, and even who did it. How our experiences were with that Dr....but nothing stands up to your own close scrutiny in the decision.

Good Luck

Kat

Actually Kat have a good point i know the doctor because he called me, do a lot of research of the dr that you are planning to have, check the testimonials of persons and ask for refferrals, good luck with Dr Ortiz.

Gaby.

Anyone here use Mexico Extreme Makeover with Dr. Ricardo Kelly? i thin k they have a great deal, but haven't talked to anyone on here that has used them. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Tammy

Audree,

Did you have your surgery? I'm in kinda the same boat, but weigh 200 and I'm only 28 y/o. If you did are you glad you did it?

Kelli