Am "signed up" to have band place by Dr Joya in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. Anyone know of or had surgery by their clinic? Comments, positive or negative pls.

One concern is the risk of blood clots - "pulmonary embollism" - which most docs'/clinics' sites are quite forthcoming about admitting is a risk -- but who's susceptible & why or what pre-existing conditions? How can one test themselves to see if they are prone to such a risk? What can one do to guard against possibility of a such an occurrence? What are general % odds? Anybody know? Anybody know of someone to whom this happened?

Tks

Lorrie Zuzek

Dear Lorrie :

about your concern with blood clots, what surgeons do to prevent or diminish the risk of this event happening are three things :

1= anticoagulant one hour prior to surgery

2= squezzers on your legs

3= the most important issue, early ambulation postoperatively 4 to 6 hours after your operation

there are certain risk to develop DVT-TPE including but not limited to sedentarism, prolonged bedrest, certain operations especially pelvic involving operation, certain drugs, etc. , wheter this aply to you I dont know. I am recomending you and excellent surgeon who has practiced bariatric surgery with succes , he´s based in Tijuana , his name is Ricardo R. Kelly, he has placed over a thousand bands with no complications, not major anyway, just the normal to any procedure his page is www.obesitybusters.com and his phone number is 619 793 4869. I hope you can benefit from my advice.

Charles

In January, I suffered PE's to both lungs and it's not something I would ever want to go through again. PE's affect more women than men and predisposing factors include obesity, smoking, an unknown hypercoagulability (tendency to clot faster/more than normal), birth control pills and any other hormonal device that contains estrogen, prolonged dehydration, immobility, etc.

I had my surgery after the PE's and had to come off the coumadin (blood thinner) to do so. Thankfully, all went well. The chances of PE's being a problem for a quick surgery like lapband are quite low and others have discussed precautions that are taken. You'll do great.

Welcome Lorrie

I dont know of the percentages of this occuring...but there are plenty of 'banders' that have not had any probs with their lapband...I wish you all the best in your weightloss journey