I'm scheduled May 8 (I have a Hawaiian vacation planned in between) for banding in Monterrey, Mexico. Can anyone tell me about their experience with Dr. Rumbaut?

Hey Donna, I'm leaving tonight for my surgey with Dr. Rumbaut. I'll be back on Sunday the 18th and let you know how it went. Im so excited and nervous!

I am actually in Monterrey now. I was banded yesterday. Everything went beautifully. He and his staff were extremely professional. Hospital is up to american standards. Hotel is nice. Ask ques and I will try to answer

My experience wasn't that great. He was no where to be found after I was discharged from the hospital. At the hotel on the second day, I was running a fever and we kept calling his cell, as well as his staffs, and finnally ended up calling the EMT's. They gave me another fever reducer and a pain killer. It was very scary because I didn't speak spanish, and the only ones who spoke Eng were the hotel staff and Docs. I would only recomend going if either, you take someone for support or speak fluent Spanish.

I totally agree that you need to speak some Spanish or have someone with you who speaks Spanish in Monterrey. The doctors are all fluent in English but the nurses aren't. I had to heavily rely on my little Spanish dictionary and what I could remember from college Spanish classes to try and tell them what I needed. I did not get nearly enough help from Dr. Fox in preparing for that trip. They didn't even give me Dr. Rumbaut's phone number before I left. I had to fend for myself and figure it out on the fly.

That said, I do think he did a fine job on my surgery and I would recommend him. He did my band back in Sept 2001.

I just returned from Monterey last night, where I was banded by Dr. Rumbault on Thursday. It could not have been better - Dr. Rumbault and his team are amazing! They take really good care of you throughout the stay - even coming to the hotel for check ups after surgery. The hotel is great and very conveniently located. Knowing spanish would be helpful, but believe me, not necessary. The hotel has patients in every week, and know exactly what you need when you need it. I would highly recommend Dr. Rumbault to anyone considering lap band!

The hotel staff can speak some english, but what I meant was, they know the procedure - when you need to go for pre-ops, when you need to be at the hospital, etc. The transportation is all pre-arranged for you. If you need to ask questions, the hotel staff will call the Dr./hospital for you. Their experience just really made me feel that I was in good hands, even though I don't speak spanish...

I am considering going to mexico for the surgery. Do I have to go to Mexico for a consultation first, or would i be able to make an appointment and head down there and handle everyting at one time? I am currently working overseas so traveling to mexico right now is next to impossible. How much did everything cost, hospital stay included?. I am assuming everything is out of pocket. Just some general questions from a future bandster :-)

All of the preop stuff is done online or on the phone. You go to Mexico the day before surgery, meet the Dr., get pre-op tests done, etc. You will spend the night of your surgery in the hospital; The cost for me was $10,600 - includes all costs of surgery, preops, hospital, and 3 nights at the hotel, including all transportation. And yes, it was out of pocket. Fills are free if you return to Mexico for them...

Dr. Rumbualt's website is gastricband.com - it will have a lot of answers for you

Wow you were banded recently, how is it? Is it uncomfortable? Do you find that you need alot of after care? Do you need a fill or is everything still tight? Congrats on taking the leap. I hope to be banded in June. I am doing alot of research on mexico. How were the facilities and the doctor, how was he?

After the surgery was a lot more painful than I expected...but it bets better after a couple of days. There is no saline in my band right now, so there's no restriction - although I wasn't at all hungry until yesterday. I'll still be on a full liquid diet for another week. Dr. Rumbault and his team were great! Extremely nice and seem to really care about your success. The hospital was extremely clean (I'm a nurse), and the hotel was great. They really have the process refined so that you're very well taken care of, and don't have to worry about anything. It's nice if you can have someone with you (my sister went with me) but there were several people who got banded the same day as me that were there alone. We all checked on each other, and did a lot of things together- it made it nice to have a group. I would definitely recommend Dr. Rumbault.

Hi,

I also did all my consulting on the phone, and then preop tests the day before. They answered any questions I had. You can even talk to the doc. if you ask. I was banded march 1 and am doing great. The pain was mild and went away after about 10 days. I feel almost normal now. I have lost 18lbs.

Wow, much respect for you guys. How much after care has been needed since ya'll were banded. Have fills been needed yet? If the band is too tight is there pain or is it more of not being able to keep food down?

I have not had a fill yet, and have not needed one. The earliest I can get one is April 15. My doc was Rumbaut. It was $10,600. I went on a Wedneday and returned home on Sunday.

That said, I do think he did a fine job on my surgery and I would recommend him. He did my band back in Sept 2001.

Hi. I'm considering having surgery with Dr. Rumbaut. Would you really recommend him? Do you mind if I ask why you were disbanded? Was it something the doctor did wrong with the surgery?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Melissa