I just wanted to warn anyone that is considering going to Mexico for surgery. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know you may be determined and feel like this is the only way, BUT IF you have any complications, you're in bad shape! My surgery was in Apr 06, and I've been dealing w/ a deadly infection (pseudomonas) this whole year. I've spent weeks in the hospital, and was lucky enough to FINALLY find a wonderful American Dr that would even treat me (after several mos of searching and being turned down). Not only did I loose my job because of this, my unpaid medical bills are around $40,000 at this point (for that much money, not only could I have had surgery in the states, but also a shiny new sports car, lol)

My ordeal will not be over anytime soon. Unexpectedly I became pregnant, and I won't be able to be treated any further until after the baby is born in Oct 07. Not even any antibiotics. Until then, I will just have to deal w/ a painful, draining infection (which I am almost used to). And at that point, our last and only option will probably have to be removal of the band all together. The thought of having the band removed after all I've been through is very disheartening, but nothing compared to my fear for the baby's health.

So, if I had just been patient, and saved my money for another year, I would've been able to have surgery in the states, and avoided all this.

I understand there are TONS of success stories out of Mexico. That is what I focused on, and thought that I was invinsible. The savings in time and money was not worth it....not even close. If you go to another country for medical surgery, it is a dangerous, HIGH RISK gamble. So please reconsider.

And just an FYI.... I used Betancourt Medical in Tijuana, Mex. Since my surgery I have found several, several of their former patients that have had life threatening complications. So please steer clear.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions!!!!!

Natalies Mommy, first let me say how sorry I am for what you are going through, it's terrible. Pregnancy should be the happiest time of someones life, not filled with worry and stress. I must say that I was banded by Dr Huacuz a couple of weeks ago and was 100% impressed. I spoke with tons of his previous patients from back when he was with Molding Clinic and working with Betancourt, he is no longer and hasn't been working with that group in almost 2 yrs. From what I am told, he left that group due to so many troubles brought on by the owner Betancourt, and Betancourts need to play doctor and not involve Dr Huacuz in decisions that were made for the patients care after their procedures (too cheap to spend the money on needed tests and such) Like I said, I talked with atleast a dozen patients and they all said the same thing, Dr Huacuz is great! The few problems that I heard from people were that Betancourt didn't give them the oppurtunity to talk to Huacuz. This is all second hand, but judging by my experience and the experience of the 3 other ladies that were at the hospital at the same time as me, we all couldn't be happier. I have had serious issues with gas and I called Dr Huacuz personal cell, which he gave all of us, at midnight his time and he didn't hesitate to talk with me. I even got a picture from the xray clinic the day after my lap band was put on showing the exact placement and that it was working properly. Anyway, i'm sorry to go on and on, but it worries me that a wonderful surgeons reputation could be further damaged by being thrown in with the whole Betancourt Saga...Good luck Natalies mommy with your baby and your health.

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I've been searching this board for a while and those names seem to pop up a lot. Anyone else have any insight?

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From what I understand, Dr Huacuz wasn't your surgeon was he?

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From what I understand, Dr Huacuz wasn't your surgeon was he?

Right. Dr Huacuz was not my surgeon and I have no personal experiences w/ him. Dr. Lopez banded me.

Also, I'm glad to hear you received the follow-up care you were in need of!!! Thanks for sharing your story!

So sorry you had such rotten luck. I and Funny and another girl went the same day and had a wonderful experience and I've sent 13 people since and all with no problems. I think the doc has a whole lot to do with it. Hope your doing better soon. The first thing I done after finding a surgeon who'd done thousand's in Mexico was find a doctor here who would take care of me the min. I got home and Dr. Curry has done that.

I had to go to the hospital this week to have some fill taken out. i dont know why i couldnt get anything down. i hadnt eaten in days and was very weak and didnt have the strength to drive to mexico to see dr. huacuz, so the er docs tried to take out some of my fill. they couldnt get it. they called the medical director of radiology, dr. agha. He came in and did a catscan of my whole chest and abdominal area. he took out 3cc of my fill. while he was doing this he was telling me he used to do the lapband surgery in ohio. so he is very knowledgable. after the catscan he took me in his office and went over all my results. he said the doctor who put in my band (dr. huacuz) , did an excellent job. he said the placement was perfect and no sign of slipping or swelling. he also said my port was well placed and stiched well. he made several comments on the quality of the work dr. huacuz did on me. so this was very good to hear. i post on here often on how awsome doctor huacuz is and how well he treats me. i only hope that people will have as good a doctor as mine or that they go to dr. huacuz. he is such a good doctor and so caring. i think the catscan is the way to go if you are concerned about any damage or slipping. the catscan was so cool. i could see all my organs and my band. everything was much more detailed than the floro. i will wait a few weeks to have another fill to rest. i think that i get stressed out and then i cant eat , then my band just tightens shut. i dont get it. but i feel better knowing that a well known and respected doctor here thinks that doctor huacuz did a good job.

Nataliesmommy, I am sorry to hear what happenned to you. Unfortunately, I have the same problem, I`ve been infected too with pseudomonas, I made different antibiotics treatments and it`s still there !!!! Could you share with me the experience you had with your " excellent doctor" you found meaning what treatment did he gave you ? I am really desperate with this infection ! Thank you very much !

P.S. English is not my first language so you have to excuse an eventual mistake in my reply.

Nataliesmommy, I am sorry to hear what happenned to you. Unfortunately, I have the same problem, I`ve been infected too with pseudomonas, I made different antibiotics treatments and it`s still there !!!! Could you share with me the experience you had with your " excellent doctor" you found meaning what treatment did he gave you ? I am really desperate with this infection ! Thank you very much !

P.S. English is not my first language so you have to excuse an eventual mistake in my reply.

Hi Sausha! I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

As soon as my culture came back as pseudomonas, my doctor very strongly suggested that I be admitted into the hospital for a week to receive IV antibiotics. She said the only meds that are effective w/ this infection, come in IV form only. So, that's what I did. But the source of the infection wasn't cured, so it just came right back. Then she tried going in and cleaning around my port, around the source of the infection, which did not work either.

She's a good doctor, but there's only so much she can do. Therefore, my band will probably have to be removed.

Were you taking oral antibiotics? Has your doctor said what he plans to do now that the meds didn't work?

Hi Sausha! I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

As soon as my culture came back as pseudomonas, my doctor very strongly suggested that I be admitted into the hospital for a week to receive IV antibiotics. She said the only meds that are effective w/ this infection, come in IV form only. So, that's what I did. But the source of the infection wasn't cured, so it just came right back. Then she tried going in and cleaning around my port, around the source of the infection, which did not work either.

She's a good doctor, but there's only so much she can do. Therefore, my band will probably have to be removed.

Were you taking oral antibiotics? Has your doctor said what he plans to do now that the meds didn't work?

First, I took an oral antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin). No results. After, my doctor tried too going in to clean and extract the port (being contaminated). After that, I took IV antibiotics for 5 days, Amikacin combined with Sulperazon. I don`t know if there are the same name to the antibiotics ( I`m from Europe). It didn`t work either and the doctor said to me today to go in again, to clean and to let the plague opened without sewing.

But I really don`t think the surgery is the way, I rather trust in treatments, so I am starting to look for informations in order to avoid another intervention. I heard about a vaccin made from your own cells against this bacteria.

What antibiotics your doctor gave to you ?

First, I took an oral antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin). No results. After, my doctor tried too going in to clean and extract the port (being contaminated). After that, I took IV antibiotics for 5 days, Amikacin combined with Sulperazon. I don`t know if there are the same name to the antibiotics ( I`m from Europe). It didn`t work either and the doctor said to me today to go in again, to clean and to let the plague opened without sewing.

But I really don`t think the surgery is the way, I rather trust in treatments, so I am starting to look for informations in order to avoid another intervention. I heard about a vaccin made from your own cells against this bacteria.

What antibiotics your doctor gave to you ?

I don't remember the name of the IV antibiotics... I would have to go dig up my medical records. But this last time she put me on levaquin... which I had to stop taking because I'm pregnant.

I've pretty much had the same treatment as you, she tried going in and cleaning it out, and the antibiotics. I'm afraid she's out of ideas.....

I don't remember the name of the IV antibiotics... I would have to go dig up my medical records. But this last time she put me on levaquin... which I had to stop taking because I'm pregnant.

I've pretty much had the same treatment as you, she tried going in and cleaning it out, and the antibiotics. I'm afraid she's out of ideas.....

:angry:angry:angry Unfortunately, I think mine too ... and I don`t know what to do next : to let him go in again or to try other kind of treatments... My only fear is that he is going in again and doesn`t resolve the problem. I am sick to have an intervention every one or two months.

:angry:angry:angry Unfortunately, I think mine too ... and I don`t know what to do next : to let him go in again or to try other kind of treatments... My only fear is that he is going in again and doesn`t resolve the problem. I am sick to have an intervention every one or two months.

I can relate! My incision barely has time to heal before my next dr's appointment, and she has to go back in. It's caused me a lot of downtime, and I'm unable to work. It would break my heart to have to loose my band w/out loosing all the weight that I needed to. However, I'm not sure if all this pain, and the risk of the infection is worth loosing more weight.

Keep in touch w/ me and let me know what you decide to do!

Isn't this doctor part of the Molding Clinic/Betancourt Medical/Dr. Haucez I've read so many complaints about?

I've been searching this board for a while and those names seem to pop up a lot. Anyone else have any insight?

I went to Dr. Huacuz and had a great experience. My scars and healing time was less than anyone I know who had the surgery stateside.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

Isn't this doctor part of the Molding Clinic/Betancourt Medical/Dr. Haucez I've read so many complaints about?

I've been searching this board for a while and those names seem to pop up a lot. Anyone else have any insight?

No, Dr. Huacuz has his own clinic. He is a great surgeon and doctor. I have had absoultly NO complaints about him. Besides the original post didn't even mention a doctor. Why bring him up now?

Arealsweety

No, Dr. Huacuz has his own clinic. He is a great surgeon and doctor. I have had absoultly NO complaints about him. Besides the original post didn't even mention a doctor. Why bring him up now?

Arealsweety

Yeah, I just want to clarify again that I did not use Dr. Huacez. I've never met him. He was at the clinic way before I had my surgery.

NataliesMommy I'm sorry about what you had to endure, but that could have happened in any hospital whether Mexican or American. We have to admit that complications DO happen no matter where we are located. I wish you the best and a speedy recovery.

By the way, I go to Tijuana for medical care EXCLUSIVELY to Dr. Huacuz. I trust him! He banded me on November 3, 2005 and has done follow ups and fills since. He has treated me for several non-band related illnesses, the latest of which was a vocal cord infecton. Dr. Huacuz is GREAT and I wouldn't trade him for the American doctor I had to dismiss.

How is my weight loss progress? I am now down 97# with only 60 or 70 to go. I am THRILLED! People think I am 15 years younger than I really am!

Again, I wish you a speedy recovery and congrats on the new baby!

Arealsweety

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Hello,

Im so sorry for what you went through. I have used DR.Huacuz for my Lap band and would do it over again. I also went back and had a Breast lift and implant and The Doctor does do Implants but the lift he told me he was going to bring another Doctor in to do the lift Becouse he wasnt comfortable with doing that yet though he has been bringing this Doctor in and working with him on this procedure. That really showed me that he was concerned about and not taking all my money for his self. I have Rhuemitiod athritis and I get Infection ALOT. I did have a small infection in my stitches and Doctor ask me to come back he treated me gave me a big supply of dressings for my stitches(did not charge me of course) I have lost all my weight and started to ask him about Tummy tucks and a body lift he told me he had to be very careful with me and my illness and give it a year to become strong in my body and of course I want everything done overnight and he told me I could find a doctor that would take my money and ignore my illness but he would feel better if I waited. I love the Doctor and would never think of going anywere else.

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Shannan