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!!!!!

Bravo! I appreciate your intelligent reply. Have you any info on Dr Alexander Quiroz in TJ/ He works with Dr Owens in the US. So my follow-up will be with the US Dr., close to home. Dr. Owens is one of the pioneers in this type of surgery from what I have read and works closely with Dr. Quiroz. Any feedback? thanks!

Sorry about your troubles!

FYI my dad had foot surgery in the US last summer, he got a terrible infection (not a staph but can't remember name) that has virtually disabled him since. He had to retire and is on home IVs for several hrs a day! Unfortunately with the way the antibiotic use is these days, it is becoming more and more common everywhere.

WASaBubble Butt - do you have some control issues.... Do you always have to be right?? Do you have to pick everything apart - I am new to this board and my gosh - afraird to post anything cuz you will cut it up into 20 million pieces and devoure me whole.... (and yes i can't spell) Nat'sMommy was generalizing which i understood - I won't go to a Doctor in Mexico or out of my area due to the after care situation period - if i had a problem i want it to be taken care of locally I don't want to have to travel for 5 hrs to get to the Doctor.... I am just curising these boards as I want to get banded. but want to see what's out there and what to expect - i don't expect to be trashed or every little word taken as black & white - Take a chill pill.

WASaBubble Butt - do you have some control issues.... Do you always have to be right?? Do you have to pick everything apart - I am new to this board and my gosh - afraird to post anything cuz you will cut it up into 20 million pieces and devoure me whole.... (and yes i can't spell) Nat'sMommy was generalizing which i understood - I won't go to a Doctor in Mexico or out of my area due to the after care situation period - if i had a problem i want it to be taken care of locally I don't want to have to travel for 5 hrs to get to the Doctor.... I am just curising these boards as I want to get banded. but want to see what's out there and what to expect - i don't expect to be trashed or every little word taken as black & white - Take a chill pill.

What do control issues have to do with trashing an entire country because of one bad doctor? The original poster agreed, why don't you?

WASaBubble Butt - do you have some control issues.... Do you always have to be right??

:funnypost::eek:

Welcome, IndioGirl55. Hope we can provide good information for you here. Not everyone will tear you apart

:funnypost::eek:

Welcome, IndioGirl55. Hope we can provide good information for you here. Not everyone will tear you apart

Thanks gadgetlady:p

Wasabubblebutt - doesn't eat food any longer she eats people:nervous

I was looking around to see what's up with banding as it seems less invasive than RNY - but so far I don't know.. Seems like you have slippage, things going wrong with your esaphogus, etc... Do you feel the band around your stomach??

Thanks gadgetlady:p

Wasabubblebutt - doesn't eat food any longer she eats people:nervous

I was looking around to see what's up with banding as it seems less invasive than RNY - but so far I don't know.. Seems like you have slippage, things going wrong with your esaphogus, etc... Do you feel the band around your stomach??

LOL!

You don't typically feel it "around your stomach" in the sense that you know it's there 24/7. You feel it when you overeat, eat too fast, or eat the wrong things. We call it restriction. It kind of feels like you ate something too big and it won't go down to your stomach. It's uncomfortable (sometimes painful but you learn to control it so it doesn't get to that point), but it's basically a tool that, when properly used, requires you to stop eating. When you have restriction and your pouch is full, you just plain can't eat any more. So you have to eat slowly, chew well, and choose your meals carefully -- all of which lends itself to weight loss when properly done (if you drink milkshakes all day they don't get "stuck" in your pouch and you defeat the purpose).

The band is much less invasive than gastric bypass, is easier to reverse, and has fewer complications. GB has lifelong Vitamin deficiency issues and dumping issues that the band does not.

HTH!

Thanks gadgetlady:p

Wasabubblebutt - doesn't eat food any longer she eats people:nervous

I was looking around to see what's up with banding as it seems less invasive than RNY - but so far I don't know.. Seems like you have slippage, things going wrong with your esaphogus, etc... Do you feel the band around your stomach??

I'm sorry, is that supposed to be funny or supportive? One of the basic rules here is that you don't attack the person, you attack the idea. Not all of us think that you attacking and ridiculing someone is funny.

I'm sorry, is that supposed to be funny or supportive? One of the basic rules here is that you don't attack the person, you attack the idea. Not all of us think that you attacking and ridiculing someone is funny.

Indiogirl just joined this month and has a grand total of four posts. She acts as though she has been here much longer. I suspect she has. :eek: I have a hunch this is an ID with an agenda.

Indiogirl...

Funny you should come over here from OH... isn't that your stomping grounds?

I'll give you credit, it took me a bit to figure it out, but now I know. You sign up today just to come over here and bash me. Funny how the timing works on that one.

You should know, the drama and BS from OH don't work over here. But I have a hunch you'll discover this in no time.

This thread is going to be locked if the personal attacks don't stop. On all sides. Thanks.

Does someone (or ones) need a hug??

HEY! WE AGREE!!!

Even the best of docs are going to have complications w/their patients. It is a lie to say otherwise. People react to drugs, they mistakenly infect their own wounds since they might not know how to take care of a wound, docs DO screw up, even the best docs. Sometimes it is the doc's fault, sometimes it is the patient's fault, and sometimes crap just happens.

OK wasabubble...I am confused now. I have read this entire thread and you have been preaching how you were NOT lucky, that you simply did your research. But then you admit that even after doing research that "the best of docs are going to have complications w/their patients"....and you don't call the fact that you didn't have any complications luck (I am assuming you had the "best of docs")

Peace Out,

T~:hippie:

I think that it would be obvious that sometimes, pardon my French, shit happens. You just have a better chance of avoiding the cow-patties if you research your surgeon beforehand. Yes, you could have complications with any surgeon. But some surgeons DO have higher rates of complications than others.

Hi. I happen to agree with both of you on this thread... MY OPINION on this is not really as a future Lap-Band receipient (6/1/07) but as a Recovery Room nurse at a hospital that happens to be a Bariatric Center. I agree, the FIRST thing you do when considering this surgery is find the best, most reputable surgeon you can get your hands on!! (or rather their hands on you...lol) After that, either decide it's worth the money, or don't do the surgery at all. This is your life, it's your body, and you only get one shot at it. Complications can still arise if you have the best in the business, so why make it any easier for them to occur??

As far as Mexico, it is my personal opinion that it should be avoided. This is not a direct jab at Mexico itself, just the fact that indeed if something goes wrong, you're screwed. I have assisted my surgeon in the operating room on SEVERAL cases inwhich he is trying to correct problems on surgeries performed in Mexico - it just so happens ALL of our corrections were due to malpractice and not "nature" or patient error.

Again, this is not a jab at Mexican surgeons. And again, it goes back to doing your research... BUT some things to consider are these:

We have a crazy-ass "I'm gonna sue you if you look at me wrong" attitude (which I DO NOT agree with) in this country that doctors are VERY aware of and frankly, afraid of. However, malpractice insurance exists for a reason, and if a doctor in the US actually commits malpractice during your surgery whether by breaking sterile technique, doing a procedure in a sloppy manner, not being available to you for post-op complications, etc.. (the list goes on forever) that surgeon will be sued, and the patient will win...everytime! Therefore, surgeons in the US are much more likely to not KNOWINGLY commit malpractice. But we all know that ACCIDENTS, however, of course happen in all countries.

Also, the procedure should be performed at a Certified Bariatric facility that is accredited by "Joint Commission". Any hospital in the US worth its salt is going to have this accreditation! You just have to KNOW that your instruments are going to be sterile, your surgery room disinfected, and the gloves and gowns used on you sterile as well. Although you have to trust that surgical procedures are followed correctly, you will not find procedures that protect you any better than those in the US.

Again, you can get an infection or other complication at any hospital in any country. Everyone should pick the best surgeon and facility you can find. A "cheap" surgery is a bad surgery. This is your life! It just comforts me, as a nurse and a patient, that in the US there are laws in place that protect patients from surgeons who don't care about you and facilities that aren't clean. I'm lucky that I know what goes on at my facility behind the surgical doors... I know how the instruments are autoclaved, I know who cleans the rooms and how that is done, I know how long our surgeons scrub their hands and that their are timers that start as soon as the water is activated, and I know my surgeon and have witnessed him performing procedures many times. With all this knowledge, I feel safe putting my life in their hands on June 1, 2007. With all that said, and all my comforts, I also know that complications may still arise... and that's why I pray...

Again, just expressing my opinion as a surgical nurse in the good ole USA!