I have contacted this doctor in TJ and he only charges $7500 for the surgery and has 12 years and 2500 bands under his belt, but I still would like to hear from someone who has been to him.

Lap Bandit, thanks. It costs me about 160.00 for air ticket to San Diego and Dr. V said that I would be picked up by car and driven to clinic for Dr. G to do my fills. Of course I have to drive to and back from Tucson (3 &1/2 drive one way), to get to the airport. It may be worth it in the long run to go with DR G. for my fills. The first fill is real important and I will for sure go to him for that one. On the other hand, the trip to TJ after I'm over the pain of surgery, could be a fun adventure. Guess I will solve this with time.

I've been reading about RVing in Mexico and since we have one, we could RV there and have lots of fun checking out the Baja California coast.

NM Sunshine-

I wish I could go back there for my fills. Maybe if I keep looking I can find a cheap flight. You never know about the price of a plane ticket. One minute they are high and the next they are dirt cheap.

Lap Bandit

I read something in Orbitz.com that they will notify you if the tickets you are interested in go on sale. I forget, where R U from?

Blue Eyed

Wish you luck on that loan. I lucked out in that my ex owed me some money, so I received a check from him for it. The check covers a lot of the cost, then I am going to charge 2,000 of it on Visa card. I hear those loans can sometimes have interest higher than a credit card does.

Today is day 9 until banding day. I start my liquid pre-op diet tomarrow.

Lap Bandit

I read something in Orbitz.com that they will notify you if the tickets you are interested in go on sale. I forget, where R U from?

Blue Eyed

Wish you luck on that loan. I lucked out in that my ex owed me some money, so I received a check from him for it. The check covers a lot of the cost, then I am going to charge 2,000 of it on Visa card. I hear those loans can sometimes have interest higher than a credit card does.

Today is day 9 until banding day. I start my liquid pre-op diet tomarrow.

Thanks NM sunshine, I will have to check that out. It is worth a try.

I'm looking to find out how long it takes to heal from the band before one takes trips and goes on vacation?

Also how long does Dr. Gonzales keep you at the surgery clinic? At the hospital?

Anyone have to go to hospital rather than clinic for the band? How long did you stay?

Wishing everyone a good weekend! Its been a tempting time for me but I've been able to handle it, liquids and purees. You want health and a better life you got to do it. I know in a few months this hard time will be worth it. Stay away from the tempting food and I'll be ok. You girls going to doctor Gonzalez will do just fine, that's the easy part, following all instructions and diet is the challenge. I'm doing it and losing weight so will you!! Gabe out............

gabe4X4

Thanks. I'm beginning to get a taste of the liquid diet. I am beginning my 8 day preop diet and I'm hungry. I think, hopefully the hunger lets up after a few days.

gabe4X4

Thanks. I'm beginning to get a taste of the liquid diet. I am beginning my 8 day preop diet and I'm hungry. I think, hopefully the hunger lets up after a few days.

It will let up NM, I have had my ups and downs but I've stuck to it and keep losing weight. I'm just starting to "get used" to my band and the diet :rolleyes .The pre-op diet really prepared me, you need it because after surgery you have to stick to it 100%. You won't want to have problems or pop a stitch or even something worse. Take care and keep us posted!

Christene,

I didn't realize that I could have yogurt, steamed veggies and cottage cheese on the preop diet. That makes the diet easier. I noticed that walking helps stop hunger and after this morning, my hunger has really lessened.

Congradulations on that daily loss of weight. Got to feel really good.

Hello everyone! I am new to this. I have set my banding date with Dr. Gonzalez on September 14th. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have such a great feeling about Dr.G after reading all the wonderful things said about him. Ithink I am more nervous about the flight than the procedure. I have been obese since I was a child. This is the light at the begining of a new tunnel for me.

:whoo:

Hello everyone! I am new to this. I have set my banding date with Dr. Gonzalez on September 14th. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have such a great feeling about Dr.G after reading all the wonderful things said about him. Ithink I am more nervous about the flight than the procedure. I have been obese since I was a child. This is the light at the begining of a new tunnel for me.

:whoo:

Congrats idlosersm. I am also scheduled for Sept 14th with Dr. G. Good luck and maybe we will meet!

Hello everyone! I am new to this. I have set my banding date with Dr. Gonzalez on September 14th. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have such a great feeling about Dr.G after reading all the wonderful things said about him. Ithink I am more nervous about the flight than the procedure. I have been obese since I was a child. This is the light at the begining of a new tunnel for me.

:whoo:

:omg:Yes I was very surprised when I was able to actually speak to Dr. Valenzuela (doctor G's lead clinical doctor) so soon, he was very patient and very informative since I had many questions :eek:, I filled out some forms he immediately emailed me and I'm waiting for him to call me back so I can schedule my surgery:guess he mentioned that he was going to review my preop forms but that everything pointed towards me being a surgery candidate just by the answers I was giving him during our phone conversation. He did make it clear that the pre-op exams would be the last step to determine my eligibility. I have been waiting for this for many months now since I started doing my research now that I know I found the best group of doctors. I can start thinking about my healthier future, It's time to put my self first if I want to be with my family for many years to come , I'm very confident that with the surgery I will have a buddy to remind me that it is for my own good to make the change in my eating habit.:hungry: so I'm very happy that I found this forum too, all of you guys have helped me so much, so I will be sure to keep you all posted and I'm sure that togheter we can help each other and who knows maybe some other people too that may not even know the good that this procedure can bring to their lives, I haven't even had my surgery yet and I have so many plans for my family and I that before I wouldn't even consider:clap2:

:help::help:Hi All, I am getting ready and have all sorts of questions especially for those who've had the banding. I haven't been on a plane since 9/11. Security has changed so much.

I'd like to bring everything I need with me on plane so I won't have to check in luggage. I have a ton of prescription meds. I know that they must be in their prescription bottles. Do I have to put them in the one quart baggie along with toothpaste, soap ect.? Did any of you check in luggage?

I have asthma, will they let me bring my 2 step airosal sprays? (cannot go anywhere with out them).

When the driver picks you up at airport, where does he/she do it?

Lap-bandit

I hope we do get to meet. I just booked my room at the Camino Real. Are you going alone? I am so excited to start my new life. I feel like a child waiting for a trip to Disneyland. Last night I was looking at all the before and after pictures it almost made me cry just because I see that it works.

maddy1969

Hope you get a date soon the waiting can be awful. I had to postpone my surgery for a month( which that is not that long) but it was awful for me. I finally have my date and it is coming up fast.

NM Sunshine-

Go to this website TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security