<p>Yippee!! I am home...I had my surgery on Tuesday in Monterrey, Mexico in the most beautiful and clean hospital I have ever seen. Marble floors/walls. Hardwood floors in every room and a private room with a sofa so my husband could stay with me...this and the hotel were included in the cost of my surgery...(9500.00) self pay</p> <p>My husband and I took the luxury bus to Monterrey on Sunday since we only live 45 minutes from the border of Matamoros.</p> <p>I made a friend the very first day...Carlie from Ok. Instant bond! She's my lapband BFF.</p> <p>I had all my pre-op testing on Monday am, met with all of the surgeons (who were all handsome!) and nutritional specialists Monday pm, then off to surgery Tuesday at 10 am.</p> <p>I had a small hiatal hernia that needed fixing, but other than that, no complications. Just pressure from gas and some soreness especially around the port sight.</p> <p>On Monday in between doctor visits we went to the beautiful Horsetail Falls. Gorgeous and worth the short trip to get there. $60.00 round trip for a taxi, but he waits for you to take you back to the hotel.</p> <p>Tuesday was surgery and I stayed in the hospital until about 1 pm Wed.</p> <p>On Wednesday after resting at the hotel from surgery, we went on the river boat tour downtown (very little strain). The hotel shuttle took us.</p> <p>On Thursday (2 days out) We went to the Garcia Caves ($60.00 roundtrip and he waits to take you back to the hotel...and we actually took the UP/DOWN stairs tour with everyone else. It was not easy...We just walked slowly and stopped to rest and laughed about how crazy we probably were and that we probably wouldn't have been able to do that on a good day before surgery! </p> <p>Oh yeah and on the way back to the hotel our taxi was rear ended by a drunk guy in a truck who got aggressive with the "Mexican Police" (which you just don't do!) and him and his other drunk friend got arrested and carted off to jail! There were like 5 cop cars and an ambulance there in a matter of minutes. (I have never been so glad to speak Spanish in my whole life!) Our taxi driver was so nice, he called the hotel so I could let them know what happened and the hotel staff called the doctor so he could come check us out at the hotel to make sure we were okay...We just felt our guts bounce back and forth with the impact. The hotel called us back to let us know that the doctors were waiting for us at the hotel...All FOUR Doctors were there...They came to our rooms to check us out and gave us the okay...Dr. Rumbaut said "You weren't supposed to be in a car crash!" (I survived the surgery only to get in a wreck in Mexico!) It's funny now...did I mention it was my husband's birthday? He now calls it the "Mexico Fiasco". Overall, I had a great time and took advantage of whatever sightseeing I could get in. And I made a great friend (Carlie)</p> <p>I am glad to be home now and rest...I really feel pretty good, I have some bloating from gas and soreness but nothing major.</p> <p>I am on full liquids, but mostly just do the 2 protein shakes a day to get my 48 grams, a little bit of cream of chicken, Yoplait light and water throughout the day. I am open for recipes of things I can puree that are low carb, low fat, zero sugar if you have any ideas...</p> <p>I am grateful to God that I have an awesomely supportive husband, and supportive family. I am thankful that I had a great experience despite the "Fiasco". I am happy with my doctors and stay in the hospital and hotel. If you are looking for an economic self pay with an awesome surgeon this is it.</p> <p>Well, I can’t say it was boring! <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /></p>

Glad you had a good trip, except for the wreck that is. I also went to Monterrey to Dr Zapata and had a great trip. Welcome to the board and to bandland!!! Donna

Hi Prival 66, Happy New Year! My husband and I are both being banded by Dr. Rumbaut on Jan. 8th. Thanks for all the info about sightseeing. Not sure if we'll be as adventurous as you, but I hope we have the energy. We're hoping this won't be our "Mexican Fiasco" Thanks again for the laugh!

I'm in Monterrey right now--it is absolutely beautiful!!! My surgery was done by Dr. Rodriguez on Friday afternoon--I don't know about other places, but I wouldn't hesitate to support anyone coming to Monterrey. I was at San Pedro hospital(which is actually a very small maternity hospita--I told them I was leaving with a BAND not a BABY!) but as a nurse it shames me to admit that the nursing care I got was as good or better than what I have recieved in the states

Mary

12/28/07

Dr Rodriguez/Monterrey

Hey there! Congrats and good luck! The hotel you'll be staying in is very nice...it's close to an HEB so you can buy water, c-lite, and yogurt. If I were you I would take a pill crusher...You won't be able to pass those pills. I was lucky someone had one I borrrowed. Also if you go to the Sanborn's, they have chicken broth. It's listed as consume de pollo. I had my last meal there just because I wanted to feel normal at a table with others. I squeezed lime juice in mine mmmmm tasty!

Everyone at the hotel is really nice. Oh yeah, make sure you buy a calling card at HEB! The cashiers have them up front. We bought on for 100 pesos that had like 60 minutes or so...also if you use it at the hotel you have to tell them to open the line.

If you are having your surgeries at San Jose Hospital, you will not be dissappointed! It is immaculate. Good Luck to you both. Let me know how it goes!

Happy New Year!!!

Hi everyone, We just got back from Monterrey last night. All went well. Both my husband's surgery and mine were uneventful. We did have to have hiatal hernias repaired, so the lifting part is not going to be easy, since neither one of us can lift over 30 lbs. The whole staff of Dr. Rumbaut is wonderful, and the hospital is absolutely first rate. Couldn't complain about a thing. What amazed me was on Thursday, we had 3 doctors visit us at the hotel, including Dr. Rubaut himself. Where in the USA would that ever happen? Everything was well coordinated, now on to the losing phase.