Feedback on Mexico - Share your stories.

KarenA · March 30, 2005

Hi All,

Well, I made the mistake of sharing with my family that I'm scheduled with Dr. Kuri on 4/18 for the lap-band. (I should have known better). All I got was how stupid I am, why should I go to Mexico, I'm probably going to die, Try my Dr so and so, he did my belly Lipo last year etc...

I was really sure that I was doing the right thing. Based on my research on the web, especially on this site, Dr Kuri is a good choice. He has a lot more experience than a number of the Dr's in the US, plus his cost are much more doable.

Can anyone who went to Mexico share the feedback you received from Friends and Family? I could use some support from those people who made the choice and don't have regrets.

Thanks in advance,

Karen A.

Alexandra · March 30, 2005

Hi Karen,

I think the MOST important thing anyone can do who is considering surgery in Mexico is to be SURE there is a local doctor willing to take on a new band patient if there are complications. That would go a long way toward reassuring any nervous family members.

DeLarla · March 30, 2005

Most patients have excellent experiences in Mexico, but the number of nightmares have been growing out of proportion lately. I went to Mexico three times and each time the doctors made stupid mistakes (twice Lopez, once Kuri.) Too many erosions and port infections lately added to the recent drug overdose - you have to be willing to gamble if you go to Mexico. Again, MOST patients have GREAT experiences... then there's the rest of us. I went to Mexico to save five grand, but I owe more than that in bills from all my Mexican related complications. If you're lucky at gambling, go for it. Be prepared for the Mexican cheeleaders though, because some people defend Mexican surgeons and get free fills for sending over referrals. Good luck to you. BUY AMERICAN! Woo hoo! (Too bad I didn't take my own advice.)

Rebecca · March 30, 2005

I went to Mexico for the lap band with my girlfriend. My girlfriend did just fine--we both had the same surgeon--but I ended up with an infection in the port site which is healing up now. However, US doctors are telling me incision site infections can happen anywhere, so no one really to blame. The hospital looked clean and the surgeons were very experienced with lap bands. They've been doing them down there for 10 years, whereas they are only 2 years old in the US. Anyway, I'll be fine and spent $6,000 in Mexico whereas the same procedure would have cost $18,000 to $20,000 in the US. Neither one of our insurance companies were paying, so we took matters into our own hands. Surgery date was 3/12. Down 15 lbs already. :0)

Rebecca · March 30, 2005

P.S. The fewer people that know, the better! I've told 2 girlfriends and my husband--that's it. I might tell family around Christmas time when I'm thin and they can't figure out why. :0)

live2canoe · March 30, 2005

I made the choice to go to Mexico and have Dr. Kuri perform my surgery. I also made the decision not to tell anyone, for the very reasons you have said.

I have had no (zero, zilch, nada) complications from my surgery. I had Dr. Kuri give me my first fill and after that, I found a local (2 hours away) doctor for the rest of my follow up care. I found Dr. Kuri to be a very capable surgeon, and the facilities, while not pretty, were certainly adequate for the job.

Besides, I was desperate and couldn't afford a US surgeon.

Follow Alex's advice and make sure you have local doctor available for follow-up care upon your return.

Good Luck

DeLarla · March 30, 2005

If I had a local doctor for follow up, I would be happy. Unfortunately, the closest band surgeon that will see me is 6 hours away. Sucks.

March 30, 2005

Karen,

I had surgery with Dr. Kuri in Jan. 2005 and had no problems at all. I was surprised by the size of the hospital but it was really clean and the nurses were very professional even though there was a communication problem. My IV opened up in the middle of the night and the tiny nurse (4'8") just smiled at me and fixed my bed and helped me change my nightgown. She just patted my hand until I calmed down and left me when I was sleepy again.

I have gone back to Mexico for one fill (1.7 cc) at the end of Feb. and don't think I will need another one for a while. I haven't found any fill docs in my area but I haven't given up hope.

Would I do it again? You betcha!!!!

La_madam · March 30, 2005

I had and am still having the best experience with my surgeon in Mexico and would not change a thing and I would do it over again in a heartbeat I'm a very happy Mexican Bandster

the best me · March 30, 2005

Seeing Kuri next week, if I don't die in a TJ hospital and I come home safely banded, it was worth it. If not, I wish I'd never heard of the Lap Band. I'll let you know.

KarenB · March 31, 2005

Karen, I still haven't told anyone except my hubby, children, one close friend and all of you guys. I had an excellent Mexican experience, went back for my 1st fill & now have aftercare here on Long Island. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Good luck from the "other Karen"

Marimaru · March 31, 2005

I saw Dr. Rumbaut in MX for my surgery. I had a really great experience, and haven't had any complications. I see Dr. Kuri for my fills because he is much closer to me than Dr. Rumbaut. Definately make sure you have someone local for after care (or money to fly).

As for my family, my mom wants to go to Mexico to have some things done herself, so she didn't much think it was a big deal. No one else really voiced condern except for my boyfriend who'd never been there and felt better after he saw that most of MX isn't dirty little back alleys.

Infaith · March 31, 2005

I'm one of those that had a great experience with getting my lapband in Mexico.

DeLarla · March 31, 2005

Kathy, you aren't going to die! But you hit the nail on the head. If you personally have a great experience, then Mexico is great. If you a bad experience, you learn the hard way. You've probably seen enough around here to know that it's a gamble, but it's worth the bet. Kuri is a very caring guy even though he made a mistake with me, but maybe it wasn't even a mistake??? Maybe he had some weird reason for leaving my tube under the infected wound. Who knows? But you will really like him - he wears this smiley face hat that lets you see his human side.

I don't want to be the one responsible for keeping people from chosing Mexico; I just want to be the one that is 100% honest so new people can make intelligent & informed decisions. No doctor is perfect regardless of what anyone says since they're just humans "practicing" medine, and there's no such thing as a perfect human being.

On a lighter note, I also had an extra bonus bad experience at the boarder. For random reasons, our driver was stopped by boarder control. Security ran at us from every direction and split us all up to search our things. My skinny friend bought one of those Mexican sarape's (shawl with hood) and they believed she was a Mexican that we were trying to smuggle her across the boarder. My heart was pounding as we were interrogated and separated, and I had to show them my surgical scars to prove I got a LapBand. The let us go after about 10 minutes, but I was fresh out of surgery and pretty much ran (at 280 lbs) the rest of the way to my car with my luggage and THAT'S when I nearly died!

the best me · March 31, 2005

On a lighter note, I also had an extra bonus bad experience at the boarder. For random reasons, our driver was stopped by boarder control. Security ran at us from every direction and split us all up to search our things. My skinny friend bought one of those Mexican sarape's (shawl with hood) and they believed she was a Mexican that we were trying to smuggle her across the boarder. My heart was pounding as we were interrogated and separated, and I had to show them my surgical scars to prove I got a LapBand. The let us go after about 10 minutes, but I was fresh out of surgery and pretty much ran (at 280 lbs) the rest of the way to my car with my luggage and THAT'S when I nearly died!

Now, THAT, my friends, is a Mexico story! That is just too funny! I am anxoius to be back in the US, that's for sure. I do, and will, have a new perspective on my coveted American citizenship. (Oh, I need to pack my birth certificate...add that to list) sorry...

As for Kuri, I simply cannot find anything bad about him, with the exception of your (DeLarla's) basically pointless port repair, seeing as how the bacteria-laden tubing left near your wound kept it from healing (correct?). So, discussing this with DH, reading these post and countless others with him, including your story, DeLarla, and at the advice of just about everyone here, I have decided a few things. 1) don't go to MX without the local aftercare lined up 2) Kuri is a great Band Doctor and 3) Kuri is NOT an Infectious Wound Specialist. So, I have my local aftercare, I am seeing one of the top, what?, half dozen most skilled and respected Lap Band surgeons in this hemisphere, and if I get an infection, I'm not going back to MX for care. Fills, sure, but not problems. I hope I don't die, but if I thought I would, I certainly wouldn't go and I'm going, and I'm so excited!!!!

Hey KarenA, quit telling people you are going to Mexico for surgery, just tell them you are flying to San Diego because you found a more experienced Dr there who only does Lap Bands, not gastric bypass, and who is less expensive. Close enough to the truth to get by...I'm a terrible liar and an even more terrible secret keeper (MY secrets, not other's) and I'll tell just about anyone anything about myself, it's scary. So I know how you feel about letting the cat out of the bag. I keep counting on proving them wrong. Hold that head high!