Ok, here it goes, I need advice. I have researched all wls and choosen the band. However, after hearing of all the things that can go wrong, I am beginning to doubt my choice. I do NOT want the gastric bypass, but I would concider the sleeve. Here is my huge problem, I am self pay and could NOT afford to get it fixed if something did go wrong. I am going to Mexico to have the surgery and feel great about the Dr. and Hospital, but there is NO WAY I could ever get the money to go back, and I have been told that drs here wouldn't treat me. I do have a fill dr in the states. I am sorry this is so long, but I really need someone to give me some good advice.

Thanks to all who send prayers and advice!

Love,

Tonya B:confused::thumbup::confused:

I think that we all have those fears and hesitations. With anything comes risk. I have had the band for over a year now and I STILL worry that something will go wrong or will I have to replace it 10 years down the road. With all of that I would never change what I did. I was miserable and was becoming a "hermit". I was fed up with living the way I was if that is what you call it. I haven't had any complications with my band and I love my doctor. The only thing I have troubles with is getting fill docs. We move a lot and there are those that won't touch anyone elses work. I don't know anything about the sleeve so I can't comment there but as far as worries... that is what they are. Do what you are comfortable with. I was self pay and would be hard pressed as well to fix anything. I could ramble forever lol but I think I said what I intended.

Thanks so much for your reply, I guess we all would like to know what the future holds, but can't.

I plan to be painfully honest with my surgen in Mexico and see what he advises. One way, or another I am going to lose weight and start living life again!

Love,

Tonya B:tongue:

Tonya, I had my surgery in Mexico 7 years ago. If you want to talk about it, send me your # or an email and I'll send you mine.

No doctors will touch you, that much is for sure.

Maybe you could find a surgeon in your area and let them know your plans for surgery in Mexico, so that they could at least follow you and hopefully take you in post-op. I moved from the city where I had my surgery and it took quite a while 4 months for me to get a doctor to do fills.

One option you could look into for after care is Fill Centers USA. There's a couple locations about 70 miles from the city you've listed under your screen name. That's not ideal, but it could be worse. Good luck!!

Here's a link to their web site. Fill Centers USA - Lap Band Fill - Lap Band Support - Lap Band Post Surgery - Weight Loss Surgery - Fill Center USA - LapBand Adjustments - Bariatric Surgery - LapBand Fill

Thanks, but there were no fill centers within 100 miles of my area.

My lap band is now gone and without insurance, or even with it, no one here will touch me. If I have any complications, I'll just go back down to Mexico where they treated me very well and at an extremely reasonable cost.

The airline ticket is less than what it would cost me to see a surgeon here since I have no insurance. Besides, I was told in a walk in clinic that no surgeon would touch the work of another surgeon because of 'liability issues'.

I was a lot sicker than I thought and the trip to Mexico saved my life. The county hospital here was happy to give me a scrip for antiobiotics and send me home to die.

I most definitely would have died had I not taken that flight. I only wish I'd done it 7 months ago instead of waiting because during that time the infection from the port went up the fill tube to the band and they found half the band inside my stomach.

I now have a gastrostomy that will have to be in my belly, along with the horrid tube for six weeks. The doctor there showed me how to remove it myself because no one here will remove it for me. It's a 2 minute procedure, but I asked the doctor at the walkin clinic and he said that he wouldn't do it.

I hate Texas, hate it hate it hate it.