Hello,

This is my Monterrey Mexico story which began on April 27th, 2006. I am going to keep and refer back to this when explaining what has happened to me when I went to go get the adjustable lap band done. I have done lots of research this last year about the adjustable gastric band. I have lost all personal hope of ever keeping my weight off. I feel that if I manage by a miracle to lose it, I will gain it back again eventually. I was interested in a way to keep it off permanently, but was afraid of the gastric bypass, which its main function is by malabsorption of the food you eat. That surgery as worked well for many, but I wanted something less dangerous and less invasive. So I found the lap-band which causes a person to feel full and eat much much less. I wish I had been prepared for what Mexico looked like. I have never been out of the United States and was quite naive. I went through Dr Roberto Rumbaut, who has done many many more than any physician I can find her in the states. He has a very low complication rate. He is located in Monterrey Mexico. He had drivers to pick us up and take us everywhere we were supposed to be. Hardly any of the drivers spoke much English, but they still got us where we needed to go. As they brought us into Monterrey, I was not prepared for the slums. Trash everywhere, and just homes that look like pieces of boards slapped together of all different shapes and colors. As we drove into the main part of Monterrey it was ok. The mountains are beautiful. It is a city of over 4 million. I like the states bette.... I was not prepared for how people drive. There are no stoplights, and they all drive very fast and ride each others bumpers, honking their horn and pulling out in front of people continually. It was a scary ride every time. As I spoke with other patients of Dr. Rumbauts, some from the states, and others from abroad, they said they drive like this everywhere in other countries, not just Mexico. I was amazed. Another thing that scared me were the police along the roads holding fully automatic machine guns. HELLO! Anyway, yes again, I have never been out of the US. My driver said, yah he liked it cause if he gets pulled over by the police he can pay them five dollars, and get out of a ticket I think I would rather be able to trust that the police were honest and doing their jobs, not that they are all that way here in the states!! It just feels safer here. We certainly have our own corruption.

We were taken from the airport straight to the cardiologist for pre-op tests. He was very kind and seemed very competent. He spoke enough English to carry on a conversation. We then were taken to our Hotel at Hampton Inn, which was very nice. Later in the evening we were taken to see Dr. Rumbaut and his staff. I spoke his nutritionist, dietician, and Dr. Rumbaut and his assistant. My husband and I were impressed. Dr Rumbaut told me he has had his own band for 8 ½ years and has maintained a 110 pound wt loss. The next morning I went to surgery. I was very impressed with the hospital, it was beautiful, nicer than any I have seen here, and the medical equipment was excellent. The surgery went well, but they kept me in recovery for a lot longer because I was in so much pain. I remember just crying out in pain. Dr Rumbaut said to the nurses to get my pain under control before I could go to my room. All I could think of is I wanted my husband, but no one could understand me. And they wouldn’t let him come back into recovery. So finally in the evening they let me go to my room and I was so grateful to see my honey. I had terrible pain throughout the night. They told me it was gas pain. I couldn’t drink much cause it hurt and also made me feel like vomiting. I certainly didn’t want to do that after a stomach operation. So the Dr. that was their, I don’t know who he was, had them give me more meds, which helped, then about 1am, the nurse came in and shut off my fluids and my pain medicine, and left. I was like OH MY GOSH! So I layed their for about an hour then went out and asked for more meds. I know they understood me, I asked three different times. They knew I was upset. They didn’t care. It was crazy. Then at 445 am I called and said in English, Please Please bring me medicine.!!! They came right in like nothing had happened and gave me medicine. So when the DR. and his surgeon came in around 730, I was crying about what had happened and they were so upset, my husband thought the surgeon was going to cry with me. It was nice to see compassion. They had given us before they left their personal cell numbers, but we didn't think to call them. They said we should have and they would have taken care of everything. Oh well, So they got me all fixed up and told me I was dehydrated and that I had to drink and walk. So after I felt better, I did do those things. And the nausea was gone. Anyway the hell went on into the next day as I checked back into my hotel room. The gas was getting less, but still bad. Feels like a heart attack sorta. Really I didn’t feel better until two days later. As I talked to some of his other patients that had surgery the same day, they had no problems at all. Thought it went smooth. For some reason this old body took in a lot of the gas and couldn’t get rid of it. My pain was so horrible. Dr Rumbaut told me my pain was unusual, but to be assured my surgery went beautifully. No problems at all. So now I am writing this four days later and I feel much much better. I am going back to work tomorrow. Still slightly tired, but doing well. And what is so so funny, is that I have restriction. Usually you have to wait for six weeks to get a fill into your band, so it will be tighter and make you full. I am on a liquid diet for two weeks, then a soft mushy diet for two weeks, then normal foods. At this point, I cannot eat over 6-8 ounces of any liquid or I get too full. It is great, I have been on liquids for five days now.. Dr. Rumbaut told me The band was a little tight, and that I would like that. Well so far I sure do. Dr. Rumbaut came to my room the last day and checked on me and answered questions. They will be referring me to some Dr. in Kansas City to do my fills. If I ever have any problems though, I will go back to Dr. Rumbaut. I feel they definitely are the specialists that they appear to be. So all in all, I am happy. I was not prepared for the gas pain, but I am through that now. I am losing weight. I don’t know how much, I can just tell. I am trying to eat well and am taking liquid vitamins. Dr. Rumbaut’s dietician will guide me through this during the year via email. Helping me know If I need and adjustment on my band or not. And helping me eat right. I pray everything continues well, and this time next year I will be minus 100 pounds or so. I will keep you updated.. Love Michelle

Michelle, I had a similiar experience! Was banded on the 28th in Monterrey, but by Dr. Sanchez. We definitely got comprable care. I had a migrane when I woke up, and bad gas also. Dr. Sanchez gave me something to help me sleep along with the pain meds so it wasn't as bad. I agree with your take on Monerrey, was my first time out of the country also.