GeezerSue

I looked at the labels...two children's chewables (like Flintstone's but from trader Joe's) containted what my adult multi contained, except for the Calcium. NOW, somebody remind me...THERE IS A REASON WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO FOR THE Vitamins WITHOUT Iron...I think... Does anyone remember the reason? (I hate to throw out the ones I bought WITH iron unless I can remember WHY they aren't a good idea.) Sue

You're right. HOWEVER, I went Yahoo board cruising and I read about our friend Sandy who was here soliciting folks to join the lapband board that is just another recruiting tool for Ortiz...remember her?? This weekend, she was kicked off of one of the boards because she was pretending to be someone "gailkitty" (go figure) who was shopping for the right doctor and was using that "disguise " to recruit more patients away from a particularly pro-Kuri board to become Ortiz patients. The moderator said she was "sharking," but I'm starting to think that, in the case of SOME of these people, that term is insulting to sharks everywhere.

Hey, Amy! On another thread, Alex said not to give up on Aetna. if you have any of the following, Aetna DOES cover LapBand: 1. Hepatic cirrhosis with elevated liver function tests; or 2. Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis); or 3. Radiation enteritis; or 4. Demonstrated complications from extensive adhesions involving the intestines from prior major abdominal surgery, multiple minor surgeries, or major trauma; or 5. Poorly controlled systemic disease (American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) Class IV). Here's the link: http://www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0157.html Sue

So Sandy. You used to work for a LapBand doctor and do not now. And you have shown a lot of restraint in not ratting him out, even though he seems to have disappeared you from his board and denied knowledge of you to the point I expected to hear a cock crow three times. So, you are a banded woman without a board. We're here. Stop in. Visit. Share your info. (Just don't tell me how wonderful you-know-who-is.) You've lost a lot of weight, you've got a lot of knowledge to share. Sue Edited to add a question: Your name--and reference to you--is gone from the message board, yet your name, photo, testimonial are all still on the home page. You don't have a business realtionship with any band doctor now?

I'm taking a chance here, but I really hope Sandy will return long enough to clear up any potential misunderstanding that may arise from the above. Sandy, You didn't mean that I or anyone from this board had sent you any email, inappropriate or otherwise, right? Sue

what she said

Aha. Well, some places it's down to $!3,000, but not that I know of in your area. Tricia, Aren't there two Dr. Rodriguez's in Mexico doing LapBand? One in Monterrey and one in Ciudad Acuña? Could there have been confusion about which doctor was being discussed? (Or, maybe I'm the only one who thinks there are two Rodriguez's doing this surgery.) Sue

Sandy, Some of us thrive on peace and quiet and want to enfore it everywhere. Some of us thrive on discussion and debate and want to cause it everywhere. I don't think either "side" wins all the time. I sent you a private message and I've not received a response. I've asked you to tell your side and I'm still hoping to hear it. ~~~~~~~~ For those who would like the thread locked, Please understand that while some people want support for the decisions they've already made, others crave info in order to make the best decision they can make. (Perhaps if I had had access to such "conflicting" info, I would be able to see fairly well out of BOTH of my eyes. But no, I didn't get to hear the negatives about the surgery I chose, so I'll never again have depth perception or be able to cut my own toenails. Just happy, good news is not always the best information.) So, hearing the other side of the issue regarding what Sandy was doing posting to all of the boards in question--whether she was doing it on her own in a maverick fashion or with permission/guidance/etc. would give everyone more information to factor in to a decision. I was adamantly not crazy about the solicitation, but I suspect that there is more to her story than was posted elsewhere. Sue

My kid got this from a friend in your parts...I thought you'd enjoy: 3 Brits die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue. 58 Brits are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers. 31 Brits have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree whilst the fairy lights were plugged in. British Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last year after cracker pulling accidents. 8 Brits had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new jumper with a lit cigarette in their mouth. 5 Brits were injured last year in accidents involving out of control Scalextric cars. AND FINALLY.... In 2000, eight Brits cracked their skulls whilst throwing up into the toilet. RULE BRITANNIA !! Sue

Post it here, Sandy! I've read Ortiz's letter posted on the other boards. And I notice that you have been disappeared off of his board. Why don't you post it here? I don't know why Robyn is no longer with him. But suddenly, you are no longer with him and he's Mr. Innocent and had no idea what you were doing and yada, yada, yada. I've already said (on another thread, I think) that I'd LOVE to hear your side of this (not that it's any of my business.) I may not be all about everybody making nice, but I am all about letting the truth be heard...so, speak up, woman! Sue

I just noticed that you live in GA. Have you already looked at Jaime Ponce of Dalton? He is one of the most experienced US LapBand surgeons and I think (I'm not sure) that he has lowered his prices over the past couple of years. Just a thought...

As I've said, Ortiz is a knowledgable competent surgeon. If that's ALL you demand, he's your guy. But he has had patients leave there in tears and give up completely because of their experiences with him. I caught him in an unethical practice. I mentioned it to another band doctor who told me the whole story. I called Ortiz on it. He accidentally ratted himself out, then he got all huffy. It has nothing to do with the surgery itself. He's good at that, no question about it. It has to do with how he regards his patients when they can't hear him and what he says about the obese and what he tells patients that does not prove out to be the truth. And I'd sure like to hear Sandy Johnston's side of the story of how she just got disappeard by him. I'll bet it doesn't match his version at all. But she doesn't have a fan club, so I don't know it she'll even have a chance to tell it. I hope you continue to have good experiences with him.

bcreativ110--I have been "not a fan" of Dr. Ortiz since way before Sandy was on his payroll. And, by the way, he has now disclaimed her on the Yahoo boards and disappeared her from his bulletin boards. Sandy knows I am 100% opposed to her recruiting activities, but in her defense...I simply do not believe Ortiz's claims that he knew nothing about her activities and that she is no longer with him because of her unethical behavior. Bull. He knew exactly what she was doing. (And maybe she'll unlurk around here and verify that some day.) Ortiz has complained that others have taken over bulletin boards that he has previously started and that when that happens it's harder for him to recruit patients to his business and the Tijuana patients end up at Kuri's. He is the baby of the family and the only son. In traditional Mexican fashion (I know because I am half Mexican), that gave him a real head start on thinking that he was just more important than everyone else. Did you hear about his "wedding?" He and Mrs. were, first of all, already married. But, he needed to have a big show so that he could be the star. So he scheduled his "wedding" in Cancun, during a bariatric surgeons conference so that none of the other surgeons would have an excuse to not go. (BTW, this info came to me via other doctors, not from Tijuana, who are not in competition with him, but just think he's an ass.) And, the show included three costume changes for the happy groom. What a jerk. As far as new people posting...post to your heart's content. On a bulletin board, others will agree with you or not. I happen to think that many obese women (especially) try so hard to please everybody that they don't say things they want to say. In case that describes you, feel free to disagree with me and say what you want. If, on the other hand, you need everyone to agree in order to feel free to post, then please accept the fact that THAT issue is yours, not mine. It's just the way I work, but once I have confirmed that someone is lying to me and others on a regular basis or has no respect for a group of people (such as the obese) that I belong to, then I tend to avoid that person. I avoid Ortiz. There is no question that he is a competent surgeon, but I need more than that. Sue

just an aside... mbz--you have lost 80 pounds in no more than 24 weeks, an average of over three and a third pounds per week. The suggested ideal loss for 24 weeks would be more like 50 pounds. This suggests to me that you may have been very tightly filled for the entire time. Donali's analysis is logical. Is your doctor very experienced with the LapBand? I ask that because of his response to your situation (I'll leave it alone OR empty it, but if emptying it doesn't work you need surgery?) AND because it sounds like you think he's going to let you dictate how much of a fill you have...and the more experienced doctors tend to go with more objective measurements (flouroscopy, swallow tests, that kind of thing) of how much is "enough." Weighing 160 must be wonderful. I sure wish I did. Some day I may get back there. But I also just spent an extra ten days in the hospital due to complications from my plastic surgery. It ain't fun. Perhaps you need a second opinion?

Ya think???

duplicate

They are all very experienced band surgeons. I think Rodriguez has done more band placements, but Rumbaut has a band himself and has placed thousands of bands in others. They both practice in state-of-the-art teaching hospitals, similar to what you'd find in any larger city in the US. Ortiz is also a competent surgeon. But Tijuana has no facilities like the ones Rumbaut and Rodriguez use. And Ortiz has hired a woman to recruit patients. I'll post links to those topics. Sue Rumbaut patient http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2597 http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2685

I was unfilled (for surgery) in May. I've been up a little and down a little , but have not gained any substantial weight. And I am completely insane about food. Funny thing...the food that's really bad for me I can eat WITH a fill...ice cream, most Cookies, potato chips. Without a fill, I'm enjoying salads and good things along with the stuff I should not really be having. AND, I cannot eat what I ate pre-band. There is restriction. ACID REFLUX CAN KILL YOU. YOU CAN ASPIRATE STOMACH ACID, GET REALLY BAD PNEUMONIA AND DIE. Your boys do not need a skinny mother...or a dead one. They need a healthy mother. That should be the idea behind your decision...

She used zsflower here and on most boards. But apparently she was also gailkitty200 so something like that in her attemplt to lure pre-ops from Kuri's board to the new Ortiz board. O! the Drama!

Oops, Trish, wrong Sandy. THIS Sandy is is not a nurse and is a ptient/employee of Ortiz, not Kuri.

Probably not the answer you want to hear, but if you have weighed close to 300 pounds for any length of time, chances are pretty good that you'll want cosmetic surgery after you lose a substantial amount of weight. I'm pushing 58 years old and had a tummy tuck almost ten weeks ago, even though I'm nowhere near my goal weight. But hangy stuff is hangy stuff...and, IMHO, a lot worse than having surgery to get rid of it is living with it. Before I had surgery, I was told that IF you are very young and have very elastic skin and have been morbidly obese a very short time, your skin MAY return to its original shape.

Nancy, I think I've been kicked off more boards than Sandy. Well, I'm banned more often, that's for sure. I'm here...I'm not thrilled with my tummy tuck, but I was warned in advance that a revision was likely. So, it's a few months off. Lipo, they tell, to even things out. But they don't want to do it until everything "settles." thank you for asking. Neicy, It's never a good idea to encourage me. I'm outta control enough on my own...but thanks for letting me know that I'm not alone in my thinking on the topics at hand! Sue And I'm closer to 60 than 50...way closer. So, I think I'm gonna start saying that 60 is the new 43. ;-D

Zoe, I've been banded almost two years. There were far fewer band doctors, and the few who were in the area were not willing to do adjustments on someone else's patients. Maybe some would have done emergency work, but not routine stuff. I live in So. Calif and have gone to Tijuana. I tried twice to go to local doctors. One knew VERY little about the band and wanted an endoscopy just to protect himself before any adjustment. The other wanted an endoscopy before he'd see me. Seemed like unnecessary expenses, so I went to Tijuana. If you can find an EXPERIENCED doctor in the Chicago area for $12,900, I'd seriously consider seeing that doctor. (Don't tell Rumbaut I said that, because I adore the guy and he IS a teriffic surgeon.) But, right out the door, to Rumbaut's fee, you have to add in airfare and hotel and taxi back to the airport and meals--if any--for your family. Then, the fills will cost arount $300 for the surgeon, BUT, in many cases, there are extra charges for the flouroscopy and the radiologist...bringing the fills to about a grand a pop. And an "outside" doctor is more likely to want an endoscopy. I dunno, experience is my #1 consideration, but easy access is #2. Sue

No wonder he doesn't mind if you're mad at him....