WASaBubbleButt

Might want to take a look at this: http://reg.tmb.state.tx.us/OnLineVerif/Phys_ReportVerif.asp?ID_NUM=495610&Type=LP

Cosmos had an erosion, he wouldn't have found a US attorney to take that one anyway, erosion is a risk of banding. You know, there are TWO people on OH right now posting that their surgeons (they did not share the same surgeon) put their band around a wad of fat instead of around their stomach. (I'm still floored by this) One wants to sue, she was self pay and has to pay for a new band, new surgery, the whole bit. She can't find an attorney to take the case. It's not worth enough, she had no physical damage so she can't sue for anything beyond the cost of surgery, about $15K. It's not worth it to them. Doctors and hospitals used to just pay these claims but they don't anymore, they are fighting back due to people wanting to sue for every little thing that happened and now when someone has a legit case, they are out of luck. Another person I know was banded in the US, the doc did not check the tubing for leaks like he was supposed to during surgery. She is looking at self pay for a full repair and it looks like the leak may be in the band itself, not the tubing so she is just out the money. She found an attorney to go after Inamed but winning in a whole different story. :rolleyes2:(

Joan... I don't think I understand. You don't have hunger? Yet you are not satisfied with smaller meals? Or did you mean you do have hunger and small meals aren't cutting it for you anymore? If you don't have good restriction then get a fill. If you believe your restriction is okay then you might have a dilated pouch and a barium swallow would be in order to rule that out. A barium swallow can check for other possible issues as well. Are your fills under fluoro? And drink the water! Cut out soda. Any idea what carbonation does to your bones?? It's really not heatlhy. Drink Water. Put Crystal Lite in there, S/F Hawaiian punch, anything. But get the fluids in especially during the weight loss phase.

Sooo, in other words you have learned to eat around your band? ;o)))) Over time you will see that you can eat greater quantities of food. But eating around your band is not good, it's a verrrry bad habit to get into and one that will be very difficult to break. Just listen to your body. Your body is trying to tell you enough food! No more. Fatigue isn't going to be from small meals, remember fat is stored energy and when you run out of food to burn your body will burn fat. That's the goal, that's what we want. Give yourself time to work through this. Take very small bites, VERY small such as pea size bites, chew well, eat slowly. The food will be there in 10 minutes so take your time. The faster you eat the less you'll be able to eat. You'll learn all the tricks as time goes on. The tricks are different for everyone. What works for one won't always work for another. You'll see what works for you.

During my weight loss stage I consumed about 600 a day (was supposed to do 800) and did hard cardio for 1-2 hours daily. I never had a true plateau.

Oh yeah, there are doctors that will see any patients for follow up. She just needs to find one that will follow up Betancourt patients. Some states are better than others in seeing Mexican banded patients. But many doctors do require the OR report and xrays showing the band was placed properly to begin with before they will see the patients. That's why patients should always get those records before they ever leave the clinic/hospital. The three key items to bring home are the band card w/serial #, the OR report, and the barium swallow xray.

Betancourt does not keep medical records. They are thrown away upon your discharge from their clinic. You might have a problem finding aftercare, sadly many US docs tend to know the reputation of that clinic. :rolleyes2:( If you have an emergency type problem go to an ER, they usually have to find you a doctor that will treat you. At least, we have in any ER where I have worked. Who was your surgeon? They do low bidding surgery so it could have been one of several. You might go to that doctor specifically instead of the clinic and see if they kept a copy of the OR report. I doubt it but it's a shot.

If they were discontinued, how would Inamed and J&J be sending them new shipments? On OH recently there were two doctors that put the band around a wad of fat instead of the patient's stomach on two different patients. They had surgery in the US. I really wish people would educate themselves a little more about Mexico. What the media says isn't always true. What your doctors say isn't always true. Remember, they are in business, they have to say something since they charge more than double what the Mexican doctors do. Keep one more thing in mind. When you have a band the surgical technique used to place your band was created by the Mexican doctors. They perfected the technique and trained the US physicians.

Dr. Aceves in Mexicali (out of the San Diego airport) is $7000. He's having a summer promotion. He's one of the few doctors that don't send you to a hotel for recovery, you are in the hospital for a full two nights after surgery. LAP-BAND,laparoscopic banding,bariatric surgery,obesity

Hey everyone... Just wanted to mention that I had the honor of seeing Denise again! She was in Phoenix and we got together, did a little shopping, I bought a bra that finally fits (heh), and we had a good time. She's as fantastic in real time as she is on line. It was a pleasure seeing her again and I look forward to seeing her again this fall!

Usually if a band doesn't work for you once it's not really a great idea to get another. If you slipped once your chances are higher for slipping again. If you eroded, your chances are very high for eroding again. Have you considered a sleeve? That's what I would do if I had it all to do over again.

Not sure but perhaps they wouldn't give you the statement you were looking for is because Dr. A doesn't charge for the hiatal hernia repairs. He throws that in.

Thank you! There was a guy posting here on behalf of his brother several weeks ago, was that your brother? How are you doing? Are things better? Can your problem be treated?

You didn't, things are fixed now and better than before. I am very pro Mexico for those that can't/won't pay US costs BUT.... with a heck of a lot of research too!

You know, I can't say I have ever gone to a doctor based on whether or not I could sue him. If I had a concern about mistakes of that nature being made, I wouldn't have gone to him.

I didn't know that. Why is that? Isn't that kind of expensive for the patient? If they are self pay they have to make an appt, pay a specialist office call just to be told they can't go to that office? I think I'd be pretty darned upset!

I want to clarify my own position on this. I don't care about the repetitive posts, I have to admit that I don't respond to "what is a PB?" anymore, but I also know newbies will be happy to respond. My idea of a STUPID question is what I posted earlier: "I'm having horrible chest pain, difficulty breathing, and it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. What should I do?" THAT is my idea of stupidity. How about... 911??? Is that a possibility? I question why I need to even tell them to get off the computer and dial 911. If they are having heart attack symptoms why are they posting on a message board instead of asking their fellow obese peers what they should do. That is what annoys me the most.

That's too bad that you are getting such poor follow up care. I went through your past posts to see who your doc might be and I found where you mentioned Belite and Detroit. That kind of explained it right there. :wink2: I would really urge you to post a testimonial about this on OH. If you sign up on obesityhealth.com: The Leading Obesity Site on the Net, in your profile you will find a place to write about the experiences you had with your surgeon. Wouldn't you agree that others need to be warned about this kind of behavior? If there is anything we can do, please let us know!

Right. It IS crazy to rant in a R&R forum! I agree! It pays off to pay attention to the warnings given. It couldn't have been more clear for you so I'm not quite sure why you are so insulted. If you think any other forum is any different, you are in error. Want to see a really horrible R&R forum? Check out OH. At least on that site you'll have a right to complain about people ranting and raving on the R&R forum. This one is mild, this one also seems more geared towards adults who are able to agree to disagree. Cheers.

By any chance did you notice this warning before clicking on this forum? >>LBT Rants and Raves *** Off-Topic DEBATE AREA *** Want debate? Get it here. Gripe, complain, moan, fight, rant and rave. Enter at your own risk!<<

I ate fish and veggies. Avoided ALL white carbs with a passion. I ran 7 miles a day, everyday. No reason to take weekends off, your treadmill is not your place of employment. ;o) I still use Protein Shakes, probably always will. I like them but I use them in place of a meal, not with a meal and I make mine with Water and not milk. (white carbs) 10 months to lose 108#, 17.5 to lose 127. Lost about 30# the first month, then it slowed wayyy down. The reality is that if you want it bad enough, you'll do what it takes. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. Do it or don't, but nobody should get banded if they are just going to wait for the band to absorb calories and body fat. It doesn't work that way. Do you want it bad enough?

You went to a doctor with the highest erosion stat probably in the industry and you blame your erosion on the Water? I am about as pro-Mexico as they come, but only if you do research. One issue I will give you though is that many did not know about Arturo Rodriguez' erosion stats until recently. Point being, you are blaming your erosion on the water in Mexico. You gotta admit, that is kind of silly. Aren't you the one that was upset because you had to pay to have your band removed? Did you think you were going to get it for free in the US? You would have had to pay a lot more money in the US than what you paid in Mexico. Sure, you have a right to be heard and you have a right to make no sense at all. You have a right to blame the water in Mexico on your erosion but it still doesn't mean others aren't going to continue calling you on your nonsense about water and erosion.

Here is a good point of research for Huacuz: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/dr-daniel-huacuz-he-inamed-certified-11940/

Dr. K is good, but so are some Mexican doctors and the Mexican guys are about $3K cheaper, they don't do outpatient surgery, you stay in a fully equipped HOSPITAL for two nights following surgery vs. the staff pushing you out the door when you wake up, and the list goes on. Why wouldn't someone do that? There is good care to be had in Mexico if one does their research.

Do a search of posts... not sure, it might be in the TX forum. He just had a death a few days ago. Lacerated a spleen and liver, the patient died two days later. :confused_smile:( Patient's wife is posting over there.