Lisa2403

I like Dr Vickie Prince in Mandarin. I'm not so crazy about her PA, although she is ok for routine things. Dr Prince was very supportive of me and my weight loss attempts, I really appreciated that. She did more than say "you need to lose weight". She helped me with plans to accomplish that goal.. Lisa

Dr Fuentes is pretty popular in TJ. You might want to visit http://www.plasticsurgeryjourneys.com There is a lot of good info about MX surgeons on that site. Good Luck, Lisa

What part of Jacksonville?

Pam, I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with the band. I don't come to this board often as it has been almost 3 years since my band (Feb'04). Do you mind if I ask how much you are being charged to remove your band? I was also banded by Dr verboonen w/the Midband and I keep having similar aches and pains to the ones you described. Sometimes I can eat a cow, but this morning I BP'd on the second bite. I have had 5-6 BP episodes in the past month (I had maybe one BP in the first 2 1/2 years I was banded). I had reached my goal, but I have gained alnost 15 pounds in the past 6 months. Adding up all of the above kind of worries me. I thought the Midband had less problems, but hearing you have had an erosion make me concerned even more. I hate to let this go on for too long. Don't you live in N FL? When are you thjinking of returning to TJ? Are you intersted in having a travel buddy if I went along for flouo/fill? I live in St Augustine. Feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk about this more. Sorry this post is so long! Li

Has anyone ever heard of or used Dr Vaughn in Jupiter Fl for aftercare. The website is: http://www.surgicalweightcontrol.com/swcs/aboutus.html I haven't been yet, but the office did tell me he would see me (I am a Mexico pt). They are trying to help me get an insurance referral too. I would appreciate any info. Lisa

Hi I had a c-section in 1990, I had to have a classical cut (vertical) from belly button to pubic bone. I had the band in 2004. I had a hysterectomy in 2005 using the same old c-section incision. ( I also had a nephrectomy in 1970- I have a long scar from just under my R ribcage to my hip bone). I didn't have any problems and none of the surgeons seemed to anticipate any from my lap band incisions. the lap band incisions are the only ones you almsot can't see, even I really had to look for them to show by gyn surgeon, she couldn't see them! All of my lap band scars are above the belly button. They shouldn't have to cut any higher for a c-section. Hope this helps, Good Luck. Lisa

I am an L&D nurse too! Lisa

Hi I have a Cigna HMO that did not cover my band last year so I had it placed in MX. They have now changed their position that the band is experimental and have started covering it. My question is, do you think they will cover my fills? Since there are not any band surgeons on there "list" how can I get a referral? Everyone is out of network. Will they be able to turn me sown since my BMI no longer meets their requirement? Any help is appreciated! Lisa

Are you thinking of the immediate post-op period? While on liquids I think you would have to monitor your glucose and Insulin pretty close. Juices etc can cause spikes and then drops. I was a Diabetic on glucophage, which I was able to stop 9 months after I had my band place! My last A1C (in March) was 5.1. So I am very pleased with those numbers. The bad part is that my cholesterol is still about 300 so I still need Lipitor. Hope this helps, Lisa

There is Dr Kim in the Orlando area that will fil Mexican pts. I live in Jacksonville and Dr Shariat here will also do fills and f/u. These may be options for you if you can't get back to Mx. The price ends up about the same for me, but time is aslo important, and I like having someone local in case of emergency. Good Luck! Lisa

Can you get your PCP to order the pre-op tests for you? If you have insurance they should cover this. Just pick up the results at your Dr's office and bring them to your surgeon. Most of these tests are required by anesthesia, if you have them done at the hospitals lab (as an outpatient) they should be available on there computer system. Just a way to help cut down on costs. Lisa

Shireen I am glad you are feeling better, but you need to be wary of calf pain (esp one sided). This can be a sign of a DVT. A potentially serious complication. I think I would give my surgeon a call to let him know about the calf pain. He might want to see you to evaluate it. Also, you would be surprised at the position for surgery even though the table appears "solid" the bottom half may have dropped and stirrups/leg boards are underneath. Hope all goes well for you. Lisa

Hi Doxiegal, You and i have very similar stats. I was 43, 5'2 and weighed 186 when I got my band. My PCP was supportive but my insurance co would not even CONDIDER WLS for me. (and I have Diabetes, high BP and high Cholersterol). I have Cigna HMO in FL. Also, some US Dr's will not do WLS for anyone with a BMI of <35.(even self-pay) The reason given to me was that the band was FDA approved for BMI over 40 or over 35 with co-morbidities. Do use it otherwise was out of the FDA approval realm. I thought about trying to gain another 25 lbs (not too hard!) or even adding heavy clothes, ankle weights etc! but then I didn't want to wait another year or more-so I borrowed against my home equity loan and took off for Mexico! I have lost 30-35 lbs and have 30 to go. I am very happy with my decision and think it was money well spent. Good luck, hope you insurance works out for you. Lisa

I was taking Glucophage XR prior to banding. Anthing with XR, SR etx should not be broken, crushed etc. They are slow release meds. I had to get a new script for the "regular" kind so I could break them up and now have to take it 2x a day instead of once. Sometimes I feel like the jagged edges on a broken tab scratches on the way down! So I make a slurry of meds in a little cup and toss them back like a shot ! I then follow with a big glass of Water. I have to do this on an empty stomach so meds don't "return" Hopefully I can quit taking it altogether soon, at 43 I am not worried about trying to get pregnant! Lisa

I am pretty sure you are not supposed to use anything with an "oily" base on the Dermabond glue they used until the incision is well healed-at least a couple of weeks. I was never told this by my MX surgeon but when my son had a bad cut near his eye they glued it together and I was warned not to use anything like Neosporin as it would soften/dissolve the glue. This might be adding to your "leaky" problem if the glue is trying to dissolve. Hope this helps some. Also, my dermotologist reccomends only Bacitracin ointment. She says Neosporin can be very irritating to sensitive skin Lisa

Hi Marsha, I go to Dr Shariat in Jacksonville Beach. He charges $450 for the first fill and $250 after that I could probably go to TJ for about the same price, but I have to time off work etc. I also wanted to find someone closer to home in case anything went "wrong". I know there are Dr's in Ocala and Orlando area that will do fills for MX pt's. Send me an e-amil if you would like more info. You are doing great with a 30# loss! Keep up the good work. Lisa

Hi I started with a BMI of 35. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and still couldn't get insurance to pay without gaining about 40-50 pounds. I decided to go to Mexico and self pay. I used Dr Ponce de leon in TJ and liked him and his staff fine. I did find a local Dr for fills and follow uo and that is an important . The thing to remember with the lower BMI is that weight loss WILL be much slower. I had surgery 2/29 and have lost 20 pounds. Not a huge loss but a steady downward tren. Since I want to lose 60 pounds I figure this is a 1/3 of my loss and that makes the slower loss easier to take. Some of the large numbers people post can be a little discouraging (lik e lose 30 pounds in 1st post-op week) so I try to find a way to think of it to keep my motivation high! Good luck, with your decision making process. I have not regretted it yet! Lisa

Does anyone know of a Dr in NE Florida that will fill a midband that I got in Mexico? I was banded 2/27/04 and planned to return to TJ in July for a fill but I will need one much sooner! I don't mind driving an hour or two, but would like to be able to make the trip in a day from the Jacksonville area. Thanks Rili