marcyinak

Sunny, I have incredible support from my family! My mother-in-law is flying in to help care for kids (and staying long enough to make sure I can handle it all by myself before she heads back home), my husband is letting me use our meager resources, my little sister is letting me use some airline benefits from her work, and my "big" (she's the skinny one) is going with me to be my surgery support. My kids don't really know (they're a little young), but they'll know I'm trying to get/stay healthy. My friends are supportive (some a little jealous) too. I've got it good I guess. I checked into having surgery with docs in Anchorage (nearest place to do it) and it will run about $24,000...no one can actually quote me how much because they like to charge for every little thing and "can't anticipate every patient's needs". WHATEVER!

I'm having surgery on 7/10 with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver....I'm flying in from Alaska. His price ($9950/package) was about the same as going to Mexico and, frankly, I like the idea of staying in the states. I believe he requires a high protein diet at least a week before surgery to decrease the size of the liver making surgery easier/less risky.

You're in luck fellow bush liver! I live in Nome and have scheduled my surgery for 7/10 with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver...$9950 package, which is about the same as Mexico (which I looked into and was looking at Rambault in Monterrey). Anyhoo...There are three docs in Anchorage who do fills. Dr.'s Todd (AK Bariatric Center) and Searles (Anchorage Surgical and Bariatric) do the surgery, but take fill patient on a patient by patient basis - makes getting fills hard for Mex. patients. There is a Dr. F. Leland Jones at Medical Park Family Care who does fills for about $200 and he will take Mex. patients. He doesn't use a fluorscope, but if there are issues he'll send you to his radiologists who will (and they can do a fill there too). I know that Fairbanks Memorial Hospital will do them, but don't know how to go about that...I usually head into Anchorage when I "go to town" anyway. Also, Dr. Jones will "tweak" within a week for no charge. I'm a self-pay so price was a major factor. I've heard many good things about surgery in Mexico, but when it came down to it, Kirshenbaum had the same price, plane tickets were cheaper, and it's in the states. If there's anything other information you need, just ask. Someone here, or I, will have done a lot of research and can get you an answer! Good luck!

I'm looking at getting the Lap Band surgery. I've had friends go to Mexico; no horror stories...actually good experiences. But, I've been given some scary information from a doc in the states about re-doing bad work. I'm looking at Dr. Rumbault in Monterrey and Dr. Kuri in Tijuana. So far I can find "rave reviews" for both, but I'd like to get a clear picture before deciding...anyone know of "bad" experiences?

I just started her at lapbandtalk and got a referral from someone on here about Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum in Denver. The price is good and it's a "package", with is nice for me since I'm coming from Alaska and self-pay. Does anyone have experience with him and the surgery facilities he uses? The office staff seem knowledgeable and helpful so far.

Also, if whatever is oozing from you smells AT ALL it could be an infection. You should still try to call your doctor, that's what they get paid for.