Lap-bandit

Gracie- I live on the East Coast and when I was going through the process of getting set up for my surgery, Dr. Valenzuela the clinical manager for Dr. Gonzalez, called around to different doctors near me to see about getting me set up for fills. He worked until he found me a fill doctor, or otherwise, I would not have had the surgery, because getting fills is a part of your success at weight loss. He did run into some problems, because some doctors just do not want to deal with someone else's patients, but there were some that had no problem seeing me. I wished that I was closer to Mexico so that I could take advantage of the free fills, but my plane ticket would cost more than having a fill done at home.

I don't think that you will be disappointed about your decision to go with Dr. G. I think the worst thing about my whole experience was the gas pain and the second worst thing was my long flight, but that really could not be avoided when I live across the country. When I first tried to get a flight, I was looking for nonstop ones and there was only one and that was really expensive, so I went with one layover and I honestly can say that I am glad I had that layover. It gave me time to stretch and get something to eat.....or I should say drink BTW - Don't forget your Gas-X. You will be glad to have it. I am not certain how effective the strips are compared to liquid. I had the strips and they helped, but I still had pain. Today, I got gas pain in my one shoulder and I layed down and put a heating pad on it and it seemed to really help. I wish you both luck. Keep in touch and let us know how everything goes.

Hi all- I am back....well, I am actually at the San Diego airport right now. It was a waste taking my laptop because this was the only place that I could use it. I just have to say WOW!!! Dr. Gonzalez took such wonderful care of me and Laura and Dr. V are awesome. Laura drove us everywhere and took care of basically all our needs while in Tijuana, I just can't say enough about how wonderful they were. I did have extreme gas and on saturday night my friend called laura because I was having a lot of pain and she came and got me because Dr. Gonzalez wanted to see me in the clinic, so at around 4:30, I went back to the clinic and Dr. G was checking and he felt that I was having too much pain and wanted to take me back to the OR to make sure that I was not bleeding. I went back in and I was just full of gas, he looked around and said everything was fine. I felt a 100% better after coming around, I did not have the severe pain that I had been having prior to going back to the OR. When I had my last c-section I experienced the same type of pain. I am feeling a little gassy right now, but not anything like yesterday. Definitely take the gas-x strips along and walk a lot to break up the air bubbles. NM Sunshine- I am glad all went well. Laura had mentioned when she picked us up that she had to go back to the airport to take a patient back and I told her if it was NM sunshine to tell her I said "Hi". All in all, things went extremely well and I would do it again in a heart beat. The staff was beyond amazing and they CARE....they would not have sent me home in the pain that I was in and they did not just do the procedure and let me at the hospital to suffer. Chubbyone - I forgot my journals and I even forgot all about them when I got there and the dietician did not ask me for them. We discussed all of the stages and she did measurements and yes, the scales weigh heavier....I think about five pounds heavier than mine at home. I will keep you posted and let you know how things progress. Unfortuantely while I was in TJ, my boyfriend called and told me that My fill doctor that I was scheduled to see had to cancel my appointment because she is having surgery, So, Dr. V is going to see if he can find me another one. Good luck to all who are going to be banded soon. I don't think that you will regret going to Dr. Gonzalez. He is Great! He is a hottie too :heh:

Thanks Bakerman, for the words of encouragement. I can do this. I will just get my friend to medicate me :confused: AND carry me through the airport on a luggage cart!

Bakerman- I guess I am as ready as I am going to get. This airplane stuff has me panicking. Is that not crazy???....I am more afraid of flying than the actual surgery. Go figure.

Bakerman- Congrats on your upcoming surgery and good luck! I am being banded on Friday and I am confident that I made the best decision. I have had nothing but wonderul interactions with Dr. Gonzalez's staff. And to all who are scheduled to have surgery or are just looking into having surgery with Dr. Gonzalez - Do not let one person's crusade to discredit Dr. Gonzalez discourage you. I would like to say that first off, nobody is even certain what causes band erosion. You cannot just start bashing a doctor due to complications that they may have no control over. I have read different things on erosions and I have not found one place that says it is the doctors fault for erosions. ANY procedure carries complications and risks, but I would say that the person who is writing the "bad" posts about Dr. G is the same one writing them on another thread....sounds like the same type of writing to me. But, as I said, I am having surgery on Friday and this person is not going to discourage me from the decision that I have made. You just can't go around blaming the doctor for all your problems. Normal people who are researching doctors do not go and bash them their very first post to a thread....that is a little disturbing Wasa...oh I mean food4less...sorry I was getting you confused with some other person.

food4less sounds a lot like somebody else I heard ranting....maybe food4less is not new to the board....only new to the name "food4less". What do you think BA Loser...sound familiar to you???

NM Sunshine- Go to this website TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security or go to the airline's website that you will be traveling on. They have information too about all the rules. I am planning to take just a carry-on. I mean, I am not going to be there very long and I am not going to be going out and about so I figured I would not need much. Seems easier to not have to find your luggage. Also, I think that I read they would be near the baggage claim area to pick you up, but send an e-mail and ask laura to make sure. Good luck Sunshine!

NM Sunshine- Go to this website TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Congrats idlosersm. I am also scheduled for Sept 14th with Dr. G. Good luck and maybe we will meet!

Thanks NM sunshine, I will have to check that out. It is worth a try.

NM Sunshine- I wish I could go back there for my fills. Maybe if I keep looking I can find a cheap flight. You never know about the price of a plane ticket. One minute they are high and the next they are dirt cheap.

Congrats Mandy! Let us know when you are scheduled.

$200. I read that some people have had to pay additional fees etc. for their initial fill, but the doctor I am scheduled to go to only charges $200 and that is for any fill regardless of whether it is the first or the 10th. There are no other fees attached. I wish I lived closer to Mexico to take advantage of the "free fills", but until I got done paying for my flight, it would cost me more.

I work in the medical field so I know first hand how these insurance companies operate. Unfortunately, if they would look at the money they shell out for the problems that are attributed to obesity (and it doesn't have to be morbid obesity) they would see that this would save them money in the long run. Don't get me wrong, the whole "Mexico Thing" had me scared. When this was suggested to me, my first response was "absolutely not". BUT, after reading the many stories about mexico and the surgeons, I decided to start researching more about it and I finally decided that thousands of people can't be wrong. I mean there is definitely some doctors that I would not even let my dog go to, but if you do your research you can weed out the bad from the good. Followup is a major concern of mine. I wanted to make sure that there was going to be somebody there to answer my questions right away and I think I found the right doctor. I can't say for certain if it will hold true, because I have not been banded yet, but I will definitely let people know if it doesn't. I would not want to support a doctor that doesn't follow through or one that is only there for the surgery and not afterwards. Any surgery carries complications and i wanted to make sure if a complication would arise, that I would be treated the same way I was treated before and during my surgery. I am sure you have read some of the posts that prove some doctors are not as helpful afterwards as they are before and during.

BlueEyedKitty- If you are going to go to Dr. Gonzalez, Dr Valenzuela can find a fill doctor for you. He found a couple for me to choose from. I did not have to call anybody except for when i made my appointment, which I had to do before I even get the band due to the doctor only does fills on certain days of the month. I would send him an email and ask him about a fill doctor, if you are planning on having your surgery done by Dr. Gonzalez. He worked very hard to find me a fill doctor. One thing you will find is that some doctors do not want to deal with patients who went to Mexico. This was the case for me and so it took a little longer to find a doctor for me. I did get a paper from a coordinator of another doctor that had a list of fill doctors by state. I will see if I can find that, so that in case you decide to go with another doctor you have it. I will PM you if I can find it.

It is ridiculous that the insurance companies are the ones that dicate who can and cannot have surgery and to tell somebody to gain weight is just not right. I have decided to go to Mexico instead of Detroit, only because I could not get financing for the entire $11,800. I have done my research and I have been in contact with Dr. Gonzalez's office in Tijuana and things have been really good. I am scheduled for the 14th of September. There have been a lot of people posting their experiences that they have had with Dr. Gonzalez and I feel that i am in good hands. I had concerns about after care, but they check in on you weekly to make sure that all is well and they also correspond with you if you have any questions at all. I have aftercare set up for at home and it would not be any different if I was traveling to Detroit....that is about an 8 hour drive for me. So, I feel that I am making the right decision. Good luck for your search.

Mehean- WONDERFUL!!!! I am so ready.....15 more days!!! Thanks so much for checking in and giving us an update.....it really helps and it also gives us up coming bansters a sense of relief to know everything went well. GOOD LUCK with everything!!!

Check out Dr. Gonzalez Thread in the Doctor/Hospital Section.

Congrats Annie! I will be out of there and on my way home on the 16th , but keep in touch since we will be banded close together. It always helps to have a buddy!

BlueEyedKitty- Do your research and make sure you check on aftercare. From what some people have said, some of the doctors do the surgery and then you don't hear from them again. For me, that just won't do. I am clear across the country and I want to know that my doctor is concerned about me and my well being before, during and after. So far, i have been in contact with Dr Gonzalez's office since the end of July and Dr. Valenzuela (Dr. G's right-hand man) has found me a fill doctor to follow up with and he has answered all my questions. Also, from the other people that have gone and had the procedure done by Dr. G, the follow-up care has been just as good as presurgery. Whenever i send Dr. Valenzuela an email, he responds to me that day. No email ever goes unanswered. I also ask about after care and Dr. valenzuela told me that they follow up weekly for the first four weeks and then once a month there after. Now, I can not say for certain that this is the case, because I have not been banded yet, but from what others have said, they hold true to their word. But, as always, it is your decision and you are the only one that can make it. BTW, going alone should not be a problem. How far away are you? If you are across the country like me, you may want to consider having somebody along, just for some help. I was initially planning on going myself, but decided against it due to my long flight.

Jennypoo- I was told that you could stay at the surgery center, but if you plan on staying an extra day that you have to pay for that. They pay for the one night in the hotel before surgery, then you stay one night at the surgery center and then you are discharged the day after surgery. If you choose to stay an additional night due to a long flight, then you are responsible for that night in the hotel. I am staying an additional night because of flying cross country. The Doctor said that he highly recommended that.

chelsea, what date is your surgery?

gabe4x4- Thank you so much for responding and letting us know that all went well. I feel so much more at ease hearing that things went great and I am sure that everybody appreciates the feedback. Good Luck to both you and B A loser.

B A Loser - I am so glad to hear everything went great!!! Were you able to meet up with Gabe4x4? What hotel did you stay at? I have read mixed reviews on the one that they have me set up for....Just wondered about your experience with that. Did you got out sight seeing the day before surgery? My friend that is going along is determined that we are going sight seeing....I on the other hand am a little nervous about that. Also, how was the border? Was that a long process? Sorry for all the questions....but I babble when I am excited. Please stay in touch on how all is going. Your experience and views are GREATLY appreciated. You have really put me at ease! Take Care!!