BlueEyedKitty

After an emotionally exhausting week due to battling my insurance company (they won), and being absolutely certain there was no way I would qualify for financing, I just got approval from CaptialOne Healthcare Financing, and now I am just giddy!!! A bit scared too though! Even though I have read so many positive things on this forum about being banded in Mexico, I'm still a little nervous. I'm working on getting all my documentation, etc together and I am planning to go to Dr Rumbault in Monterrey. I'll be going alone, not because I dont want my family to know about it, I just don't want them to know until after it's done because I don't want anyone trying to talk me out of it. Its not the surgery part I'm scared about though, it's the Mexico part, although i'm really not sure why. I guess I just need some reassurance that I'll be well taken care of. My thanks to everyone who has said such positive things about Mexico, Dr Rumbault, and their banding experience in general...I wouldn't have made this decision without all your input!!!

I don't have the actual Magic Bullet, but I have a similar one I got at K-mart, mainly I bought that one because the base is red and matches my kitchen!! I love mine, use it every day. I don't put full ice cubes in it, I have ice trays that have little gumdrop-size ice cubes and the blender handles them just fine.

Band date, October 2nd :whoo: Jill

I'll be seeing Dr Gonzalez the day before you, maybe we'll cross paths!!!!

Hey Everyone! My band date is October 2nd, so I will be starting my pre-op diet on the 24th. Basically I'll have the same diet the week before and the week after surgery: liquids. Then liquids/purees for 3 weeks. This is going to be tough, but I know I'm up for it! I ordered 3 kinds of whey Protein powders that were recommended by a friend I work with. I got chocolate, vanilla and Unflavored, so between the three of those I figure I should be able to add protein to just about everything. I'll let everyone know if these are good or if they taste like crap! For about the last 2 months for Breakfast I've been having a smoothie (get a Magic Bullet blender, they're awesome!) with milk, 1 scoop chocolate slim fast, a banana and a handful of mini ice cubes. Sometimes I'll add a scoop of Peanut Butter too. So fast and easy and really yummy!! Ive been collecting tips from people here on LBT for weeks so that I have a good variety of things to choose from during the liquid/puree stage, because I know broth will get really old really fast. Anything fabulous I try I'll pass it on, we need to stick together, right?!!!!!

I was worried about that too, but I've just decided if it happens it happens, and like someone else said, I can cover baldness with a wig, I can't cover up fat. I have very thin, baby fine hair to begin with, so I'm really praying I don't lose mine, but if I do maybe I'll just shave my head and start over!!!

Sunshine and LapBandit, many thanks for sharing the details of your trip! I will be banded 2 weeks from today by Dr Gonzalez, and reading your posts does so much to soothe my anxieties!!! Jill

Hey Sunshine! I'm so happy to hear about your great experience...I will be heading to see Dr G in 2 1/2 weeks and I'm a little nervous, but a lot excited! Did you need a passport to go from SanDiego to Tijuana?

Hi Single Bandsters! I'm fairly new to LBT and definitely new to this thread so I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm 34, single (obviously), live in Utah, I'm a Sleep Tech in local hospital, and I'll be banded in 19 days! I'm a little nervous and a lot excited. Right now I'm trying very hard not to have one last 2 week affair with all the foods I love! I'm going to Mexico for my surgery and although a few people close to me have expressed horror over it, I'm comfortable with my decision and have faith that I will be in good hands and that I'm doing the right thing. Most of the time I like my single life, and while I have been in some great relationships with some really amazing men, I haven't been able to find the right one. Whether it's been me or them who has ended things in the past, somehow I always think my weight has something to do with it, even when logically I know that if it was really an issue they wouldn't be with me in the first place. I'm a reasonably confident woman, and have never let my weight stop me from being happy, pursuing relationships and taking chances, but as we all know, its an issue that tends to permeate everything else in life. Anyway, just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I am counting the days till my surgery and have been so inspired by the success of everyone here and thrilled to have found such a supportive group! :biggrin1: Jill

Does anyone know what type of band Dr Gonzalez is using? I would really like to get the new inamed AP band, so if Dr G is not using that one I may look at another doc. Waiting on band type confirmation from his office.

Hey Kim, do you know what kind of band you have? I really want to make sure I get the newer inamed AP band, but I'm not sure they're using them in Mexico, waiting for a reply from my doc. Thanks!

I don't usually worry about what other people think at the gym, but then I go at 3am when there's hardly anyone there. (I'm a sleep tech so I'm always up at night, even on my days off). But on the occasions when I go during the day, I often will put on my headphones and close my eyes when I'm on the elliptical machine, and just kindof imagine all the good things I'm doing for my body . I'll be banded in a month, so I'm looking forward to the day when i can go to the gym, jump into any class, swim, whatever, without wondering what other people think. We're all in (or have been in) the same boat!!!

Hi Signgirl! I've also recently finished doing my research/homework, and made my decision, got my financing in order and scheduled the surgery. Oct 2nd is the big day, and I feel like I have been so thorough in my research that I couldn't possibly be more prepared, at least in terms of facts. As far as mental and emotional preparedness I know I'm not quite there, but I know I can do this!!! Hooray for October bandsters!

I have talked to several people about it, a couple of co-workers and a couple of my closest friends. Everyone has been completely supportive and excited for me. I'm not discussing it with my family yet, mostly just because I don't need my mom freaking out about my going to Mexico. I'll tell her after the fact, I just don't want anyone's opinion about whether or not I should do this because I've already made my decision.

Thanks for the info Everyone!! Jill

I checked out Fill Center USA, and they charge 299 for the initial consult/fill and then 150 for every fill thereafter. I need to find out if I can pay for them with my flexible spending account, but honestly it could be more cost effective to fly to san diego for the day than to do it here. not sure what I'm going to do yet.

Hi Wen, I'm in Sugarhouse too, will be banded on Oct 2nd. Your success inspires me!!!!!! Jill

I'll be banded in 4 weeks, and I have told a few people about it. I'm quite good friends with a few of the people I work with and have told them because I know they support me. I don't feel the need to lie about it, but if anyone I'm not close to asks, I'd probably just say I'm eating less and exercising more, which would be absolutely true! I'm single so I don't have to worry about anyone at home, and although I know my family would be absolutely supportive, they would also freak out if they knew I was having surgery in mexico, so I'm not telling my family until after the fact. My best friend also knows, because I want at least one person to know where I am at all times when I'm in tijuana. Don't know whether I'll tell my boss specifically what I'm having done, but she knows I'm having surgery. I asked for 2 weeks off, but I'm thinking about taking 3, not because I think I'll need it, but because I can. I've got over 400 hours of long term sick leave banked, and I might as well use some of it!!

Oh dear this is really freaking me out! I have extremely thin, baby fine, completely straight hair in the first place, and the thought of having even less is enough to make me cry! I keep my hair very short anyway and there's always a bit of scalp peeking through, so who knows, if it starts to fall out maybe I'll just shave my head! I'm being banded in 4 weeks, and hair loss isn't enough to keep me from going through with it, but wow, this is really going to stress me out! Okay I need to not read this thread anymore!!!

I've also gotten the "well it doesn't matter that you're fat because you're beautiful". I don't usually let it get to me. But one day a friend (who probably weighs 100 pounds fully dressed and soaking wet) asked me if I thought she looked like she'd gained weight. I said "first of all, NO, and second of all, probably not a good idea to ask a fat girl if she thinks you've gained weight when you only weigh 100 pounds yourself". She felt really bad!

I'm fairly new here and haven't been banded yet (Oct 2nd), but a few things about me: I'm a portrait artist, I work in pencil and charcoal and I love to show off my work because I'm very good at what I do. I am a sleep tech and love to talk to my patients about sleep apnea because I have it too. I'm completely crazy about my cat, Seven. I am a neat freak to the point that my friends ask me to come and get them organized! I make awesome lasagna (which I probably won't be able to eat anymore once I'm banded, but that's okay) I have more hobbies than I know what to do with: drawing, reading, painting, all sorts of crafts, and about 2 years ago started learning quilting from my grandmother and now I cant stop...obsessed with quilting now! On hot days I love to stand in a cool shower and drink an ice cold coke I don't want children. A rainy day is my favorite kind of day. I love Clancy novels, Star Trek, Cary Grant movies and 70s/80s rock Thats me in a nutshell!

October 2nd is the big day for me! Dr Gonzales in Tijuana. I'm a little nervous and a lot excited! Guess I'll be starting my liquid diet in about 3 weeks. I'm fighting the urge to have one last 3 week affair with all the things I love to eat, but I guess the sooner I start learning to behave, the easier it will be in the long run! Happy to be part of this group!! Jill

Well I have to say that I am beond impressed with the service I have received from Dr G's office in the last 2 days. Dr V. has called, e-mailed and been incredibly helpful, and I am absolutely convinced that I made the right choice of doctors. My financing fell through, well not exactly, they just said they don't work with DrG, so I'm having to apply with someone else, and Dr. V gave me the website, email and phone # of someone to call, and I am waiting for approval now. Surgery set for October 2nd (assuming the $$ situation can be resolved) Optimistically, Jill:D

Hey Lap-Bandit, thanks for the info. I'm in Utah, and the flight from San Diego to Salt Lake is only about 90 minutes so I should be fine. I've got a few calls to make to local docs about fills, but its kindof hard because I'm a sleep tech and I work nights and sleep during the day and for some silly reason I think that everyone else should just be awake at 3am too!!

Dr Valenzuela from Dr Gonzales office called me this afternoon (he was awesome by the way!!!), and said I don't need a passport to travel to Tijuana. Can anyone confirm this? Several other places I've researched have mentioned needing a passport. Thanks!! jill