NM Sunshine

PHYL I thought Palm Springs was like a desert and very hot. WOW snow. We woke to 4" of snow yesterday. Live in Southwestern New Mexico. SUECASB Congradulations. The gastric banding surgery isn't much of anything. Bariactric surgery where they cut away part of stomach and intestine...Now that is probably a super terror one.

WASA I have not heard of anyone who wasn't very happy with Dr. Gonzales. YES, being close to the border makes a big difference. Some one picks me up at airport in San Diego or at the border. I wouldn't want to walk around very much on my own. Dr. G's clinic is right close to the border. Another plus for me is that I can take a flight to San Diego for around $150 for my fills. I hear the cost of fill doctors can be very high....much more than that air-ticket. Where is Monterrey, down by the Gulf?

I forgot to tell you that I think the prices in MX for the surgery are all around $7,000 to $8,000. That would include everything and lifetime free fills.

I think I exaggerated about the Valentines day dinner. I did get to eat small portions of the food. It was that I wanted to go baCK TO my old way of eating and eat the whole darn thing. I just pb'ed a little and I think it was the asparagus. I was fine in 5 minutes. The whirpool was heavenly. It's quite cold outside so that makes the bath even nicer.

I was a bit afraid of Mexico until I found this site and started researching the MX doctors. My choice was Dr. F. Gonzales of TJ. People who'd had their surgery with him were all happy they'd chosen him. The cost was $7,500 at the time. This included everything and lifetime fills for free. I take advantage of those free fills and fly out to San Diago to get them. Also Dr. G does the fills himself (not a nurse). Where ever you go for your surgery, I wish you luck in finding someone who works for you.:eek:

NADIAN I had my surgery done by Dr. G (Dr. Gonzales) in TJ and had a great experience. Everyone on the team are excellent in what they do and very friendly. I fly back there for my fills and they've become like family to me. If you'd like to know more about my experience just post me.....

Isn't Dr. V great. You will love him, hw is like a teddy bear..... I had mine at the hospital because of my age and what they call 'morbitities' . The hospital was a great experience. I'd imagine the clinic would be a great experience too....it just depends on where you are at when it comes to age and health.............

Thanks I will check that out...I'm TOOOOOO miserable. I cooked up for me and my honey; asparagus in butter, fresh mushrooms in butter and wine, home-made bread, BIG beautiful potatoe with sour cream and finally a large rib steak for each of us. Damn it looked good. I chomped down and found out that I could only eat a bit of it, then got sick with the PB's.................booohooo... but I asked for it by getting the surgery. And I guess the surgery really is for times like this. Guess I will light some candles and invite honey into the whirlpool tub with me..... HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ALL... ps hear about that Illinois university campus that got shot up today.... the Decalb one???? That is where I got my BFA and MA at......wow.!!

TOOOOOO miserable. I cooked up for me and my honey; asparagus in butter, fresh mushrooms in butter and wine, home-made bread, BIG beautiful potatoe with sour cream and finally a large rib steak for each of us. Damn it looked good. I chomped down and found out that I could only eat a bit of it, then got sick with the PB's.................booohooo... but I asked for it by getting the surgery. And I guess the surgery really is for tgimes like this. Guess I will light some candles and invite honey into the whirlpool tub with me..... HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ALL... ps hear about that Illinois university campus that got shot up today.... the Decalb one???? That is where I got my BFA and MA at......wow.!!

I agree with oneonly, it's frightening when you first decide to get your surgery in Mexico. I'd heard some horror stories and had never been to Mexico before. As I left the airport, Laura was waiting for me and my fear dissolved. I don't know much of anything about any other doctors in MX besides the Gonzales team and my experience was tops. I have heard rumors about another doc who treats his patients like an assembly line. I have an ebook reader (Amazon.coms kindle) and I see that there is a book about Mohammad Alis daughter about her adventure with losing weight using gastric banding. She began at 350 pounds. I haven't read the book, only the free sample (first chapter)..I'm wondering if anyone has read it and if it is worth buying?????????????

I had/have a wonderful experience with the Gonzales team. They keep in touch with you after surgery. I live in New Mexico and it is cheaper for me to get an air ticket and fly to San Diago for fills than it would be to go to a fill doc here. Plus Dr. G does the fill so easily and fast. Good Luck on your journey.

The one with the Nephrologist (Dr. Gibb) didn't go so well as my creatine was higher. But, the darnest thing I received a letter from my PCP the other day that said 'congradulations, your kidneys are doing better". Then he said he'd send a letter to Dr. Gibb. Keeping my fingers crossed here... A TOTAL bummer to have your computer stolen. I guess you're like me and keep putting off the backing up thing. Also I don't put my passwords on my computer in case it does get stolen.....I use bank, paypal, credit card and such on my puter. SUNSHINE: Where are you hiding? I get worried when you don't post. Have you deserted us? Take care girls and post a note when you get time. I'm working some crazy long hours but like a bad penny, I'm sure to show up sooner or later. ~LOL~ Hugs, Judy :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: :tt2: Thanks for your concern. I've been doing a lot of painting lately and got neglectful.

WOW to go through the unfill and refills again..ugggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh...as of now I am going to start measuring everything I eat. I've been negligent. Do you know how someone would know if their esophagus was enlarged besides getting a flouroscope??

L.A. 4 years ago I was an Alaska resident. I use to go out into the ocean near Homer waiting for the tide (about 2am). Me and my honey would net the silver salmon as they arrived from deep ocean. Now that salmon receipe sounds so yummy that I think I should move back to Alaska. In the lower 48 there just ain't the good salmon that comes right from the ocean and I need that good salmon for your receipe.

PCGIRL When you stretch your esophogas what happens? Does it heal back?

Yea, restriction has to be experienced before you really understand it. Really great to hear that you are OK.

We have the left over of your weather. This system went east from Southern Calif., bringing us rain and strong winds last night. We've been getting down to the upper teens to lower twenty's at night. Wisconsin can drop to 20 below............brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

How cold is it? I live in Silver City, New Mexico. We get cold at night here.

Judy good luck on your TJ trip. Be sure to let us know what Dr. G says. Thank you for the concern & prayers.

Hopefully your band isn't leaking. It's hard to see a weght gain when you've been working so hard. But I find that if you get right back in there it comes off along with some new off pounds

I have an enlarged left kidney, and the veins leading to the kidneys are occluded (don't know what is causing it, could be plaque). My filteration rate is 47%. I see the Neprologist again in two days. Brenda

Aging is the pits and my body seems to be full of aches, pains and just winding down. Hate it. But, jokes about it seem to lift the spirit for me because it helps me to laugh about life's ironies and realities. The main reason I got banded was to down-age (like down-size)..some.

I didn't do well with my first fill and felt like you do. I have a 10cAP band and took 6.5 cc;s in first fill. Then last month I went in for a 2ed fill and WOW what a difference. Stomach is definally reestricted. I pb/throw-up/slime, all or one, when I don't chew/chew/chew or when I eat too much. I can take a lot of liquids and creamy stuff in. I'm trying to stick to regular food and am losing weight slowly.

Yes. Lauras is Laura@golap-band.com

The toon hit me as funny, and it really is gross. I have some new toons. They poke fun at getting old....which I'm doing as I am 63 now. Sorry to hear about the losses on this thread.