Courtenay

Hello everyone— I am new to the forums here and wanted to put a feeler out for anyone in the Cleveland area who has had lap band surgery. I am currently looking to have it in Mexico due to insurance and monetary reasons. I am nervous about the surgery and the fills aspect. Anyone willing to talk about their experiences would be great! Thanks in advance, Courtenay

Lap Band Surgery runs anywhere from $7000-$9500 in Mexico at different hospitals with different surgeons. I have chosen Dr. Pedro Kuri and his surgery cost is $7500 and that includes 2 nights in the hospital, and two nights in a hotel close to the hospital afterwards just in case of any questions/complications. It also includes ground transporation to and from the San Diego airport!

Just wanted to stop in and say thank you to Heather, Darla, Special K and Susan for making me and my husband, Jason feel welcome at the meeting. I REALLY appreciated all the stories, recipes and new connections. I know that my husband and I felt so much better after talking with Darla, so a special thanks to you Darla! And a special thanks to Special K for the great recipe ideas! I have my band date of May 23rd and I'm excited to become a part of the family. Thank you everyone for making the trip more than worth it from Cleveland! :smile2:

Anyone heard from Alicia? I am hoping that her surgery went well with Dr. Zapata. Please fill me in when you're feeling up to it!

Make that Tuttle!! Sorry!

Please save a seat for me and my husband. We will be at Polaris this Saturday at 1:45pm! I can't wait to meet everyone and hear about your experiences, good and bad!

Okay, I think I know where that mall is, but where are we meeting at the mall? And what time please? Thanks everyone!

Hello! I have been out of the loop for a while, but I was still planning on coming down to Polaris with my husband next weekend to meet everyone and talk about their experiences. After reading the thread of messages, it looks like we're still on for Polaris then, at 2pm at the food court? Please confirm as we have friends we are staying with and I would love to be able to give them more information.

Hi Heather! Thank you for your comments. I am concerned about where to go for fills in Ohio. I also know that I can travel down to Cincinnati for fills. Luckily, I have friends down there and can make a trip into a mini vacation. However, it is far to drive. I was going to call Dr. Chlysta but now that you told me it is going to cost $500 with NO flouro, forget it! That is ridiculous. You know if healthcare started being PREVENTATIVE, and not only covering things AFTER we get co-morbidities, none of us would have to go outside the US for surgeries like this. Docotors should understand out dilema and stop making us pay more just because we did what we had to to become healthy. It really upsets me. Who did you go to in Tiajuana? I am considering a Dr. Kuri in Tiajuana and Dr. Zapata in Monterrey. Please let me know about your experience. Thanks! Courtenay

Hi Alicia! I am SO excited for you. PLEASE let me know how everything goes after you get back. I will be thinking of you on April 3rd and hoping that everything goes perfectly, as expected.

Thank you Susan. I will be bringing my husband (for moral support, and because he is freaking-out about me getting any kind of surgery) so I am hopeful that after meeting some fellow "banders" both of our minds will be at ease. I just want to say that I think it's great that you guys have developed this support system and continued aftercare/support for one another. It's a LIFETIME commitment and one that does not end after getting banded, but just begins the healthy journey we are all striving to start and continue. Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

So you may have a carpooler friend after all! I'm still collecting info and will be probably be making a decision after I go to the meeting in Columbus and talk to more people about their experiences on April 12th. Are you attending that?

Angie— Yes, I am considering that. It is certainly a concern for me. Both of the doctors who I am considering in Mexico have Free Fills for LIFE! Unfortunately, I would still have to pay for airfare every time I go down. I am interested in knowing if Dr. Curry in Cincy would do fills for me. I currently have Dr. Zapata's facilitator looking for doctors in Ohio who would do fills for me. It's just that thinking about Dr. Curry in Cincy—his surgery is twice the amount of Dr. Zapata's in Mexico and I just have to wonder, will I spend more than $7000 in fills for the rest of my life with a doctor in Ohio? AND, Dr. Curry's fills are only free for 2 years. How often do you have to get fills after say... 2-3 years post surgery?

Alicia— Thank you so much for your response about Dr. Zapata. I am seriously considering him and spoke with a woman named Judy from his staff last night on the phone. She was very informed and answered a lot of questions I had. You mentioned airfare being $1000!!! Where do you live?? I am in Cleveland, OH and am hping that it does not cost that much!

Angie—how is everything going? Any regrets? Hardships? What do you eat after surgery?

Alicia99— How did you decide on Dr. Zapata? Did you research other Dr.'s down there? And do you plan on using him for all of your fills? Having the cost to go back to Mexico whenever you need them?

gmechele: where are you looking to have it done in Mexico?? I have looked into Dr. Kuri (in Tiajuana), and Dr. Zapata (in Monterrey)

Hello! My name is Courtenay and I am currently researching lap-band surgery in Ohio and Mexico. I live in Cleveland and plan on attending this Columbus meeting. I would LOVE to talk to anyone and everyone about their surgeries, doctors, experiences, etc. I am leaning towards having my surgery in Mexico due to pricing but fear the "fills" aspect and having to continually go back and forth. Has anyone every received a fill from a doctor different than who gave them the lap-band? Any help/comments from anyone would be great! Thanks! C

Hi Angie! Thank you for your response! I also looked into Dr. Curry in Cincy. Can you share a little more about your experiences and how many times you go for fills and how much they cost? And what did you find out about the guy in Colorado? I know this may sound weird, but I would love to be able to speak to you about this on the phone. Is that possible?

Hello sbee. I am currently looking to get banded in Mexico due to insurance issues here in the US. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience getting banded? Any regrets? Hardest part? And, are there any cleveland support groups to go to and discuss the procedure?