seajoan

Hi, Obviously, gastrectomies rose out of bypasses. Dr. Cirangle may be or have done a retrospective study but..... I doubt very much whether this will be a random or double bind study. Right now ASMBS is awaiting studies and I think they will probably approve the sleeve next year.To say we know what happens with long term sleeve patients is disingenuous. We don't even know all the hormones that reside in the stomach and how important they are to everyday life. . They only recently found this year that the serotonin receptor which they thought was in the brain has one if not more of its receptors in the stomach.. It took years to find out the long term side effects of doing a extended distal bypass (high incidence of pancreatic cancer, bone loss with fractures etc.). I'm just pointing out to be cautious about your surgery choice.

zsflower, I agree with you. First the stomach can stretch even the sleeve remnant. There are a couple of people here posting well, very odd statistics. The sleeve has only been really studied the last 3 years. In fact it's being sanctioned by the ASMBS pending studies due out next year. We all have a vested interest in saying our surgery is/was the best. Well it might be the best for you, but not neccesarily for most people. Whats being left out of the sleeve debate is the surgical community does not know the long term issues particuliarily the discecting of the stomach and how it relates to hormones, What happens when you discect 75% of the patients stomach and how will that effect not haveing enough or at all needed stomach hormones. We know that there are at least 25 different hormones that reside in the gut besides guertin and leptin. What happens when they are absent or not enough? What happens if you get stomach ca, what happens 10 years post op in terms of weight loss. RNY is still considered the gold standard for obesity surgery. The RNY and the band can be reversed, not the .It was my choice to get a band. To each their own.

Have you thought about writing to the Nevada Medical Quality Assurance Board and or the State licensing board with your complaints? How about naming the doc, they always like seeing their name up on the net?

Last call for registration for the Seattle Bash and Band Conference this weekend. Join hundreds of others with exciting lectures and events. link.http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

Just a note to tell you about the Seattle Bash and Band Conference. Now in its 6th year, this year promises to be the very best. Happening in 2 weeks. Twenty speakers- 6 lap band surgeons-300 patients- totally patient sponsored. See our website at http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

ok here is a new post. Come and meet 300 patients and at least twenty speakers in 2 weeks at the seattle bash and band conference. This is a patient sponsored event. here is the web site.http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

You can meet several Mexican surgeons along with US surgeons and about 300 patients at the Seattle Bash and Conference occuring in 2 weeks. Here is the web site. http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

Hi, If you want to meet at least six surgeons and a dozen other speakers, three hundred pre and post banded patients go to the Seattle Bash and Band Conference. This is a patient sponsored event. Their web site is http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

Hi, If you want to meet twenty speakers and six lap band surgeons come to the Seattle Bash and Band Conference in 2 weeks. This is a patient sponsored event and a chance to meet hundreds of pre and post banded patients. Her is the web site.http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

Hi, If you want to meet hundreds of pre and post bandsters from around the US come to the Seattle Bash and Band Conference in 2 weeks. Her is the web site. Hope to see you there. joanne http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

If you want to see Dr. Kuri he will be at the Seattle Bash in 2 weeks. Her is the web link. Seattle Bash and Conference Web Site is: http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash2008.html

This is what I wrote. "Let me get this straight. Are you picking a sales representative or a surgeon to do your surgery? I'm not sure this post isn't a plant or done in gest because I find it incredulous that one would pick a surgeon this way." This was in a reply to a post that because Joanne from Belight who used to be Dr. Kuris coor. is now representing Dr. Lopez. The poster wrote that she was now having second thoughts about booking with Dr. Kuri because of this change. I thought it was well peculiar that one would pick a surgeon based on this criteria. Since your new let me give you a heads up. Like most places there is some very good surgeons, some so so and some places with gosh awful reputations. So you might ask how do I go about making a decision. One is distance. If your on the West Coast Tijuana is much cheaper and easier to get to. There 3 excellent surgeons there with good reputations. By reputations I mean you do not hear of frequent infections, surgeon non response after surgery, frequent slips or erosions. They have reputations because over the years, and thousands of posts on different sites you get a snapshot of their care. If your from other areas of the US I would certainly think of Monterey. Dr. Rumbaut, a professor of surgery and probably one on the top five lap band surgeons in the world. He trained most of the Mexican Surgeons and most of the older US lap band surgeons. Besides being my surgeon, he has been doing these surgeries for almost a decade. I have heard some excellent reviews also of Dr. Zapata in Monterey. Its important not to get caught up in web advertising, because thats all it is. Look to see where they were trained,do they teach, do a search on this site as well as others and put in their name. How long have they been doing lap bands. Do they mostly do bands or bypasses. Whatever you do ,don't pick a doc for price. Feel free to email me if you wish. Not the same Joanne. I'm joanne in seattle

If you want the best care possible and not be about the fee, go to the team at getbandednow.com. Lead surgeon is a FACS (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons). They use a full Anethesiologist a second surgeon and a surgical nurse. Hard to get that care anywhere for same fee. They really are cool. Their support is amazing 24/7! _____________ Wow? They have a "full anesthesiologist" whatever that means, a second surgeon- how else would you do lap surgery ( have never heard of any lap band surgery without one, and a surgical nurse. No surgical nurses would be like a party without peanuts. There are several surgeons with much higher qualifications who have alot more initials behind their names. How long have they been doing lap band surgery. One way to verify this is to see thier education (usually on thier site) and see when they completed their residency. Read, read, read. You hear certain names over and over again. That is because they have reputations. Reputations are generally because most of their patients are content with their services otherwise you would hear alot of complaints. Call Allergan Corp. the maker of the band and get their opinion.

Let me get this straight. Are you picking a sales representative or a surgeon to do your surgery? I'm not sure this post isn't a plant or done in gest because I find it incredulous that one would pick a surgeon this way.

Come to the Seattle Bash and Conference this weekend and meet over 200 patients and at leat a dozen docs. Ask the questions you always wanted to ask , Three dozen lectures, raffles,auction, fashion show. Registration availabe at the door.

Just a few additional pieces of info. Allergan-the maker of the band will be at the bash so you can see different types of band and talk with their rep about concerns or questions. In addition to docs etc, there will be a wa. attorney who specializes in weight loss surgery and how to get it covered. I believe she is banded herself. Again the link is HI, The link is http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash.html then go to speakers then to agenda

Meet 300 pre and post Bandsters at the sixth annual Seattle Bash and Conference. Meet 18 Surgeons, Dieticians from all over North America. http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash.html

If you don't know a great people to meet pre bandsters, post bandsters, surgeons, dieticians etc is at the annual Seattle Bash and Conference. This year we anticipate 300 registrants with 18 Surgeons and other professionals from the PNW to Mexico. Look at http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash.html for further details. Then join the chat group for further info about chatty issues. Look forward to meeting you all. Joanne in Seattle

What would be the use of making up a surgical record only to be destroyed in thirty days.?

Poor,poor Andres has been threatening patients with lawsuits for years. What you have to remember is you did not go to Andre for surgery but to the surgeon. Calll him and tell him of your problems. If not write them a letter and post it here. It will get seen, and you'll get some response. I bet the records were not destroyed, they just didn't put anything down except the basics and don't want to put energy into making another record up. P.S He's filing a court case in Cali, Mexico???? Do you really think you can be extradited for @2000. ?

University of Washington in Seattle is just starting a lap band program and will be taking Medicare patients. Good luck, Joanne in Seattle

Hi, I've been to Monterey on a several trips. I've had surgery twice with Dr. Rumbaut. He uses a hospital which is chosen by the US Secret Service for a US president to be taken to in case of a medical emergency in Monterey. Bush has frequented Monterey several times for conferences. In fact the president had just left Monterey on my last visit and the Secret Service was taking down phone lines that had been installed in the ER if needed. They have an air filter system in the OR which is the best in Mexico and probably half of the hospitals in the US. They do heart and kidney transplants , trauma etc. I tell you this because I personally want to have the best care and facility available if needed. Instead of metal instruments and cheaper materials which may not be properly disinfected by the hospitals or clinic--San Jose hospital uses mostly disposables. This costs more money. They use IV drug anesthesia for bands instead of Gas anesthesia because they want the patient awake and moving after the procedure and also poses less complications such as nausea and other side effects. This costs more money. This is not a small clinic but a well established hospital with excellent care. This costs more money. And then you have Dr. Rumbaut who is banded himself, has banded more patients and longer than any other Surgeon in North America and has probably mentored more Mexican and US surgeons then any other. I can go on but you catch the drift. You pay for what you get. . I understand if you are closer to Tijuana or Mexacali because they have some good surgeons and costs and flight time can be a deciding influence. But if you are in need of a top notch facility /Surgeon either because of your morbidity factors, location in the US or wanting the most experienced I would choose Dr. Rumbaut. Joanne in Seattle

The Northend Soup Nite is this Tuesday 6pm at Marie Callender's. It is located 1 block South of Northgate Mall. All invited, whether you are pre banded, banded, family or friend. Come and meet others and get your questions answered.

I'll give you the the name of the 3 closest to you. Dr. Fox group in Tacoma, Dr. William Neal-Olympia- Very high rateing and Dr. Cheblies- New in Seattle.There is additional places further north or south (portland) if you need. Joanne in Seattle

Dear you are in major depression. There are some options. One call the psychiatrists office and read them this post. If that doesn"t get you an earlier appt. try a uniniversity nearby because they may have conseling services. If things get worse go to the ER. When they ask whats wrong tell them you are having anxiety so you don't have to explain everything. When you see the doctor tell her/him how depressed/anxious you are. They may be able to start you on meds and or get you an earlier psych appt either with the person you were going to or another. I wouln't wait.You and your family deserve happier times. This isn"t your fault . You have something biochemical going on, go and get it fixed. Look forward to hearing how your doing.