skyeblu79

Would I have tuned in if the show were about people w/healthy habits no? Addictions, yes. A healthy habit and addiction are too different things. My going on the internet is a healthy habit. I don't wake up thinking I have to jump on the internet or forget to feed my kid b/c I have to jump on the internet. People that have addictions have serious problems and need help. You can be an alcoholic or enjoy wine tasting. Aren't these too completely different things? Who would have tuned into the show if people turned from food to knitting? No one would care, that's good..

I agree. I think she did a show on this b/c people were writing in about this issue. The people on the show aren't alone w/this and maybe she wanted to address the issue and help people. And I am not Oprah's biggest fan and I don't agree w/everything she says. I think the main reason she continues to do her show is to help people. It can't be for the $$.

I'm confused?!:girl_hug: What's wrong w/what I said? I was making a statement. From what the poster stated it sounds like she didn't watch the show. If she had watched the show she would have known what it was about. It wasn't about having a different opinion. Fact and opinion are too different things. If you read you will see that I explained what the show was about.

Sure, I might be addicted to watching tv, going to Vegas, and this message board. But it's a lot different from having 14 affairs (7 of which are one night stands). The point of the show was the tie in between the addiction and the WLS. You probably didn't watch the show, but they went into depth about the addictions. Ex: One reason the 2nd lady started cheating on her husband was b/c of all the attention that you got from men. She had been overweight her whole life and losing 200 lbs really boosted her self image (with men). The show made sense to me. The same thing might have happened to some of those women from what Swan show.

Pretty much...I agree it's a huge difference.

:heh: I think I already have that one. I can only imagine how it will be once I have surgery and can really buy the clothes I want.

Moved thread

IMO, that would make the most since. It sounds like she just wants an excuse to take the band out so she can eat as she wants. I just don't see other reason to take it out unless it is eroded, etc. And why is she telling everybody. I could see if she had proof that it had caused her some serious problems and she wanted to get the word out.

I am going to Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana and it is $8500 including the hotel and transportation. This also includes fills.

Ok, that's what I thought. I was thinking it was more than 2 weeks. Thanks

I was wondering if you went to Dr. Ortiz. I noticed in his book lap band for life he says you go from liquids to solids. I'm not sure how soon though. It said that there was no mushie food stage and that he didn't recommend it since the foods were usually high in carbs and stuff.

If you do have complications with your band and you want to have it replaced do the doctors give you any kind of break with the price of replacing it. I was reading some of these posts and I am planning on self-paying. I would hate to spend all that $$ and chance something going wrong down the line. If the band has to come out, do you have to pay for that as well. Are the complications looked @ as something that just happens and it's not the doctors fault? Also, I most likely will go to Mexico for my surgery. I am figuring that if something did go wrong I wouldn't be able to fly back to have it removed, etc. Thanks

Chinese Food and Mexican Food!!! And I really like shrimp too.

I completely disagree...Being a doctor is a business plain and simple. Maybe they would like to get a cash payment vs waiting for insurance to pay. Or what if they were just nice enough to lower their price. It could happen? Ex: My mother was laid off from her job after 20 years and needed surgery with no insurance. Her doctor at Duke Hospital waived his fees and all she had to pay were the hospital fees. If you ask me this man was God sent and didn't have to do it. He was a great doctor and without him she may have went blind. Don't discount someone b/c they would lower their price. That swapmeet comment was just dumb.

Lap Band for Life and Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery are really good books. I got them both off Amazon.

Yup, I am so sick of waiting. I am afraid that by the time I get surgery I won't be able to wear the clothes I have now. I am really stressed waiting. I'm not waiting for approval. I have to wait until I have enough $$ to pay for the surgery. I should have the rest of the $$ by some time in January. If I could I would borrow the rest of the $$ and pay it back when I get the rest of the $$. I don't want to diet now b/c I know that I won't stick with it until January. My doctor wants me to lose 20-30 lbs before surgery. All I can say is I will try. I know if I did lose something it would help.

So, true...The most educated person can have no common sense @ all.. I thought about that too...The having bypass to lose 40 lbs. That sounds crazy. I know she doesn't want to regain the weight without the band, but I didn't know a doctor would do bypass for someone that only has to lose 40 lbs. I guess some people will do anything for a paycheck though.

I really wasn't trying to get to an attitude or anything. Truthfully, I was trying to find out more info. I was just asking if this was something that to your knowledge was routinely done in MX or if this was something that Dr. R chose to do himself. I wasn't saying that I had a college education to say that I was smarter than you or anyone on this board. I was saying to say that I am no specialist in medicine or anything or that nature. That's why I said my specialty is History. I was the 1st person in my immediate family to obtain college degree. I by no means think that a person without a college degree is unintelligent. I'm sorry if you took what I said the wrong way. I ask a lot of questions and I should probably reread what I type to see if it can be taken wrong. I guess my wording wasn't the best.

So, are you saying this is common practice in MX? When you posted in the previous thread it didn't sound like the best option. The few people that I have read about on here and elsewhere were saying they waited before having bypass or getting rebanded. I have a BA in History, not anything medical, but it sounds like common sense not to do this. I am just wondering why Dr. Rumbalt did this and if this was just a mistake he made. I just want to make sure that I am understanding this right, so she had the option to do to a teaching hospital in the U.S., but didn't? And they were going to help her. I am going to look more into this about doctors turning patients away that need serious medical care. I could even understand a private hospital, but I thought other hospitals would have to see people. I go to the doctor on Thursday, so I will ask about this and try to find out some more info.

Is this the same lady that had the bypass surgery after having her lap band removed? Can you tell me where this post is? I wouldn't mind reading all of the posts? Thanks

Kimberly150, I know what you are saying. My insurance company incorrectly told me they covered the lap band surgery and then months later I found out that my specific plan wouldn't. I was so disappointed to find out it wouldn't be covered knowing I couldn't afford to pay for it. It does seem unfair to have to pay the whole amount, but I guess that's how it is. I can't afford to get it done here so I am going to MX. To me it's still a lot of $$ though. Some people just don't understand maybe b/c either their insurance covered it or they have $$ like that pay. I feel bad to have to spend this much money on the surgery when I could use it on other stuff. I know how much I need the surgery so that's just the way it is..... I can't answer your original ?, but I just wanted to let you know that I know where you are coming from. If some doctor will nego I say go for it. You know your expenses and what you can afford and they know theirs. Like someone else said though, you might do better checking different doctors for prices. Good Luck!!!

I don't know if you know the answer to this or if someone else on here does, but is it common procedure to go directly to gastric bypass when having your lap band removed? I would think you would need some time to heal or something from the other procedure. It's a shame what this lady has gone through, but this doesn't sound like anything that couldn't happen in the U.S. Also, if the lady is that sick wouldn't doctors here have to treat her. It doesn't sound legal for them to turn someone away. Does it really matter where she had the surgery done? So, if I get sick while in France for vacation and have have surgery doctors in the U.S. don't have to touch me when I get back. I'm not buying that. I can understand fills, etc. but if someone is sick I thought it was unethical not to treat them if you are a doctor. Maybe I watch too much ER. I don't know.

I am going to be banded in Tijuana, but I need a doctor here for fills and aftercare. The surgeon in Tijuana does include fills and the fluro is a little extra (maybe $40). I just didn't want to have to fly back and forth for fills...But w/the price I was quoted and the difficulty in finding a doctor to do the fills, I might not have much of a choice.

This may be a dumb question, but is there anyway to get your insurance to pay for your fills if they want cover the procedure? I am planning on having my surgery in MX and if something happens to me once I come back to the states my insurance should cover it, correct? Thanks

The only person that I have found here charges $250 for the fluro, the hospital charges $325, and there could be a possible reading fee of $86. So the totals anywhere from $575-$661. That sounds ridiculous to me. I am going to keep looking. It would be cheaper to fly back to Tijuana than pay that.