NataliesMommy

Dr. Lopez Dominguez with Betancourt Medical in TJ. Important lesson learned the hard way! I'm glad you had a good experience! I've heard a lot of good things about Dr. Ortiz.

Myra, It sounds like your mind is already made up. Unfortunately, I'm sure that a forged prescription would be easily accepted by them. Not that I'm trying to give you ideas or anything, but you're determined, and they are money hungry.... And if this is the case, I STRONGLY believe it would be the biggest mistake of your life. I'm not a doctor, and can't testify to how you should or shouldn't loose the weight (even though common sense says lap band shouldn't even be an option for you). HOWEVER, I CAN testify to the treatment by the Betancourt Medical facility. The number of Betancourt patients w/ life threatening complications (including myself) is staggering! I don't think you could have possibly read all the posts on this site about them, and still considered using them - unless you have total disregard for your life. Make sure you go to the tabs at the top, and type in Betancourt under Search. READ ALL THE POSTS! The hospital pics on their website were not the same hospital they brought me to. It was dirty! I, along with 2 other people that had surgery the same day as myself, aquired infections. Mine being pseudomonas, and theirs being MRSA. In all 3 cases, the only resolve is band removal. I talked to Violet, Andres, Melissa, and other employees of the facility. They seemed so nice and helpful and swept me off my feet. However, after the surgery when I went to them w/ news of my complications, I was threatened to be sued. Please come to your senses! Alexandra and the others are right. I only wish I could have had this advice before I went.

It really depends on the Doctor. I've heard some facilities in Mexico are as nice or nicer than those in the states. Mine, however, wasn't! I should have called off the surgery when I realized the pics of the hospital on their website were fakes. (but we do stupid things when we are determined and desperate) As far as the dr goes...I felt as though I was dropped off on the curb right after I was banded. Of course I got an infection, and had a horrible time finding a Dr in the states to accept me as a patient. I'm not saying to not go to Mexico, just please do EXTENSIVE research to ensure you don't have a situation similar to mine! GOOD LUCK!

I believe the $196 is for the initial consult. I paid that on my first visit and from now on I pay $30/visit. Unless I get a fill which is $100.

I'm not sure if this would be too far for you or not, but there's Dr. Querry in Marshall, Tx (just east of the Tx/La border). It's $100 for fills (I believe) and she accepts Mexico patients.

So if you freeze the drink, it's okay?

hehehe :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I couldn't begin to explain how it felt. Very weird!!! Imagine someone pulling on your stomach from the outside. It was a bit freaky, but painless. She had to do alot of cutting of course, so I could hear it and feal the pressure. (She removed a good portion of scar tissue.) Not very pleasant, but one of those things that just had to be done!

Aww... I think it looks cute on her! Not to mention - easy to manage! I know how she feels though. I've walked out of the hair salon in tears more than once!

I recently had to have my port turned back over. It was completely upside down. My doctor just did the procedure in her office, and charged me for the price of the fill only - $100.

:omg: oh no! Bless his heart. I have a 5 y.o. daughter, and my heart breaks into a million pieces when she's got a tummy ache or something. I couldn't begin to image what the family must be going through, much less the little boy. I will include them in my prayers!

Thank you!!!!!!!

Hi LeeAnne! It's Lyndsey, I just now found your post! Thanks for sharing your story! Wayne and I had surgery w/in 24 hrs of each other at Betancourt and have had similar complications. He was diagnosed w/ MRSA, and I was diagnosed w/ pseudomonas. I couldn't agree more about saving your money to have the surgery in the states. Through this website, I've heard of wonderful American dr's performing the surgery for $11K which includes a year follow up. If only I had known that beforehand! As for the Betancourt group, I've talked to several people w/ horrible complications due to their unsanitary practices. Does anyone know of an agency that we can complain to? Another patient mentioned trying to put together a class action law suit, but I doubt that would hold any ground, esp since it's a foreign country.

I would think that size 26 is common enough that you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Otherwise Disney would need to do some major re-adjusting! At my largest (size 24), I didn't have any problems fitting on rides. I saw a guy get turned down for riding a roller coaster at Six Flags one time. It broke my heart!!!!!! He was really big though....like Nutty Professor kinda big. That Disney at Large website sounds like a great idea! I hate to see anybody embarrased! Have fun!!

Hi there! You should definately call your doctor w/ your concerns. My port was flipped upside down. When my dr attempted to give me a fill, we just heard the sound of metal. She said it sounded like it was upside down, which was confirmed w/ a cat scan. I also have a port infection. They scheduled an appt for me to have surgery at the hospital. She was going to go in, turn the port over, and attempt cleaning out the infected area. However, I lost my job (due to my complications), and my insurance! The hospital canceled my appt because I was in the self pay boat, and unable to pay the whole amount for the surgery. My dr went ahead and did the procedure in her office. She went in and flipped it over and sewed me back up - only charging me for the fill itself which was $100! So.... it all depends on your dr. Obviously I would be in a rough spot if my dr weren't so understanding and caring. Keep us updated!

I'm not sure, but on another thread, someone said they had to get thier band unfilled so that the morning sickness didn't cause the band to slip.

I have heard from several people that have used lawyers and sued after being denied surgery... and won! Don't give up if this is what you really want! You may want to start a thread asking other members about this.

:gluck: I wish you the best of luck, and hope the insurance gods allow you the surgery you deserve!

I've never had a problem w/ either.

Why do people keep saying that I could've gotten the infection in the United States as well????? Are they not reading everything before they post? I already know that and I've addressed that SEVERAL times. I guess that's just the easiest throw-back excuse to say to people that have had infections from Mexico. Sorry, just a bit frustrated..... And thank you cute-n-luzin! I agree w/ what you said. I appreciate you understanding the point I was trying to get across!

He should have gone home weeks ago! He was only being kept on the show by pranksters from votefortheworst.com and Howard Stern listeners. If I were him, I would be relieved to go. But who are we gonna gossip about now?????

Wow, that sounds scary. What is the cause for the dilated esophagus? Is it because of the reflux? BEST OF LUCK W/ THE MUSHIES! :nervous You can do it!

I'm not sure who you offended (if anyone at all), so I wouldn't worry about it. You should tell your experience - good or bad. And thank you for your well wishes! Apparently I've offended many people though, and that was not my intentions. Maybe I should have picked better words. I just wish that someone would have told me some of the negative possibilities before my surgery. Arealsweety, I agree that complications can happen in any surgery room in any country. I would just suggest that people research, research, research the dr/clinic they are looking into. Talk to former patients that have AND haven't had complications. AND make sure they have the funds to cover the costs of possible complications. I did not. That's why I went to Mexico in the first place - because that's all I could afford. My original post was a little strong, and I shouldn't have said "DON'T GO TO MEXICO". Just please make sure that if you do, you're much more cautious. There is no legal system to rely on, and you could be on your own if things go bad. Best of luck to you all!

Yeah, I just want to clarify again that I did not use Dr. Huacez. I've never met him. He was at the clinic way before I had my surgery.

I can relate! My incision barely has time to heal before my next dr's appointment, and she has to go back in. It's caused me a lot of downtime, and I'm unable to work. It would break my heart to have to loose my band w/out loosing all the weight that I needed to. However, I'm not sure if all this pain, and the risk of the infection is worth loosing more weight. Keep in touch w/ me and let me know what you decide to do!