Susan Boston

Dear Bandsters, I am headed toward banding in Mexico in the early part of 2007. Because I live in the Boston, MA area, I need/want to find a doc around here who will accept me as a banded patient to do fills and follow up. I am scared to not have someone in case of the band slipping, eroding, gastric bleeding, etc. I can't just fly to Mexico if I am vomiting! So, does anyone have any suggestions for a doc who will accept someone post-banding? Also, my bmi is 32 with high BP, cholesterol, etc, so maybe in conservative Boston a doctor might fell I am a bit crazy to do this. At my age, early 50's, with 20 years of weighing close to 200 and 5"3" tall, I am ready to make sure the second half of my life is the best it can be. Suggestions? thanks so much, everyone on this forum is so nice. Susan

I have not yet talked to local surgeons--that will be my next steps. From reading the websites, it appears to me that I will not qualify to have a lapband, even with self pay. Maybe I am wrong. There are a lot of programs now at most larger hospitals, so maybe someone will do it. It seems that some people go to Mexico and then go to fill centers, but that idea makes me nervous. Maybe if I lived on the west coast I would feel differently. But living near Boston, it is a long haul to Mexico if something goes wrong. I would guess that over a lifetime--which is how long these bands are in place--one would need some follow up care. I guess I am nervous about going so far from home for the band, so maybe someone local will do the surgery. Susan

I am not sure my co-morbidities would help me to qualify as they are not yet severe enough--but if I wait a few years I am sure they would! On one of the forums--this one or the obesity control center lap band forum--a member stated that doctors "treat you like a leper if you were banded in Mexico" . Some of us fall in the gray zone of not meeting local criteria so follow up care is difficult, but we qualify for Mexico care. I bet in three years this will work itself out. Susan

hello to everyone! I am on the verge of scheduling lapband surgery in Mexico with Dr. Rombault in March 2007. I have been reading about the lap band for about 6 months. My bmi is 32, I am 52 years old, and I do not think Massachusetts docs will "band me" as my bmi is too low. I would be self pay. I would like to join someone's practice, however, so I can go to support groups, etc. Any suggestions? I could just go to the new fill center usa in Rhode Island, but I would like to have a local surgeon to turn to in case of problems. I have been overweight for about 15 years, but before that I was pretty normal. I would love to be able to play tennis, etc again! Susan

Dear Chick, thanks for your reply--we are age mates! I feel as you do, at age 52, with my knee and hip joints hurting, what will life be like in the future if I do not get this weight off? You are losing pretty fast now--I guess you are still doing liquids and will move on t mush soon. How is your energy level? Are you craving food? Does "hunger" as you knew it go away, to be replace by feeling full (in your gut) but hungry in your blood sugar? I wonder what it feels like? I am aiming for early March, Susan

your stats are very similar to mine, height, weight, and bmi. How is is going? I am concerned that with a low bmi I will not get anywhere with this, and that I will feel really crummy because of low food intake. How do you feel? I admire your guts in doing this! how about a report? Boston Sue