Mexico or States

[JRPTX 0]

Carlene,

All valid points, which is why I agree that it is persoanl choice to be seriously considered, no matter which way someone decides to go.

[skyeblu79 0]

There is a young woman on another forum I belong to who was very successful with the band (-148 pounds) but her band eroded when she had about 40 pounds to go (to goal). Her band surgery was done in Mexico by one of the most respected surgeons in the country. She went back to him to have her band removed and revision surgery (to gastric bypass) in one operation. That was a month ago and things have not gone well for her.

The surgery took 9 hours and she spent 11 days in the hospital. She flew home on a feeding tube (plus drains, etc). She has seen two doctors in the US and was told she has a massive leak that will require another surgery. They told her she was foolish for doing both procedures at once (removing the band and bypass). Her doc in Mexico disagrees - says the leak will heal - and she's going with that.

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.

[Carlene 12]

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.

Evidently it is NOT common in the US to remove the band and revise to another surgery in one procedure.

One of the two doctors this woman was referred to (a band surgeon) said it was more than he could handle alone (surgery to repair the leak), and he referred her to a large teaching hospital where there were a number of specialists. Dr. R (her Mexican surgeon) advised her NOT TO GO, although she would not say why.

She has complete faith in her doctor and he says the leak will heal and no surgery is required. He determined this over the phone. I hope he is right.

As for doctors in the US "having" to treat you, I don't think they do. My grandson was born with a rare GI abnormality (Hirschspring's Disease) and the pedi released him from the hospital, although he should NOT have. My DIL and I took him straight to another pedi's office and the guy refused to even examine him. He told us to take him back to the ER of the hospital where he was born....and this was an obviously ill (juaundiced, lethargic, vomiting, not eating, not urinating) newborn!

[Carlene 12]

Someone slap me (but not hard) if this is a violation of something. I hope it's okay to post this here but if it's not, just tell me and I will delete it.

Here is the latest (Sunday, Oct 15th) post from the lady who had her band removed in Mexico and was revised to a bypass at the same time. I cut and pasted the whole thing.

Hi everyone. Again I want to say I love you all and thank you for being my friends.

Let me tell you the latest. I went in for a CT scan on Friday and was expecting just that but oh no, it was so much more. They put an IV in me and shot die in my arm that felt like fire, I had to drink gross stuff and well and shoving that same gross stuff into my feeding tube making me dry heave. I wasn't expecting the IV and so I started tearing up when I got the shot. You guys have no idea, my arms are all black and blue and I've been through so much pain, I didn't want anymore.

So there I am sobbing and the doctor is telling me that I have the largest leak he's ever seen and I will have to have surgery again. Of course I start bawling and I can't believe what I'm hearing. He goes on to ask me why I got this done in Mexico and blah blah blah. I just asked for my husband and I was a mess. Nick kept telling me I don't believe this hunny, you are not in pain like you have a large leak, your drains are not filling up that fast, I don't believe you need surgery again.

He calls the Dr. here. Dr. Oh (who I can't stand) and he instructs us to come to his office. On the way over Nick calls Dr. Rumbaut who tells him that I will NOT have to have another surgery and he was pissed that they upset me. If I do have a "large" leak Dr. Rumbaut said it will heal. He once had a patient that had a 300cc leak and it healed. He said a lot more but I don't have the energy to write.

We get to Dr. Oh's office and again said, well they can do whatever they want in Mexico and not worried about being sued but here in the US we have to worry about our practices (yes he said this) and so your case is too complicated and I'm only one surgeon so I don't want to take on your care. He basically kicked us out. He told me to go to the U of Washington to see specialists.

When we called Dr. Rumbaut he said NO WAY. He gave me the reasons why he didn't want me to go to UofW but I'm not going to share them on here. He swore he would find me a doc here who would see me through this.

So basically I"m back to not drinking anything through my mouth. Nick e-mailed him all the pics from the CT scan. He believes in his heart of heart that I will heal and will NOT have to go to surgery. He said if there is some unforseen reason I have to he will pay for Nick and I to come back and he can repair the leak through the inside therefore going through my mouth. He doesn't see this happening.

I'm so pissed because every doctor I see I face prejudice about going to Meixco and then have to justify why I did both surgeries at the same time. I'm sick of it and so is Dr. Rumbaut. I believe in my surgeon.

I'm so tired guys and it takes everything I have to not get depressed. My husband is amazing and so is my family and friends but it's just so hard.

I have a long road ahead of me, I need to find the strength.

Love to you all.

Sorry I'm not on here that much, but my energy level is for shit.

[skyeblu79 0]

Someone slap me (but not hard) if this is a violation of something. I hope it's okay to post this here but if it's not, just tell me and I will delete it.

Here is the latest (Sunday, Oct 15th) post from the lady who had her band removed in Mexico and was revised to a bypass at the same time. I cut and pasted the whole thing.

Hi everyone. Again I want to say I love you all and thank you for being my friends.

Let me tell you the latest. I went in for a CT scan on Friday and was expecting just that but oh no, it was so much more. They put an IV in me and shot die in my arm that felt like fire, I had to drink gross stuff and well and shoving that same gross stuff into my feeding tube making me dry heave. I wasn't expecting the IV and so I started tearing up when I got the shot. You guys have no idea, my arms are all black and blue and I've been through so much pain, I didn't want anymore.

So there I am sobbing and the doctor is telling me that I have the largest leak he's ever seen and I will have to have surgery again. Of course I start bawling and I can't believe what I'm hearing. He goes on to ask me why I got this done in Mexico and blah blah blah. I just asked for my husband and I was a mess. Nick kept telling me I don't believe this hunny, you are not in pain like you have a large leak, your drains are not filling up that fast, I don't believe you need surgery again.

He calls the Dr. here. Dr. Oh (who I can't stand) and he instructs us to come to his office. On the way over Nick calls Dr. Rumbaut who tells him that I will NOT have to have another surgery and he was pissed that they upset me. If I do have a "large" leak Dr. Rumbaut said it will heal. He once had a patient that had a 300cc leak and it healed. He said a lot more but I don't have the energy to write.

We get to Dr. Oh's office and again said, well they can do whatever they want in Mexico and not worried about being sued but here in the US we have to worry about our practices (yes he said this) and so your case is too complicated and I'm only one surgeon so I don't want to take on your care. He basically kicked us out. He told me to go to the U of Washington to see specialists.

When we called Dr. Rumbaut he said NO WAY. He gave me the reasons why he didn't want me to go to UofW but I'm not going to share them on here. He swore he would find me a doc here who would see me through this.

So basically I"m back to not drinking anything through my mouth. Nick e-mailed him all the pics from the CT scan. He believes in his heart of heart that I will heal and will NOT have to go to surgery. He said if there is some unforseen reason I have to he will pay for Nick and I to come back and he can repair the leak through the inside therefore going through my mouth. He doesn't see this happening.

I'm so pissed because every doctor I see I face prejudice about going to Meixco and then have to justify why I did both surgeries at the same time. I'm sick of it and so is Dr. Rumbaut. I believe in my surgeon.

I'm so tired guys and it takes everything I have to not get depressed. My husband is amazing and so is my family and friends but it's just so hard.

I have a long road ahead of me, I need to find the strength.

Love to you all.

Sorry I'm not on here that much, but my energy level is for shit.

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

[JRPTX 0]

What a story. I wish her the very best for a speedy recovery!

[skyeblu79 0]

Evidently it is NOT common in the US to remove the band and revise to another surgery in one procedure.

One of the two doctors this woman was referred to (a band surgeon) said it was more than he could handle alone (surgery to repair the leak), and he referred her to a large teaching hospital where there were a number of specialists. Dr. R (her Mexican surgeon) advised her NOT TO GO, although she would not say why.

She has complete faith in her doctor and he says the leak will heal and no surgery is required. He determined this over the phone. I hope he is right.

As for doctors in the US "having" to treat you, I don't think they do. My grandson was born with a rare GI abnormality (Hirschspring's Disease) and the pedi released him from the hospital, although he should NOT have. My DIL and I took him straight to another pedi's office and the guy refused to even examine him. He told us to take him back to the ER of the hospital where he was born....and this was an obviously ill (juaundiced, lethargic, vomiting, not eating, not urinating) newborn!

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.

[Carlene 12]

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.

I am NOT saying this is routinely done in Mexico or anywhere else. I don't know anything about it, except that the two doctors who saw Sherry here (in the USA) told her it was not usually done. It was a judgment call on Dr. R's part - not necessarily a mistake. If all turns out well (eventually) he will say, I'm sure, that he was right all along. If it doesn't, he will apologize and probably blame it on something else. (Just my opinion, and a guess on my part.)

She was referred to a teaching hospital and they would have (presumably) evaluated her and recommended a course of action. She CHOSE not to go, based on Dr. R's advice.

There is a big difference in a hospital and a doctor in private practice. A public hospital probably does have to treat you, if you show up in their ER. A doctor's office is entirely different. But, as I said, I have only had one personal experience and that was in Texas, in 1989. It could vary from state to state.

By the way....I have a college education, too. It does not increase your common sense one iota. My SIL has two master's degrees and she hasn't got the common sense God gave a goose. Go figure.

[Carlene 12]

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

Will the Mods please tell me if it's okay to post a link to another WLS forum? Someone got criticized for doing that last week and I don't want to make a LBT faux paux.

Should I PM Skye, instead?

[skyeblu79 0]

I am NOT saying this is routinely done in Mexico or anywhere else. I don't know anything about it, except that the two doctors who saw Sherry here (in the USA) told her it was not usually done. It was a judgment call on Dr. R's part - not necessarily a mistake. If all turns out well (eventually) he will say, I'm sure, that he was right all along. If it doesn't, he will apologize and probably blame it on something else. (Just my opinion, and a guess on my part.)

She was referred to a teaching hospital and they would have (presumably) evaluated her and recommended a course of action. She CHOSE not to go, based on Dr. R's advice.

There is a big difference in a hospital and a doctor in private practice. A public hospital probably does have to treat you, if you show up in their ER. A doctor's office is entirely different. But, as I said, I have only had one personal experience and that was in Texas, in 1989. It could vary from state to state.

By the way....I have a college education, too. It does not increase your common sense one iota. My SIL has two master's degrees and she hasn't got the common sense God gave a goose. Go figure.

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.

[Carlene 12]

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.

Oh, absolutely no offense taken. I just had to laugh at the idea of a BA degree being related to common sense because my SIL, who is so VERY well educated, is such a space cadet! The original "dumb blonde". I just wish she would go back to school for her PhD...then we could refer to her as "Dr. Dingbat". Right now, we just call her "the dingbat".

As for Dr. R choosing this course of action, I am pretty sure this was something he sold Sherry on....one surgery instead of two, and she was self-pay, so having it done in the US really wasn't an option anyway.

I have wondered, ever since hearing that she was going to have a gastric bypass to lose 40 pounds...would a US surgeon even do that??? Some people have said yes, because it was a revision of a failed procedure (her band eroded). Others said no....and some said the surgeon might consider it, but insurance probably wouldn't pay.

I belong to many WLS boards and have encountered people who had their bands revised to RNY or DS, and others who had a band placed over their old bypass. Just goes to prove that you can out-eat any WLS.

[skyeblu79 0]

Oh, absolutely no offense taken. I just had to laugh at the idea of a BA degree being related to common sense because my SIL, who is so VERY well educated, is such a space cadet! The original "dumb blonde". I just wish she would go back to school for her PhD...then we could refer to her as "Dr. Dingbat". Right now, we just call her "the dingbat".

As for Dr. R choosing this course of action, I am pretty sure this was something he sold Sherry on....one surgery instead of two, and she was self-pay, so having it done in the US really wasn't an option anyway.

I have wondered, ever since hearing that she was going to have a gastric bypass to lose 40 pounds...would a US surgeon even do that??? Some people have said yes, because it was a revision of a failed procedure (her band eroded). Others said no....and some said the surgeon might consider it, but insurance probably wouldn't pay.

I belong to many WLS boards and have encountered people who had their bands revised to RNY or DS, and others who had a band placed over their old bypass. Just goes to prove that you can out-eat any WLS.

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.

[Telly 4]

No surgery is ever guaranteed 100% without complications. Things happen to patients that are not always the fault of the surgeon, things just happen. Though I am grateful I am healthy and "Ok" I knew, before I paid for the lapband surgery that there was a possibility of erosion, slippage, complications, reflux, etc. I also knew with the Tummy Tuck that if the blood does not circulate and the cells die, that tissue could die and hence I would be in serious trouble. I am still not in the clear on this...as I am still healing but I knew the risks.

I wish her well and a speedy recovery.

I too had my surgery in Mexico and Dr. Rumbaut was superb. I also recently had my Tummy Tuck in Mexico with Dr. Romero and he too was incredible.

[Carlene 12]

No surgery is ever guaranteed 100% without complications. Things happen to patients that are not always the fault of the surgeon, things just happen. Though I am grateful I am healthy and "Ok" I knew, before I paid for the lapband surgery that there was a possibility of erosion, slippage, complications, reflux, etc. I also knew with the Tummy Tuck that if the blood does not circulate and the cells die, that tissue could die and hence I would be in serious trouble. I am still not in the clear on this...as I am still healing but I knew the risks.

I wish her well and a speedy recovery.

I too had my surgery in Mexico and Dr. Rumbaut was superb. I also recently had my Tummy Tuck in Mexico with Dr. Romero and he too was incredible.

Dr. Rumbaut has a sterling reputation, no doubt about that. My point was that when complications do arise, it can be very, very difficult to get someone in the US to treat you if you have had WLS in Mexico, and very inconvenient and expensive to return to Mexico for follow-up care. And not all of that "attitude" is due to bad temperment or greed on the part of US doctors. Some of them truly are scared stiff of getting involved in a case that might end up on the courthouse steps.

[Telly 4]

Carlene I re-read the girls post and I agree with you. Just by the response of that doctor and him kicking her out of his office..... no words.

But I understand each side of it, Dr. Oh and the patient's.

It's a complicated situation yes but thank goodness this is not a common situation.