Hello from Houston; deciding whether to band 1/28/07 in India

[Spruce 0]

My wife and I are flying to Delhi for our vacation and scheduled our tour i6 months ago. Last week I sent an inquiry to a medical tour doctor about weight loss options either before or after our organized tour (we have 4 extra days pre and 5 days post tour). He recommended Lap-Band for $6300 or Roux-en-Y for $8700, complete. I have read about both options on the net (30+ hours), attended a Lap-Band seminar 2 nights ago, and found the MGB (Mini-Gastric-Bypass) yesterday afternoon. I've read everything I could find on it, including the 130 page user manual.

I have learned so much that I don't know which solution is best for me. My BMI is only 37 but I have hypertension and sleep apnea, so I am qualified. I contacted two doctors within 25 miles of home who will handle the fills after I return (and several who won't). My insurance won't cover anything regardless...

The doctor I talked to in India spoke excellent English on the phone and we have exchanged repeated emails. My thinking is to do the pre-op exams in Delhi when we arrive, do the tour, then do the surgery in Mumbai (she can be at the beach and sightseeing post-surgery) where hospitals and stuff costs are less. He is talking about USA trained, highly specialized doctors, anesthesia and nurses in a 5 star hospital with 2 nights post-surgery there. That is excessive compared to the doctor at the seminar, but pampering isn't sinful.

Finally, the bottom line question: if you could select any surgical weight loss technique (within 90 pounds of "ideal" weight I haven't seen since we were married 42 years ago) and have repeatedly tried all the fad diets and exercise regimens (and lost weight on each one, but always gained it back), what would YOU do? Forget about surgery overseas and enjoy the trip we initially planned? Put the surgery & followup costs in your pocket and use that as the incentive to stay on a 1,000 calorie/day diet with 1 mile/day (ugh) walks for the rest of your life?

I have done the hypnosis, South Beach, Adkins, Mediteranean, 5-8 miles jogging/day, weight training, personal trainer at the Y, etc. ... all with various levels of success and no permanent results. But I'm willing to try again if that is the concensus. However, I would not have joined this website if I didn't think y'all may have found and an optimum solution. What is your experienced opinion?

Sorry about this long "hello". Just wanted to cut to the chase: everything is in place for surgery; now I need to make the final decision. I appreciate your prayerful guidance. Spruce.

[*susan* 1,709]

Hi Spruce, and welcome. I think you will find that most of us here at LBT have tried just about every non-surgical diet known, especially the popular ones such as Weight Watchers, Atkins and South Beach. I know I have and had some success with every diet I tried. However, something would always happen that resulted in my going off the diet, gaining all the weight I had lost back, including packing on a few new pounds as well. That is what led me to lapband surgery. I knew I didn't have what it takes to do it on my own and needed a tool to help me get healthy. I looked at several wls options and decided lapband was the best choice for me. I liked that it does not rearrange or cut apart anything on my insides and that it is reversible. I like that I do still have to take some responsibility for the food choices I make. When it came down to the issue of money, well, my husband and I are certainly not rich. We live paycheck to paycheck. However, we decided that by having the surgery and losing the weight, it would increase my life span, reduce future health problems and definitely improve my quality of life. We decided that is something you really cannot put a price on. So, we refinanced our home to pay for the surgery. It is a decision I have not once regretted. I am feeling better every day, have more energy than I have in years and my self esteem has improved greatly. Not sure if this will help you or not, but at least it will give you some insight from a banded person. I am sure others will post as well.

[Spruce 0]

Susan, that is a very nice welcome! I've spent several hours yesterday and this morning reading what y'all are saying to each other. Extremely helpful information. The clear concensus is that the lap-band works (why else would everyone be here!!!), is an elegently simple solution to a very difficult problem, and is the best solution around. That resolves my quandry about which surgery is best for me. And I have read a lot of very enlightening, well thought out pro and con discussions on surgery in the US vs foreign soil. The nurses and doctors have talked from their professional perspectives; others have responded based on their personal experiences. All of it is invaluable information.

Last night, based on what I've read on this board, we decided to forget about surgery in India and instead concentrate on Mexican doctors. One o with

[kjojojr 0]

I went to Monterrey Mexico. I was very impressed with Dr. Javier De La Garza. Look him up online, also the hospital OCA Hospital . I would send my family and friends there. Only trouble was the nurses can't speak english but I brought a friend with who did. Also the cost included airfare and 2 nights in the hospital. The doc and his assistant Veronica spoke english so i was comfortable with the whole experience.