HELP PLEEEEZE! Mexico or Denver?

[TracyinKS 7]

If I didn't have insurance I would either go to Denver OR Mexico.... but thank the lord my insurance approved it....

One thing I will add is that my doc said almost EVERY patient that he bands HAS a hernia, and if it is too big he will fix it, because it only adds 3 minutes to the surgery..... I would maybe investigate the fact that you could have a hernia and have your insurance pay for that instead and get the band placed as a bonus.

My doc also does fills on Mexican banded patients.....

[TracyinKS 7]

BB: I think so.. I used to work in the Mission Bank Building right on the corner of Foxridge and Johnson Dr... (also many moons ago) I was suprised when I realized my doc was right down the street (on johnson drive)

It has be DEVELOPED to the max.

[Kat817 19]

I did go to Mexico, I used Dr. Aceves. He did give us a lower price, based on the fact we were referred by his previous patients, and 2 of us were going together. As for the hospital---it was not dingy nor run down. I found it to be much cleaner, and more modern than many if not most of the hospitals I have had the misfortune of being in in the USA. There was an emergency when I was in the hospital, a vice president of commerce of Mexico, or some such office, was the victim of an attempted assassination. There were actually 2 men shot, they were brought to, treated, and saved in the hospital I had my band put in at. In the same OR! I saw the Policia standing guard at the door! I could not have ask to be treated any better.

We were picked up in San Diego, drove to Mexicali, went for some pre-op tests, then taken to a NICE motel, given rooms (one for my DH and I, and one for my SIL). We did some shopping, had some dinner. The next morning we were picked up and taken back to the hospital, where Dr. Aceves, talked to us at length about the band, how it would work the best, what our expectations should be. How he would do the surgery, how the band itself was installed---he had a band for us to see and mess with. Told us about our bands, that we would have ID #'s on them, we would receive the box etc. Also if the stomach was too large what he would do, about the other band etc. He must have talked to us for close to an hour. He stayed and visited with my husband while the nurse began my IV. Then they told him he better get going! Before I was taken, the assistant surgeon, head OR nurse,& the anesthetist, all come to see me in my room (all of them also ask the same questions!!! Who are you what are you having done etc.!). Oh and also a Dr. from Ohio was there, watching lap band placements, I had to sign a release for him to be in the OR. They all called me by name, except the nurse who insisted on a teasingly said "Katarina"! They all had words of comfort to me as I was being prepped, then the anesthesiologist told me "Night Night Ija" I went to sleep wondering what "ija" (eeeha) meant! I ask my nurse later and he said it is an endearment they usually call their children! With the exception of some of the cleaning staff, I never had any problem with the language, they spoke beautifully!! Much better at my language as I was at theirs!!! They did teach me words tho--it was a game! I was back in my room in just over an hour, and was up and walking not long after that. I walked all day off and on. They offered me something to help me sleep, but I didn't need it, the anesthetic was still kinda drugging my system. The next day I walked some more---that was when the assasination attempt was going on! We stayed one more night, and then the next morning, we were taken down for a barium swallow, to see our bands working, and then taken back to the airport. Both trips were done in a very plush van. They still to this day keep in contact with us. Prior to my surgery they helped me set up aftercare closer to me. But I live in a rural area of New Mexico, and there is not even a lap band surgeon in the state!!! So the closest one is still a 10 hour round trip. So knowing that he also set me up to talk to a local oncologist---because they are used to accessing ports, in case I had an emergency. I have not had any emergencies. Have travelled to the Dr. I use for fills several times, only 2 times for a fill. When my SIL goes for a fill, I go for a check up.

It would have been nice if I had had the option of a Dr. down the road, close for aftercare, but the fact is, there isn't one! So regardless of where I went travel was going to be involved. I chose to go where I knew people had gone and had a good experience. But I still researched the heck out of it! I even had my uncle who is a MD is Mississippi do some checking for me! He found out a GYN fellow he knew was lap proctored by him!

It is not an easy decision to make. Many do not want to hear anything about going to Mexico, and that is fine, we all have things that are "beyond our comfort zone". I was extremely pleased with the care I recieved, I felt well taken care of.

Many surgeons help defray the cost of the flight, mine covered 1/2 of the flight. When I pointed out that the office had miscalculated, and also deducted 1/2 of my DH's---they were kind of stunned, then said that was ok, if I was going to be honest, they could be generous! If finances are an issue, then it does pay to look into it. There is no way I am suggesting to make your decision based solely on cost. But face it, if cost were NOT an issue, we wouldn't be discussing it! And no one can tell me the Ohio Dr. learning from Dr, Aceves, is not going to charge a heck of a lot more!!! I realize he has to, he has outrageous malpractice to pay---but I personally didn't care to pay their premiums for them.

Good Luck making your decision! I believe getting my band was the best thing I ever did for just me! I would do it again in a heartbeat, and would take my own child to Mexicali for it if need be.

Kat

[BJean 16]

kat: That was a great post! And yours was a really good experience. I am sure everyone who is trying to make a decision will appreciate your taking the time to write about your very positive experience in Mexico!

[silry 0]

i got banded in mexico by Dr. Ortiz. i have no complaints. the one thing to seriously consider is aftercare. i'll be honest, i didn't give it much thought... but every so often i wish i could go get a check up just to make sure everything is going according to schedule. it's almost like being thrown to the wolves when you don't have a doctor nearby handy. "here's your band. see ya." now don't get me wrong, the clinic was gorgeous, the hotel beautiful, the staff considerate and friendly. absolutely no complaints there. i also happen to live in NV (LV) so i can just drive down to San Diego or fly down for a small amount of money so fills won't be much of an issue. of course if you don't live in denver, it would kind of be the same situation. but if you get banded in denver, most doctors WILL fill other banded patients by US doctors, but that isn't typically the case with mx doctors. if you are seriously considering mx, research research research! go with experience over price if possible... ortiz did write a book on lapband and proctured many US surgeons. experience is key! good luck!!!!!!

[skyeblu79 0]

I started to go to MX, but after waying all the pros and cons I decided on Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver. If I had no found Dr. K I would have definitely gone to MX. Going to Denver I still saved close to $5,000 compared to the doctors here.

My experience w/Dr. K was great and you can't go wrong with him. I have a lot more choices of doctors for aftercare since I stayed in the states.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[dmmedina 0]

I don't want to turn this into a Mexico vs US debate but from what I have read here on LBT choose your MX doc very carefully. Some have had great luck going south of the border others not so much.

Good luck to you! :biggrin1:

I think this can be said as well for surgeries in the US so this is a mute point.

[Sparkette 0]

Thanks for all the info! Flights from here to Denver would be just as much as a flight from here to San Diego. Looks like a roundtrip tic to San Diego first week of April is 211.00 American Airlines, which I think is pretty dang good, considering April is quickly approaching!

There are fill docs in MO that charge 300.00 for MX patients. Not far from me. I've read a LOT of good stuff about Dr. Ortiz. His package special is 8500. I'm wondering if I could convince him to drop it a little more! LOL

Donna

[BJean 16]

Sparklette: Plead poverty! Might work! What could it hurt?

[BJean 16]

Oops. I mean Sparkette - I guess Sparklette is a brand of Water. You don't own a Water company do you? Cause your credibility might suffer a little when you call Dr. Ortiz!

Seriously, good luck. It sounds like you're going to be treated very well and you have someone lined up for your fills, so we'll stand by and look forward to hearing from you about your experiences and how you're doing!

[DrewsLou 3]

I think this can be said as well for surgeries in the US so this is a mute point.

Not to be blunt but DUH! My point was that it is much more difficult to get good info on surgeons in MX than it is to get the same info on docs here in the states as they are not regulated by the same agencies that US docs are.

I'm not saying US is better than MX. For me personally I feel very lucky that I had the option of having surgery 20 miles from my home. I realize not everyone has that luxury.

[Lap_dancer 8]

I liked Ortiz and his reputation. 4000 plus Lap Bands? Awesome. Lori is great too.

For me it came down to the fact that for 2K more, I could be in the states with U.S. AMA criteria for the doctors. My husband was worried if anything went wrong there would be no recourse out of country. My mother is a high risk patient and is always concerned about genetics playing a role in what may develop in me down the road. So many people here giving love to Dr. K and his staff, he was the next obvious choice.

Sweetie, go with your instincts! Do what you believe is the best choice for you. We are all different but the same in our obesity and the banding.

The rest is customized.

My best to you.

[lrw26 0]

I am sure the doctor's in mexico can be as good or better as here in the US. there are good and bad doctors everywhere. My only problem with going to Mexico is just that you have to go to another country and I think the aftercare is very very important. I live in San Diego and had the surgery a couple of miles from my house. The surgeons are part of a big center for weight managemnet where they have nurses, 2 obesity specialist doctors, dietitians exercise this and that and the follow you very closely for a year at least and then often after that. So for me that was the right choise as if something happens I would like to be able to go to the surgeon who actually did it.

[Lap_dancer 8]

Sparkette,

Tell you what I did.

:eek: I got the idea from my PCP.

I called several reputable Mexico Dr's and explained that I only had $6000.00 to spend and that my PCP had said if I didn't do something, I would be dead in 2 yrs.

:clap2: I got a return call from one of the Dr's, he asked for my med record/questioner which I sent right away. He called back and said that once a month he gives someone a discount and I was the choosen one.

:eek: I have to pay my own airfare but I got it from Spokane to San Diego for $150.00 RT on Priceline. which is normally closer to $400.00. I will stay a extra day for a hotel price of $45.00 per night which was normally $100.00+ per night.

You might try this, It worked for me. Best of luck

How clever! I love doctors like this who love medicine enough to want to help their patients as much as possible.

[marjon9 6]

I liked Ortiz and his reputation. 4000 plus Lap Bands? Awesome. Lori is great too.

For me it came down to the fact that for 2K more, I could be in the states with U.S. AMA criteria for the doctors. My husband was worried if anything went wrong there would be no recourse out of country. My mother is a high risk patient and is always concerned about genetics playing a role in what may develop in me down the road. So many people here giving love to Dr. K and his staff, he was the next obvious choice.

Sweetie, go with your instincts! Do what you believe is the best choice for you. We are all different but the same in our obesity and the banding.

The rest is customized.

My best to you.

I went through the same process as Lap dancer. I was interested in Dr. Ortiz, but then discovered Dr. K for just about the same price. I felt that my aftercare options would be better in the U.S. and that I would be better protected in the small chance of complications. So, I went that route and it turned out great. I highly recommend Dr. K and his staff.

But, of course, many many bandsters are happy with Dr. Ortiz and other Mexican doctors. I do not think that would be a bad choice at all.