Considering Surgery (Texas)

BanTam · March 28, 2008

Hey y’all !

I’m a newby and this is my first post.

I’m 45, married for nearly 26 years, no kids and I live in central Texas. I started gaining weight after I turned 21 and it’s been an up/down battle ever since.

I am not yet banded, but hope to be in the next couple of months. I found this site while doing research and it’s great. What I really like about this site is that it has given me a wide spectrum of other peoples experiences.

On Wednesday I went to the mandatory "free seminar" or as I called it, the CYA chat. I suppose it did what it was meant to do and that is to make me think really hard about the surgery and possible complications.

As a self-pay client the cost of the surgery is a really big financial consideration. On the other hand, if I paid $15K for a new car that I was told would last a lifetime I would think I was getting a good deal, right? I know the other side of that too, what if the car is a clunker….? My surgeon said for self pay patients he works with them if there needs to be another surgery. So that was kind of soothing…..

That’s my worry. Revision surgery. A recent Australian article claimed that 1 in 14 people need some type of revision surgery after their initial LapBand installation. My surgeon said a more accurate figure is probably 1 in 12. That seems pretty high to me.

My motivation for the surgery is my health. Five years ago I had uterine cancer (endometrial), I use a CPAP every night, I have fatty infiltration of my liver, I’m diabetic so I give myself shots of Byetta, I have asthma, I’ve had one knee surgery but still have pain, and finally my blood pressure and cholesterol is creeping up so we all know what comes next.

Any suggestions y’all can give me on what I should start doing now before my surgery would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks !

Tammy

losingjusme · March 28, 2008

hi Tammy,

welcome to LBT!

tonyahebert · March 28, 2008

there are a lot of people here who were banded in Mexico and are very happy. I am actually going to Monterrey in May to be banded by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez...I have done my research and am very comfortable with my choice. The few people I have told are very incredulous, but I am not the type of person to take a chance with something this life changing because the price is better in Mexico. (I am paying $7500 by the way, which includes everything but airfare there)

Good luck with whatever decision you come up with!

BanTam · March 28, 2008

I did consider Mx, but I decided it wasn't right for me. I wanted the same surgeon to do the follow-ups too.

Is it true that the doctors here charge out the wazzu for fills if you have it done in Mx ? My follow-ups are free for the first year and since I'm self paying the surgeon said he would limit my cost for revision, if needed.

tonyahebert · March 29, 2008

is in Marshall, and she charges $130 for fills. Which is pretty good compared to what I have read on here...She does have a $225 first visit, but that includes the $130 for the fill....And, since I live in deep East Texas, I am happy with only having to drive a couple of hours to see her. Houston is a little over 3 hours...Dallas is over 4. There is a doctor in College Station who, if I remember correctly, is fairly priced.