Good morning, Debra I'm glad I could be helpful. You don't need to take anything and I encourage you to take someone with you. It will only help their understanding of what you are going through. I am 2 years out from my RNY and have done very well (after the first 4 months), so if I can be of any help to you or if you just want to talk, send me an email at [email protected].  Good luck to you!

Hi, Welcome to the board. I don't know of any support groups meeting specifically in Rio Rancho; however, there is a support group in Abq called Abq New Body Beginnings. It meets in the building that houses the Presbyterian Urgent Care next to the Northside Medical Building just off the I-25 Frontage Road at San Mateo. They meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 6:30-8pm. On entering the building, make a left at Urgent Care and go to the elevator. Take the elevator to the first floor, and make a left to the room next to the Cafeteria. Hope this is helpful!

I know that your post is a little old, but thought I would add my 2 cents.  Dr. Acosta at Del Sol is my doctor and I had the lap band on 9/24/07.  He is really a great surgeon, I only had to take the pain medication due to a headache in the hospital and other than that I had no pain at all.  I have had 2 fills and he does not use the florscope, just goes in and does it all pain free.  I was way impressed with his skills. On the down side, the appointments do take a long time 2-3 hours, but that is because you see the nurse, nut and then the doctor. Other than that I have no complaints.  Hope this is not too late to help you out.

Hi Jeni, As far as I could tell researching NM doesn't have any surgeons.  I have presbyterian and I am going to Lubbuck to have my surgery with Dr. Frezza.  Here is a little information I have found out. Maybe this will help you a little.  I did a lot of research on the procedures and Dr. Frezza before I agreed to have him as my surgeon.  Like you, I live in Rio Rancho and felt that was a long way to travel.  After meeting with him I know I made the right choice.  We went over all the options and figured out which procedure was best for me since I live so far away.  There was the lap band, the lap band with the partial sleeve and the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  He no longer does the Gastric Bypass.  We felt that with me being so far away it wasn't really practical for the lapband with the fills and possible port blockage etc.  With the combination of the two you would still have the same problem and have to go back every so often for the fills. But with the lap band the procedure is reversible.  We chose to do the sleeve which is removing 85% of my stomach and it is shaped like a banana. The intestines are not rerouted so you don't have the dumping syndrome and the vitamin difficiency is lower than with the gastric bypass.  There are only about 15 doctors worldwide that perform this surgery from what I have read and many insurances still won't approve it.  Dr. Frezza was one of the doctors who actually was involved with creating this procedure. His office staff is great and Krysta is extremely helpful. You have lots of forms to fill out and many test to get completed.  Once that is done Krysta will compile a "packet" for the insurance company and submit it.  Sometimes it takes the insurance a while to approve it.  I was actually approved with my first letter. I just have to wait for the official letter that the insurance company said they were sending the surgeon then my date will be set. Being that you are in the same town if you ever need someone to talk to just let me know.  Send me a message and I will give you my phone number.  Maybe we can become a support system for each other.  Good Luck. Debra

Hello everyone, hoping to see you this Monday Feb 4 for Support group In Las Cruces At the Thomas Branigan Library 6 to 8 dresp room B there is always a sign .we will have a guest speaker, a nutritionist so come with questions. We will also have the clothes bank. I look forward to seeing everyone remember to invite anyone who has surgery or maybe thinking about it we would love to have them, see you Monday ,Kelly


Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that
take our breath away."