Hi Penny, Good to hear from you. I wish you lots of luck too. I would love to hear how it all turns out for you. I will be looking for a post from you in the future. When are you booked for? It's interesting how Sask Health can ignore all of us. I have spoken to, written to and emailed them, Dr. Ash with Sask Health and my MLA. Sask Health at least replys unlike the MLA. So much for his vote! I have been so frustrated with them about covering lap band. Good for you for taking it in your own hands. Did you talk to Shirley about Dr. Kuri? What kind of plan do you have if you have complications in Mexico? That was one of my reasons for not going but I honestly did not look into insurance on elective procedures out of country. All the best to you and may you be skinny soon!

I have decided on bypass. For a number of reasons, I think bypass is the better choice for me long term. I have given it lots of thought and researched it well. I will keep researching too right up until surgery is booked. I have talked to lots of people on different discussion forums and read lots of opinions and daily expereinces. This is the best physical and mental choice for me right now. I am happy with my decision even if I still have questions. Partly, that's just the kind of person I am. I will stay connected to this page because in the end, we are all people who have had weight loss surgery and it is nice to know I am not alone in this part of the world. Thanks for the support. I hope I can be of support to you sometime.

Hello Chris, There are many good surgeons in Mexico. If you read some of the comments from people who have had surgery done there you will find it very impressive. Most comment about the cleanliness of the hospital and very attentive staff. If you search the web you will find doctors in various parts of Mexico that perform the surgery. Most cost between $7500-9000 US dollars. Some have an all inclusive package that includes the surgery, flight, transportation and one night hotel stay. I have chose to go to Dr. Joya in Puerta Vallarta Mexico and am scheduled for surgery on June 29th. I chose Dr. Joya because of the reveiws he received on this site as well as other Obesityhelp websites (Alberta and British Columbia). The cost will be $8000 US for an all inclusive package. You can look at his websie at www.drjoya.com if you like. If you e-mail them, Gerald will probably return your e-mail. Gerald is a former patient that handles patients from US and Canada (He was over 500 lbs. when he had the surgery and you can read his story on the website). I made my first contact by e-mail on Tuesday May 22 and picked my own date for surgery. You can get in very quickly. There are other doctors in Tijuana Mexico (Dr. Kuri) and one in Monterrey Mexico. I found the most usefully information on this site. Also look at other provinces Obesityhelp websites to read the stories and experiences people have had. I hope I have helped. Rhonda

Hi again! Guess this post answers my previous question in your last thread. I also chose the lapband. I thought I NEEDED what the RNY would provide, but I didn't like the thought of never being able to have a piece of cake, or whatever, again. It's reversible, and unobtrusive. The risk of complications are less, and those you can have are a hell of alot less scary. You lose slower, but at least that gives your skin a better chance of catching up!? I was banded in March 06, and to date have lost 116lbs. Started at 284, am now 168. I'm hoping to get to 142, just so I can say I lost half my weight! I went to Ontario, but if I could have went to Mexico, and still have had family support (which I needed to be able to afford it), I probably would have. You really need to be sure that you have aftercare SOLIDIFIED in SK before you do it though, cause you don't want to be all banded, with no one to fill ya! I'm happy with the clinic and surgeon I went with, and wouldn't change a thing. Well... maybe the price. It was Dr. Cobourn at www.lapband.ca He's working on having people available to do fills for his patients in every province, so out-of-provincers don't have to travel SO far. The other (good) option in ON is the TLBC and their website is www.tlbc.ca Good luck with your decision.

Ultimately, I chose the lap band because I wanted to live! Gastric Bypass is a very serious surgery with extremely serious consequences - including the fact that most people begin to gain their weight back after five years because their intestines begin to grow back. They are on vitamin supplements for their entire lives because they can't absorb enough nutrients from their foods. The benefit of the Lapband is it is MUCH safer and it is reversible should you ever need to have it removed due to complications- and the results three years post surgery are the same between gastric bypass and the lap band. People die from gastric bypass surgery and they die from the complications associated with gastric bypass surgery. Yahoo groups have a site dedicated to people who have suffered extremely serious complications from gastric bypass surgery. Check it out. Lap band surgery is done laproscopically, is minimally invasive and the recovery time is very quick. Ultimately, they are not cutting or rearranging any of your organs so the possibility of complications is minimal. I went to Mexico to have my surgery. The cost was $7,500 including hotel, transportation etc. - almost half the cost of the surgery in Ontario which is $16,000 an the care is excellent! Do lots of research. There are many doctors with different reputations. And, because the surgery is not covered in Saskatchewan, my extended health care plan is going to reimburse some of my expenses (one of the criteria was that the surgery had to be covered in at least one other province but isn't covered in Saskatchewan). The other important factor is that all of the expenses associated with your surgery (including transportation, meals, hotels etc.) are tax deductible! Good luck.