Julie Arreguin

I had a lap-band placed on November 9th, 2005.  I was way up over 300 pounds and as of now, I have lost a good 40 pounds or so.  (I have sooooo much to lose that I've decided to stay off the scale for awhile...I don't want o get discouraged.) 

You know what it feels like to be totally desperate to be normal?  To lose the weight, however possible?  That's how I felt.  I jeopardized my own health many a time just to be skinny.  I have tried every fad diet out there, including prescribed diet pills and starving myself.  The end result was always the same.  I ended up failing at everything I tried.  Failure:  that is a horrible word to describe it, but that's how I felt.  So, a downward spiral is what would ensue, feel like a failure, eat, eat, eat, feel even worse, feel fat, eat some more....Oh it goes on and on. 

I am a single mommy of 2 kids, divorced.  Alone.  No one to criticize me about what I eat, and when or where.  So I just kept buying bigger (and stretchier) clothes.  I felt that as long as no one looked at me, I could continue to do as I was doing.  As soon as a special guy would come around, I'd start the starving regimen again.  This went on for years.  (And worse, my kids were witnessing it!) 

So a few years ago, I started investigating weight loss surgery.  Not a lot of insurances pay for it, and it's spendy.  The cheapest I found close to home was $16,900.00.  Who has that kind of cash laying around?  (I certainly don't-and I don't come from rich parents.)  So I started thinking about finance options.  Well, that was rough, too, I don't have a house, a nice car, good credit, or even a good credit history.  No one wanted to give me credit.  Back at square one again.  Eat, eat, grow bigger and fatter and more and more unhappy.

I don't know how it happened, but last spring, a family member said that he'd co-sign on a loan for me.  Whoooo-hooooo! 

So, to make a long story short, I decided that I'd look for a cheaper alternative to the price I was quoted close to home.  Since I am a Spanish speaker, I decided to look at Mexican docs.  I found the best (and oh-so cute) doc, Gilberto Alessandrini, in Tijuana , Mexico and started investigating him and the hospital.  I went to Tijuana , toured the hospital, met doc Gilberto, the nurses, a few of his patients, and ate a lot of tacos.  (tee hee)  I finished the loan paperwork, set a date for surgery, and asked for the time off work.  Easy as pie!  You an visit the docs' website at www.bajanor.com if you are interested.  I only paid $8100.00!!

Surgery was simple. I flew (alone) into San Diego , met the doc at the airport, drove over the border and had surgery that afternoon. I woke up a little sore, but excited. The beginning of my new life. The next day I hung out at a 4 star hotel and ordered jell-o and broth from room service. The day after that, I went shopping. I walked all around the Plaza for a good 2 ½ hours. Then taxied back to the hotel and took a nap. Later that afternoon I flew home and threw a birthday party for my daughter. I have ABSOLUTELY NO complications from the surgery. If I had the opportunity to have surgery over again, I'd go to Hospital Bajanor again. No regrets.

I am an open book.  Ask me anything you want!  I am so glad I had the surgery.  The lap band is so much safer than the re-arrange your guts surgery.  And I'm shrinking!!

I'd love to hear from you!!

Julie Arreguin