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Surgeon TestimonialRoberto A. Rumbaut, M.D.The first and only time I saw Dr. Rumbaut he was friendly, but in a hurry to move us in and move us out--but with a smile. Felt a little like the salesperson mentality - say what makes us comfortable (though it may or may not happen). Cathy, the USA coordinator said Dr. Rumbaut would be happy to show my husband (a fellow physician) how to do the fills. That didn't happen (though he did get a little "toy" to practice with while we were there). His assistant said my husband could observe the surgery, that didn't happen. Dr. Rumbaut said he would dub some instructional videos to show how to do a fill, that didn't happen. His assistant said he could watch/assist with the only fill she had scheduled that day-that didn't happen. Dr Rumbaut said he would be back out to get my husband after about 45 minutes to come see me in recovery. Over 3 hours later, my husband freaking a little, they finally had taken me to my room and took him there. So what I mean by the salesman personality thing is that they seem to say a lot of things to please you, but they don't actually get done. I don't know if that is cultural or what, but I was assured my husband would be taught how to do a fill (not just play with a fill toy) and that didn't happen! So this is my biggest disappointment.
Dr. Rumbaut's staff were all very nice and friendly. They also seemed very competant at their jobs. The front desk did change my plans upon arrival without letting me know, so I went to two wrong places before making it to their office and when your driver doesn't speak English this was no small task! The nutritionist very thoroughly went over how my diet needed to change especially over the next few weeks and what the risks were it I did not. The assistant surgeon covered how the procedure worked and took any questions we might have. Both were very nice.
I was checked on in the hotel by one of his very friendly Dr.'s on staff who brought my post op report. I received a call from Dr. Rumbaut that he had stopped by, but we hadn't made it back from the hospital at that point. He said he would stop back by before we left the next day, but he did not make it back.
I came to Dr. Rumbaut because of his renowned surgical abilities and extensive experience and I imagine I would do it again. It is just after all the glowing reviews I had read about his personality, I thought I would feel more at ease once I met him and I didn't.
Latest Surgery Support Comments
 Comment by calgal on 4/17/07 8:51 pm
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Friday is your day!
Just remember you
are on the journey
of a lifetime. Try
to enjoy every
minute. It may sound
weird now, but know
that you are cared
for and prayed for
here, and all too
soon this will be
but a memory and you
will be an
inspiration to
someone else. I am
waiting for you on
the losers' bench! ~
JudyAnne
Click here for the surgery support page
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WOW - SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!! on April 22, 2008 7:13 am
I have been in perpetual bandster hell for the last 9 months. I thought I had even failed my last resort weight loss hope. But finally, finally, finally I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
When we went to Mexico, they were supposed to show my husband how to do the fills (he is in the medical field), but instead they gave him a little toy to play with that was supposed "help". Apparently it didn't do the trick. All of the fills I thought I was having over the last nine months weren't really happening. He was probably hitting the port, but not pushing hard enought to actually get into it so all this time I actually did not have anything in my band except for the small amount that they put in with the surgery. No wonder it wasn't working.
In December, I finally made an appointment with the closest physician I could find (four hours away) that would fill a patient that had surgery in Mexico. It took almost two months to get into this doctor so I finally had an appointment 2/7/08. I finally felt what restriction was supposed to feel like! Unbelievable! It is April 22, I have had my third fill now and I truly can see how this is supposed to work. I now know what PBing and sliming really feel like. Wow! I had read all these words so many times and really had no idea until now. I wouldn't say I enjoy these aspects as I am adjusting to the band actually working, but I celebrate it none the less. I can only eat a small amount at a time and it takes sooooo long to finish the smallest of meals. It is worse in the morning, a little less so at lunch and dinner is the easiest meal of the three. I went from being able to eat a normal large portioned meal, to eating 5 wheat thins and a slice of cheese for breakfast. This is amazing!!
I also have a friend that I confided in (most people around me don't know I even had the surgery) that is helping me plan some healthier, simple meals. I had been stuck in a rut of picking up something fast and unhealthy. It was just a habit. Now I am really working on trying to make sure I get enough protein in the little amount I am able to eat. My mind seems to be cooperating better now that I see how this can work!
I am slowly losing weight. Since the surgery I am down 26.5 pounds. I had lost about 20 at the beginning with the liquid diet and then I bounced around the next nine months gaining a few, losing a few, back and forth. Thankfully not putting it all back on again. Now I am losing slowly but steadily after this 3rd fill. Since I am back on track, I will try to update this more frequently. It is a bit easier when there is good news to write about!
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OFFICIALLY IN BANDSTER HELL!!! on July 6, 2007 5:11 am
I think I can offcially say that I am in bandster hell. I am to the point where I can apparently each whatever I want and it appears based on my weight that I have done so this week. We have had company for over a week and we have more coming today and then more coming after they leave and then we head off to my family reunion. Our family eats when they get together---that is our focus in life. That is why we are almost all a bit (or more that a bit on some) overweight. And not only do we eat, but when family is here we sit around a lot more than I normally would and so I have gotten no exercise at all. Since we got our adopted daughter back, I can't really get to my exercise place anymore so I am going to have to find another way and another time to get some exercise.
I am very discouraged with myself. I know I need a fill, but getting one is more of a challenge than I thought it would be. I just pray that it will provide some restriction to help assist me in this journey. I said something to my husband today about having gained a little weight and his immediate comment was "Just stop". It sounds so easy. If it were that easy for most of us on this sight, we wouldn't have put our bodies through this surgery. We needed help! Currently I am just running on my own power for the weight loss and it just isn't enough. I am failing. I need that restriction!!! That is why I had this surgery. Something to give my power a little boost when it flails----boy am I flailing. I really makes me sad to see how much time I am wasting. My weight gain this week has basically taken me back about 6 weeks. Because when you lose it 1/2 pound a week, but put on about 4 pounds in one week - Well---it just sucks!
9 Weeks Postop - We got our baby back!! on June 22, 2007 11:37 am
I has been a hectic time over the last month or so! Weight loss and the lap band have been the last thing on my mind, which is such a change for me!
We were blessed suddenly with a little baby girl put into our lives. We loved her immediately and within days began the the steps for adoption. Just days before that process would have made her legally ours, her birth mother changed her mind and wanted her back. We lost her for almost two weeks, but we finally got her back last Thursday and she is legally our little baby girl. She is 11 months old and she is just adorable. She is very happy with us and our kids just love her! My daughter thinks she is the best doll ever.
Back to the weight loss info though. I am 9 weeks out (but is seems like an eternity) and have not had a fill yet. I have just been too busy. I had a vacation for a week and didn't put on any weight. I have slowly been losing a pound here and a pound there and I am up to 21.5 pounds which I am very happy with! I have not been a model dieter over the last 4 weeks or so, but even without a fill the lap band has reduced my hunger and I just don't eat nearly as much. I still have cravings and I give into them at times, but at meals I eat much less and even with the cravings it is in much smaller portions. I'm sure if I would follow the rules perfectly, I would have lost much more; but I am going to be happy with the success I am having and the fact that I don't feel deprived and therefore less likely to "give up" (not that that would be easy with this surgery anyway).
I need to work on the exercise, which has stopped since our new addition to the family. I have never followed the no drinking rule yet. I love my drink with my meals. I just kept thinking that I would start following that rule better after my first fill. I also haven't followed the protein first rule very well. My portions seem somewhat normal right now and so I didn't feel that I was having to eat such a small amount that I was going to be deficient on protein. Again, I assumed I would have to work on that much more once I have restriction. So, I guess I have a lot to work on before I can brag about being a model bandster, but I am still on the weight loss journey and I am happy for that!
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6 Weeks Postop on June 2, 2007 11:43 am
Well, I lost 1/2 a pount at my 5 week check and another 1 1/2 pound at my 6 week check for a total of 18.5. I had stalled for several weeks and would have likely continue to stall, however a little 10 month old baby was dropped into our laps and she has kept me running for the last 2 weeks. She is really the sole reason I have lost a little weight. I haven't exercies at all in the "workout" sense, I just run around after her and try to keep my life in order too. We adopted our little girl, but yesterday we while it was still within the required waiting period, the mother changed her mind, so we will have to give her back tomorrow. It has been a rough few days and I am sure it will continue to be a struggle for a while as we adjust to life without a baby.
As far as life with the band, I still have not had a fill. I feel normal most of the time thought sometimes with my first bite or two I have a little problem because I forget to chew it good enough. It kindof gets stuck, but has always gone on down. I still don't have too much physical hunger and my meals are so much smaller than they used to be. I can't wait until that first fill to see what that band is really all about!
I have had some people notice that I have been losing weight which is really cool! My clothes are starting to sag a little and I think I have officially gone from bulging out of a 24 to fitting nicely in a 22 and that is really cool. I went to the store to try on another size for the first time and I was so excited the 22 fit just perfect. Who would think that just 18 pounds is a whole size. I am pretty tall and well distributed, so just looking you wouldn't notice too much to loss.
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5/19/2007 4 Weeks Postop on May 19, 2007 1:05 pm
On the bright side, I feel light I am completely back to normal. It is almost like it is a dream and I never really had surgery. Naturally, the downside is that I really don't have any restriction or problems that prohibit me from eating whatever I want (I can even drink Diet Coke which is so exciting). Not that I have given in completely, but since I gained 1 1/2 pounds I must have given in a bit too much. However, my measurments say that I lost a few more inches, so maybe it is just my body readjusting??
I am still not experiencing a significant amount of physical hunger, but the "head hunger" is definitely an issue. I am looking forward to my fill so that I can truly see the benefit of having gotten this band. I know my husband is seeing that I am able to eat again and he is thinking that it was probably a big waste of money so I pray the fill will turn it all around and put me on the losing path. I still eat so much less than I used to, so that is a plus--but I really need to scales to move for it to truly feel like a victory.
I did have my first NSV (non scale victory) this last week. Someone noticed my weight loss for the first time! I was so excited. If you have ever seen Boston Legal and the guy with Asperger's syndrome, I just wanted to do a little hop like he does I was so excited. Of course my friend got a kick out of that! I felt a little bad because the friend that noticed is also trying to lose weight. She doesn't know I had the surgery and I feel a little guilty that I have paid for "help" for the weight loss so to speak. I'm still just a little too nervous to share it with all my friends. Maybe when I get a little more onto the losing bench.
Anyway, I have made it a month. I haven't really lost anything in the last two weeks, but I am trying to stay positive and look toward that 6 week fill!
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Archive
My Story 4/12/2007 - I don't think I have every put my story in writing, but it seems easier knowing that those reading this will surely understand and not judge. I have been overweight all my life, except for a brief period in college where I lost it all with Jenny Craig. During this brief period I met my husband and we have been happily married ever since. After a few years of marriage and a pregnancy, he ended up getting a lot more of me than he probably bargained for! That pregnancy put on 70 pounds and it has been a constant battle every day since! Our family certainly has the tendency to be on the heavy side, so my odds were bad from the beginning. We all have such a love of food. When our family gets together, food is always the focus of our time. What to eat, when to eat, we certainly wouldn't want to miss a meal or even be late for our regularly scheduled feeding times. My husband however, has a whole different perspective. Growing up in his family, work on the farm came first and food was thrown in if and when there was time. They might go out and work all day and come in for one meal around 8:00pm. He really has never really understood my problems and failure to loose weight. If you gain a few pounds, you just cut back for a few days and magically it is gone. If only it were so simple for all of us, we wouldn't need this forum. He doesn't have that mental/emotional need for food that I guess plagues me. We discussed surgery about 6 months ago, but he really didn't go for it at the time. At that time I pretty much gave up hope that it would ever happen. I brought it up a few times, but it just didn't seem hopeful. Then suddenly a few days ago, we went out on a date and he told me he had been thinking that maybe I could go ahead and have the surgery. I was basically shocked! I don't think I really believed it at first. But I got home and started the research again, thinking I would find a place close by to have the surgery, but I was again drawn to Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico. I started emailing a few questions and within a few days I had my surgery scheduled for the following Friday. Talk about a sudden change of life!! I am still somewhat in shock. Excited, scared, excited, nervous, excited, ect. My emotions are a little rattled. To make it worse, I have decided not to tell anyone at this time except my sister. I'm not sure why. I think I have failed so many diets that the thought of having the lap band and still somehow failing just seems like the ultimate failure and if noone knows, then the failure can be a little more personal I suppose. I figured as the weight started coming off, I will eventually share my WLS with my friends---until then I am on my own!
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