athykay

I understand your frustration, I too have a challenging credit history. Lost my job 3 years ago and had to file BR one of my worst experiences in my life. So we went from 2 incomes to just 1 and our insurance will not cover. Now my band needs removed and I didn't know where to turn. Have you tried Care Credit?? Worth a try. Don't give up, never give up, there is always hope!!!! One day at a time!!! Take care, and good luck. Kathy

I will give them a call. Thank you so much. Kathy

Hi everyone, I haven't been here in very long time and don't really recognize anyone. I found out today that my band has slipped and needs to be removed. Since I am a self pay I am looking for good Dr. in the US with reasonable prices!!! So I am doing Dr. shopping. Any info would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks, Kathy

Anyone know if the Doc that does fills in Portland Oregon is Shawn Eubanks? Teresa I know that you had mentioned a Eubanks but not sure if I have the right one. Please let me know. Thanks Kathy

First I want to say I hope all goes well Sherry. I have been a member here since before I was banded in 2004. I was ill for some time due to an overfill that in turn contributed to aspiration pneumonia. I am doing well now and I have just started to get back on track. I really haven’t posted or been around LBT in the last year. And I can see there are many new members and some great additions. “DOCTORS” I just had to say after reading this post that I am very impressed and pleased that Dr’s are now posting here. I think it is a great thing!!!!!!!!!!!! Best of luck to you Sherry you’ll be in my thoughts, and I would like to thank some awesome Dr’s for their help. athykay :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Angels Amongst Us :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:

Can I ask what your symptoms were? I have been banded since 2004. I was unfilled for about a year due to illness and now I am having trouble getting restriction back. On my last fill the floroscope showed restriction but I don't have that old restriction feeling. Going back again Thursday this week.

Dr Neal phone number is 866-722-6363 you will love it there I do! Keep me posted on how things go. Thans Kathy

Hi I am a oldie that as came back to chat. Yes it is Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick. She is awesome. She wasn't using flor scope when I went but I think she may be able to arrange it. I highly sugest you get someone before you go. I would still be going to her but I had some problems a year ago and was to tight and had to have some removed. Long story ended up very ill. I now go to Dr. Neal in Olympia, WA he uses flori scope and right now that is very important for me and he is closer. I am in Castle Rock. She is now in Eugene. But she does come to Portland for some patients. Dr Neal is great and his office staff is wonderful too. I know from experience it has been very hard to find Dr.'s here that will care for Mexico patients. Dr Neal charges 375.00 for a fill with flori and she was around 150.00 the last time I saw her. I just spoke to her about a month ago so and I have her number if you would like just let me know. I also have number for Dr. Neal. Best of luck to you, Kathy

These post were very informative and way to go tutuclvr you may be opening doors for many other bandsters. More people need to BAND together on this and get insurance companies to cover this. It is not right that we should have to go to another country to get reasonable cost health care. Please keep this post going!!!!!!! I am almost 3 years out and have had a few complications with aspiration from being to tight. Now I have little restriction and I am hungry all the time. I am going to a great physician here in WA State so I feel confident we will figure out what is going on with me right now. I was just unfilled the rest of the way on Tuesday and I am on liquids until next Thursday. Hopefully all with go well when they do a fill then. Again thanks for the informative post. Kathy

Wow didn't realize I was rattling on so much. Anyways didn't get to add in my last post. Thanks to all of you for your post. One day at a time!!!!!!! Take care, Kathy

Hi everyone, I haven't been in here in over a year. I don't see any familiar faces or names. I have checked back in today to see how everyone else has been doing. Boy there are alot of new members and that is great to see. My lapband surgery was in May of 2004 and I had lost over 100 lbs. But some of it is back. I became ill in 2006 and had most of my fill removed. I had a abcess on my lung believed to be caused by aspiration into my lungs. We believe that my fill was too tight and that is what caused it. Today I am going back to get a fill. I can't wait I miss that great feeling of being satisfied. I am scared a little but I think now that we know what can happen with a tight fill I will know what to watch for. It is great to see many new members here. I was just was wondering if any of the old ones are still here. I would like to hear from them and know how they are all doing. So if you were banded around 2004 and a member and remember me. I would love to know how you are doing? Getting back on the band wagon!!! Athykay:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Thanks for all the great post. It is nice to see some old faces and all of the new ones. It is great to see that the band has touched so many lives. As for my illness yes it was awful and it did really happen with out me realizing it. But would I do the band again? Yes in a heart beat, a New York minute you name it I would do it all over again. Only thing different I would have done is to have my surgery in the states. So I could have good aftercare. And a doctor I could rely on. I have still managed to keep 50 of those pounds off. But heading back up makes me realize what a difference it makes. Moving, breathing, pain in the back, knees all of these things are what made me decide to do this in the first place. I am only 48 years young and the weight makes me feel older than my years. I have 2 wonderful grandchildren that I love to spend time with. I want to be able to run, jump and play with them. I am not ready to roll over yet. Tuesday I went for my first fill in about a year. But no luck, she said that my band seems to be pretty tight. Well why am I so darn hungry? She said she couldn't figure that out. But we are going to start from scratch. All of my fill is out now. I had 1.2 still in. When I became ill I was at about 2 she removed me down to about 1.5 back then and the 1.2 is what I have left now. She said that is pretty normal. I am on liquids for 9 days. Oh is that going to tough. But should kick my butt into losing. When I go back she is going to see how things look and we will go from there. No matter what the end results of all of this is. I have been so thankful to have had the band. It has helped me in so many ways. And I just don't mean weight loss. My body has shrunk some but I have grown as a person. And I believe the whole process of being banded as made me realize many things in life. It may not be right for some people and thats ok. But for me it was. Just a note to all the newbies and those that wanna be banded. You have to make this decision for yourself. No one can tell you it is right or wrong, we are all unique. One of the reasons I quit coming around so often I must say is that I would read about someones problem and think that maybe that was happening to me. And with all that was going on with me I wasn't sure what the heck it was. Yes this site helps with all kinds of info but we have to know how to filter it out also. So if you decided to do this for yourself, or you already have, find a Doctor close to you, that you can trust and that you can have follow up care with.

Great news Alex glad all is ok.

Thank goodness no Erosion. your in my prayers for speedy recovery.

Glad your home and doing well.

Glad your feeling better keep us posted.

Anyone know if Alexandra found out anything? I think she was having a endoscope yesterday.

My prayers and thoughts are with you!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the bump!!!!!!!!!

So if you have to have the band removed does insurance cover it? I had surgery in Mexico and my insurance wouldn't cover it. I wondered if I had to have it out if Insurance would cover it. If it was an emergency would they cover it? Anyone have answers?? Thanks Kathy

Can I ask who the Doctor was that you saw in Coos Bay? I want a endoscope and I am having a hard time getting one done. What did you have to do to see him? Thanks Kathy

Sending you positive thoughts, lots of white lights and prayers too!!!!!

I just started seeing Dr. Neal anyone have a Endoscope done by him? I would really like to get one done since it has been almost 2 years since I was banded. I was banded in Mexico and have had trouble keeping Doctors. They all seem to change their policies and won't see Mexico patients. If I could change one thing about being banded that is what it would be. I would have done it in the states. Finding and keeping Drs has been the worst. Can anyone let me know there thoughts on Dr. Neal. Thanks Kathy in Castle Rock, WA

It is interesting to see how different we all are and how everything affects everyone differently.

Does anyone take 40mg Prozac and are they capsules? I just wondered if I should try to swallow them? I don't have much of a fill since I got sick so I am not sure if I would have a problem. Just curious if anyone else takes capsules?