Hi,
I got my lap band about 6 years ago. It worked great, went from 315 down to 222, then lost my job and access to fills. Finally got another job about a year later (a contract job so no insurance) but the weight had started coming back on. The lap band hasn't worked since then. Here's the history.
1. Drove 120 miles (one way) to visit the original Dr. Lost 1/2 days wages each time plus gas plus $250 per fill.
2. Fill was too tight, had to go back, get some removed, wait several weeks then go back to get more fill put in.
3. Repeat #1 and #2 several times until I get frustrated.
4. Find a local lap band clinic run by nurses, fill is $300 but no driving and only 1 hour lost wages.
5. Fill is either not enough or too tight, go back get more added/removed.
6. Repeat #5 3 times, wasting more money.
7. Finally get hired on full time, with benefits (Yea!).
8. Insurance is by same company that paid for the band originally (Yes!).
9. Find out Insurance *now* will not pay for anything related to lap ban or obesity surgery (Nooo!).
10. Original Dr. resigns and moves 400 miles away.
11. Try the original surgical center 1 more time, no luck, too much and all has to be removed.
12. Meanwhile, no matter what I do, the weight is still creeping up.
13. Find local surgeon, great person, pay part of fills out of flex spending account.
14. Dr. initially has the same problem, too much or too little, finally, it seems that they may have about nailed the fill amount.
15. Dr. says' don't worry about the insurance, I'll keep treating you. (Really, a nice guy).
16. Make arrangements with the clinic, as they wouldn't accept monies until the insurance company decided that they wouldn't pay.
17. Finally looks like things are going to turn around, make appointment for next fill which should get the fill just right.
18. Day before the fill, clinic office calls up, says they can't do the fill unless the entire amount is paid (office manager, not Dr.)
19. sigh.
20. Check weight a few days ago, now at 305, daughter's wedding in September, dreams crushed...
So there you have my sad tail. I would like to pony up the full amount and keep getting fills, but we have had 7 surgeries (back surgeries daughter, wife and I, neck surgeries on my wife and I, gallbladder removal on me, colonectomy on son) in in the last 2 years and 1 more (another back surgery on wife) in a couple of months and it's hard to even get gas money to drive to work or pay the bills.
Just so discouraged right now....
And to top it off, I'm a stress eater.
Don't know what to do.
Thanks for listening to the vent.
