jeo310

I am going to respond to this just ONCE, and then I will channel my energies elsewhere, such as taking care of my mom and brother who are fighting cancer, and my own new health problems that have arisen from my lap band. I mention this just to say, I have BIGGER issues in my life, and I don't normally get upset over the little stuff, but I got VERY upset about the way I was treated at the Wellborn clinic. As for YOU, tmb, don't tell ME to get my facts straight. My facts are VERY straight! I know exactly what happened to me, and I have a receipt to prove it! I saw Dr. Wellborn a month ago about a problem I was having. He instructed me to schedule an upper G.I. at the hospital and an appointment with him for the same day so that he could look at the results. He said he wanted to look at my results, and then he would decide if I could have a fill that day, or if I would need to wait a few more weeks, and let the problem heal. (I won't even go into the fact that it took three phone messages, and four e-mails to the office to get someone to call me back to schedule the appt for the upper G.I.) I went for my upper G.I., and then took my results to Dr. Wellborn's office for my appointment. When I checked in, the girl at the front desk said, "Excuse me, I need to ask my BOSS a question." She came back and told me that her BOSS said that I have to pay $200 for MY fills. I said that was fine, I was aware of that, but I didn't think I would be getting a fill that day, because I was still having problems. I explained that I was just there for Dr. W to look at my test results, and let me know when I could come back for a fill. I explained that it would probably just be an office visit, not a FILL. She again excused herself, saying that she had to ask her "BOSS". I saw her talking to Suzan Wellborn, and then she came back and told me that I STILL had to pay for a FILL, even if I didn't GET a fill that day!!!! I told her that did not make sense, and that there must be a mistake. She kept apoplogizing, saying, "I'm sorry. I just do what my "BOSS" says. She informed me that I ALSO had to pay the $200 BEFORE I saw Dr. Wellborn. I thought that was very strange, but I wrote out a check for the $200., and she wrote me a receipt which clearly says for a "FILL"!!!!! I sat down, and was upset, because I couldn't understand why Suzan Wellborn was treating me this way. My husband asked to speak to Suzan Wellborn, and she came in the waiting room, and started the conversation off by shouting "First of all, I don't even know who you people ARE!!! (We've met her no less than 10 times in the last two years that I have been a patient) Then she starting ranting about her pathetic grocery store analogy. I tried to explain that I was NOT getting a fill, but I was charged specifically for a FILL, but she just kept ranting and raving about us not wanting to pay. She kept wanting to ARGUE, and finally I went to the front desk and got my check and my x-rays and left. I went back a week later to pick up my records, and I was charged $25. for three pages of Dr. Wellborn's records, and they refused to give me all my original surgery records. Are those facts straight enought for you, TMB? That is EXACTLY what happened. You obviously are not a patient, anyway, but an employee, who did what she was told by the "BOSS" Let me say that I think Dr. Wellborn is a very sweet man, and a good doctor. My beef is not with him, but with his wife, who is hateful, and rude, and runs the office like a drill sargeant, as obvious by the fear in the faces of her employees. NONE of them smile. (They all call her "MY BOSS") She obviously has a power problem. I was in the business world for over thirty years, I had lots of supervisors, and I have been the supervisor over many employees in the financial industry. I never referred to anyone as my "BOSS", and would have never let one of my assistants refer to ME as the "BOSS". There is something wrong with someone who insists on being called the "BOSS" in this day and time. I was so stunned by Suzan Wellborn's behavior, that I have related my experience to several old friends and old clients in the medical community around Arkansas. It seems that MRS. Wellborn's reputation is well known. They all said the same thing. "I'm not surprised. I've heard this a hundred times before." What a shame that she is causing her husband to lose so many patients. As for the grocery store analogy, I have to say this. When was the last time you walked into Kroger, Suzan Wellborn, and had someone blocking the door, telling you that you must write out a check BEFORE you put any groceries in your buggy, and oh, by the way, the charge will be $200. for BEEF, regardless of what you plan to buy! If Kroger treated their customers that way, they would be out of business very quickly. I hope you can understand THAT analogy!

Dr. Caylor in Foley, AL is wonderful!!!

Dr. Wellborn's staff is great to you IF he did your surgery, but if you had your surgery somewhere else, they will treat you like dirt!!! His WIFE runs the office, and she is very hateful to people who had their surgery done elsewhere, regardless of the reason! They also charge you DOUBLE for your fills if he did not do your surgery. A fill is $200. if he did not do your band, but only $100 for HIS patients. Also, they refuse to file insurance even if you are having a problem, and just need an office visit! They will charge you for a FILL, even if you are NOT getting a fill, but just seeing the doctor for lab results!!!! If you had your surgery done somewhere else, and then moved to LR, find someone else besides Dr. Wellborn! I will NEVER go to that office again!

I had United Healthcare and it paid for my surgery three years ago. Good luck!

You might try Little Rock, but Dr. Wellborn charges twice as much for patients that he did not do surgery on. ($200 vx. $100) Also, his staff (wife) can be very rude to you if he did not do your surgery.

Hi! I was banded a year ago, in Alabama. I lost 45 pounds the first six months but then it stopped. We are moving to Hot Springs, AR next month, and I am just wondering if there is anyone there who does lap-band? I will need a new doctor.

Hi! I had my lapband surgery done in Foley by Dr. Caylor 5 weeks ago, and so far, everything is going great! Just wondered if there were any other Alabama people from this area on here?

Hi Guys, I am in Alabama, and was banded six months ago by Dr. Caylor in Foley. He is so awesome, and I hate to leave him, but we are moving to Galveston soon, and I just wondered if there is anyone in the Galveston area that does the lap band, so that I could follow up with them for fills, etc. Can anyone recommend a doctor in that area? Thanks, guys!

Dr. Caylor in Foley is wonderful, and yes, I think he will do fills for other patients. He did my surgery, and I have had nothing but smooth sailing!

Jamie, I'm sorry I didn't answer you sooner. Just found your email today, and sent you a reply. Dr. Caylor in Foley is WONDERFUL!! Can't say enough great things about him!! He did my surgery in Oct, and I've had one fill since. He is a fantastic doctor. He's very caring, and very supportive! I am in Gulf Shores, AL. Call if you want to talk!

Hi Kimmie! We used to have condo neighbors from Springville. We actually live in Gulf Shores, but very close to Foley. Dr. Caylor is wonderful! I just went in today for my first "fill", or "adjustment". I am hoping the pounds will start coming off a little faster now. I just got banded six weeks ago. Yes, I went through my insurance company. I have United Healthcare. Good luck to you in your decision. Personally, I am so excited that I did this, and my surgery went without a hitch. In one day, out the next, liquids for about a week, etc. If I can help you with any questions, just let me know. Happy losing!~~ Judy

Wow, Scott! What a rough time! I am so sorry that you had such an unpleasant week. My doctor made it clear that he did NOT want me vomiting at all. He gave me lots of nausea pills in case I needed them. But, like you said, every body is different, and I guess every doctor is different, too. Anyway good luck with your weight loss! I just got my first "fill" today, and I am hoping the pounds start coming off a little faster now. Welcome to the forum.

Hi Everyone, I just found this forum, and I am so excited to be able to communicate with other lap-banders. I just had my lap-band surgery 5 weeks ago, and I am going in next week for my first adjustment. So far I have lost about 17 pounds, but it seems to have slowed down the last couple of weeks. I live in Gulf Shores, AL, smack in the middle of Hurricane Ivan destruction path! I am looking forward to meeting all the other members on here, and I especially look forward to having someone to share this with, since I told NO one except my husband that I had this done.

Okay, I am new here, so forgive me for asking...... but What is NSV???

Thanks, Michelle for the referral to this site, and thanks to all the others who responded. I am looking forward to learning a lot here.