Tagine1966

I was banded only 16 months ago and never really had any issues. The last three months I've been experiencing slight pain in port area, on and off sharp pains where band is connected to my stomach, but nothing serious enough to send me to the doctor. Yesterday, I decided to have a slight un fill due to the fact last week I couldn't even hardly drink or have any solid foods. I sat over two hours talking about the pain I was experiencing with three different nurses before my doctor was able to see me. We did the barium drink, and while he was looking at my results, he said, I need to do a scope to see if your band is possibly eroding. OMG, I was devastated, just devastated. On top of everything, you would think the cost of the scope would be covered in my two year everything paid for plan should something go wrong, but nope, it's 2500.00. I paid 13,000.00 myself and to think its all wasted as he said the band would have to be removed if it was eroding. I'm just angry, angry that everything I have went through, all the changes I have made in my life, and now, more money, with possibly no band. I went into the lobby afterwards just thinking things through, when a woman approached me and said you've been here as long as I have are you okay. I told her my story, and she said I'm here too for an eroded band as well. We both had the REALIZE band just over a year. She too, never saw it coming, just experienced slight pain in stomach area. Her band will be removed and her stomach needs repaired at her expense as she self paid and anthem told her that insurance would not cover the band being removed. The cost 12,500.00. So 25,000.00 down the drain for nothing just over a year. Needed to vent today, sorry, I'm just hurting mentally.

Honestly, this doctor is amazing and my trust has been with him now for almost 1.5 and a second opinion isn't covered and as of now, I still have seven months of free fills and fluoroscopic exams if needed. He actually had surgeries after surgeries yesterday, but found time in between patients to come see me and evaluate me. I also had three nurses before him evaluate me and all three said my fluoroscopic wasn't normal looking. I could tell as well, it didn't look anything like my last five over the year. The barium liquid was think, then hair like thin, then thick again before going into my stomach. It was the portion of the liquid that became so hair like thin that was concerning. Anyways thanks everyone, I hope others who have had this concern shed some light on their experience with me.

Thanks...I'm hoping it's not an erosion. All my previous X-rays after drinking the barium mix always showed a nice flow. This test, the liquid took a L shape and then down, which is why he said the test looked abnormal.

The scope is next Thursday. After much research, I chose this doctor due to his experience and he is just a wonderful person and very caring. A second opinion would cost me another high cost figure on top of the 2500.00. He's is one of the best in Ohio for sure. Worst case, he could have said, go home all is good and a year later my stomach would have been a total mess.