Teanne

My band was put in in Jan. 08 and no problems this whole time. I eventually lost 87 lbs and hit my goal weight in April 2011. Sine then I have been gradually putting weight on and have gained 35 lbs now and I just don't feel that I have ny restriction. No reflux or vomiting. My doctor ismhaving more problems with accessing my port too. I will admit that I haven't been working,out as much as I was doing when I was actively loosing weight. Plus I have become very dependent on "slider foods". Anyone else out there feeling like they have lost all their restriction and are putting weight back on. I'm worried that my band has failed. Many advice out there? Teanne

Thanks for your help. I will try to get in all this liquid but I may not be able. But I figure since I don't eat very much anyway, there is probably a lot less the clean out.

Anyone out there have a colonoscopy done after being banded. I am 6 months post-op and am scheduled for my first colonoscopy on the 17th. My GI doc knows about the lap-band so I'm not really worried about the actual procedure. Just worried about the prep I have to start tomorrow. Its a lot to drink and I am worried about getting nauseated. Anyone out there have any experience with this?

Alfi-thanks for the response. I am going out to lunch tomorrow and will have a nice salad with lots of protein on it. We had out lapbands the same month. I had mine on 1/28 and I am down 38 lbs. I could probably loose faster but my eating habits are less then stellar. But I am loosing and I am happy with that. Talk to you later.

Just wondering if you are allowed to eat salads and how well they are tolerated. I think it might be a good choice when eating out but haven't had any lettuce since I was banded in Jan. I have great restriction and am loosing weight well. Any salad eaters out there??

The initial cost was $ 349 but that was for the first visit and then the fill. I think the fills are about $ 150 PLUS the fluoro cost. I didn't pay for the fluoro up front-they offer a special rate of $ 80 if you pay up front but if you make them file insurance they charge about $ 130 for the fluoro. I made them file with my insurance for the fluoro charge which was paid so I won't have to pay anything extra for the fluoro. The austin fill center usa doctor will only do the fills using fluoro which I like. It was worth the money for me since this was my 3rd fill and I now have great restriction so I may not need another fill for quite awhile. I am planning to file with my insurance for the $ 349 charge too but am waiting on the paperwork from them to do it so I may get some of that money back. I was very happy with the doctor-she was nice and took her time. Hope this answers your questions.

Janet-I too am a pt of Patels and I live in Austin. I am thinking about changing my fill doctor because I have gone to the Austin clinic twice and both times he has put me off and hasn't done the fills. I get the impression that he wants to do them in San Antonio and not in Austin. But that may just be me-I have been really disappointed with them lately. I have an appt with fill centers USA on the 4th and they do their fills with fluoro which I like. I got my first 2 fills in San Antonio under fluoro but the "weight wise" clinic that Patel was using got rid of their fluoro. I just feel that a lot of things that were promised me since I am an Austin patient, has not happened. With the price of gas and the time to drive to and from San Antonio-its worth it to find someone locally here. Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it in more detail.

LEt me know your email address and I will keep in touch with you and let you know how it goes. With the cost of gas and the time to drive there its probably better to get it done locally. You can PM me with your info if you want. I haven't quite figured out how to do that. Teanne

Anyone out there use the Fill Center USA in Austin TX. I have signed up with them and have my first visit on 6/4. Just wondering what everyones experiences have been. They do the fills on wednesdays only and the next 2 weeks are booked solid, so they seem to have a good practice going. Would love to hear others impressions of this center. Teanne

Does the fill center work with you with your insurance or is it just always cash payment?

Anyone out there use these "fill centers"? My post-op only goes for 3 months and 3 fills. I am 3 months post-op and will have my 3rd fill next week. Since I have to travel about 2 hrs to go to the doctor I was thinking about using the fill center which is local here in Austin. Any info would be appreciated. I know what the costs are but was just wondering about the care and peoples experiences.

Yes-he knew I was there for a fill. His PA wasn't in the office and he was the one who does the fills. They even called yesterday to try to reschedule but I wanted it done at that office since they have the fluoro. It was weird because they moved the fluoro over to the hospital next door and he was going to just do the fill himself without the fluoro. But he felt I am tight enough and need some behavioral changes. I have one more free fill through his office and then after that I may switch to paying for them through those fill centers. My doc does come to Austin 2 times a month so I can have it done then but they don't have the fluoro which I wanted. Oh well. I am going back in 2 wks but if they don't have the fluoro anymore than there is no reason to make the trip to San Antonio. He's a good doctor but I have had so many problems with him being in another town. I wish I had been more patient and just had it done locally-less money and less hassles. Oh well. Thanks for the input.