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

I live in Austin TX and have federal BCBS and was approved for the surgery. The insurance approval was easy-the problem was just getting the psych paperwork done. But thats all completed and I have a Jan 28 surgery date at Innova Hospital in San Antonio. Anyone out there have any experience with this hospital or doctor. I was very impressed with him at the seminar and his office staff have been great too. I would love to talk to someone who has had the band put in there. Hope to hear from someone. Teanne

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.

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??

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

I went all the way to San Antonio today from Austin to get my 3rd fill. When I got there the doctor wanted me to wait another 2 weeks for my fill because he felt that the weight loss was OK (7 lbs in 5 weeks) and that my problems now were related to behavioral rather than the band needing tightening. I did admit to eating a bunch of chocolate recently and I haven't been getting in the protein and water needed. So he wants me to drink 2 protein drinks a day and try to get 60 gm in plus 2 qts of water a day and then come back in 2 wks for the fill. Needless to say I am disappointed-especially with gas prices what they are, to have spent the time and energy to drive there and not get a fill. Anyone else out there who didn't get a fill when they thought they should? I still have some restriction and can eat about a cup of food and vomit only when I eat too fast. Teanne

I am trying to gather some info in case I have to fight with the billing office at Innova Hospital in San Antonio. Can you all tell me what your HOSPITAL bill was and how much out of pocket you ended up paying. My bill for outpatient with no complications was 59K and since its out of network, my insurance says I am responsible for 57K. I did sign an promissory note for $ 4500 when I did the preop. I don't know what I will do if I owe someone $ 57,000.00 HELP please. Teanne

As a Texas girl I used to LIVE on mexican food and thats probably why I am fat. But I want to make some chicken enchiladas with corn tortillas this week. Anyone tried these. Just diced chicken, enchilada sauce and cheese. I know flour tortillas are a no-no but what about corn.

I was banded on 1/28 and since then I have noticed that most foods and fluids have a nasty taste now. Everything has a bitter taste. I do have a cold with some nasal drainage so I thought that might be the problem but in the past colds haven't had this effect. Even breath mints taste nasty now. Anyone had a similar experience? Teanne

Can ya'll tell me how long you were on clear, full, liquids following surgery. I am suppose to be on clear liquids for 2 weeks post op and then according to the book I was given by my doc, its on to the mushy stage. I am really craving some pudding.

I know how you feel. I am post op day 4 and still feeling bad. LOTS of gas-both kinds and am blowing up like a balloon-UGH. Also nausea off and on and gagging on liquids now-I can get them down but the taste is bothering me. I too hope this gets better soon.

I am 4 days post op and having a pretty rough time of it. Not hungry but just a lot of nausea and some dry heaves the 1st 2 days but none since. I am still having lots of abdominal and gas pains. But my real problem is trying to get down any medications. I am on clear liquids and following that religiously. The liquid lortab is terrible tasting and I start heaving when taking small amounts with sips of water. I ended up splitting a Zofran (for nausea) in half and its a really small pill and then taking a small spoon of jelly and mixing it and it went down. Its not SF jelly but I'm not getting in much calories anyway. I may try the same thing tonight with pain pill tablets to get them down. Anyone having similar problems. I am feeling like I made a huge mistake now having the surgery. HELP Teanne

I have federal BCBS-standard and they cover it. As a matter of fact they don't actually give you "approval". They offer the coverage and its the doctors responsibility to make sure that you meet their requirements. They said that they don't do any prior approval for surgery. So that sounded good to me. I am having my surgery on 1/28. I went to a BCBS seminar at my husbands employer and the BCBS lady said the basic difference with basic vs standard is mostly the out of network amounts and the mail order pharmacy. So you should be fine. Good luck.

Well I just finally got my band date of 1/28. I will be at Innova Hospital in San Antonio-even though I live in Austin TX. Dr Patel is doing the surgery. The whole process has taken about 5 weeks from seminar to surgery date. I had to make LOTS of phone calls but it is finally settled. I am an RN so not too nervous about the surgery but worried about all the psych changes that will happen. I love to eat out so that won't be happening for awhile. Happy to be a member of the Jan bandsters. Anyone out there who went back to work in a week? I will be starting a new job in the ER in 1 week and hope that I can make it. Teanne

Hi-I just got my official band date. Jan 28th for me by Dr Patel in San Antonio TX-even though I live in Austin TX. I am excited. Just 12 days to go. Teanne:rolleyes2:

I was wondering if there are any patient's of Dr Patel's out there. He came to Austin and I attended his seminar. I was pretty impressed with him and his staff but wanted to hear from some other patients. I am an RN so I am pretty knowledgeable about surgery and aftercare needed. How have your experiences with the doctor and his staff. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to get the procedure done in Jan 08. Teanne