newhope4me

Ugh! Wish someone had replied to you. I also recently moved to TN, just outside of Nashville. Replying so I can follow this thread, in case someone does suggest a fill doc

I just moved to TN and saw online that Dr. Robert Sass does fills for patients of other doctors. However, I have not been able to locate a valid phone number or contact information for him. Does anyone know if he is still in practice? Or would anyone know of a doctor that does fills for other patients?

Do you know if he still accepts Mexico patients? I too had my band by Dr. Aceves and just moved to TN. I am desperately needing a fill. I've contacted Dr. Sass' office via email and am so impatient to hear from them.

Are any of you still going to Mexico for fills, to Aceves specifically? If so, do ya'll pass through Yuma? I'd love to go. I am in need of a fill but it's been so long since I've been to see Dr. Aceves and I'm unsure of the passport issues now, I'd love to have a buddy to go with. Thanks!

Do you have contact info for Wendy? I need a fill.

After much frustration and little sleep, I am now home and feeling so much better! The local band doc came in to speak to me and we argued. Turns out, her office miscommunicated to me what could happen in an emergency situation. Her office (as I believe I stated earlier) told me in an emergency situation, they would remove the band. My doc was unable to contact her directly and only spoke with apparently the same "assistant" that I spoke with. The doc cleared everything up with me and explained that unless they see slippage, or obvious problems, they unfill, not remove the band that was inserted by another surgeon. And when I say argued, I mean we argued! LOL At the time she came in, I was functioning on practically no sleep and had just been told that the doc in San Diego that my insurance had approved for me would be out of town for a week. I was exhausted, mentally and physically, I was frustrated, angry and just done. I am paranoid of regaining weight; however, that paranoia so far is making me very diligent about what I'm eating (even though right now I'm on "gentle, flu like foods"). There are a few things that I am going to eat since I can (sushi!!) but I'm going to try to maintain unfilled. The doc also referred me to a medical provider that does fills locally. I am feeling better than I have in a while. I appreciate all the advice, info and support. Also, my last day in the hospital, I found out there were some changes at work so the stress there has been reduced greatly too! I almost feel like I've won the lotto

Well, I am now in the hospital, admitted Wednesday evening with my glucose at 42. They don't know crap here, I explained the barium swallow to the doc but the only one in town that does anything to do with the band my doc allowed me refuse her treatment since she refused to see me, even when he called her directly. My doc/insurance is expediting paperwork to get me into San Diego asap. In the meantime, they've got me on an IV. There have been a couple of hospital staff that have been nice and understanding but I swear some are very judgmental. The ER doc even asked why I got it, like I have to explain why I wanted to be healthy!

Just wondering how you do that? How do you go to a doctor with no money to pay them? I don't know how that works. When I go in to any doctor, dentist, etc, there's a sign that says payment is due at the time of your appointment. So what do they do after your appointment if you can't pay them?

So, new issue today. I passed out at someone's house and had to have my husband pick me up. As he was on his way, he called for authorization to take me to the ER but since it was during regular business hours, our medical provider refused and had me see another doc. But since I have an appointment in the morning with my regular doctor, all this doctor told me was to get some sugar, a shake, "french fries, even a jelly donut, anything you can get." This after I explained to him I cannot eat solid food. Now I am in bed, feel completely drained, trying to finish a glass of rice milk. I'm hoping the next 14 hours go quickly and see what my doc says.

She's the only doctor in town that does lapband, therefore, the only one my general doc can refer me to. She only just started in 2009. Even with the seminar, the band doc will not see me as a patient, only in an emergency situation to remove the band. Which I don't understand why they would opt to do the more evasive procedure. I'm a military dependent and we've had a lot of unexpected expenses come up recently and I'm now on medical leave from work for other issues. Self pay is no longer an option. Thank you, everyone for your input.

We financially are not in the same place we were when I had the procedure and therefore, cannot see the surgeon that banded me (travel, etc). Where we currently live, I believe that is the only doc that does the procedure and/or it's the only one my insurance will cover. My general doc has no experience/expertise with the band, which is why he referred me to someone else. I have a followup appointment (for other things) with my general doc on Tuesday. I am going to talk to him but I'm assuming he can only refer me locally. Evy, did they unfill you? The lady told me more than once that this local band doc will not do anything (fill/unfill) a band someone else put in because she "doesn't know what's in there".

I've been under tremendous stress for about 2 months (back on antidepressants, sleep meds and trying to find a counselor that is a good fit). Since the stress started, it seems my band has been extremely tight and has made eating difficult, to the point that I started a lot of vomiting. Now it's to the point that I've barely had any solid food for about a month. I've had shakes, broth, etc. (if that stays down) but not much else (had one good day about 2 weeks ago that some very tender pork roast stayed down, it was so delicous!!) I am not where I can return to my surgeon (military family) and I was a self pay (March 2007). I never had any issues with my band and my last fill was more than 2 years ago. I think my band has slipped with the stress and the vomiting. I mentioned it to my general doc who gave me a referral to a local band doc. I called to make my appointment but was told that I can't make an appointment until I take the seminar which is every 3 Tuesday of the month. Which brought up a concern, it's already been quite a while since I've really had anything nutritious, so should I go even longer, especially 3 more weeks. I explained the situation to the lady who transferred me to a supervisor who then explained that this local band doc will not look at anyone that was banded by another doc. She said that if I thought there was slippage and hadn't eaten for as long as I've said, that constitutes an emergency room visit and then they would remove the band. I don't want it removed!! I mean, if all I need is an unfill, then why remove it? And I refuse to get where I was before and she said, well, you can always request insurance to pay for it to be put back in. But I can't now because I am at goal weight. If they do remove it, is my appetite going to come back full force like it was before the band? I feel like the band has been a savior to me, to my life, my well being, etc. She explained I could die if something happened (didn't really catch what it was she said, I was still really upset about the fact that she said they'd just remove it, without even looking to see if that's the problem). I don't think there's any other doc in the area that my general doc can refer. I haven't even told my husband about all this yet. However, he did mention the other day that he was concerned and he's afraid it's slipped too. I am going to speak to him when he comes in this evening. I am just so frustrated by this situation. Even as miserable and hungry as I am right now, I don't want it removed.

Sorry if this is a repeat. It takes a while to go through all the topics. I was banded March 2007 and I love my band and the new life it has given me. It hasn't been easy, as someone who is a foodie but it has taught me to "taste" food. However, the restriction seems to be increasing. Currently it's that time of month and I usually am tighter but still manage to get some solid foods down. But, it's been a few days and hardly anything has stayed down. I haven't admitted this to anyone (not that too many know anyway), not even my husband even though I'm sure he's aware. I don't want to see a doctor because honestly, I don't want to lose my band. I refuse to get fat again. I'm not getting any younger and I appreciate the energy and better health that I am in now after the weight loss. I've gone back on unjury, just for some nutrition. But have had a couple of days here and there where I've gotten lightheaded when overexerted. I know everyone's going to say, "go to the doctor". Here's the other thing, I paid for this myself. I'm a military dependent and I'm afraid if anything is wrong, they'll just remove it and I'll get fat. I can't get to where my band doctor is (and even if I could, money's too tight to see him). Maybe it's just because it's that time of month, multiplied because I am going through a lot of stress right now.

I haven't been on here much in, well, a long time! But I got an email the other day that there was a comment on this thread that I had commented on and subscribed to forever ago. I came on and you look great and sound great! I saw that we were banded just a month apart from each other and your pix looks as good as I feel about my weight loss journey! I just had to take a moment that I'm so happy you seem to be doing better than when I first started following this thread. I wish you nothing but happiness!