Ddem

I have had my first adjustment (on Aug. 3rd) with Dr. Francis and just loved her! I have had the band for a year and am on my 4th fill. I have switched doctors to Dr. Francis after being referred by many to her. I have just under 7 cc's in my 10 cc band and was just wondering what to expect. I will tell you what I am experiencing 3 days into it and maybe you can share your experiences. Still on liquids but tried a teaspoon of Yoplait fat free yogart at lunch - back pain, chest pain...maybe I tried it too soon, maybe to fast. I have had a hard time with Gerd (only at night, when I lay down) the first night, this was painful....last night, I must have burped stomach acid up in my sleep because it went into my lungs and had me sitting straight up in my sleep and fighting for air. I finally coughed up the Fluid from my lungs and went back to sleep at an elevated level. All in all, I have lost about 4 pounds in the past 3 days, YEAH ME! Sooo....what should I expect in the next week???? Anybody??

Hi Ddem, I am new to this journey and just learned about the out of pocket costs that are not sent to insurance, do you mind sharing if & what your Doctors costs were? I was shocked when I got a call yesterday for $4500 plus my coinsurance etc bring me to $7000. Any help would be great thank you for any guidance. Are you still pleased with everything and your process? Hi, Sorry I have been away for a while. I am sure by now you have had a few fills/adjustments and have found out that the care girls and the accounting department has no clue what they are doing. The surgery went well. Dr. Khalili was wonderful. BUT...I am so tired of fighting every time I get a fill for the care girls to do the paperwork right! They NEVER get it right. I spend hours on the phone each time to straighten things out when they send me that $4000.00 bill for a effen fill! I am SO very tired of it that I haven't been back after my third fill and I am still fighting with them to get the last fill bill straightened out. I have a PPO and there shouldn't be any problem, but every time I call my insurance company, the tell me that once again, they failed to send in the proper codes and my claim is denied ....again! Then I spend a week and a half getting it all figured out and yelling until they send in the proper codes and descriptions - resulting in my insurance making the payment. I just couldn't stand it anymore. This last time, I cannot even get ahold of the care girl - or the department. I don't know WHO I am supposed to get ahold of now to get it cleared up now. Like I said, I haven't been back for a fill since October. And I am never going back there again! Hope you are having a lot better luck then I did. ddem

I got my band on May 29th 08 - last year and have lost about 60 lbs but have stopped losing now. I have had three fills but haven't been back for my 4th fill yet. I am between switching doctors for my fills (closer to home and work) and have started a new job so I am waiting to build up for time off. Although it is almost impossible for me to eat meat for breakfast and lunch still - to tight. I can eat it at dinner with the exception of chicken breast. I am getting hungry all the time now and am thinking I better get in for a fill but I am worried that it will be so tight that I wont be able to eat at breakfast and lunch at all. I haven't lost much over the past 4 months (since my last fill) even with doing weight watchers. Anyone having the same problem?

I read this in another site and it just blew my mind! "I had two job interviews. The first one I knew right away they weren't going to hire me. They didn't say anything; they just looked at me. The second one, the lady flat out said she wanted somebody more energetic and she didn't know that from looking at me. I knew what she was thinking and it hurt. I felt terrible. I felt hopeless. It was pitiful. I felt like I was not much of a person," I was wondering if anyone - after loosing weight with the band - notice a difference in how you are treated, at work, on an interview, etc? Can you share your story? Do you notice people treating you differently now and how are they treating you differently?

I have a question. I am 8 months post op, down over 50 pounds and have about 6.5 cc's in a 10cc band. I was told when I started that I would need to have 90 grams of protein a day...but do I still need that much or does the need lower after you have healed and are on your way? How much protein does a 45 year old woman need a day?

After going through all the tests, being pre approved, having the surgery and had my first fill. Now after 3 months post op, my insurance says that the paperwork from the hospital wasn't filled out properly so they haved denied all proceedures! What the <%$*&!! I have always checked in advance with my insurance and the care coordinator before proceedures to make sure that each process was approved and got confirmation and approvals. Now, since the insurance company claims "We have previously requested additional information regarding the listed claims. The requested information was either not received, or received incomplete, within the 45 days specified under ERISA. As a result we have processed this claim with the information we have available to us and have determined that NO BENEFITS ARE PAYABLE." They then sent me 2 faxes - claims that I now owe!! One is for the surgery at $53,300.75 and another for my first fill at $1,520.73. Where am I supposed to get that??? I don't understand. I have an HMO, I went to my PCP to get the referral, Everything was approved in advance. How can they now say, "We will not pay" after the fact! If I knew they wouldn't pay in the beginning, I wouldn't have proceeded...but now that I have had the surgery what am I supposed to do??? My husband is afraid we will lose our house over this. They say that an appeal can take up to 60 days.....what happens if I get turned over to collections before they make their decision! I have worked to hard to have great credit for this to blow up in my face. Even though I have lost over 36 pounds, I am wondering if this surgery wasn't the worst mistake I have ever made for myself and my family. I am afraid that I have put my family in a terrible financial crunch. Anyone ever had this happen to them? Any suggestions? Any ideas??? My husband and I are devistated!!!!!! :confused2:

JoannMarie - That is what they try to charge me, but when the insurance company negotiates with them, the fill is only $1200.00. but still alot of money to pay for a fill. My share of it after insurance is about $90.00 - that is- if they ever get it billed right!

I have had my third fill. Been banded for 8 months. I have lost 52lbs and am afraid to get another fill because I cannot eat meat for Breakfast or lunch....hurts like *you know what* going down, so much so that I just loose my appetite and stop eating at all. The pain of food going down is insaine. Although I eat half as much as I used to for dinner, it still seems that I can eat way too much. When it comes to dinner at the end of the day, I can eat quite a bit and any meat I want - steak, chicken, (not having much luck with fish though), and I have no problem with Pasta (which I probably shouldn't be eating, but is about the easiest thing to eat at this time). Is anyone having this problem? Is it normal? Can you share with me your experiences after your 3rd fill. I appreciate it.

I just wanted to make a comment: Even with all the problems with accounting, I am still happy that I got the band and still happy with the Dr. who did the surgery. Some people have paid out of pocket for their surgeries and I am glad that I didn't have to. GOOO BANNND!

I do an instant oatmeal packet for breakfast. I can mix it up in a styrofoam cup and the company water tank which has a hot spicket. Fast and very filling and only 2-3 points on weight watchers! I try to stay around 1200 to 1400 calories a day and yes, I still count points on Weight Watchers.

KAT817 - I mean WOW girl! What a winner YOU are!! For goodness sakes - look what you have done!! You should feel gi-:thumbup:normously proud of yourself. Way to go! You must be a strong and determined woman! You really did it and I am so proud of you!

I think that restlessMonkey stated it perfectly. It is no different than me getting up every morning and putting on a bra or my contacts! During my 3rd month post op, it did hurt just a bid every once in a while but that is normal but now after 8 months, I can push in and feel it but it doesn't hurt at all. Your doctor will push around on it plenty when you get your fills, he is looking for the spot to put the needle in. Sometimes it hurts a bit when he pushes a bit to hard but it is really nothing. I remember being scared before surgery, and I remember everyone saying that they are so glad that they did it....2 days after surgery - I was off all pain meds and running up and down my stairs, I remember thinking...hmm, it was really not a big deal - I am so glad I did it! It was really easy! Good luck!

First I had an HMO and it paid most of everything. Then I switched to a PPO and now I have to pay around 82.00 each fill. All together so far after 3 fills, I have paid a little over $1000.00US dollars out of pocket.:thumbup:

Oh, I forgot to mention...after 3 fills, I have 6.5 cc's in a 10cc band.

Thanks Becky. You were spot on with everything you said. It is not like I am a newbie at this - I have been doing this for over 8 months so it isn't like I don't know the "rules". Doesn't matter how small the bites or how slow I eat...some food goes down fine one day, then the next, I cannot tolorate it. My husband is ready to stop going out to eat with me. :thumbup: I find that eating a smart-one or a lean cuisine is ok for lunch as long as it isn't a meat paddy (like a salsbury steak thingy). I am just worried about my protein, I was told after surgery to get 90 grams a day in. I find it impossible without a protein bullet! I have gone through the loosing hair, flaky fingernails that won't grow and all that phase, but I was just wondering how much protein do you need after 8-9 months post surgery. Anyone know???

Thought that I would follow up on this and add what has happened over the last 8 months. I stuggled to get the care providers to get the proper paperwork to the insurance company but finally got it taken care of. BUT, every month since then - with every fill/adjustment - I have to do it all over again. It is a constant struggle to get the girls who fill out the paperwork to do their job. I always have to get involved to get it done...because they bill me $4000.00 per fill until I make them take the time to get the proper codes and discription to the insurance company. What a pain - I have just stopped going. I have had three fills as of last October and got so tired of going thru this, I have never gone back. I am soooo done with them. Now I have to find another doctor to do my fills, preferrably around Orange County.

Hi, I had the same problem. After working at my company for 9 years, I was laid off. I was within a month from having my surgery, it was already approved. I chose to go onto Cobra and continue on with the process. Although the Cobra cost me a whopping 319.00 per month, my husband and I still think (after 8 months since my surgery) that it was the best thing that we did. I have lost 52 lbs (with little effort on my part) and was able to take the time while I was off to heal and relax while mending. You will have alot of doctor appointments after surgery and it was nice to be able to not worry about taking off work to go to the appointments. I am working again and have had my 3rd fill. I have gone from a size 32 TO A 22/18. I know that it really depends on how your family is set up financially but I knew if I didn't do it then....I would never do it! My current company's insurance doesn't cover it so I know that wouldn't have had the chance at all if I had waited. I am so glad that I did it!

I have had my third fill. Been banded for 8 months. I have lost 52lbs and am afraid to get another fill because I cannot eat meat for Breakfast or lunch....hurts like *you know what* going down, so much so that I just loose my appetite and stop eating at all. The pain of food going down is insaine. Although I eat half as much as I used to for dinner, it still seems that I can eat way too much. When it comes to dinner at the end of the day, I can eat quite a bit and any meat I want - steak, chicken, (not having much luck with fish though), and I have no problem with Pasta (which I probably shouldn't be eating, but is about the easiest thing to eat at this time). Is anyone having this problem? Is it normal? Can you share with me your experiences after your 3rd fill. I appreciate it.

Going on 5 months post op and I can eat whatever I want. I have lost around 45 pounds with little effort. When you are a newbie bandster and on the liquid diet you feel you will never eat normal again and everything seems scary and new but after some time you will be thrilled to have the band. I cannot even telll that I have it and fills are soooo easy! Give yourself a rest,and relax.

BTW, I have a PPO and my share of the fills cost $70.00. When I had an HMO, I didn't pay a penny!

I had my surgery with Dr. Khalili on May 29th. I have had my 2nd fill and will have my 3rd fill on Oct. 22. I am down 42 lbs. Before surgery, the process took about 5 months before my surgery date was selected. I had to fast the day before surgery and had to take a fleet to clean out my system the day before as well. Other than that, no preop diet. I was on a clear liquid diet for a week after surgery and on a liquid diet for another 2 weeks (a total of 3 weeks of detox). Your going to lose somewhere around 15 to 20 pounds during this time. Once you start on mushies in the 4th week, your weight might fluctuate a bit. Before your first fill, you will fill like you can still eat anything and the weight will not come off right away. You can expect the weight to start coming off regularly around the 3rd to 5th fill. I have lost around 42 pounds without much effort although I think you get better results if you excersize a bit. With each fill, you will be able to eat less and less. It is a long way to drive from Cedar to home but all in all, the surgery was very successful and everything went on without a hitch (except for the anesthesia made me sick). I had a nice private room that over looked the hills. The staff is really great and attentive. After the surgery and the anesthesia wore off, we were all walking the halls without problems. I met up with people I have come to know through the classes and pre op requiremnents. It was nice to catch up with them. They put these leggings on you while you are in bed to prevent bloodclots while you are there and everytime you have to get up to go to the restroom, you have to take all this stuff off or an alert goes off. Oh, and be aware of the shots they give you every 4 hours or so. They hurt if the nurse pushes them in to fast. You will get one of these shots in the stomach right before surgery, that will be the most painful. Other than that, they keep you pretty dosed up with pain killer so you don't really feel much pain. I was in the hospital overnight and went home the next day. I had no problem on the 2 hour trip home or the stairs up to my condo and the other set up to my bedroom. I was down stairs visiting with the neighbor upon arriving home. I only took the pain meds for about two to three days and was fine without them from then on. One week after surgery, you will go back to the doctor and get the sterile strips taken off (Dr. Khalili does not use staples so the scars are not as big). I return every 6 to 7 weeks for a fill. The reason that I don't look around for another fill office closer to home is that Dr. Nissi (he does the fills at Cedar) used the xray and barrium swollow to do the fills so he knows how much to put in. I got 2.5 ccs at my first fill (6 weeks after surgery) and 2.5 ccs on the second fill ( 6 weeks after first fill). I can see how the band is placed and how everything looks by looking at the xray machine while doing the barium swollow. I have a neighbor who's doctor doesn't use the xray to do fills and she has been throwing up since she has had the surgery. She still cannot get her first fill yet until she can keep something down. Cedars is one of the best places to get this done. I hope this helped alittle in what to expect. Good luck with your surgery. It is absolutely AMAZING to see the pounds fall off when they weight you each visit!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

DanaM: My doctor doesn't allow beer at all after surgery. What does you doctor feel about beer after surgery?

I hear what you are saying. I am 4 months post op and still have trouble with it. When my husband and I go out, they always bring me a glass of Water which I usually take a sip of if something gets stuck or just to clean my mouth out when finished eating. I still can't walk away without taking a sip after the meal just to clean the food out of my mouth. I only take a few sips but I feel very fearful if I don't have the glass of water at the table just in case I get choked or something gets stuck. I don't know the secret. Let me know if you find the secret to not drinking at all while eating.

I wanted to take a moment and post an update on this issue with the insurance and the hospital. It took alot of phone calls and fighting on my part but this issue did get resolved. The problem was due to two issues - 1. the coodinators failure to give the insurance company the approval number that they recieved before surgery...(this was the only thing holding up payment of the fill...why didn't she follow through and save me a huge headache!!) - 2. The insurance company refused to pay the 53,000. for the operation due to the hospital records department failure to send over my medical records when the insurance department requested it. I called numerous times to the hospital records department and was frustrated by the "I don't care attitude" and the "Well, I don't know what to tell you" comments. I told her that I knew what to tell her....she wasn't getting paid without those records cause I wasn't going to pay for her inability to do her job! The lady in records said that if I paid her an additional $25.00 for what it cost in paper to send those records...she would send them to me and I can do whatever I feel like with them. I told her that this was part of the process that my insurance was already paying and that I would esculate this issue if I needed to. Within an hour of my last call, the insurance company got the information they requested and the claim was marked paid! It is hard to understand why we have to get involved in the process that they are paid to do but the fact is, we do. My advice is to keep all your paperwork, get names of the people and departments that you are talking to for reference because you WILL need those to refer to if you want to get anywhere with the different departments you will be calling. And last, keep working on it! Don't give up, I got plenty of "I don't know what to tell you, I cannot help you" but I persisted til I found someone who could help and I got the answer that I needed. Now, my claims are paid and I have had my 3rd fill. Since going through all of this, I had no trouble at all with the paperwork on my last fill....seems the coodinators were on top of it this time and the claim was ok'ed and paid on the first try without my intervention. So all is well and I am down over 40 lbs and still counting. Good luck to the rest of you!! Happy Losing!

My Meshelle - this is off the subject, but being banded in Vegas, do you have to go all the way back to Vegas for your fills? How far is that drive for you?