carol4784

huh is this for real, my band eroded in 4/08, out 8/08, angry angry woman, self pay.....like throwing $k's out the window. attorneys won't case, i'm screwed and still fat

I had the Johnson and Johnson Realize band. Bad use of my $ as far as I'm concerned.

I don't know why it happened to me. My Dr. mumbled something about "motility in my stomach". I plan to discuss this more further with him on Tuesday when I get this gross tube out of my stomach. I did everything right, I researched, I set aside $ because I knew insurance wouldn't pay. $ that would now come in really handy while remodeling our house. My husband and family supported me. I exercised. Not lately....I haven't done any exercise for 2 weeks. Too depressed. I have had several friends who have had the RNY surgery. They are at goal. It makes me sick. Oh, and of course their insurance paid for it. This stinks so bad. I'm pretty much hating life right now. The surgery the second time around is way more painful by the way. The place where my port went is really, really sore and it'll be a week tomorrow. I especially hate this stupid drain tube. Also, did I mention I haven't had anything thicker than applesauce since last Sunday night. I don't know what more fun and games await me (diet wise)after the tube is removed. I'm sure I'll be on some kind of of restricted diet after the tube is removed. There's a freakin' hole in my stomach. Erosion sucks.

The sucky thing is that I never ate a regular diet the whole time I was losing. I was on predisone and mushy or liquid diet so much....I never even got to try to eat a piece of steak or chicken. No, I take that back, I did eat some tiny bits of chicken a couple times) I think I ate one salad....it came up. I love fruits and vegetables. I couldn't eat them because I wouldn't have room to eat them after my Protein.....which was eggs or baby food or slim fast. I had 2 pieces of pizza. Total. Small pieces. The only thing I learned was that I really wish I'd never heard of lap band. Randy is losing patience with me and tells me I need to get over this but I am so freaking angry I just can't hardly stand it. I know that I will probably need to see someone professionally to get over the anger. I am so pissed I can't stand it. My blood pressure is totally outrageoius. It was 210 over 115 the other day. I'm back on 2 extra meds. now, I have recurrent gout on my foot. Am taking prednisone coz of gout, can't take anything else because of kidney disease. I feel so trapped. I'm not looking forward to them taking out tube from stomach on Tuesday. I think I just want to go to bed and curl up.

Maybe I will get over this but right now I am so freakin' angry I can't hardly see straight. I would have been upset if I'd had the surgery if my insurance had paid but knowing that the money is gone, spent out thousands of dollars makes me physically and mentally ill. Maybe this is why some insurance companies won't pay.....because it's not a sure thing. One sure thing would have been RNY but they wouldn't have paid for that either. Ins. didn't pay for WLS period. I would have preferred that route (RNY). It's much easier. You just lose weight. There's no way around it. You don't digest the food you just "rent" it. But that costs $40K plus. I probably will have see someone professionally to get over this anger thing. Insurance probably won't pay for that either. Life is pretty such sucking right now. I have been a member of Weight Watchers at least 30 times. I have spent so much $ on myself and nothing has worked. I still have at least 50 lbs. to lose, am out lots of $ and am miserable.

How did I feel? I was banded 4/8/08. Started pb'ing early May. Father died mid May, vomting started. Thought it was upset from death in family. Couldn't keep water down. Was admitted to hospital. Took several rounds of predisone for "swelling" at band site. Then husband was in motorcyle accident, had cellulitis, two vacations were totally cancelled. Still vomiting. More predisone. More vomiting. Dr. did endoscope on 8/18, said band had to come out, had grown into stomach, makiing hole. Now I have this gross drain tube hanging out of my side with stomach juices in it. I am totally screwed with a capital "S". I am still very ANGRY, not sure if I'll ever get over this one. I am back on antidepressants. Everytime I see a commercial on TV about lapband surgery I want to throw things at the TV and curse. Did I mention that I'm angry? And broke. With 50 more lbs. to lose. I am so screwed.

banded 4/8/08, band out 8/25/08 due to erosion. Insurance won't cover WLS. Self pay, can't afford to get any other surgery. Money is lost, all gone, so depressed. Am screwed. Only lost 50 of the 100 lbs. I needed to lose. So angry. So very angry. Have cried for 2 weeks. Not sure what to do now. Feel so defeated. This was my last hope.

This is Carol from Ohio. Between father dying and husband's motorcycle accident I decided that I didn't have enough crap in my life so my band developed an erosion It was removed on Monday, 8/25. I was vomiting constantly. I am depressed, but mostly I'm angry. I have just spent over $12.5K of my own freaking $ for this thing. I wish I had never heard of lapband. I'm screwed. I have lost around 50 lbs. have 50 more to lose. Go back to Dr. on Tuesday to have drain removed from stomach. Heard it gonna hurt like he** Pain is a LOT worse second time than first. Band had worn hole in my upper stomach. Dr. office claims that I am his first of 1600 patients to have erosion (altho Dr. has removed bands with erosion placed by other doctors.). I have spent the last two weeks mostly crying. I don't know what else to do. This was my last hope. Not sure if my insurance is gonna pay for the removal...they say they will. I don't remember the last time I felt this low. I am still in shock that this did not work. Why me?

Wow, what bad luck.:thumbup: Do you have a small frig in the motel. or a cooler you can keep ice in (compliments of motel) In a pinch I have used the walmart slim fast (cheaper), i'm especially fond of vanilla. Yogurt is good, mozzarella sticks save me sometimes. Even a bit of peanut butter spread on a wheat thin (they mush up nicely) are pretty good. Eating out much be getting really old...just try to make sane choices. Good luck.

Hi everyone. One month bandiversary. Surgery date 4/8/08 (Hi Carol from Joliet). Had first fill appt. Had barium swallow. (I have the Realize band). Have optimal restriction w/o fill! I have not really been in "bandster hell" like others have been describing. Down 13 pre op, then 10 more. total of 23# gone forever. No longer take IBS meds. Have not had any diverticulitis flare ups and hemmoroids (sp.) TMI.... are quieted down. Life is good. No regrets. Next fill appt. June 5th...hope the "phantom restriction" continues. One mystery tho. went to gyno appt. yesterday a.m. bp was 120/70, GREAT, at "fill" appt. bp was 150/90 WTH??? That's a HUGE discrepancy. Anyway, got to start taking more frequent bps at home. Clothes getting baggy. :frown: Dr. Trace Curry, Cincinnati, OH self pay, surgery 4/8/08

What great news! I know you've been waiting quite a while. Dr. Trace Curry, cincinnati, OH banded 4/8/08

You know Carol....I'm not sure it was a PB or a slime....but more than saliva came up. TMI, TMI. Anyway, the whole thing shocked me...cause I have eaten cheese. Actually, sometimes for "dinner" I'll slice off 5 or 6 tiny little slices of cheddar on six whole wheat thins. So, I didn't think the cheese would hurt. Maybe I got too much of the sauce...I don't know. I haven't been brave enough to try on some of my smaller jeans....I just know that the current ones are getting really baggy. A Goodwill store JUST opened in Athens so that will be great. I bought the nicest jeans I've ever had from a GW store in Columbus. Avenue brand I think for $3. Anyway, if I lose another 5 lbs. or so I'll try those on. Sounds like you're doing great. I wonder how Cindy and Cora are doing. Talk to you later.

Hi April 8ers!. Carol from OH here. Can hardly believe it'll be 4 weeks Tuesday. The exercise has been sporadic...DH and I have been working a lot lately. Not a very good excuse...it just seems like if I don't exercise first thing it doesn't happen. Had my first PB today. Got home from grocery store and husband and neighbor were on the deck eating pizza and hot wings!!! Yikes. They were starving and our power had been out for several hours. Second time this week....squirrels keep getting fried near transformers and the power goes. Anyway ate just the cheese off the top of one small piece of pizza....first time i had tried that. Ate slowly and chewed. Oh boy, up it came. I then had a small salad, yes salad for dinner. And, BTW my IBS has disappeared, so off that medication. Wish I could get off some of the BP meds. I think I've lost around 24 lbs....so down to around 232. Glad everyone is doing well.

I was wondering that too. I was banded 4/8/08 and can do "solids" starting this coming Tuesday. I love salads....large salads with lots of veggies made with romaine or spinach, slivered almonds, etc. But I have IBS and have not had a nice big salad for about 6 months....it was just too stressful before) but since April 7 I have not taken my IBS meds......I HAVE NOT NEEDED THEM.:frown: So, looking to start off small next week with a nice green salad and see how that goes. Dr. Trace Curry, Cincinnati, Ohio 4/8/08, self pay (jury is still out, but probably the best $ I ever spent)

Hi Tom, Carol from Ohio here. I was banded 4/8/08 and doing well. Have lost around 24 lbs. Anyway, I had 5 way coronary bypass December 2005. I did all the pre-op testing, sleep apnea, everything was going so smoothly. Almost forgot, I'm self pay, Dr. Curry, Cincinnati, OH. (I have fairly good ins, my ins. EXCLUDES weight loss surgery of any kind.) One time fee $12.5K includes 2 yrs. fills. Dr. Curry is fantastic IMO. Anyway, about March 25 my cardiologist's office called and said I had to have a vena cava (sp?) filter put in. Remember, I'm self pay, so anything to do with the band I've gotta pony up. Anyway, kept telling cardiologist office I'm paying for surgery myself, I can't afford to get this done. Oh, it can't be that much they say. So I called hospital. Procedure was around $8,000, not including Dr. fee, PLUS filter would need to be removed in a year or so and that would cost WHO KNOWS and I would have to pay that that too?? Meanwhile, my surgery was already scheduled for April 8. I FREAKED OUT. The phone lines from ins. co. to my dr. office from dr. office to ins. co were hot. Ins. won't pay. Cardiologist wouldn't budge. Thought I was gonna lose my mind. Called Dr. Curry's office sobbing, totally out of control. Lisa, she's a PA (physician's asst), higher up than an RN but less than a Dr. said listen. Your BMI is 41. You have no current problems. Dr. Curry can do your cardiac clearance if need be. You do not need this procedure. You're gonna be "out" for maybe 35 minutes...it wasn't that long BTW. She told me that Dr. Curry (who's done more lapbands than any other Dr. in Ohio) has has 3 or 4 patients that actually had to get the filter.....due to their BMI being over 50. It was more of a risk to them. So, if you have insurance and they'll pay I'd have it done, otherwise I'd check with someone else if your BMI is under 50. I hope this helps. Meanwhile, my cardiologist thinks I didn't have the surgery and when I go back next February or March for my yearly appt..... he's gonna be really surprised....because I hope to be at least 50 - 70 lbs. thinner. :thumbup: Good luck Tom.

Don't beat yourself up over this....in the whole scheme of things it was basically scrambled eggs...and if you ate very little of the flour tortilla...I don't see the huge problem. I was on mushies day 2....every doctor is different. Just try ...and eat something before you leave the house. I'm like the Carnation Instant Breakfast CIB (the sugar free) and it holds me longer than the slim fast....don't know why it just does. Not an expert on this, had surgery 4/8/08 so learning too. Just try to be a little more planful....make the CIB in a "coffee mug to go" at night and grab it when you leave the house and sip on the way to work. Not ideal, (eating in the car) but better than Micky D's. Good luck. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

was banded 4/8/08, no not an expert but the steri strips just kinda fall off on their own. I'd just leave them alone and let them come off naturally. Good luck.

I am not saying that people of medicaid are lazy...it it just not fair....life is not fair that I have to work and pay for my surgery and I have to work to pay taxes to pay for someone else's surgery too. And, the insurance I had at work was not free...I think it cost around $350./mo. I just think there should be a system that in your case you worked....or prove that you are diligently looking for work...and were trying to get off the system....some kind of level....if you're working you should be eligible for more services. In child protective services I supervised clerical staff who worked full time and still were eligible for some public assistance benefits....WIC, medicaid, HUD housing. That's sad. These were people with 2 yr. degrees. When I saw one of them at one of those instant cash businesses that's when I started loaning her $ so she could buy groceries til pay day....but payday lenders...that's another RANT completely. I'd better not get started.

Dananah, I am self pay ($12.5K incl. 2 yrs. fills) with Dr. Curry, Cincinnati. Have not regretted one bit. I kept thinking I'd diet...that never happened.... not an expert, had surgery 4/8/08 so am just 3 weeks post op. One side effect has been that my husband has been super supportive and he's lost around 15 lbs. (even with occasional visits to McD's, Taco Bell, you get the idea). I've lost around 23 lbs. I don't have the exercise down yet but I'm trying. I think...i know it was $ well spent. Hope this helps.

I'm getting on a soapbox here but I don't think Medicaid should pay for weight loss surgery....UNLESS....the person wanting the surgery is actually working and earning so little that they are still medicaid eligible. It irks the crap out of me that I worked at Child Protective Services for almost 35 years and my insurance when I worked full time excluded WLS. Now that I am "retired" ....my husband and I still work 7/8 time (can't afford not to) our insurance now also excludes WLS. I just believe if a person has not worked or is not working that they should not be able to use medicaid for WLS. I have seen over the last 3 decades clients misuse, abuse the system....some didn't...but why am I working full time and paying for my insurance and then someone who is not working can get free medical care which includes weight loss surgery. The whole system is totally fouled up here. I paid for my surgery out of my $ I earned...problem is medicaid is providing WLS to people who aren't working out of that additional tax money that was hard-earned by me....and many many others. The system stinks. I just don't know why someone who has worked for 35 (now 38) years should have to self pay and someone who has medicaid does not. I paid for the surgery....but I had to work to make the $ to pay for the surgery....it should not be free.

Banded 4/8. Self pay. Paid $400 up front fee, then $12.5K for rest which includes 2 yrs. fills. Was reassured this was total cost by several staff of Dr. office. Yesterday, rec. bill for $4,000. for surgical services due..in 7 days. Sure, I have bags of $ sitting around. WTF?:w00t::huh2:... Am boiling inside. Will be calling office first thing tomorrow am....and asking is this some kind of a joke... if so, not really very funny. Has this happened to anyone else? I have previously given my Dr. and his staff high praise.

I'm in Athens, Ohio....my Dr. is in Cincinnati.....3 hours away.

A bit different for me too. I went to first seminar in December 2006. Had appt. with doctor in June 07. Saw their psych. Got approved. Around $16K (Am self pay, ins. excludes WLS). Wasn't fascinated by their psych. Went to another seminar, more local in August. They wanted $18K!!! Tried to diet on my own. Called Dr. Curry early Feb. this year ($12.5K incl. 2 years fills, plus $400 initial fee), they said since I had already gone thru 2 seminars on the lapband I could skip and just have my first appt. 2/28...had intake appt. used psych from June 07, got all my clearances and diet class. Surgery was April 8th. Have lost around 23#. Would not have done it any differently. (Just wish I'd done it sooner).

was banded 4/8/08. Self pay. Ins. excludes weight loss surgery. Am doing well...have lost at least 20#. This was just my experience but I had some serious IBS previously. I took 4 Bentyl a day....rarely made it thru a meal w/o heading to facilities. Was not a fun travel companion. Have not taken Bentyl since 4/7. Haven't needed medication. IBS seems to be quieted down. Hope it stays that way. Diabetes and heart disease run in my family too. In fact I've had 5 way heart bypass surgery in 2005. I'd say....go for it..you have already been accepted. Husband is very supportive, parents and siblings are also very supportive. Do the reasons to have the surgery outweigh the reasons not to have it? Good luck in your decision.

Update called Dr. office first thing 4/28. Said my balance was zero. Asked why I got a bill....no explanation. Will take bill w/me on appt. for first fill May 7th and tell them it caused me to lose sleep for 2 nights. I'm just glad I don't owe $4K for something I knew nothing about.