NeenBand

Okay, I have to make some decisions here and not sure what to do. It's reflux. It seems my band only likes to get fills in small increments. SOmething hard to do when the doc is 100 miles from me. I'm also not seeing a doctor this week, the nurse told me they are not in until Monday. SHe was actually very hard with me, very impatient and frankly, a crappy bedside manner. Telling me in a impatient voice ;"We can't keep filling and unfilling you like this". I was like "Huh?" This is only my 3rd fill in 2 1/2 years and the first time this has happened to me. There is a doctor not far from me, but does not have the skill and reputation as my surgeons do. Not sure what to do.

Well I called my lap band doc and they will be seeing me Monday or Tuesday. They wanted me to have someone look to see if there was thrush, so I went to a clinic today. The said no infection. I'm wondering if it's esophagealitis? My throat feels like it's on fire all the way down to the band.

JACKKKKKKKK!!!!!! Captain Jack my old friend. It figures you'd be the one to answer, you've always been a trooper. I'm amazed at your progress. You rock, sir. And of course..you were onto something. I woke up today with a white tongue and something funky going on in my sinus. I'm thinking it may be thrush because I use an inhaler and the other night it hit the back of my throat. Still though..4 big pieces of toast in 10 minutes. 3 fills in 2 1/2 years, it's not going well here in Leener band world.

Hi everyone. I am in Barnegat. I just moved here from north Jersey. My surgeons are Dr. Bertha/ABkin who were voted best in NJ. I'm looking for support and after care closer to me. I find I'm really not doing what I need to due to the drive and I'm having troubles (see my "Sore throat post tonight). If I have a problem I try to solve it on my own rather than wait for the busy office to get around to me or drive all the way there. So, looking for something in my area for after care.

I woke up last night with pain where my band is, at the bottom of my esophagus. It feels like a throbbing-squeezing and it hurts. I had to get up and take liquid tylenol. I have to take the stuff every 5 hours. I wonder if this is normal for 9 days post op?? Are you supposed to be able to "feel" your band in there? :mad:

I was banded by ABkin and have had a fill done by Bertha. I think they are great surgeons and doctors. I chose them and traveled to them because they really are very good. My only complaint is their staff seems to be overwhelmed sometimes. I also have not had a fill in 1 1/2 years so i have a small weight loss. I have Medicare and Medicare won't pay for them unless they are done at a Center of Excellence program, and Morristown hospital is not included in that program. I wished the staff could have worked out something for me, cut me some kind of break, a discount, a pay plan, anything so that I could get the fills instead of this situation I am in.

Hi Julie, Thank you for your info. I will give Mount Laurel a call. I went for my 2 year check up and the radiology doctor could not believe how open I was, he said it was like a normal stomach and asked me why i don't have fills, and it just made me sad to think I went through this surgery and now...nothing. I'm still unfilled 1 1/2 years later due to my doctor's hospital not taking my insurance for fills, and the staff has not worked anything out for me in regards to the doctor's fees to get fills.

My surgeons are having Medicare issues. I have had 2 fills in a year and a half. I need fills! Anyone know of a fill doc?

Yes, it's another Leenerbups "freaking out thread"....lol Hey all, due to that time of the month arriving just in time for surgery (of course) I gained weight due to getting the hormonal hungries. I also am up 6 lbs since my consultation and and that worries me. They told me not to gain any more and to try to lose it or they may not operate if I gain any more. Of course I have not lost it, and probably am up. Anyone gain wait prior to surgery? :speechles

Hi all, central NJ Matawan representing! LOL I'm originally born and bred in Point Pleasant and moved up here due to my (now ex husband) living up here. I hope to move back to my seashore soon. ANywhoo.. I am looking for a REALLY GOOD surgeon that takes Medicare. Also looking for who to STAY AWAY from and who you know is really good. I am researching two Dr.s around here. One named Dr. Chau in North Brunswick and the other Dr. Mehta in Princeton. ANyone here anything about them?

Hey all, how is everyone Good I hope. :-) This is kind of gross, so i warn you.... I was on vacation out in CA two weeks ago. While there I developed a cough and what I think was a sinus infection. Went on antibiotics, etc. All that is gone, but I still have a cough when I eat and mucus build up that I have to blow my nose after I eat. It's a very thick, white mucus in my nose and lots of phlegm in my throat too. I'm sure I was sick on vacation, but my concern now is this is going on and it's worse after I eat.

Wow, I have to say I wish I knew this before I was banded. :-/

I have always had GERD since putting on weight, and so still having it, having reflux symptoms doesn't tell me too much. I do have more restriction now for some reason. I'll be honest and the stories here, especially being on life support, scares me and I wish I never had this put in.

Just an update for everyone. I still have not gotten a fill. Seems Morristown hospital is not a "Center of Excellence" so Medicare won't pay for the fills. I asked the staff at my surgeon's what will they do if Medicare won't cover them? How will you take care of me? And she hesitated and said she would call back when they get an answer. 2 months later and I still have not heard back.So here I am with a band that is doing nothing for me. I was banded in March of 05 and have 2 fills. I think that is awful.

Hey Bandlarians! Yesterday was my 2 month check uop with my band doctor. He was happy with my loss. However, he will not renew a prescription for Protonix, an acid blocker. I have been on prescription strength acid reducers since 2003 due to GERD and gastritis. He said I should not have to take them and if I still have acid then the band is not for me. I'm not agreeing with him. The reflux is not worse, it's the same it was before banding. Although I do understand his line of thought that they have side effects and I should not be on them long term. SO, here is my dilemma...I have been without a acid blocker for 3 days now and my stomach hurts without them. Always did. I'm looking for solutions and remedies. I am drinking aloe juice but need more.

Hi Everyone I'm a vegetarian, and 2 nights ago I was at a wedding where everything was either meat or seafood. SO I ate the seafood. I had lobster as my entree for the first time in several years. Since then I have had cramping pain in my lower front abdomen around my navel area, to the sides around it and below. It comes and goes, but it's really weird. It continues in my sleep too, and keeps me up. The last time I felt similar pains was in high school, I had a bad cramping in my gut right before I got a bad intestinal flu. But I feel fine otherwise. No flu. My belly feels swollen. I tried all my old standby's for IBS (which I have) ginger, aloe juice, charcoal capsules. Nothing works. Anyone??

Yup, princess_n_thep it went away! Man was that pain. A friend of mine told me she had the same thing happen to her once. She said that if you you not digested meat or fish in years, your body stops producing the enzymes needed to break that down. By the way, congrats on your weight loss. :-)

enterprise01: Hey thanks for responding :-)! A Trekker after me own heart. I love that one too. I'm a big Trek fan. I agree with you. I think after so many years of not eating fish or shellfish and then eating that lobster, I think my guts went into a state of shock. It's slowly going away, thank god! Had me worried. Serena: Ah..as I said, it was the first time I have eaten fish in years,(for reasons I won't get into) I don't need the "what is a vegetarian lesson." I'm a vegetarian. Not going to argue it with you. See ya. Kthxbye

Hi all, ANyone else having this issue? My doctors cannot schedule me for a fill because of this issue. Anyone know what is going on, etc?

My surgeons here in NJ are not being paid by my insurance carrier (rules seem to change all the time) so if I want a fill I would have to pay the $450 doctor's charge for the fill, plus the hospital fees which would add up to $1000. They use fluoroscope, but I'm just looking for a fill doctor now.

Hi everyone! I haven't been here in a while. No news from me is good news..lol We went out to eat last week and I was starving. We waited too long to eat and when my food came, I ate too fast and too much. I was in pain later that night and felt swollen with some reflux. I still do. It's a little better, but not much. Thoughts? I know, slap me up the side of the head, especially after reading all the recent complications Bandlanders have posted here with slippage and dilation of pouch and esophagus.:phanvan

I have GERD, did before the band, due to weight. But it runs in my family. I can't take Nexium or Protonix as it inflames my pancreas. SO I take Pepcid AC and aloe juice and ginger capsules. GayleTX, what brand of coffee has low acid?

So sorry to hear of the issues you have had. I really hope your esophagus heals Listywood, and your GERD gets better Mr. Soots. Listywood, what are the chances of the throat getting to normal?

Hi Alex! How are you? I see your going back in for surgery, best wishes to you with everything. remember your posts about that, and believe me, I'm kicking myself now. I was so hormonal last week, I was a bit crazy withthe eating and appetite. I've eaten smaller all week, so I am thinking I should go on liquids. Not sure if I should go to the ER at any point for a xray.

This is what I am thinking too. I don't mean to scare you, but It's not something that can wait either. This is a very hard to treat and dangerous lung infection. Get a doctor who can give you answers ASAP