ilandgurl

I found a fill center near Atlanta, and I also talked to a doctors office near Murray Ky, under "Bluegrass Bariatrics" that will do fills for people who had surgery by another physician. They didn't specify if they would only do Inamed and J&J, and I didn't realize there were so many other bands. They have a website if you search Bluegrass Bariatrics, and they were very prompt in getting back to me. Here in the middle part of the country, fill centers are few and far between, so I don't mind letting people know about a surgeon who will do fills on other surgeon's patients. Their fees were reasonable, I guess, at least as compared to my surgeon.

I checked online and found a fill center near Atlanta GA, which would be out 3 hours drive from here. I have emailed them to see if they do fills on Realize Band, which is the new band almost identical to the original, but from a different company. I liked their website for follow-up advice, recipes, and such. I thought about contacting them to complain about my doctor's office staff, but not until I make arrangements for care elsewhere. I also want to get a copy of my records first. I loved the doctor (Dr Ponce, Chattanooga), but haven't seen him since the day of surgery. I'm really disappointed in the office staff. They were so friendly and helpful until I asked about details of charges. I wonder if Dr Ponce knows how they react to being questioned. I also plan to file a complaint with Blue Cross, as I selected Dr Ponce because he was a preferred provider (supposed to save you money). He shouldn't be listed as a pref. provider if they are going to charge $1300 above and beyond what they agree to with insurance. I have had to prepay with dentists before, but they immediately refunded the overpayment once they settled with the insurance. That's what I expected this time, too. In the meantime, my weight loss has stalled, and of course the stress of worrying about follow up care isn't helping. These bands are a wonderful tool, but it seems from the complaints I read, that a lot of doctors are taking advantage of the demand for them, and not too many are worried about taking care of patients past the surgery date. It's going to give the band a bad reputation in the long run, and you'd think the manufacturers would want to insure better long term results with better follow up care. They should sponser the fill centers and aid in their expansion across the country. Then the doctors could keep pushing patients through like cattle until the demand for the product decreases and they move on to the next big thing. Ilandgurl

I have a problem I haven't read about on this site. I was banded in March and have had one fill, in April. At that time I was told to come back in one month for a second fill. In the meantime, I got my insurance information and found that I had paid my "preferred provider" about $1500 too much. I had set up a flexible spending account through work to pay for this surgery and they denied my request for $1500 reimbursement because my ins. info said I only had to pay $186. The ins. co. suggested I call the doctor's office to ask about either a refund of overpayment, or a detailed list of charges (if I've prepaid for fills and such) so I can refile for my FSA payment. So I called the office, they got very defensive with me when I asked for more information for my FSA claim, and said they'd have to call me back. They told me that my fills were included, so I said, "then I've prepaid for my fills. Ok, I see. Can I just get more information on that for my FSA claim?" The finance lady never called back. A few days later, I started calling to get my second fill appointment, and for two weeks since then, I either don't get a call back from my message I leave every other day, or I get a person who says they have to check with the doctor (that's a first!) and call back. I'm starting to get angry, although I've been very polite and patient so far. I thought if I don't get my appointment "next week" when they "call" me back, I would look for another doctor. After reading these other posts I'm starting to think I've wasted my money on this surgery, and that most of the doctors (offices) involved are scamming people for money. I don't know what to do now.

Doesn't feel much different. I feel full a little sooner than before, but I still feel like I can eat more than this "less than a cup" they say will make me feel full. I had to slow down a little more with my water, so as not to gurgle like a slow drain. I read another message that said it may take as many as five fills to really tell a difference. I wanted to tell the nurse to just fill-er-up, as I don't seem to have a lot of patience for slowly losing weight. I hate that barium junk, but at least you only have to sip a little bit while they check your adjustment. Doesn't hurt at all, just a little stick when they put the needle into the port. I itched like crazy cause they put a bandaid on me. That was the worst part about the whole adjustment. Good luck to you.

Memorial, or maybe it's the doctor, requires a nutrition class and a meeting with a counselor prior to surgery. My doctor was Ponce', surgery at Memorial, and I paid the co-pay to Ponce' that they said covered hospital charges and doctors fees. I also paid $95 to Memorial for the class and counselor, which is to educate you on healthier eating and choices, and the counselor to screen for people with eating disorders and such. I am not sure if my fee paid for the anesthesia, so I have to check with Ponce' to see who pays that. I also found that they estimated my fee based on the fact that I had not met my deductible, but I did meet it before surgery. So now I find through Blue Cross that I've overpaid by about $266 or so, and I have to get with the doctor about a refund of overpayment that Blue Cross says I'm entitled to. I hear that some hospitals in Chattanooga require an expensive program prior to surgery, but Memorial is pretty simple and is just what they say, $95.

Hi ReadySteadyGo: I'm a Zombie......

I was banded March 20 in Chattanooga TN. I get my first fill April 22. I'm still getting the hang of this website, has anyone got a tip on how to get my tickerfactory tape in my replies?

Other than temporary restriction from swelling, you won't have any restriction from your band yet. Not until your first fill. You are supposed to be able to eat normally, and eat almost as much as before surgery. Are you practicing not drinking with your meals? Try to watch your portions also. I am getting my first fill today. I was banded March 20, lost 14 pounds during the first 10 days, and nothing since. Once I healed, I felt hungry all the time as before, wanted to snack as before, and the only thing that causes me problems is eating a sandwich. I suspect it's because it is so hard to take the tiny bites they recommend. Practice cutting your food into tiny bites, and don't expect much weight loss till you start getting fills. Are you exercising every day? That's important, too. Good Luck!

Hi Bobbie, This is a great site, but you're right it can be overwhelming. I got my new Blue Cross insurance book in Dec (07) and it had the lap-band added as an approved procedure. I immediately called and went to the next available seminar in Chattanooga, as I had been researching lap band, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass. So, seminar in mid-Dec, consult with doctor first week in Jan, insurance approval end of Jan. They were ready to do my surgery in Feb, but I wanted to wait til I had vacation time in March. Depending on the doctor's requirements, you have to go to a nutrition class (mine was 2 hours one visit), talk to a counselor (to make sure you have no history of eating disorders, serious mental issues, etc). You also have to have pre-op tests in the two weeks prior to surgery. I did the nutrition class, counselor visit and pre-op three days before surgery, all at once. It can happen pretty quick, especially once your insurance approves. My health issues were borderline diabetes, borderline high blood pressure, history of weight loss attempts, and BMI of 40. You sound like a good candidate, so do your homework, post on this site for people in your area to recommend the best doctors, get your referral letter from your primary care physician (just has to recommend losing weight for health benefit, not necessarily recommending surgery), go to a seminar in your area, and go for it. I had my surgery March 20, lost 14 pounds pretty quick, and go for my first fill April 22. I would recommend taking more than 1 week off from work (like I did). 2 would be better for sure. Follow the doctors lifting restrictions, and watch the twisting and reaching as well. I had a lot of discomfort because of reaching in my job, even though I was very careful about the weight limits to lifting. Good luck!

Good idea, practicing for post surgery! I had the same problem with eating, big bites, too fast, etc. I had my surgery March 20, and I will tell you that the first time you eat too fast or too much in one bite, you will know and you will not do it again. When I finally got to eat real food, that first "overfill" felt like the worst case of heartburn ever. All I could do was sit and wait for it to finally go down, although I've since found that getting up and walking around help move things quicker. I felt like if I took even a sip of water, it would all come back up. I have two more weeks before my first fill, and I worry that if I am having trouble now, what will happen after the first fill. I have no restriction now, except for the swelling after surgery. Drinking with food results in a gurgling kind of mini burping as the food and drink try to go through a constricted opening. Doesn't sound pleasant. I think you'll find that not drinking while you eat, and taking smaller bites will come much easier after surgery. My hard part is drinking enough before I start eating, so I'm not dying of thirst before the hour I need to wait after I eat before drinking again. Even without my first fill, I've lost 12 pounds so far. Good luck to you.

March 27, 2008 Had my first post surgery follow-up. I've lost 8.5 pounds!! Nurse read me the riot act when I admitted I cheated and had pudding. I'm supposed to be on clear liquids, but that just isn't going to cut it. I promised to try harder to follow the doc's diet. One month til my first fill. Went back to work March 28, 8 days after surgery. I would recommend to EVERYONE that they should try to take at least two full weeks off work. Just being dressed in something other than sweat pants made me uncomfortable. I work at the post office, and my job is to stand at a case, pick up magazines and large envelopes and put them in a big case according to the route they are on. Piece of cake! All that reaching made my stomach hurt alot. I thought I had pulled something loose. After two days, I tried a large ACE bandage under my tshirt (but over a tank top) and it applied just enough pressure to help relieve the discomfort some. I had felt really good til I went back to work, then it was about 5 days before I got back to feeling really good. I napped every day after work, I was really zapped!:eek: Working up to real food is helping me regain some energy. I've lost a total of 12 pounds and me foot and knee have stopped hurting. I read that every pound you lose takes 4 pounds of pressure off your joints. Things are looking up.:tt1:

March 27, 2008 Had my first post surgery follow-up. I've lost 8.5 pounds!! Nurse read me the riot act when I admitted I cheated and had pudding. I'm supposed to be on clear liquids, but that just isn't going to cut it. I promised to try harder to follow the doc's diet. One month til my first fill. Went back to work March 28, 8 days after surgery. I would recommend to EVERYONE that they should try to take at least two full weeks off work. Just being dressed in something other than sweat pants made me uncomfortable. I work at the post office, and my job is to stand at a case, pick up magazines and large envelopes and put them in a big case according to the route they are on. Piece of cake! All that reaching made my stomach hurt alot. I thought I had pulled something loose. After two days, I tried a large ACE bandage under my tshirt (but over a tank top) and it applied just enough pressure to help relieve the discomfort some. I had felt really good til I went back to work, then it was about 5 days before I got back to feeling really good. I napped every day after work, I was really zapped!:crying: Working up to real food is helping me regain some energy. I've lost a total of 12 pounds and me foot and knee have stopped hurting. I read that every pound you lose takes 4 pounds of pressure off your joints. Things are looking up.:thumbup:

I was banded March 20 by Dr Ponce, and he was great! I read a lot of posts about port site pain, and I wouldn't even know where mine is if Ponce hadn't put a padded sticker over the site. It's under my right arm, below my bra strap, a much better location than the chest or breast area I have read about. I lost 10 pounds in the first 10 days after surgery, and am waiting for my first fill date. I highly recommend Dr Ponce and company, they are all very nice. My only problem was going back to work too soon (one week + one day) and making my stomach hurt where the band is placed. It was really uncomfortable the first two days back, and I discovered ace bandages (over an undershirt) applied just enough pressure to my abdomen to ease the discomfort at the end of the day. I bought a long, 6" wide bandage that wrapped twice around my upper abdomen. It helped a lot. I wish I had taken two weeks off work. I think I'd feel better now. Ideally, 3-4 weeks off, doing nothing, is what Ponce recommends for good healing, but it isn't practical for most of us. We work, have kids, have to cook, clean, wash laundry. Ponce said do nothing for one month, I haven't met anyone who was able to follow that. I just take it as easy as I possibly can, and get the kids to help carry things. Good luck to everyone. Cleveland

Probably stress from surgery, make sure you aren't getting too much salt in your liquid diet.

I can feel my band, too, but my surgery was March 20. I can cup my hand over the incision area where the band was placed, and there is a large "lump" right at the top of my stomach. My port site is under my right arm, below my bra strap line. Totally different location than what a lot of people have posted. But I can't tell it's even there. I had a padded sticker over the spot for the first week, my hubby joked that that's where the inflation needle goes to make my boobs bigger. He thought the padded sticker looked like the port of a basketball, but I was relieved when it came off in the shower and I can't see anything on my skin. Can't feel it either, but the actual band is still very uncomfortable and movements like reaching up and sitting straight up make it hurt. I hope it's just normal swelling after surgery.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with swelling on the left side. I can cup my hand over the place where my band is located. I don't know if this was already there post op (March 20) and I couldn't feel it til other abdominal swelling went down, or if this is new swelling since I went back to work (1week, 1 day post op). My advice is don't go back to work for a few more days if you don't feel ready, and especially if you move around a lot at work. My job involves reaching up over my head casing magazines and large envelopes (post office) and all that reaching made my stomach hurt pretty bad for the first few days. Sitting is tough too, unless you are wearing loose fitting pants. The swelling makes the clothes tighter, sitting puts more pressure on the stomach. = more discomfort, swelling. I wish I had taken an extra week off. Take care.

I was banded March 20th. Went back to work at the post office a week and one day later. I think it was about a week too soon. My job is to work magazines and other "flat size" mail in a big case about 7 feet wide and 6 feet high. The reaching to the top of the case made my stomach hurt pretty bad the first couple of days. As the sweeling has gone down in my abdomen I can feel my stomach around the area the band is at is still pretty swollen. I don't know if this is normal, but I don't have pain, can eat without nausea, so I'll wait it out. A 6 inch ace bandage around my abdomen helped a lot at work, but I had to put it over one of my husbands undershirts with a work tshirt over it. I still itch horribly! I was scared the first couple of days about the discomfort, but all the docs office says is "slow down", you're doing too much. I have to work, but I'm taking it as easy as I can get away with, and my work mates are helping with any lifting to be done. It seems like the activity has slowed down the healing process a little, but I can tell I'm getting better. Hang in there!

I'm from Cleveland. Dr Ponce placed my band on March 20th.

I went back to work at the post office after 1 week. I was feeling really good, had overdone it a little walking, even tried a little real food, pain was all but gone. I still slept a little elevated, it seemed more comfortable. I went back to work, trying to take it easy on the twisting and lifting. My stomach is hurting right where the band must be, so I know I've overdone it at work. Take as much time off from work as you can, probably 2 weeks or more. Get a lot of rest, resist the temptation to eat any solid food, and concentrate on healing. I was doing great til I went back to work, now I'm feeling like I've been punched in the stomach and have more swelling than right after surgery. A tip for the gas pain you get after surgery. They tell you to walk to relieve it, but rocking helps, and so does the vibrating cushions or seats you can buy. My husband has a vibrating recliner, and it was great for helping to relieve the gas pain. If you've ever had surgery before and know that anesthesia makes you really nauseous, get the doc to give you meds for that before you go home. I heaved every time I changed position for 16 hours after surgery. Didn't throw up, but it hurt around my incisions. I don't regret surgery, but should have taken more time off. You'll heal quicker. Good luck.

I was banded 9 days ago. Walking and rocking will help relieve the gas, and after dealing with a persistent, painful gas bubble in my neck for 3 days, I found that the vibrating cushions in a recliner or portable vibrating seat or cushion can help relieve that gas much quicker. It's funny, but it works. Keep taking the gas-x, it does absorb the gas eventually but takes time. Good luck!