luvmybully

I bounced back pretty quick - and I'm the biggest wimp there is! I was really sore for a few days and you have the incision (mine was in the same place as the original incision) and that takes a little while to heal. Also the muscle (?) where the port was removed and another attatched was very sore. I would wait at least a couple of weeks before doing any major excercise. Maybe just some walking, etc. I think the worst part, too, is the anesthesia. My Dr. said it can be done without general anesthesia but I didn't want to do that.

Doesn't it make you want to scream. I am a self pay (approx $18,000). When I had the port/tubing replacement the Dr. admitted the tubing was punctured and his office did not charge but all the other bills I received were almost $10,000. I was able to get financial aid from the hospital and the Dr paid the anesthesiologist (after much fussing on my part) I felt I shouldn't have had to pay a dime - I didn't punture the tube! I was told that was a risk you take but I absolutely don't agree. And if there is another leak I don't even know how to handle this! I want to be back to losing too. I have gained at least 25 lbs since first having problems with my band - it took almost 2 months of me going in EVERY week saying something is not right for him to figure out the leak. I would like to go to another Dr but if there is another leak I can't afford to pay another Dr to fix this ones problem.

I haven't posted in a LONG time but I think my tubing might have been punctured AGAIN!!!! I went for a fill yesterday, I had some restriction before but have been going in every month for a fill, then unfill, losing and gaining the same 10 lbs each time, having horrible reflux that would wake me up choking and vomiting. I would go in and get fluid taken out and have bad heartburn (?) pain and the reflux would stop but I could eat anything and everything. I feel like a yoyo. I am so frustrated. I had to have my port/tubing replaced in Aug 08 because of a puncture and that was a nightmare - not so much physically but financially and emotionally. And so yesterday I go in for another fill and today I can eat anything and it's Deja-vu. I'm praying this is not happening to me again. What do I do? I've had my band for almost 3 years and this past year I have really been regretting it. I don't want to gain the weight back again. How do I even go back to the Dr.s office again - I HATE going in there and I feel like they probably feel the same about me. Sorry for the long rant - I really need to vent!!!

I am so frustrated! About 3 months ago I lost restriction, went to my Dr every week for 6 weeks to find out problem and he did fill after fill. Finally found out I had a leak in the tubing and had to have port and tubing replaced. I am a self pay with no insurance and have been treated so nasty by the hospital - they wanted to charge me $7100 for the 15 minute surgery. I have a $1200 anesthesia bill, almost $500 for an upper GI. The financial lady at the hospital discounted it to $1400 and I had to sign the paper and pay her $75 or I couldn't have my surgery there. The office manager at the Dr.s office who I have called several times to get some kind of advice from either won't return my calls or doesn't call back when she said she would. I do have an appointment tomorrow and am bringing in all my bills to show the Dr. I feel he should pay for them, am I wrong? I don't want to get a lawyer but the more I get treated so badly the madder I get. Has anyone gone through this. I know a leak is a risk you take but come on. I'm sure the Dr could get a response from the hospital. And the no communication from his office is what's really bugging me. I am so uncomfortable even going there now. I feel like one of "those" patients. If it was my fault or a slip or something like that I would be more understanding but my patience is running out. HELP!!!!!!! To make matters worse - I gained 25 lbs back trying to get hime to run some tests to find the problem!:biggrin:

I had an upper GI about 2 months ago and the Dr. had me turn my head the opposite way of the xray screen so I couldn't see anything. She also didn't say anything except "drink this and turn your head to the left" I did get a peek at the screen as I was leaving but could'nt tell a whole lot what it was. hopefully your dr will be more informative! Good luck! hope it goes well!

I hope you don't have the same problem - please don't let them drag it out as long as I did. Even though I tried to get something done immediately it took almost 2 months (and 25 lbs) to get it fixed. If it is a leak, it's not bad to get fixed, just a little uncomfortable and I hope your insurance will pay if the Dr. does'nt. I'm still trying to get something done even though I was told it's a "risk you take" with having the lapband. I'm praying that the Dr. will take care of the anesthesia and hospital because I don't want to get a lawyer involved.

That's the way I feel. I've been so PO'd because I would like to think the Dr. could get the charges dropped at the hospital. That's why I'm wondering if I should get legal advice, I really hate to go that route. I am trying to get financial aid from the hospital even though the nasty lady I talked to said I couldn't because this was "elective" surgery. Don't know how she came up with that because I sure didn't "elect" to have it. I just don't know where to turn. I do like the Dr., I think I am one of the very few that has had a problem but I think he should step up and pay.

Thanks - I sent her a PM. Went to the Dr today and they basically told me it was one of the risks of having a lapband and I was responsible. The office manager did say she was trying to get some of the bills taken care of, so we'll see what happens.

I had a leak in my tubing (apparantly punctured during a fill) it took my Dr about 6 weeks of me going in every week, getting a fill, no restriction. I had my band for 2 years so I know what it's suppose to feel like. Anyway he finally checked for a leak under flouro. Had my port and tubing replaced 8/12 and it's working again - after I gained 25 pounds! My Dr. didn't charge me anything for the surgery, the hospital was $1400 (they said they were giving me a deal!) and I haven't received my anesthia bill yet. I think the Dr. should pay the whole thing but that isn't going to happen. He also hasn't charged for any appointments post op. It's such a frustrating thing, I was ready to take the thing out myself because I was so frustrated and discouraged. I'm back on track now but am afraid something else will go wrong now!

I started having left side pain,too. I was banded 08/06 and was doing well until about 2 months ago. I found out my tubing had been punctured and had port and tubing replaced Aug 12. Went in Monday and had a fill and had good restriction. Last night had an episode of pb'ing and felt something "pinch" or "move" (hard to describe) on the left side, right at the bottom of my rib cage, it wasn't a big pb but I'm worried about a slip now. Could the new tubing be pinching? I'm afraid to call the Dr. after going through the whole leak thing - It took 6 weeks to figure that out and I don't need another problem and another hospital bill. I'm kind of sore right now - not bad just a little uncomfortable. Any one else ever feel this? I haven't in the 2 years I've had my band.

Thanks for the prayers! I really appreciate it! I went to a support meeting last night and that helped, my first time ever going to one. They gave me great advice and I plan on calling my Dr. in the morning. From what I understand I just need a flouro scheduled and the Dr. to be there - I don't know what the holdup is. Thanks again!

Hi I've had my lapband for 2 years now. Everything was going great, had lost about 85 lbs, was feeling great, getting some confidence back, then my problem started. I lost all restriction. Went to see my Dr. and he did a fill, almost immediatly could not tell a difference but thought I should wait a few days to see if it would kick in. I kind of felt there was something not right but was trying to keep positive. Also my heartburn had returned with a vengence - which I told my Dr., Anyway, to make a long story short I have been in and had a fill almost every week for the last month and a half - no change. He said I don't have symptomes of a slip or erosion but now seems to think there is a leak. Had an upper GI done about 2 weeks ago that was normal. Went in yesterday and he wants to do a contrast study (?) and inject dye in to see if there is a leak and they still have not called me back to set that up. I am so frustrated and dissappointed. I've gained 20 pounds since this started, my clothes don't fit and I'm so uncomfortable. My Dr. told me to eat wisely and exercise - Ha! I've been doing that but if that worked for me I wouldn't have gotten a lapband, right? Also I was a self pay and now looks like it's going to cost me even more. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. I hate my first post is such a bummer - I would much rather be bragging about my thin new body!!!:confused2:

My fills were not done under flouro. I had an upper GI about 2 weeks ago and he said everything looked fine. He thinks it's a leak since he's not pulling out as much fluid as he puts in, we just don't know where the leak is. I want to get it fixed but it seems like they just aren't moving fast enough for me. I've been in almost every week for almost 2 months and asked every question I could think of but they don't seem as worried about it as I am. I was worried about an erosion since I had heard you could have one and not have any symptoms. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid if a fuss to much at my Dr.s office then that won't help any.

I'm going through the same thing right now. It's been dragging on for over a month and a half and I'm starting to feel like they don't want to take responsibility or something. I hope that's not the case and I'm just being impatient. I just don't feel like it's a priority for them. I also had asked my Dr. if there was a leak somewhere was there a warranty on the band and he said if it wwas the actual band he didn't know, If he punctured the tubing during a fill that was a different story. I took it to mean I would have to pay for the fix. I am so frustrated right now I can't stand it!:thumbup: