rn_82

I have had one hell of a LAP-BAND® journey and can't wait to have it removed. My original surgeon, "Dr.X" put the band in four days after I said that I was paying cash. I thought I had researched it enough on my own, but I was wrong. He even said I would be back at work in 3 days (ha)! The first 6 months or so went good, steady weight loss. After that, I told him before every fill that I was having reflux and excessive vomiting. He always said on guided swallow that everything looked great though, so no removal of fluid. This past October, he hesitantly took .7 cc out of the band because I was miserable. That night, I wasn't even able to keep water down. The next AM, he wasn't in his office...so they referred me to another surgeon "Dr X 2". They immediately removed all the fluid out of my band and told me to go eat and drink water. There was swelling in the guided swallow, "but it should clear up". Swelling never cleared, and I have not had a meal since. I live on milkshakes (but I am still maintaining weight) .My primary care doctor did several tests...one revealed that completely deflated (and after unsuccessfully attempting to dilate it), my opening was the size of a bic pen and the band was "tilted more than average" and had issues passing fluid. I'm not sure what this even means! My primary care wrote me a letter to have it removed. I took it to Dr X2, and he refuses to admit that anythings wrong, and "I'm just not chewing good". Well, I'm out $15k for the surgery, and $1400 from tests to find out what is wrong (my insurance only covers $1500, and that was used up by January 31). All I want is a re-imbursement but not sure if I will get one. Any thoughts? Again, sorry I wrote a novel!

I have had one hell of a lap band journey and can't wait to have it removed. My original surgeon, "Dr.X" put the band in four days after I said that I was paying cash. I thought I had researched it enough on my own, but I was wrong. He even said I would be back at work in 3 days (ha)! The first 6 months or so went good, steady weight loss. After that, I told him before every fill that I was having reflux and excessive vomiting. He always said on guided swallow that everything looked great though, so no removal of fluid. This past October, he hesitantly took .7 cc out of the band because I was miserable. That night, I wasn't even able to keep water down. The next AM, he wasn't in his office...so they referred me to another surgeon "Dr X 2". They immediately removed all the fluid out of my band and told me to go eat and drink water. There was swelling in the guided swallow, "but it should clear up". Swelling never cleared, and I have not had a meal since. I live on milkshakes (but I am still maintaining weight) .My primary care doctor did several tests...one revealed that completely deflated (and after unsuccessfully attempting to dilate it), my opening was the size of a bic pen and the band was "tilted more than average" and had issues passing fluid. I'm not sure what this even means! My primary care wrote me a letter to have it removed. I took it to Dr X2, and he refuses to admit that anythings wrong, and "I'm just not chewing good". Well, I'm out $15k for the surgery, and $1400 from tests to find out what is wrong (my insurance only covers $1500, and that was used up by January 31). All I want is a re-imbursement but not sure if I will get one. Any thoughts? Again, sorry I wrote a novel!

I have to get my band removed (long story, basically it slipped). I am looking for a good Ft Worth surgeon that is not Richard Carter or Adam Smith. Carter put in the band and refused to take any fluid out when I started having problems. Smith (after several tests) couldn't figure out what the problem was. My primary care doctor was the one that figured out why I haven't been able to eat for 4 months...poor placement/slip. I have a letter of medical necessity to get it removed, just need a doctor. Any suggestions?

I have to get my band removed (long story, basically it slipped). I am looking for a good Ft Worth surgeon that is not Richard Carter or Adam Smith. Carter put in the band and refused to take any fluid out when I started having problems. Smith (after several tests) couldn't figure out what the problem was. My primary care doctor was the one that figured out why I haven't been able to eat for 4 months...poor placement/slip. I have a letter of medical necessity to get it removed, just need a doctor. Any suggestions?

I have to get my band removed (long story, basically it slipped). I am looking for a good Ft Worth surgeon that is not Richard Carter or Adam Smith. Carter put in the band and refused to take any fluid out when I started having problems. Smith (after several tests) couldn't figure out what the problem was. My primary care doctor was the one that figured out why I haven't been able to eat for 4 months...poor placement/slip. I have a letter of medical necessity to get it removed, just need a doctor. Any suggestions?

I have to get my band removed (long story, basically it slipped). I am looking for a good Ft Worth surgeon that is not Richard Carter or Adam Smith. Carter put in the band and refused to take any fluid out when I started having problems. Smith (after several tests) couldn't figure out what the problem was. My primary care doctor was the one that figured out why I haven't been able to eat for 4 months...poor placement/slip. I have a letter of medical necessity to get it removed, just need a doctor. Any suggestions?

If anyone could help me I would be so grateful. I was banded August 2008 and all was well and I was losing great...until about 4 months ago. I kept telling my Dr that I wasn't able to keep food down, but he said it was my sinus drainage and reflux causing the problem and I didn't need fluid out. He gave me medication for both problems. One night, I couldn't even drink water so I went to my dr's partner and they let all the fluid out, but said the guided swallow showed that I had a blockage, maybe stuck food. They said it would pass and I should be able to eat in no time. So 2 weeks went by, still not able to keep food down. Had another guided swallow, and the "blockage" was gone and they think there was never food there, it was inflammation from the irritation from vomiting. Got a steroid shot. I have had an EGD, at least 5 guided swallows and they still don't know what the problem is. Now they are ruling out my gallbladder being bad, but as soon as I swallow the food it comes right back up (not typical for GB). They say my band looks good...but I haven't had ANY fluid in my band for a month now and I still throw up after each meal. I am so frustrated and I just don't know what is wrong and what to do next. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks for reading!

Cleo's mom, thank you for the quick response. By my drainage, they mean from my allergies, and also from acid reflux. They put me on medication for both, with no avail. I haven't lost any weight because I have replaced food with Starbucks. Bad idea, I know...I am just so hungry! I just wondered if anyone had the same thing happen.

If anyone could help me I would be so grateful. I was banded August 2008 and all was well and I was losing great...until about 4 months ago. I kept telling my Dr that I wasn't able to keep food down, but he said it was my drainage and I didn't need fluid out. One night, I couldn't even drink water so I went to my dr's partner and they let all the fluid out, but said the guided swallow showed that I had a blockage, maybe stuck food. They said it would pass and I should be able to eat in no time. So 2 weeks went by, still not able to keep food down. Had another guided swallow, and the "blockage" was gone and they think there was never food there, it was inflammation from the irritation from vomiting. Got a steroid shot. I have had an EGD, at least 5 guided swallows and they still don't know what the problem is. Now they are ruling out my gallbladder being bad, but as soon as I swallow the food it comes right back up (not typical for GB). They say my bad looks good...but I haven't had ANY fluid in my band for a month now and I still throw up after each meal. I am so frustrated and I just don't know what is wrong and what to do next. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks for reading!

Since I am a nurse, my Dr made me take 6 weeks off work until my lifting restriction was over. I was able to do light duty after 3 weeks, but I work in the ER, so there is not that much light duty to do. Employee Health at my hospital would not let me work until I have a note from the doctor clearing me. This was really bad, because my dr told me originally that I could have surgery on Wed, and go back to work on Monday. Then, after the surgery I couldn't go back, so thankfully my boss is working with me and my unexpected 6 weeks off..what a nightmare it has been! I had to take a temporary leave of absence!

Thanks for all of your ideas, they are good! I will call him on Monday to see what we can settle with. I was so disappointed, but I guess nothing is for free, especially in medicine! I will also have to look at my paperwork and see if I signed anything authorizing any needed "extras". I'm sure they have a loophole for charging fro these kind of things! Thanks again for all of your input!

Hi all! When I had my surgery on 8-20-08, my Dr told me I had a hernia that he had to repair while in surgery. I wasn't surprised, I knew this was common. Well, today I got a bill in the mail for $5200 for the hernia repair! I was a self-pay because insurance (Cigna) gave me the run around for too long. They tried to file the hernia repair with my insurance and they wouldn't cover it, because it was an out of network provider. I'm so frustrated. It took me a long time to save up $15000 I paid for the surgery. I saved up so I wouldn't have to finance it. Now, I'm going to have to finance the hernia repair! Sorry for the rant, I just had to vent. So self payers beware, you may be charged extra if there is a hernia repair involved! :lovechoc: