swells98

I have had horrible acid reflux....as soon as I get a fill (no matter how big or small) I get the reflux....it gets so bad that I wake up throwing up acid...one night I woke up with the acid coming out of my nose...and this is taking otc medicine (which I was told to do).....this last time I ended up in er because I was so dehydrated......also have had problems with throwing up everything, including my stomach.....I have had at least 10 unfills over the last 3 years (November will be 3 years)....most of them were caused by the acid reflux....I am also now considered to have surgically induced bulimia....once the acid kicks in I end up throwing up all the time... everything, not even Water will stay down.... I am trying one more time (in a few months)....I am going to start the prescription medicine 1 week before I go for my fill...hopefully that will help so that I don't get the reflux and don't throw up....the doctor did tell me that he is concerned that even if I don't feel it there acid will still be eating at my stomach...... After 3 years and all the frustrations I am down 50 lbs....I usually end up loosing a lot of weight right before an unfill because of dehydration but that comes back on really quick once I can get liquid down... I actually met two other women who have the same exact problem as I do.....we are all miserable "together".....and btw we all paid cash out of our pockets for this which makes it hurt even more! Hence why we keep trying...we hate to throw that much money away....

I would seriously thing about the lap band versus other types of surgery....I have had nothing but trouble and the doctors at Kaiser told me there is a 40% failure rate....and they actually think I am doing a lot better than others that they have seen banded....they keep offering to take mine out..... Good luck, hope yours works good for you!

Sorry! I thought you already had the band....Kaiser doesn't think lap bands are good...current failure rate is 40% but if you have one, like I do already, they will help you get you fills, unfills, removal, etc.....Good Luck!

If you haven't done so you should rate Dr Owens...let others know of your experience......actually everyone should rate their doctors....I only saw 6 (I was #7) ratings and I know he has done more surgeries than that....If you are happy with Dr Owens and his staff you should let others know so those looking for doctors in this area can consider him for their surgery....I for one am extremely happy with Dr Owens...I have had problems, which are my own fault, and he has been so helpful in getting me back on track. I go to his Rancho Cucamonga office and really am happy with his office staff too...Common everyone, lets give credit where credit is due....:biggrin:

I was sooo wrong about this Dr.....have spent thousands and lost very little!....I have since moved on and am now finally having some success (as are 2 other patients of his that I know about)....Feel like I threw away the money on him....should have done my homework before.....and then should have done my homework after....he may have been a good dr at one time but now it is only about the money!

Health Education.Preventative Medicine....Mr Ismail....Van Buren Office 3951 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside, Ca. 92503 951 352-7116... I was also banded outside of Kaiser and am currently going through the process with Kaiser....Dr Ismail does the appraisal (goes over your medical info, etc...has you obtain your records...) then Kaiser has a dr that is contracted with them (I have been told there is one in Corona)...and when all is done you can get the referral to the lap band doctor.... Call and make an appointment and get it started....I am so looking forward to the money I will save! Good Luck...

Hi...I used the Fill Center USA in California and am extremely happy with the service I received. Was costly for my first visit, but was well worth it.....I didn't use one of their local offices (drove about 1 1/2 hrs away) because I wanted to be filled by fluoro but I know if I needed an unfill there are offices locally that can do the job. Was a little skeptical when I drove up to the office (a back pain drs office) but she was fantastic, knew what she was doing, took her time, did a great job....worth trying in SC if you don't know someone who can recommend a good dr for you....Good luck!

I can also feel it go down and I know as soon as I am "clear" and can eat some more. I miss being able to have something like a salad....if I cut it up really small can get about 4 bites in and then have to wait for them to clear before I eat more....takes me about 2 hrs to eat a small small salad, by then I am so over eating! I don't even eat with my family any more...they feel like they have to wait for me and I take forever!...Instand mashed potatoes goes down well as does oatmeal...but even than after about 1/2 cup am full...and if I make a mistake pay for it ...to the bathroom and then the slimming, etc....and the heart burn!...now that sucks... But I to am loosing weight very well at the moment so I guess I am happy!.....

I just eat to live now.....since I have had so many problems with my lap band for the past 2 years I am happy when I can keep anything down.....I can eat about 2 tbs of chicken at a sitting if I cut them into pieces no larger that a pencil eraser and then take forever to chew it until it is mush....salad gives me a problem and of course no pasta, rice or bread...I actually find, good thing, that oatmeal goes down the easiest and give me the least amount of problems....I really want to loose the weight so it is worth it (my family does not agree with me).....I also miss drinking something with my meal. I spend so much time keeping track of when I ate/drank, etc. so one doesn't interfere with the other takes any joy out of eating!

Rating went from a 5 to a 1.....and that is for his Rancho office (the 1)....I picked the wrong time to use Dr Milton...to busy with his own problems (his back)...actually think he may have botched my surgery but since he wants more money to redo and I don't have that kind of money won't ever know...I thought originally it was my fault that I was having such problems but than realized it just wasn't me.......I am not the only one that has had major problems...heartburn horrible, which caused me to throw up constantly and his solution was to eat tums (which I did by the bottle full)....would throw up until my stomach would come through and have to be emptied again (he made a fortune in unfills and refills from me)....Waiting for awhile to be able to afford another doctor that doesn't guess but knows...I can't go through the days and nights of barfing and all the money out of my pocket each week.....glad he works for some, just not for me!

Can anyone tell me how to rate a surgeon on this site....I want to rate Dr Owens/Rancho Cucamonga,Ca.....wonderful doctor....does great work and is really there for his patients....only I can't find where to rate him....any help is appreciated...thanks!

Kaiser in So Cal only goes gastric....no lap band....my daughter was just approved to start the 6 month program but was told that at this time no lap band was offered would have to do the more invasive gastric. They (Kaiser) fells that the lap band does not do as good as a job as the gastric. Who knows maybe with time they will come around. I, also a Kaiser patient paid for the lap band out of my own pocket since I knew they wouldn't do it. Good luck!