lizardgirl2112

I am from Abilene and was banded and then abandoned by Dr Einspanier. I have had an absolutely MISERABLE time since then --> NO ONE WOULD TAKE ME ON FOR AFTERCARE. I'm sure those from Abilene in the similar situation have had the same problems and will breath the same sight of a relief because... CARE IS COMING BACK TO ABILENE Have you seen all those big green bulletin boards around town for "Bariatric Solutions"? I didn't really take them seriously... how good could a place be that needs to cover a town almost 200 miles away with giant boards advertising 'seminars with door prizes' and 'summer lapband specials.' BUT they do actually take a lot of insurance plans so I thought I'd give them a shot. I visited them yesterday in Dallas and was delighted not only by how nice everyone was, but by the news they gave me: they are soon to begin deploying something to Abilene called a "BandWagon" (ha, right?) - for FILLS!! And yes, it bears repeating, they take insurance!!! I didn't get the timetable for this because I was too busy dancing for glee. My only question is: what took them so long? Abilene has been a completely untouched market crying for care for a YEAR now. C'mon!! I'm legitimately surprised that no other enterprising dr/facility has swooped in to fill the need before this. ... though I guess I answered my own question: it's ABILENE. Oh, well... but good news, yes???

I'm from Abilene, TX and my Dr as well as anyone else in his office who could help me (there were three people total and they all left town) split town 06/30. I had about 3 weeks notice (heard it from a friend before I even got the Dear Patient... letter in the mail.) I scheduled and got one .5 fill on the 14th. I had only had my band be too tight one other time and I knew it pretty much immediately. This time I went for THREE weeks... I don't know how it happened, but I started off ok and ended up in the ER this last Fri (07/02) with my stomach squeezed almost entirely shut. Even though they didn't know how, they took pity on me due to the long weekend and I basically had to SHOW them how to take Fluid out so I had some relief (it was just .5 that pushed me over the edge and they ended up taking out 2ccs... I felt like I had been choking and could breathing again.) All the time they asked 'What did your Dr say to do?' well - he didn't say ANYTHING except there was no one left in Abilene who could help me... good luck. When I said "so I should just consult my insurance," he just nodded. Well, there are literally HUNDREDS of drs and facilities within two hundred miles that take my insurance. I don't even know where to start since he didn't actively suggest anyone. I called one name I recognize and they said they charge an upfront cash fee NOT billed on insurance of $300 to take a patient who already has a lapband. I asked why and they said because they only know that "they" are excellent and they assume if anyone else comes to them, their dr probably did it WRONG and new patient = damaged goods. I asked her if all Drs did that and she said most actually charge $500-$1000... this is INSANE!!! I liked my Dr just fine (well, at least until he abandoned me) - I didn't choose this. Until I ended up in the ER (which I still don't fully understand since I felt fine for two whole weeks after the fill), I thought I had six MONTHS to find another Dr... now I have the problem of too much fluid being out and the possibility of starting to over eat again... But loosened feels fantastic... It doesn't hurt to eat anymore. I'm not stuffing my face, but I'm afraid that I could soon. I don't know if I even need another fill, if not will I gain again?, if I do, how much is SAFE this time? I really need to talk to a Dr, but I don't have $300 or $500 or $1000... does that fee sound like something I could try to file on my insurance myself? So confused & frantic!! help?

The changes will be so gradual you won't have to think/worry. The biggest lost I had was maybe 15 or 20 lbs right after surgery and then the rest was extremely extremely slow. By the time I got around to getting new clothes, it made people suddenly realize I had lost weight even though it's not like it was some overnight thing. Worry later... expect the future compliments.

I weighed myself today and saw exactly what I knew I would see: gained back 3 lbs. I was down -19lbs and now it's -16... but still, that's just two weeks and I was trying to think about it this whole time like it was being sick with the stomach flu ('cause that's exactly how it felt)... I KNEW when I felt better I would gain some back. Still, it stung a little. I know it shouldn't. I mean, I've only been banded for 2 and a half, almost 3 weeks. I'm only now to where I feel good enough to move. I know after surgery they told me to start moving immediately, but I also only had pain meds for two days (they gave me tylenol w/ codiene and as my family history should have warned me... it made me vomit... a lot) so I hurt longer (at least in my opinion.) I went mallwalking on Friday and I hate to admit it, but they were right... after I got moving I really did feel better. Kinda like the pain in my feet made my body forget that my side is still killing me. I also see what they (they in all this refers to the surgeon/his office) mean about knowing when you need a fill. My first fill is in a little over a week and I guess they time it to where you will be feeling much better and probably thinking about returning to your old eating habits. So yea, I can see how that will be helpful. I know now that the nausea passed, I'm not eating nearly as slowly as I should be. We shall see.

I weighed myself today and saw exactly what I knew I would see: gained back 3 lbs. I was down -19lbs and now it's -16... but still, that's just two weeks and I was trying to think about it this whole time like it was being sick with the stomach flu ('cause that's exactly how it felt)... I KNEW when I felt better I would gain some back. Still, it stung a little. I know it shouldn't. I mean, I've only been banded for 2 and a half, almost 3 weeks. I'm only now to where I feel good enough to move. I know after surgery they told me to start moving immediately, but I also only had pain meds for two days (they gave me tylenol w/ codiene and as my family history should have warned me... it made me vomit... a lot) so I hurt longer (at least in my opinion.) I went mallwalking on Friday and I hate to admit it, but they were right... after I got moving I really did feel better. Kinda like the pain in my feet made my body forget that my side is still killing me. I also see what they (they in all this refers to the surgeon/his office) mean about knowing when you need a fill. My first fill is in a little over a week and I guess they time it to where you will be feeling much better and probably thinking about returning to your old eating habits. So yea, I can see how that will be helpful. I know now that the nausea passed, I'm not eating nearly as slowly as I should be. We shall see.