dreamers 27 Posted February 15, 2013 A slipped band absolutely is a big deal! My band slipped after 15 months and I had surgery last month. When it slipped it occluded the opening and I couldn't keep anything down. I have never been so sick in my life. Because I could keep nothing down I had to go thourgh the ER and be admittied for surgery in the morning. The surgery took about 45 minutes and it went well. I was discharged after about 24 hours of first walking into the hospital. My insurance denied payment so that made me a self-pay and I got my hospital bill this week. It's $28' date='000! And that doesn't inlcude the surgeon's fees, the anesthesiologist's fees or the radiologist's fees. I also got a statement in the mail saying that if my insurance had paid, the hospital would have settled for $1998.00 but since they didn't pay, I am responsible for the entire $28,000. This is because my insurance company has a contract with the hospital and I don't. I was barely overweight enough to have the lapband with a BMI of 30. I have reached my goal weight and am very thankful for my band. But if you figure I have lost 54 pounds and after I get all the bills from the revision surgery that will put me at nearly $50,000 spent on the band and just under $1,000 a pound. So the band slipping IS a big deal, not only because it jeopardizes your health until it is fixed but because it can leave you financially devastated.[/quote'] I'm with Emjay! I am self pay and my hospital and surgeons fees etc etc came to about $20,000. I was promised a reduced fee for the anesthetic bill cos I was self pay but when it arrived, it was $6300. I absolutely could not afford that and seeing I was told it would be around 2 to 3 grand I chased it up. It had nothing to do with my surgeons office so I had to deal with the hospital billing department directly. After careful consideration of what I had payed and that I had no insurance, It was reduce to $1,600. I am stoked. I didn't argue or b***h at them, that's just what they came up with. I don't know if I was just lucky or what but its definitely worth a try! Its all so expensive! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baba Wawa 543 Posted February 15, 2013 I am so sorry that you had to go through such a traumatic ordeal with your slipped band. Hopefully you will be on your way to recovery and good as new. I know exactly what you are saying about people telling you that is no big deal for a slipped band. The chat forum on here has some really misinformed people that think they are doctors and are not as supportive as we would expect from them. I hope and pray that since my 2 year bandiversary is coming up that I never had to go through that. I never had a fill and hope that maybe that could be what saves me from such a horrible experience like you just had. Have a speedy recovery and good luck. A flu ( influenza) shot will not protect you from an intestinal virus or food borne illness. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B-52 7,113 Posted February 15, 2013 This may be more information I need to share, and I certainly DO NOT endorse or recommend this to anyone.... We travel a lot...many times outside the country.... I am always afraid I will get food poisoning or some bug....and fear uncontrollable vomiting.... So I carry a syringe with a large bore needle with me when I travel to remove the saline from my band in an emergency. Let's just say I am more than qualified to do this, and If you think you are, you may want to speak with your Dr. about it.... Also I should say my port sticks out there under a thin layer of skin having no belly fat....a blind man could do it with one hand. tied behind his back....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kll724 3,055 Posted February 15, 2013 A slipped bad is a BIG deal! I have had to have Fluid removed once and 1 1/2 years later have a revision. I am better since, but if the revision didn't work, it would have had to be replaced! Best wishes to you! Karen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lapbandster 496 Posted February 17, 2013 Whoa... I can't believe that insurance won't cover a slipped band procedure. I never really inquired about this before my surgery, but reading about it is really scaring me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites