My Surgeon is Anti-LapBand or Anti-Me?

[AmyC315 0]

At my initial consult on 5/21/10 my mother & I met with the surgeon. During this visit the surgeon was a royal douche-bag and did everything he could to be-little me and talk me out of getting the Band. He made sure we knew that he had very little confidence in the Bands ability to help me lose & maintain weight loss. He told me I would be better off having gastric bypass (which he also does). He said that it works faster and has less follow-up. He told me to go home and think about it some more and exited his office. I walked outta of his clinic in tears and my mother was ticked off.

On the drive home my mother said not to let him discourage me & that if I had to find another surgeon 100's of miles away we would make it happen. But before we even reached the house I had already made up my mind. I ran inside and called the clinic I had just left and told them to go ahead and schedule my surgery. Hell, I didnt have to sleep with the man, I just had to let him perform my surgery.

I had to lose about 15lbs pre-operatively for insurance purposes. I went through all the pre-op appts & requirements, never seeing the surgeon. By the time my surgery rolled around I had lost 32lbs.

On the day of my surgery I never seen the surgeon 1 single time. Never seen him in recovery, never seen him for the 3 days I was in the hospital post-op. I did however see his nurse practitioner a few times and one of his partner surgeons, but never him.

I am almost 3 months post-op now and I still have yet to see my surgeon. All my follow-up appts have been with one of his partners. I am now down 55lbs without any fill yet.

Could the surgeon be avoiding me? I hope he feels like the douche-bag that he is. I hope he monitors my progress and eats his words of negativity. I think in a way, his negativity has motivated me to prove him wrong.

On a different note, the partner surgeon that seems to have taken over my case is far more pleasant. However, I am concerned that he is a bit inexperienced. He seems to avoid having to give me a fill. I realize I am losing at a good rate but whenever I express concerns to him about my constant feelings of hunger he tells me a fill will not help me. I thought that was the point of the LAP-BAND®®, to help curb the constant hunger. And it's not just head hunger, I am following the program to the letter but within a hour of eating I am hungry again. It feels like torture. He's not allowing me to utilize my "tool".

My next appt is 11/12, I've cut way back on my usual excersize routine just to slow my weight loss so that he can't use that as an excuse for not giving me a fill. Am I wrong for that?

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

-Amy

[samomom 19]

Yikes! First of all-what a douche bag for trying to talk you out of your choice of procedures. If you feel that he and the new doctor you are seeing aren't intelligent enough then you need to bail. Why the hell will the second doctor not give you a fill after 3 months. That is beyond rediculous. Why the feck did you get the band in the first place if the moron isn't gonna fill it?that's like giving someone a brand new set of flat tires on their car. Won't get you very far. Seems like doctor number two doesn't get it at all. Walk far away and don't look back.

When I finally make the first consultation appointment in September, the first doctor I saw was a loser after 10 seconds. He is foreign born and trained and was like a damn used car salesman. He barely made eye contact and spewed facts about the band like he was reading a script. The last thing he said afer his whopping 5 minutes with me was "so, you wanna do it?" like he was looking to close the deal on a his used car. After speaking to the program director I flat out asked him if he would have a family member have surgery with this guy. He was silent. Then I asked who in Los Angeles was the best. He turned me on to another doctor in the practice that is one of the top in the country and has done over 1900 bands since 2001 when they were approved. I am very pleased so far with this doctor. Point being if you don't feel comfortable you don't have to stick with the guy. Its your body. I'm just still amazed that he won't give you a fill after 3 months.

[ElfiePoo 109]

I would demand a fill. If he doesn't, you have two options...either find a new doctor or threaten to report this jackass for fraudulently installing a band and refusing to do the followup that actually makes it work. It's a bit like selling you a car with no tires. I would ask the 2nd doctor 'why' he's not giving you a fill. According to the band literature, fills should be given if you're hungry and able to eat to excess. If you're losing weight without the band, bonus...but as we all know, that won't continue to happen long term for most of us.

As for seeing the surgeon...I had/have very little contact with mine. He saw me at the seminar, on the day of surgery and at the 2 week post visit to check my port and incisions. All the rest of my visits have been with his nurses, who do the actual fills.

Addendum: Just read the 2nd post where someone compared this to selling you a car with flat tires. ROFLMAO...GMTA.

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Edited October 20, 2010 by ElfiePoo
addendum

[spoiltmom 44]

LOL at the flat tires!!

If I were you I think I'd look for a new doctor. This is a journey and you need someone who is supportive and knows what they are doing to help you through it. Your doing great on your loss but a fill would help take away that hunger.

[BetsyB 9]

It sounds like your doctor(s) are not terribly well-informed about how to help their patients get the best results from their bands.

While rate of loss is a consideration when determining whether a fill is necessary, it is only one consideration. Also very important is how you feel. We all can lose weight if we white-knuckle and diet. We have bands installed so that we don't have to cope with the constant hunger--and your doctor is very mistaken when he says that a fill won't help with that.

In your shoes, I think I'd look for another group to do your aftercare.

While I certainly would have expected to see the surgeon both before and after the surgery itself, some groups do pass you on to support staff for aftercare; I would not take this personally (though I really like that I see my doctor each and every time I go in; he assesses me at each visit, does my fills, does everything except weigh me).

But if it's not an approach you like, I'd focus on finding someone who will be more hands-on. And certainly someone who will listen to YOUR experience and gauge your needs accordingly.

[Bryn 3]

to be honest, doctors are looking for a success rate for themselves to use for statistics and marketing. LAP-BAND® has it's complications (all surgeries do) but it seems doctors feel that LAP-BAND® is slower, and can have more complications after surgery than any of the other wls types. so of course they're going to gear you in a direction where it benefits them.

sooner than later we'll probably see LAP-BAND® surgeries diminish because doctors are probably going to want to perform the sleeve, duo switch or gastric bypass. and we, as health care consumers aren't going to have a choice because docs can choose what they want to perform, especially w/in a private practice.

find a surgeon that is willing to work with you and hear you out, and wants to help you on your path to losing weight and will perform LAP-BAND® without any huffs or puffs.

i think what most people aren't looking at is that healthcare is a business. doctors these days are not making the money we think they are so they need to look out for themselves and their business on what is going to benefit them if not more than the patient

[MLBL 2]

I would take in the Lap-Band literature that gives guidelines for when fills are supposed to happen. If he says no one more time, move on to another practice. I would also consider calling the Lap-Band company and explain what he said in your pre-op visit and now no fills. They will probably just say to work with your Dr. or at best to look for a new person for the fills, but you better believe they will send a rep out to educate the staff.

[Soundman999 3]

Move on! Your surgical group sounds like a group of general surgeons who have jumped on the WLS bandwagon for reasons of financial gain! They don't sound like bariatric specialists!

Travel if you have to. Look for years of bariatric experience... I chose my surgeon because he has been a bariatric surgeon for 15 years and does about 500 bariatric procedures per year!

[Cleo's Mom 257]

I am someone who changed doctors seven months after my surgery because my first one was inexperienced and had very poor follow up care and knowledge about the band and how it works.

I think some WLS surgeons prefer the gastric bypass because patients do lose more weight faster and they take that as a reflection on them.

You doctor also said he prefered bypass to the lapband because of less follow up. That is doctor speak for: I am not very good at the whole fill/unfill, getting the band to work thing.

You have been well advised to move on to another doctor because, while the surgical part of the band is important, the follow up care is even more important to get the band to work as it should.

Good luck.

[samomom 19]

I would demand a fill. If he doesn't, you have two options...either find a new doctor or threaten to report this jackass for fraudulently installing a band and refusing to do the followup that actually makes it work. It's a bit like selling you a car with no tires. I would ask the 2nd doctor 'why' he's not giving you a fill. According to the band literature, fills should be given if you're hungry and able to eat to excess. If you're losing weight without the band, bonus...but as we all know, that won't continue to happen long term for most of us.

As for seeing the surgeon...I had/have very little contact with mine. He saw me at the seminar, on the day of surgery and at the 2 week post visit to check my port and incisions. All the rest of my visits have been with his nurses, who do the actual fills.

Addendum: Just read the 2nd post where someone compared this to selling you a car with flat tires. ROFLMAO...GMTA.

.

Great minds think alike. After I posted last night I was thinking about these lame ass doctors. I was also thinking that you should call either Allergan or Ethicon, depending on which band you have, and report the doctors. They are misrepresenting the product that they have placed in you and obvoiusly don't deserve to be permitted to use it on others. The company would probably be more that thankful to get some feedback. They don't know if you don't tell them. It reflects badly on the company to have bad representative(doctors) out there.

[JennaJ221 2]

I kno u feel that this idiot is a good motivator for you to prove hime wrong..but u need to get out of there. If they're inexperienced even with a fill which is a key componet for the entire thing then what if something happens..like a complication later down the road beyond ur control? What will they do or know how to do then? I wasn't 100 percent happy with my surgeon. Well I only saw him week b4 the surgery and morning of which he was late to. Mostly dealt with the nurse pract. And she was awful. So I let him do the surgery bc he was one of the best but I knew he wouldn't be doin the aftercare it woild be with his partners..so - met with them after surgery got my 1st fill and ran for the hills after that. I found a wonderful dr and his partners and staff are amazing..I actually look forward to seeing them. He's the surgeon but my appts are with him mostly bc he likes to see my progress even tho I wasn't his operation. So pleeeeease get out and find someone who's gona offer u that insight, guidence and support..we need it from everyone and anywhere we can get it.. But the all time first person and place should be from or doctor and their entire staff! Good luck and stay positive!

[Phranp 46]

Amy, I can understand your thinking when you decided to let this douche-bag do your surgery. Sometimes when we make up our minds to have lapband we are ready to do it NOW! Not always the best way to make a decision, but sometimes that's just the way it is. I get it. But, now it is time to get the H*LL out of there. You shouldn't have to fight with your doc for a fill. This is ridiculous. It is obvious that they don't know how the band works. smh ... Run for it Amy, find a surgeon that looks t you as a patient, not a dollar sign.

mdhannant, I saw on your profile that you used Dr. Carson Liu. He is the doc that my PCP referred me to for my surgery. He is wonderful and so is everyone in his office! Lucky you! As it turned out, he was not on my insurance so I had to go elsewhere, but I remember him and his staff fondly. There is a doc in his office that had the surgery, she spoke with me at length. I was soooo bummmed to find out they were not on my insurance, so bummed.:w00t:

~Fran

[AmyC315 0]

Great minds think alike. After I posted last night I was thinking about these lame ass doctors. I was also thinking that you should call either Allergan or Ethicon, depending on which band you have, and report the doctors. They are misrepresenting the product that they have placed in you and obvoiusly don't deserve to be permitted to use it on others. The company would probably be more that thankful to get some feedback. They don't know if you don't tell them. It reflects badly on the company to have bad representative(doctors) out there.

It's funny that you brought this up, I have no idea what kind of band I have. This stand-in doctor never has any answers for me. I asked if my band had any fill in it when it was put in and he said, "Yea, but I dont know how much". He cant tell me how many CC's my band is and when I asked how he would locate the band when it was time for a fill, he just chuckled and said, "Its an art". I wasnt feeling that at all.

Edited October 21, 2010 by AmyC315

[AmyC315 0]

Thank you all soooo much for the responses. Now I dont feel like such a whiner. I think I will start looking for a different doctor for my follow-up care. I did pick this surgeon for selfish reasons, his office is less then a mile from my house & being an employee of the hospital where he performs his surgeries meant I didnt have any co-pays. But youre all right, its time to move on. I need to stop taking the easy route and put my health & sanity first. Thanks, you guys/gals ROCK!!

[samomom 19]

It's funny that you brought this up, I have no idea what kind of band I have. This stand-in doctor never has any answers for me. I asked if my band had any fill in it when it was put in and he said, "Yea, but I dont know how much". He cant tell me how many CC's my band is and when I asked how he would locate the band when it was time for a fill, he just chuckled and said, "Its an art". I wasnt feeling that at all.

Um, it's an art??? WTF is that kind of statement?? No, it's really not an art, it's an exact science. You need to know where the f'ing port is Michelangelo, not get creative and hope you find it. Holy crap woman-I hope you can run faster than you ever have in your life. I would make sure that you let the office know why you left when you finally do. I know you work at the hospital where he works, but you should complain and let the higher ups know what a hack this loser is. Seems like he wants the money from the actual surgery and then nothing to do with you afterwards. Someone needs to drop kick this guy in the balls and bring him down a few notches. Seems like he's floating away in his own ego.

Edited October 21, 2010 by mdhannant