Slip and Medicare

[guadalajaralap 0]

Hi everyone,

I am in a situation. It looks like my band has slipped, although I haven't had it confirmed yet. Because I did my lap band surgery in Mexico, I have a private fill doctor who tole me basically that medicare cannot do anything (even if I am rapidly losing weight because I cannot eat anything) because it was done in Mexico.

My choices are to go back to Mexico and pay a lot of money or to stay in Canada and pay close to 20 grand Canadian.

Does anybody know if that is true?

[Doddie63 6]

First off, check out the company that is in Bellingham. they do fluros for a fee instead of flying to Mexico. A slipped band, apparently is very painful and some bands can be corrected by taking all the Fluid out waiting a time until the stomach is not so inflamed before putting fill back in . If you are drinking Water, you should be ok. Just have nutrious Soups until you can get help. If you are not drinking, then get yourself to emergency immediately. ER cannot refuse you help although their solution may be to take the band out. I don't know where you live, but there is a Dr. Woodhead in Delta that does bands and a Dr. Amson in Victoria and a Dr. Leung in Vancouver. Contact their offices and see if they will help you with advice. I can't quarantee you won't get the same answer. In the end, you may indeed have to fly back to Mexico.

There is a topic on this site that cators to Mexico patients. Scroll through and see if you can find them.

Also, we have a support group that is scheduled for every third wednesday of the month. Come out as we do have patients that had the band in Mexico.

[guadalajaralap 0]

Thanks for all that wonderful advice. I ended up in a lap band doctor office quite by accident. It is not a slip, but nothing is getting through and they don't know why. So, they will have to open me up to find out what is wrong. And they say, that probably means that they will remove it. I am hoping that they won't because I cannot live without my lap band.

I don't have to fly back to Mexico, but I might lose my lap band.

First off, check out the company that is in Bellingham. they do fluros for a fee instead of flying to Mexico. A slipped band, apparently is very painful and some bands can be corrected by taking all the Fluid out waiting a time until the stomach is not so inflamed before putting fill back in . If you are drinking Water, you should be ok. Just have nutrious Soups until you can get help. If you are not drinking, then get yourself to emergency immediately. ER cannot refuse you help although their solution may be to take the band out. I don't know where you live, but there is a Dr. Woodhead in Delta that does bands and a Dr. Amson in Victoria and a Dr. Leung in Vancouver. Contact their offices and see if they will help you with advice. I can't quarantee you won't get the same answer. In the end, you may indeed have to fly back to Mexico.

There is a topic on this site that cators to Mexico patients. Scroll through and see if you can find them.

Also, we have a support group that is scheduled for every third wednesday of the month. Come out as we do have patients that had the band in Mexico.

[luckyfive101 6]

Thanks for all that wonderful advice. I ended up in a lap band doctor office quite by accident. It is not a slip, but nothing is getting through and they don't know why. So, they will have to open me up to find out what is wrong. And they say, that probably means that they will remove it. I am hoping that they won't because I cannot live without my lap band.

I don't have to fly back to Mexico, but I might lose my lap band.

I am having quite a bit of trouble with reflux and weight loss has slowed to a crawl (2-1/2 years since banding). I am afraid I have a slip, but I also had my band in Mexico. I was unaware that you could not get a doc in U.S. to correct the band if you have problems (actually asked the question beforehand, and was told that my insurance would cover any problems).. I haven't had a slip confirmed yet and have gone back to liquids for a while. Hoping it is just a concentric pouch and will correct itself. Anybody know of a place where I could find info on getting teh band corrected in the U.S. after banding in Mexico!

thanks!

[guadalajaralap 0]

It looks like my Canada doctors are very adament on taking it out. I will wait to go to Mexico where they have more experience with the band.

I am sure that you can get a US doctor. Cash seems to work everywhere in the world, fortunately or unfortunately.

I am having quite a bit of trouble with reflux and weight loss has slowed to a crawl (2-1/2 years since banding). I am afraid I have a slip, but I also had my band in Mexico. I was unaware that you could not get a doc in U.S. to correct the band if you have problems (actually asked the question beforehand, and was told that my insurance would cover any problems).. I haven't had a slip confirmed yet and have gone back to liquids for a while. Hoping it is just a concentric pouch and will correct itself. Anybody know of a place where I could find info on getting teh band corrected in the U.S. after banding in Mexico!

thanks!

[mpatti2007 0]

Hi everyone,

I am in a situation. It looks like my band has slipped, although I haven't had it confirmed yet. Because I did my lap band surgery in Mexico, I have a private fill doctor who tole me basically that medicare cannot do anything (even if I am rapidly losing weight because I cannot eat anything) because it was done in Mexico.

My choices are to go back to Mexico and pay a lot of money or to stay in Canada and pay close to 20 grand Canadian.

Does anybody know if that is true?

[mpatti2007 0]

Hello,

Hey I was just wondering what makes you think your band slipped? The reaso asking that someome thinks mine did, I was just wondering.

[guadalajaralap 0]

Too tight all of a sudden with nothing going down. But actually, it is not a slip. It is something else.

Hello,

Hey I was just wondering what makes you think your band slipped? The reaso asking that someome thinks mine did, I was just wondering.

[Mimilou2004 13]

G, what is wrong? Please share.

Mimi

[Kiskis 56]

Where do you live? As they are other clinics that may charge lower but you most likely looking at $17 K self pay for Vancouver, BC at False Creek Medical.

Hi everyone,

I am in a situation. It looks like my band has slipped, although I haven't had it confirmed yet. Because I did my lap band surgery in Mexico, I have a private fill doctor who tole me basically that medicare cannot do anything (even if I am rapidly losing weight because I cannot eat anything) because it was done in Mexico.

My choices are to go back to Mexico and pay a lot of money or to stay in Canada and pay close to 20 grand Canadian.

Does anybody know if that is true?

[Doddie63 6]

Thanks for all that wonderful advice. I ended up in a lap band doctor office quite by accident. It is not a slip, but nothing is getting through and they don't know why. So, they will have to open me up to find out what is wrong. And they say, that probably means that they will remove it. I am hoping that they won't because I cannot live without my lap band.

I don't have to fly back to Mexico, but I might lose my lap band.

Hi: I am curious as to what you decided. I really can not understand why the band has to come out? If nothing is getting by, and the band has not slipped, they why can't they just take out fill? Before you allow "a lap band doctor" take it out, first check out his qualifications for calling himself a lapband doctor. I would also telephone the mexican clinic and tell them what this "lap band doctor" has advised and see what their answer is. Generally, I think I would find the money to fly back to mexico before I would allow my band to be taken out. Just my thoughts. Good luck