First Fill

[sutherngyrl00 0]

I was banded December 27th, 2010. This past Monday, February 6th, was my 6 week mark. I am not officially on a bandsters regular diet. This is also the time when I am to do my 6-week post op. Well, that appointment is not set until February 22nd... 8 weeks out. That day was also supposed to be my first fill. Well, I found out that the office where I go, the nurse practitioner has left. So, I have to wait until March 1st... 9 weeks out to have my first fill. Is that normal? To me, it feels like a set-up for failure. Please let me know your thoughts...

[vlp1968 83]

it is a long time to wait- I got my first fill 6 weeks out. That's too bad the nurse left. You might want to call and see if you can get squeezed in any sooner. It's worth a try. Beware that the first fill may not do much- it took me 3 fills to feel restriction.

[carolann0117 5]

I was also banded on Dec. 27th and thought I was having my first fill yesterday. Well I found out that my insurance doesn't cover the fill until 90 days after surgery. (I'm only half way there). That scared me a little because now I'm feeling that I definitely could eat more. So far I've lost 30 pounds. My Dr. is VERY pleased with my results and told me NO fill ~ even if the insurance WAS going to cover it. He said I should keep up my "good" habits and continue doing what I'm doing. He said I should be losing between 1 - 2 pounds per week and if 3 weeks go by and I've not lost any weight, he'll then do the fill.

Right now I'm eating between 800 - 1,000 calories a day (very LOW carbs) and I'm on the treadmill at least 4 times per week. Dr. said that I should continue to see results keeping up this routine. .... and it's a new behavioral pattern I'm developing and to keep up the good work.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I felt really happy and proud leaving his office...but I am a little nervous that I'll blow it by eating more than I should.

[mattie7632 24]

????? There's this thing called the global period when all follow up care by your surgeon is considered included in the surgeons fee. That global period, you might be interested in knowing, is 90 days. The fact that he is not giving you a fill and coincidentally he can't bill for it....is something I would question if I was you!!! It is not beyond doctors to try crap like this, trust me I know, doctors are my clients

I was also banded on Dec. 27th and thought I was having my first fill yesterday. Well I found out that my insurance doesn't cover the fill until 90 days after surgery. (I'm only half way there). That scared me a little because now I'm feeling that I definitely could eat more. So far I've lost 30 pounds. My Dr. is VERY pleased with my results and told me NO fill ~ even if the insurance WAS going to cover it. He said I should keep up my "good" habits and continue doing what I'm doing. He said I should be losing between 1 - 2 pounds per week and if 3 weeks go by and I've not lost any weight, he'll then do the fill.

Right now I'm eating between 800 - 1,000 calories a day (very LOW carbs) and I'm on the treadmill at least 4 times per week. Dr. said that I should continue to see results keeping up this routine. .... and it's a new behavioral pattern I'm developing and to keep up the good work.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I felt really happy and proud leaving his office...but I am a little nervous that I'll blow it by eating more than I should.

[newlifekp 0]

I was also banded Dec. 27th (was a popular day!). My surgeon will not bill me for fills for 6 months at least he said (I was his first banding and he is still 'feeling' out the logistics for his practice). I had my first fill on 1/25 and my second last week, on 2/10. I agree with the above poster that I would be asking questions, at least demand a face-to-face appointment to discuss this issue. It is one thing if he does't want to do it because you are losing well, not healing or something. But to just not see you to make that determination is unacceptable.

I wish you good luck! I want to see all of the Dec. 27th group do well!

[mattie7632 24]

My friend wasn't billed for a fill for almost a year! While I don't think that's typical, you should at least get a couple visits in the global timeframe....