still no fill for me .. more behavior modification.

leatha_g · May 19, 2006

Yep, sounds like they're trying to wait out a global fill period. But, I would tell them straight up that I would not buy a car and not put gas in it and I need to get what I came for since I'm the one who employed them. I had to tell my doctor up front that I didn't pay any $$$XXX amount of dollars to get a band that wasn't working for me. Totally unacceptable. Nope, nada, no way...

DonnaB · May 20, 2006

$900 is in NO WAY the normal amount people have to pay for a fill!

I had surgery in Mexico and set up local aftercare before I went to have it done. I'll be paying $250 for a fill WITH flueroscopy, or if I wanted to save a little and take a little gamble with a big needle, $150 for a fill without flueroscopy.

$900 is totally out of line. I've never heard of anyone paying that much. Especially since it can take SEVERAL fills to get to the 'sweet spot' - not to mention unfills if you've overshot the mark. I'd find someone else.

mrycrltn · May 20, 2006

I was self pay, and I pay $100 a fill.

You need the fill's to make it work. I would demand answers.

geegee · May 20, 2006

wow..1 year..check into that and 900$,,,mine is 100$ per fill..good luck

banded by Dr.Spiegel

dec 13th

leatha_g · May 20, 2006

I could be wrong, but I think when you see a reference to $900, it is most often how much insurance is being charged for flouroscopy, as opposed to cash pay. Somehow, insurance means 'mark-up' to healthcare entities. This is why it's so high.

GeezerSue · May 20, 2006

Yeah...mine were about $900 as billed to insurance. But "billed to insurance" is just fantasy...so that their EOB can tell me how much they "saved" me. Crazy overbilling compared to what they COULD charge. (My OR and two-night stay for BR surgery at an uppity hospital where the "stars" hang out was billed as over $47,000. They actually accepted--between insurance and my part--around $2300.) Anyway, that's one reason some of us almost-border-dwellers hooked up with Tijuana doctors for follow up. OTOH, WITH insurance, the $900 adjustment worked out to about $300...which was better than killing an entire day crossing the border to save about $200.

But a fill under fluoro is a good idea...and self-fills (there are a couple of banded doctors who unfill themselves for every bariatric conference so they can pig out...yeah, really) are usually the shortcut to problems. RN's--especially RN's with oncology experience--are very good at the adjustments...often better than most doctors because they so more work with the ports...but if they HAVE TO do an adjustment without a band doctor around, they should find a nurse-friend who will help them because problems have happened with the DIY approach. (And they HAVE TO have the RIGHT Huber needle if they don't want to need a port replacement.)

GeezerSue · May 20, 2006

GAWD...senility is tough...the TOPIC, Sue...the TOPIC.

The band can only work when it is adjusted properly. If, anytime after the intial healing period--usually six weeks--the CALENDAR is the determining factor on your adjustments, you are getting follow-up that is easy for the doctor.

If it's any consolation, during the FDA trial times with the band, they did the same thing--then they figured out they didn't need to wait so long. More than one FDA trial participant got fed up and went across the border and had adjustments there, because crazy-making is crazy-making. At least one of those 'rebels' is STILL banded and doing well. If she has to have an unfill for a precautionary reason (like for unrelated surgery), she gets it (and gains weight) and then gets refilled (and looses weight.) Literally a spokesperson for the band and you may have even seen her on TV ads! So even those who get frustrated and go off on their own can succeed.

NJChick · May 25, 2006

Waiting a year !!! are they nuts?

My first fill was 4 months out and boy was I pissed !!! Doc said as long as I was losing he wasn't going to fill me... like hell he wasn't. I told him I was losing on my own efforts and that it wasn't going to last.... he didn't care.

I gained 2 lbs just to show him, than finally I got a fill.