US patients unable to receive follow up care??

[leatha_g 4]

I just read something on another board that really has me upset.

I hear yet another fill person has established the rule of not seeing anyone else's patients other than the doctor he partners with.

In my move from California back to Texas, I've spent the past nearly 8 months trying to secure a local physician for follow up care only to have the door slammed in my face.

That was bad enough, but now I've learned that I have had slippage for well over 3 months. Thank God it's not urgent! YET!!

What will people do? This seems to be the rule of thumb all over. People move. Doctor's die or move. Will we just have this band inside us and not be able to get medical care unless it's urgent?

What is Inamed's take on this? Is it legal to refuse people treatment based on where they got their band?

I have to once again call a new doctor tomorrow to see if he will see me. I also will be speaking to Inamed directly and you can bet I'm going to be asking these questions.

I'd be interested to hear other theories, but I'm thinking a Patient Advocate Council might be a good idea.

:phanvan

Leatha

Plano, Texas

[Alexandra 55]

I think this is a situation that will get better over time as the band gets more popular. I'm sure Inamed is concerned about it, because it's going to be a bigger and bigger problem as time goes by.

What is the usual protocol when someone has a heart valve replacement, a pacemaker, or a hip replacement? Doctors don't balk at treating other implant patients now, but they might very well have when these implants were new and people were just learning the protocols.

Banding is going to be big, big business in a few years (unless something even easier and safer is invented). I predict that this problem will improve on its own, but it may take a while.

[DeLarla 22]

Leatha, I live in Las Vegas. I felt like Living-Dead-Girl for several weeks because my port was infected and I couldn't get local help. There are only 3 band doctors in Vegas, but they refused to treat me since their med-malpractice insurance won't allow them to. Yes, one of them would give me a fill, but he wouldn't treat my infection. I found a few people who will do fills here, but they are not doctors. My only option is Mexico at this point, so I had to go back to Tijuana to have my port removed. I'll have to go back in a few months to have it replaced.

[leatha_g 4]

Yep. and that morally and ethically sucks. What are the repercussions down the road with that kind of continuity of care?

If the band is for 'life' then what mechanisms are put in place to maintain it for life. I'm not the only banded person to ever move away from my doctor. Doctor's die, they change professions, they get thrown in jail for tax evasion.

I can understand to a point about not wanting to take patients banded out of the country, but for someone who has been banded inside the states with an FDA approved band, there should be something in place for continuity of care.

I spoke with Denise at Inamed this morning and she agrees, but has no good resolution. She is however, tracking my entire banding history and documenting the malfunction. I am to speak to her again next week.

In the meantime. I have located a local doctor who does agree to see me, however, I have to start all over at the beginning. I have to have an Upper GI on Friday, then I see him on Tuesday the following week. Then they say I'll need an EGD, well geez. If we see the band is slipped, why can't we just fix it? You can look around while you're in there. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Can you tell I'm a bit frustrated?

Anyway. I think this is a crucial issue and is only going to become worse as more people jump on the 'band'wagon, so to speak. No one is telling them you must see only this doctor forever and ever amen. It's all about how great everything is and selling bands. Yes. I love my band. I am terrified of losing it, but I'm even more terrified of having an urgent situation and emergency surgery due to lack of medical care.

Leatha

[DeLarla 22]

I wrote to Don Mills at Inamed but never received a response. Could you share their phone number? I'm going to send them a historical letter of my horrible band experience and lack of aftercare.

Dr. Lopez in Mexico told me he'd refer me to a local Vegas doctor for emergencies. He referred me to Francis Teng, who refused to see me. Great referal.

And good one about docs in jail for tax evasion!

[Penni60 45]

Lisa: I just got off the phone with Dr. Hellmuth Billy's office in Ventura, CA. They had no problem taking me on as a patient of Dr. Lopez. I have an appointment to go see him next Friday the 9th. Not sure what the cost will be the person I needed to speak to was away from her office. But they had no qualms about accepting me as their patient for any emergencies or fills or whatever. And hey maybe my insurance will cover these visits. Ya never know. I know it would be a schlep for you but at least it is someone that will return your calls and I have Dr. Billy's voice mail number as well. LOL!!!

[leatha_g 4]

Haha. That'd be great, but I'm in Texas. If I'm gonna go to Cali, I'd just go back to Dr. Wetter who did my surgery to begin with. This is actually an option right now, but I think I need local care. Everyone needs local care.

Thanks anyway!

Leatha

[DeLarla 22]

Penni, please let me know how it goes in Ventura. How long does it take you to drive there, like 1.5 hours? Like I've said before, my brother, sister & friends live in the Valley. I'd rather drive the back way through Palmdale for a Valley visit than to San Diego through all those freeways. My brother lives in Reseda right off the 134. Not too far from Ventura, if I remember right.

I'd like to know what they'd charge to replace my port. Meanwhile, you had given me a list of California doctors, but I got mad at my e-mails and deleted everything before printing it out.

[Penni60 45]

Delarla: I will resend the email. I will post an update after my visit with Dr. Billy. I wanna get a second opinion on this port protrusion thingy. LOL!!!

According to Mapquest it takes about an hour to get to Ventura depending on the traffic of course. We could actually plan an office visit together and you could either fly in or drive over and spend the night and then we could drive to the Dr. office together then you could spend some time with your family. OR whatever.

I will let you know how it goes.

[donali 57]

Leatha -

I am so sorry to hear about your slippage. Hopefully it's one that can be resolved with an unfill?

Wishing you luck in finding a surgeon convenient to you for your follow-up care.

I called Inamed today to report my erosion. The man was very nice, and took all my info, but really had no info to give in return regarding erosion rates, except to say that nowadays it's "very rare". He had no info on re-erosion rates on rebanding, but said that some docs won't do it because of possible adhesions and scar tissue from the previous banding.

[leatha_g 4]

Yes. I get the feeling they're keeping things very close to their chest right now. It seems there is quite a rash of slippage cases going around. Not everyone is having the symptoms that normally come with slippage, either. There is an air amongst the people I read everyday of secrecy and sugar-coating the issues, especially if they're involved in lucrative ventures involving the band.

I love my band. I want it to be working. I fear losing it, but I do not believe it's morally right not to tell the whole truth to prospective patients.

Leatha

[DeLarla 22]

Thanks Penni. I called Inamed, reported my entire incident, and received the list of docs. I called Billy's number but it just rang with no recording. If you happen to talk to them, I'm curious what they'd charge to replace my port. I'd prefer to go to Kuri, but Ventura is much more convenient. Thanks.

I have new pains today. Very mild ones, but I'm probably telepathically eroding my band with all my insane thinking these days. I don't know why my port hurts today for the first time considering I don't even have one! And I have some serious restriction because my 5:00 dinner is still in my pooch at 10:30. Going to bed... night night. xoxox