New Band and having issues

[kljohn01 1]

I had surgery Nov 24th, 2015. I followed the post-op diet restrictions for 4 weeks pretty closely. I didn't have any issues with nausea or throwing up. I had very little pain. I thought I was doing really well. All in, from the beginning of the pre-op diet to the solid food stage I lost about 25 pounds. I was excited that this was really going to work. I started to get more and more hungry around week 4, I am guessing my stomach was really healing at this point. But I got to the solid food stage and proceeded cautiously. To my relief still to this day no nausea or throwing up, but HUNGRY. 6 weeks post-op I go in for my first fill, excited to get some relief from the hunger. Only to be disapointed!!! The poked and pulled and manipulated and used xray and could not get to my port properly because it is tilted!! They say there is still swelling and it is still healing so they are going to try again in a couple weeks. But I was so disappointed I just wanted to cry. And now I am fighting with my insurance, after everything was approved before surgery they are now denying my claims. I just wander if this was a huge mistake and I have a useless piece of equipment in my body now.

[Marbie 2]

Aww bless you, the same thing happened to me,I first went for a fill my stomach was still very swollen and that caused a tilt, I went back a few weeks later and they did it no problem,hopefully if the swelling goes down they will be able to fine it. all the best with it.

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,444]

I can imagine your frustration and anger about the tilted port. Any surgical procedure has risk of some sort. The Nasty Wand found both of us, but we are in a minority. My own problem, not port-related, occurred the day after surgery. No way would I consider your procedure a "huge mistake" nor your band "a useless piece of equipment." Maybe my experience will show you a different perspective whether you adopt it or not.

It was fortunate that my medical plan required an overnight stay. I was fine the rest of the day after surgery. When I was taken for the esophagram the morning after, the barium came back up as soon as I drank it. After that I couldn't get down even the smallest, slowest sip of water; with every attempt, it came back up immediately. My surgeon ordered IV to keep me hydrated and told me we'd wait a couple of days in hope of things straightening out. She thought of only two possibilities: That there was fat on the side of the stomach that was out of view during surgery, hence, the band she chose was too small, or that there was swelling at the band site from being pushed and prodded during the procedure (and that it would go down in a day or so). There was no spontaneous improvement. I remained on IV the days between the operations. We went back to the OR four days after surgery to swap for a larger band. I was fine thereafter.

In between, I went through two emotional/mental phases. First, I thought, "Get this damned thing out of me and let me out of here." It evolved to "After all this, there is no way I'm leaving this place without a working band." Thoughts of suing the surgeon occurred to me during the first phase, but that, too, passed. I adore my surgeon and am confident that she wasn't negligent. If I didn't I wouldn't have gone back to her at a later time for gall bladder surgery nor would I have continued my aftercare at that practice. In the early days I would describe my experience at support group meetings (btw, you'd probably do well to attend yours). It's been a few years since I've discussed it, though. Your message prompts me in hope of being helpful.

As to your insurance co., since you and your surgery office have documentation of approval, it may be a simple matter. Either someone in the surgery billing office sent in the bills with a typo in a code or some idiot at your insurance company goofed. Maybe it can be straightened out easily enough? There should be no problem as long the approval was for lapband. Take a look at the Insurance option under the Resources tab above. You may find something useful. If the problem is serious, there is/are lawyers who work with bariatric patients on insurance matters.

This note is disorganized for which I apologize. I was more interested in getting the thoughts out quickly than in literary value.

I'm confident that all will work out for you.

--------------------

P.S. After entering my note, I saw Marbie's. Since her experience backs up what you were told about swelling, it's more than likely the issue.

Edited January 13, 2016 by WLSResources/ClothingExch

[kljohn01 1]

Thanks guys. I really just needed to vent to people who would understand. I was just so pumped that everything was going so good, and then bam concrete wall. Now I am on solid food, no intollerances and no restriction.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

I have nothing to add except I really hope it works out for you. My band has been a great help to me. Once it starts working for you, it's amazing.