Help! I'm feeling so negative about my band!

[DeLarla 22]

Hi Blossom, I was already super depressed today, but your post almost made me cry. I'm so angry at your doctor right now. I agree that you should at least "consult" with another doctor - get different opinions. Yes, Inamed thinks sneaking up on good restriction is the key, but all doctors have different ways of doing things. Hang in there. I'm in the same boat only I have different problems. Having a band is like having a child that needs constant attention and costs a small fortune.

[HarleyNana 10]

Make notes, when I saw my doctor pre-op, I had all my questions written down and went through everyone of them. Most of them were prompted by articles on LBT, he wrote the site down and said he needed to check it out.

[blossom 2]

Lisa, I have been super depressed about this for weeks! I know about your port issues, too. I have followed along with all your posts. I hope you get everything fixed up very soon and that you heal completely.

I think I am going to demand a copy of my records while I am at the drs. office, in case I need to find a new dr.

LOL, Pat! I think I will just print out this entire post and take a copy for him and a copy for me, then demand that we sit down and go over the whole thing!!!

[blossom 2]

Update.....I saw my dr this morning. We had a discussion and I feel better about most of the issues I've been complaining about. Turns out my band is NOT the 10cc band, but rather the 10cm. It still has a fill capacity of 4cc's. Duh!!! I feel so stupid for misunderstanding him on that! Anyway, he told me that he has another lower BMI patient and she and I are having the same exact issues. This is causing them to re-think how to treat lower BMI's! So next Monday, the dr is going to meet me in radiology at the hospital and I will have a barium swallow and a fill. Finally, a proper fill!!! I'm excited about that! I tried to talk him into this the last time, but he didn't think that was necessary. Hmmph!! Guess I was right after all. He thought I only have 1.5 cc's in my band right now, but then I reminded him that I had called and gotten that order changed to 1cc. He had a very funny look on his face. I am wondering if the coordinator just changed the order and sent it to radiology without him even knowing about it!!! Yikes! And speaking of the coordinator, she was very pleasant and professional with me this morning, but she never actually looked at me. LOL, that was just fine with me!

I asked about the 18 months of free fills and followup. He said there has been some misunderstandings between his office and the hospital in how all of this was supposed to be billed. The hosp. was supposed to only charge the insurance around $100 and then my copay would be very little (still not free, but close). He said they are working hard to get it all taken care of and I will likely get money back. We will see.... Anyway, after this next fill he will likely being doing my fills in his office and they will be free.

All in all, I think my dr was working very hard to assure me that he intends work with me and get all these issues cleared up. I'm gonna give him the chance to do that. I really want to trust in him.

[HarleyNana 10]

Isn't that wild about the band size, you silly girl! Glad everything is working out. The last two days have been my hungriest (is that a word), so I'm anxiously awaiting my fill on Monday, we'll be getting our fills together, just different states, lol.

[Iluvharleys 15]

That is great news Blossom! Maybe now you will get things done.

[Curley 0]

Im glad it has worked out! It was beginning to sound so unfair. There`s enough to have to deal with in the band itself without having a doctor who wont see reason.

All the best, Sharon

[New Hope 37]

I'm glad that you talked with your dr. and got some answers to some fair questions. You chose this dr. because of his experience, so hopefully everything will snap in place now.

[blossom 2]

Your not gonna believe this!!! I spent ALL morning in radiology at the hospital today. At first they just could not understand why I was there if it wasn't just to get a fill. They kept asking me what my problem was that I would need a barium swallow. I explained over and over again.... Finally I asked the radiologist to call my dr. She did and he told her what was up. So then she did the swallow. Took 3 pics and told me I would have to wait around until my dr got there to take a look. Meanwhile, they gave me a pager (one of those big ones like you get at a restruarant) and told me to go sit in the cafeteria and have a cup of coffee, so I did. I sat in there til around 11:30 and then decided to just go hang out in the radiology lobby in case he showed up. Sure enough, my beeper went off a few minutes after I had sat down! So I turn it in to the girl at the desk and she says it will be just a few minutes. So I wait and wait and finally this woman comes to me and says "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know that was your pager # and I called it by mistake." So I said that was ok and asked if I could have my pager back. They gave me a new one and I went back to waiting. The waiting room was getting overcrowded so I decided to just go down the hall to the registration waiting room where it was less crowded (I had a beeper, afterall). So I sat in there until after 1pm. I stepped out in the hall to stretch my legs and heard a voice behind me say "There you are, I've been looking for you for more than 30 minutes!" It was the girl from radiology. I asked why she didn't page me and she said they didn't write down what # my beeper was!!! So anyway I go back to radiology and find out that my dr. has ordered another cc fill. I get on the table and the nurse is about to get me all prepped and the radiologist turns the flouro on and says we can't do this today. All the barium from the ealier swallow was hiding the port. You could see it, but not clearly. So then I am escorted back to the desk and handed the phone and I had to call scheduling and reschedule the fill for tomorrow at 11 am. Why was I the one who had to make that call???

All I could think about was that comedian that always says "There's your sign!" Yep, it's a REDNECK BAND for sure!!!!

Oh, and I still had a large copay for today and will have another for tomorrow!!! :cross-eye

[whippledaddy 5]

I'd definately get on the phone to my insurance company, and your hospital should have a Public Relations person. Call and find out. Flat out tell them what happened and say in so many words that you don't feel you should be charged for this day.

Our hospital is small, and it's been as bad as you describe, even worse upon occasion, but they send out a survey every time you use it. That is your chance to respond. And remember, since this place is the way you've described it, they are probably bored with all the complaints. You're gonna have to squeak really loud, and be very assertive. But you will get your way, for in the end, if they percieve that they are liable for anything, in any way, they'll cave and not charge you. And, maybe, just maybe they'll improve their customer service a little.

Good luck, and sorry you had to go through this. I sure can understand though, I've met great people in Health Care, and I've dealt with some real troglodytes as well, plus some systems so clumsy it's a wonder anyone gets over any ailment!

[New Hope 37]

Wow, Blossom, and you're having to take time off from work for all of this, right? Excuse me, but isn't barium used for a fill under fluro? So why couldn't they do your fill?

These type of problems are everywhere, unfortunately. My husband's been seeing an ENT locally about sinus problems. After a catscan, the dr. scheduled him for surgery to remove numerous nasal polyps. On 2 different occasions, he's gone to fill RXs she gave him and both times found (after the pharmacy filled them) he can't take them because of his immune problems. Concerned, he changed drs., brought his scan films with him, and the first thing the new dr. says is, "You don't have polyps. Those are Water pockets. You don't need surgery." Thank goodness, we found out BEFORE he had an unnecessary surgery!! The first dr. and the pharmacy prescribed bad meds. twice, the radiologist and the same dr. saw something that wasn't there and recommended an unneccessary surgery. You point blank tell the dr., it's on your pharmacy info., and still....

You have to constantly look out for yourself and if you're too sick, then you better have someone there with you.

[HarleyNana 10]

Blossom, I have to admit, after I almost passed out getting my fill today, while I was recooperating, sipping my Water, I thought about you and the problems you've had finding the sweet spot. I may be the only person to ever get just 1 fill, LOL.

Hopefully, tomorrow's the "sweet" day, good luck.

[bushbaby 8]

I drove to TJ to see Dr. Kuri and he wanted to charge me 250 american with Fluro.. I don't know if that is normal so I decided to see if I could get an apt with Dr. Billy Helmuth who penny goes to... maybe you should try him if your in Cali.

[blossom 2]

after I almost passed out getting my fill today

Pat you have some 'splainin to do!!! Or did I miss that post somewhere,LOL!

[Staci 2]

Blossom,

I know what you mean! I was banded in Mexico, but think like you do....what if I got into a jam here and had no connection. Im in Orlando Florida and I still have a 4 hour ride to South Florida for band care.

Staci

Orlando FL

banded 12-14-04 Mexico

"Well behaved women rarely make history"