Trace Curry

There is a CPT code for band removal - it's 43772. Call your insurance and see if it's a covered code. It's done rarely enough that it might slip through. You might be able to talk your surgeon into fixing the hiatal hernia and taking out the band and just billing for a hiatal hernia. The only thing I would definitely suggest is that only a band surgeon should do this operation. Good luck, Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Here's the abstract at least from PubMed. LAGB is the lap band. J Am Coll Surg. 2006 Feb;202(2):252-61. Epub 2005 Dec 19.Related Articles, Links Objective comparison of complications resulting from laparoscopic bariatric procedures. Parikh MS, Laker S, Weiner M, Hajiseyedjavadi O, Ren CJ. Program for Surgical Weight Loss, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. BACKGROUND: Several surgical treatment options for morbid obesity exist. Currently, there are no studies that objectively compare complication rates after laparoscopic bariatric operations performed at a single institution. We objectively classify and compare complications resulting from laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LABG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with duodenal switch (DS). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of a prospective database of all patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric operation was performed. Complications were categorized according to severity score using a well-described classification system and compared between procedures. RESULTS: From September 2000 to July 2003, 780 laparoscopic bariatric operations were performed: 480 LAGB, 235 RYGB, and 65 BPD+/-DS. There was one late death. Total complication rates were: 9% for LAGB, 23% for RYGB, and 25% for BPD+/-DS. Complications resulting in organ resection, irreversible deficits, and death (grades III and IV) occurred at rates of 0.2% for LAGB, 2% for RYGB, and 5% for BPD+/-DS. LAGB group had a statistically significant lower overall complication rate, both by incidence and severity, as compared with other groups (p < 0.001). After controlling for differences of admission body mass index, gender, and race, the LAGB group had an almost three and a half times lower likelihood of a complication compared with the RYGB group (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.2-5.3, p < 0.001) and had an over three and a half times lower likelihood of a complication compared with the BPD with DS group (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.8-7.1, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between complication rates of RYGB and BPD+/-DS. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric operation complication rates range from 9% to 25%; very few complications are serious. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the safest operation in terms of complication rate and severity when compared with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic malabsorptive operations.

Ok, I can't get it until I go back to the office on Monday. Keep reminding me! (It sucks to be senile...) Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

No, I haven't. A lot of people throw that word around "allergic" like that's what caused an erosion or whatever, but the truth is that the band is made out of a substance that is so inert I don't know if it's possible to really be allergic. Also it's used in thousands of other implantable devices like port-a-caths and pacemakers. It's probably from some medication you took or from the anesthestic, that's my guess. If it persists see your doctor obviously. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

I think it's fine if you don't swallow it and it's sugar-free. If you do swallow it, you might have the PB of your life (I'm talking .45 caliber projectile weapon!) Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

If you have heartburn on an empty band an upper GI might be a good idea just to be thorough. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

While it has never happened to me, I have heard of it happening. If you had a 2nd attempt with one of the Australian docs (if it is who I think it is, which it probably is) you're not going to find more experience or skill than that. If you really want to pursue it again, the only way I would even think about it is to lose a significant amount of weight prior to surgery through a very-low-calorie-diet (google VLCD) and then it might be a possibility. I know it sucks to lose weight the hard way and then get a band, but it would be worth it in the long run. (Not to imply that banding is 'easy' but you get my drift). Good luck, Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

It might be a combination of factors--stress, low carbs, fatigue, etc... I would highly suggest you get a quick checkup with your PCP, especially since you're going to Mexico, just to make sure it isn't something wierd that might make complications during surgery more likely. Good luck, Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

I proctored with the esteemed Dr. Jeff Allen from Lousiville, Kentucky. I don't know any of the Mexican docs personally but have done a lot of fills on Dr. Kuri's patients (we call him Dr. C with a K) and they all have had very good experiences. Good luck, Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Yes, I tell people I'm a bluegrass musician who dabbles in surgery! I play the mandolin and fiddle. The website for our band is www.grasstains.com Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Just so you know those Xrays are backwards (I can tell from the position of your band) so what looks like is right is actually left). It sure sounds like gallbladder could be the problem. Sometimes you can have a normal ultrasound and still have a bad gallbladder. If I'm suspicious then I'll order a test called a HIDA scan. I'd definitely pursue it with your PCP and/or surgeon. Good luck, Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

I've got a good article at my other office about complication rates of band, RNY, and DS. I'll try to remember to scan it and post it. If you don't see it in the next 24 hours remind me! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Wow, that's a tough one. It doesn't sound band-related, I would have to defer to an internist but you should definitely get it checked out, chest tightness is nothing to mess around with. Are you banded already, and if so are you on the tight side? Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

I think you are lucky (or working very hard) that you are losing weight with no fill! The reason you have no complications with food is that you haven't been filled much. In my experience, the more fills a patient gets, the more food intolerances they have. Congrats on the weight loss! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

I like the Inamed band because I'm familiar with it. It's the only band I use because it's the only band available in the US and because it's a very good band. I don't think there is really going to be any difference in results between any of the other bands whenever they are released in the US. When it comes down to it, probably a band is a band. And I'm not banded personally, although I certainly have thought about it. My BMI is currently 29.9999999. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

First I yell at them, then my dietitian yells at them, the a psych person yells at them, usually in that order! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

A band is a band, really. The J&J band is a good one, I've never even seen the Midband. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Serena, Your band is probably just at the right level of tightness without any fill. It's not good or bad, it just is what it is. Congrats on the weight loss! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

In my practice I don't have any restrictions on using NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen. I think this is just a holdover from the bypass era, I don't know of any studies with regard to band patients. However, I have to advise you to do what your surgeon says! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Yeah, this is old data. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Gail, You have 2.1cc's and no restriction. I give almost all my patients 2cc on the first fill and they almost never have restriction. I can't tell you for sure that you don't have a leak, but odds are you just don't have enough saline in. The "no fill for 4-6 months" thing is crazy, I'd have you back in my office in 2 weeks for another fill. I don't understand why some surgeons want to use the band as some sort of punishment device, only offering fills after putting you though some kind of torture by waiting forever. The band is a tool, once you buy it, use it, that's my philosophy. Hang in there!! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

In my experience, a panniculectomy in patients with a BMI less than 40 is usually not needed for medical reasons, but many times these patients look fantastic and want it for cosmetic reasons. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Our cost (I say "our" meaning the hospital, who put it together) is $16,500. This includes fills for a year. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

It's not quite as bad as you think when you break it down. Around here insurance pays about $8000 to the facility, $2000 to the surgeon, and $1000 to anesthesia. So that's around $11,000. With my practice, at least, the self pay patients get a pre-op visit, a consent visit, and as many fills as they want for a year. This usually equals about 8-10 altogether, which would probably be another couple of thousand bucks getting up to around $13,000. The reason we take a little less from insurance companies is that we don't have any choice in the matter, the way medicine has evolved they can tell us what to charge. Imagine if you called a plumber and said my toilet is clogged, and I know you charge $200 to unclog it, but I'm going to pay you $100, and if you don't like it tough because you're under contract with me so you have to. Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Without seeing Xrays and such, it's hard to speculate on what's going on specific to your situation. The only thing I would say is that I wouldn't really recommend leaving a slipped band in place unless it was unfilled. Good luck, Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!