JaxBandster

I had my band placed in February of 2008 so I had it for four years by the time I had it removed. It was diagnosed as eroded after a little over three and a half years.

For those who haven't been following my story............... I was diagnosed with an eroded band in November of 2011 and had it removed in March of 2012. I had to wait for six months before revising to the gastric sleeve as my surgeon wanted to wait for me to heal completely and do medical tests before confirming that I would be a good candidate for the sleeve. I have complete those tests and he was satisfied that I could have the sleeve. We also found that I had developed another hiatal hernia (the first one was repaired when I had my lap band surgery). My predetermination request for the sleeve surgery was denied. They stated that I needed to complete a six month weight loss program in order for them to consider my request. I asked my surgeon's insurance coordinator to appeal based on the reasoning that this was a repeat surgery for a lap band that had medically failed me and that I shouldn't have to complete the six month medically supervised weight loss program. She filed an appeal but no where in the letter did it address the six month weight loss program so of course they denied me again stating that we still hadn't submitted the records they had requested. Frustrated beyond belief, I took the initiative to write my own appeal letter. I used language from the BCBS-AL bariatric policy regarding repeat surgeries and their rationale for requiring the six month weight loss program and explained how I had met that rationale just by having a lap band for four years and that my waiting for six months before revising to another surgery was not conducive to improving my health. I just got off the phone with BCBS-AL and they have approved my surgery!!!!!! I am actually shocked that I succeeded in my appeal. I fully expected them to deny me and had already started the medically supervised six month weight loss program in preparation for that denial (and have lost 10 lbs over a six week period which is nice). I'm excited, relieved and nervous! I've been through this before so I don't know why but I am. I was very successful with my lap band (losing 94 lbs). I remember how wonderful it felt to be thin and feel good about myself and how I looked and not to be in pain anymore from carrying around all this extra weight (yes I packed the pounds back on after my band was removed). I can't wait to be there again! Yeah me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ That is wonderful news!!!! I'm so happy for the both of you!!!!!! I know you are relieved Keep us posted on your progress!!!!!!

Very cool! I know you will like him. He's very nice! Keep us posted on how things go!

I actually really like Dr. Baptista and would also highly recommend him for a lapband. The only reason I decided to go to someone else when I left Cywes was due to the complexity of my surgery from eroded band to sleeve. I wanted someone with a LOT of experience in complex surgeries. Dr. Baptista and very nice and a competent surgeon.

I am SO sorry to hear this! I was hoping that maybe you would be on the road to getting your band. I'm not sure where you are located but I am using Dr.'s Marema and Koppman with US Bariatrics in St. Augustine. They operate out of Flagler Hospital which has EXTREMELY nice facilities. They are VERY thorough and responsive. If I send an email I typically get a response with 24 hours. I have been very pleased with them so far (even though I haven't had my surgery with them yet). A co-worker of mine had her sleeve done with them and has been nothing but happy with them. Dr. Marema has been listed as one of the best bariatric surgeons in the country. I highly recommend them. Please keep us posted.

Oh trust me, there have been plenty of times when I've walked out of that office feeling like I made the right decision. There have been more times when I walked out thinking that I hadn't. With everything that I experienced and my continued frustration with communication, I decided that it was time for me to move on. My new practice is a breath of fresh air in comparison. I have been extremely impressed. I've only had one minor hiccup where I received a bill for my co-pay (which I paid at my office visit). I called about it and they promptly removed the outstanding charge. My pre-op tests and the appointment to review the results have been scheduled for over a month. It's been so much easier than having to constantly follow up and nag someone to do something. We are under enough stress as it is, we don't need to do someone's job on top of it. I'm actually very surprised at Dr. Pinnar's comment. I've never known him to be snippy like that. I too liked him right off the bat when I met him. He seemed very thorough and was more conservative than Cywes. I really and truly hope that you and your wife have a very successful surgery and get the outcome you both desire. I can tell you that when you are successful, there is no better feeling.

According to information I've read on various boards and in speaking with Dr. Pinnar in person regarding his old practice in Virginia, it appears that after he sold his practice, the physician who purchased it went back through old records and was rebilling insurance companies in Dr. Pinnar's name or something to that effect. The reason I waited 45 minutes on him at one appointment was because he was speaking to his attorney. When he came in, he apologized and we spoke a little about the subject before turning our attention to the reason I was there. During my office visits with him, it was very apparent that he was not happy with the way the office was being run and often encouraged me to contact the Practice Administrator and voice my dissatisfaction which I did prior to finding another group to do my revision surgery. There is definitely something odd going on with that practice. When I first started going there, the waiting room was ALWAYS packed and you had to wait hours before being seen. Not so much anymore. A curious thing happened when I was in the process of getting my band removed. At one point I was scheduled to have my surgery performed by Dr. Cywes at Shands. About a week prior to my surgery, the office called saying they were going to have to reschedule my surgery for a much later date due to a mixup between Dr. Cywes and Shands about operating room times. They were not going to be able to schedule me for a month or more later. I asked about Memorial and they said that Pinnar could do it there (why not Dr. Cywes?). That was when I decided to go with Dr. Pinnar. In addition, for a little while I was speaking with another group that operates out of Memorial. In speaking with the bariatric coordinators there, they alluded to something going on with Cywes, but they would never come right out and say what the issue was. I really don't know what's going on there, but as messed up as things appear I would not recommend them to anyone that I cared about. I had my band removed due to 40% erosion in late March. Cywes told me he could revise me to the sleeve in six weeks. The surgeon I am seeing now won't touch me for six months! I hate waiting. I hate the fact that I'm packing on the pounds and I'm miserable in my body. But I'm thankful they are being cautious and allowing my body ample time to heal and allow the scar tissue to settle down and do a variety of tests to make sure I'm a good candidate so I'm not miserable for the rest of my life. I can wait a few more months to be safe. Pinnar once referred to Cywes as a "cowboy". I think reckless and cocky may be a more accurate description.

Best of luck to you!

Irene is Cywes' wife. I had more success with email than I did with the phone. Sorry that you are going through what I did. I know how frustrating it is.

I got tired of being compared to Lindsey Lohan (addict) and looking at his picture of him and McKenzie Phillips

Contact the Program Administrator. Here is her info. Irene L. Wolfe, LLB, LLM Practice Administrator Jacksonville Surgical Associates/Jacksonville Weight Loss Center 8825 Perimeter Park Blvd. Ste. 101 Jacksonville, FL 32216 (904) 399-4004 ext. 107 (904) 399-3489 fax (904) 412-3135 mobile Irene Wolfe [irene@jsapa.com]

It's not that they don't eventually get it done, it's that they tell you they are goiing to do something and then they don't. I didn't mind waiting. I'm having to wait an additional three months or more to have my revision surgery because Dr. Koppman wants to wait six months after my band was removed so the scar tissue will have a chance to settle and so I can have additional tests done to make sure I am going to be a good candidate for the sleeve. (Makes sense to me). Anyway, read my post (or not) and see if you would have put up with repeatedly beiing told one thing and then nothing ever being done. I used to be a staunch advocate and defender of Dr. Cywes practice but when he suggested that I get a fill when three weeks prior he had removed my gastric tube from my surgery, I decided it was time to move on. You need to have confidence in your surgeon.

If you have the time, please read my experience with them.. It is very detailed but I share in your frustrations. I finally left and am having my surgery done by US Bariatrics in St. Augustine with Dr.s Koppman and Marema. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/150134-dr-robert-cywes-why-i-left-the-practice/