melati

I didn't know this. This is how my gastritis was detected before. How else could you see it

Well the trip to the er was a big waste--they took a ct scan and regular xrays and diagnosed me with gastritis which can't be seen w/o an egd. Sounds like they just pulled it out of a hat.

I'm going to the ER today but my ins doesn't start till next wk. I think I have an ulcer/hernia or slip.

Hi Everyone I haven't visited LBT in a while. I am 5 yrs post op & my last yr has been full of problems. Most recently I was unfilled for a stretched esophogus so I shouldve gottenbetter but instead I feel worse.It started last wk when I went running-- I thought I had an air pocket kind of pain that you get when you sprint-- only it didn't go away. Since then I've had a feeling of pressure in my chest and occasionally feel my band pressing against things.I am thinking along the lines of slips dialation or even loose threads where it is sewn. Perhaps its an ulcer or hernia. Has anyone had similar sensations & if so what was your problem? Has anyone recovered from dialation & if so how did you do it & how long did it take? I'm afraid this may be it for my band

Penni, the sleeve offers significant wt loss with minimal complications. It sounds like your dr. is in fact pushing the bypass on you. He has referred you to his successuful (and complication free?) pts. IMO it is best to use the least invasive approach that gives you results.

Leaks aren't always visible on flouro; a friend of mine keeps losing fill within a week, although no leak is visible. Your band may be too loose/big and they may have put in the wrong size. Definately go for more tests.

That's great!! I know Dr. C accepted $ from a philanthropist and he was then able to offer free and low cost fills.

This is why Howard is so popular, I think. However Oz has a much bigger problem with extremists and things came to a head when there were riots last year. I'm glad Aussies are finally standing up to extremists--yes, we could take a page from their book.

Oops--I thought they were talking about the VBG--yes docs seem to be jumping on the sleeve bandwagon all of a sudden--I think it's a nitch for ppl who are scared of the RNY but don't want the band(no doubt they've been told it doesn't work)

VSG ISN'T EVEN DONE MUCH ANY MORE? And why aren't they following more recent pts for longterm study instead of using the same old data with from the FDA trial with the swedish band?

The thing is, most people who appeal ins denial are eventually approved--the odds are very good. If there's an exclusion on the policy you can change ins or hire an attorney. Insurance companies count on you to give up in the face of a denial or exclusion--that is the reason so many companies only will cover the RNY, with all its post-op complications. The testing and leg work I had to do took me almost a year and believe me, the band is well worth it. Of course I wanted my band put in YESTERDAY while I was waiting! The trend I see is that too many of us aren't educated enough about post op issues. I post on OH and I constantly see ppl who either had the surgery already or have their date and are asking what is erosion, what is pb etc. and DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT SIZE BAND THEY HAVE!! I think everyone should have to take pre op classes cuz a lot of pts are going into this blind. Having to wait a little makes you value the exp more IMO.

I wouldn't use them. I've heard the horror stories.

There was never any proven connection between silicone and autoimmune diseases. My dr definately told me that banding wouldn't be a problem with RA in my family. Of course, dr.s are there to make money, so they don't have any $ loss if we lose our bands.

It seems this should be a product liability issue...the way I see it, Inamed owes it to pt's to make sure the product is not being misused; if a dr. has had several erosions, that points to surgical technique, and they should reconsider distributing their band to problem dr.s. What does the FDA have to say about this? Where is Inamed headquarters? They would be regulated by the consumer affairs division of that state. Francesca, I can't begin to imagine your grief/anger. Definately write to Ortiz and tell him what you are going thru. You should not still be making loan payments on a product/procedure that is no longer useful to you. It's as if you bought a tv on layaway and it broke...

What The Hell Is This Guy Doing To His Patients?!