titantiff

He will take over your care even if it was done in Mexico. He's at the Rockwood Clinic 1-800-776-4048 . Jonathan Spitz.

I was there on Monday and they were telling me about a girl who had her band in Mexico and the port was eroding through the skin on her stomach. Ugh! Could you imagine.

I adore Dr. Thomas R Brown from CBSI in Denver. He's like Mr. Bean in a way. Dry humor, smiling eyes. I really felt at ease. He just sort of casually sauntered in and started explaining things. He answered all of my questions like we had been friends for years. No nonsense, no little rays of sunshine, just honest to goodness truth.

But sadly, that is as far as the good times roll. I had some complications after surgery. At only 2 1/2 months out, my port stitches came loose and Dr. Brown refused to fix it for free. This should have been covered!!! It was less than 90 days out from surgery and typically any complications (surgical errors) are remedied by the MD at no charge. This was not the case. My new MD even agrees that he should have been responsible and liable to fix the port stitches.

I was informed by the billing office at CBSI that since I paid the discounted cash pay price of $9900.00 that no complications would be covered. Yes- I paid cash for this through donations from friends, family and a sizable loan.

This complication fix/refusal was NOT in the paperwork I signed. NEVER in any of the contracts did it say that since I was paying the lowest fee, I would be getting the lowest quality of car and the lowest amount of service.

I have since transferred care to closer to home. I would NOT recommend going to Dr. Brown as a cash pay patient or if you do, get the additional BLIS insurance for cash pay patients that is advertised on this site. If I would have done that, this would not be an issue. I'm going to have to pay an additional $4000 dollars that I don't have to replace the work that should have been covered under the 90 global. This stinks!!!

I adore Dr. Thomas R Brown from CBSI in Denver. He's like Mr. Bean in a way. Dry humor, smiling eyes. I really felt at ease. He just sort of casually sauntered in and started explaining things. He answered all of my questions like we had been friends for years. No nonsense, no little rays of sunshine, just honest to goodness truth.

But sadly, that is as far as the good times roll. I had some complications after surgery. At only 2 1/2 months out, my port stitches came loose and Dr. Brown refused to fix it for free. This should have been covered!!! It was less than 90 days out from surgery and typically any complications (surgical errors) are remedied by the MD at no charge. This was not the case. My new MD even agrees that he should have been responsible and liable to fix the port stitches.

I was informed by the billing office at CBSI that since I paid the discounted cash pay price of $9900.00 that no complications would be covered. Yes- I paid cash for this through donations from friends, family and a sizable loan.

This complication fix/refusal was NOT in the paperwork I signed. NEVER in any of the contracts did it say that since I was paying the lowest fee, I would be getting the lowest quality of car and the lowest amount of service.

I have since transferred care to closer to home. I would NOT recommend going to Dr. Brown as a cash pay patient or if you do, get the additional BLIS insurance for cash pay patients that is advertised on this site. If I would have done that, this would not be an issue. I'm going to have to pay an additional $4000 dollars that I don't have to replace the work that should have been covered under the 90 global. This stinks!!! :sneaky:

Thats funny! I was going to Denver before I found Spitz.

I'm so happy to not have to take that flight any longer.

I'm just in the assessment phase with my insurance.. but they (the insurance) pointed me toward Dr. Spitz... so am very interested in any feedback you all might have. Also glad to see so many eastern washington bandsters on line... I know I'll need support for all of this!!

Hi judy- I think Dr. Spitz is a great guy. My first fill went great. He was gentle, used the numbing stuff, his staff were also great.

If you pay upfront, you get a %20 discount. These are their discount prices. Fill $160. Fill under Fluro $215

If they have to bill you, the fill accourding to my calculation is $192 and if under fluro $258.

They always get me in within a week or two. It's never been longer. They do them on Mondays only incase you need an unfill.

I strongly recommend them.

I have been looking for a MD to take over my maintence somewhere in Spokane too. Trotters office does charge a crazy fee but it includes a full years worth of fills, unfills, and any complications due to the band.

There is another alternative I just discovered. I go Monday to see a new Spokane MD. Dr. Jonathan Spitz at the Rockwood Bariatric Clinic at Sacred Heart. 509-838-2531.

Dr. Jonathan Spitz- Rockwood Clinic @ Sacred Heart

509-838-2531

Ask for the Bariatric clinic. They will probably put you in touch with Carol. Keep in mind that this clinic is BRAND NEW!!! Only Spitz is doing bands. The two others do RNY but they are on their way to being band docs by January. Yeah!!!

Bright and Rawlins are getting their clearance to do the band in January. They just got Jonathan Spitz out of Chicago and he can do bands. I'm going to them for my maintenence. Spitz is going to do my #2 fill next week. I'll let you know how it goes.

I was going through this just a few months ago. I'm not sure what your BMI is, but if it's over 47, what ever you do, don't try to go get a private insurance plan. I found out that if you're turned down and you will be if your BMI is over 47, you will be red flagged in the insurance system. That Is BAD!!!! Luckily for me, I had an inside scoop in the insurance industry, so I avoided this nasty scenario.

I took a considerable loan, had an ebay auction of goods donated from friends and family and sold half my house. That's what it took! If your only 25, you may as well get into the debt now. Just think, you'll most likely have it paid off by 35 and you'll be a hot momma!

If it's what you want, you'll make it happen. Good luck!

I was warned about negativity on this site....

Today is my very first day. I don't think I'll be back.

To those who post positive thoughts and advice. Thank you.

To those who dismissed her random concerns and thoughts. Shame on you. Everyone has thoughts. This is a person on the eve of her surgery and your making things worse by ridiculing a concern. silly...unfounded or otherwise. They are her thoughts and they are important or she wouldn't have asked.

Kudos to you scubadarz and good luck with everything in the A.M. Maybe I'll see you over on OH.

I too am a healthcare professional. But I understand that people have fears. There is no reason to not ask them for fear that your going to be made fun of and knocked for asking the ridiculous. I think these are reasonable thoughts. Thats what these forums are all about. Asking random questions and getting replies from normal people like the rest.

No offense to anyone, but If you find her question silly, why not go answer someone elses questions.

I will not be back....please delete me. This place is full of negativity!!!!!!!!!! What a lesson learned in a few hours.

I'm new to the bandwagon world. I'm still in the pre-op stages and get meet my entire team on 09/24 in Denver. I'm super duper excited to get started and take back my life. I've been doing tons of research and reading forums from Obesity Help, Lap Band Talk and Bariatric Eating's Before and After.

Just for your eyes only. I'm going through Dr. Thomas R Brown in Denver. I'm a cash pay patient and am almost done raising the funds. That's been a chore but I've got awesome friends, family and co-workers. I think that I'll have about #125 lbs to lose to hit goal but I'm totally up for the challenge.

I'd just like to thank everyone in advance for helping me to prepare myself both in mind and body. Here's to you! :omg_smile:

I totally understand the tendency to lean toward shy. In fact, I'm new to the whole band world. I'm just getting started in the pre-op process, but this was one of my questions. I'm glad I'm not the only one...... Should I trim down there? Can I wear my under roos? Can I write in Sharpy just above my bikini line, "Eyes on the Prize Violet!"

These seem like logical questions to me.:omg_smile: