fire_bellydancer

Aside from the disgusting taste of the barium, everything was smooth. The band is in place, no leaking noted. Surgeon put in 3.5cc of fluid in the band. He thinks that this should get my weight loss moving again. It's interesting how different surgeons have different rules. I'm to be on liquids (clear and full) for the next 24 hours and then I can try solids. I'm truly hoping that this will the beginning of my weight loss...yet again!

How does that work? My new surgeon wants to do my first fill with him under fluoro to verify placement and if it's working. I'm looking forward to it. He said that he is planning on making sure that he gives me a good fill seeing as it is over two years since I had my band and no success.

I have an Allergan band that holds 14cc. Not sure now much I have in there but whatever it is, it's not working.

Thanks! I'm hoping that this new surgeon will get me to the correct path of the lap band.

Thru persistence, I was able to find a surgeon who has no issues taking my insurance and is willing to do the fills even though he didn't put my band in. The office manager said that, if the doctor thinks that there are any issues, he will fill my band under fluoro. I'm very excited about this. I know that I need to make changes but I feel like once the band hits that sweet spot, things will be better. Very excited! My appointment is on Wednesday morning.

Be careful if you pay for your fills out of pocket and then you are able to get insurance that covers the fills....there are certain physicians that will not take your insurance once you started as a self-pay patient even if they are a contracted provider for your insurance.

Be careful, though, with self-pay and then getting insurance. There are some physicians out there that wil flat out refuse to accept your insurance (even if they are contracted with them) because "once you start as a self-pay patient, you have to remain as such". Word to the wise!

After seeing my surgeon for over a year and paying out of pocket, now that I have insurance, his office is telling me that they will not take my insurance. That once I am self-pay and I will remain self-pay. This is absolutely ridiculous! I feel like thru out the time that I was a self-pay and forking over $150 a pop, I wasn't getting much of a fill. I haven't felt any restriction for the longest time. And, at $150 a visit, I cannot go as often as they recommend I do. Now, I'm stuck. I'm gonna have to find a new surgeon that will take me even if they didn't perform my surgery. This is very frustrating. I chose the higher insurance so that it would cover the fills. Now, this is putting a dent into my plan. Any suggestions? I called United and they told me that my fills will be covered, regardless of who paid for the surgery. One option is for me to self-pay and submit it to the insurance company. I realize that it will be extremely hard for me to find another surgeon who will fill a band that they didn't put it. I am so disappointed because this surgeon was highly recommended to me and we work for the same facility. I know the band is a tool but if there is no restriction, why even have the lap band?

I was self-pay for almost a year (after losing my insurance. Aetna PPO covered my surgery in 2010) and now I have insurance again (United Healthcare PPO). My insurance company will pay for my fills, even though they didn't pay for my insurance. I have it in writing from them! But, my money hungry surgeon...has decided that once you are self-pay, you cannot use your insurance. What a load! I guess he prefers the $!50 that he would get from me as opposed to the contracted rate that he would receive from United. He is a preferred provider for United. Absurd!

I am posting a new chapter to the story....he won't take my insurance now so he wants me to remain self-pay! If I knew how to control my portions, I wouldn't need the lap band. This is why it is important to me that I feel restriction.

I have no issues with scrambled eggs...actually, I have no issues with any foods no matter what time of the day...

You can try and ask him. I currenty live in Fort Lauderdale and I had my surgery when I lived in Jacksonville. Obviously, a six hour drive is out of the question for me. I asked a physician that works at the hospital where I work and he is seeing me and waived the program fee as professional courtesy.

The reason why I think my surgeon was so conservative with the fills is because I am a self-pay. Once I start using my insurance, he will not get the $150 that I was paying. He will definitely get much less. So, I was thinking that as long as I was self-pay, he didn't have a reason to fill me up. I'm sure my fills will change once I start using my insurance. It's a business...

Well, I always heard how you are not supposed to eat bread and certain foods because they have a tendency to get stuck. For example, I just ate a burger with the bun cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and didn't have anything to drink..I was able to eat the whole thing....Let's see when I get hungry again...Thanks.. I plan on getting a fill and asking the surgeon to not be too conservative.

I do regret getting the lap band. I wish I would have done either the sleeve or the bypass...If there is an issue with the band, I plan on getting it removed and paying for the sleeve. But I will give the band a try until the end of the year if there are no issues with it.