I have had one hell of a lap band journey and can't wait to have it removed. My original surgeon, "Dr.X" put the band in four days after I said that I was paying cash. I thought I had researched it enough on my own, but I was wrong. He even said I would be back at work in 3 days (ha)! The first 6 months or so went good, steady weight loss. After that, I told him before every fill that I was having reflux and excessive vomiting. He always said on guided swallow that everything looked great though, so no removal of fluid. This past October, he hesitantly took .7 cc out of the band because I was miserable. That night, I wasn't even able to keep water down. The next AM, he wasn't in his office...so they referred me to another surgeon "Dr X 2". They immediately removed all the fluid out of my band and told me to go eat and drink water. There was swelling in the guided swallow, "but it should clear up". Swelling never cleared, and I have not had a meal since. I live on milkshakes (but I am still maintaining weight) .My primary care doctor did several tests...one revealed that completely deflated (and after unsuccessfully attempting to dilate it), my opening was the size of a bic pen and the band was "tilted more than average" and had issues passing fluid. I'm not sure what this even means! My primary care wrote me a letter to have it removed. I took it to Dr X2, and he refuses to admit that anythings wrong, and "I'm just not chewing good". Well, I'm out $15k for the surgery, and $1400 from tests to find out what is wrong (my insurance only covers $1500, and that was used up by January 31). All I want is a re-imbursement but not sure if I will get one. Any thoughts? Again, sorry I wrote a novel!

Is DR 1 and DR 2 in the same practice? Have you gone for a second opinion (from a Bariatric surgeon)? At this point I would feel pot committed. You have spent so much, what if a good surgeon could just adjust the band correctly and everything would be fine? Dr Kim in Colleyville did my surgery and I think he is technically very good. Also I don't think he is just a "puppy mill" type. (You know the type, only interested in the money and just runs everyone through like cattle.) It probably wouldn't cost much to go see him and let him look. Plus if the band was placed wrong in his opinion it might help with recovering some of your money. Good luck, I'm sorry your having so much trouble.