I had my band placed in June 08. My surgeon was wonderful, he did all of the fills, no issues. He moved back to India and some new docs took over the program. It is a very large practice in that they see patients in about 4 cities (each about an hour apart) but there are only 3 doctors. Anyway, the new docs use nurse practitioners to do fills. The first NP was fine, he didn't seem very committed to helping me, but whatever. Then a new NP came in. She is very young and went to get trained to do fills upon taking the job. Not long after she began seeing me it was determined I had a leak. I had a port replacement in December 09 (they said there were several holes poked in my tubing). I saw the NP two weeks later for a fill and she poked the tubing again. Now yet again I have no restriction. I have insurance, but I still have to pay the 20% and maximum out of pocket. They are offering no help and told me I was just part of the 2% this happens to. (I accepted that the first time, but twice within such a short time??) I cannot afford to do this again...I'm still paying on the one from December!!! I'm not looking for extra money, just for my expenses to be covered. Any thoughts???

If you get it fixed, I would insist on future fills under fluro. My doctor does it that way routinely.

What is fluro?

Fluro stands for fluroscope. It is a medical imaging device that allows the surgeon who is doing the fill to actually see the lapband, tubing, port, your stomach and the pouch made by the band.....plus other interesting objects like the rods and screws where my spine has been fused!:thumbup:

I have had several fills with the doctor using the fluroscope. I really feel comfortable knowing that he can check everything out visually, while he is giving me a fill.

Good luck to you.

I agree. You should insist on having your fills using the fluoroscope from now on. Damaging your tubing twice is really a sign that the new nurse is a bit incompetent when it comes to fills. I am so very sorry that this has happened to you.

Using the fluoroscope, my doctor can see my port to make sure that it is still attached correctly. He can see the needle enter the port. He watches the liquid enter the band and expand it. He can see the stomach restrict due to the fill. It is just a much better way to go. With the imaging there isn't really a chance that he can miss and puncture the tubing.

If this was me....I would make them pay for the port/tubing replacement. Once is an accident....but twice is incompetence!

You take care and I hope that your surgery goes well.