I'm 4 months out and have had 3 fills and two unfills. I'd had trouble keeping solids down for a week and then I couldn't even drink Water without foaming, sliming and eventually having it come back up. I scheduled an appointment at my surgeon's office and when I arrived, I learned he wasn't there to see me, but was told a nurse would see me instead. I asked if I could see the nurse prac instead of the RN and they said I had to see the RN. Strangely enough, the nurse prac ended up seeing me, so I felt a bit better about things. She put me under the flouroscopy machine and said the band had not slipped, which is what they were initially concerned with. However, her attempt to access my port was really very painful and when I grimaced, she commented, "Now, it can't hurt that bad". I tried to tell her it was really, really painful and that my stomach had been so sore from throwing up. She shook her head and went on to say she was going to find out how much I had in my band. She proceeded to say she was going to take some out because she thought I was too full and that is why I couldn't keep anything down. I asked how much was in there and she said "you don't need to know how much is in your band and you it shouldn't matter how much we takeout". She proceeded to take some out, had me drink some water and it was much improved. Again, I asked how much is now in my band and how much was taken out. She responded, "Why are the numbers so important to you? I explained that you don't need to concern yourself with that part". I tried to explain that shared decision-making is important to me in this journey and that since the adjustments were being made to MY body, that I would like the information. She disagreed and walked out of the room. I called the office manager and expressed my disappointment in care. I signed a release to have care transferred to another clinic and was told by the receptionist, "If you leave, we won't take you back". At that point, I knew I definately needed to move on.

Do most of you ask your doctor how much is going in or out? Is this unreasonable?

Just curious how others' experiences are at their fill visits. Thanks for sharing with me!

Rebecca

Sounds like you made the right choice in leaving. You are legally allowed to know exactly what medical procedures are done to you, and you asking and being refused an answer is a HUGE problem. I would even go as far as to report the incident to your state medical board.

I'm 4 months out and have had 3 fills and two unfills. I'd had trouble keeping solids down for a week and then I couldn't even drink Water without foaming, sliming and eventually having it come back up. I scheduled an appointment at my surgeon's office and when I arrived, I learned he wasn't there to see me, but was told a nurse would see me instead. I asked if I could see the nurse prac instead of the RN and they said I had to see the RN. Strangely enough, the nurse prac ended up seeing me, so I felt a bit better about things. She put me under the flouroscopy machine and said the band had not slipped, which is what they were initially concerned with. However, her attempt to access my port was really very painful and when I grimaced, she commented, "Now, it can't hurt that bad". I tried to tell her it was really, really painful and that my stomach had been so sore from throwing up. She shook her head and went on to say she was going to find out how much I had in my band. She proceeded to say she was going to take some out because she thought I was too full and that is why I couldn't keep anything down. I asked how much was in there and she said "you don't need to know how much is in your band and you it shouldn't matter how much we takeout". She proceeded to take some out, had me drink some water and it was much improved. Again, I asked how much is now in my band and how much was taken out. She responded, "Why are the numbers so important to you? I explained that you don't need to concern yourself with that part". I tried to explain that shared decision-making is important to me in this journey and that since the adjustments were being made to MY body, that I would like the information. She disagreed and walked out of the room. I called the office manager and expressed my disappointment in care. I signed a release to have care transferred to another clinic and was told by the receptionist, "If you leave, we won't take you back". At that point, I knew I definately needed to move on.

Do most of you ask your doctor how much is going in or out? Is this unreasonable?

Just curious how others' experiences are at their fill visits. Thanks for sharing with me!

Rebecca

No, it's not unreasonable to know the size band you have and how much Fluid.

BUT, you've only seen one of the practitioners post-op. Granted, they may all think alike in keeping the patient in the dark, but you don't know that yet. Where I go, there was one nurse that she and I always "butted heads" somewhat. She would tell me things that were just so very confusing and gave me different post fill instructions than the other nurses. I liked her personally, but tried to avoid her as my fill nurse.

The NP I had was some better, but also didn't educate me on several points. She's since married and moved away and the new NP is much better. The LVN that my doctor uses is the best of all, gentlest touch and listens to me. Don't let the alphabet Soup (LVN, RN, NP, MD) behind the name be the only determining factor on who you chose to deal with.

I would give the RN a try and the doctor. If all 3 are resistant to letting you have full partnership in this journey, THEN I would move on.

The other thing to consider is that it may take time and some effort depending on where you live to find another doctor to accept you. If you will give the other caregivers at your current doctors office a chance, that will give you time to start lining a replacement doctor up.

Hope you feel better about the whole situation soon.

I think it's very odd they won't give you this info, but I have heard of others on here with the same issue.

I ask my NUT each time how much is going in and how much that gives me as a total. They have no problem telling me. I would find it more odd if they didn't.

I think you made a right choice in going to a new dr. But hopefully that's possibly, and you didn't speak too soon about wanting to change. did you find a dr that will accept you? If not, I'd ask to see the dr who performed the surgery and express your concerns.

Thanks everyone for your responses and feedback. Actually, the NP is not the first person I'd been to in the practice. The surgeon did the previous fills and I believe he was outstanding and one RN did an unfill. However, the surgeon also was hesitant (but did not refuse) to tell me about the amount used in the fill. I live in a large city with numerous options for providers, luckily. Since I work in a hospital side-by-side with providers, I felt I had a good grasp on appropriate care (I agree with Jingleboob's thoughts). I hold shared decision-making as a standard in care that should not be compromised. I plan to schedule another appointment with the surgeon and will communicate my concerns - at least this will give him the opportunity learn of what is going on in his practice with the other provider and be given the opportunity to address it. Meanwhile, I did have my information sent to another practice for review, but plan to attend their support group and drop in to the practice before I make my final decision.

Thanks again for the feed-back.

Rebecca