I am hav'in a heck of a time. Last year I tried to get a fill in Tampa with Dr Grossbard, because I was at that time over 400 lbs, the x-ray place at the hospital wouldn't let me on the table (limit was 400 lbs), and they would not let Dr Grossbard do the fill. So, the x-ray guy tried. By trying, I mean he tried and failed terribly. There was blood all over the front of me, as I was standing up, and he had at least 4 holes. I was very up set and after putting out $300 for the hospital, and $200 for Dr Grossbard's office. SO.......... I asked for my money back. They both gave me my money back. So I got no fill and was on the "What should I do List". I ended up very sick and losing a lot of weight way too quickly. I ended up with A-fib, because of the weight loss, 90 lbs in a little over a month.

I had to go to NY in Feb. and got a fill from Dr Guiss, the doctor who did the band install. The lady at his office did the fill in about 15 min's., like.... no big deal, in and out. There was 2 cc's in the band and she added .5 cc's, so now there is 2.5 cc's in the band that holds a total of 5 cc's. WELL.......... that was not enough, as I can still eat too much and I am not losing any weight. I am wanting to lost this weight, and I have no will power to eat less, so the band needs to be tighter, right???. I don't want to go back to NY for a fill. SO.............. I found out on this wonderful helpful site that there is a place called "fillcenterUSA.com". I contacted them and they found a place in Tampa that I could get the fill. The cost was $299 at first, and then $75 for each fill after that. I went there and the lady was very nice and very friendly, but after almost 45 min's. could not find the port to fill the band. She used 3 needles and even bent one!!! I was in lot of pain afterwards because of all the poking and jabbing. I don't know what the problem was, the office in NY had no problem??? Well, I left there without the fill and she wanted me to get a Fluoroscope, to check the band/port. I ask them where I can go, and they referred me to Dr Grossbard's office and he refused to see me as, I had a problem with his office a year ago. Now I am stuck stopping payment on the check because I was not able to get the fill I needed. And Dr Grossbard's office will not see me. The fillcenterUSA told me that I could go to Tacoma WA, or Mexico!!!! If I have to go that far I might as well go to NY where they have no problem doing the fill. I am very disappointed, and very frustrated with the whole thing. Now the fillcenterUSA place will not try a fill without having a Fluoroscope, and they still want me to pay the $299, plus I have to pay for the x-ray thing. "WHAT AM I TO DO ???" I thought it would be an easy thing, I can feel the port, it's right there. Maybe I am expecting too much from the doctor's and I need to be more excepting of there limitations, and what they can do.

I am just venting and expressing my frustration with my inability to lose weight, without the band being tighten. I thought that is what the band was for, right?? I have another 170 lbs to lose, and it ain't going to be easy without my trusty "Lap-Band". I am just feeling sorry for myself and angry with myself for not following through with Dr Grossbard's office, and working something out with them. I was so embarrassed and ashamed when I was too fat to get on the table for the x-ray. I wanted so badly to cry, as so many times in my life I was so ashamed of being FAT, and being who I am. So instead of crying, like I always do...... I lost my temper at the hospital when asking for my money back. Was I wrong in doing that????? I would think when you pay to get a fill, and they can't do it........ why should I pay???? Is it wrong to think this way?? Should I pay anyway??? Maybe I could beg and plead to Dr Grossbard and his office, and offer to pay extra money weather I get a fill or not. It would be a lot easyer going to Tampa, 90 min. drive, then going to NY, a 48 hour drive one way.

Sorry, for being so long winded, and whiny, WAW, WAW, WAW, somebody call me a........ WAM-U-LIN's.

Anyway, thanks for listening.......... Butch

Butch,

Weight loss often causes back problems because we carry ourselves they way we did before the weight loss.

Once I lost 40-50 pounds, I went to my friendly local chiropractor for an adjustment and some time on those machines that pound the crap out of your back.

Not only did it help the problem, but later on, those visits (one or two) were just more evidence that I needed the panni.

Hey Butch,

First off GREAT JOB on your current success. Your weight loss is fabulous! Now, regarding your fill situation...You were perfectly appropriate demanding your money back. I would have felt and reacted the same way. Rather than dropping you as a patient they should have happily returned your money and then came up with a plan to help you in the future. My port is in a very funky position and absolutely has to have flouro used for fills. I actually prefer it this way because I KNOW I'm not risking the pain of multi sticks and tube punctures. My first fill was in the office without flouro and I was poked at least 40 times and then had to make another 100 mile round trip to come back the following week for the flouro fill. I won't go thru that again. I would at least try to work with that first doctor and see if they won't help you (aren't you below that 400 lb weight limit now anyway?). Otherwise check with those other doctors folks have mentioned on this thread. Best wishes to you and let us know how this works out, Teresa

Thank you all so much for you kind words and thoughts. Like I said I am going to NY in May and ask them what the deal is with the Port. And should I have Floro? As for the people in Tampa not wanting to see me, I really don't get it, it's not like I started throwing things around the office, nor did I cuss anyone out. I was just demanding my money back. If someone was to talk to me about......... let's say, working something out or another way to go....... I would have been more then happy to work with them, I am not an unreasonable man. Anyway........ I will only call them if and when I need another fill ajustment. For now I am going to NY and I will see what happens there.

Now as for "GEEZERSUE". Did you get the Panni ?????? How was it ????? Did the recovery take forever ???? I know I will need this sometime in the near furture, and what I read about it, it sounds like a bull of a operation, But I can't wait. Please wright back and let me know.

Butch