Wondering what the cost is to have a band removed, if you were self-pay?

Gosh, glad to see somebosy else is wondering the same thing as me. I despise my BAND! Its been a nightmare! Mine has nothing to do with not loosing weight- it has everything to do with being UNABLE to swallow food, eat majority(varieties) of any foods, going between 3-4 days to eat, and when I do eat, its crap food--only foods that I can easily swallow like gravy, Ice cream, yogurt, teas get STUCK......veggies or fruits-I dont even attempt any longer to eat those foods.....I am so DESPERATE, I too wonder how much it would be to get band removed being a self payee!

I did ask my dr. He said he charged "a couple thousand". Geez! He also said that insurance changes all the time, so maybe your insurance would cover the removal?

My doctor said 3,000. Good luck!

I hope you all give it a chance and don't have to go through with a removal. It's not easy, but those stages pass. I know it doesn't work for everyone and there are complications, but those are fairly rare.

Gosh' date=' glad to see somebosy else is wondering the same thing as me. I despise my BAND! Its been a nightmare! Mine has nothing to do with not loosing weight- it has everything to do with being UNABLE to swallow food, eat majority(varieties) of any foods, going between 3-4 days to eat, and when I do eat, its crap food--only foods that I can easily swallow like gravy, Ice cream, yogurt, teas get STUCK......veggies or fruits-I dont even attempt any longer to eat those foods.....I am so DESPERATE, I too wonder how much it would be to get band removed being a self payee! [/quote']

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. What you describe sounds awful! Does your surgeon do fills using fluoroscopy? You certainly sound too tight, or worse. Have you had those symptoms for long, or did they start recently, say maybe after a fill?

I would hope your doctor is doing test to determine what is wrong?

if he or she won't, I would be looking for a different doctor asap!

I have had these symptoms for well over 9 mons. I have been "nieve" I just assumed it would go away or maybe it was something I am doing, I am completely unfilled and still cannot eat foods or I struggle with drinking liquids.....So I guess as mentioned I will have to talk to a dr. Thank you all for the help.