Hi everyone,

I know that I just hijacked a Canadian only section. But, I live in Washington and was wondering if you could tell me any fill docs and if you knew what they charge. It just might be closer if I crossed the border then going to Seattle. Thanks in advance...also would love to know about your experiences with your fills, this will be a first for me.

Hi there, I live on Vancouver Island and I, like you, was banded in Mexico. I just got a fill a couple of weeks ago from Dr. Woodhead in Ladner. That's in Delta, which is, I guess about a 20 min drive from the border. I believe that he may be the only one who will do fills for other drs patients.

He charges $400 dollars for a consultation and the first fill and $75 per fill thereafter, and he doesn't use fluoroscopy.

My friend Jane and I went together for our first fills. My experience was alright, however Jane's was quite different. I wish I had stayed in there with her. I can give details if you're interested.

You also may want to look into Kitty Carmichael in Arlington Washington 360 435 5365. I believe she is very reasonably priced. Doesn't have the initial consultation fee.

Hope this helps.

I'm sorry almost, I cannot help you, but best of luck to you in finding someone.

Thanks for the quick feedback!!!

Dr Wai Leung Surrey, British Columbia. I paid 13, 500. Canadian.

Fills and follow up free. Not sure if they would be to an American, but you can phone.

I will get the phone number if you wish.

Dr Leung won't do fills for pts who had their bands done by other Drs.

Paulax, you are doing amazing, congrats!!!

Hi everyone,

I know that I just hijacked a Canadian only section. But, I live in Washington and was wondering if you could tell me any fill docs and if you knew what they charge. It just might be closer if I crossed the border then going to Seattle. Thanks in advance...also would love to know about your experiences with your fills, this will be a first for me. :sneaky:

Hi, dr ric arseneau in vancouver is quite reasonable. i think if you google him you will get the info. he is at St Paul's hosp in vancouver. could you let me know how you experience with dr.kuri was. i am being banded by him on may 19th. thanks sandi

have you tried Northwest Fill Center in Marysville? I live in Vancouver, but i'm planning to use them for my fills instead of Dr. Arseneau (even though i live a few blocks away from his office). From what i've read, they're very professional and know their stuff. and they use fluoro too. Dr. A is the only fill doc in Vancouver. The 2 LB surgeons in Delta and Surrey will not fill you if you weren't banded by them (only in very rare cases). Dr. A is not a surgeon. He is an Eating Disorder's Specialist who has been trained to do fills. He is reputed to be be good at what he does, but keep in mind he does not use fluoro.

hi D. i also live on VI and am going to tj for surgery in may. i am going with dr.kuri. what was your experience in mexico. good,bad.ugly???? and is DrW still accepting pt for assesment and fill?

Dr. W. is accepting patients but will only do fills for patients that are his. At one time,he used to but he stoped about a year ago. He does not have a clinic and he does not have fluoro. Although, I can't see why you require a fluro for a fill. The procedure is usually only done if there are suspected complications.

For support, we do have a support group that meets once a month at the Lions Gate Hospital and anyone that is researching the band and/or has the band is welcome. There is no membership fee, just a few of us get together to discuss the pros and cons of our journey. We also are available to answer questions for anyone researching the band.

I certainly wouldn't base my choice of fill Dr's/clinics on whether they use flouro or not. Like Doddie said, usually flouro is only used and needed if you or the Dr suspects a problem with your band. I've been banded 2.5 years and have never had a flouro, never needed one. You know how they say that having x-rays aren't very good for you because of the radiation or whatever it is that they use to take the pictures? Well a flouroscopy is just another x-ray, except that you are recieveing those 'rays' for an extended period while they watch the barium. I've always felt that I don't want to put my body thru any more procedures than is necessary. If the day comes that I feel I have an issue with my band that needs to be looked at with flouro I'll have it done then.

As for Dr. Areseneau, not only is he someone who has been trained to do fills, he is also banded and at goal weight. Being banded he has a full understanding of what we go thru. He knows what 'restriction' feels like, he knows what 'too tight' is, he knows the questions to ask to figure out what kind of 'adjustment' we need (band, head, exercise...) And in my opinion, the fact that he an eating disorders specialist is a major bonus !!! Maybe you are not all like me, but I have, and fully admit to, an eating disorder !!! Being able to talk to him, listen to him, hear his suggestions and opinions on what I am doing right or wrong is a huge bonus.... I personally plan on taking advantage of his training and asking non band related, eating disorder related questions.

Patricia

I thought I'd put in my own two cents about fluoro, from my own experience of course. I personally would recommend getting the first fill done under fluoro, simply because it is the first one and is the first opportunity to view the band and pouch and see if everything is in working order. I had my first fill with no fluoro and that turned out to be a big mistake. It was next to impossible to find the port, and ended up taking several minutes and a lot of poking and digging around with three different needles, which was both stressful and painful. I didn't have much restriction afterward, and suffered through many weeks of worrying about whether there was any damage to the band or port. Luckily, when I went for my second fill (this time in Mexico, under fluoro), my anxiety was relieved because I could see that everything was ok. And it was SO easy that second time. Just one poke and it was done. Because of this experience, I will always from now on do my fills under fluoro until I have lost enough weight to be able to feel and SEE the port very clearly.

The other advantage to doing the fill under fluoroscopy is you can see whether the pouch has been stretched or not. When I went to Mexico for my second fill (this time under fluoro), another patient there was going for his first fill in five years and discovered that his pouch was stretched so badly he would have lost the band if it had not been caught right then. Had he not done the fill under fluoro, they would never have known that his pouch was stretched and been able to take the appropriate measures to fix that.

what do you mean "the pouch was stretched and he would have lost the band". How do you lose the band or is that what is called band slippage?

I don't know. This is just what he told me after he had his fill appointment. He ended up having to have a complete unfill in order to save the band. I believe he had stretched out his pouch from years of incorrect eating and not getting follow-ups, but being that it is another person's story and I only spoke to him for a little bit, I don't know all the details.

Oh, and he had gone to the clinic with the intention of getting a fill because he was obviously able to eat more than he should have and wanted to get it back under control. He had no idea that anything was wrong with the band or his pouch until the doctor saw everything under fluoro.

Edited March 21, 200917 yr by Vangirl

Just to clarify, I don't think it is necessary for everyone to get all their fills under fluoro. I do think it's a good idea to get the first one under fluoro (more for reassurance reasons) and I personally am choosing to get all of my subsequent fills done under fluoro for the reasons described earlier. I also would get a check-up under fluoro at least once in a while over the long-term, just to make sure the band and everything is ok.