Okay, it's so heartbreaking to hear of people losing weight and having to take the band out due to slippage or erosion. Is it something that just happens or is there a way to prevent this?

Linda

Sorry to post here, but I just noticed Penni posted.. Are you there my dear Penni. Do you remember me?? We had lunch in Orlando. How are you doing? Drop me a line sometime.

Hey there YeS IT IS ME!!! I have been preoccupied with work and going back to school for my BSN lately.

How are you these days? How are your kids?

They are doing great. I have been real busy too, but needed to come back here to get motivated and back on track. Well, I had been at my goal weight for over a year. But the fat monster found me again, I've gained about 15 lbs, but I'm getting back on my horse again. I haven't been filled in over a year and will get a fill in a week. I can't wait. Wow, I am amazed at how much the site grew. I hardly know anyone on here anymore. Well, I am so glad that you are doing great. Your grandson is beautiful. Take care, and talk to you soon.

>>An RN should NEVER EVER access a lapband port unless under the direction of a band doc, in the office, and in a controlled environment. Contrary to the information out there Inamed does not certify anyone to give fills. There is no certification process, according to Inamed, for giving fills. I asked them about this once before when there were alot of supposed certified people out there giving fills in hotel rooms. Inamed told me they did not offer any certification classes to anyone for this. Only docs are cleared to do fills. It is under the docs supervision and his discretion to allow an RN to do a fill.<<

We will have to disagree on this point. Inamed most certainly does certify RNs to do fills. *I* personally have been invited to a certification class from Inamed. I will be going the next time the class is available. They have certification classes every few months. I was scheduled for the last one but was unable to make it at the last minute. I will be attending the next one.

I believe what you are referring to is that they won't certify just any RN. I have to be referred by a physician, and I am. A GI surgeon in my area is referring me. Matter of fact, he'd like to attend as well as he may consider doing fills. He is not a bariatric surgeon but a GI surgeon. He'd be great for fills, especially those not banded in the US or if someone's doc moves or retires. Their patients have a hard time finding a fill doc.

I have no desire to do fills, but I would like the education.

RNs access ports for a living for goodness sakes. Portacaths? Docs don't do it, RNs do. RNs are absolutely qualified to do fills with additional training, they typically have more experience accessing various types of ports than your average doc. When you go to an ER and the ER doc doesn't know how to do an unfill the best choice if your surgeon is not available is to ask for a chemo nurse because they have the expertise in accessing ports. It's what they do for a living.

Nobody should be accessing any port for any reason unless in a controlled environment such as an office setting.

I got my information and invitation from Bart Bandy (yep, that's his real name) to the certification class. He used to be the owner of Inamed. After he sold Inamed to Allergan he is now the Sr. VP for Allergan.

It is the sales manager for Allergan that was giving out bad info on who may attend the certification class. I believe Bart Bandy corrected him on this info quite some time ago, such as about six months ago.

There is an Inamed certified fill nurse in Arizona. She and her paramedic daughter are both Inamed certified, neither work for a doc (the RN is a RN Midwife and works out of her own office, no MD available in her office) and she went to the certification class.

The information you received is quite frankly, incorrect.

Don Mills! That is the name of the Sales Mgr. person at Allergan that was giving out wrong info. I couldn't think of his name earlier.

Don Mills is the sales manager, Bart Bandy is the Sr. VP.

I'm with you Linda! I didn't know what PB was either and I had the same reaction....gross! Are you banded?

Hi Minerals. I'm getting banded this Fri!

Linda

How exciting for you! Look forward to hearing about your experience and I hope it's everything you dream of.

I should have prefaced my post to say that my information is from about a year ago. So Inamed/Allergan could have changed their policy since then. If so then I stand corrected. I still don't agree with the policy simply because of my past experience with the company.

We will have to disagree on this point. Inamed most certainly does certify RNs to do fills. *I* personally have been invited to a certification class from Inamed. I will be going the next time the class is available. They have certification classes every few months. I was scheduled for the last one but was unable to make it at the last minute. I will be attending the next one.

I believe what you are referring to is that they won't certify just any RN. I have to be referred by a physician, and I am. A GI surgeon in my area is referring me. Matter of fact, he'd like to attend as well as he may consider doing fills. He is not a bariatric surgeon but a GI surgeon. He'd be great for fills, especially those not banded in the US or if someone's doc moves or retires. Their patients have a hard time finding a fill doc.

I have no desire to do fills, but I would like the education.

RNs access ports for a living for goodness sakes. Portacaths? Docs don't do it, RNs do. RNs are absolutely qualified to do fills with additional training, they typically have more experience accessing various types of ports than your average doc. When you go to an ER and the ER doc doesn't know how to do an unfill the best choice if your surgeon is not available is to ask for a chemo nurse because they have the expertise in accessing ports. It's what they do for a living.

Yes, I used to be one other those RNs that accessed Portacaths for a living. I also accessed Subclavian lines as well along with central lines, picc, etc. Just because I had the knowledge to access the line does not mean that I have the knowledge to give a fill or to handle an overfill. I just think it should be in a controlled environment in case something goes unexpectedly. Just my opinion.

Nobody should be accessing any port for any reason unless in a controlled environment such as an office setting.

I got my information and invitation from Bart Bandy (yep, that's his real name) to the certification class. He used to be the owner of Inamed. After he sold Inamed to Allergan he is now the Sr. VP for Allergan.

It is the sales manager for Allergan that was giving out bad info on who may attend the certification class. I believe Bart Bandy corrected him on this info quite some time ago, such as about six months ago.

There is an Inamed certified fill nurse in Arizona. She and her paramedic daughter are both Inamed certified, neither work for a doc (the RN is a RN Midwife and works out of her own office, no MD available in her office) and she went to the certification class.

I just hope they have really good professional consultation insurance. I am sure they are quite good at what they do and are very careful but it just concerns me that this is going on. Again just my opinion.

The information you received is quite frankly, incorrect.

I should have prefaced my post to say that my information is from about a year ago. So Inamed/Allergan could have changed their policy since then. If so then I stand corrected. I still don't agree with the policy simply because of my past experience with the company.

No, they haven't changed their policy. Don was just giving out wrong information.

I suspect that he gets calls on a daily basis requesting info on getting certified to do fills. Too many people that want to do their own fills or a gazillion others that want to start a "fill" career. So he just doesn't tell about the class. To be honest, I can't blame him yet when there is a legit person they will be given wrong info.

I don't agree with a lot of policies of Inamed. While I think they have a good product I believe the company is run with the morality of a stray alley cat. I just don't like them, far too much dishonesty for my tastes. That's why I'm thrilled there is now another FDA approved band, J&J. Perhaps Inamed will be forced to clean up their act a bit.

I talked to my doctor today during my first fill and asked about slippage. He said they pull a piece of your stomach up over the band to hold it into place and stitch it in. He said they've done tons of surgeries and have never (so far :rolleyes) had any slippages or erosions.