Would you be angry?

[lindata 1]

Zipnqueen - sorry for taking so long to reply! I haven't been on this site for a while.

I really like Dr. Gibbs. I think he is a VERY competent surgeon. I had absolutely no complications. And in the beginning you think every twinge is a slip or your pouch is distended or whatever "complication" you're reading about on LBT that day, so I'd call and they always made me feel so much better. They just seemed so competent that I never felt anxiety after talking to the nurse.

But I would be VERY clear about what the price is. For example, I thought I was paying X for the surgery, then got a bill for blood work. I had to pay for the blood work. This was not discussed. I let that one go.

I don't think he's done many lapbands (but that could have changed since I had mine done), but he's done a heck of a lot of gastric bypass (which is a way harder surgery than bypass). I figure if they're excellent with bypass then they're gonna be good with the lapband.

The one I did not let go was the $175 fee for fills plus the $55 (or whatever it was) fee for the office visit. It stated very clearly on my forms I should be prepared to pay $175, no mention whatsoever of an office visit. I raised it and kept raising it with him directly until he agreed that I shouldn't have to pay it.

Now that they've "learned their lesson" I guess from me, I would assume they're going to put it very clearly in their forms exactly what people have to pay. The reason they gave me for this flub up was that they're used to insurance-paid people doing it, thus they don't really care what they're being charged because they're not paying out of pocket, whereas people who pay it out of pocket DO care and it matters very much what is actually written in the brochure.

Dr. Gibbs told his nurse that "we've got to change this" meaning the brochure they give out. So I'm just assuming they will change it to include the office visit fee. If you still want to pay that much, go ahead. I really, really like Dr. Gibbs. Like I said, he's very competent, but very busy (but then what doctor isn't).

Another thing I did not like was a LOT of info on the band I did not get from the seminar or the brochures I was given, but right here on LBT. I've come to realize most doctors give out waaaay more info than I got - but then again I didn't go to Dr. Gibbs' seminar, I went to his partner's seminar (can't remember his name right now).

I know Dr. Wellborn has free fills for, I don't know, 1.5 years, and then $100 thereafter (fills, including office fees all for $100), but I did NOT like that he wasn't in a hospital setting. I felt way more comfortable being in a hospital for my first ever surgery, in case something went wrong and they could hopefully "fix me" sooner than in a private clinic setting.

I understand your nervousness. I was a basket case and crying and shaking. Then they put something over your mouth to breath in and you don't remember a thing!

I would try to get a private room if I were you though. There was no end of interruptions due to the very old lady next to me through the day and night and I didn't get the rest that I should have.

I guess the thing is you have to be your own advocate. So make sure you nail down your prices, and make sure when you're in the hospital they're actually doing what they're supposed to - I had to insist on getting those leg bands which help circulation. I kept saying, "Aren't I supposed to have those leg thingies by now?" and they kept looking for them, and then forgetting about me, so then I had to keep asking ...

Any more questions? I think I've exhausted just about every avenue! haha Good luck on everything!

Linda