I was banded on Nov. 26th and I have had nothing but problems. From infections to a broken rib etc.... I went to Tallgrass Bariatric Surgery in Topeka Ks and I was wondering if anyone else on here had been there and had problems??? This has been the worst thing I have ever been thru in my life!! I have been in the hospital 2xs. My band has been completely swollen shut and has not healed since my surgery. I haven't had any real food for 3 months. I have lost over 50 lbs. which is great but its not the way I imagend it. I have been starving at some points I can't even drink Water and thats when I have been put into the hospital for dehydration. I have been gaining a little weight because of the steroids they have me on. I have had to get my regular physician involved because my dr. will not listen to me. He saw for himself in a barium swallow that nothing was going down but he isn't that concerned. But my regular dr. sure is. Its very heartbreaking and has taken its toll on me physically. And my family for always having to run me to the dr. which is 2 hrs away from where I live. I am not happy with everthing that has gone on and I was just wondering if anyone else on here has gone to the place in Topeka Ks??

I hope to here from someone I need some encouragement badly!! I'm one of those people that is probably going to reject the band. I paid for this out of my pocket, my insurance wouldn't pay anything. Its like they got their money and now they are done. I have never been treated so badly by a dr. ever. So give me a shout out if anyone else has gone thru this in some way or another.

Thanx!:shades_smile:

Broken rib and you're telling yourself you are just someone who rejects the band????? This does not sound like anything you should be blaming your body for. It sounds like a major surgical screwup. Don't let anyone tell you this is any part of your fault. I bet if an attorney gets in touch with your doctor, he will be much more attentive.

Also, ER doctors will treat you for emergencies related to the band, regardless of where you got it or who did it. They have to. They certainly couldn't say "I didn't do your knee replacement, so I'm not treating the life threatening infection from it" can they??

I live in Topeka. I was banded on 02/14/08 in Mexico, because of the horror stories I have heard about Tallgrass. I orig. went to them and was sched. to have my surgery this month, but my best friends mom is a nurse there and told me to stay away!! I am also self pay and didnt want to risk anything going wrong! PM me n tell me who your reg doc is....

-Courtney

:angry:Don't waste your time being patient with this bonehead doctor. Don't go back there! There's got to be another bariactric specialist somewhere near you. Maybe your regular doctor can help you find one. I hope you get some good results soon. Keep us posted.

Man I agree that sucks call a lawyer I thought my doctors office would check up on me it has been 7 days. Like u said all they care is about getting there money who do you go to if you have problems. I have no Ideal what am I suppose to do next. I glad for this wonderful website and all these people who are so caring. My family will pray for you, I hope everything goes okay for you. It seems like these doctors our out for themselves and screw everyone else.

I totally agree with you!!! I have never felt more like a "number" in all of my life! My thing is....if they can't even stay in touch with you after surgery, to me they have too many patients. I was dying to get in there to get this life saving thing done for myself (literally) and now I'm dying to be able to be normal again. Now that I know there are more like this and getting treated the same way I am. It makes me mad and makes me want to fight even harder to get something done about this. I don't know about you but I paid my money up front. No insurance. Blue Cross will not pay anything. So like many others I have talked to, I had to get a loan. Which was not easy.

I too am very greatful for this web site. It has helped me sooo much. Because my dr. sure hasn't helped. I have had more ?s answered on here then he has. And actually some things he has told me were totally different than what I have been told by actual people who have gone or going thru this.

I hope you are doing well and I too will keep you in my prayers. Thank you for your reply and keep in touch please.

Stephanie

I have tried to see another surgeon but they won't take me because they don't want to be liable. Which in some ways I understand, I put myself in there place but it sure doesn't solve the problem. I don't want to go back to my dr. but it looks like I have to in order to get fixed. But its hard because the trust has been broken and I'm very offended by his behavior.

I have to go back there this week and I will get some answers one way or another. Then we will see what happens from there.

Thank you for sending me your comment and I'll keep in touch.

St. Mary's / Duluth Clinic Health System

I am so sorry to hear of your problems. However, I would never had thought a rib could possibly have been broken until I watched the entire surgery. Not for the weak stomach. Reason being the force used when inserting the instruments for the camera's and the tools. They literally shove them into our mid section! Very traumatic looking to say the least. I hope this link works. Every lap band patient should watch it so they can fully realize why we may have the pain or after affects that we do. Good luck.

I have tried to see another surgeon but they won't take me because they don't want to be liable. Which in some ways I understand, I put myself in there place but it sure doesn't solve the problem. I don't want to go back to my dr. but it looks like I have to in order to get fixed. But its hard because the trust has been broken and I'm very offended by his behavior.

I have to go back there this week and I will get some answers one way or another. Then we will see what happens from there.

Thank you for sending me your comment and I'll keep in touch.

Was the surgery done in a hospital? An attorney can contact the administator of the hospital and ask for 1) a peer to peer review of your surgery and 2) can suugest another surgeon at the same hospital to consult WITH your surgeon about the problems you're having. I just wouldn't trust the original surgeon alone to treat me.

The doctor is not listening your concerns or admitting there is a problem because he is scared you will sue (which you should!) Complications happen but obviously he's not helping you fix them and not giving you any compassion. I would consult with a medical malpractice lawyer. You don't have to pay anything and when you win they take 1/3 of the winnings. If you lose you don't have to pay anything. I would follow up with the best doctor you could find to fix you up and sue for those medical expenses as well. Call a lawyer asap!!

I was banded on Nov. 26th and I have had nothing but problems. From infections to a broken rib etc.... I went to Tallgrass Bariatric Surgery in Topeka Ks and I was wondering if anyone else on here had been there and had problems??? This has been the worst thing I have ever been thru in my life!! I have been in the hospital 2xs. My band has been completely swollen shut and has not healed since my surgery. I haven't had any real food for 3 months. I have lost over 50 lbs. which is great but its not the way I imagend it. I have been starving at some points I can't even drink Water and thats when I have been put into the hospital for dehydration. I have been gaining a little weight because of the steroids they have me on. I have had to get my regular physician involved because my dr. will not listen to me. He saw for himself in a barium swallow that nothing was going down but he isn't that concerned. But my regular dr. sure is. Its very heartbreaking and has taken its toll on me physically. And my family for always having to run me to the dr. which is 2 hrs away from where I live. I am not happy with everthing that has gone on and I was just wondering if anyone else on here has gone to the place in Topeka Ks??

I hope to here from someone I need some encouragement badly!! I'm one of those people that is probably going to reject the band. I paid for this out of my pocket, my insurance wouldn't pay anything. Its like they got their money and now they are done. I have never been treated so badly by a dr. ever. So give me a shout out if anyone else has gone thru this in some way or another.

Thanx!

St. Mary's / Duluth Clinic Health System

I am so sorry to hear of your problems. However, I would never had thought a rib could possibly have been broken until I watched the entire surgery. Not for the weak stomach. Reason being the force used when inserting the instruments for the camera's and the tools. They literally shove them into our mid section! Very traumatic looking to say the least. I hope this link works. Every lap band patient should watch it so they can fully realize why we may have the pain or after affects that we do. Good luck.

No, it wouldn't happen from the instruments. All the instruments are placed under the rib cage. Something else happened.

The instruments aren't really forced in there but I understand it looks as though they are. ;o) It's actually not difficult because they aren't having to go through a great deal of muscle. It's mostly fat and fat is like butter with a sharp instrument.

I'm interested in the broken rib and how the heck that happened!