Hey everyone,

Long story short - I have had severe complications with my lap band (very rare infectious disease) and I need a doctor located in or near Waco, TX. to remove my band. I can't go back to my current doctor because he "doesn't want to" remove the band. Any recommendations? I have BlueCross Federal insurance. Thanks everyone!

I am not sure about a doctor near Waco, but I would begin looking online for bariatric surgeons in the area as a start.

I saw that you have had a 75 pound loss so far which looks wonderful.

Can you give us a little more information regarding the situation? Why doesn't your doctor want to remove the band? What kind of complications are you having? Does the doctor think your complications have been resolved or should not be too serious in the future?

My Dr treated me as if I am a hypochondriac, ignoring my symptoms for long enough that an abcess formed, I have a wound in my stomach now that has to be packed with gauze 2x daily. I believe my weight loss is due to the fact that I have been unable to eat for large periods of time (eating one can of Soup a week, for example). I have had 2 surgeries since the band was put in (one to lance the abcess, one to remove my port), neither of which has seemed to really help me in the long run. I have been told by other doctors now that I need to have the whole device removed, but the surgeon has said he is almost 100% sure that it shouldn't be removed (and as he was sure that I didn't need the port removed, as he was sure that there was nothing wrong with me before, I'm skeptical). I have doctors who are experts in the disease I now have that say that the band has to come out and I have to be on antibiotics for 6 more months. :biggrin:

I have no energy, cannot lift anything, cannot do much of anything but sit or lay down. A trip to the doctor or a quick run into Walmart wears me out now. With this has gone my self esteem and has come a depression... and also I had to take incompletes in my classes and miss work, so I am definitely "over" this surgery and the band definitely has to be removed.

Thanks for the congrats... I think this whole experience will make me think twice about eating too much, because I'll have this to think about when I consider eating something bad...

try the web site lapband.com because they have a surgeon locator you just put in your zip code and they show the ones closest to you. I do hope that you get better soon, with or without the band.

Sherry

Try Dr. Oswalt or Dr. Ted Smith, they do bariatric surgery here in Waco. I believe they are at the surgical clinic on Fish Pond Rd.