Help! I just received a "form" letter from True Results recommending that at my 1 year bandiversary, I should schedule this procedure that may or may not be covered by insurance and that may or may not require an unfill.."just to check things out"

If I am doing ok, why do I need this? Is this just a money generating procedure? I am not inclined to rock the boat at this point, and dont really care to do it since I am not having any bad or problematic symptoms. I also don[t remember being told I would need this a year ago. Is this something new??:cursing::confused::scared2:

Who is True Results and why are they suggesting you have this procedure? I just passed my one year anniversary and this was not suggested to me. Having said that, I do have this done when I have my regular colonoscopy. I will do this in the spring and then I will discuss the situation with my doctors.

True Results is a business that calls itself a Bariatric center. Many of the Docs here in Texas refer their lap band patients to this center to have them do the fills and unfills and barium swallows.

The practitioners, as far as I can tell, are nurses and PA's, NOT Docs. However the Docs share charting information with them, and I presume, must have some financial role in the support of the center. (I wonder if I could find some disclosure information somewhere)

Over the years, the service they offer has changed, and not for the better. Initially, fills were done under fluoro. Now, they are done blind. Makes me nervous every time I have to get a fill. What if they miss? Does the nurse/PA know what he or she is doing? Is it a new PA, or a seasoned one??

Fluoro is available, and can be done, but only if ordered by a doc, which the docs don't do, probably because it is more expensive, and takes more time.

It used to be easy to make or change an appointment for a fill, but now, you have to call, leave a message, and wait for them to get back to you. Once you get there for your fill, people are lined up like cattle waiting in line for their turn.

All in all, it seems to be the business of medicine here, and that always leads to cutting corners etc. That is why I am so suspect of the suggestion that I undergo this procedure even though I am not having any problems. I don't remember being told that this would be necessary a year ago. I am a full private pay for full services, so I doubt that my insurance company is going to pay for this. (And why should they, if it isn't even necessary?) Moreover, this procedure was not mentioned as something that would be necessary as part of my original deal. So, I am suspicious. Also, I have not seen anything anywhere on this forum or on google about this procedure as a recommendation just because the patient is one year out. Smells very fishy to me. And unethical. :whatchutalkingabout

In the just over a year that I have been banded, my doctor only used the fluoro once and that was when I had a problem and needed to be unfilled. If you are not having a problem I would not bother. You might want to get an opinion from your primary care physician before answering.

Thanks Abby.

The problem is that my surgeon is one of the people who support True Results, the business. So it seems like a conflict of interest to me, especially since I have never heard of this recommendation. There are no medical/literature references to this procedure in the letter. It just says it is recommended. OK. By whom? Since when? Why didn't they tell me this a year ago when I signed up? Why don't more people know about this? I was hoping to hear from others on the forum as to whether they had been told the same thing. :whatchutalkingabout

I've had problems with acid reflux for years so when I have my colonoscopy they do scope my esophagus. If what you say "

The problem is that my surgeon is one of the people who support True Results, the business. So it seems like a conflict of interest to me..." is true then I believe that is not only unethical but illegal.

If i were in your position, I would talk to my lapband doctor to ask why this is recommended. I would then talk to my primary care doctor to order the test in a facility my insurance would cover making sure my primary care doctor shared the results with my lapband doctor.

"I would then talk to my primary care doctor to order the test in a facility my insurance would cover making sure my primary care doctor shared the results with my LAP-BAND^® doctor."

Hmm. Good advice. I don't have a primary care doc, but I do know a gastroenterologist not affiliated with True Results who may be in my insurance network. I will pick her brain and see what she thinks.

i have been warned... I have to have one each june.

teri