I'm going out on a limb here - and this won't be a happy post so if you're not in the mood to read a vent from someone who isn't in love with being banded ... maybe this is time for you to stop reading.

I was banded 1/13/06. I just 'celebrated' 3 years with my Lap-Band. Honestly - the band itself isn't horrible. But the situation I am in stinks.

Slightly less than a year after banding I relocated to the town of Hick-City in the state of Podunk - in the far recesses of the Deep Fried South.

I have tried for the past two years to find a Lap-Band surgeon who is reasonably close (no more than a 2 hour drive if I can manage it) who will see another surgeon's patients for follow-up and who will treat said patients like a human being.

So far ... no luck.

I've found two docs who will see me - but neither of them are men that I trust or can work with.

Doc #1 - I made an appointment for a consultation. He walks in tells me he's on call on the surgical floor and he doesn't do appointments when he's on call so he only has 5 minutes. I'm paying for a consult - out of pocket - and he's only giving me 5 minutes for $150.00??? It got worse though when we had this exchange:

Doc: "So you're here to discuss getting a Lap-Band?"

Me: "No. I'm post-op. As I told your receptionist I'm looking for a doctor for aftercare."

Doc: "You don't look like an after. Are you sure you had surgery?"

Me: :sneaky:

Scratch him off the list. Things went down hill from there - including his office billing both me and my insurance company under an incorrect code so he got paid for something my insurance company doesn't cover.

Doctor #2 - Well, he and I have very different ideas of what is safe. He wants me to be so tight that I can only eat 600 - 800 calories per day. I don't think that a 600 - 800 calorie per day diet is safe and I don't think being that tight is safe. Neither, by the way, does my original surgeon.

Doc #2 really capped it though the day I went in for a slight unfill because I was so tight that every single thing I at hurt (including mashed potatoes and thick blended soups) and he said, "Eating is supposed to hurt. If it doesn't hurt people like you won't stop eating and you'll never lose weight."

I have a band that is now not tight enough to provide true restriction I'm not losing weight. To add insult to injury I also have no doctor to do fills or be available if I have a complication.

I want to have the band removed. At this point it isn't doing me any good. I cannot afford 3 days and hotels and gas to go back to my surgeon every time I need a fill. I cannot find a doctor who will accept me as a patient. I am not willing to be treated like crap just to have a doctor.

So right now I'm thinking this Lap-Band was the biggest mistake I've ever made. I have $17,000 worth of surgery that is completely useless to me. Yet when I dare to say that I'm not happy with my decision someone invariably stands up and tells me it's my own fault for not looking hard enough to find a doctor or not being willing to be treated like dirt just to have a doc who wants to overfill me.

I'm not in a happy place.

Has anyone had their band voluntarily removed without complications? Am I really that big a freak?

Thanks, Determined! I'll give his office a call. I can't remember if I'd called before or not. But I think I'm due for my semi-annual round of calls anyway. :thumbup:

Carole,

Just wanted to tell you I REALLY hope you get the aftercare you deserve... Sending big hugs your way!

I lived i Atlanta before and it an adjustment for me as well. I have been here 10 years and I am still not used to it.! A friend of mine used Facundus in huntsville. She had gastric bypass but didnt have good things to say .... There are a few other Drs listed on this site in Huntsville... I think Malipar...but not good things are said . I really hope Dr. John Groves can help you..! you have come so far. u cant stop now... I hope this helps you... let me know........

I had my surgury in Birmingham, Alabama with Dr. Schmitt and he is wonderful. Give him a call and see what they say. His number is 205-838-3047. Good luck!

Best of luck to you Carole.

I drive 2 hours for fills but if I have an emergency at a strange time I have to go to the home office 4 hours away. I can live with it but the one time I did have an emergency - I can tell you that it was the longest drive of my life.

I have read again and again that the band is not much good without appropriate aftercare. I also don't think living on 600-800 is reasonable for the long term.

I agree with Kat in that there is no reason to remove it if it is not causing you any grief . . . and better options for aftercare are opening up everyday. Demand is growing and people will move in to accomodate the demand.

Good luck.

I lived i Atlanta before and it an adjustment for me as well. I have been here 10 years and I am still not used to it.! A friend of mine used Facundus in huntsville. She had gastric bypass but didnt have good things to say .... There are a few other Drs listed on this site in Huntsville... I think Malipar...but not good things are said . I really hope Dr. John Groves can help you..! you have come so far. u cant stop now... I hope this helps you... let me know........

I called Dr. Groves' office ... and yes they will take me as a patient. Unfortunately the start up cost to join their program is out of my financial reach right now. $1,500.00 just to join their program and then $100.00 for fills. The cost of the fills is no problem but I don't have the cash for the start up fee right now.

Back to the drawing board.

If I had known it would be this hard to find follow up care I would never have chosen the Lap-Band.

have you tried fillcentersusa.com? surely they would be able to find someone close to you. i had surgery in mexico so needed aftercare close to home. i have to drive about an hour and half away, but thats ok. the fillcenter charges 165 and then my doctor charges 99 for the fluoro. i had tried to just make an appt with the doctor myself and they wouldnt because of the contract w/ fillcenters. but i just had to call fillcenters and they set up the appt for you. maybe you can try that.

Wow doctor number two is just unreal. I am so sorry this happening to you. Totally frustrating. I am hoping you don't give up your search and that you find an amazing doctor to help you.

Good luck!

You have a fill doc just over 3 hours away from you. There may be some closer.