I had my band placed on in April, 2006. The first year was a breeze and I lost a ton of weight. In month 13 of my journey, I was overfilled and slipped my band. Since then, I seemed to have developed an intolerance for my band. I have slipped it twice, constantly choke on my food, and have been miserable.

On April 2nd, I will be revising from the lapband to the gastric sleeve. Dr. Aceves will be doing the revision in Mexico. I have decided to chronicle my experience here, so others that have band issues and decide to convert can have an idea of what to expect.

I spoke with Nina, the patient coordinator yesterday and we now have everything scheduled. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I will leave here on April 1st, have my surgery on the 2nd and return home on the 5th. My mother will be accompanying me on the trip.

Nina advised me that Dr. Aceves is concerned about swelling due to the problems I have had with my band. Therefore, I am going this week for a complete unfill. Then, seven days before my surgery, I have to go on a complete liquid diet. This should alleviate any swelling issues and the chances of having to have the band removed and then go back at a later date for the sleeve. It is very important to me that I get this all done at the same time.

I am looking forward to this, and feel like I have been given a new opportunity at life. To those who have helped me to be able to get the sleeve, thank you. Because of you, I now am looking forward to enjoying life again, instead of living in misery.

I will update as I go through this journey.

Susan - SOOOOOOOOO glad you are feeling better -- I am sure it was a bit scary. I can't believe people thought you actually had the swine flu. Thanks for the information on the sleeve, I received an email today from Nina at Dr. Aceves office. I am to meet with a surgeon here in LV who is one of the best in the city and did my DBF hernia repair -- he's very anal and he, too, has never had a leak or a slipped band ... so if he's unable to meet or at least come close to the price Dr. Aceves gave me, I'll be going to Mexico. We live in Las Vegas, so will probably just drive down there ... or do you think it best to fly from San Diego to Mexicali? Not so much worried about the trip down - thinking of the trip home after surgery. Hopefully I'll meet others on here who will have surgery close to mine ... I'll be sure to let everyone know once I have a date.

Dr. Teng?????????????

Yes, WaSa, Dr. Teng. You live in LV? Know of him?

Yes, WaSa, Dr. Teng. You live in LV? Know of him?

I know of him. He's over $25K for a lousy sleeve and he's only done 25 of them. I wouldn't dream of going to anyone that has done less than 250 sleeves AND 250 bypass (staple line experience).

Since he's only done 25 sleeves I would hope he hasn't had a leak! ;o)

I have been following this thread and was hoping Susan would fill us in on the snafu with her usual surgeon. I hate it when you have to change dr's. You just get one trained and then have to start all over again.

WasA, it was 100% worth it. Today we held our annual volunteer appreciation luncheon. Last year, I missed half of our volunteers get their awards because I was in the ladies room choking on my lunch. This year, I was able to eat my lunch with no worries and got to enjoy all the festivities. It was so nice.

The snafu with my old surgeon was sad that it even happened. I will first state, that I think the surgeon himself is amazing, wonderful and fabulous. It is his office staff I take issue with. I was feeling miserable and had only seen them as private pay in the past. This time, I was going for medical issues and it was covered by my insurance. I had always paid by check. I was miserable and when I left the house, I just grabbed a stack of cash that was on the counter, one check, my driver's license and insurance card and stuffed them in my pocket. When I got there, they told me I had a $25.00 co-pay. I went to write the check and they refused saying they no longer take checks. So, I pulled out the cash to see how much I had and it was $20.00. I told them I could pay them that, and as soon as my appointment was over, I would run up the street to my husband's work, get the additional $5.00 and come right back and give it to them. They refused to see me. I begged them to, because I was sick. I was crying and really upset, but not even the office manager would agree to let me see the doctor. I told them I paid them $16,500.00 in cash three years ago, and had been paying them close to $100.00 a month ever since and couldn't believe they were refusing to see me, someone who was obviously sick, over $5.00. They said that is policy and they would have to reschedule me. The soonest they could see me was the following week and I knew there was no way I could wait that long.

Needless to say, that left a very bad taste in my mouth. I sent them an email and told them that I am an administrator on this site and receive numerous requests from people asking what lapband doctor to go to in our area and that I have always recommended them. But, I could no longer do that in good conscience if I am worried that they have a medical issue that requires immediate attention and they would be turned away over just a few dollars. After that, they called me back and told me they felt "threatened" by me. End of story.

Susan - I work with doctors and their offices all the time -- my guess would be that your doctor has absolutely NO IDEA what has happened and that he never saw your email. I had an issue with my doctor's office (over a billing issue) and couldn't get any results from his billing department, so I sent him a letter - REGISTERED -- that way ONLY he can get the letter ... or send it FedEx with restricted delivery where he has to sign for it -- and let him know what happened. My guess is that he doesn't have a clue. I also suspect that since it is his name and reputation that will suffer, not that of his support staff, that there will be a come to Jesus talk. I know that most doctors do care about the well being of their patients and are not in it only for the money ... sometimes the staff tends to take the "policy" to literal and won't cut anyone any slack.

As for them feeling "threatened" by you I'm sure it's more they are worried that the doctor will find out what they have done than anything you can do to them. Word of mouth can be helpful or detrimental ... they've made a huge mistake and the doctor needs to be made aware of what has happened.

Let us know what happens.:ohmy:

Susan: I totally agree with VegasAngel. You should speak with or write the doctor personally. What a ridiculous situation! We own a veterinary clinic and it drives me crazy when employees take things to literally. I know that we would want to know if something like that happened. Whoever you dealt with should be fired and if the surgeon was behind it (which I doubt) than he deserves to have his name smeared! Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better. Take care!

I know of him. He's over $25K

This is something that has always amazed me about bariatric surgery. The prices vary WILDLY and you most definitely *don't* get what you pay for all the time.

My surgeon has done more sleeves than anyone in the country. We live in a high CoL area too. But he only charges $17,500 for a sleeve.

If you don't want to go to Mexico, for whatever reason, you'd be much better off coming here to CA and getting him than you would be going to someone who has only done 25 sleeves and charges $7,500 more!

After that, they called me back and told me they felt "threatened" by me. End of story.

Customer support code for "we know we're wrong but we'll never admit it."

Actually, the doctor is the one who stated their practice now felt threatened by me. Later that day, they did call me back saying one of the other doctors agreed to see me, but by then I was over them.

Actually, the doctor is the one who stated their practice now felt threatened by me. Later that day, they did call me back saying one of the other doctors agreed to see me, but by then I was over them.

You don't know for sure that the doctor was the one that sent it ... or that he knows your side of the story ... trust me, his front desk staff and office manager can be sneaky ... in an effort to protect themselves. I've found sometimes they are just down right nasty and then when I actually get the opportunity to talk to the doctor himself (re deposition, expert testimony, etc.) s/he had no idea.

So, if you aren't ready to let the matter lie, I would take the time to send him a letter. If you're so over it by now, then I'd put the matter to bed and move on.

:thumbup:

Yea, they are spinning this with the whole "we feel threatened thing".

They want to tell people how they are the victom, and they want to let people think you were unreasonable. It is a typical stategy employed by companies when they screw up.

Just try and make yourself a victom and make people think that the other person is just crazy. I have seen it hundreds of times. It works, thats why business people do it.

Actually, the doctor is the one who stated their practice now felt threatened by me. Later that day, they did call me back saying one of the other doctors agreed to see me, but by then I was over them.

You did the right thing and it was VERY smart to look for another surgeon. The MD feeling threatened by you is a good thing. Maybe he will learn from this and treat patients the way he swore to in the oath he took. MDs really are a dime a dozen and WE employ THEM. You FIRED him for failure to do what you hired him for and THAT was the best action.

Actually, the doctor is the one who stated their practice now felt threatened by me. Later that day, they did call me back saying one of the other doctors agreed to see me, but by then I was over them.

Call 'em back. Tell them they have no need to feel threatened by you but there are a whole bunch of people on LapBandTalk that they *should* feel threatened by.

HA!

Susan, I would be posting this story in a few places with the full name of the doctor. Here, the general boards, OH, everywhere. Also, a good solid testimonial on OH would be quite nice as well. You do know about the doctor testimonials, right?

After that, they called me back and told me they felt "threatened" by me. End of story.

Umm, wow. Best to be rid of that office I think. I feel sorry for the doctor. His staff is going to ruin his practice.

That's so crazy Susan that they made such a big deal out of $5. That's just insane. Especially since you are an

established patient.

I have had ulcers a couple of times and never threw up. I just had terrible pain. They can do a blood test now for an ulcer. It's a test for H pylori which is a bacterial infection. They used to think ulcers are caused by stress

but now realize most of them are bacterial infections.

I hope you get your diagnosis soon.

You've gone through so much with your band and it's time to start feeling good.

I thought of you Elizabeth and WasA when I was talking to that lady from Texas. Her band wasn't slipped, but she has been miserable ever since she got a fill. I am beginning to think bands are worthless. Mine is in my purse. ten grand sitting in my purse.