Changing Surgical Team

[zkelleybelly]

Hi, I was wondering if there is a way I can change my surgical team. I am not getting the support that I need. The nurse practitioner seems a little phony to me. Maybe it is me. I thought you were suppose to have a follow up with your surgeon every year. My 2 year is coming up on 4/24. I usually get a reminder on any appts that I make. I don't know why. But I do not want to call them because I am not happy with them.

Please help

Thanks
Donna :ohwell:

[MoOrLess]

I don't know who your surgeon is - but I know that mine wants to see me every month for the first year - and then various times throughout the second year - and always expects me to continue our 'relationship' from there.....have you been banded 2 years now? and no follow-up? I honestly never get a notice in the mail or a reminder - other than reminders that I have an appointment scheduled -- so you may have to call them. Sometimes it is tricky to change surgical support due to fills and insurance coverage - you will have to check with your insurance company (unless you are self-pay) I imagine

[little t]

I know that it is possible. I was supposed to change surgeons since I moved 2 1/2 hours away. My surgeon gave me a referral to another surgeons office close to my home. My problem was that when I called the new surgeons office, the lady was pretty rude, so I never went. Now I just drive 2 1/2 hours to see my surgeon.

[bgrand]

It's important to get the followup care you need!!!
So either let them know that your not happy with them and hopefully they can correct any problems that exist. If they cannot resolve the problems, then I personally would have to find someone else that would take care of me.
Good luck.

[Dustbunny]

Donna:
I may be confused, but your ticker seems to say that you have lost 6 pounds in two years, is that right?
Maybe you need to work a lot more closely with your surgeon, or someone in a fill center.
Maybe if you go into your surgeon's office with the attitude that you are going to redouble your efforts and really put the band to good use, you may find that nurse practitioner becoming more helpful.
Good luck to you. i hope you find a solution that works for you and brings you satisfaction. DB

[zkelleybelly]

thanks for the info.

[zkelleybelly]

no, actually i have lost 55 lbs. I should go back in and change my true start weight. I only put in the weight a couple of weeks ago.

[bgrand]

congratulation on your success.

[Dustbunny]

I'm glad it wasn't 6 pounds, I was feeling pretty bad for you.
I'm coming up on a year now and I'm 50 to 55 pounds down, but not moving most of the time. The scale that is.
I dread going to the doctor, and his team are all really nice. I can't imagine what it would be like to go in and have the support folks make me uncomfortable. DB

[chattykathywlc]

I have thought about trying to find another Doctor too. There is no Dietitian, psych help, no support groups and my fills cost 450.00, I am self pay and the $ is a huge factor stopping me from getting the fills I need. I have learned so much from this site since I was banded, things I wish I had learned before. He's a great doctor, but out of town a lot and like I said before...no real support and too expensive.
Whhhhaaah, thanks for letting me vent!
Kat

[Lovemylpband]

Sorry to hear so many of you are having troubles. This site and others are so helpful to me. We sure do learn a lot from one and other don't we!

[Kim G]

As many know I personally work for my surgeon's office now.....and if you are happy w/ your surgeon and not the staff you need to let the surgeon know directly. A lot of times they don't know.

Good Luck!!!! Keep up the fantasic weight loss!

[carojlittle]

I had a major personality conflict with the surgeon who did my band and it turned me off of fills for about two years. Not once did I hear from their office about aftercare or reminders or anything. I finally (after about a 30 pound loss) started looking for a physician for aftercare who would take me on and found a wonderful doctor in Carrollton, TX. I learned more about the band and proper nutrition in 15 minutes with his PA than I did in two three hour seminars from the first one. His initial new patient fee was $250 and the fills are $168 after that. On top of that, the doctor walks and then has coffee with his patients on the first Saturday of each month. I also thought that I would have to pay for the fills, but somehow the way their office billed it, Medicaid and Medicare paid for most of it and I was only required to come up with about $50. Anyway, there are reasonable aftercare doctors out there, you just have to do a little research and make a few phone calls to find the right one for you. Good luck!!