Southern Surgical Specialists... band slippage

Well I had an upper GI and it's confirmed... a slipped band with a hiatal hernia. Actually I've had the hernia since last summer. Also, my port is turned around. My problem is... My surgeon wants to perform surgery to fix it. She was quick to suggest it too. Now it's scheduled for next week. I'm nervous. Not about the surgery per-say... but that it's not NECESSARY! They tell me some emergancy situation could occur if I continued to live with a slipped band. I do know that I have chest pains all the time. LOTS of acid reflux, night time choking... all that. Apparently most of that will go away if my band is fixed... I'm wondering if anyone else has had a slipped band. Am I crazy to think my surgeon is surgery happy? The cost, I'm not worried about. My insurance will pay for the hernia. I just have to pay the co-pay. Please respond if you've been in a similar situation! thanks! I'm also curious. Has anyone had any hesitation about this surgical group? I am.

I think you are confused, Dr. Rachel Moore does not work for Southern Surgical Specialists. Southern Surgical Specialists are a very small group in New Orleans, they have two Surgeons but both are men, they do not do lap-bands at all.

Are you going back with a band or are you considering conversion to something else.

I thought they also had a office in covington, and seems that she was with that group. Not for sure but sounds very familar Faye

No, Southern surgical Specialists are only on the westbank. You are thinking of Surgical Specialists of Louisiana.

Hi Robin, I have a slipped lap band. Yes, it is very serious and surgery is the way to fix it when reflux and pain are present. Your surgeon is not surgery happy in my opinion. I've had problems with recurrent hernias since my lap band surgery in 2004. I had a total of seven surgeries (counting band) in 14 months. My surgeon is not surgery happy. As he puts it, I just "have the worst luck ever." Hernias and slipped bands are big concerns and not a "take two antacids and call me in the morning" type. Your doctor's group is fastly becoming one of the most popular and successful bariatric practices in the South. I love my guys to death, but I must say I'm impressed with what I heard about Southern Surgical Specialists. Maybe we should talk bands, slips and hernias. At least you will know that you are not alone. Take care, Frances

Dr. Charles Thomas is the Bariatrics Doctor for Southern Surgical Specialists in Marrero, LA and Dr. Rachel Moore is with Southern Specialists of Louisiana in Mandeville and New Orleans. Dr. Thomas does not do Lap band.

Robin, I had Dr. Lavin for my RNY and I think this whole group is very good. I really don't think that she would recommend surgery unless you needed it. Good luck! Lynn J., lap RNY 9/29/04