port stretched over the years-mean doctor too

 I had my surgery in 2007(in fact my old profile is so old I forgot the log in info and had to create a new acc) I lost about 85 pounds.This year and half I have gained 12 pounds after 2 surgeries (Hysterectomy, Gall Baldder removal) and was bed/house bound for nearly one year pre surgery(I had to drop out of school go on full disability) I had sever endometriosis and gained 5-6 pounds from the hormones so initally I was at my goal 3 years ago at 140-43 pounds and shot to 148 and that was to be expected, I got worse and became unable to walk from the pain went under countles explaps and other horrid things when I finally had a Gyn Queen encourage a much needed Hysterectomy (partial meaning just uturus) I quickly went down to 143 after stopping the hormones -I had my gall bladder removed the same day so I healed slowly over 12 weeks when I suddenly developed FMS(Fibromyalgia) and on top of my degenerative disk disorder and other mobiliy issues I lost some muscle strength.
I may have eaten 'comfort foods'more often and admit to drinking lots of juice which is high in calories.
OK so NOW I am updated to a month ago when my weight gain went to 154 pounds and if you have lost the weight you understand the sheer terror of being heavy again happens. I felt my band was not as tight anymore. I am on medicare and medi-cal and I had my surgery in TJ, meaning I have to go to a Doctor whom gave me my first 2 fills. Dr. Cirangle here in San francisco. This mans demaner has changed from a once caring man to a brash mean cranky as**. He berated me for either eating myself into stretching my stomach (which I had never heard of) he advised that I should get an Xray upper GI which I never was told I should have my prior two visits .I asked if it were ethicle to have him give me a tiny fill before the Xray and I feel he  wanted my money(on ssa not cool) and said yes and if I shown stomach stretching he would kindly remove the fluid for free so it can bounce back (I guess the stomach will heal back smaller)and when I asked about filling it back after he scofed and sneered that he had overhead and wasn't running  a charity. I took the fill fearing I may bever get one again he is the head of sg CPMC bariatric too , I have yet to get my upper GI he said to give it til about now to make an app but I FEAR going back to him. I feel he should not have given me a fill but did so out of greed and my fear of being heavy again. I have no idea if I have stretched my tummy I have almost 4cc in a smallest band size(I forget honestly it may be 5 cc or 6 not 8) and I do have some restriction but nothing more after the fill I had a month ago. I was told that my Doctor Lopez Carvollo(sp?) does this reinforces attchment to the wall to prevent prolapse but i lost his info too(I had in time a flood and lost lots of paper work) I have no signs of discomfort  and Doctor Cirangle said it felt in place(not prolapsed or lower or off).but now I am terrified and feel I should get the upper GI series but after he removes the fluid if it is stretched I wonder if I have a leg to sand on to at least ask to get a discount in his $375 charge! I am so confused and scared!  My scale is a bit unreliable I weigh different all over the house but I assume tohave lost 5 pounds since my fill which is good, I just have that horrid fear of gaining and i am being very good about my diet now .I admit I was eating some mashed taters and stuff when I was post surgery but the weight gain is scaring me though I am right at the top of my weight limit I am having nightmares and that scary Doctor makes things worse, I know I could go to another Doctor but they will not remove the fluid gratas and charge for that and the refill..ugh maybe I need to bring an advocate but I feel he really took advantage of me and my fear to get money when there is a high chance I can be streched the right thing to do I heard now is that he should have demanded the xray first then make his choice ...this guy has very bad yelp reviews I am not the only person he has been mean too-his energy is way off not the same guy I had 2 fills from years ago.

 sweetie, I'm so sorry you've had all of these health problems.  YOU MUST GET TO A DIFFERENT SURGEON.  Explain your cir****tances and I know for a fact that MEDICARE pays for fills and unfills.  Stress brings on flares to your fibro so don't stress having to see this asshole again.  Look around and call other bariatric surgeons.  SF is a huge city, so I know you'll find one. When you call another doc don't bad mouth this current doc; just say he was not really willing to help due to your new health problems.  Then explain all you've been through with your health and you're looking for help with your band.

 Thanks so much for your compassionate reply. I know medicare does pay but I have yet to find a Doctor in San Francisco that takes it, I will be making calls asap Monday to Hospitals where i may have more luck in fact I do plan to get the uper GI because he scared me so much (yet took my money) and if there is a issue I bet they may be more open to acepting medicare as I would require surgery if it prolapses. Honestly, I have never eaten to such fullness that my stomach could stretch he insinuates I was a huge pig and just shamed me, I cried after the appontment. I would not bad mouth him until I had my eggs in a basket, I have seen bad yelp reviews of him being a jerk and all about $$$ I do have a lot of health issues for 36! I don't have an advocate really, all my friends who went through this with me have moved away, my partner is taking care of so many of my other needs and he would have punched the Doctor(maybe not literally) for speaking so harshly to me. I never felt so ashamed. San Francisco may sem super big but it is not the city for the poor! I think it feels good to even have anyone get how I am feeling, scared,vulnerable and alone. I told my friends who are far away and they are outraged. I can't believe this is the same kind Doctor that filled me back in 2007 he was so nice then.  I guess the quest of finding a medicare doc in San Francisco begins again pending the outcome of the xray I hope it is all good and I don't have to deal with it. 

 Do you have a Medicare supplement?  I have a med-advantage plan that replaces Medicare and is accepted more places...these plans cost as little as $100 per month, so it might be worth exploring the options and sign up for one during open enrollment.  Good luck!

 oh i have medi-cal state run I can't aford 10 per month I am on SSDI

 I am on SSDI as well.  Trying to help.  I'm confused about the "port stretching" and the doctor saying he's not running a charity.  CPMC is pretty respected....have you talked to your doctor about the way he made you feel?  Are you taking any steroids?  I'm very sensitive to them and they make me very emotional and sensitive.  Remember, we all got here the same way and are trying to help.  Hope things work out for you soon.
Steph

 I am a cpmc patient for a few things. I may have confused the language what he mentioned is you can stretch the tummy by over eating which I do not do. I have yet to talk to him as I feel scared. Steroids? I dn't get it like prednisone? I don't take anything but 1 flexiril at night and tend to go more acupuncture,chiro, I have to be careful withany pain medications as my kidneys are sensitive to apap and IB. Nsaids have to be used sparingly. I am currently considering Orthomoleculart  therapy for my FMS.

 I mentioned steroids (prednisone for example) because you mentioned you might be a bit sensitive to the doctors comments...steroids make me an emotional mess...
I also have back problems and a knee that needs replaced and rely on chiropractic adjustments to minimize my pain.  Hope you're feeling a bit better about things!

Ditto find somebody else asap.

I'm also confused.  Did he say the port stretched?  Is the band stretched?   Or is the pouch above the band stretched?  It is normal for the band to become loser as you lose weight.  You lose fat off the stomach itself between it and the band.

 he said it is possible that my stomach may have stretched from eating too much but I never eat too much or it is uncomfortable I honestly think my weight gain is a combo of smoking cessation,surgery,lack of exercise due to health problems and I admit to having occasional foods that are no no's like ice cream but he acted like Iwas eating out of a trough and having birthday cake every day. I still have some tightness and only wanted a tweak to help lose the 16 pounds I am technically overweight in (again my scale is being off I either weigh 147-149 anyway yeah if your tummy stretches than you can eat more and it can cause  a prolapse but he did feel it and said it felt proper. He was just so meanI felt like a 'fat pig' being tld no more donuts! However he encourages this almost atkins like diet that I find suspect..