Bad fill and changing doctors

The $500 was just to be a new patient of theirs. 

Would it include tests and an XRay?

No Kate, it's just the doctors expertise, materials and support group (which would be great, but I was never able to use the support group beings 3-4 hours away).  I sure wish they would do support groups over Skype or something. 

I live in Fort Collins, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Dr Roller at northern Colorado surgical. 

Is he thru the Poudre Valley Hospital?  If not do you have a phone number or could you message me so I could ask you some questions, please?

He is associated with pvh but not a part of. He is very personable and understanding. His number is 970-482-6456 he did my lapband and my moms sleeve. Ask away with your questions

Thanks so much.  Its so nice to find someone from Colo that has had experience with the doctors office that I'm interested in.  Can you request which doctor you see?  What do you think of the other doctors Quaid, Pettine, or Dickinson?  Do you like some over the others?  Do they all do the fills or do you have PA's to do them.  When I first started in Greeley I saw the doctor for the consultation and then the PA's were the only ones you saw.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the PA's I so wish they hadn't closed their office.  I sure need to get back on track as I have gained so much weight back after the third surgery I had and never got back to loosing really good.

Do you go to support group?  Do they give you lots of ideas?  Do the doctors have clinics that they travel to in different towns?  Are you supposed to eat just when you are hungry (like once a day?) or small meals (3) and snacks?  We weren't supposed to eat over a cup at a time and start with proteins.  Thanks for you help. 

Hi, I like all the doctors there, Quiad is very good at his job, however I find him very dry and not easy to talk to I feel resistance with him when struggling and wanting a fill or not getting one. I dont feel he knew me and made judgement s based on what he thought not what I truly was saying to him. Pettine and Dickinson I hear are very good I don't see either of them. I only see Roller he has always listened to me and made me feel heard and understood, while at the same time letting me know when he felt I needed to make a change in my habits. I have also had Quiad at times(much prefer Roller). As far as I know they all could do fills, I have had fills from both the doctors as well as the RN Becky, If you are only coming in for a quick fill or unfill you see Becky. However you can request either. the office is super easy to work with I love love love Carrie and Steph at the front desk.  I don't go to a support group however they are offered through the office and are held at PVH I believe. They are extremely helpful with suggestions( although I didn't find this with Quaid) I don't know about travel clinics I wont to say no. I was told three small meals and three snacks, when you go to the office if you ask for a information binder they have everything spelled out in a nice three ring binder for you, they also have nutritionist that they can set you up with that help a ton.  I agree with the protein first and the cup size portion. I have ?'s for you also. do you have a band? I have had lots of trouble with my band and I would like a revision what are the three surgeries you had if I can ask? 

Thanks.  Also do they have you do blood tests maybe once a year or are at least interested in what medications your are taking or your history.  We used to have to fill out a sheet everytime we went in for a fill.  When they do fills to they check to see how much saline is in there before putting in more?

Sure ask away also.  I had a Realize band in on 11/13/2008.  Did really well for a while lost about 100 lbs.  Then in about June 2010 they would get more than just saline out when they checked for fluid and I also had some severe pain for a couple days (thinking maybe appendicitis).  We to family doctor and it wasn't that then it went away, but ever once in a while I could feel something poking my organs in different places.  It turned out that my tubing had come loose from the port.  (Not a surprise when you really see how it is made).  So in for surgery to fix that.  Started gaining and at a standstill so in December 2010 they couldn't draw any saline out or put any in (like things were just blocked).  So I had to get the band and port totally replaced on December 2010.  That time I got a Allergan Lap Band.  I don't know if it is just my attitude or what, but I haven't really lost anything since infact have gained about 45 lbs.  I know that I'm not exercising and have restarted that and I am not "dieting", but I never ate much to begin with so probably should have gone a different route as my problems are more like snacking and sweets.  I wish I would have gotten a sleeve, but I don't think the new insurance I had to change to will cover anything (I'm thinking not even the fills)  What problems are you having and how long have you had yours?

Yes they do check the blood work once a year, or on request. Sometimes they pull all the fluid and measure before fill other times they just fill but im sure if you ask they will measure each time. I have the allergan lapband I have never found the sweet spot, its fill unfil fill unfil. heart burn and reflux. I get things stuck even with the smallest of bites, I have tried eating smaller bites i have tried different foods, I have tried all he different things the doctor has suggested I have pain/pressure most of the time. I have had upper GI's and currently my band is empty had a fluid removed due to pain and swelling in the abdomen. I see me Doctor this Friday I want to talk to him about a revision. I'm torn on what to due because I was 204 highest and i'm 5 ft 1 in. i'm now 160 so i'm concerned a bypass(his suggestion before) will make me have a hard time at this point not sure what to do. however dont want to feel the yoyo anymore with the band but complete removal only allows me to gain my weight back.