Looking for new lapband doctor in NJ. Please help!!

I have been trying to get in to my doctor's office for a fill for long enough.  I was unfilled back in February due to reflux which has since been totally resolved.  Since then I have gained back 10 lbs.  I have been fighting tooth and nail to maintain my weight but its a battle that I simply cannot win without restriction.  My doctor's office is constantly behind in appts and always overbooked.  I called in March and was told I cannot get in for a fill until MAYBE sometime in July.  I was told to call back then.  I am tired of fighting with this office that has obviously taken on more patients than they can handle.  This is not RNY!!  A lapband's patient's success is based on the maintenance provided AFTER the surgery and this office is obviously unable to followthrough with that.  Don't get me wrong.  I really liked both doctors that provided me with service, Dr. Bertha and Dr. Garrison, but my goal is to lose weight and this has become extremely frustrating and tiresome for me.  Please provide me with any recommended doctors that you may know of.   Thanks!!

Hi, I am sorry to hear about your frustration, there are a lot of people on this site who have had the Lap Band, am sure someone will respond to you.  If not, did you call your Insurance company they are the ones that should help you with this.  My Insurance company has a representative that kept in touch with me after my RYN surgery, in order to make sure I was getting everything that I needed.  I think they will be able to help you.  The reason why am also responding to your post is I saw you said you had acid reflux.  Ever since I had my surgery I have acid reflux, and I have to take prilocsec otc everyday. 2 pills a day.  I also chew tums like they are going out of style, I am almost a year out and I think I will live this way forever.  I was just wondering out you corrected this?  Anyway, I hope my suggestion was helpful.  Good-Luck!!!!

The last fill not only corrected it but over corrected it.  I have no reflux whatsoever, nor do I have any restriction.  As soon as they loosened the band, the reflux went away.  Since being slightly unfilled, I have gained 10 lbs and I work out everyday.  I mean hard core work outs.  It just hasn't helped.  If you are suffering from daily reflux, you definitely need to get a slight unfill and I'm sure you will feel relief.  Don't keep suffering that way.  My band just tightened up on me out of nowhere.  Everything was fine for months, then BAM, I was sooo tight and sliming all the time.  It would even attack me in my sleep.  I would sometimes wake up choking and gasping.  Because of my successful weight loss, I really didn't want to tell the doctor or anyone else about how I was suffering because despite it all, I was losing weight and feeling good otherwise.  But eventually it got to be too much and I called for a slight unfill.  Unfortunately they don't know the definition of "slight" and took out too much.  Now the weight has begun to rise all over again.  Its very upsetting to me. Thank you for your well wishes, now go take care of YOU!! 

Hi  Thank you, I didn't have LApBand, so I can't be unfilled.  I guess I have to live with this.  Anyway Good-Luck to you also!!!!

Hi - although I have never met either of them - I know several people who use Dr Onopchenko and Dr Patel's practice in Little Egg Harbor / Atlantic City -- Dr Patel only does lap band.  Good luck. Nannette

I would call again and ask to speak to your Doctor. Often the gatekeepers irritate the clients when if the Dr. knew- you would be fit in a lot sooner. Try it!!! Bernadette

Solo Dancer,

I will be sending you a private message. Please look for it

Funny I should read this now.  I just got off the phone with the insurance people at Abkin/Bertha's office, and was given a similar run-around.  It's just NUTS.  They say my insurance makes me wait 90 days between fills.  I'm not so sure of that, as no one at my insurance company has ever been able to find anything saying that when I call.  By the time the office gets the paperwork done for my pre-determination, and then fit me in -- it's 4-5 months.  HELLO!  I did not have this surgery to have it do nothing.  I need easy access to fills.  I had no restriction after the swelling from surgery, and now I have minimal restriction.  I need a fill! So, let me know if you find a good solution.  I like the surgeons, and I'm not sure they know what's going on as far as the run-arounds their staff gives you.  If I could find someone else who gave fills when you needed them, I'd be really happy.

YIKES - The day  I went for my consult, I was ready to leave because they were behind schedule.  I stayed because I had heard such good things about them,.  I stayed and had my consult.  I was told then that my insurance, Horizon BCBS of NJ also makes you wait 90 days after to have a fill.   The reason being that they do in the hospital undfer fluoro and that initially it takes 90 days to heal appropriately.  In addition, it would cost $1,000 to do it myself.   They are also the only bariatric surgeons in my insurance network that are in my area. When I called them to find out about lap-band coverage, I asked about fills too.  They said that the surgeons office submits that at the time of the initial approval.  I will call Monday again to see exactly what they say. I hope that I am not making a mistake here with this group.  It seems to be the office staff that are incompetent.  I go for my pre-op class Wednesday - I will get more information then too, and voice my concerns about the fills/craziness in the office and see what happens.

I have heard that getting fills with the band can be difficult when insurance is involved.  A lot of insurance companies do not even pay for fills.  While I did wait a while at my first consult every visit since then I have been seen pretty quickly.  After having Dr. Bertha perform emergency surgery on me in the middle of night, I can understand how they can sometimes run behind.  I have never gotten the run around from the staff and have always found them very helpful.  They are very knowledgeable as to what insurance requires and what they allow.  I am sorry you are having touble getting your fills and hope you find a solution.