Question

[Amanda]

I must have missed a page or two in the packet Dr. Allam gave me or I read a post wrong. You don't get saline at the hospital? Isn't it $250 a fill up or down, so if at 3 wks I need it added then a week later more then a little taken out I would have to pay $750 for that?

[Regina]

Hi, Amanda your best bet to get the correct cost of what it would be for you is to call Pauline at the office. They can explain everything to you.

I am sure that maybe Jamie or someone else here that had the surgery can tell you but I'm wondering if it is different for everyone depending on there insurance.;)

[Jamie]

Hi Amanda,

Like Regina said, if you have any questions about the payments you should ask Pauline in the office and she will give the correct answer for your particular plan.

I can tell you about mine, and as far as I know most plans are something like it. Now, I need you to know that I had my lapband in June 28, 2007, and a couple of things have changed since then. When I got mine, I was covered for I think it was 90 days after the operation and didn't have to pay anything for those visits. I didn't receive any fills in the hospital, I had my first fill on July 25th, when I got 2cc's at that time. Then intervals of about every two weeks I had an office visit to check up on me and to add more if needed. I believe now that they are a little more aggressive with the fills and I am not sure but you may get something in the hospital, but I think you get quicker fills and with a little more saline each time.

I can't stress enough that everyone is different and anything you hear is only an approximation because of this factor. It depends on a number of things, like the size of your band, how you are tolerating the fills, how much saline you have had administered so far, etc. Some people with a 10cc band don't need any fills and are feeling the fullness with just the restriction of the band itself. ( I don't now how common this is, but I have heard of it). Others may take three or four cc's to feel the satiety. Some may take eight or nine cc's to reach their "sweet spot". So, you see that everyone is different.

One common occurance is that you may receive a fill one day and feel the fullness and it seems to be working well, and after a few days you notice that the fullness has diminished and you may wonder why it went away, and you are eating more!!! This is probably due to the stomach calming down after the fill. You need to be patient and remember that you will get to your "sweet spot" eventually!!! This process has to be determined by Dr. Allam from asking you questions on how everything feels, how much you can eat, if you are tolerating everything, etc.

One important thing to try to do is that everytime you have a question, write it down and ask Dr. Allam at your next appointment, or call his office and they will advise you from there. Pat can be called, or you can ask her a question on her section of the message board if you have any dietary questions.

The cost of all of these steps are going to be different with each person's insurance coverage. If you call Dr. Allam's office, Pauline will help answer any questions and I am sure explain it to your satisfaction, In some cases, it will be covered just the co-pay.

I really hope this helped answer some of the questions that you had, and please keep posting because if you have a question about something, I am sure that there is someone else that has the same one and a lot of people benefit from the post.

I hope you can make the Support Group Meeting this Tuesday at the Hampton Bays Public Library. The meeting starts at 6:30, but some of us are there at 6:00 to talk to anyone before the meeting starts.

Talk to you soon,

Jamie

[Amanda]

I remember Dr. Allam telling me it was $250 a fill and most insurances dont cover it. But there could have been more. I am going to come to the meeting on tuesday and I see him on wed. so I will make sure to have my list of questions. Thank Regina and Jamie for your help. :)

[Pauline]

HI Amanda,
I just wanted to let you know that adjustment done after 90 days from surgery are covered by insurance. However patients requesting adjustment prior to the 90 days period pay for an adjustment kit which is $75. Please call me with any other questions, or feel free to e-mail me.

I hope this helps,
Pauline :o