I'm upset and angry - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Patsy · 06-03-2008, 07:21 PM

My surgeon mailed me tonight telling me that the BUPA hospitals have now been taken over by SPIRE, which incidently I did know, and he cant see them allowing a free operation for me.

For anyone that is not familiar with my case, it was discovered by a contrast study that my actual band is leaking.

I have no restriction and havent had any since February. It has taken 2 fills to ascertain this fact.

The appoinments were so hard to get that we are now in June and I have put on weight and now weigh more than before I had my band fitted.

I had the band fitted 2 years ago, and I didnt realise until I joined another similar site that my band wasnt working properly, even after having a lot of fills.

He is going to ask the manufacturer for their views!!!!m I think that they should be held responsible, after all I paid 6000 pounds for the operation and my surgeon performed it in good faith.

What does everyone else think?

BabyNicole · 06-03-2008, 07:24 PM

I'm sorry to hear that bad news. Did you contact the manufacturer of the band? If it's a defect of their doing I wouldn't see why they wouldn't cover it. Don't they have a lifetime guarantee?

MsSarahJ · 06-03-2008, 09:26 PM

I dont think the manufacturer should be to blaim or pay, you were told werent you the risks of complications, sometimes it just happens, I think that the hospital should pay possibly half but not the entire cost of taking it out and replacing it

Patsy · 06-04-2008, 05:08 AM

Thank you for your replies.

I cant remember being told that there may be a risk of the band leaking???

I personally think that there was a flaw in the band from day one.

How would it all of a sudden develop a hole? It's not as if I've been eating sharp objects

If I paid £6000 for a piece of equipment and after 2 years it broke down and needed replacing I would expect the manufacturer to at least offer me some sort of compensation.

However, I must wait for the response from MVDB before I decide on any legal action, if I've even got a case?

Nicole, I'm not even sure what band I have, or who the manufacturer is.

BabyNicole · 06-04-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patsy

Thank you for your replies.

I cant remember being told that there may be a risk of the band leaking???

I personally think that there was a flaw in the band from day one.

How would it all of a sudden develop a hole? It's not as if I've been eating sharp objects

If I paid £6000 for a piece of equipment and after 2 years it broke down and needed replacing I would expect the manufacturer to at least offer me some sort of compensation.

However, I must wait for the response from MVDB before I decide on any legal action, if I've even got a case?

Nicole, I'm not even sure what band I have, or who the manufacturer is.

I agree. If it can be determined that there is a leak in the band, then it is faulty and the manufacterer should be responsible. Of course, that's my opinion and how they actually handle that is beyond me.

What I would do, Patsy, is contact your doctor to see what brand of band you have, and then contact the manufacterer to see what their policies are. What you might do too, is join Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum. They may know more about warranties and such.

Good luck to you, and please keep us updated!

Patsy · 06-04-2008, 10:04 AM

Mr Van den Bossche has the x-ray photographs to prove that the band is leaking, it was done with a coloured liquid, injected into my port, a week ago, which cost me £260...all I seem to do is cough up money.

Before this I paid £250 for 2 fills which were of no use, so I have already paid out £510.

I dont think I should really ask my surgeon for the name of the manufacturer just yet as he is going to contact them for their advice.

If the outcome is not favourable, then I will go from there, but I have to at least give the company the opportunity to offer some sort of reply first.

Many thanks for your support in this Nicole.

I will keep the board updated with my plight and also thank you for the link.

RebeccaNV · 06-04-2008, 10:11 AM

I would think that the manufacturer of the Lapband would appreciate knowing about the leak and that you should report it, whether they are responsible for the leak or not. The info that you provide may help the company to work on improving their product.

Rebecca

BabyNicole · 06-04-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebeccaNV

I would think that the manufacturer of the Lapband would appreciate knowing about the leak and that you should report it, whether they are responsible for the leak or not. The info that you provide may help the company to work on improving their product.

Rebecca

You're welcome, Patsy! And good point, Rebecca! It could help their future manufacturing.

Peaches-N-Cream · 06-04-2008, 11:53 PM

Oh This is a terrible situation.

I was actually going to have the band however,5 mins before the surgery, my surgeon advised me to have the bypass even though it was more money. He waved that and, said he didn't want to see me back in two years due to leaking and/ or slipping.

I think this is a clear indication of the need for insurance companies to take us seriously in the UK. There is no cover for things like this.

Maybe you could now apply to have this rectified by the NHS??

So, sorry to hear this honestly...

Patsy · 06-05-2008, 02:53 AM

Hi Peaches, your surgeon is not Mr VdB is it?

That will be my next move, I have already discussed this with my daughter (who also has a band).

I will give it one week, to allow for replies to be sent back and forth from the manufacturer to my surgeon, then if no response I will ask him who they are and for contact details.

I will approach my GP once I have a definite refusal of procedure.

Yes, there should surely be some insurance from someone. The band has malfunctioned and somebody is surely liable.

We cant be seen to throw away thousands of pounds for something that has failed.

This should protect further patients.

I have never felt so miserable in my whole life.

I was so overjoyed when I arranged the surgery, I would never have to worry about being fat again, but alas it didnt work like that, as I have said I only lost 1.5 stone in the whole 2 years.

Maybe it was leaking slowly to start with because I certainly didnt have restriction as I have read of others on here,and I am so annoyed with myself for not even considering it.

I was naive and I didnt know these bands could leak.

But I do now!!!