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Fills @ Pacific Surgical Olympia, WA


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Hello!!! I was wondering if anyone has gone to the Pacific Surgical Center in Olympia Washington (Dr. William Neal) for fills. I know they will see patients who have been banded out of the country and they use "Fluoro". I only know of one person who has gone there and am looking for other peoples experiences. It will take me 2.5 hours to drive there, but their office is the only one close to me that uses Fluoroscopy when performing fills.

I thank all of you in advance for your thoughts, advice and experiences,

Lisa B)

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I live here in Lacey, and have heard great things about the nurses who give the fills there, from lapband patients. However, I got my fill in Mexico, and as soon as I said that, I was lectured by the office staff about how they won't treat me if there is anything wrong, etc. I told her I knew that, but she kept going on and on.

I decided to go back to OCC for my first fill, and I'll think about going there for my second, if not, I'm looking at Arlington - it would be another 2 hours north for you past Lacey.

I heard there's a good Portland fill doctor though too - I'm not sure they use fluoro, but I've heard good things from Portland patients, and even a Lacey patient who is thinking of driving down there.

Oddly enough, the few lapband patients I know here in town, don't use Dr. Neal. They want the cheaper, no fluoro fills.

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I live here in Lacey, and have heard great things about the nurses who give the fills there, from lapband patients. However, I got my fill in Mexico, and as soon as I said that, I was lectured by the office staff about how they won't treat me if there is anything wrong, etc. I told her I knew that, but she kept going on and on.

I decided to go back to OCC for my first fill, and I'll think about going there for my second, if not, I'm looking at Arlington - it would be another 2 hours north for you past Lacey.

I heard there's a good Portland fill doctor though too - I'm not sure they use fluoro, but I've heard good things from Portland patients, and even a Lacey patient who is thinking of driving down there.

Oddly enough, the few lapband patients I know here in town, don't use Dr. Neal. They want the cheaper, no fluoro fills.

Thanks for the reply Calicat! The doctor down here you may be thinking of is Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick. She is supposed to be terrific. However, when I got banded at the OCC (one week ago today :lb21: ), one of the doctors emphasized the importance of Fluoro. What is weird is that so many offices that I called around town don't even use Fluoro.

~Lisa

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I know! Once you learn about the fluoro process - it's hard to imagine there are those who don't do it!! It's like a blind fill.

The pharmacy in Arlington now uses fluoro, but they aren't licensed to use barium - so they just use to find hidden or sunken ports - weird huh!!!

I love the idea of getting a fluoro fill. I'm getting my first one tomorrow at OCC. I'll let you know how it goes :rolleyes:

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What is Flouro?

Using Fluoro (Fluoroscopy) during a lap band fill is a technique for obtaining a live X-ray image of a living patient used for band adjustments, viewing the band and port location.

Caution:I am not a medical health care professional, so my definition may not be perfect.

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I have used Dr. Neal in the past. I had my first there 10/4/07. They gave me 1.0cc's and I knew right away that it wasnt enough. I had better restriction pre-fill!!! So, I called the office within a few days and they got me in on 10/31/07 for an adjustment. I got an additional 1.0cc's and it was at the reduced price!!! You dont actually see Dr.Neal, just the techs doing your fill but everyone is very nice and professional :)

I dont know the current prices as it was last year since I was there. I've since started using another doctor that is closer to me.

Hope this helps!

Amber

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I have used Dr. Neal in the past. I had my first there 10/4/07. They gave me 1.0cc's and I knew right away that it wasnt enough. I had better restriction pre-fill!!! So, I called the office within a few days and they got me in on 10/31/07 for an adjustment. I got an additional 1.0cc's and it was at the reduced price!!! You dont actually see Dr.Neal, just the techs doing your fill but everyone is very nice and professional :)

I dont know the current prices as it was last year since I was there. I've since started using another doctor that is closer to me.

Hope this helps!

Amber

Thanks for the post Amber. I am glad you liked thier office. Why would you have more restriction pre-fill? How does that happen?

~Lisa

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The word among the local lap-band community is that Dr Neal's office is trying to discourage taking on Mexican band patients. I've gone there for two fills and was disappointed with the last one not being aggressive enough. I've also heard plenty of stories from other Mexican patients about their less than positive attitude towards us, though I've never experienced any of that myself.

My last three fills have been with the NW Fill Management in Arlington. There's nothing wrong with a blind fill if you have an idea of what effect it has on your restriction and are willing to be cautious with your fill amount. The price difference allows me to get smaller fills more often which is much less of a shock on my system. If you do end up too tight they can get you in pretty quick for an unfill and it doesn't cost anything.

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I thought Arlington charged $50 for a change w/in 10 days of the fill? A friend of mine just scheduled her appointment with one of the US Fill center (was on the OCC website) in Auburn. They don't use flouroscopy, but the Dr. there knows Dr. Ortiz and they are on one of the medical boards together. I don't know his name but he's a bariatric surgeon and does fills one day a week. Does anyone have any experience with the Auburn WA US Fill Center?

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Does anyone have any experience with the Auburn WA US Fill Center?

THIS IS LIKE 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE. I'LL GIVE THEM A CALL AND SEE IF I CAN'T RUN DOWN THERE TOMORROW AND FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION FOR US LOCALS :)

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Thank you Clynn - I knew I wasn't the only one who was getting the brush off. It's almost like a rehearsed speech she was giving me. I was very nice to her too!!! Anyways, I'm not desperate, and like you said, after my first fill - I have no problem trying out Arlington. I don't even know what a fill should feel like yet though!!! Less than 48 hours - I'll let you know!!

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The gent in Auburn is Dr. Fox. This is who I see now as it is alot closer for me than Arlington or Olympia. The initial appointment charge was $349 (I went in January) and if you have a fill I think (dont quote me!) it's $125. Just a office visit is $85. He will only do fills on FC USA peeps on Thursdays.

Just to warn everyone... He's a crazy old Kook! Ok, so he's not that bad.. but he likes to joke around ALOT. I didnt know this going in and was like WTF!?!?!?

I've had 2 fills from him and it does take him a long time to find my port. At least 3 pokes each time. I guess my port is a bit caddywompuss cause it doesnt take him 3 pokes with my mom.

Lisa- I dont know why... My swollen stomach never when back to "normal" after I was banded until I got the fill. I wonder what if I wouldnt have had the fill... maybe I would have never needed one??? Oh well, too late now!!! :rolleyes:

Amber

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The gent in Auburn is Dr. Fox. This is who I see now as it is alot closer for me than Arlington or Olympia. The initial appointment charge was $349 (I went in January) and if you have a fill I think (dont quote me!) it's $125. Just a office visit is $85. He will only do fills on FC USA peeps on Thursdays.

Just to warn everyone... He's a crazy old Kook! Ok, so he's not that bad.. but he likes to joke around ALOT. I didnt know this going in and was like WTF!?!?!?

I've had 2 fills from him and it does take him a long time to find my port. At least 3 pokes each time. I guess my port is a bit caddywompuss cause it doesnt take him 3 pokes with my mom.

Lisa- I dont know why... My swollen stomach never when back to "normal" after I was banded until I got the fill. I wonder what if I wouldnt have had the fill... maybe I would have never needed one??? Oh well, too late now!!! :rolleyes:

Amber

Thanks for your thoughts Amber. Also, I am new to some of these computer terms like: LOL, BFN, BFF, so when I saw you type WTF, I got a chuckle out of that because I say that a lot and found your reaction to your doctor comical. Thanks for "the funny".

Enjoy the weekend, Lisa :lol:

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I thought Arlington charged $50 for a change w/in 10 days of the fill? A friend of mine just scheduled her appointment with one of the US Fill center (was on the OCC website) in Auburn. They don't use flouroscopy, but the Dr. there knows Dr. Ortiz and they are on one of the medical boards together. I don't know his name but he's a bariatric surgeon and does fills one day a week. Does anyone have any experience with the Auburn WA US Fill Center?

An additional fill within 3-10 days is $50, but an unfill is free anytime if they provided your fill.

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The gent in Auburn is Dr. Fox. This is who I see now as it is alot closer for me than Arlington or Olympia. The initial appointment charge was $349 (I went in January) and if you have a fill I think (dont quote me!) it's $125. Just a office visit is $85. He will only do fills on FC USA peeps on Thursdays.

Just to warn everyone... He's a crazy old Kook! Ok, so he's not that bad.. but he likes to joke around ALOT. I didnt know this going in and was like WTF!?!?!?

I've had 2 fills from him and it does take him a long time to find my port. At least 3 pokes each time. I guess my port is a bit caddywompuss cause it doesnt take him 3 pokes with my mom.

Lisa- I dont know why... My swollen stomach never when back to "normal" after I was banded until I got the fill. I wonder what if I wouldnt have had the fill... maybe I would have never needed one??? Oh well, too late now!!! :rolleyes:

Amber

AFTER THE INITAL APPOINTMENT AND $349.00, IT'S 165.00

FILL CENTER USA WILL DO AN UNFILL "IF" YOU CALL WITHIN 72 HOURS FOR FREE OR IT'S ANOTHER $165.00. IF YOU DON'T REQUEST FLUOROSCOPY, THEN IT'S NOT DONE. IF REQUESTED, THERE'S ANOTHER CHARGE FOR THAT AS THERE ISN'T A MACHINE IN THE OFFICE. (I'M GUESSING IT'S NEXT DOOR AT AUBURN GENERAL)

A FRIEND WAS BANDED LOCALLY BY DR FOX AND JUST LOVES HIM

FOR NOW, AND THESE PRICES, I'M STICKING WITH THE GALS AT ARLINGTON. :)

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