PJ Geeser

That is and awesome read....for me personally I am following instructions per dr and just am getting no results...if I would be getting results in this stage I wouldnt worry about finding that sweet spot either but for me I am looking for it because of the no results yet so am thinking somethin has really got to be ahead for me in finding it??? if that makes any sense what so ever.. very well written though I must say

I am 5 months out and it is hell yet...only lost 35 lbs as of now which am thankful for. It is all will power yet but hoping my next fill will do something. I do think it is better since my last fill but not there yet. Am satisfied longer...eat well...but still have no loss to speak of. It seems the less I eat...I actually gain? I have had no problems what so ever...thank god...but it also is not what I envisioned it to be and do either despite all the research I did the whole year prior to surgery. Would I take it back?....no...cause I really dont know its there and have lost some weight due to pure will power and am hoping I am just one of the slow ones to find that "sweet spot". I guess I dont really know what I am going to feel yet at this point as nothing has changed for me personally since the band but am very hopeful it is going to do something soon. In the mean time...I do what everyone on here says...hang with it and it will pay off and to be patient. I am scared too that I am "one" that is just wont work for. I am following drs. orders very well in fact probably not eating enuf if anything. I am determined to stay the course. I am finding it hard pressed if I will even hit 60 lbs my first year at this rate....only 9 lbs since xmas which is so discouraging but it is something despite being a small amt. Research, research, and research some more and get as much information as you can to understand how it really works. It is very hard and yes a "diet the rest of your life" no matter what anyone says. Best wishes to us all as we are all striving for the same thing...to be healthier

you go girl...you have a great attitude and you look fantastic. Strut your stuff in front of her and kill her with kindness

OMGosh...that is fantastic. Congrats to you and thank you for the advice you have given me...I appreciate all you share on here daily. I hope your hospital stay is not serious and yes..would love to see pictures when you can. Keep up the great work.

try some prunes daily..will help and lots of liquid

Sounds to my like you may be too tight and in doing so have changed your eating habits to adjust for the band tightening..hence the softer foods...chili, mac and cheese, grilled cheese all which wouldnt shouldnt be eaten often. If you cant get down any of the real meats, such as chicken, hamburger, pork or steak which should be your first thing you eat which makes you feel satisfied the quickest and sticks with you the longest. I just had this very talk with my dr on my last appt because I "think" i need another fill and she is not so sure to do one as she thinks I am getting close where as I dont think I am close at all to the "sweet spot". Just something to think about and ask your dr about it when you go next ...good luck to you. I am surely not one to give advice and I admit it as i am still learning alot about how this band works...just wanted to pass on my conversation as it may help you out to know a different angle.

so jealous .......but happy for you. I was a week earlier than you and am just at 38 lbs.....bummer but am happy for any loss. YOu are doing fantastic...keep up what ever you are doing and share it with me....LOL Wishing you continued success

Exact same for me...althought I have had no restriction what so ever yet. LOst nothing since Feb 1st...maybe even gained a lb. I do well but it is getting harder and harder. Youre not alone...I go on tues so hoping this one will do something for me ...fingers crossed!

Can any of you tell me "what I should feel" with the band. I am at 7cc in my 14 which I know in of no relevance cause we are all different but wanted to share. On my last trip to dr....the N. Pract. asked me all the usual questions etc and I said to her "yes I need a fill...I cant feel anything yet? She then asked me..."just what do you expect to feel?" I replied that I expect to feel something, to feel full, to not be able to eat as much...just something as I feel absolutely nothing yet since having the band. She replied to me...."this is what you are supposed to feel...nothing! What???? I mean I get the just of it and all but I want to feel something somewhere along the line. I mean I didnt have a band put in me to just be struggling dieting for "nothing"? I could have done that without the band. I mean...obviously Im not there yet but will I feel anything at all or is she right? I mean I eat what I am supposed to...the small portions etc, no drinking with meals, etc. I know that part. I will say...( dont strike me down)...If I want ...I can eat anything, dont have to chew chew chew and dont have to eat slow...there is nothing? I guess I dont know what I am to expect at this rate. I mean its not "old" yet for me as I had surgery Oct 22...have lost 35 lbs only..which dont get me wrong am happy with that but was just hoping for more. This past month...0 lbs lost....just so frustrating because of eating a small fraction of what I used to eat. I do need to track again but havent really changed my eating at all since surgery...pretty basic stuff and know the cals etc on it So...can anyone explain to me what it is I will feel or should be feeling in regards to the band.....I just hope it gets better than this...it is just so hard to keep going but will try my best to keep plugging away. Thanks in advance for any answers you have to share with me

youre not drinking enuf liquid if your urine smells stronger. You are early in...dont worry about it yet...still healing. I havent lost an ounce all month and I have been doing everything correctly. You will have times like that I am told. I know I am doing well so hoping some will come off soon again.

Been there..still there..yes...very discouraging. I have lost some weight and am very thankful for that but dissapointed at the results as the same time. I am really dieting well, watching portions, and not much happening. Just had a fill and talked with the dr and nurse practicioner about this. Both said this is pretty much it and how it will be. The hope is to be satiated for 4 - 5 hours, not full just satisfied and that IT IS a diet the rest of my life if I want it to work. If I choose not to diet..it wont work plain and simple. I am at 7 in my 14 cc band and not feeling anything yet really. They told me this is how one should feel...NOTHING. The goal is never to puke, never get stuck and never ever have difficulty swallowing liquid of any sort. If any of those happen with any frequency...you are too tight and it is not good for you. Just so much I didnt understand before hand despite the fact I did research...i still didnt understand how this band was to work. Would I spend 5100.00 just to be on a diet like I am now with no help? not really sure ?! I guess I hope there is some benefit of this band in me and will do something soon cause I didnt need to spend 5100.00 deductible to diet on my own? I have hopes it will work but will be damn pissed if it does no more than it does right now..and that would be very very little! I do know it must do something from others on here but just dont see it yet on me so fingers crossed it will very soon:)

I had the same thing after surgery for about 1 month...however I knew it cause I could smell it. It is awful...I was brushing my teeth about 6 times a day, using mouthwash, chewing gum all to no avail but tried to help the situation. Thank god it did pass but I think you should tell her if it is that bad..she would want to know.

Hi, My dr is the same as yours. I was on mushy my first week and then to solids. He even told me if I could handle solids the first week..I was to do them. I will be coming up on my third fill on Feb 5th...as of now...cant tell I have had anything done, couldnt tell when I had a fill in the least. It is all will power as of yet and very hard but am doing it. You may have to battle this for quite some time yet so you will have to buckle down and just do what you are supposed to and eat the portion you are supposed to eat and be hungry the rest of the time....and yes you are not alone..it is in my book ANOTHER HARD DIET as of yet....so hoping with my 3rd fill that I feel something but if not will wait till the next and pray to god that works. It is not easy in the least but worth the changes to get any amt of weight off. Mine has been very slow so far but I can tell at least so that is a positive. I am down 35 lbs since Oct. 22 so not earth shattering like alot of those on here but it is something to be happy about...Keep trying and you will succeed ....Best wishes to you

yep...me too. I had everything required done right away and had to just wait for the 6 months to pass...time went so slow. I agree with Maddy....READ UP and learn as much as you possibly can. I would suggest waiting to go the dietician closer to surgery time so all is fresh in your mind. These forums are very helpful too. It is not easy and still is not. I am a fresh bandster yet...not yet 3 months and the weightloss is very very slow. While I am happy with the 32 lbs I have lost...it is slow and I am hungry all the time...YET anyway. hoping some help when my next fill comes around. I knew this was going to be hard but I guess I was picturing it would be different than it is and was also expecting some help from the band by this time which as of yet I have none what so ever... but it will come...hopefully soon! Good Luck to you...time will go faster than you think!

Ive had 2 fills so far and have noticed not one thing yet. Now I know it will come eventually but so far still willpower and it is hard every day but determined to stay the course god willing . I havent done as well as most...I mean I am doing all I am supposed to and eating the right amts but just not the fast results like some on here are experiencing. I am happy I have had a 30 lb loss so far but still I myself was hoping for more by this time (surgery 10-22-12). My dr is very pleased in fact didnt really want to give me a fill on 1-2-13 but told him I was so hungry all the time. We are all different but still cant help but get frustrated when you read someone who has had surgery 4 weeks ago and has lost more weight in less than half the time?!! But it is what it is and we are all different. Hoping for the next fill to do a little something

FOREVER....WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FRAME AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED

they are supposed to be the best and the best follow up. I had the choice between Sioux Falls and Park Nicollet. My doctor was insistent that I go to park nicollet however I was well on my way with my 6 months supervised diet and appts thru Sioux Falls and when I checked with Park Nicollet...I would have had to start all over from the start again. I had all things completed but 2 months left of my supervised diet and didnt want to start the whole thing over....so for that reason only is why I kept with Avera in Sioux falls. Had I known that sooner...I think I would have probably chosen Park Nicollet. I have no regrets what so ever and love my dr in Sioux Falls and am happy with my dicision. Im sure you wont be disappointed in Park Nicolett as I have heard nothing but good about them Best wishes to you

DONT use artifiial sweeteners or foods with them. But the stevia at a health food store only...the stevia in Walmart is not the real stevia...must be at a health food store or whole foods. It comes in packets and liquid...the liquid is awesome...a few drops is all you usually need.

I was instructed the same...you should be eating your proteing in food vs drinking it at this point. LOL...but I am sometimes tempted to drink a protein shake because I am always so hungry yet. Look at your papers when you get home and call in and ask after the holidays to make sure but if you are losing...a few more days wont hurt until you find out what your instructions are to be.

Holy ****...that is alot of weight....makes me depressed. I was banded 10/22 and have only lost 25 lbs. I follow the rules, dont cheat, eat a cup of food...very very frustrated with the slow loss since I am following to a T! Good for you guys, I hope it keeps going for you that way and hopefully mine will kick in soon I find it is not easy at all and hate being hungry 24/7 but am doing it

Outside of being overweight...I had no other health conditions. I did have to do the 6 months of supervised visits first...dr then submitted and was approved in about 1 1/2 weeks. Just call and ask them directly about the requirements...everyone is different and you really want to know what you are dealing with and what your policy covers. I only had a choice of 2 places they covered..which were each 2 to 3 hours away...so check to make sure your hospital is covered as well. Good Luck to you

Some of the experienced ones will chime in im sure...but a cup of food isnt that much really and what we are supposed to eat..no more than that. then you have to think about chewing that cup of food to mush and it dont end up to be that much in reality going down

yes...THE SAME. Did well for one week losing 11 lbs and then over the next 4 weeks..only 5 lbs. Had a fill Friday...cant really tell much difference. I will say i stay full a little longer but thats if. yes...irritated kind of..was so hoping for more. I have not cheated...eat my cup of food and thats it.

Omg....that is CRAZY. I cant imagine this dr even doing the surgery in the first place if he dont believe in fills??? WTH??? You should have had a first fill like at 6 weeks and then every month after depending on your loss and hunger etc. REPORT him...that is terrible and find another dr. You poor thing..you shouldnt have to suffer like that...like you said...what is the point of having the band? Dont get it out..find someone who will help you utilize the tool you have...keep calling until you find a dr who will help you. I would have been furious with them at the appt. and would have let the know. I really dont care how far I have to drive if the device will help. My dr is 2 1/4 hours away...got my first fill yesterday. I cant say for sure if it works yet..however Im not the slightest bit hungry yet and would have been starving by this time so??? hoping it lasts till my next appt like this...that would be fantastic but not counting on it yet anyway. I love my dr...he is fantastic. He answers any questions, is patient and most of all has a great sense of humor and funny. Makes it so worth it to have a dr you feel comfortable with. There is one there for you somewhere...keep searching till you find him/her. Please keep us posted

50 lbs is 50 lbs. That is something to be proud of. Was this person alot heavier than you????duh...the heavier you are..the faster is seems to come off. Everyone loses at different rates...you cant compare ( I need to take my own words to heart) your weight loss to anyone elses. Im thinking you may need to mention this to this person how hurtful the comments are and the fact that she shouldnt compare the 2 of you. Keep up what you are doing and dont mind what others say. You are doing fabulous!