hammer1

I had the exact same problems with spiegel. Who is your new Dr? I'd like to try again with a better Dr. Hammer

I was banded in May 2006 at a weight of 515 lb. I lost down to 413 pounds after 1 year and then completely lost control and have slowly gained almost all of it back. I had my band completely unfilled about 2 years ago and my question is...is there any reason I can't get a fill and start over now?

How much does each fill cost you? I'm going for my 4th fill tomorrow and the nurse told me to bring $150.00. I said, it was $100.00, to which she replied, they are now doing each fill with a barium swallow, so it's done using an x-ray! How much do you guys pay? Hammer

I am a self-pay and have failed at weight loss with the band. I have had the LB for 3 years. I originally lost 100 lbs, but have gained most of it back. My problem is not hunger, but rather emotional/mental. I am so sick over my continued failure that if I weren't such a coward...I'd consider suicide. I am a coward though, so I'm doomed to a life of obesity and pain. Hammer

I have been banded for 2 years and have lost 80 lbs out the 250 I need to lose. I have basically no help or support from my surgeon and his office people...so I'm on my own and not doing well. I don't really even know how this thing is supposed to work. Can you help me. Hammer

I do the same thing Sicram, although I cannot tell you why it happens. Hammer

My doctor has never mentioned the trems "Low Carb" or "high protien", but advises that we eat our protien first, then our vegetables AND that we minimize or stay away from the starchy "whites" (ie, sugar, flour, rice and potatoes). Other than the extemely carb restricted first two weeks of The Atkins Diet (induction phase), these are the basic guidelines for most low carb diets. It's really no longer debatable that processed sugar, "enriched" white flour and rice are not good for us at all. We can debate potatoes, but seeing how our bodies metabolize (insulin response) them just like sugar, I stay away from them too. Hammer :tongue_smilie:

My experience with the band has been awful. I chose a great surgeon who is terrible at aftercare, so I've been basically on my on since surgery. Then I also never realized weight loss would still be as difficult as it is. I was under the impression that this weight loss "tool" would do more than make me throw up unless I ate just the right amount of the right food. I have fought food addiction all my life, so I spent 16K of my own money for this band that is just a pain. Hammer

I am scheduled for a colonoscopy in 6 days, I have to drink this "cleanout / laxative" type substance (Trilyte 1 gal.) the day before the procedure. The nurse at the Colonoscopy Center told me I didn't need to get my band unfilled in order to drink it, but I thought I would ask you folks for your opinions. I am supposed to drink an 8 oz glass every 15 minutes until the gallon is gone. Thoughts? :tongue_smilie: Hammer

Look, you can believe anything you want, but I know how Atkins worked for me and if you want to call losing 100 lbs and reaching and maintaining the best lipid profile I had ever had "extreme and/or naive", and poo poo the latest scientific evidence, then be my guest. I truly doubt that you know anything of substance about the Atkins plan. Most people who trash it have never really researched it or read his books, they once heard someone say it was all meat and cheese with no veggies and of course swallowed it hook line and sinker. Is that you or have you read the books? Do you understand ketosis? (quick, google it!) :rose: Just kidding. Let's just agree to disagree, I'm going to bed. Hammer

Journal of American Medicine? Again, so what? If the experts got it so wrong once, do you think they cant again? Do you really think there wont be more studies in 10 years saying something else?. They had "studies" proving high carb low fat was the way to go too. Why believe it now? That's pretty naive. Its like the whole Omega 3 is the answer to everything movement, a grain of truth in it for sure, but the answer to all our health woes? Not likely. Yeah you're right, how naive of me to believe 2 year Peer Review studies when all I needed was to come here and listen to................. you? :rose: We can argue about our opinions till the cows come home, that's why I posted 2008 studies from reputable institutions to go along with mine. If you disagree with them, that's your problem. All I know is the Atkins plan worked wonders for me while I was on it. Hammer

Jachut said - So what? You can make a blanket statement like that but its just what you think, not fact. It's fact in my case. Lipid profiles improve on high carb/low fat diets too - all the time. That's why if you have a heart attack, your doctor will put you on that type of diet. You should see my 70 year old mother after a year of eating a really healthy low fat/high carb diet, and her lipids are perfect and she looks like a 50 year old. She's fit and healthy after having had a heart attack a year and a half ago, has turned her whole life around and no Atkins in sight. I didn't say there weren't other ways that would work besides LC. Is that proof positive that this is the ONLY way to go? No. It just worked for her is all. Once again, I never said Atkins was the only way to go. Your lipid profile wont improve if your version of high carb/low fat is low fat 2 minute noodles, white bread and processed cereal with skim milk. But it will if you do it properly. Doesn't that depend on what "properly" means? If people by and large ate properly as per the food pyramid - they ate their 2 fruit 5 veg per day,they got their Protein from lean meat, fish and chicken, they got their fat from heatlhy sources such as avocado, nuts and fish and they never ate bacon, cheese, salami and rubbish like that then entire nations wouldnt be hugely obese. The entire western world has become heart diseased, cancer stricken swine by following that "pyramid". This believing any one diet plan can save you, just by avoiding certain foods is sheer fantasy. You just have to eat less and not eat crap. Once again, either you can't read or your anxiety level is through the roof. I never said LC was the only way. Loosen the bone Wilma! Studies schmudies. They're all politically motivated, they all have a point to push and they all leave out much more important information than what they actually say. "Studies schmudies"? Now don't get all technical on me, how can the Journal of American Medicine or the American Diabetes Association compete with "Studies schmudies" ??????? Hammer :rose:

Low carb diets ABSOLUTELY work, and are better for your cardiovascular health than low fat. I know this because I lost over 100 lb on the dreaded ATKINS diet and my lipid profile was outstanding while following the program. Most people who talk trash about the LC WOL, don't know anything about it. The low carb diet is just like any other diet in one sense....in order for it to work, you have to actually FOLLOW IT! I had a sister-in-law that said she would never "do Atkins" because her doctor said all that bacon, eggs and cheese would kill you. She made this statement as she polished off her 6th Krispy Kreme donut (at one sitting). :tongue2: I went and got the lap-band because I was weak and couldn't stick to Atkins or any other diet, but don't kid yourselves.....it works great and is good for you. Hammer :rose:

Diabetes Diet New American Diabetes Association (ADA) Guidelines Back Low-Carb Diets By Christine Many Luff The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has for the first time voiced its support of low-carbohydrate diets for weight management of people with diabetes. The endorsement was part of the ADA’s recently published 2008 Clinical Practice Recommendations, which are intended to guide diabetes health care providers. In the past, the ADA guidelines have supported low-fat, calorie-restricted diets as a weight loss method and didn’t recommend low-carb diets because of a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness. The new ADA guidelines state that both low-fat and low-carb diets are equally effective at helping people lose weight over a year. However, new ADA guidelines recommend that low-carb dieters make sure their blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), kidney function, and medication levels are monitored. “We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight,” said Ann Albright, PhD, RD, president of health care and education for the ADA in a prepared statement. “The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We’re not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health care providers to know is that it’s important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health care team support their patients’ weight loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients’ health.” The ADA’s announcement is a major breakthrough because the group is the first of major health organizations (such as the American Medical Association, American Heart Association, etc.) to give any support to low-carb diets. Yet, while long-time advocates of low-carb diets say the recommendations are a good start, they’d like to see them go further. “We’re pleased that they’re willing to move away from an entrenched position and look at the science,” said Mary Vernon, M.D., C.M.D., chairman of the board, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, and author of Atkins Diabetes Revolution (Morrow, 2004). “But it’s not enough and it isn’t respectful enough of how effective this is as a change in patients.” Vernon would like to see more recommendations about patient monitoring and continuing education for physicians. “Most doctors aren’t familiar with using this technique because they’ve been told not to do it up until now,” she said. “You have to be educated about how to use it.” She warned that people with diabetes could experience bad outcomes if their doctors don’t have the right information. “If you drop your carbs and don’t change your medication, it’s very likely you’ll have too much medicine for your body and you’ll have side effects,” she said. “Then the diet gets blamed when it’s not the diet’s fault at all.” Vernon would also like to see the ADA back off their restriction that people stay on low-carb diets for no more than a year. “What happens if, after a year, your blood sugars are good — should you quit?” she said. “We don’t take people off their medicine if it’s working. It’s not fair to hold this diet to a standard that nothing else is held to.” SOURCE: 1. American Diabetes Association. January 2008. Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes. Diabetes Care, Volume 31: S61-S78. Reviewed by Susan Weiner, R.D., M.S., C.D.E., C.D.N. 3/08 Copyright © 2004-2008 LifeMed Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved

DENVER (July 17, 2008) – The results of a two-year study, released today in The New England Journal of Medicine, comparing a low-carbohydrate diet like the Atkins Nutritional Approach™ with Mediterranean and low-fat diets, found that low-carbohydrate diets are more effective in achieving weight loss than the other diets, and supported cardiovascular health with favorable cholesterol and cholesterol profile results. The study compared three diets – low-carbohydrate, low-fat, and Mediterranean – and followed more than 300 overweight patients for two years. All the study participants consumed similar number of calories. Those following the low-carbohydrate diet experienced a mean weight loss of more than 10 pounds. Their mean weight loss was 40 percent greater than those following the low-fat diet and about 7 percent greater than those following the Mediterranean diet. This new study confirms that diets such as the Atkins Diet™ that are focused on reduced levels of carbohydrates provide a roadmap to successful weight loss and weight management with significant health benefits. Participants following the low-carbohydrate diet consumed more Protein, fat and cholesterol than the other diets, but experienced the best results comparing cholesterol ratios, and comparable improvements in health measures such as liver function and levels of cardiovascular disease. Among the low-carbohydrate participants, the reduction in the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (good cholesterol) was significant – a relative decrease of 20 percent – and better than the other diets. “This study adds to the growing body of evidence that Atkins continues to be on the cutting-edge of science,” notes Vice President of Education and Nutrition, Colette Heimowitz. “Individuals who are looking to lose weight successfully and develop healthy lifelong eating habits can rely on Atkins to provide them with the tools they need to achieve their goals.” The study published in The New England Journal of Medicine was conducted by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel and at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Channing Laboratory.

Corporate Income Tax Auditor w/ Gov't :thumbup:

I work for a small independent Oil and Gas Company in southeast Texas. My title is "Operations Superintendent" which really means chief cook and bottle washer / jack of all trades....master of none! We have crude oil and natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and some operations on land in Louisiana and Mississippi. I started out working for a MAJOR oil company for 13 years, then got lucky and found this small firm that I've now been with for the last 15. I enjoy my present job because the only people I answer to are the two brothers that own the company. Great people....great atmosphere. Now if I could just get rid of all this fat! :thumbup: Hammer :thumbup:

Back in the 80's I went to a Doctor who gave me bi-weekly injections of B12/B6 as a part of a weight loss regimine and I can tell you that my energy level went through the roof during that time. I don't know if it was a placebo effect or what, but but it worked on me. My LB doctor does not offer them and if he did, he'd probably want $500.00 per shot! :tongue_smilie: Hammer

Hi guys, I am from Lumberton and was banded by Dr. Speigel in May 07. I too would be interested in a Beaumont support group if we could get something going. Hammer:shades_smile:

After a little over a year with the band, I have reached the point where I wish I wouldn't have done this. I started out at 511 lbs and lost 80 lbs in the first 6 months and have been losing and gaining the same 10 lbs ever since. My problem was obviously not actual hunger, but emotional, and sadly, the band wasn't designed to do anything for that. Since I'm no longer losing weight, all the band is, is another buden to bear in a life that's already full of them. And now I will have to endure surgery again in orde to rid myself of this particular burden. Lord what did I do? It was a kneejerk decision that I should have spent more time on. My doctor was a great surgeon but his after care and support leave a lot to be desired. I even attempted to join a different support group at a local hospital and they said "SURE", we just need $1500.00 up front and we will help you! Yeah right! Hammer

Hi Brad, I can say from first hand experience that you are one of the greatest inspirations around here. After hearing from you and the others a few weeks back, I went back to the DR, got a fill and as of today have dropped another 12.5 lb in the last 14 days. Your personal success and advice to me has helped to put me back on track, so c'mon buddy, let me throw something back your way! Your goal is to be able to live a normal life and do so in good health and those sweets are only going to delay this from happening. You've come so far and there's no way you're gonna let a "sugar" craving defeat you. Get one of your "before" pics out and look at it, then look in the mirror.....nice huh? Now throw that great tasting poison in the trash, eat you something high in protien and go about your business. U da man! As they used to say in the 70's....Keep on Truckin! Hammer :cursing:

Hi folks, I too am from S.E. Texas and had my LB procedure done in May 07 by Dr. Spiegel who has an office in Port Neches and Houston. He is a top notch surgeon and his (yes his) hostpital in Houston was the finest I've ever seen. That being said, that's where the boquets stop and the bricks start. He has terrible aftercare and just an awful staff (in Port Neches). The problem is that every person on his office staff are patients of his and have all done well with the lap band. Those folks make for great advertisment, but not always great employees. There's good and bad news for Spiegel's local patients. The good news is he's now only open 1 day a week in Port Neches, so the "crumby" staff is gone bcause he brings people from Houston with him .............and the bad news is, he's now only open 1 day a week in Port Neches, so if you need anything and it's not on a Monday, you have to go to Houston. His aftercare is so bad that I tried to switch to Christus St. E, but they wanted $1500 just to be part of their support group, so I thought I'd try it on my own for a while. Anyway, I'm glad to run into some local folks on this forum and hope you all will do well. Talk to yall soon, Hammer:thumbup:

Well, I went and got my fill this past wed. At first he put in 1cc, but I couldn't get Water down, so he removed 1/2cc. Now I have a total of 5.5cc in my 10cc band. Of course I am on Soup and not much else, so I'm wasting away right now. I haven't weighed yet so I don't know how much I've dropped in a couple of days, but it's dropping off. I feel better (mentally) after going to the Dr. and having the fill. I appreciate you folks slappin me around a bit:thumbup:, to get me to go do it. Thanks, I'll keep you guys informed. Hammer

Thanks Brad, I can use all the help I can get. I have really been low for the last six months or so and It seems by reading what you and the others are saying, it's mostly my own fault. I haven't been to see the Dr. in quite a while and I'm sure that's part of the problem right there. Also, like I said earlier, I have never been completely sure how the band was supposed to work. It sounds as if my food is supposed to stop there for a little while until it digests enough to slip on through. I have been eating too much Soup and other slippery foods that don't sit above the band for any length of time, therefore I'm defeating the purpose of the band. Anyway, thanks to you and everyone else for your advice. I am going to implement some of the suggestions right away. I will keep in contact and let you guys know how it's going. I'm going to try to see my Dr. on 8/13 and get another fill. Thanks, Hammer