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Does anyone have any idea where to find Dr. Deol? I have been looking for her for a while. Last time I spoke to her she was trying to open her new practice in Chicago, but i have since heard that it hasn't happened. Any info would be Greatly appreciated!!!

Hi there. I tried to call Loyola, no luck. The person that answered the phone said there was no Dr. Deol on staff. I have been searching for her for a while...I really wish I had her back. I just signed in to this website to hopefully find someone else that has some info.

Hi zagagirl...You're definitely not alone. I'm starting over after three years, and I'm committed to it. I had to find a new surgeon because mine left town, but once I did I went in and started all over. I've been banded for three years, and am back at my starting weight. I posted that here and got so many emails from people that have struggled through this. I was ready to give up. But I picked myself up and I'm back on the wagon. I haven't eaten Haagen Dasz in over a month...(I'm an ice cream snob, and couldn't stay away from the good stuff) I'm in the midst of an adjustment balancing act right now, I was too tight, now back to too loose, but am going back in two weeks to get a little more back in. You can do this. It's embarrassing, I know. You are probably like me and assumed you would drop every pound right away and never gain it back...well I found out that I have to fight to get it off and then fight harder to keep it off. Let me know how it's going, we're in the same boat.

Chia...I just read your post in the intro thread and it sounds like we are in the same boat. I was ready to give up for about two seconds, but I'm going for the new start. I've gotten many messages from people that have started over after years. I'm hopeful that I can make this work. If you need support, look for it...that is what I am doing. Do you have a fill scheduled? Are you going to look for a new surgeon? It is my opinion that it is imperative to have a surgeon you can trust and count on.

Hey BayCity...tell your sister she is officially my hero. I never need to be that small...I'm way too tall, but if I can make it to size 10 WHOOHOO! I had a fill last Monday, as I said I was...and have lost about four pounds since. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure it is too tight. I can't get hot coffee down in the morning. Not good...I am going to call the new surgeon that I really liked and get a slight unfill so I'm not spending my days sick. I am so happy that I reached out for support, it has been so helpful. I hit a wall thinking that if I hadn't reached my goal already I never would. Now I absolutely know that I will get there. This has been a huge adjustment again, I forgot what actual restriction was. I hope that other people can be inspired by this and keep fighting instead of giving up like I was about to do. Things are good...and will just get better. (Particularly when I am able to take liquid Tylenol without barfing it up right after...

Hi Fox...congratulations for your amazing success! And good for you for seeking support. I was also banded in 2005 and am basically starting all over because a string of bad decisions...(another story) I'd love to know how you're doing and what you find works after a few years. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for responding to this...A little update today: I went to my new surgeon on Monday. And WHOA. I remember what restriction is and why I was able to lose all that weight in the first place. When the last surgeon took Fluid out, I think I kind of looked at it like a vacation from restriction. My vacation turned into a sabatical and I forgot what real restriction was. It took me months to get in to see a new surgeon, and even though I wish I hadn't, I took full advantage of the ability to eat semi-normally again. I'm ready to give that up for good if it means my clothes will start to fit again! My "whoa is me" attitude is all gone today and I'm ready to make this thing work. I have 70 pounds to lose. It might take me two years, but I plan to lose it. Every single bit of it. I didn't utilize this forum when I first began this journey, in all honesty, it was a lot easier then. I guess the honeymoon is waaaay over and it's time to take care of business. I plan to stay involved in this and learn from other successes and offer insight of my own when I can. Thanks!

Ahhh! THANK YOU ALL!!! I have never utilized this board for support, in the past I used it to read about the basics in the beginning of this journey. I am so glad that I got up the nerve to admit to my shortcomings and challenges. I love the advice to channel the reason I did this in the first place...and I plan to do that today. This is going to be day #1 for me. (But without the PB's and things that happen when you just don't get it yet) I have indeed found exercise that I love. I joined Lifetime Fitness and have been going to Cycling religiously for the past few weeks. I'll keep doing that. I'll also utilize the resources that I have here if you all don't mind. I'm truly ready to do this, and do it right. Thanks so much, and keep the encouragement coming. It's nice to know that I am not the only person that has struggled. (Not that I want anyone else to have a hard time, but at least I don't feel like there is something fundamentally wrong with me.) Thanks for welcoming me back to this board.

To Pearlygirl and Laurinda: Thanks for the encouragement. It was indeed what I was looking for. cb: Please do no respond to my posts again. I came here for a reason. I needed support. I am very glad that your first months have been so successful. Guess what...so were mine. It's not always going to be that easy. There was a reason I asked for advice from people that had some experience with the band. It changes so much over time. Your response was quite immature at best. My question is simple: Has anyone that has experience beyond a couple of months have some advice and encouragement for me? I have been battling for the past year. Partly with myself and partly with my lack of surgeon atatus. I relied heavily on her support and with her leaving, I have struggled. I'm not attempting to make excuses for myself, it is what it is. I just want it to work from this point forward and would love to hear that others have had success after struggling. Again, thank to the encouragement the two posters already gave me and please, if you want to talk about bowel movements, go to a different thread.

Hi there. I have not posted in quite some time, nor have I been reading other posts religiously as I once did. I am hoping to hear from some other people that are years into this banded life that can shed some light on some things for me. I was banded in the summer of '05. I was pretty sure that I would lose every single extra pound in the first six months. I didn't, but I did lose about 30 pounds. In the first year I lost a total of 40 pounds. I was pretty happy with that. In the second year, I reverted to some of the emotional eating that made me fat in the first place, but managed to stay stable despite myself. In the third year, which will end in August, I have managed to gain back all 40 pounds. In the beginning of the year, I was teetering on being too tight. I didn't want to gain weight so I kept it that way. Over the course of a few months, it seemed to get tighter as I gained a few more pounds because of all of the soft foods I was eating. Then my surgeon left town. That was the biggest blow, because she was amazing. I found myself on my own and I had no idea what to do. By the time I found a new surgeon I had gained about 15 pounds because it was too tight. The new surgeon, although nice, had no clue what to do. He took Fluid out of my band, but way too much. This left me with almost no restriction and have since gained back every pound that I originally lost. I'm going to a new surgeon tomorrow, one that has a great reputation from what I have read. I am hoping to be able to start all over and find success again. Has anyone had luck years later? I am frustrated today, and have been for quite some time. I have even been considering looking into alternative surgeries. I never thought I would consider that. Any advice and/or similar experiences would be so helpful to me right now. I am really hopeful that by Christmas, I can manage to get my weight back down below 200. I'm at 260 right now. Thanks to anyone who has advice or encouragement for me, and thanks for reading this far! I'm hoping that involving myself in a support group will help me get this thing together. Thanks!

I'm really really glad I found this thread. I actually cried when I read Dr. Deol's letter. I have had my band for two years, and I am used to being able to call with any concern and have her or Rebecca (who I just learned is already gone...) tell me exactly what to do. I am having serious abandonment issues. I'm working on finding a new doctor right now. I'm really excited for Dr. Deol, she deserves it, but I haven't considered not being able to talk to her if I need to. I'm glad to know I am not the only that freaked out over this. My sister was taken off guard when I called her crying about this! It's all going to be fine, right??? Did anyone make any decisions? I made a call to Henry Ford this afternoon. My other doctors are all through HFHS. I went with Dr. Deol in the first place because I really loved how she did things. I'll be reading to find out if anyone has found a new surgeon and what their response was. I'm nervous!

Thank you! I'm on my way...