lapbandbarb

I had my second fill yesterday and I have restriction! I didn't lose anything since before my 1st fill but feel hope now! My Dr is pretty aggressive with my fills because he has been banded himself and knows that people want results quick. I have a 10cc band and he filled me with 3cc 1st fill, I felt no restriction. Yesterday, another 3cc and I am good to go. Will I get less restriction as days go by or is this generally how you stay feeling? Have I really reached my "sweet spot"? One you reach it, do you stay there or lose it and have to find it again. I, of course, am on liquids for a couple days but don't feel like solids like last time.

I think that is a really good question and I hope someone can answer it. I'm thinking that as you lose weight, the band has more room and that is why it feels like you have lost liquid. But I don't know. I had my second fill yesterday and am not sure if I have too much restriction. My first fill did nothing for me. The only thing that I can hold down is Water. No Protein drinks and I am hungry! I was really hungry last night and gagged on shake continuously so gave up and went to sleep starving. I had my fill at 1 and did not eat anything but protien shake before. Bad idea. Do you think it will get better in a couple days? It is really hard for me to get to my Dr. He is near me only 2x month or I have to travel an hour(w/ kids) and wait in the office, usually a long time. Did anyone ever feel this and then have relief after a couple days? Please help. Thanks!

I had my second fill yesterday. My Dr said CLEAR liquids rest of yesterday and today. Straight liquids tomorrow and then soft until I can tolerate more. I feel like I have restriction now. I can keep water down. That's it. Problem is, last night, I was starving and felt like I needed to eat(headach,lightheaded) so I tried a protein shake and I couldn't handle it. It came back up little by little mixed with saliva(soor so gross) Do you think I am too tight? Dr said if water goes down, I am OK and it will get better. Still. my stomach kind of hurts. Maybe from not keeping down shake yesterday. Any help is welcomed. Thanks!

Does NY Presbaterian- Columbia have any satilite offices in Westchester or anywhere other than NYC? Congradulations on your weight loss! I realize I haven't posted on this forum since before my surgery. Hope everyone is doing as well as I am! Let's get Westchester support going again! :Banane37:

Wow, you guys are so supportive and encouraging! I have been having a hard time too but trying to keep a positive outlook. After reading all your ideas and encouragement to Jorge, I feel better and feel so lucky to know that you people are there sharing my journey thru lapband hell(I meanweightloss hell). Jorge, I know it is hard but listen to these people. We all care and want you to succeed. Nothing happens over night. It takes time. If my Dr was not supportive, I would look around for one who was. Support is so important! Good Luck!

All of the Drs at NYU accept different insurance so make sure that the Dr you choose accepts yours. I was lucky that Dr Fielding accepted Magnacare, which is mine. He is dropping GHI and magnacare now among a few others. I think the other Drs are also dropping some too. Three months of aftercare is included after your surgery so I won't be paying for my fills until Oct and he said he'd work with me on the cost. I would still say Dr Fielding is the BEST. I have seen him everytime I have had an office visit. Best of Luck to you. When is your date?

Are you talking about Dr Cerabona from WMC? Where in Dutchess does he have hours? I almost went to him. I live in upper Westchester, NY. I decided on NYU-You flew to Westchester from Ca- not NYCity? I would think LA would have great Drs to choose from. Anyway, don't mean to have too many personal questions! Glad that you are happy and doing well! I was banded 7/7 an doing well.

Therapy for food=mind therapy Try to keep yourself occupied with something else, that helps me. Talk to someone who you can talk to. Become a computer junkie instead of a food junkie! Don't weigh yourself too often. Try to make healthy food choices- sometimes I eat three 10 cal sugar free jellos. Nothing wrong with that. GOOD LUCK!

Hi! Glad to meet you! I was banded by Dr Fielding on 7/7/08 and my experiences have only been great. I hear good things about the other Drs at NYU, too. I know that Fielding is very well regarded and he has done ALOT of bands. He is very busy but very good. I think he did something like 18 bands on the day he did mine. I had a pretty easy time. I know many people that went to him for help after another Dr made a mistake or their band slipped and they needed help. I can't tell you enough good things about him. I have more and more to say! He did his all the people who needed it in his hometown in Australia. Fielding developed the technique that is presently used worldwide to implant the band. Check out his Videos on the NYU website. They are very informative. Not alot of people know this, but Dr Fielding is married to Dr Ren. He is no longer accepting my insurance but he is such a nice person that he is going to work with me so that I can continue with him. I live in Westchester and there are several satilite offices if you don't want to go to the city. He is even available on Sun in one of them. Sometimes his office in the city is packed and the office staff do try their best. The surgical coordinator left much to be desired and I had to push her. The nutritionalist didn't really do anything but give me paperwork guidelines to follow. It is all worth it to have Fielding. Hope this helped you a bit. Feel free to PM me or post any questions you may have. GOOD LUCK!! Keep me updated!:cool2:

I was banded 7/7 and boy can I relate. Lets face it, we had WLS, not mind surgery. Of course we are still going to have the same thoughts and want to take the same actions with food as before surgery. We chose the band, not any of the other major, invasive, dangerous surgeries that give you a honeymoon for a year or so before you can eat. We have to deal with the issues now, not after the weight is off. I think it is a good thing.Good news,too, is that we have a "tool" that is forever. We are adjustable so we can keep the weight off. Other surgeries, which are permenent, can stretch the pouch back and alot of people regain all their weight. We need to be understanding and kind to ourselves and not worry so much. I have got involved with private therapy as well as OA to aid with my Lapband "tool". We need this support. We cannot expect to change our old ways just because we had the surgery. Try to be kind to yourself, Not mad. Be proud of yourself for doing this and take one day at a time. Or if needed, like I do, One hour at a time! :cool2:

Right On! My goodness, give the girl a break! I am 5 weeks, too and after two weeks, my Dr (who is the best in NYC ) told me to just be careful and take it easy. We should not worry so much. We all just need to try to support each other and let the day begin new!

Oh! The family drama! A shared topic in which most of us can relate. How to learn to change old habits of eating to deal with it once you are banded and ready to start a healthier life? That is what we all must learn. Any suggestions? I took the route of getting my negative sister out of my life for awhile and this hurt my mom so much. When she was diagnosed with cancer, her wish was that I forgive my sister. I have and she actually has changed and does appreciate me more. It is a hard thing, dealing with people who are SUPPOSED to love and support you, people who are FAMILY, related for life. They just take you for granted and think you will be there no matter what. Hang in there and try to tell her how you feel- even if it causes a blow-up fight, at least she will know you are strong. Obviously, you are!

I was banded on 7/7 and had my first band on 7/31. My fill was a good experience and 1 1/2 dayed stayed on liquids. I had a really stressful day all day yeaterday dealing with old family issues and when I when everyone finally left, I had that tremendous urge to get rid of all those feelings by stuffing myself. I had not eaten all day because I knew I was being 'watched' only one protein shake in the morning, so off I went and thing is I stayed with mushies and was able to keep it in. I mean it was a famililiar feeling that I am so working on getting rid of. At the time, it did make me feel so much better. I feel miserable and full this morning. New day, onward, just wondering how you guys deal with this and if you have experiences like this.

I was banded on 7/7 and had my first band on 7/31. My fill was a good experience and 1 1/2 dayed stayed on liquids. I had a really stressful day all day yeaterday dealing with old family issues and when I when everyone finally left, I had that tremendous urge to get rid of all those feelings by stuffing myself. I had not eaten all day because I knew I was being 'watched' only one protein shake in the morning, so off I went and thing is I stayed with mushies and was able to keep it in. I mean it was a famililiar feeling that I am so working on getting rid of. At the time, it did make me feel so much better. I feel miserable and full this morning. New day, onward, just wondering how you guys deal with this and if you have experiences like this.

I was banded on 7/7 and had my first band on 7/31. My fill was a good experience and 1 1/2 dayed stayed on liquids. I had a really stressful day all day yeaterday dealing with old family issues and when I when everyone finally left, I had that tremendous urge to get rid of all those feelings by stuffing myself. I had not eaten all day because I knew I was being 'watched' only one protein shake in the morning, so off I went and thing is I stayed with mushies and was able to keep it in. I mean it was a famililiar feeling that I am so working on getting rid of. At the time, it did make me feel so much better. I feel miserable and full this morning. New day, onward, just wondering how you guys deal with this and if you have experiences like this.

I was banded on 7/7 and had my first band on 7/31. My fill was a good experience and 1 1/2 dayed stayed on liquids. I had a really stressful day all day yeaterday dealing with old family issues and when I when everyone finally left, I had that tremendous urge to get rid of all those feelings by stuffing myself. I had not eaten all day because I knew I was being 'watched' only one protein shake in the morning, so off I went and thing is I stayed with mushies and was able to keep it in. I mean it was a famililiar feeling that I am so working on getting rid of. At the time, it did make me feel so much better. I feel miserable and full this morning. New day, onward, just wondering how you guys deal with this and if you have experiences like this.

I was banded on 7/7 and had my first band on 7/31. My fill was a good experience and 1 1/2 dayed stayed on liquids. I had a really stressful day all day yeaterday dealing with old family issues and when I when everyone finally left, I had that tremendous urge to get rid of all those feelings by stuffing myself. I had not eaten all day because I knew I was being 'watched' only one protein shake in the morning, so off I went and thing is I stayed with mushies and was able to keep it in. I mean it was a famililiar feeling that I am so working on getting rid of. At the time, it did make me feel so much better. I feel miserable and full this morning. New day, onward, just wondering how you guys deal with this and if you have experiences like this.

I was banded on 7/7 and had my first band on 7/31. My fill was a good experience and 1 1/2 dayed stayed on liquids. I had a really stressful day all day yeaterday dealing with old family issues and when I when everyone finally left, I had that tremendous urge to get rid of all those feelings by stuffing myself. I had not eaten all day because I knew I was being 'watched' only one protein shake in the morning, so off I went and thing is I stayed with mushies and was able to keep it in. I mean it was a famililiar feeling that I am so working on getting rid of. At the time, it did make me feel so much better. I feel miserable and full this morning. New day, onward, just wondering how you guys deal with this and if you have experiences like this.

It is great to hear some positive stuff. My Dr told me from the get go that it takes about 3 fills before you really feel good about your band and feel like you can succeed. I am thankful for that. I am also thankful that he did not make me wait more than 23 days before he did my 1st fill. He gave it to me yesterday so I am on on liquids for a couple of days and feeling much fuller on them than before. Dr told me to have next fill in two weeks, and another three weeks after that. He said then I will probably be losing alot and be able to wait a while. I feel pretty good, too, about my band and want to work it! The only thing is that I am still having trouble exercizing because of my joints hurting and my time restraint. For now, I am just trying to walk further from the parking spot, up and down the stairs in my house more often(I used to avoid them) and be more aware of moving more. :biggrin: Good Luck to everyone!

Hi! I'm really glad to find this forum! I was banded by Dr Fielding on 7/7/08 and he is great! Very busy, but great! I went for my first fill today, which is a journey for me since I live in uper Westchester but it was a good experience because these are very knowledgeable Drs. and I knew I was in good hands after hearing so many horror stories about fills. This is important- after your post op appointment , you can go to a number of satilite offices for fills done by the Drs. Fielding is even in New City on one SUNDAY a month. That is convenience and you do not have to deal with crowds or the office staff(or for me, the city and $4o parking) Fielding actually is no longer going to accept my insurance and after researching a bunch of other places to go and speaking to different people, I will pay the $100 when I need a fill after my 3 months of covered post-op. The Dr is who counts. I had to deal with Asia and it sucked but that is only initially and the band is long term so lets stay with the best! NYU is the best:thumbup:

Today was my first fill, too! I had a totally different experience. I went in, my Dr told me he would put 3cc in my 10cc band. He gently put the needle in. I barely felt anything at all without any numbing or any thing to guide it. He knew exactly what he was doing. I am very confident in him because of his reputation and experience. Today, I feel definitely alot more restriction but no pain. Just full after a few sips of Protein shake and excited that I will have success. He told me to come back in 2 weeks and then three weeks after that and I will then probably really be on my way to losing. Yea! Anyway, try a HIGH Protein Shake. That really does the trick taking away my hunger. Good luck. It does take a few fills before you are comfortable and hope your experiences with the fills will be better! Make sure the Dr who knows what he is doing does them!

Thanks for asking. I am doing pretty good. I found a DR more local to me but will wait till Oct, my three month post op to start with him. Ins is covered till then. Good luck to everyone! Bara

JO, You are very sweet and a special person,I can tell. Thank you so much for those words of encouragement. You are right, I have to be patient. We(me!) want instant results and I have to look to the positive. Yes, I did lose that weight(all during the first three weeks,all liquid) I was so great about sticking to that and then when I was given the OK, I went full force into eating again. WRONG! I have learned from it and am on the right track again. When is your date? Love to keep in touch and hear about how you are doing. I will check out the mentoring sites, thanks for the suggestion. If you want to PM me, feel free!

It really boggles my mind about how different each Dr is,too. I would of asked to be filled at time of surgery if I knew then what I know now. I asked, and I only had enough to make sure there was no leaks. I am starving and able to eat anything! I cn't wait to be filled and I pray it doesn't take five of them before I have restriction!

I was banded on 7/7 and when I went back only one week later, I was told that I could start on mushies right away and go to solids two days later. Since then,I have been able to eat anything and I feel like I am starving all the time. I start the day off good and depending on how it goes and how busy I am, I can stick to about 900 cals .It is at night when that old familiar calling to eat haunts me. Does that get better after you reach your sweet spot, no matter how many fills it takes? Is it all in my head? Anyone else experience this and how do you deal? Any advise is appreciated!