2muchfun

Read Helen Bauzon's magazine article just to the right of this post. Also read the comments as some people are skeptical? tmf

Most docs won't see you if you didn't have your surgery with them. But look around, some do and you just have to find the right one. The attitude your doctor has seems out of character? You've lost a lot of weight and don't let them tell you different. Sometimes you have to be very aggressive with some of these docs. They get this God complex you know? Demand a fill if they say no. Call them up and tell them you want an appointment in the next two weeks. All they can do is say no. tmf

All Docs are different. Probably yes. If you are losing weight and it's because you feel full or are easily satisfied with 1-1/2 cup of food the doctor may not give you a fill since you are already feeling restriction or satiety. But if you are losing weight out of sheer will power, I don't see why the doctor would not give you a fill. Just make sure the Doc knows how you are losing? You should now be at a point where you are in bandster hell and are very hungry all the time? Let the doc know. tmf

You need 4-6 weeks to heal. When you feel like you are healed and you are eating everything in sight, no harm in calling your doc and asking to come in sooner. Your Dr is the only one who knows what you look like inside and how much trauma he/she did to your stomach. tmf

Almost everyone experiences what you are going through. It's called bandster hell and it will stalk you till you find restriction or satiety. Dr's usually don't add much saline to the band as this is your healing time. "IT'S JUST A DIET TILL YOU FIND RESTRICTION" tmf

Mis73 is right on this one Sara. Fills are a trial and error process. It's also a very good way to get to know how your band will work with your stomach by trying out new foods and new methods of preparation of foods. tmf

I'm only 6 months into this journey and so far I'm quite pleased. I don't think anyone told me that this was a magic pill. I know they didn't. I was told many times how difficult it would be and how much weight I could expect to lose. I chose to wear my rose colored glasses and hoped I would be one of the bandsters who lost 10+ lbs evey month. That hasn't happened as reality has now set in and after being on this forum I now understand so much more. Your journey sounds different from most I've heard. It's still hard to believe that somewhere at some other seminar, support group, nutritionist or this forum that someone didn't mention how hard this is going to be? I know that I too am guilty of hearing what I wanted to hear and I really believed this would be easier than it has been, but I was told and I read it here and saw it on youtube as well as from two nutritionists that this would be difficult and it was up to me to make it work. Some Dr's are asses and sounds like you found one. That's really unfortunate but some Dr's will take on patients who have had surgery elsewhere you know? tmf

Banded 11/28/11 and lost 12 lbs the first month. Then nothing till early April(3 mos). I've now lost 31 lbs since surgery. But the next 19 didn't happen till I felt restriction. I've had 6 fills. I didn't feel any restriction till my 4th fill late March. But I could still eat much more than a cup of food. Some foods would get stuck and I found I couldn't eat as much. Then fill 5 and 6 really squeezed the tummy. I may be a little too tight right now and I'm trying to re-learn how to eat with this band so tight and if I can't, I'll go back for a very small unfill. No one told me(or I wasn't listening) about bandster hell till I was in it. I went 3 months feeling just as you do. But, now I'm losing weight and you too will be here. You have no other choice but to be patient. Or, you could throw in the towel and give up? You don't sound like a quitter to me? You're just someone who is venting and Nikki I hear ya. I never vented here but I did at my support group and to my poor wife. Waaaaaaa! LOL.. I can laugh about it now but at the time I was angry and disappointed. I think we all have this idea that we are going to be the exception to the rules and drop 10-12 lbs a month and by the 4th of July we'll be back in our college clothes. HA! You can do it girl and you will. tmf

Banded 11/28/11 and lost 12 lbs the first month. Then nothing till early April. I've lost 31 lbs since surgery. But the next 19 didn't happen till I felt restriction. I've had 6 fills. I didn't feel any restriction till my 4th fill late March. But I could still eat much more than a cup of food. Some foods would get stuck and I found I couldn't eat as much. Then fill 5 and 6 really squeezed the tummy. I may be a little too tight right now and I'm trying to re-learn how to eat with this band so tight and if I can't, I'll go back for a very small unfill. So, I too spent 3 months in bandster hell and I too was frustrated. And I've read many similar stories from other bandsters so let us know how that next fill works for you? I'm betting it's going to make a difference and you'll be back here asking for advice on how you you can survive on so little food? tmf

Sojourner, For many of us the proper fit and compliance is elusive. 6 fills for me and the last one was just a little too much so I may have to get a small unfill. tmf

Denise, I was beginning to think I was the only one. Seems like so many people get that full or satisfied feeling and can stop and not be hungry again for 4 hours. Jean McMillan talks about satiety over fullness but I'm like you, my band only speaks to me when it's struggling to allow food to pass if I've eaten too much or too quickly. And I can graze non-stop as I seem to always be hungry(but never starved or ravenous). I'm still new to this(6 mos) so I continue to look for those signals. tmf

This is good news imo but like the others, I'd like to see this study or research. I can tell you it takes longer than 1 minute for food to pass through my band. tmf

How long have you been stalled? tmf

I see no reason why it shouldn't be a thread? It's good information? Many people do not click on the magazine articles on the side. tmf

I'm doing something similar and although I haven't lost any weight in the last 10 days, I noticed my pants and a few shirts fit better or are looser. You're building muscle and that's a good thing but I know it's frustrating when the scale doesn't move. tmf

Go to this thread. It will motivate you and no need to be terrified. It's easy. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/148296-has-the-band-actually-worked-for-you/

I experienced no pain whatsoever. Piece of cake. I did have a little aching in my left shoulder for a week or more but nothing to be afraid of. You'll be fine. It's a simple operation if you're a low BMI like I was. tmf

I'm never satisfied. I do get full real quick though. tmf

12/20 for me.

Shouldn't be a problem. You'll just have to adjust what you eat and stick with foods that don't cause for you to get stuck. You'll know what those foods are as you progress down the road. And, you won't be eating nearly as much so I don't see it as a "huge" problem. A speed bump, yes, but it's manageable. "Ask for your limitations and they're yours"...Richard Bach tmf

Dark meat for me unless i doctor white meat with some kind of lubricant like low fat/calorie miracle whip or mayo in a chicken salad. tmf

MrsPopeye, It does get better but usually it will take a few fills to get to that point. FYI-"It's just another diet until you get restriction"! You are pretty much on your own during this period but try looking for those foods that fill or satisfy your hunger. For me it's been salmon and some other fish. Hamburger seems to go down and satiates well too. I love meatloaf and that works. And yes, be happy, you're much closer to turning the corner on your journey than you were before surgery. tmf

I agree with both waiting and honk. Go all out no carb for one week. And I mean no carbs and ramp up the exercise including some strength building days. It's just 7 days so most anyone can do it. No sugar of any kind including fruit, no flour, potatoes, dairy. 7 days won't kill you. Sliders, they're death to a bandster. tmf

Since you're new to this, you might want to read some of the stories at this thread? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/148296-has-the-band-actually-worked-for-you/ First time I've seen someone get this much response so quickly. It just reaffirms to me that I made the right decision and went with the band. tmf

At this point in your journey it should be just a mathematical equation to losing weight? If your body needs 2000 calories a day to maintain and you re eating 1300 calories, you should be burning 700 more than you consume. It takes 3500 calories burned to lose 1 lb of fat. If you add exercise to the equation the results should be more dramatic. Do you keep a journal? I didn't and still don't but when I was stalled for 3 months I sat down with our nutritionist and she pointed out about 300 extra calories a day I could eliminate. I kicked up my exercise program and lost 19 lbs over the next 2 months. I've plateaued for the last week and will start a journal to see where I'm going wrong? I know I'm eating too much fruit and maybe some other foods that are slowing me down so the journal can help me get back on a lower calorie track. It's easy to stray and convince myself I'm not eating around my band. Give the journal a try and be sure to enter your exercise results every day. tmf