2muchfun

Probably, but anyone would be hungry if they are on liquids.

What are his fill protocols? You don't want some doc who is ultra conservative and only gives fills every 2 months and only gives .5 CCs per fill. How often can you get filled? Does he give out his cell number for emergency calls? Does he charge for fills? And for how long? Is there a nutritionist on staff? How many bands has he placed? Should be 500+ What about drinking and eating at the same time? What other expenses can you expect? Some docs use out of network surgery assistants and they bill you separately? What are his dietary protocols after surgery?

Laparscopic for me and I've never heard of the surgery being done any other way but I suppose it's a possibility? No pre op diet for me. Also, I think some docs do it with every patient, some with none of their patients and some docs modify their protocol depending on the patients weight, mind set and current health? tmf

BTW-There are some new docs in the area who are just getting their practice up and running. If you have insurance they can bill, I would think they would take you in just for some income. tmf

In case no one answered your reply, I was banded Nov 28 2011 and lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks. Then nothing for the next 3.5 months. I felt a little restriction with fill #3 and then fill #4 really did it and my weight loss took off. It sucks, you're in "bandster hell" till you start to get restriction. I was pissed off for quite a while because I thought I'd have restriction immediately but of course, I didn't. It turns out that this is all a good thing. It takes time to learn how to eat right with the band. It took me about 10 months to learn the lessons and I still think I'm learning. Welcome to Denver in advance. tmf

One of the bariatric nurses at North Suburban said Dr. G takes patients outside his practice. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/surgeons/197-doru-georgescu/

Most people cannot feel their stomachs. You're most likely in "bandster hell" and will be till you get that fill that gives you enough restriction to feel satisfied. tmf

You should fill out your profile?

Burping is one of the signals that you've had enough food. If you're getting stuck you're probably not eating small enough bites or not chewing enough? I assume you're eating solids?

If it was stuck before the band, I don't see how your band was too tight? The fluid would have gathered at your stoma and not your esophogus? Surely you would have had many stuck episodes over the last 18 months if this were true? Are you seeing a bariatric doc or just a surgeon? Was this NP part of the bariatric surgeons practice or just with your medical plan? tmf

Sounds like a stuck episode.

Never a regret for me. Not once.

Keep getting fills till you find some restriction. It takes very little to hit that restriction point.

Above average.

I've been able to eat too much for about 4 months now. I went in 2 weeks ago and got my 8th adjustment and I still need to go back for another. I was in the green zone at 6 fills but couldn't cope with the eating small, slow and chewing so I had some taken out. Bad idea. I thought I was eating right but now I know I wasn't. I eat OK now but I rely so much on exercise and here in Colorado it's too damn cold to bike right now so I'm just treading Water for another month. I can eat a cup of food and feel satisfied for 2-3 hours. So, I snack on healthy stuff like apples, pears till my next meal.

Happy Dance Time:

I bike a lot. A LOT! I just went in last week and had "Synvisc" injected in my knees so I could walk and do some other mild exercises. I've got degenerative arthritis and bone on bone knees. I'm a good candidate for 2 total knees. Maybe next Holiday season but for now, the synvisc helps a lot. tmf

I was where you are for 4 months. Bandster Hell is real and for some reason we all feel hungrier when we in BH. I was lucky though and seemed like the band did help me feel more satisfied with less food. And, I really turned to eating healthier which meant "No Pizza"!! So, I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks and then nada for the next 3.5 months. You seem to be athletic as I am too. I think my exercise routine helped me to lose the 50 lbs I lost the first 8 months. BTW-Finally bought a high quality pizza for our wedding anniversary back in October. OMG it was sooooo good.

Are you driving and alone? I wouldn't recommend you driving yourself 6 hours one way? Maybe 1 hour or less? If someone else is driving I'd say OK but have lots of water and fluids on board.

Your fears are/were our fears. I struggled with the thought of never being able to eat my favorite fatty foods ever again. Had I known I could still eat them maybe I wouldn't have feared so much. They said my appetite would change and I may not even crave or want those foods again? that scared me! I do still love those foods but I'm OK with going to a restaurant once a year and eating half a plate of my favorite chicken fried steak smothered in gravy. I think Pink Dahlia said it best: "I'm so stinkin thrilled with my weight loss, I don't care what foods I can't eat". And of course, it's not only about image, it's really about living a healthier lifestyle and enjoying those things we gave up on long ago. Like biking, hiking, going up stairs, tying shoes, putting on socks and not have to hold my breath, (great)SEX, sitting in an airplane and not overlaping the other seats, fewer meds, not looking like a slob in a suit, etc. We're here for ya! tmf

I think I can speak for many here and say that none of us want to have another fill. And each of us strive to make the band work with the Fluid already in the band. And many succeed. Carolina GIrl has never had a fill and continues to lose weight as an example. Getting a fill is her backup plan as yours could be as well. As long as you can make it work, why not? tmf

I asked my surgeon if Fluid dissipates from the band and he said no, not normally. He said that one reason why our bands seem to loosen is because the stomach and esophogus adapt to the band over time. In other words, the muscles in our esophogus and pouch gain strength from having to work more than pre-band. Sounded reasonable to me? tmf

I don't look at it as a diet program. I was always hungry when I dieted. Now, I'm not and that's all on the band. Like it was said before, the band is a tool and only a tool. You can choose to use it or choose to ignore it. tmf

You're the envy of many on the board. I recommend passing on the fill and working on the small bites, big chews and slowing down. Learning to eat with the band can be the hardest to overcome. tmf

Julie, you out there?