2muchfun

My first choice doctor did the same. Had me schedule a visit with the cardiologists, shrink and labs. I called back to tell them I wanted to wait till I had insurance approval and what will insurance cover. I eventually dropped that doctor and glad I did. Didn't stop him from sending a $500 bill for one 10 minute consultation that my insurance did pay for. I can see many patients go into some of these surgery mills and just get rolled over by all the medical jargon and starry eyed fantasies of being thin. And then the bills start rolling in. Yup! Some doctors and their office just don't care and neither do the staff. On the other hand, it could stop a lot of morbidly obese people from having their surgery and achieving a healthier life. Don't know if it worse to bully people into spending the dollars or letting them go on with their sad unhealthy lifestyle? Heaven knows how many times I've heard myself and others on this forum look for excuses not to follow through with the plan? tmf

You're perfectly normal. I don't know what you expected but more than 6 lbs in any month is good and 2 lbs in two weeks is still good, especially this time of year. 40 lbs in 5.5 months is excellent too. Don't expect the weight to fall off consistently from here on out or you're going to be very disappointed. You will see plateaus that last a week or even a month or two. It's normal and is the way most all of us have lost our weight. I weigh myself twice a day and I'm one of the few who sees no problem with it. It doesn't affect how I eat and I feel like if I know where I am, I know what I have to do to stay the course. Daily weight fluctuations are very normal and expected so I don't get all emotional over a lb or three here or there. tmf

LOL..I'm right there with you. I had to try on 3 shorts this morning before I found one that doesn't just fall off. tmf

Fills will help eventually. You may only need one but average is probably 5-6. Doctors prefer to sneak up on restriction, that way you have time to educate yourself how to eat properly with the band. As our esteemed forum member B-52 said: "Until there's restriction...It's just another diet"! tmf

It takes time to find the green zone. You sound like you're in the red zone. A very small unfill should tweak the band just right. We see posts like yours nearly every day so you're in great company. tmf

LOL...I found some spots on my scale that give me 2 lbs less. I don't use them but sometimes I flirt with that spot. I remember when I dropped below 200 last May. Great feeling. It had been about 8 years for me and it was so painful back then. I literally starved myself to 198. Add the endless biking, running and walking and I never did it again. Of course I gained 30 of it back in a few months. Not now though. Good for you!

Lots of good advice up there. I double vouch for the nutritionist. I was 4 months into my journey and had only lost 12 lbs. I sat down with my nutritionist and she pointed out some mistakes I was making. i started losing almost immediately. Of course, I got a few fills and the extra restriction enabled me to eat less. So now I'm down 50 lbs and loving it. Sounds like you are not near the green zone yet? Do you eat solid food? I'm talking about seafood, lean hamburger, chicken breast, veggies? I know even now that I could sit down and down half a pan of hamburger helper easily. I can eat slider food almost like I could a year ago. But, if I eat a lean chicken breast, broccoli, salad I can eat much less. I feel satisfied so much sooner. If you are eating right you really need a good fill. Don't give up, I've seen so many here who didn't really kick it in gear until year 2 or later. See a nutritionist!! tmf

I see these posts all the time. You're not alone. In 2 months you won't remember any of the discomfort. tmf

Relax. It's no big deal. It's the holidays, most of us cheat here and there. Do you really think all bandsters follow the rules 100% of the time? I had my surgery on the 28th of Nov 2011. A year ago. And I cheated here and there, ate moer than I should have on Xmas and New Years but ate much less than in prior years. Lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and nothing for 3.5 months. Walk or workout a little longer and you'll be fine. tmf

Do you have pain if you only drink and not eat? If so, you are probably too tight and need a small unfill. If you have pain when you eat and then try to drink, you could be too tight or may not be eating correctly? You've had your band for nearly a year so you probably already know eh? Some people who have never had restriction may still be eating improperly. You know, big bites, not chewing enough blah, blah. Usually restriction comes on a little at a time if the doc is putting small amounts of saline in the band each fill. tmf

Huzzah? Too many trips to "The Fort" maybe? You don't have to work for a small business to be excluded on a healthcare plan. My wife worked for Aurora Regional Med Center and our plan excluded me. Then she changed jobs and the new(much much smaller hospital) employer's plan had an inclusion so I was able to have it paid for. Usually employer's change over or offer new plans every January? Not yours? Welcome. There are only a handful of Coloradoans who post here here. Good luck with the bonuses! tmf

And this is the worst time of year to overcome a plateau? I'm in the same boat and have been since August. I'm not going to sweat it till January and then I plan on sweating a lot. I like to go back to the "Caveman" type diet when I hit these plateaus. And I hit the gym and bike real hard. Having .25 CCs put back in my band should help too. You've been doing this for a lot longer than I have, what is your fall back plateau killing routine? tmf

Everyone's weight fluctuates daily. You can and will retain fluids from medications, mentrual cycles, sodium input, carb input and the weather. No big deal. tmf

I understand. I use my Kindle Fire occasionally and it's nothing like a PC/laptop. tmf

Your doctor is doing it right. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing the next 3.5 months. Then, my 3rd fill I started to feel some restriction. By my 6th fill I was in the green zone. Doctors like to sneak up on restriction and rightly so. There's no gauge on your band to tell them when you have the right amount of saline injected. It's not like a gas tank gauge where you know you're full or have enough. Some bandsters are at full restriction with just a couple of CCs of Fluid where others take 10-14 CCs to get there. Over-filling can cause too much edema around the stoma/band area or seal off the portal completely. I look back and I too was a little pissed off that it was taking so long. No one told me(or I chose not to hear) that the band took all this tweaking to work properly. But it does and will continue to need tweaking. Again, looking back, time gave me the skills to learn how to be one with my band. Time helped me to learn how to eat the right way. I see so many people posting here that they can't eat normal foods and end up drinking their meals or relying on slider foods. I can't help believing they never learned how to eat slow, eat small and chew big. Be patient, it will come. Take this time to work on those eating skills we all need so much. tmf

Every doc is different. Yours should have told you already? Some give them in 30 days and some not for months and months. Depends on how you are doing without it? tmf

No zip-lining

I'm not sure what you are asking? Anyone can post on a forum. To post or belong to a group you need to go up top and click on community and then click social groups, pick a social group and ask to join. What forum are you wanting to join? tmf

It's there now!

No need to join any forum if you just want to give advice or ask questions. Just got to the forums link at the top and finda forum you want to comment on? Or, find a state, or city, or month forum to ask to join? tmf

If you haven't had restriction for a year now, you probably haven't learned how to eat properly with a well adjusted band? Right after this last fill, you probably had some edema around the band because 2.5 ccs is a lot to put in all at one time. Then as the swelling went down you were able to eat with less restriction? Eat slow, Eat small and chew big. tmf

Myself and others have been posting his videos for many months now. That's why no one is responding. I agree, very good to know. Wish I would have seen these before or right after my surgery. tmf

The hunger is normal and it's called "Bandster Hell". For some it's like being ravenous all the time. It doesn't go away until the patient finds some restriction/satiety when eating. The stitch will eventually fall out and the soreness could continue for some time. tmf

I had some taken out back in June for the same reasons. It's loosened up a little more since then so after Xmas I'll be going back in for a small fill. But, the small .25 CC unfill was needed at the time and I'd rather enjoy the Holidays and then hit it hard again in January. tmf

If you've developed an ulcer near the band, that would cause enough edema to restrict your intake. See a doctor very soon. tmf