barbara465

I also was banded in June and have had all my fills at the surgicenter. I didn't mind his lack of office staff because I didn't have to deal with them. That is all changed now. He does the fills, either at the office or the surgicenter. I have mine scheduled for Monday at his office. My history is a little different than others. I have problems with my fills and react to them 6-10 days after. If his policy is to unfill completely after 3 days from a fill, I will be unfilled quickly. I plan on spending some time with him. I asked for an extended office visit. We'll see. I doubt I get it. He is understaffed and the ones there don't give out good information. He is a teriffic surgeon, but that's it. I'm still glad I had my surgery by him because I feel he is the best. I knew that aftercare would be a issue. There is another thread on here that went into more detail about all the issues with him and his office. Lapband surgery is the only one where we expect to be with the surgeon through an entire process. If it was heart surgery or knee surgery the surgeon would do limited after care and we would be released. Not so with lapband. I'll post my experience Monday after I go see him.

I think there might be tees on another site that say things like I'm with the band, etc. I'll look them up when I get a chance. Veronica you can do this. Don't even think of cheating. Its much too soon for you to take that kind of risk. Get up and take a walk if the temptation gets too much. Going shopping with the gals for the weekend. One of them is banded, and the others not.

I go to Dr. Spiegel. I have gone many times for a slight unfill when I've been overfilled. You can go to the surgicenter and they will do it. Dr. Spiegel is now doing the fills at his office or the surgicenter. That just started. I go Monday to his office for the first time since June. I would think the surgicenter would still do a slight unfill. Call them and find out. If they won't call the office again and tell them you just need a slight unfill.

Congrats bikergirl! You are brave taking the kids camping so soon after surgery. :girl_hug: At least you won't have to worry about what you can eat since you will be on liquids and maybe some mushies.

Glad to see all of you posting. Biker grammy you and I talked a while back. I'm going to Spiegel's support meeting on the 20th. A chef from University Hospital is the speaker. If you want we can meet and I'll drive us there. I ride the bus to town and back so it's no big deal for me to do my usual routine and then meet up with you and go. I'm planning on being there on the 12th. I will be getting a fill that day with Dr. Spiegel so I won't be able to eat. However, some nice hot tea will do me. I'll see you at 6:30. Dick and I love La Villa. I just work it in my plan. Our doctor says its OK just don't get carried away. However, I do love those chips and queso. I count cheese as protein and don't worry about the calories so much. The big thing is to eat as normal as possible, but in smaller amounts. That being said, if you eat lots of high caloric foods than you probably won't lose very much or very fast. I miss you guys as well. You can PM me and sometimes I do see that at work. Just make sure I know of the meetings!! I think La Villa once a month for our meetings is OK. That night we can have the husbands and when we go to the cafe we can go solo. Dick has a meeting in Kingwood on Mondays at 7:15 so going earlier to La Villa is good. s

Sounds like in our own ways we are making adjustments and changes. I've been to curves twice this week. Yeah for me. I'm drinking even more water, but I must say my appetite is great. I'm hungrier now than ever before. I always want something to eat. My stomach growls and I'm really hungry. Not sure what that is all about. We are going to Vegas in June so the conference won't be there then. With all of the Junebie knowledge we all probably could put it on! It's never too late to join us in Vegas for the reunion. Keep the weekend on your calendars. You never know what might happen that will allow you to join us.

The band just reminded me I had one! I can't believe that I've just come through a PB episode. I've never had one outside of reaction to a fill. I think I just got lazy and didn't chew my veggies. Oh the sweet pain. Now back to liquids for a day or two. That should help with my weight loss. I'll start back with Curves after work tomorrow. They should be all moved into the new facility. I'm going to try and go 4 nights since I'll be gone for the weekend. I've received the checks for Celine. I will order some tickets tomorrow for those that wanted tickets. We can get more tickets as more want them. I'm looking forward to our reunion and hope to be in onederland by then.

PinkyLee - Is that 28 lbs to goal????? What are you stressing over? You will be at goal in no time. Look how far you have come. I'm further away from onederland than a month ago. What a difference no restriction makes. I'll get there, but it will be a little slower. DH got up to play golf early. I got up and went to my closet. I've done the first round and took out about 2-3 trashbags full. I'm going back after my coffee and start to color coordinate. I hang onto things I haven't worn in years, but I keep thinking maybe I will. Most of my tees are sretched at the bottom so they have to go. I bought a few things yesterday and online so I need to get them in my closet. Some things I bought online are too small, but after a fill I should be able to get in them. :myscared: Back to the closet. Have a great day everyone!

The way to deal with the family is to tell them. Tell them nicely that this is YOUR program and that YOU must do it. You know what you are doing, you know when your are cheating, and you know what is OK. Tell them that you thank them for their support, but they can't watch you 24/7. You have to learn to live in the real world and you have to make the decisions yourself. Others can't make us do it. We have to do it. If they only knew that they frustrate us more and that frustration leads us to food. We walked today the length of the mall and back. I bought a few new things along the way. It's so funny to me to be buying 3/4 length sleeves. I've always worn the short sleeve tees or polos in the summer. I can't do that this year. These arms are a mess! I found a couple pair of shoes so I'm glad I won't be walking out of these for a while. Hope everyone is enjoying the weather. It is really beautiful in Houston today.

Oh wow Melissa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's the way to go and the way to inspire the rest of us. OK guys did you pick your one thing to work on? I picked exercise. I'm doing great with it, 3 times to curves last week. We have a walking excursion at a big mall today. I'm drinking my Water. food portions are still off the wall. I have another week before doctor's appointment. I like the idea of no scales either. I may put that one into effect. OK Cindy what are you going to work on? We are all doing it, but we are taking it a little slower this time. Pick something you need to work on and do it this week. It can be exercise, water, carbs, sweets, etc. Only weight once a week. We can do this guys. Our slumps are over. We are recommitted. Rah, rah, rah. Let's hear it for the Junebies!!!!!!!!!!

So glad to hear that things are finally moving forward. The new job could be a real blessing. All new beginnings. Try to keep the stress down. Your daughter and you can have a good life. You just need to move forward. Keep us informed of your progress.

Three days of exercising! They are moving so will be closed until Monday. I'll try to do a 30 minute walk on Saturday to keep the exercise up. I'm also eating frozen healthy dinners. This helps me with portion control. I like the idea of tackling one thing a week. I drink plenty of water so mine this week was exercise. Next week it will be better portions and less calories. The lapband sorta forms a pouch, but not really. The amount of food is factored by the size of the opening and the amount of the upper stomach above the band. The reason not to eat too much, pouch packing, is to keep the pouch from coming out of the band because of the weight of the food. This can cause slipping of the band. Most say 6 oz at any one time. I would think of it as how much is in the stomach at one time. If you are eating a meal than 6oz. If you are eating mushies those will start through the stomach pretty fast. When you don't have a fill the opening is bigger so the food goes through to the lower stomach faster. Does that help? I really don't think WW or OA or any self help group can hurt. We all are emotional eaters and we need to explore those feelings. We will always struggle with our weight. The band just helps us stay in check. When it isn't working at optima we fall behind. My new motto is I can't be trusted without my band. And my band must be optimized for me to lose weight. I have very little restriction, if any. That will end soon. I'm going to tough it out with the next fill as long as I can. I may be going all liquids, but I've got to get this going again. Let's just start over from where we are. We can do this. We have just hit a little wall. Step back now and jump over it. It isn't very high. I miss you guys during the day. I try to keep up at night.

what in the he-- is going on with us? We are all going off the deep end. I am out of control also. I can eat way too much and I am. Carbs are my trigger so I need to stay away from them as well. I'm going to prepared frozen dinners for a while. Maybe that will get me some Portion Control. I miss you guys during the day and at night too tired to stay on here long. Hang in there. We will get through this.

Hey junebies. I don't have access at work anymore and our internet was out last night. I am having withdrawl. I joined curves last night so I've worked out twice so far this week. I plan on going thru Thursday night. They are moving so will be closed Friday and Saturday. I am going to try and get at least 4 workouts a week, more if I can. I posted a noted to Dr. C about my fills. He thinks I may have a hiatal hernia or infection in the band. I'm not sure I agree, but will wait to see what Dr. Spiegel thinks. I will go on the 12th. I'm not sure if I have any fill left as I seemed to be really, really hungry and can eat all the time. I'm trying to stay in control, but I'm losing that battle. I've gained 5 lbs since the unfill. I think we, I, need to pull ourselves up and rededicate our efforts. I for one saw results and I think I started sliding. I'm going to try real hard to get back on target. Hope everyone hangs in there.

Dr C do you have any suggestions?

My DH is going to join us at 6:30. It's his favorite restaurant as well. I figure he will leave before we are done talking, but if any of the guys want to come there will be one there.

La Villa is at the corner of Pinehurst Trail and 1960E. La Villa is on the corner. Its a strip shopping center, just past Sunrise at Atascocita Apartments and RV/boat storage. There is a church on the opposite corner. If you are coming east on 1960 you will go by W. Lake Houston, Denario, and then Pinehurst Trails. You can turn right short of the light or go to the light and turn right. There is a chinese restaurant, a curves, a driving school, all in the strip. I'll see you at 6:30!

Oh I wish I had known about the seminar Barbara 12. I am hearing lots about the secret. I have Oprah's show taped and my friend told me about the website. Time for me to get some new inspiration. Let us know how it was. I'm off to have lunch with a friend. I've decided to do more of the things I used to do before marriage. I love my DH, but a girl needs her girlfriends now and then.

La Villa my favorite restaurant. Let me know if you want to meet at 6;30 Monday Feb 26th. I'm game. I can stop at curves before and join up! I've got to get busy on the exercise.

Dr. C I don't seem to be able to tolerate fills very well. You can see from my signature line that I have had lots of fills and unfills in my short 8 months. I have learned that I can't seem to get over .3 at any one time. My doctor has us on 3 days of liquids and 3 days of mushies so I'm not rushing to eat solid food. I seem to react about 6-10 days after a fill. With the exception of 2 times, once I start PBing I can't recover from it. I will PB for days and can't keep liquids in. I then go for an unfill. I also get a fever after a fill that last just a few hours with chills. I get extremely tired and then seem to be OK. All of my fills are under fluro. Even when I can't keep my salivia down the scan shows me wide open. Are there others like me? Can I be given something that will help me tolerate fills?

Before a fill you are wide open. You have the tool, lapband, but its like tires with no air. Until you get a fill you won't feel restriction. You might not feel restriction until several fills. Its a guessing game and everyone is different. Different doctors say different things about how to eat after a fill. One thing I do know is that everyone reacts differently and at different times. My fills seem to kick in on day 6. My doctor recommends 3 days of liquids and 3 days of mushies. Although this is strict, I am thankful for that because of how I react to fills. Be careful about foods you could eat before a fill and after a fill as well. Things that you could eat you may not be able to eat now. One of the most common foods I've heard about is eggs. I can't seem to eat scrambled eggs now, but I can eat other forms of eggs like fried, poached, and omelette. If you decide to eat chips make sure that you chew them to liquid. Salsa may irritate your sensitive stomach if it is too spicy. Be very careful.

Congrats! (Dr. Spiegel's office usually closed on Friday's). I know you are anxious now to get scheduled and begin. Good luck and hope to meet you face to face soon.

It's so early in the program yet and many of these will go. That's why we can't remember their names. I didn't think many of the guys were that good and just a few of the gals. I do think the gals did so much better in their show than the guys. I like it better when we get down to about 8 and then you see some of the real talent come out.

Great observation! My doctor recommends we devote 45 minutes to the meal and do nothing else. I no longer eat in my recliner watching TV. I also pre-measure my food because some days I could eat and eat and eat as long as I go slow, slow, slow. I love the trance thought. Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm still holding on to the extra pounds. I can't seem to get rid of them. I'm tight this morning, but I"m also stressing. I had to cancel the trip to Orlando and it really has me angry. Why? Because DH can still seem to play golf in all his pain! Anyway, I need to let this go and get on to happier things. I really needed this vacation, but the weekend of the 9th I'm off with the gals for shopping. I called my doctor's office today. I have an appointment for consultation/fill on the 12th. It was fairly easy to get an appointment which surprised me. Anyway, hopefully they can do something creative to get me over the tough spot so I can get this band a little tighter. I still haven't started exercising. I just need to do it, but my head gives me all the excuses I need. I ordered some shorts today. They have come back with true bermuda length shorts, 12", and I'm pysched. I am always looking for the longer shorts and they have been hard to find. I can visualize me wearing them in Vegas!! Oh wait, they will be too big by then. Yes there is a lot of buzz about The Secret. I haven't watched the tapes yet, but I believe part of it is visualize your goal and go for it. I did that earlier in my life by goal setting. I had certain goals and worked toward them until they were accomplished. I know that positive attitude works to get things done. I know that when we go to Vegas I will be 25 lbs lighter. That is doable. I've marked it out on the calendar at 2 lbs/week starting week of March 12th. I can see it. I think that will put me in a size 16.