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Has anyone used Dr. Papeel in Corpus Christi, Texas. I said it before but this time I mean it. I will NEVER GO BACK TO DR. SPIEGAL, in Houston, Texas again. Had awful experience today but I need a doctor in Corpus christi, Texas Please advise.

Hi, I am looking for a fill doctor in Corpus Christi, Texas. Thanks.

Hi, My surgery was March a year ago. I was filled by Dr. Spiegel a month ago and I am to tight. I can't eat a bite until around 8pm every night and when I called his office to get a slight "unfil" they informed me that I would have to have all the fill taken out and start again. I am very upset about that because I have lived with this thing a year and I know my band. If I have it all taken out I will regain my weight loss. Does anyone know any doctor out there in the Corpus Christi, Texas area that will take a small amount of my fill out if they are not the doctor who did the surgery? Thanks,

I have been filled many times by Dr.Spiegel but things have changed. I have called his office and also the surgicenter several times telling them about my problem. The surgicenter said that Dr.Spiegel has changed things and that if you go to the surgicenter without him they are to do a total unfill. I am not talking about a unfil to see how much is in there and then immediately filling me back up. He does that each time. No., I am talking about that I had a fill 4 weeks ago with Dr. Speigel at the Surgicenter. I told him I only wanted a slight fill because I don't want to be miserable and I don't care if I lose slowly I just want to loss steadily. He told me he was the doctor and then preceeded to fill me. For a week it seemed to be alright but then "poof" it got really really tight where I can't even eat soup without it coming up. I called his office and told him that I lived in Rockport, I was in pain and they told me to go to the surgicenter to get unfilled. We went round and round and they told me that he was to busy to see me for 2 weeks. I was furious and told them that I just needed a slight unfill and that either he would have to see me or the surgicenter would have to slightly unfill me. The office just really didn't care. I again called the Surgicenter (which has always been so very very nice and they still are) but they explained to me his new policy. Maybe he will change his policy but I am through with him. I am going to find me another doctor to do my fills who will listen to me. I have had nothing but trouble with Dr. Spiegels office since the very beginning. Enough is enough. He just doesn't listen to me and he is a "cattle call" with his patients and makes me feel like I am the one at fault. Think twice before you use Dr. Speigel is my advice.

Hi, I was having the worst time with my band for over a week, not keeping anything down, and was considering getting a total unfil. Went to Dr. Speigels office and his PA was wonderful. She xrayed me and said my band was not to tight but I told her I had been having terrible sinus attacks and she said that was the problem. The mucus gets caught in the band and closes it up. Who would have "thuck it"....I did get a small unfill because I was so scared and I am glad I did. Just thought this might help someone who has had a tight band along with a cold or sinus.

HI, I am so sorry that I ever got this band. I am now so tight I can't even swallow and throw up all day long. Today I had a shake and then at 1pm tried to get 1/2 mashed avocado down and I have been throwing it up for hours . That is how all my days go. I have been banded for 5 months, lost 26 pounds and everyday has been either a struggle or a nightmare. Last week I got my 2nd fill and now I can't swallow so I will have to travel 8 hours to see Dr. Spiegels associate (I am a self pay so gotta take what I can get the cheapest) and now I don't know how much to tell her to take out. I had no idea all this would happen. At the seminars no one talked about all of this. Dr. Spiegel said he always does the fills which is now not true either. Anyway, now that I have vented (thank you all very much for listening) how do I know how much to tell her take out? Should it be .1cc? I appreciate hearing from you. Thanks,

Update on my success..... I went to Dr Speigels PA today and explained my problem. The floro showed I was not to tight but she decided that I had severe sinus drainage and that was plugging me up but just to be sure I got an unfil from 2.2 to 1.9 I FEEL GREAT I was able to eat fish and this day has been wonderful with no pain. I learned something new again that colds, or sinus drainage can plug you up.........Thanks everyone for your help.

Ok guys........ Explain pleeeeeeeeeaaaaase...... You know that I have had to wait until Monday to get to the surgicenter to get some fill out of my band because I have been so tight. This morning I woke up starving and I have eaten chili for lunch, mussells, cantaloupe, and sausage during the rest of the day and I could still eat more. Why did my band loosen up? I still believe I need to go on Monday to have an unfill. What do you expierenced bandster think is happening? Thanks,

Photonut. I forgot to ask. After an unfill, do you stay on liquids also. Thanks. Also, thanks for not making me afraid of an entire unfill and starting again. Since Dr. Speigel got his assistant, I don't ever get to talk to him.

Photonut..... Thank you so much for caring and all that information. Everything you said is exactly right. I don't eat protein since the 2nd fill because I can't swallow it. Am not losing weight because I can swallow pudding, etc., (all fattening). I would love to be back where I was at my first fill. I could eat protein, etc., just like you said. I am petrified they will take out all my fill on Monday but hopefully I can back it down to where I was at my first fill. Believe you me, I will never be in a hurry to get a fill again. I really really appreciate you..........I do wish at the seminars they would be more honest with us about the good, the bad and the ugly. (Can only speak for the seminar I attended) I just think I would have been more prepared. Thank God for this site, otherwise, I don't know what I would have done with all my questions. I will let you know what happens Monday but my advice to everyone is go slow with those fills. Thank you again and I will use every suggestion you gave......

DonnaB....Great advice. Thank you so much. I tried to get into the surgicenter sooner than Monday but they were totally booked. I have just gone on liquids and think I will do fine until Monday. I haven't PB'd for 2 days now. It will be interesting to see what Dr. Spiegels PA suggests as the amount to unfill me. I am going to tell her NOT TO be aggressive. Thanks again for all your help....

Melody J. What size band did you have. 74 pounds, WOW... I was banded on March 31st. Why didn't they just take a little bit out. Why did they totally take everything out? Thanks

Mousecrazy... that makes the most sense to me but what do you mean by reducing it to .6cc. Do you mean to unfill the entire band to .6cc? Donna, you make alot of sense to me also. No, the worst thing that could happen to me is to lose the band. Sorry to say, I am one of those people who do "what I am supposed to do" and the surgicenter said I should come back and get another fill after about 4 weeks" so I was just doing what I was "supposed" to do. I now see that I need to take control of this thing and do what my body is telling me to do. Dr. Spiegels office says that if you can eat a whole chicken breast you need a fill. So.....it is now time for me to take control which is hard for me. I am used to people telling me what to do and I am confused about what is the right amount of food a bandster should be able to eat and doing it right. What is a sample day of food for you. thanks

Thanks for your support and input. I have a 10cm band and the doctor said that this band holds 4 cc. I started with a fill of 1.6 and then it was filled to 2.1 so maybe just a slight unfill of .1 might help. I have an appointment next Monday to get a unfill so I will keep you posted. Thanks again for the support.

I certainly don't have a "doctors" response; however, yesterday I was in such pain that I forced a pb and after that I had a severe headache like I have never had before. It sent me to bed early to be in the dark and quiet but this morning it was alright. It scared me to . Hope all is well with you.

I had my 2nd fill and I have to crush my pills. I take a huge heart pill and several small pills and I just can't find anything to put my heart meds in that doesn't taste so bitter that I can't swallow. I need to take these heart meds. Any suggestions. Thanks,:help:

Thanks guys.... My favorites --- chocolate, ice cream and peanut butter. Makes taking my pills sound great. I appreciate the info...

Hi, I am getting ready to go in for my 2nd fill and was told that Dr. Spiegel now has an associate that does the fill. This is upsetting to me since part of the reason I chose Dr. Spiegel was because he said he did all the fills, anyway, has anyone been filled by his new associate and was the experience good or bad. Thanks,

Barbara, Thanks so much for that info.... I am going for my second fill in two weeks. Thanks again..... How are you doing with your band?

Hi, I began my journey March 31, 2006. I started at 214. Had my first fill on May 19th at a weight of 204. After over a month and 1/2 I am at 200. Only 4 pounds. I am not hungry and eat my "weight watchers" point system. Even before the band and only on weight watchers I lost more weight than this. Somedays the food goes down without a hitch and the next day I pb all day long so my big problem is "do I get another fill". I am 58 years old and don't want to pb every day if that is what another fill will do. So am I just a slow loser or do I need another fill? I feel that I am slipping into a "depression" over this and that is not what I got this fill for. Any advice. Thanks....I really appreciate you guys....

You are so right about the points. I found myself saying that chicken is 4 points so I could have 4 of the little chocolate cakes that are 1 point each so no more points for me. I will just have to force myself to eat protein. I am not a meat eater so any recipes to make meat taste better would be great. Don't think gravy counts.... I was just hoping that after the band surgery I would just not want to eat as much. It's so great to hear from all of you.

Hi guys/...... Thank all of you for your advice and encouragement. It was just the push I needed. You all agreed with my husband......LOL.... "The old grey mare ain't what she used to be....SHE'S BETTER".... I think I need more Protein and less carbs now that I look at what I have been eating. When will I know if I need another fill. I like the way it feels now so should I wait? Thanks again guys....You are great.

Me too....I was banded in March, have had one fill of 1.6cc last month. I just don't know what to do either. Somedays I can eat and the next day the same thing I ate gets stuck. When do you know that you need another fill when this is happening? Good to know that I am not alone. I thought something was wrong with me to..... Thanks for the information and the sharing. It really helps....

I had the same thing happen to me with one stitch. I just kept putting rubbing alcohol on the incision because it was red and everything was fine. It scared me at first too but not to worry.

Sounds wonderful but where can you get low carb/fat cake mixes. I have never seen them.