BioTeacher

I was banded in July 08. I have now 6.5 ml in a 9ml Realize band. I have NEVER felt real restriction! I lost 40 lbs. but since Nov08 nothing. I just went and still nothing. I had barium swallow, all is fine. Only time I feel it is when I eat really stringy meat or now an apple. It is not helping me much. Basically I am same as I was before surgery. NOT IN MY HEAD. Last appt. I was told this could take TWO years. To get some restriction? huh?? Not what I was told beforehand. Gee whiz.

I am still having a time of it. I got on the scale and it is highest since surgery. I have GOT to get a handle on this! I do pretty well all day and then when I am most tired I eat dumb things. Not too bad bad stuff but things like too much peanut butter and and apple. Stuff like that. Today has been a good day. I hope to now make it to bed before I eat anything else. I think that is one key for me. For some reason I think I must eat to go to bed. How bent is that? Sometimes I am hungry and honestly I cannot sleep with growling stomach. But most of time I am just "rewarding" myself. I have got to try to break this. It is a LOOOONGG going problem though. Anyway I ate well today and what I think were controlled quantities. I kept the protein constant through the day. I just walked outside briskly about 30 min and all is well. Now I need about 365 more days like this one! Wow. :tongue2: Still not feeling the restriction much. Was eating some stringy white meat chicken and I felt something so I stopped and fed lots of it to the dog. But as far as just helping me stop, I just still don't get it. I am hoping to go in there in two weeks and just not gain but it is not looking good! Gotta get a handle here! I fully expect no more fills no matter what--and I just don't care any more....for sure... well more later. No eating before bed, no eating before bed.....keep repeating it... :smile2:

I am still having a time of it. I got on the scale and it is highest since surgery. I have GOT to get a handle on this! I do pretty well all day and then when I am most tired I eat dumb things. Not too bad bad stuff but things like too much peanut butter and and apple. Stuff like that. Today has been a good day. I hope to now make it to bed before I eat anything else. I think that is one key for me. For some reason I think I must eat to go to bed. How bent is that? Sometimes I am hungry and honestly I cannot sleep with growling stomach. But most of time I am just "rewarding" myself. I have got to try to break this. It is a LOOOONGG going problem though. Anyway I ate well today and what I think were controlled quantities. I kept the protein constant through the day. I just walked outside briskly about 30 min and all is well. Now I need about 365 more days like this one! Wow. Still not feeling the restriction much. Was eating some stringy white meat chicken and I felt something so I stopped and fed lots of it to the dog. But as far as just helping me stop, I just still don't get it. I am hoping to go in there in two weeks and just not gain but it is not looking good! Gotta get a handle here! I fully expect no more fills no matter what--and I just don't care any more....for sure... well more later. No eating before bed, no eating before bed.....keep repeating it... :scared2:

Well, well how interesting to hear someone ELSE say exactly what I have thought for several months now! Since I am not losing they have decided they will NOT fill me either. I have visited the dietician several times already and last time I got so angry they sent me to talk to the counselor. I need more in my band and it is not up to me. I have not hit any sweet spot and they just do NOT believe me. That nurse is NOT very nice. She just is not, glad to hear I am not the only one who thinks so. You are so right about the calling in and stuff too. They are not that great. I went to a couple of support groups too--you are right they are simply presentations--not helpful! I am thinking of trying to find a new fill doctor. I understand that the other Dr. in our office--Mandalbaum is not like that. Clark is OK but I never see him just the lovely nurse who thinks I am just a stupid overeating dumby. I cried the last two times I left there. I try to be calm but by the time I leave I am upset as heck! PLEASE KEEP IN CONTACT! You ARE doing better than me! Hang in there and we can surely commiserate together! Please write back! :cool2:

Hey Noel! I am glad you wrote about my blog even though it sounds like my story. Sounds like you thought the very same thing that I did. Why is this working so WELL for so many people and not for us?? It is OK you really DID help me more than you think because I do not feel stupid like I am nuts about what I thought the band should do. And it is possible it just may not work for me. I just feel better knowing I am not crazy and the restriction I am supposed to feel just ain't there. I will hope the best for you too. Hope the refilling does get there. That seems like a really SMALL band you have there anyway. Why can't they get the size of the opening right? You wonder for sure. Just keep in contact and maybe we can figure this out and at least not think we are both nuts! Thanks for writing. Right now this is about all I have to vent my frustration and loss of hope with this dumb thing I put in my body!

Just feeling a little blue tonite. Probably just very tired. Lots of extra schoolwork to do this weekend along with my regular laundry and stuff. I think I have about 6-8 hours of grading, seriously, and I am just tired thinking about it. I have a buddy I got here who was struggling and has finally gotten enough fills that she has hit her sweet spot. She says she can eat a few bites of things then that is it. She needs to eat a little more often but the weight is starting to come off. Well, that is exactly what I understood would happen with this band. Of course that is not what I have. I am trying hard to write down my food. But I am not doing that well with eating and quantities. I was not good before the band and still cannot control it well now. I am very afraid my weight will now start to creep back up as it has many, many times before when the weight quit coming off. I always hit this. I am still feeling that I will not get any more fills from my doctor. I think I only need maybe 1 or 2 more. I think the 1 just might do it. But THEY think I am just an overeating pig so they are not going to give me any more. And I am trying NOT to fret about it. I cannot make them give me fills and I have to quit getting mad because they won't. It is a no-win situation that I am stuck in and the band just did not help me. Now I am stuck with it and it doesn't work because not enough is in. So I fear that I will again FAIL at this yet another weight loss try. I will probably be FATTER and just have a band in there. Just GREAT. Wow, I have been better about not letting this bother me this week than I am right now. I think I am just toooooo tired. Better go.

Hey Fit. Nice to hear from you. I would not wish this PLATEAU--is that what it is? on anyone else but am glad to hear that I am not the only one who hasn't lost 90 pounds in 9 months. I don't feel like this is going to work I just don't. Nothing is happening. It has again been about a week and I have lost nothing. I have been weighing. I have done so MUCH exercise this week. Wednesday I went to a State Park for my son's Geology class and we hiked on rugged trails with lots and lots of steps and walking in creek beds and stuff like that for 4 1/2 hours. We timed it! Man I was sore but I did make it. I think my family was not sure about that. Then I did walk my normal amount at least the rest of the days too. I feel fine now. I also have written down what I have eaten pretty much for a week now so that is a biggie. I have not really analyzed it much, just wrote it down. Fit, I am pretty good on eating out. I never eat the BREAD or rolls. Hubby knows to get them away. I eat salad with fork dressing. If I eat potato it is half and same on butter. Then I eat my meat, sometimes I split that too. sometimes I bring it home. This week I was on Spring Break so we ate out a lot, that is a fact but I think I am OK. I never, never eat desserts out or home and I never ever eat at buffets either. I don't know what is going to happen from here on with my band. I really feel I will not lose any more weight until I really feel that spot and I sure hardly ever do now. But at the doc's office they seem to not believe me so--whatever. I will keep on keeping on and do the best I can. it just seems to not be good enough to lose any more weight. I must be OK with the esophagus stretching thing because I had the test Tuesday and heard nothing from them. I did not think I had stretched it. Looked fine to me on the barium thing. As I said, it is out of my hands. I am doing what I can do and then either they help me with it or they don't. I am not going to fret about it anymore. Next time I go in there that is the attitude I am going to take. They can send me to the dietician 100 times and the counselor 100 times. I KNOW that I am not getting the help from this band that I should be getting and that is that. I can eat just about ANYTHING and quite a quantity and no real problems or feeling from it. So there. I know in My HEART that is the case. Well back to the grindstone of school tomorrow. Gotta go and more later.

Thanks Cheryl. I do exercise every day almost at about 30 minutes fast walk with my doggie. So that is OK. I have two goals until next month. 1) write all down. OK I am on day 2 but I will sure try. 2) no eating between meals. Now that is a BIGGIE for me. I appreciate your thoughts and comments. I really felt I needed to VENT. Not sure where I will go from here. But thanks.....

:mad2: I went in yesterday. I am at 9 mos. postop now. Had a gain of 3 lbs. So again I have lost about 40 lbs. give or take. But NOTHING since November. I tried very hard to go in there very calmly and low key. The nurse AGAIN said she thought I had stretched my esophagus from repeatedly eating too much and the band was too restricted! What a JOKE! I have SELDOM if ever felt any restriction from this dumb band. They just do not believe me. She sent me for a barium swallow test to see. I went this morning. All looked FINE to me. And I felt that the band did not look like it restricted my stomach AT all. But I know the fill part is on the inside and cannot see it. But the top did not look restricted either. Anyway I then was sent to the dietician AGAIN. I lost it in there. She asked me if I was ANGRY and felt I had been CHEATED and I said YES!!!!! I was told I would feel SOMETHING that would give me a signal to quit eating when that upper part of my stomach was full. I have felt very very little if anything EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is the restriction they promised in their pre-surgery HYPE!????! What a bunch of liars! I think they are getting the $$$$ and do not care about what I SAY I feel or do not feel. I have no control whatsoever about what is being done to me or NOT done to me. Why did I even get this stupid thing!?? IF I lose any weight it will NOT be because of the band. And I will be lucky if I can because I sure could not before so why could I now!? Right now I do not care WHAT they do--put some in, take it out, whatever!! I don't have any say in it so who gives a care!! I am just frustrated and upset about his beyond belief. I thought that this would just give me that little help I needed and I have gotten almost NOTHING as far as help with eating with this thing. So no more fills I guess, here I go on my own. My eyes are tearing up just thinking about this. what a waste of time. I cannot read about others who are successful because I hear that their doctors give them fills when they need it and listen to what they are struggling with. Great. I get the doctor's office that just does not care. That is it for today. yuck. :cursing::thumbdown:

:mad2: I went in yesterday. I am at 9 mos. postop now. Had a gain of 3 lbs. So again I have lost about 40 lbs. give or take. But NOTHING since November. I tried very hard to go in there very calmly and low key. The nurse AGAIN said she thought I had stretched my esophagus from repeatedly eating too much and the band was too restricted! What a JOKE! I have SELDOM if ever felt any restriction from this dumb band. They just do not believe me. She sent me for a barium swallow test to see. I went this morning. All looked FINE to me. And I felt that the band did not look like it restricted my stomach AT all. But I know the fill part is on the inside and cannot see it. But the top did not look restricted either. Anyway I then was sent to the dietician AGAIN. I lost it in there. She asked me if I was ANGRY and felt I had been CHEATED and I said YES!!!!! I was told I would feel SOMETHING that would give me a signal to quit eating when that upper part of my stomach was full. I have felt very very little if anything EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is the restriction they promised in their pre-surgery HYPE!????! What a bunch of liars! I think they are getting the $$$$ and do not care about what I SAY I feel or do not feel. I have no control whatsoever about what is being done to me or NOT done to me. Why did I even get this stupid thing!?? IF I lose any weight it will NOT be because of the band. And I will be lucky if I can because I sure could not before so why could I now!? Right now I do not care WHAT they do--put some in, take it out, whatever!! I don't have any say in it so who gives a care!! I am just frustrated and upset about his beyond belief. I thought that this would just give me that little help I needed and I have gotten almost NOTHING as far as help with eating with this thing. So no more fills I guess, here I go on my own. My eyes are tearing up just thinking about this. what a waste of time. I cannot read about others who are successful because I hear that their doctors give them fills when they need it and listen to what they are struggling with. Great. I get the doctor's office that just does not care. That is it for today. yuck. :cursing::thumbdown:

:thumbup: I am about to go in next Monday with another month or 4 weeks of no weight loss. I have weighed the same since November 1st. I am scared that this is it. I cannot do this on my own. I have proven this over and over. I am craving sweets and am taking bites here and there and I know my dumb mind is letting me because I am NOT losing. this is my pattern. I will probably start to actually gain and will not stop until I do. I need SOMETHING to get started again. I exercise and walk just about every single day. Help, help help...

I am about to go in next Monday with another month or 4 weeks of no weight loss. I have weighed the same since November 1st. I am scared that this is it. I cannot do this on my own. I have proven this over and over. I am craving sweets and am taking bites here and there and I know my dumb mind is letting me because I am NOT losing. this is my pattern. I will probably start to actually gain and will not stop until I do. I need SOMETHING to get started again. I exercise and walk just about every single day. Help, help help...

I have not been on the Lap Band site for quite awhile. Like sometime in January. Don't worry about the surgery. It is OK. Dr. Clark is a nice doctor. I am surprised you have not met him at all?? That is odd. He is a nice man though and the surgery will not be bad at all. I really lost a lot of weight during the first three months and then I have been really on a huge plateau. I have had fill after fill and am just now feeling something. I really was very, very frustrated with them about the fact that they kept cancelling and putting off my appts. I will say that has been better. I will have to say though that while they are nice, I do not get the real feeling they CARE that much. It just seems like a job to them. Maybe your experience will be better. See how it goes, don't sweat the surgery though! I do not want to say anymore right now. I want you to go in there and be encouraged! I was banded in July of 08. Hey--keep me posted on how you do! I would love to hear how your progress goes. Seriously. :cursing:

I have heard people saying Dr. Mandelbaum's name. I have no idea if he does the same things as Dr. Clark. For your sake, I hope not. Dr. Clark has a lot of emergencies. Then it puts you off at least two more weeks. I went a full 6-7 weeks after surgery because they put me off. This has happened two more times in the past 6 mos. Once I took off work an entire day so it would not be too long. I cannot do that all the time. And that time THEY messed up and did not write me on their schedule! One day I went at 4PM and a lady who was a year out told me she always waited at least an hour and the place was packed! Now, I just went two weeks ago and all was fine. Not that busy, not that long. I actually saw Dr. Clark. One meeting I only saw the Nurse Practitioner. I just think they advertise this great after care and I have not seen it. Hopefully it will get better from now on?? I am not sold on the fact that it will. I have hit a terrible plateau too and I really need some fills. But they have been awfully far apart. Still not really feeling it. But, I do not want to discourage you! I bet Dr. Mandalbaum and his office do better than this. But we all have to deal with St. Francis. Just let me know how your experience goes.... I am interested to see if I am the only one with these problems.... :wink2: I still need at least one more fill, I am not feeling the restriction too much at all. Hang in there!! Don't you think right now that they are really telling you that the after-care will be so great?? That is what I thought and it is not what has happened honestly. Keep in touch and good luck!!

Isn't there anyone who has been successful out there to help me? I am wondering why I am not getting any responses. I am sure there are a lot more needed mentors with all us new people. Anyone out there sort of similar?? :thumbup:

I guess my situation could be a lot worse! HANG IN THERE! I hope you are holding up OK having lost 15 lbs. I feel for you. I do not know how I would handle it! Look at my complaining!! Hopefully it it will kick in soon? I hope that we are all now "stuck" at a spot that just won't work....I don't understand how these others are so successful..... Keep writing to all of us and at least we can sympathize with you, OK?? I sure hope the next fill helps you out.... My heart is with you on your troubles. I think I am facing the same thing with being stuck. I just do not see anything happening and when that happens with me I start to nibble......bad! Let's keep talking!!! Try to hang in! :thumbup:

Hi ! I am from Southside of Indy. I was banded in July. I posted the "frustrated" post. Someone was going/or looking at the Southside for fills. They postpone mine appts ALL the time. One day when I went another lady who had been going a year said her appts. were always at least an hour late. Just Fyi

deepinfl: You are close to my age, how did you lose all that so fast?? I had my surgery in July and there is no way I will get that much off by May 09! I had sure hoped to but I have slowed down to a stop! You must feel FANTASTIC! Good for YOU!! Did you lose some weight gradually every month? Was it 5-10 lbs. a month? Did you do a diary ?? Am trying to figure out what to do to get this jump-started again!! I am getting discouraged which is a major problem for me...Thx

I was banded in July 08. I have lost about 45 lbs. and still have about 60 to go if I can get there. I live in Indiana and am a HS teacher and mom of two kids both in college. :frown:I lost a lot and have really stalled out the last two months. Lost almost nothing. I just need someone to talk to that might understand all this. I am very frustrated with my Doc's office because they are constantly re-scheduling my appts. and the time between them is much more than 1 month. I don't understand the big differences in fills around the country either. Some people seem to have control over theirs, I have no say so at all. I also am waiting to get that feeling that says STOP eating! Where is it?? Anyway.

I am wondering if anyone else working through St. Francis South / Dr. Clark is as frustrated with them as I am?? I am 6 mos. post-op. I bet my appts. have been rescheduled and messed up 4 of the six times I should have gone. This started from the very first post-op which was put off two weeks to just now. I was supposed to go Dec. 15th for a month check and am put off to Jan 5th! That is three more weeks! In November I went to my appt. at St. Francis and they did not have it on the record! I found my card with the date and time on it! I had to take off a whole day of work to go for a 15 min. appt! Or else wait until Dec. 15th which would have been 7 weeks, and then they would have re-scheduled it too. And in November I did not even SEE Dr. Clark, just the nurse practioner. I am trying to change my life and they are not much help! I read other threads and they seem much more happy with theirs. Anyone else this upset!??

Thanks for your kind words! In reading the threads from other places I can see that the Program/doctor I am going to is not very good. They are overloaded with patients and they don't seem to care much. So, as you said, I must fight for myself. I see people who say they do not feel full and they call and go in. I cannot even get in. Every time I turn around they are rescheduling my appt because my doc "has surgery" and is not going to be there. I rarely even see him anyway--I see a nurse practioner, but I guess he has to be there. Anyway, I do exercise about 4-5 days a week walking briskly 1-2 miles with my dog. He insists! Even in the cold! Ha. I am not close to goal, have another 50 to lose. I got another thread that says maybe I should not be looking for "full" but maybe "not hungry". I need to think about that one.... Merry Christmas to you too. You hang in there as well! :tounge_smile:

I was banded in July 08. Lost a lot but have really plateaued the last two months. This is what always happens to me when I lost weight. It is just not coming off. Doctor's office is constantly re-scheduling my appts. Most have been AT least 6 weeks apart. Just got cancelled from Dec. 15th (which was a month) to Jan 5th! I have had three fills and do NOT feel full ever..... :laugh:

I had my surgery in July 08. I have had three fills, 4ml, 1ml, and 1/2 ml. My surgeon cancels my appt all the time, one time they messed it up and I had to take off work, etc. I bet there have been a minimum of 6 weeks between my visits. They just put me off from Dec. 14th(which was already a month from the last visit!) to Jan 5th! That is three more weeks on the month I was already between fills. I feel I am trying to change my life and they are not helping!! My question is--WHEN will I start to fill FULL!?? I can eat an entire pretty large salad, and meat and could still go. I want this thing to help me stop!! How much should be in there by now!? Why don't I feel full?? I lost a bunch of weight the first four months, this past two almost NOTHING! It is very hard to not eat hardly any bread, no carb bevs, no caffeine, just meat, veggies and some fruit and NOT be losing! Is this till pretty typical?? I have lost about 45 in 6 mos. but almost nothing in the last two....:laugh: