Glammaw

I am now a gambler. It is scary, because I never GAVE my money away and am very much a control person. Now, I find myself filling the time I used to devote to eating and the money I spent on food going to gambling. My husband has always enjoyed the horse races, but not me. But darn those slot machines have got me. This is the first weekend I haven't been to the gambling boat. I explained to my DH that being out of control with my money scares me. And, since my father was alcoholic, I have to be careful. You know, predisposed to addictions. I don't want to trade a food addiction for a gambling addiction or any other addiction. I just want to be a normal, healthy person. Is that too much to ask?

Happy birthday to you! Enjoy it!

After my second fill last Tuesday, everything is hard to get down. I chew,chew,chew and still some things get stuck and boy is that painful. I am amazed at how little I am eating now though and the scale is moving again. Not long ago I was ready to give up, so hang in there. Once you receive enough fills to have some help from your band, it is a whole different world. I feel like I can make it now. Someone just had to tell me it is lunch time. When did that ever happen before Chicken salad and grapes for lunch. Healthy and filling. Good luck to everyone. Keep up the good work and thanks for the encouragement when I needed it so badly.

I know the feeling...feels like I would imagine choking feels. Makes you want to give up eating. Not that I want the pain, but it makes you very aware of what you are eating and makes you stop. It feels like nothing else can get down thru there. And, I am eating small, small portions. DH worries about how little I am eating, but am satisfied. This second fill has really helped me. Bring on the weightloss. Stay strong though, the head hunger is always lurking.

Well, yesterday I had 3 strips of bacon and coffee for breakfast. The precooked kind you can put in the microwave at work, and they aren't very thick. For lunch I had a lean cuisine, but I couldn't and didn't have the corn/peas mixture in it. At 4:00 I had a no sugar added instant breakfast (Kroger brand) with 2% milk for a protein snack. For dinner, I had one piece of fish and one hushpuppie (forbidden, but good). I drink only water at work, except for protein snack, which helps to get the water in. At home I have decaf iced tea. It has only been this way since my second fill last Tuesday. Before that I was hungry and ate more food. Be ready for that...the hunger. It happens and if you know about it in advance you won't think something is wrong with you. Just try to keep your protein in and the water. Hope this helps.

OMG...65 pounds is great. I have only lost 28 and you had surgery one week ahead of me. I only have 6 ccs and only 2 of those since Tuesday. So, I am just now getting used to some restriction. He definitely wants you to do what he says. He is the boss! What are you doing to result in so much weightloss? I need some tips...help, please :thumbup:

Dr Shina did my surgery at Suburban in October. I have lost 28 lbs so far. I don't agree with his fill policy. He will only do a fill every 8 weeks and he means for you to follow his rules, which are no carbs and 2 ounce meals, three times a day. He is very assertive and says absolutely no carbs. His bedside manner is not great, but he seems to be a good surgeon. He could be a little more compassionate, since he tells you in the seminars how overweight he is. I would like to get fills every month until I hit my sweet spot. I have had two fills in 4 months. Does the dr. in Elizabethtown take outside patients for fills? How often will he do a fill? Any one know of a dr. near Louisville who does fills once a month and will take a patient for fills?

Thanks for the info. Right now I am on liquids since I had a fill yesterday. I think this one might be some help. I am only doing liquids, not much of them, and not starving, so that is a good sign. I appreciate the information on what you eat and it gives me a good starting point. Thanks again and good luck with your weightloss.

Congrats Heather on the fill...glad to hear it is really helping and JMS thanks for the encouragement. I had my second fill today and I can tell a difference. I know it is always tight right after a fill, but Im hoping it will continue. I will be on liquids for a few days and then soft foods, so that should help with my weightloss. Keep up the good work everyone. Just think, we will all be smaller by swimsuit time.

Thanks Cappy! Hoping to get my second fill tomorrow, since my band isn't slipping. I am really hoping this second fill will kick in and give me some help. The past 14 weeks have been hard, but I can do it. I just set my expectations too high and then was disappointed when I didn't meet them. I didn't want gastric bypass, although the weightloss was quicker. I chose the band, so slow she goes! I am hesitant to see my doctor tomorrow, because he makes me feel bad about myself, but I will be glad to get another fill. Keep up the good work!

Thanks, EbonyRose. I am anxiously awaiting that "sweet spot" I have heard so much about! I am doing all I can, each day, until the vision I have in my head becomes a reality. I want others to see my beauty, inside and out. But most of all, I want to be healthy so I can enjoy my beautiful granddaughters. Whenever I want something I know I shouldn't have, I see myself walking or playing with them and that helps a lot. I guess patience has never been one of my virtues and it takes a lot of patience in the beginning. But, this forum really helps because I can read how everyone else is doing and get encouragement. I sincerely hope that anyone who goes thru band surgery has excellent results. This is my prayer for all of you.

Had my upper GI for possible slippage and dr. says everything looks good. Now, hopefully I will get my second fill on Tuesday. If not, then a week from Tuesday. Some November bandsters have had three or more fills by now and I am sure that makes a big difference in the amount of restriction. I have only had one fill and I have no restriction. I am really hoping that the next one will kick in and give me some help. I see that some bandsters are having an easier time of it and that makes it much easier to stay positive. A good dose of "I know it's hard, but you can do it" goes a lot further than criticism. I didn't expect my band to be a miracle, just a tool to help with the hunger. I do my best to eat right. I exercise 5 times per week and I am doing my part....no quick fix expected. But, some help was and is expected. For now, I am doing it on my own.

Hi. I had surgery on 11/21 and my surgeon will not do any fills closer than 8 weeks apart. I am changing drs for my fills. The dr. I see tomorrow will do them 6 weeks apart. I know that doesn't seem like much difference, but at least he will see me to check my band. He will take out what is in there and put it and hopefully more back. Anyone else change drs. after surgery?

I was banded in November, not February, but I am having a horrible time with my dr. Yesterday when I saw him, I had a loss, but not big enough. he said I wasn't "dieting" and I could have only 2 ozs. of food per meal, 3 times per day and "no carbs, nada, zip, zero carbs." He said if he could say it in Chinese he would so I understood. he is scheduling an upper GI for me to check for slippage. I have had one fill and he won't do another until after the xray and his office is in no hurry to schedule the xray. It is so demeaning to go to his office and I just wish I had never started this experience. He is supposed to support me, right.....help me by filling the band, right. I think it is all just a money making scam and once the surgery is over you are on your own. Just MHO.

There are no other drs in his practice. I tried to go to another local practice and they would not accept me. My surgery was 11/21/2008, so almost 15 weeks out. I have had one fill on 1/20/2009 of 4 ccs. Now I am waiting for an upper GI before I can have another fill. He says maybe 2 ccs when I get my second fill. Yesterday I paid a copay for him to tell me to go have an xray and see him again after the xray. Also, to say I am not "dieting" and to have "no carbs, nada, zip, no carbs." Oh, and to eat only 60ccs of food, three times per day. Use a "rinsing cup, not a drinking cup" to measure my food. I am having 4 ozs, but he wants me to cut it to 2 ozs per meal. All with no help from my band. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't do it. Now I feel like even more a failure than I felt before surgery. Another mistake in a long line of them for me, I'm afraid. Do you do low carb or no carb? Do you eat 2 oz per meal? Do you feel restriction? How many fills and where are you?

My dr. said "no carbs, zip, nada, none, and if he could say it in Chinese he would, zero carbs." He was very clear about what he expected. And, only 2 ozs. of food per meal, 3 meals per day. He said to use a dixie "rinsing" cup, not a drinking cup, to measure my meals. See why I am so frustrated with everything to do with the band??? He manages my band!

WannaBe, I am with you. My dr. says that I am not "dieting" enough. He wants me to do "NO CARBS". First of all, if I wanted to do, or could do, no carbs, I wouldn't have needed the surgery. Secondly, I didn't think the band was going to require a lifetime of "dieting." So far, I have had no help, nada, zero help from my band. I have had surgery and for what. Now I am supposed to have no carbs. I didn't sign up for a lifetime of constantly thinking about, planning, or worrying over food. I was already doing that, without surgery. Now, I may have slippage from vomiting with a stomach virus. If I do have slippage, and I have a choice, my band will come out. It is not what I thought, hoped for, expected or researched. I don't want to be on a diet for the rest of my life....that is not a life. I have paid dearly for the past 14 weeks for this band and I want it to give me something back. Is that too much to ask? Instead I am told by my dr. to just give up all carbs and the scale will move. Also, that he has a friend who doesn't have a lap band who has lost 55 lbs. in six months on no carbs. Again, then why have the surgery. I know a lot of you are having good results and maybe I am weak, but this is not what I expected and not what I can live with.

Thanks, Heather. BTW, anyone else on no carb diet. My dr. says NO carbs and it seems very nearly impossible. Everything has carbs, even milk. I need suggestions for web pages, books, recipes, etc. Anyone doing low or no carbs?

Well, I saw my surgeon today and while he doesn't think I have slippage, he is sending me for an upper GI to be sure. I have had a stomach virus twice, with lots of vomiting. So, no fill until after the xray. Hopefully, no slippage or other problems so I can get my second fill soon. Keep good thoughts for me!

Thanks, Heather. I just talked to the nurse in my surgeon's office and she said to keep the appt and he may do a fill if everything is okay. Worst case, I would have to come back on the 18th for a fill of 2 cc. She did talk to me for a good while and I feel better about it all. She says with the Realize band, slippage is very rare. So, I will go in on Tuesday and cross your fingers everything will be okay and I will get a fill. Heather, you are always so positive and I appreciate that. Where is Gentylwind? Haven't seen her on here for awhile?

I know we were all banded around the same time, so I need some help. I have had a horrible stomach virus twice in the past three months, since being banded. This past time, I know I vomited more than my pouch should be able to hold. My husband agrees. I called the dr. and the receptionist scheduled me to see him on Tuesday to be checked. He will probably send me for tests and won't give me a fill. He may take some out, although i have only had one fill. I don't know whether to cancel the appt. or go see him. I have a fill scheduled for 3/18 and I really, really need it. What should I do? I am not in any pain, just worried about actually vomiting. The dr. said originally that we could only vomit what was recently in our stomach. Go to the dr or don't go...what would you do?

Barb12590..........176.................176...............170.........6 Bklyn1984...........263.0..............261.0............253..........8 Bobbie155...........255.8..............255.8............245.........10 .8 Burgygirl.............230.2..............230.2............220........1 0.2 coloradobanding...236.................236...............220........16 crzytchr..............239.................238...............229....... 9 CubsGirl17...........139.................139...............134........ 5 fordgal88...........202.................202...............195........ ..7 gingerbug...........179.8...............179.8............167.8......12 irishgal...............197.................197...............185...... ..12 Janesays.............214.8..............213.6............202.........1 1.6 jazie...................181................181...............175...... ....6 JuneAct2.............198.6.............169.5.............155........14 .5 KikiVal315...........212.5..............212.5............206.......... 6.5 Kristilaw.............264.................264..............250........ .14.0 lcwils01..............223.................219.5.............215........ ...4.5 lindar172............229.4..............229.4............219.......... 10 Long2BThin.........202.4..............202.4............192.4........10 Macpa90............234.................217...............205.......... 12 mair...................225................225...............215....... ..10 Merda................270.................270...............260........ .10 mljalways...........215.................215...............200......... 15 MsNickelback......179.................179...............167..........1 2 pvtash61............228..................218.............200......... ..18 sue in ne...........257 ................257.............. 245............ 12 ValJean..............266................266...............254........ .12

I was told the same thing by my surgeon, but last night I vomited for 6 hours and more food than I could possibly have in my pouch came up. I lost 5.5 lbs. since yesterday from vomiting and diarrhea. Not the way I wanted to do it:eek: I will be calling my surgeon tomorrow.

Please add me to the list. I am at 223, and I want to be at 215 by April 1st. Thanks!

AngieAngel, I did demand respect. I told the dr. that the front desk person scheduled the appt, so he should do a better job of training his staff. Also, that we had both wasted our time and that I wanted a refund of my copay and no claim to be filed, since all he did was shake my hand and insult me. They did that and I told the scheduler how rude he had been. She offered to schedule me with another dr in the practice, but I declined after the first dr. My dr makes no exceptions...8 weeks between fills, no sooner. The nasty dr. did say I was right where I should be at this point, so I feel better about that. I just didn't realize that it was going to take up to six months to get much help from my band. At our seminar, they spoke as if you immediately were only able to eat 1/2 cup food at the most. They never said it was a suggestion or that it was due only to willpower. Well, its a new day and I get to spend it with my beautiful granddaughters, so all is good. They love me, bumps and all. They are my main reason for having surgery....to see them grown. Good luck to everyone today!:biggrin: