Glammaw

You are so right. The visuals really help. 25 lbs. is a lot and I should be proud. I am proud. I can do this. I just need a little support once in awhile. It is easy to get down on yourself when the scale has stopped moving. But as Wynona says, " I am so much more than a number on a scale." I just needed a lift to get my head in the right place. 25 lbs. is a lot to lose and I haven't gained any back so that is a positive. Thanks, Gentylwind, for the support. We can all get through this time together. Before long we will be on the other end of this journey.

I didn't switch doctors after all. I met with one who was not very nice and said I had made my choice, now live with it. He makes my doctor look like a dream. Apparently the person scheduling the appointments at the new doctor didn't understand their policy. Or, the doctor was having a bad day. In any case, I am awaiting my fill with my conservative surgeon on 3/18. I know you are right. The year will come and go...it is what I choose to do with the time that counts. I think I have just let my head get in a bad, failure mindset and it isn't good for me. Thanks for straightening me out. Head hunger is a big part and I have to fight it, consistently and constantly. I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me. I am anxious to see how your journey progresses, Gentylwind. As you say, this time next year, we will all be in a different place.:smile:

But, have you been hungry all the time? Or, have the fills helped you? I have no restriction and it gets harder everyday. I can't have a fill until 3/18 and that is a long way off. I just thought it would be easier than this. I thought the band was going to help me stay full longer on less food. I don't want to be hungry all the time. Maybe I am just expecting too much, too soon. I am going to try the 5 day pouch test and see if that helps. Thanks for the encouragement and I hope this fill puts you right where you need to be. I want everyone to find the sweet spot as quickly as possible. We have all suffered with food addiction for long enough.

Congrats, gentylwind. You are lucky to have the dr. you have. I have had ONE fill and have to wait until 3/18 for my second. You and I had surgery on the same day, so you can see the difference. My dr. says fills can be no closer than 8 weeks apart. It is very frustrating. I am doing this without the help of my band and it is very, very slow. It will be six months, at least, before I am where you are. Maybe I could come see your dr. for fills (j/k) :-) Glad to see you are happy with your decision to have surgery. At this point, I am sorry I had mne. At least before, I didn't expect to lose a measurable amount of weight. Now, I just feel like a BIG FAT FAILURE AGAIN!

BethfromVA, I have read many of your posts and you seem to be a strong, level headed person. You can do this for yourself. I, too, have a DH who wants to go out to eat, brings me home BOXES of danish, a pecan twist or two and myriads of candy. I have to say I'm not doing that anymore and just not eat it. It is very hard and I hope he will stop doing it someday...and I hope I can stay strong until that day comes. He just doesn't get it....I need help, everyday. This band is not what I thought it was going to be. But now I have it and I have to work with it. I pray and I get mad and I try to show him I am not giving in but I feel like you do. He thinks eventually I will give in and things will be back to normal. We have been married 32 years, so he wants things like they always were. If I am going to be successful, it can't happen. Hang in there Beth....I know you can do this. I am sure DH just wants things back to "normal".

I cannot truthfully encourage anyone else to have this surgery. No one ever said that the first six months you are on a diet, with willpower your only help. I would never have done this. I expressed this at our group support meeting. I think it is all about the money. They could fill us every two weeks until we are at our sweet spot. They would make the same amount of money and we would be a lot happier. I am tired of hearing when you hit your sweet spot. What do I do for the six months before that time. If I could, I would yank the band out myself.

did you get a fill? are you hungry all the time? we had surgery the same day and I am ready to give it all up. I am frustrated, stalled, hungry, tired, angry, all at the same time.

I am so happy for you. I wish I had a similar experience to report. I went to another dr. today and was told that the front desk person made a mistake and he would not give me a fill. He does not take care of Dr. so-and-so's problems. If I am unhappy with my surgeon, I should have done more research before surgery. In other words, he didn't get paid for the surgery. He would check me for a leak by placing a needle in my port and drawing out the fluid, but would not give me a fill. Why would I want to do that. He said I should be happy with my weightloss. But I'm not! I thought the band was a tool to HELP. If I could stay on a diet of willpower and exercise on my own, I wouldn't have had surgery and a foreign object placed around my stomach. Is this all just a money making scheme? I truly wish I had never had the surgery. I am 81 days out and wish I could back and make a different decision. After all, I am doing this on my own anyway. At least people wouldn't expect me to lose weight and I wouldn't feel like such a failure, AGAIN. Sorry, I just need to vent. I am so unhappy, hungry, tired.

My surgery was 11/21 and I have had only one small fill. I am hoping there is a surgeon in Louisville, KY who is more aggressive with fills. My dr. makes me wait 8 weeks and I am ready to give up on my band. Anyone know of a dr. who does aggressive fills near my area? I really need your help before I go back to eating like I used to do. I could because I have no restriction. Thanks for any help you can give me.

:cursing::mad:I was banded 11/21 and I need help. I am so frustrated with no weightloss for three weeks that I am ready to give up on myself and the band. I was out of my house for 6 days due to the ice storm last week, but what about the two weeks before that. And, what do I do but go to food for comfort. I have had one fill and my doctor will not discuss a fill closer than 8 weeks apart. I have an appt. for 3/18. Throw me a lifeline, please. I am ready to just eat what I want and never go back to the dr. I can eat everything but bread, so my head says just forget you have the band....and I could. I could just admit I am a failure AGAIN and eat, eat, eat. I don't want to give up, but I eat small amounts, never more than half if that. I exercise and/or walk daily. What else can I do. I started using my calorie counter this week. I am staying at or less than 1200 which is what my dr. recommends. I feel like such a failure and I am ready to give up. Maybe 26 pounds is all I get to lose! Any advice other than the 5 day pouch test.

My second fill is scheduled, but unfortunately my doctor will only do a fill every 8 weeks. Next one is 3/18. I am back home now....power came on yesterday, so I am trying to do better. Still no food in the house, since everything was thrown out due to the power outage. That's one way to clear out all of the bad stuff. Going to the grocery after work....any ideas for high protein meals and/or snacks to get me back on track. Thanks for the support. When you are struggling, it makes all the difference.

Hi. I went for my first fill after waiting 7 weeks and my dr. couldn't find the port and he probed around two separate times. I went a week later to the hospital for fluoroscopy and it was a breeze. However, the dye I had to drink did affect my lower intestine, if you get my drift. I only got 4 ccs....I'm jealous. I wish all of mine could be under fluoroscopy.

Well, Iam in Louisville, KY and we had an ice storm last week and 3 more inches of snow today. I haven't had power for a week, but I am staying with my son and his family. Needless to say, I am not eating or drinking right and the scale has stopped moving. Hoping to have power soon and back to some normalcy. Any suggestions for getting the scale moving again???

My dr. makes you wait 8 weeks between fills. Surgery was 11/21 and fill was 1/20. I am at a standstill as well. No weightloss happening. I am exercising, but may not be getting in all of my calories or all of my protein. We have been without power for a week and it is hard to do everything you need to do when you are away from home. Thank God, we are at my son's house, but everything is just out of sorts. I love beng with my grandchildren, but I need to get back to taking care of me. I have never been good at that. I will take care of anyone in the world before myself. Maybe my power will be on today, although it snowed another 3 inches, so who knows. Good luck with your fill!

Gentylwind, we were banded the same day. I had my first fill on 1/20, 4 ccs. I am happy to see you doing so well. My weightloss has stalled, but this fill is helping. The band is still not doing all I had hoped, but I can tell a difference. I cannot eat bread AT ALL. It is scary when I try. I have lost 26 pounds, but with eating so much less and exercising most everyday, I had hoped for more. I have been watching your posts from the beginning. Keep up the good work...it keeps me motivated.

Hi all. I finally got my first fill today! It was under fluoro and was as easy as can be. My dr. wasn't in the right spot last week. I feel restriction, which is good. I can't get another fill until March 18th, so pray for me that this one holds me for a long time. My band looks good. I was worried about heaving and wretching with the virus I had, but everything is okay. So, all good news. Now, let's get this weightloss going! 26 lbs lost, 74 to go!

Thanks Angie Angel! I am on liquids for two days, then mushies, then regular food. I see you have to wait 8 weeks between fills. I am so happy to finally have some restriction.

Hi. I thought this was funny and how most of us feel in January. I'm still hanging in.....I will finally get my first fill under fluoro on 1/20 at 8:30 a.m. Come on restriction! Twas The Month After Christmas Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house, Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I'd nibbled, the chocolate I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber), I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please." As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt... I said to myself, as I only can, "You can't spend a winter, disguised as a man!" So, away with the last of the sour cream dip. Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip. Every last bit of food that I like must be banished Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie, not even a lick. I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie. I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore... But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet.

Beth, glad you are doing well now. My dr. will give me 4 ccs when he does fill me. But, I have to wait 8 weeks between fills. So, once I get my first fill, I hope I get restriction, or it will be two months before I get to have another one. Hold good thoughts for me, please.

Thanks Heather. /they have to do fluoroscopy at the hospital, so it has to be scheduled. They can't get me in any sooner than the 20th or 27th. And, I have to wait 8 weeks in between fills. So, it feels like I am on the slow train for weightloss. Being stuck twice didn't help and now I get to go through it again. I sure hope I get restriction after I finally get the fill. Thanks for the good thoughts.

I am with you! They never said it would be months before you were able to only eat 4 ounces of food. I waited 8 weeks for my first fill, today, and couldn't get it. My dr. couldn't find the exact spot, after two separate tries, and now I have to have fluoroscopy at the hospital in a week or two. That will be 10 weeks after surgery for my first fill. If I could do this alone, I would have. Never did they tell me I would be up to six months on my own, with no help from my band. I have lost weight, but by willpower only. I understand exactly what you mean. I am angry, too, and feel very misled about the whole process. But, hopefully I will get a fill in a couple of weeks and things will get better. If not, I will have as many as it takes. Good luck with your weightloss.

It has been almost eight weeks and the earliest is the 20th or 27th. I will find out when on Friday. It has been a hard diet thru the holidays. If I could do it alone, I wouldn't have needed the surgery. I am just so discouraged and disappointed, but I will just have to wait and hope I get a lot of restriction when I do get a fill. Thanks for the kind words...

I went today for my first fill. My surgery was 11/21 and today was my first fill. Well, he couldn't find the spot, after two looooong tries and said I will have to come back and have it done under fluoroscopy. I am so discouraged. I have waited longer than most anyone and now at least another week to two week delay. It has been a struggle all through the holidays and now this. I need to know if anyone else has experienced this and I need some encouragement. At this point, I am ready to give up. Help me, please, someone. __________________

Thanks, I know it is just a short derailment. I see you have had two fills and we had surgery the same day. Are you doing okay with the last fill? Did they do your first fill under fluoroscopy? They hope to schedule me for the 20th or 27th at the hospital. I just thought the band would give me more help and weightloss would be more, sooner.

I went today for my first fill. My surgery was 11/21 and today was my first fill. Well, he couldn't find the spot, after two looooong tries and said I will have to come back and have it done under fluoroscopy. I am so discouraged. I have waited longer than most anyone and now at least another week to two week delay. It has been a struggle all through the holidays and now this. I need to know if anyone else has experienced this and I need some encouragement. At this point, I am ready to give up. Help me, please, someone.