ohpuhleez

Ditto! Also, talk to your doctor if you can about other plateau tips! Stick with it!!

while I really love him, reaching his support staff to schedule a fill is IMPOSSIBLE! Just met with him for the first time on Wednesday, and I'm really glad I've decided to go with him for local followup. (I had the surgery at NYU in September, but am based in LA). Cuneen took me on as a patient, and he's great. I'm down 42 lbs. since surgery in September and feel great, but haven't found my band "sweet spot" yet. I've now left three messages for the group that schedules the fills, and not one call back! They say they will call you back within 24 hours, so I waited 24 hours after the first call. Nothing. Left a second message and waited 24 hours. Nothing. Left another message today. I am SO discouraged by this - what's the point of working so hard if you can't get the medical staff to work with you?? This was one of the reasons I wanted to find a local doctor, and now once again I feel completely let down. I won't, of course, let this get in the way of my success, but it will be very hard to HAVE success if I don't stay on top of my fills. Anyone else have this problem with Cedars?

Glad you posted! Wow, we're really on almost the exact same timeline! I realized today that part of my eating issue stems from boredom - when I'm not really fully engaged, eating becomes my "go to" activity. Today I threw myself into a project (work is slow, and I work from home) around the house...all of a sudden it was 5pm, I forgot to eat lunch, and it was time to get the kids. 3 oz turkey burger and a bite of mashed potatoes and I was done for the night. TINY STEPS :thumbdown:!!

You all rock - thank you for some MUCH needed perspective!! It's so easy to get caught up in all of this, I forget that it's all a process, and that sometimes processes slowdown (or stop) but that doesn't mean things won't get going again. Thank you thank you - and I really hope to be here for all of you have the way you have for me - thanks :thumbdown:.

But plus side (SIDE, not size !!!) Look, you're down 54 lbs - that is an INCREDIBLE achievement!!!!!!!!!! Yes, we're headed out of hell - look, anything has to be better than where we started, right :thumbup:?

Thank you so much for responding! I've probably not been drinking enough, I bet that will help - and yes, I think it must be psychological hunger that's getting me. I just remember so well that sweet post-surgery feeling of not even thinking about food, and my NP said, "That's the sweet spot we're aiming for!" And of course haven't found it since. But you are so right - it's all so new and so early. I definitely am NOT giving up - what choice do I have? I've come this far !! Thank you THANK YOU for posting, you've both really boosted my spirits more than you know!!

I was banded 9/6/08, no fill. Went for first fill in beginning of October and they put in 4.5ccs. I was starving and can't believe I didn't gain any weight back (started at 240 lbs, post-surgery, etc was down to 223, at first fill was 215). Went back for 2nd fill 2 days ago and was down only 2 lbs. (after 4 weeks). Not sure how the nurse practitioners math works, but he said I'm now at 6.2 ccs, although he said total I'm at 7.5 ccs. HUH? Not sure if that means that's what he added on top of what was left? Didn't get it at all. Regardless, I'm now back home (I live in So Cal but had surgery with Dr. Ren in NY) and once again, I'm still hungry, scavenging for food, as opposed to that sweet spot I had post-surgery when I was swollen and couldn't even think about food. I'm SO frustrated! The nurse practitioner, who does the fills, actually wrote me a prescription for phentermine for the "tough times" but hello!! I had this surgery so i could use this tool to my advantage; if I wanted drugs I could have taken them without the surgery! I just don't get it. I don't have much more room in this band. Maybe it's all head hunger? But seriously, for the three weeks after surgery, I couldn't even be around food, I was so full. 1/2 a cup of Soup felt like an entire thanksgiving dinner. Maybe I'm just expecting too much, but I'm terrified of being completely disappointed and having this not work. Any suggestions?

In looking for boards with inspirational posters, this was by far the best group! Thank you for the welcome :thumbup:. Happy to be here!!

I'm in San Fernando Valley, but could go LA basin side, Valley, San Gabriel Valley (Glendale, Pasadena, etc) - anything's closer than NY, right :thumbup:?

Yep, MacMadame, you hit it on the head! It's Google Ad Sense, so geared to SoCal board members...interesting since Google is anti-8. Maybe the proceeds can be donated?

LOL, Plain - will you adopt THIS white girl :tongue:?? Seriously all of the above is true - it's totally crazy! Oh, and my apologies to the board - read on another thread that the Yes on 8 banners are coming from Google Ad Sense...I think I'm now ESPECIALLY glad that my husband works at Yahoo!!!

None - that's exactly what I'm talking about. Those who support the constitution of the state should NOT support Proposition 8, as it aims to change the constitution. Regardless of how they feel about marriage, if they are TRUE conservatives, they should not support changing the constitution. Yes on 8 means yes, we should change the state constitution. I'm seeing the Yes on 8 banners all over this site - connecting my children's education to protecting marriage - it's a farce and lie and it's ridiculous.

Thank you for posting about this! I live in SoCal, just joined this board, and cannot believe I'm looking at Yes on 8 banners on this website - especially ones with Obama on them. Yes, he said he doesn't support gay marriage, but he also doesn't support changing the constitution of California. I was in SanFran this weekend and heard Gavin Newsom speak at a No on 8 service at Glide church - it was truly inspirational.

all of the Yes on 8 banners on this site. The propaganda on the Yes side, not to mention the money pouring into this from out of state (remember when conservative Republicans stood for the rights of states to make their own decisions???) is disgusting. No on 8 - it's the only way to go if you are a strict constructionist who believes the Constitution should stay...

How are you getting through? The good news is that - at least from your ticker - your weight is still going down (that's the right direction !) How do you stay motivated?

My surgery was Sept 6, and I had my first fill back in early October - sad to say, it was a bust. I have a 10cc band, and the NP decided to "push" it because I live in CA and travel to NY, where my doc is (I've committed to traveling once a month for the first year, though am in the process of looking for a local SoCal doctor for backup - any reccs anyone??) NP filled me to 4.5ccs, and I don't feel full at all. I still have an appetite, don't feel full after eating, and am still seeking out food...I've made it my goal until my next fill (which is a week from today) to do the best I can, keep only safe foods in the house (which I do anyway) and maintain my weight until then. I remember that post-surgery, the NP asked me to describe how I was feeling. I told him that I wasn't thinking about food and that after even half a cup of Soup, i was full and would feel sick just thinking about eating more. I had no cravings, had no urges to eat, and wouldn't even notice I was hungry until my stomach would gurgle and I'd realize it had been four or five hours since I last ate. He told me that we would do our best to re-create that feeling with my fills, as he would call that being in the "sweet spot." I would have to agree - it was a great place for me and it's exactly what I imagined, post-surgery. All that said, this fill didn't even come close. I'd like to fill more next Monday, but of course don't want to get sick, etc. Any reccs from people regarding first vs. second fill, the "sweet spot" for fills, and how you handled a "too little fill" situation so as not to gain before next fill? I'm SUPER motivated to use this amazing tool to its best advantage! Thanks all OPL

Hi all - long-time lurker, first-time poster ! I was banded by Dr. Ren at NYU on September 6th of this year. My process was relatively simple. I decided to have the surgery earlier this year, luckily had six months with a nutritionist, so was able to get approved by insurance easily. Started liquid diet on August 23rd, weighing in at 240 lbs. Had surgery on September 6th, was down to 223 lbs. Started mushies on September 16th, then real food on September 27th. Now down to 210 lbs. I'm about to do my first post regarding my first fill on the post-op board. Thanks to all who are here, congrats to everyone on continued success, and looking forward to connecting! OPL