foodstampchamp

There is a great fill doctor in Salt Lake city Utah. His name is Doctor Derek Muse. He is on Highland Drive at the Highland Family Medical Center. I got in touch with him through FillCenters USA. I just went on to their website, got their 800 number and called and they set me up with him based on distance from my home and he is the best!

Do not feel discouraged if you have to get more fills. Happens to a lot of people. I for one was expecting to wake up from my lap band surgery and feel restriction (which I did have from the swelling but it went away after 1 week) Then I was expecting restriction after my first fill, nothing. I just knew my second fill was gonna be life changing. nothing. 3rd times the charm I thought. Nope, nadda, nothing. By the time my 4th fill came around I had lost all hope. As you can see. I got where I needed to be. Easy for me to say be patient. Much easier said then done. I hated when people would say that to me but I knew they meant well. But you know what? They were also saying it because they had been in the same boat as me and knew what they were talking about. My advice to you is to just work your band as best as you can whether you lose weight or gain weight and just keep on coming in for your fills till you get to your sweet spot. It will happen.

My first doc had me come in for my first fill at six weeks. Then you had to wait six weeks for another fill. I always found a way to weasel myself in at about every 4-5 weeks. They wouldn't give me much of a fill and then even though I had NEVER experienced any restriction, my nurse told me I had stretched my pouch at six months. I was DEVISTATED!!! I switched docs to get a second opinion and not only had I NOT stretched my pouch, but he gave me a 1 cc fill in my 4 cc band and I have been at restriction ever since with absolutely no problems. I'm not sure how long my new doc makes you wait between fills because I was filled by him on Jan. 9th and even though I went back to see him March 5th, he asked me if I wanted another fill and I said absolutely not. It's amazing how different docs can be from eachother.

Wow, I had never heard of the soft sign thing before. That's pretty amazing. I actually have the hiccups. They always say listen to you body. I always thought maybe that was a load of crap. But it definately isn't. My body was speaking, I just probably wouldn't shut up long enough to hear it! :girl_hug: hahahaha

I so want you to keep the band if it is possible for you to fix the problem that you have got. You are 50% at goal weight and that is tremendous. I definately feel for you as far as how you got there. It sounds like a bitter sweet victory. Second opinion is not a bad thing. I used to feel guilty the first 6 months after I was banded because I wanted to switch docs because I didn't feel like I was getting the support I needed. ( I say switch docs, but I guess I meant switch nurses because the last time I ever saw my doctor was 30 minutes before my lap band surgery.) I'm not sure if you are feeling bad about getting a second opinion by a different doc but I know this, the only thing you might regret is not have done it sooner. By switching docs, my whole mind set and life has done a complete 180. Best wishes to you.

Trust me, fill troubles is all I have had. I was banded August 1st and took me until Jan 9th to get actual restriction. that doesn't mean it will be the same for you. I know people on here who lost tons of weight without one fill and others (like myself) who had to wait what seemed like a lifetime to get any restriction. But it was definately worth the wait. I know you don't feel like that now, but trust me you will. It just takes time. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. I wish we were all the same so we would know what to expect.

I too had not been losing much weight the first 5 months or so. Actually I had lost plenty, but I was struggling just like I had before I had surgery. I was really starting to think I had wasted my time and money (I am a self pay) when I switched to Dr. Derek Muse in Salt Lake City as my aftercare doc. Best thing that ever happened to me. I have been going to him since January 9th. Since Jan 9th, I have gone from 234 to 208. Still having to work my band, but not as hard. He is WONDERFUL, sympathetic, emphathetic, and wants you to do as good as you want to do yourself. The best bed side manner of any doc I have seen so far. We will all get there, the most important thing I have to keep telling myself is that I DO HAVE TO EXERCISE! If I do that, I do great.

I have been using Dr. Muse also as my aftercare doc. I switched to him after going to my surgeon's office in Reno, Nevada for 6 months with little to no help. I love Dr. Muse. I wish I would have switched to him sooner.

I agree here. I had been going to my surgeon's office since I had surgery August 1st, 2006. I kept getting these idiodic fills without flouro and was never getting restriction and the nurse who always did my fills (The last time I saw my doctor was 30 minutes before I had my lap-band surgery) seemed irritated with me that I didn't want to wait the six weeks in between fills and told me I had surely stretched my pouch and that is why I had no restriction. The only way I could change doctors was to change states altogether. On January 9th I went to a doctor in Salt Lake City, Utah that Fill Centers USA had recommended to me. Best decision I have ever made and only thing I regret is not changing doctors sooner.

It looks like your current weight is 137 lbs. That is EXCELLENT! I don't know if I am reading that wrong. YOu have done great, What is your goal if you don't mind me asking.

I have an appt. to go see my doctor on March 5th. I dont' want an unfill but I definately don't want a fill. I'm happy where I'm at and getting in 80 oz. of Water in no problem.

Yes I have a very good update. From the moment I started this thread I decided to really buckle down and measure EVERY meal I ate. My problem was, no matter how much I put on my plate or in my bowl I wanted to eat until I finished. If I had 6 oz. on my plate I would finish it and feel satisfied, if I put 2 cups on my plate I would finish it and feel satisfied (not in my head of course, I would be upset with letting myself eat so much even though I didn't need to). I went out, bought 20 bowls that only hold 6 oz, and no matter what I eat, no matter how good for me or bad for me, I am losing again and have regained the restriction I had when I first got my last fill almost two months ago. I'm not saying that will be the same for everyone, but it is working for me.

In the very same boat as you almost. I have a 4cc band. Been banded since August 1, 2006. I didn't really get any restriction until my sixth fill which put me at 3.9 cc. That is the first time I got any restriction that was real noticable. I have been doing great since then. My first doctor said that it is possible to fill a 4cc band to 5 cc's but I have also heard that any band can be filled to almost double what they say they can hold. I have 64 lbs to go until goal so I am hoping that is true because as I lose weight, restriction is fading which is extremely common. I was just worried I didn't have anywhere else to go. Hang in there, I know we are gonna be just fine.

well, if research was done on the internet, then what is the problem. I mean, isn't everything we read on the internet 100% fact. come on guys, cut him some slack.

I'm sorry, I meant my pouch not my band. I was in a tizzy typing so fast. hahaha

I have never had a fill done under x-ray. He did measure the fluid he took out, and it was same as the time before. But I had really, really good restriction for a month before I started feeling looser.

On January 9th, I had my sixth fill which put me at 3.9 cc's in a 4 cc band. I am filled through fill centers USA and my doc told me during that visit that fill centers only allows him contractually to fill to 3.5 cc in a 4 cc band. Even though he fudged for me a little and put me up to 3.9. I'm guessing that he won't do it again. This did not worry me at the time because I have been at my sweet spot since then. I went from 234 on jan 9th, to 218.5 as of a few days ago. Just in the last 2-3 days it seems to be fading. I noticed I can eat a little more before I am satieted and it is worrying me that I might have stretched my band. I do not drink with meals, I measure 1/2 cup to a cup at every meal. I had one time of splurging on a pop-tart. I ate the whole thing even though less than half I was more than full. I dont' know why I did it, but can just one time stretch your band? I'm really worried even though it is my own fault. anyone else have anything like this?

I think it probably depends on your insurance. I know mine won't pay anything. Then again, they didn't pay for my lap-band surgery either. Most insurances won't pay for any kind of cosmetic surgery.

I met a guy at my support groups that had lost 160 lbs, hit goal and never had a fill. Everyone is so different that you just never know how you will be. We should all be so lucky huh?

I want to get both these at the same time. I am quite a long ways from goal but I am going down fast. I was just curious what weight I could be when I just start going in for my consultations. I was thinking 180. Let me know what you all think or know. Thanks in advance!

same here with the french fries. I would eat tons of french fries at least every other day. (hmmm wonder why I'm fat?). Now I don't crave them and if I do havea bite, even a teeny one and chew like hell, it gets stuck. no matter what. good thing I'm done with that.

I hate outsourcing as a customer who may call a hotline for whatever reason. They pick up the phone, you cannot understand them. They have such a heavy accent. I just wanna say " excuse me sir, I know your name is not Kevin, or John, or whatever you just told me. "

I'm so happy for you. I went almost 6 months with no restriction and I have the same size band as you. I was also a self pay. good for you.:clap2:

My thoughts are with you.

I wonder if god can create man and earth and pretty much everything in history why he cannot make sure people (including little kids) don't get terminally ill diseases that there is no cure for. Guess he is too busy damning 9 year olds (and older) to hell if they deserve it. Gotta have your priorities I guess.:biggrin1: