Humming Bird

I reached my goal quite some time ago and would not want to ever have an unfill. That would make be head back toward obesity.

Now this person from the Dr.'s office tried to delete their posts because they broke the law. They do not understand how the site works. They changed their name twice too. Anonyous1 and nomnomnom , YOU are not too bright. We all got emails with the content of the posts...like this email : ************************************************************************** Humming Bird, nomnomnom has just posted a reply to a topic that you have subscribed to titled "My Lap Band Doctor Sucks!!!!!!!". GB2011 - as in ***** ***** right? Well, here's my 2 cents on the whole deal. You came in the office with already an attitude. You want to lose weight, but don't want to work the program. You want the the lap band to basically do everything for you. Well news for you, it's just a tool to help you lose weight. You still have to count your calories, diet, and exercise. I also love how graceful and poise you were when you STORMED OUT OF THE OFFICE AND SAID, "KISS MY ASS b***h"! Very lady-like... I'm sure you will make a wonderful gf/wife to any man not from this world. I hope that your next visit with another doctor, you will treat them with respect. Cause honey if you do that again, no one wants to help you lose weight. They will definitely just want you to be fat and have to live like that forever... and this email: ***************************************************** Humming Bird, nomnomnom has just posted a reply to a topic that you have subscribed to titled "My Lap Band Doctor Sucks!!!!!!!". By the way, you can bash Dr. Carter all you want but reality is... does it solve anything? Does it make you lose more weight? Does it make you become a better human being? Nope not at all, I think it makes you become belittled.

oh yes, the slime It does sound like you need a tiny bit taken out.

That is how it feels after the first few fills sometimes. That is why we sometimes need several fills to reach the green zone. After you reach the proper restriction level you can go many months, maybe a year, before you will need another tiny little fill to maintain your sweet spot.

If I didn't get the band I don't think I would have ever reached old age. I still may not, but my chances are better now without over 100 pounds of extra weight taking me down.

Have you heard of HIPPA ? You do NOT speak about a patient this way in a public forum. You do not use the name. If I were your boss, you would no longer have a job. In fact, your boss does not have to do a thing. The state will take your job and more if they find out you have broken these HIPPA laws that protect patients.

If you are able to eat full size portions, you do not have restriction. 40 pounds in 4 months is on track, but you may need more restriction to stay with that rate.

Do you have a large 14cc or a standard 10cc band?

Many of us go through those same thoughts and feelings. Many of us also have a stage just after being banded where we think, "OMG, what have I done to myself?!" You are going through the "normal" mental process. It will be ok. Keep your eye on the prize! It is so worth it! This is something you are doing good for yourself.

Addiction, volume eating, carb lovers, whatever, it still brings my mind back to the fact that we need food to stay alive. We don't need crack, so if a crack addict kicked the addiction, they could still "live" without it. My experience with the band has been a good one and I will always believe it is all (or mostly) about restriction. I am no longer able to eat a stack or bag of Cookies. I can no longer eat a bag of chips. I can no longer eat a burger and fries. My band is tight enough to stop me. No matter how much my addiction, or bad habits, or brain tell me I want large amounts of junk, I physically can not eat it. I could set myself up for failure by telling my Dr. I'm too tight and getting some fill taken out. This is what I think of when we see those posts about people wanting an unfill to go on vacation. They are setting themselves up for failure. Is it the food addiction taking over? Maybe.

Good thread. It sure does give me thoughts. Everyone has made some great points. After reading here at LBT for a couple years I do believe failure CAN be the fault of the bandster in some cases. Maybe it is the "addiction" that makes them do it to themselves. I've heard people say they never went in for fills or they had a complete unfill. I think they maybe can't handle the tiny portions and feel deprived. They say the band doesn't work and stay obese or gain the weight back and would rather "blame the band" instead of using it properly. I can understand the emotional connection to food and the comfort it provides some people. I think food can provide a "high" for some people just like other addictions. I wish the band worked 100% for everyone. To have any type of weightloss surgery is taking a very drastic step.

Glad it went so well!!!!

My fills have never hurt. It's just like getting a shot and once it's in the port you don't really feel it because it's insite plastic. I don't understand why they feel the need to numb the area .... that's a shot too. It may just be a mental thing to make the patient feel better about the fill, but it's not really needed. Oh, by the way .....it's Lidocaine (I use it daily at work)

See, you will find we all do it a little different. You just have to find "your way" and stick with it if it's working. kudos to all who exercise like crazy! One day I'll start ......

Omar, stick around and keep using the site. It does get easier as you get used to it. This is a really great site to get info and support. LOL..... I believe in Alex

I started at 264#. I lost 100 pounds in the first year. Getting to my green zone/sweet spot early in the process was key for me. I have never had a daily regimen really. I just followed the very basics of the lapband rules....... take very tiny bites, chew well, no fried foods, try to get in Protein...... From day one I have not counted, measured, tracked, or journaled anything. When the band is adjusted properly, there is no need to spend my time obcessing over every calorie and gram.

Eggs are on the top of my list of things I can no longer tolerate. I tried them 3 times in the first 18 months post-op, made 3 different ways, and threw up every time.

I had my surgery with Dr. K., but he retired in Oct 2011. I am now going to use Dr. Weaver in Lonetree (south Denver). I'll find you the link with his info and come back to post the link.... Dr. Weaver info.... try this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/139401-considering-dr-john-weaver-in-colorado-for-lap-band-surgery/page__p__1702014__hl__considering%20dr%20weaver__fromsearch__1#entry1702014

I did not go to a seminar. I went straight to the surgeon for a consult and then had surgery 3 weeks later. No pre-op hoops or testing.

At my pre-op consult my surgeon told me about a case where the patient had to have a stuck pill removed with a surgical procedure. That was enough to convince me not to take any pills whole. I was lucky enough to not be taking any Rx meds. and still don't. I have not swallowed a pill whole in 2 1/2 years. Here is what I take now: Centrum adult chewable (Walmart) hair skin and nails chews (GNC) calcium chews (GNC) Vitafusion Fiber gummies (Target) Vit. D3 gummies I also have issues with pain from fibromyalgia and headaches. For those I take a double dose of Jr. strength ibuprophen. When the pain gets to be more than what that will kick, I crush and disolve Aleve in a bit of warm Water. It burns on the way down, but kicks the pain and there are no nasty little bits left from crussing alone.

I have considered plastic surgery to get rid of my old lady thighs and old lady arms, but have pretty much accepted them. I don't wear shorts or swimming suits in public, so it really isn't a big deal to me. If I had lost 200 pounds or something, my thinking may be different. Right now a nice pair of jeans do the trick. Other people don't know I have such ugly thighs.

My skeletal remains would be larger than a size 6!

I'm so glad you are getting things worked out. Now you can start using the band the way it is intended! A big part of it is your fill level and I'm glad you switched to someone that would give you a fill so you can at least know the band is there and helping you. You are on your way now!

I went to a basic BMI calculator and put in your hight and goal weight. It said that it was 22.1. That can be done if that is what you want. It is in the "normal" range. You will just have to see how you feel when you get close. It is "realistic". That guy has no idea what it is like to be a 5' 3" woman. I tend to like my BMI a bit higher, like 23-24 because when I go below that I look a bit sick. Could I get to a BMI of 22? Yes, with ease at this stage in the game. If I would exercise and only eat healthy foods it wouldn't take me long at all.

We will all be different because the amount/thickness of tissue and fat inside the stoma varies with all of us. I could never eat as much as you listed from day one and I reached my sweet spot and stayed there for about a year at 5.3cc. Other people don't reach it until they are around 7cc. You just have to play around with fills until you get to that place where you are satisfied for a few hours on a small amount of food. I could never eat bread, sandwiches, rice. It is rare when I am able to eat pizza, and that would be one small slice and only part of the crust.