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Hello All, If anyone is interested in starting a support group or exercise group in the Cartersville, GA area let me know. I've had such a great journey with my band I'd love to share and help support others.

I used Dr. Duncan in Atlanta. It used to be True Results now it is Real Results. Loved, loved, loved him. No problems, great support. It's hard to find doctors in any field that really care, he does. Good luck.

Dear JeniShrinks, I'm so proud of you. This is the first step on your journey. Just be patient. You'll go through a lot of things but take it slow and know you aren't alone. It takes time to figure out the new feelings you'll experience with your band. Just be patient, keep on the board and ask lots of questions.

The book published by the Lap Band people is the best one. It answer all of your questions. I have struggled with food and weight most of my life and I did a lot of research before I chose this process. As a matter of fact, I did just about everything I could on my own before I chose the band and now I wish I had done it ten years ago. If your problem is never feeling full and compulsive overeating (also known as emotional eating) then this band will really help with those. You still have to work it, explore your feelings and deal with life but he band is help we need. Smokers have help, drug addicts have help, gamblers have help, why can't people with food issues get help? It is often difficult for spouses to understand what people with food issues go through. Have patience with him, help him to understand what your real issues are and I'm sure you'll both get through this. The band is wonderful. I wish you the best of luck.

Deep breath, big smile, good luck!

I wish I could figure out how to get my ticker on there to show my progress. Started at 265 in September of last year and I'm at 200 as of today. Yeah! I can say this for my personal experience. I had no nervousness. I knew this process would cover my issues...Compulsive overeating and never feeling physically full. It did the trick. I no longer have problems with either of those issues. I wish I had done tis 10 years ago. My husband loves the new me and so do I. Don't be scared. It's not that hard. I was up and driving my kid to school the next day. I did a lot of meditation and relaxation technqiques prior to my surgery though. Reiki, meditation, and visualization of my success. It helped me tons. You'll do great. Just remember the band is a process. Keep on this board and ask a lot of questions. And know that what you are going through, hundreds of us have gone through as well so just keep posting. You'll find the answers you need here. One thing I have noticed is that many people don't have the educational and post-op support that I did that made my last 9 months so easy. I'm down 65 pounds (Starting weight 265) and I feel great. The band works! And you'll do great! Just be patient and relax.

They say every body is different when it comes to fills. What is tight for some is not enough for others. Our bodies change with everything we do and can even fluctuate during the month. I was fine for three months without an adjustment, then all of a sudden over Memorial day weekend I got so tight I couldn't eat and could barely drink. I generally get a little tighter and looser during the month around my period but this was definately an 'unfill' situation. My doctor will always take you as a walk-in if you need an unfill so he fixed it immediately. The only thing that had changed in my life was that I had gone on birth control pills approximately 3 weeks before. Maybe my body reacted to that by retaining Water. Anyway, an unfill was nessary, problem solved. Pressurized cabins on aircraft can cause some discomfort so just remember that if you feel uncomfortable just refrain from eating or drinking on the flight if you can and you should stabalize after you land. Good luck. The band can be a little high-maintenance but he pay off of weight loss is wonderful. Just keep an eye on your body, your lifestyle, and any changes and you'll be ok.

I did not have any problem with nausea or vomiting after surgery. As a certified herbalist I made sure my hubby had a jug of ginger tea for me to sip on on the way home just in case. I am not big on medications and ginger always does the trick or me, even in the most severe cases. My doctor prescribed something for nausea but I didn't need it because I had the tea to sip on. Good luck.

Please be patient. The more I read the more I am realizing that many people do not have the support and education of their medical team like I did. You'll get there. This is a process and it is different for everyone. I have been fine for three months now and all of a sudden my band was to tight last week. Go figure. No one knows why. It's all about really focusing on yourself, your band and your process. Keep up the faith. The lapband works. Good luck.

Reiki is an ancient oriental form of what is know as energy-work or energy-therapy that allows the body to go into a deep state of relaxation and allows the body and mind to heal more effectively. It can be a very spiritual experience but it's not a religion. You can read about it on the internet. Just google Reiki. It is so simple. It sounds to good to be true but it is, in fact, true. I am a Usui Reiki Master and have my own practice in Atlanta in many forms of energy work. I utilized Reiki pre and post surgery. I can say I was so calm and relaxed that the surgery nurses kept asking me if I wanted something to relax and didn't believe me when I said, 'I don't think I can get more relaxed'. My surgery went like a dream and so did my recovery. I had little discomfort, was up and working the next day and have been on a weight loss roll ever since. My experience with the surgery has been text-book. And while some of those experiences are not the most pleasant, such as gas, they are indeed textbook. I am positive that the state of mind that the Reiki put me in made this experience so successful. Many massage therapists, nurses, and health practitioners utilize some form of energy-therapy such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, or Spiritual Response Therapy. The beauty of it is that you don't have to 'believe' in it to work. Many cancer treatment centers and hospitals utilize Reiki practitioners because it helps alleviate side effects of chemotherapy and people who receive Reiki treatments heal faster and with less pain. Do some research, it's true. I've been practicing Reiki for years and am constantly amazed at the outcome in my clients. Feel free to email me or visit my website at YourVisionQuest Consulting .com to read about Reiki. Reiki can be done at a distance just as effectively but I'll bet you can find someone in your area who practices it. Start by asking massage therapists if they do it. You'll be amazed at the results. Hope your surgery and LAP-BAND® experience goes as well as mine.

I realize that this post come very late in light of the datestamp on the origianl post but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in anyway. I used True Results/Dr. Titus Duncan and had an incredible experience. I have worked with many doctors, especially in the military and to find one who is confident, not pompous, knowledgeable and actually has a bedside manner, such as Dr. Duncan, is rare. I was a self-pay also and had no problems. All outside services, including nutritional counseling are optional for self-pays so the issue of having them contact me was void. I was given the Lap Band Solution Book and plenty of documentation on what to eat, when to eat it and especially what to expect. It's not that hard...clear liquids for a week, heavier liquids for a week, then semi-solids. Not brain surgery people. The people at True Results are more than helpful and the services at Dr. Duncans surgery center were fine as well. One must remember that this is a doctor's office, not a fast food drive through and while our time is as valuable as theirs, I know from experience that things can get backed up easily in a doctor's office. And when emotions are running high every tick of the clock seems like forever. Patients must also remember that they hold some responsibility for knowing what they need, asking for it, and making sure they get it. Being an informed patient will make a world of difference in any medical experience. I do admit that the True Results-Atlanta office can be a little slow on 'fill days' so plan on spending a little extra time there. A small price to pay for massive weight loss. But as for Dr. Duncan and his surgery staff, love, love, love them. I was up and out of there within minutes after surgery and happy to get going. This is laproscopic surgery after all, and there is no need to sit around for hours afterwards. If you are worried about possible vomiting (as I was) have some ginger tea ready to go afterwards. A few sips of that will alleviate any vomiting. My sister-in-law had the surgery somewhere in Texas and had a terrible time with gagging the day after. Come to find out she had no support, no Lap-Band Book as a guide, and was attempting to eat solids the day after the surgery...goes to show you that a good support staff and proper research and information will make a difference. I had such an amazingly good experience with my lap-band surgery and Dr. Duncan that I have been asked to speak at their next seminar only 4 months after having the surgery. Good luck to all.