christine1182

I had my surgery in mexico and I go to a lap band dr. in New Jersey. You can try calling around and see if any lap band dr. in your area will see you as a patient. It took me calling several dr. but I was able to find one that would see me here in the states.

Thank goodness I don't have your doctor....he is ripping you off. My doctor charges$80.00 for a fill and he will put in as much or as little as needed.

I have no problems drinking soda or beer....I don't drink them everyday but I do drink a couple of soda a week.

good luck on your journey....you are off to a good start. I know when I first go banded I was wandering if I had made the right decision. But let me tell you after being banded almost 5 months...I love my band. I would not have lost the weight I have without the band.

I won't say it happens....there does seem to be some on the board that do not gain weight during the bandster hell, I just wasn't one of them. I lost 14 pounds after surgery but gained back 4 pounds before I got my first fill.

I have had 4 fills and all were done without fluoro because the doctor I go to does not offer them. I will admitt that I was a little scared the first time I got a fill but after that I had no worries.

I also was self-pay and I have not regreted my decision. The one thing I have learned since being banded is I still have to diet with the band. The weight does not come of by it self just becasue you get the band. I am a slow loser and I will admit I would not have lost the weight I have so far without the bands help.

Yes...I also had my fills close together. I am acutally glad the Dr. was willing to work with me until I felt restriction.

I also had my surgery in Mexico at OCC. They gave me a list of doctor's in my area that would take patients from Mexico. You can also try googling Dr. in your area that will take new patients.

I have noticed that when I try and eat way to fast that is when I PB. If I eat slow and take small bites I can still eat almost everything.

To be honest when I had my first fill of 4cc in an 11cc band I did not feel any restriction at all, but everyone is different. It still took a lot of will power to not overeat. I just got my 3rd fill and I finally know what restriction feels like and I am liking it.

Thanks....I was beginning to think I wasn't doing so well. But after doing the math I have lost 2.14 pounds a week for 13 weeks.

Just wanted to let you know I go to Dr. Trivedi @ Advance Laparoscopic Associates. I had my surgery in TJ, Mexico...but go there for my fills. Everyone in the office is very nice and the thing I like most about them is that they don't make you wake weeks in-between fills.

I think everyone when they first get the band feels this way.....I know I did begin to wonder if I had made the correct decision about the band. But let me tell you once you have some restriction you will not be feeling frustrated anymore. Just give it some time...I did not lose any weight for weeks and even gained 4 pounds before I started feeling restriction.

So far with 7cc in my band I can eat pretty much everything I want to eat....but I do have problems if I try and eat to fast or take that last bite of food......