Ravyn

I have failed and abused my lapband. I'm the same weight as I started out, way back in April of 2010. Sigh! I'm on to a new gimick - Vegan diet. So far so good...but I"m still an emotional eater. I guess I need overeaters anonymous, and not a lapband. Wish you all luck. I'm still searching for the motivation to drink Protein Shakes and do P90X.

I wish I had an answer for ya... are you able to go to Mexico for a fill? I heard that Hospital INT was very nice, but I don't know if they provide fills for patients using the fluoroscopy method. Try the doctor who performed your surgery. I'm in need of a different doctor. Mine will charge me 350.00 a fill, after I used my 6 free fills. I'd be willing to travel to TJ, if I ca get it done for 100! Let me know if you have any tips. I'll do the same for you

Hi, live in Los Angeles County and I want to change doctors for my fills. I would like a doctor who uses the fluoroscopy technique. I would even be willing to travel to Tijuana, Mexico if I could get a referral from someone. I hear that pricing is much more affordable than my 350.00 quote that I'm getting from my present doctor. Thank goodness I get 6 for free. I've had three and I'm worried about where to go after I've used them all up. If you have any recommendations for anyone within the Southern California region I would appreciate the tips.

Thanks

congrats! It should be smooth sailing from here! May I ask, will you be getting your fills in Mexico? I am in Los Angeles County and am interested in a different fill doctor. Someone else suggested Mexico, but I am unfamiliar with traveling in and out of TJ for medical needs. I really want a doctor who does that fluoroscopy with the fill to make sure it's the correct amount. However I'd like to do it for a reasonable price. Was wondering if you share the contact information for your doctor in Mexico?

I wish you all the best!

Yes, mine was easily felt just under the skin initially, but it has adjusted itself and now I can't feel it as well as I did before. I think the swelling had something to do with it. Now I am barely aware of the port. It's good to check with your doctor. I hope you don't have to back under the knife!

All the best!

I am happy to say that fill number 3 is working YIPEE!! I finally have restriction. I have to really slow down my eating and sip rather than gulp beverages. I love this!!! It hasn't curbed my appetite so much, but that's just me and my emotional hunger. I'll have to tackle that head on! Anyway, I'm excited that it's finally working. I was so afraid that I would never have restriction. It's funny too, because I had my fill on Sunday and I didn't notice a change in my stomach's capacity until Wednesday. I feel a weightloss coming on Even if it's two pounds I'll be delighted!

Thanks again everyone for all your support. It really was daunting on my spirit! Oh, and I'll be searching around for fill doctors with a more reasonable price range.

Best Wishes to all!

-sigh of relief-

.

I hope you can get some restriction soon. It really helps. Do you find you get full quickly or get stuck? If not, you still do not have restriction. If I eat too fast or do not chew well, I get stuck.

How many fills have you had? What does your doctor say about your weight loss? I really feel for you. I would be devastated if I was not losing after all this time.

Froggie you are a great role model for me! I MUST look into more sugar free treats. I've tried to eat more fruits as a treat, rather than ice cream and Cookies.

As for my fill process, I had NO restriction. Nothing got stuck and I could drink anything at any pace. However, I got a fill on the 22nd, and I just noticed this week that food is taking longer to pass through. I took one bit too many a few days ago and thought something was going to come back up. I managed to keep it all down by walking around. So that was my third fill and finally I have some noticeable restriction! Yipeee! I think I'll be able to do this now. I takes me much longer to eat even half a sandwhich. I'll try this week to cut out sweets completely. I had about 8 cookies throughout the week. A sabotage moment, no doubt! But those two cookies a day adds up to NO weightloss.

My doctor felt that the realize band just takes longer than the lapband. He felt as thought I would have some loss from the next fill. However, he wants it to be slow, because my weight was not that extreme to begin with. He is keeping me at a strict visitation every two months. He also is expecting me to exercise more than I have been.

I feel that I'll be able to control things better, now that I actually am forced to slow my pacing.

Thank you so much for your support. I'll take your advice on the sugar free pops and stuff like that!

Keep posting, so I stay motivated

Froggie, it's good to hear from you, and so many other April Bandsters! I'm glad you're experiencing success with your band. I've been struggling and have gained 6 pounds back. I'm hungry all the time and can eat bread and potatoes with no problem. I guess I'm far away from my sweet spot.

Keep up the goodwork and keep me inspired

:crying:OMG! I really appreciate the outpouring of support. There are so many helpful suggestions here and not all of you said things that I wanted to hear. Many of you said what I need to hear. Like the comment about the ice cream - a weak moment - no doubt, but a helpful comment.

I get 6 free fills with my current doctor, after which I must pay about 350. I will definitely consider finding a new doctor. The flurouscope thingy sounds like a marvelous idea. I'm sure it's costly. Anyway, my doctor was very positive, even though I had gained a total of 6 pounds since March. He says that the realize band works differently than the LAP-BAND® and that most people don't get results until the 4th through 6th fill. He said I just needed to do more cardio.

I got my third fill on Sunday, bringing me to about 10cc. This just doesn't sound right to me, but he told me to do liquids for two days followed by two days of mushies. Well, it's Tuesday and I have a throbbing headache and I'm ready to scarf a pizza. WTH am I supposed to do. It's 2:50 and I just finished my 3rd Protein shake for the day and I'm STARVING. Is this normal? I think if my band were working, I'd feel full after 10 ounces ounces of Protein Shake. Why am I being teased?

Oh well, I guess I should just ignore this headache and annoying tug in my belly and just have what? Another Protein Shake? I want PIZZA!

Darn it, now I'm angry! I don't know what to do. I can't go back til October. I guess I'll drink another Protein shake until I'm no longer hungry?? Argh! Thanks again for all the support.

This is a wonderful place to get help. But I feel like I need a sponser living in my house.

Zandile100, I lost a total of 12 pounds since my banding date of 4/18/2010. I can't believe it! I went for my third fill 8/22 and had gained 6 pounds. I'm struggling here. I have had 3 fills and I swear my little band it just about full! My doctors swears this is normal. He says I need to do more cardio. I did...and NOTHING! I'm just miserable, hungry, and I hate Protein Shakes. I'm going to get a pizza with the works!

Have a great day!

Wow Mimi, it sounds like you're doing great from my perspective. I had a fill on Sunday. He put in 2.5 cc's, giving me a total of 10cc. I have the realize band, which I believe holds 11cc. I have lost NOTHING!! I had one stuck moment and was actually excited. Now everything flows just fine. Nothing gets stuck and I'm starving. My appetite is STRONG. But I'm refusing to eat, so I have a headache. UGH! I wish things were working better for me. I'm afraid I'm going to binge in an hour cause these Protein Shakes are teasing me!

Best of luck to you though. Maybe at my next fill (in two months) I'll be full and satiated.

Wow! That was an inspirational post. I'm don't love or hate my band. I'm disappointed in my band however, because I haven't lost anything in 4 months...and I'm still with my same old man My band must be defective, because yours is doing so much for you. LOL! Congrats on your success and your on your engagement. My next stop is Craigs List ; D

I am so discouraged and am at the breaking point. It's been 4 months since I got the band placed. I have lost 10 pounds and that was due to the healing process. I have had two fills and my doctor doesn't like to put too much Fluid in, so I have had no problems eating or drinking anything. I crave all the stuff that got me to the point that I am at and basically NOTHING has changed. I told my doctor that I didn't have any restriction and should I come in sooner than the recommended 2 month mark, if I were gaining or if I stalled. My doctor said stick to every 2 months. So here I am, 2 pounds more than I was the last time I saw him. I just want to cry! I'm so frustrated that I almost bought a pint of haagan daz butter pecan. I stopped myself, with a scoop of vanilla. Anyway, at this point my band isn't even a tool for me. On days that I feel strong I can still eat to capacity, so imagine how badly I do on days that I'm emotionally wrecked and weak and feeling no support.

Should I just give up? Am I a loser? I knew it wouldn't be easy, but geeze! I took two Bikram Yoga classes, 1 spinning class and 1 pilates class in a week and lost NOTHING!! I can't do this. There is just something wrong with my brain and my body. Am I destined to be obese? Am I? I don't even know what to ask. I just don't know what to do. I go for my 3rd fill on Sunday, and I'm embarassed to even go.

I feel so scared and so alone.

Wow! It's really hard to say. It's a wedding and you should think about how they would feel if you weren't able to make it. I couldn't wear my bra for a week because of the scars and healing. I was hopeful that I'd return to work 3 days later, but that was not my reality. It took me a week to before I could do social events. Just be careful with commiting yourself to something that could really be disappointing to someone if you didn't show up.

Best of Luck and I hope you heal faster than I did ;0

Hi! Wow, it looks like there are plenty of Cali Bandsters here. I'm from Southern Cali - San Fernando Valley. I was banded in San Dimas. I'm totally struggling and feeling like a complete failure at the moment, but I'm still checking in on the site for motivation and inspiration.

Best of luck!

Dear Happy Me,

You Wrote: "I am up to 9cc's in an 11'cc band and I can still eat bread, have never had anything get "stuck", never slimed or PB'd or anything that lets me know I am in band land."

Though I've only been banded since April, I feel as though I'm walking in your footsteps. Even our numbers are close. I've lost only 12 pounds and I have 60 to go until I reach my goal weight. I think because we have under 100 pounds to lose, it's going to be a much slower process than some of the others with more to lose...at least that's what I keep telling myself. However, like you I haven't felt much restriction. I get discouraged so often. I have so many friends that are beautiful and thin. I feel like I'm the only one struggling to be at a healthy weight. I had ice cream while I was on my vacation. All my thin friends were eating and even though I know I can't do that, I wanted to be like them, beautiful and indulgent. At this point I'm just indulgent. Sigh! I thank everyone for their support and shared stories. I need to believe that this will happen for me too. I need to visualize on a daily basis that I'm shedding the excess weight ounce by ounce, pound by pound. I started today by walking my dog. He's a big dog too, so it takes extra effort to walk him. I hope next week will see a slightly slimmer me.

Oh and I heard that the Realize Band takes longer to produce that restricted feeling. Does anyone else know this to be true?

Hey Monkeymama, I have a realize band and I got it on 4/18/2010. My first fill was May 23 and I didn't feel any restriction at all. I got my second fill on June 27th and got very little restriction, but my doctor seems to be very cautious and reserved when it comes to how tight he will make the ban. He said to me, "This is not 1-800-Get-Thin. You will need two years to lose weight slowly. You get better results." So, I'm guessing you are having the same experience that I'm having. I lost 12 pounds after surgery and am holding at that 12 pound mark. No gain, no loss.

Hmph! I was in therapy for 2 years and gained 10 more pounds during that period. I'm not out of therapy and into a lapband...unfortunately I'm still an emotional eater. Guess we just gotta find our happy place. I don't need food to f il t he void when I'm happy. Hopefully you wont need food then too.

Okay, so on Sunday I go for my second fill. The first fill did absolutely nothing. I can eat what ever I want. Nothing gets stuck, and I don't feel too full. I had more restriction the first 3 weeks after surgery, than I did when I got my fill. So all of you who have been through the process multiple times, can you think of anything that I need to ask my doctor, other than, why aren't I experiencing any restriction in my food intake?

I'm kind of excited to see if there will be any difference, but I'm also very fearful that I will continue to gain the weight that I lost from healing after surgery. I got down 12 pounds and I've but on 6 pounds. Ugh! Will I make it through?

Rose, all I can say is wow! You get totell your doctor how many CCs to fill your band with? That's pretty awesome! I have to wait for mine to tell me how many he's even going to put in. I must remember to ask next time.

Anyway, please let me know how things turn out for you. I go for my 2nd fill on the 28th and so far I have NO restriction. You'll give me hope if you finally get the restriction that you need.

Best of Luck!

Thanks everyone for your posts. I've realized that I need to be more assertive along my journey and in this process with my doctor. I'll need to ask more questions and listen to my body sooner rather than later. I know we're all different and that helps. I think my error was that I listened to the doctor and didn't contact him when I became concerned. I started to internatlize my perceived failure and believed that as usual, this weightloss program was not going to work for me. Fortunately I can come here and get good sound advice to work better with my surgeon.

Thanks again everyone. I'm hopeful again and I appreciate every single comment. I'll give you all updates on the success of the second fill.

Roost, Im with you. I had wonderful restriction due to the swelling for about 3 weeks after surgery. Then all of a sudden it vanished. I lost a total of 12 pounds but have since put back on 4 pounds and I too am upset, because I have already had my first fill. Read so many post and so many people are encouraging and supportive and insist that I not give up. So I'm trying to be mentally patient until my 3rd fill, which is scheduled in two weeks. The first fill was uneventful and I've been able to eat anything, even bagels! Bagels are so dense! I'm hopeful that my next fill will give me the restriction I need to cute back and maintain my satiety for 3-4 hours. I loved not thinking about food, but at the moment I'm always hungry and craving stuff. I can't wait to get a move on loosing these 60 pounds! My advice to you is not to wait longer than 2 weeks if your fill doesn't provide you with the restriction you need to really be successful. I waiting almost 2 months and was very discouraged because of it.

Best of luck to you!

I've been reading post after post after post, and hearing a variety of instructions, rules, and fill information. My mind is swirling from it all. And in the midst of this chaotic stream of consciousness (information) I find a diamond in the rough. Someone posted that they were banded a week after me, and had already had two fills, and was scheduled for the third in just a few weeks. This person had also suggested being more aggressive with the fills. Well I thought I just had to follow my Docs orders. He told me to come back in two months, I just assumed I'd HAVE to see him in July. But now, I'm re-thinking this strategy because of the variation in information. So, my question is, just how long should I wait to request a fill, if I'm hungry and not feeling restriction? At this point I'm afraid I've waited too long, and should have made the appointment two weeks after I realized that I could eat anything freely.

What are others doing? Do you ignore your doctors schedule and make your own if things aren't working out right? What's the best protocol to follow with your doctor and getting fills. How long should you wait to see if there are any changes in your body?

At first I thought it was supposed to be a very gradual inflation of the band, so I shouldn't feel anything til the 3rd or 4th fill, but do I really have to wait 6 months before I hit the sweet spot, because at the rate my doctor is going, he thinks I should have a fill every 2 months.

Sigh! Any advice for a Realize bander?

Being hungry in 3 to 4 hours is optimal! It sounds like you have a good balanced appetite. Don't worry. I'd be concerned if you said you were hungry within the hour. Which seems to be my problem. My first fill was absolutely unsuccessful. I had no restriction at all, and 5 weeks later my weightloss has stalled. I bought this exercise video that I am looking forward to starting to see if that helps me, but I can't wait to get my second fill on 6/28.

Darn it Monkeymama! I'm so envious. I'm starting to think that my Dr. missed my port and put the Fluid into my body instead. I have NOOOOO restriction. I have my second fill scheduled for the28th. I'm starting to get discouraged. Please let the second fill give me some restriction. Post op recovery was GREAT! It took me forever to finish Soup. I want to have that experience again.

I need to have a steady decline in weight. I can't count on exercise alone.