sbrick

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow after having all Fluid drained from my band last October. I'm hoping the results of my upper GI yesterday say that I can have Fluid added back! I've gained 40 pounds after a successful 137 pound weightloss previously.
Prayers needed, please!

Well now it's friday night so you may be in for a weekend of seeing what's right for you. If it's too tight get a little unfill, no big deal!

I have already requested my medical files from my doc's office and have set up an appointment at another surgeon's office in two weeks to be a transfer patient. I'm going to move on from that awful, awful experience this morning! Thank you all for your kind words!

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow after having all Fluid drained from my band last October. I'm hoping the results of my upper GI yesterday say that I can have Fluid added back! I've gained 40 pounds after a successful 137 pound weightloss previously.
Prayers needed, please!

I have already requested my medical files from my doc's office and have set up an appointment at another surgeon's office in two weeks to be a transfer patient. I'm going to move on from that awful, awful experience this morning! Thank you all for your kind words!

I have already requested my medical files from my doc's office and have set up an appointment at another surgeon's office in two weeks to be a transfer patient. I'm going to move on from that awful, awful experience this morning! Thank you all for your kind words!

Good post, as usual.

Right after surgery, everybody looses weight...lap band or no, we are on a strict post-op diet starting with Clear liquids and slowly progressing. Who wouldn't loose weight? And yet people give credit to the band.
At this stage, the Lap Band is doing nothing, IMO....it was installed and nothing more.(there are a FEW EXCEPTIONS...very few)
And let's face it...people who have much to loose, will loose more than the next person not quite so heavy.
So when someone says "I Lost 50 lbs, blah blah blah, the next person should not feel bad only loosing 10lbs.
I know people who could loose 50lbs if they skipped dinner! (only joking)
There are people here who start at 400lbs and loose over 200, and people who start at 225 and only loose 75....so which is more difficult?
So don't let the #'s intimidate you...it's all relative.
I had my first fill 4 weeks after surgery, and it was 4cc's....after that, I began to gain weight because it also the time I came off the post-op diet and began eating normal food again. DUH!
That first fill did absolutely nothing.
Had my second fill of 2cc's, 4 weeks after that, = 8 weeks from surgery.
The band began to do something....I didn't loose weight, but I did not gain either.
All this time I was being told and reminded to count calories, measure portions, stay away from certain foods/drink, etc...ALL the things I could have done (and have done) without surgery, the time and anxiety put into preparing for this, not to mention the $$.
Talk about Frustration!! I felt it was a big Rip Off!
Came back 4 weeks after that, = 12 weeks from surgery for my 3rd, (and final) fill. THAT one put me over the top.Pushed me off the edge!
Could not keep anything down. Feared I was going to be malnourished, etc. I was free falling!
Many people would have gone back to get it taken out, get back within their comfort zone......but my Dr. (who knows ME and not YOU) talked me into sticking it out, talked me into slowing down my eating, choice of foods, all those thing etc, etc.
Also said if I did get that last (small) fill removed, it would put me back to where I was after my 2nd fill...did I want that?
I'm glad he did...it took weeks - months for things to start to find that groove, but it did all start to fall in line.
That elusive "Fine balance - Harmony" where the band performs splendidly. The true "Green Zone"
I quess my point is, this thing DOES WORK, but it is not going to work immediately...it is adjustable and it takes time, sometimes with trial and error, to get it right.
And it is not just the band that gets adjusted along the way...we too have to get adjusted to the Lap Band. And that is key to success.
Lap Band Surgery will "Change Your Life" but you have to ready and willing for change. And that can be very frustrating and take some time. Even though my last needed fill was 12 weeks from surgery, and the weight began to steadily and consistently come off, a year later I was still learning lessons, Life changing lessons...most times the hard and unpleasant way. Did not mean the band is at fault.
I'm 4 years out, and I can do something right now, this moment, that would cause a very negative reaction with my band. Does not mean my band is at fault...it means I just did something I should never do...simple, yet it did take time to learn the difference.
If people told me 4 years ago what and how little I would be eating today, and still be healthy and full of energy, I would have said they were blowing smoke up my you know what.
And yet here I am at that place, and to tell new people this, would be accepted the same as I would have 4 years ago.
This is the internet, and 1000's of people come and go here all the time. And I have read people's posts about frustration and feelings of failure (many of which are way pre-mature...give it a chance) when in fact I sense they are not willing to accept change. (still talking about pizza and cheese burgers, etc? Really?)
Not all, but some. There are people who legitimately have problems, complications. But we, strangers on the internet can ever tell what is going on.
They can't understand why they keep getting stuck...There's something wrong with their band...maybe there is, and maybe it's not the band....no one on the internet can tell for sure.
That is why it is best, IMO, it's best for people to simply share their own experiences, AT ALL LEVELS, good and bad, positive and negative...
Ok, it's 4am on a Sunday, I'm rambling on with my morning coffee before heading to the gym at 6...nothing more, just rambling..and pehaps ranting.

I wrote a post my iPad deleted so I'm trying again but it will be brief. As above, get a new doctor. You have gone through a lot and are back on track but you need a partner in this process. You are in charge of your body and you know what you need. Only you will know what the green zone is for you and whether you're there or whether you need therapy, etc. On this last one, I am some one who benefited from seeing a counselor during the process of choosing a lapband and getting through the initial phases. I needed some one to help me sort through my issues around food and also provide a sounding board for any concerns I had. My surgeon's office was not the place for that. But of course every place is different, every doctor is different. So sorry this visit back there went south but now you know you need another avenue. We are in the boonies here but recently I saw a different LB doctor because mine wasn't available. I always liked my surgeon alright but this other guy, I really like him. It's good to mix it up so maybe this jerk actually did you a big favor. Keep in touch, keep us posted -- you are on your way. Choose yourself, choose YOU and your healthy future.

Bottom line, no one deserves to be spoken to like that! You handled it better than I would've and because you did you went in for what you needed and left with what you needed so now you can move on and find a new Dr. that actually cares about their patients and wants them to succeed! It's that kind of support that will help you get back to where you want to be.

Change. Doctors. Immediately.

@@enjoythetime Thank you so much for the insight!! I am so happy you responded! And about the cosmetic surgery, no Fluid was removed prior to it. I had a fill this morning and an awful experience with my lap band doc so I'm just trying to stay positive and start my new journey from here!

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow after having all Fluid drained from my band last October. I'm hoping the results of my upper GI yesterday say that I can have Fluid added back! I've gained 40 pounds after a successful 137 pound weightloss previously.
Prayers needed, please!

I had my upper GI this morning and the doc didn't discuss my results with me, he just sent them to my lap band doctor. So, it's a waiting game until Thursday.
I'll update you guys after my band appointment and let you know if I'm able to get Fluid back in!