Hey everyone,,, wow, this journey is SO different than I imagined it would be. I'm still very happy with my decision to have the lapband, but am surprised at how long it takes to get the band where it's working for you instead of how my friend put it,,, us working for it, lol.

I go to the support meetings that Cy-Fair Hospital has once a month but most of the women there have had their bands for a long time and some are already at their goal weight. It's great to hear their stories and they have good ideas and advise, but I would love to chat with someone that is somewhere around where I am in this lapband journey.

SO,,,, anyone out there?

Hi -- did you ever get a reply? I am only 2 months out now - April 28 was my surgery. I stalled out after 26 lbs and havent lost in a month!

Then after my second fill a few weeks ago all of a sudden this week i started feeling restriction. Like all of a sudden! As if it melded into my stomach or something.

I was really getting scared that it just wasnt working on me -- i asked him at the last fill to really tighten and he said no he's doing 3.5 and had done 2 before or something. anyway i am at around 5

So how much weight have you lost? I am in The Woodlands but I dont want to go to the Wilkenfeld Conroe Support Group.

Do you like the Cy Fair one?

Hi there...I am new to the area and with all the stress I feel like I am falling off the band wagon! I am looking to join a support group or find people to talk with, dine with, work out with. I live at 290 and Jones. I saw an ad for the Cy-Fair support group, but don't know when that meets. I would love to go. Do you still attend?

Hi yall:-) I'm glad to get responses to my original post in January, lol. I'm 10 months out from my surgery and 8 months from my first fill. I've lost 60 pounds now and although I'm SO happy with my 60,,, I really thought it would be more. One important thing I've learned is you still have to work very hard to eat the right things,,, like I thought it was a magic cure, lol. Just eating smaller amounts of my normal foods wasn't cutting it. BUT,,, I can say that after 8 months of trial and error,,, I think I've got down a system. I also found that working out is going to be a must for me.

I do attend the support meetings at Cy-Fair Hospital and I like them,,, the people are all very nice,,, most have already lost the weight they wanted to loose, but that's a good thing because you can hear idea's from them. I've not been in the last couple of months due to our busy schedule this summer, but I'm looking forward to getting back into the meetings.

My doctor was Dr. Waggoner and I really like him.

I understand about the band just one day working with restriction,,, I can feel like I have no restriction for a few days and then all of a sudden it's hard to get coffee down unless I take small sips. I've been through a lot of highs and lows with my band,,, my little band buddy, lol. My friends and family are still confused about how it works and to tell you the truth, sometimes I am as well.

I would love to get together and chat over coffee or a healthy snack, :-) I live in Cypress,,, near 290 and Telge. I've not been looking and reading post on here lately, but am going to get back into the swing of doing so,,, it always was very helpful to read what everyone had to say.

Well,,, I'm happy to chat here,,, let me know any thoughts of your band experience, would love to hear from you again!

I would definitely be up for coffee or a healthy meal or snack! I saw that the support meetings at Cy-Fair is the second Tuesday of the month...is that the one you go to? Have you heard anything about Dr. St. Laurent? I am thinking that I am trying to get him to take over care.

Hi to all,

I live in Spring. I am 7days post op. Things are getting better. I was in alot of pain at first, but now just preasure just below the diaphram. Did any of you experience this?

My doctor is Dr Waggoner at NCMC. He and his staff have been great. If I call with questions they answer me right away, no I'll call you back or just blow off answers. I'm an RN and this has been a hard decision to make. I've seen alot of the problems that can happen. When I decided to do this I decided to go by the "book". The only problem I've had doing that is I am still on full liquids and my calorie count is staying around 500-700 a day, and i'm feeling very shaky and dizzy. i've upped my shakes (EAS) to 4 a day and 1 isopure. i have been doing sugar free jello and popsicles too. Any sugestions to help with this? Please feel free to talk with me anytime , this is a new change and i would really like the companion on this journey.

My doc and nutritionist told me to do no less than 900 calories a day. I was taking in around 600-800 and I got yelled at! Your body will store fat if you cut calories too much because it thinks it is starving and needs to save up. I have had the EAS shakes, but never did the isopure. The shake that I swear by is Apex Fit. They just redid their formula and that took 30 calories off. It is now called Apex Fit Lite. You can order it from 24 Hour Fitness online for $20 for a 2.5lb jug of powder with free shipping. It is specially formulated to balance calories, carbs, fat, and has 20g of protien. Even 8 months post op I prefer to have a shake for Breakfast and lunch, then a small dinner. They taste good, aren't chalky, and are super convenient.

As for the pressure...is it constant? It could still be trapped gas from the surgery. Congrats on taking the step. It can be difficult at times, and it seems like the worst foods go down easiest. My band is always tighter in the morning...hard to even get my shake down, but as I keep pushing fluids it loosens up. Lots of little things I didn't know about until after and I even researched lots!

Thanks for the input; I think i should be having around 900 cal too but can't seem to get that much in. got more today and feel better tonight than i have; anyway , thanks