I am in desperate need of a Lap Band guru and mentor. I had my Lap Band surgery in July 2013 and am failing miserably. I've only lost 15 pounds and I don't know what to do next. I haven't had a fill because TR in Houston (where I had my surgery) didn't tell me that they don't do fills on fridays, and I live 3 hours away from there at college and can only get home on fridays. I haven't been able to stick to the rules at all since like September and I don't know what to do next but I don't want to give up! Can someone please help me?

Some questions:

Can you make an appointment for during Spring Break?

You say you're not following all the rules...which are you following and which are you breaking?

Why are you breaking some of the rules? (Emotional eating, not making good habits, or just because you're hungry?)

Can you find a doctor more locally to you?

I'm glad you don't want to give up! From what I read, the best thing about the band is that you can always start over!

I would ask your current surgeon if they could recommend another doctor closer to your school. if not than perhaps a early morning Monday appointment. until you get adjusted and get the right fill amount you will stay in bandster hell. and if we could diet we never would have had wls. you need to work something out, either a new doctor or miss a day of school. but just to put another bug in your ear is that if you get a fill from your present surgeon and it is a over fill and you develop some problems you are going to be quite a distance from the doctor. and as many have found out not many er's know how to unfill. something to think about. I live 2 hours away from surgeon and that is if there isn't any traffic. so I know how it feels to have to travel to see your doctor especially when a fill takes min's to do. I wish you luck.

Please email me to lizybird@aol.com.

Thank you for the suggestions! I tried to make an appointment a couple weeks ago for spring break, and apparently everyone has the same idea because they're completely booked! I told them the situation and they put my name down in case someone cancels so hopefully I can get in. As far as the rules, I haven't been following pretty much any of them the last few months, I know it's horrible! I was doing really well at first, but since I haven't had a fill my band is completely empty and it's doing me no good right now. I really haven't been following them because I'm just as hungry as before I had the band, but I know some of it is emotional/bored eating as well. The closest doctor to me is 2 hours away but it's still better than 4 hours.

I feel sorry for you!! Don't blame yourself for not losing! I have not lost much either since post-op and I know it is because I need more fills. I have had 5 very small fills and still not there yet. Don't give up because of your circumstances. They will change eventually and this is a life long journey.