Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

NEED a mentor badly...please help?!



Recommended Posts

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?:(

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×