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Go to a E.R.... I don't know if your Doc will touch this. That's why I tell people to get Banded in your state. I know it's cheaper, but is it worth the risk !

Mine and his staff pretty much suck (except one woman named Julianne who I can call with any questions at any time) and your friends have it REAL good (or extra good). I agree with Rachel. Mine is very similar to yours, ALTHOUGH I have to say that when I go for a fill it is done at a hospital under flori-whatever its called with the white chalky barium junk, and they have a dedicated doc for it every time. As far as communication goes, I have learned you need to push for what you need and not let them control you if there is a problem. I have had to seriously grow some woman ballz with these guys

Okay, my head is swimming here ... I must have misread something ... it has been 7weeks since your surgery and by my math (and, of course I could be wrong ... I was never a math whiz) you have lost at a rate of 2.57142857 (ok, I cheated ... I used a calculator) per week. AND, to top that off you are still healing! You are doing great! (So are you, Jennifer!) This is lapband not gastric bypass, and, as a rule, you don't drop weight overnight. With the band it takes a minute -- but your numbers are FANTASTIC!! You are doing better than the average. Please don't minimize your current success. If you minimize your success now, when you are actually doing so well ... what will happen when you hit a plateau? To be disappointed with what you have done for yourself at this point would be setting the scene for sabotage in the future. (All that crazy thinking about failure and stuff ... you don't want that, trust me.) It sounds like you need to do a little more reading about the band to really understand how it works. You are doing great and if you keep up what you are doing now you will reach your goal in record time. Be proud of yourself ... you too Jennifer. Great job! ~Fran

I bet Jachut would have some good advice for you. My advice is to choose foods that are high in good fats. Protein shakes made with whole milk, smoothies made with whole milk yogurt, guacamole with fresh avocados, a spoonful of Peanut Butter as you walk through the kitchen. In some ways I think your challenge is harder than losing weight. Sending you some support!

I disagree that there is nothing but struggle for those who don't have to do a pre-op liquid diet. I did not have to do one, and I've done very well since my surgery. The point of a pre-op diet is to reduce the size of your liver, to make surgery easier to perform. If your surgeon decides that's not necessary, then you don't need to go through that. Post-op, they'll ask you to follow their dietary recommendations, and work your way back onto solid food on their schedule. The disconnect people here seem to have is they expect they'll have immediate restriction after surgery, and immediate, nonstop weight loss. When that doesn't happen, they freak out and get all stressed, they develop all sorts of negative attitudes, and they blame everything for not working as advertised. In truth, the first six weeks after surgery are primarily about healing, so your system can get used to the band being there, and so the placement stitches can heal up. After that, when fills start, is when you should be concerned about restricting your diet down a normal bandster level so weight loss can start Failure with the band is normally caused by people who don't know what to expect, and who make improper choices, and not usually because of a physical problem, or because they didn't have to suffer through a pre-op liquid diet. The key to bandster success is following your doctor's orders, doing what you're told, eating right, exercising properly, and listening to your body's response to having the band in there. The key to bandster failure is second-guessing your doctor, not following orders, eating poorly, not exercising, and expecting the band to do all the work. Everyone has the best intentions with this, but the people who seem to have the most trouble are those who are least informed about what to do, and how to live with the band. It takes work, and it takes education. After that, the rest is in living daily with the band. Good luck with your journey. I wish you great success! Dave

About the only thing you may want to be aware of could be your appetite returning once all the post-op swelling has gone away. You may end up in what's known as "bandster hell," where you haven't yet had your first fill, and your appetite is back with a vengeance. it's hard to maintain a low calorie diet when you have no fill. Hang in there, keep working your plan, and you'll do fine. Good luck! Dave

Crockpot Enchilada chicken 4 Chicken breasts 1 bell pepper 1 jalapeno, seeded 1 banana pepper, seeded 1/2 c onion, diced 2 cans old el paso mild enchilada sauce 2 chicken bouillon cubes 1 can black Beans, drained 3 cloves garlic, minced Put all in crockpot, cook on low for 2-3 hours or untilchicken is done. Shred chicken and letsimmer without lid to thicken sauce. Serve over rice, in tortilla or toppedwith cheese, sour cream and diced tomatoes.

Eat lots and lots of ice cream Ben and Jerry Boston Cream Pie. One pint is like 1000 CALs.