BrandNewMe

OK everyone, I need support. I have had the worst week ever! I am little more than a year out from surgery. I had another fill last week and it was to much. I have been testing my sweet spot for about 2 months. Getting very little fills about every month. Well I over did it last week. My doctor is great and said he would fill me as long as I could eat one whole hamburger patty. Well I went from being able to eat that to not even being able to drink water. Because of my schedule, not my doctors, I could not get back in for a week after getting that last fill. I thought I was going to die! No food really and barely any water, the smallest of sips, for a week. Went back to the doctors today and removed the fill and a little more. I think I might have drunk several gallons of water today I was so thirsty. Well I think I'm done with fills for awhile. That sweet spot will come up on you quick. Anyone not feeling there fills, don't worry you will! Well just had to vent a bit, thanks for listening!

Thanks Becky for the comforting words! Yeah a whole week was the worst. I don't know how an anorexic does it. I was staving myself to death basically. It was horrible. And to make sure to say it was not my doctors fault. I have had small fills throughout the year, but this little one just closed me right up. I have a 4cc band too and we don't have a lot of room anyway. I believe it is the smallest band you can get. Well, happy to say I had some pasta tonight and lots and lots of water. Thanks again for the kind words! Always can always count on this site to cheer me up!

First two pictures are before surgery and the last three pictures are in Europe last week. You can see a big difference in my face. And I sure can get around better these days. Thanks God for Lap-Band!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! It has been a little over a year banded for me and things have gone well. Lost about 65 pounds total so far. Still have another 65 to go, but my doctor says it can take 2 years to get to your goal so I'm not that worried. I have lost every month so far. I feel 100% better, physically and mentally. Went to Europe on my banded anniversary and loved it. Could not have done the trip with the extra 65 pounds. Plan to go back to Paris on my 2nd year banded. Hope everyone is doing good!

I wanted to start a new tread on Dr. Jesse Lopez in Kansas. I had my first appointment with him today and everything went well. I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov 7, 2005. I just wanted to get some more feed back on people that may have already have surgery with Dr. Lopez? Thanks Elizabeth

I had my first fill of 1cc on Dec 9, 2005 and a second fill of 1cc on Dec 20, 2005. I have no restriction? I feel like I can eat normally. Also, I lost about 25 pounds since my surgery on Nov 9, 2005, but have not lost any more for about 3 weeks. I am very very discouraged. I try and stay positive about the slow progress, but it is hard. When will I feel this restriction everyone is talking about? I only have a 4cc band, so I'm scared I will not get a good restriction? My next fill is on Jan 26, 2006. Any suggestions?

I had my 3rd fill (.5cc) yesterday and have to say it worked. I feel restricted. And not just a little bit, but a lot! I ate some cream of broccoli soup today and it was in the back of my throat. Only about 1 cup too. I'm hoping this will finally bring on some weight loss. Here is to.....RESTRICTION! :clap2:

I hope my doctor gives me another 1cc fill at this next visit. That will bring me up to 3cc total. And maybe finally I will feel some restriction. It is weird that I got the smallest band and I still feel no restriction yet. When I had my surgery and my doctor said he put in the smallest band, I thought "Oh no, I'm not going to be able to eat anything?". Well that is the farthest from the truth. I must have some really small insides? This is about the hardest time in my life I think I have ever had. The thought of finally getting thinner, when I have been overweight my entire life, and I am not losing a pound. Breathe, Breathe! I can do this, patience is the key to this Lap-Band! Patience! Patience! Learn to have Patience!

Thanks for the support! I just feel guilty when I eat, because I feel like I'm eating to much and I'm hungry to often. My doctor told me I could have a total of 4cc in my band. I just hope it does not take the whole 4cc to feel the restriction or to get to that sweet spot. I am trying to get more exercise in to help in this slow losing time, but it is hard. I knew this was a tool to help you change your eating habits, but sometimes I think it is impossible to change. I keep looking at my calendar for my next fill on Jan 26, 2006. 18 days and counting?

I have decided to stay with Dr. Lopez as well. Had my 2nd fill today at his new location. Everything went great.

I was banded with Dr. Lopez and had my first fill yesterday. I think he is very nice and very helpful. His staff is very nice also. I have only good things to say so far about Dr. Lopez and his staff. Also no complications or pain after surgery.

Debra, We got banded the same day by the same doctor. I get my first fill Friday Dec 9. I'm a little scared because I can't feel my port. Are you suppost to be able to feel it? I hope everything goes well for both of us. I need some restriction at this point. Good Luck!

Love the pictures! I have 2 cats (Birman named Zizi and Himalayan named Star) and 2 dogs (Pug named Coco and Maltese named Flossy).

Any one interested in Dr. Jesse Lopez in Kansas. I had my surgery on Nov 7, 2005 and I was very impressed with the surgery center. It was very clean and the nurses were very nice. Not to mention I was very pleased with Dr. Lopez and his kindness before and after surgery.

I also had my surgery with Dr. Lopez on Nov 7. I have been very happy so far and your right the surgery center was very very clean and the nurses were very nice. I was hoping I made the right decision and I believe I did.

Glo, So it is the liguid diet that is giving the shoulder pain? Awesome, I'm off the liguids in 2 days. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you!

Bandman, To your response "Really bothers me not to drink with a meal?" This might help? I was told by my doctor that wanting to drink with a meal is not from being thirsty, but from your mouth being dry. If you feel you have to drink something during a meal try just taking some Water in your mouth and then spitting it out. Or use one of those wet sponge sticks we got in the hospital. This is not a long term solution, but it can help in getting adjusted to the no drinking during meals rule. I'm the same as you, always drank 3 or more glasses with a meal. This trick helped me. I started it 2 weeks before I had my surgery to start to get use to it. Good Luck!

Pepsi, I was banded on Nov 7, 2005 and I have quite a bit of pain also. I believe it to be gas pains though. Mainly shoulder pain. I have been taking the Gas-X everyone has suggested, but I still have some pain. Is yours the gas pains? Hope we both get better soon?

I was banded on Nov 7, 2005. Every thing went great! I'm still on Clear Liquids, with no hunger. I'm drinking to just keep fluids in my body, not because of hunger. I thought I might be hungry before I started this journey, because I'm only on clear liquids. But I'm not hungry at all. The only inconvenience I'm dealing with is shoulder pain. It is the worst right now and nothing helps. For those of you that have not had the surgery yet, stock up on Gas-X is all I have to suggest. Even through all the gas pains, I would do this again in a heart beat! Lost 7 pounds so far, one week out! Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do about the shoulder pain? I'm taking the Gas-X and a heating pad, but the pain is still pretty intense. I have had no other pain or problem other than this shoulder pain.

Hey John, I was banded last Monday Nov 7 also! I'm doing better, but have to take my Gas-X for my shoulder pain. Other than that I'm doing better everyday. I have a little over 100 pounds to lose. I have already lost about 6 pounds already and ready to lose more. I know it is only the liguid diet taking off the pounds, but it is a good motivation to start with. I'm getting a little sick of the liguids already, but not sure I could tolerate food just let. The liguids are doing just fine. I go to mushie food on Tuesday Nov 15, one week out from surgery. Then mushies for about 2 weeks or so. Nice to know there is this site for comfort and information. Hope to chat again!

Getting banded Nov 7! Very Nervous, but excited!

I'm having surgery on Monday, Nov 7 and I am on clear liquids for 3 days prior to surgery. It is getting better, but I'm hungry. Broth is the only think that helps a bit and drinking loads of apple juice, water, and tea. I have moved my bed into the bathroom. But I keep telling myself soon it will get better. I try and keep busy and go shopping to look at skinny clothes is great motivation.

Dr. Jesse Lopez is at the Mid-West Institute of Bariatric Surgery. Located in Lenexa, Kansas.

Well, had my appointment with Dr. Lopez today. Everything went well and I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov 7, 2005. Elizabeth

Hello Everyone, I'm from South Kansas City and I have my first appointment with Dr. Lopez Mid-West Institute of Bariatric Surgery on Tue Oct 18, 2005. Has anyone had him do there surgery? I picked him due to he has done more surgeries then most in the Kansas City area for Lap-Band. I am going to pay for surgery myself, so I was told that I can expect to have my surgery in just a couple weeks. I can't wait to start loosing! Wish me luck! Elizabeth