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Does anyone have any idea where to find Dr. Deol? I have been looking for her for a while. Last time I spoke to her she was trying to open her new practice in Chicago, but i have since heard that it hasn't happened. Any info would be Greatly appreciated!!!

Hi there. I tried to call Loyola, no luck. The person that answered the phone said there was no Dr. Deol on staff. I have been searching for her for a while...I really wish I had her back. I just signed in to this website to hopefully find someone else that has some info.

Hi zagagirl...You're definitely not alone. I'm starting over after three years, and I'm committed to it. I had to find a new surgeon because mine left town, but once I did I went in and started all over. I've been banded for three years, and am back at my starting weight. I posted that here and got so many emails from people that have struggled through this. I was ready to give up. But I picked myself up and I'm back on the wagon. I haven't eaten Haagen Dasz in over a month...(I'm an ice cream snob, and couldn't stay away from the good stuff) I'm in the midst of an adjustment balancing act right now, I was too tight, now back to too loose, but am going back in two weeks to get a little more back in. You can do this. It's embarrassing, I know. You are probably like me and assumed you would drop every pound right away and never gain it back...well I found out that I have to fight to get it off and then fight harder to keep it off. Let me know how it's going, we're in the same boat.

Hi there. I have not posted in quite some time, nor have I been reading other posts religiously as I once did. I am hoping to hear from some other people that are years into this banded life that can shed some light on some things for me. I was banded in the summer of '05. I was pretty sure that I would lose every single extra pound in the first six months. I didn't, but I did lose about 30 pounds. In the first year I lost a total of 40 pounds. I was pretty happy with that. In the second year, I reverted to some of the emotional eating that made me fat in the first place, but managed to stay stable despite myself. In the third year, which will end in August, I have managed to gain back all 40 pounds. In the beginning of the year, I was teetering on being too tight. I didn't want to gain weight so I kept it that way. Over the course of a few months, it seemed to get tighter as I gained a few more pounds because of all of the soft foods I was eating. Then my surgeon left town. That was the biggest blow, because she was amazing. I found myself on my own and I had no idea what to do. By the time I found a new surgeon I had gained about 15 pounds because it was too tight. The new surgeon, although nice, had no clue what to do. He took Fluid out of my band, but way too much. This left me with almost no restriction and have since gained back every pound that I originally lost. I'm going to a new surgeon tomorrow, one that has a great reputation from what I have read. I am hoping to be able to start all over and find success again. Has anyone had luck years later? I am frustrated today, and have been for quite some time. I have even been considering looking into alternative surgeries. I never thought I would consider that. Any advice and/or similar experiences would be so helpful to me right now. I am really hopeful that by Christmas, I can manage to get my weight back down below 200. I'm at 260 right now. Thanks to anyone who has advice or encouragement for me, and thanks for reading this far! I'm hoping that involving myself in a support group will help me get this thing together. Thanks!

Chia...I just read your post in the intro thread and it sounds like we are in the same boat. I was ready to give up for about two seconds, but I'm going for the new start. I've gotten many messages from people that have started over after years. I'm hopeful that I can make this work. If you need support, look for it...that is what I am doing. Do you have a fill scheduled? Are you going to look for a new surgeon? It is my opinion that it is imperative to have a surgeon you can trust and count on.

Hey BayCity...tell your sister she is officially my hero. I never need to be that small...I'm way too tall, but if I can make it to size 10 WHOOHOO! I had a fill last Monday, as I said I was...and have lost about four pounds since. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure it is too tight. I can't get hot coffee down in the morning. Not good...I am going to call the new surgeon that I really liked and get a slight unfill so I'm not spending my days sick. I am so happy that I reached out for support, it has been so helpful. I hit a wall thinking that if I hadn't reached my goal already I never would. Now I absolutely know that I will get there. This has been a huge adjustment again, I forgot what actual restriction was. I hope that other people can be inspired by this and keep fighting instead of giving up like I was about to do. Things are good...and will just get better. (Particularly when I am able to take liquid Tylenol without barfing it up right after...

Hi Fox...congratulations for your amazing success! And good for you for seeking support. I was also banded in 2005 and am basically starting all over because a string of bad decisions...(another story) I'd love to know how you're doing and what you find works after a few years. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for responding to this...A little update today: I went to my new surgeon on Monday. And WHOA. I remember what restriction is and why I was able to lose all that weight in the first place. When the last surgeon took Fluid out, I think I kind of looked at it like a vacation from restriction. My vacation turned into a sabatical and I forgot what real restriction was. It took me months to get in to see a new surgeon, and even though I wish I hadn't, I took full advantage of the ability to eat semi-normally again. I'm ready to give that up for good if it means my clothes will start to fit again! My "whoa is me" attitude is all gone today and I'm ready to make this thing work. I have 70 pounds to lose. It might take me two years, but I plan to lose it. Every single bit of it. I didn't utilize this forum when I first began this journey, in all honesty, it was a lot easier then. I guess the honeymoon is waaaay over and it's time to take care of business. I plan to stay involved in this and learn from other successes and offer insight of my own when I can. Thanks!

Ahhh! THANK YOU ALL!!! I have never utilized this board for support, in the past I used it to read about the basics in the beginning of this journey. I am so glad that I got up the nerve to admit to my shortcomings and challenges. I love the advice to channel the reason I did this in the first place...and I plan to do that today. This is going to be day #1 for me. (But without the PB's and things that happen when you just don't get it yet) I have indeed found exercise that I love. I joined Lifetime Fitness and have been going to Cycling religiously for the past few weeks. I'll keep doing that. I'll also utilize the resources that I have here if you all don't mind. I'm truly ready to do this, and do it right. Thanks so much, and keep the encouragement coming. It's nice to know that I am not the only person that has struggled. (Not that I want anyone else to have a hard time, but at least I don't feel like there is something fundamentally wrong with me.) Thanks for welcoming me back to this board.

To Pearlygirl and Laurinda: Thanks for the encouragement. It was indeed what I was looking for. cb: Please do no respond to my posts again. I came here for a reason. I needed support. I am very glad that your first months have been so successful. Guess what...so were mine. It's not always going to be that easy. There was a reason I asked for advice from people that had some experience with the band. It changes so much over time. Your response was quite immature at best. My question is simple: Has anyone that has experience beyond a couple of months have some advice and encouragement for me? I have been battling for the past year. Partly with myself and partly with my lack of surgeon atatus. I relied heavily on her support and with her leaving, I have struggled. I'm not attempting to make excuses for myself, it is what it is. I just want it to work from this point forward and would love to hear that others have had success after struggling. Again, thank to the encouragement the two posters already gave me and please, if you want to talk about bowel movements, go to a different thread.

Hi . I have been reading on this site for two years, but have not posted often. I have typically gotten all of my answers from reading and searching. I am 35 years old. I had my lapband surgery 2 years ago. The first year was great. I lost 40 pounds, and felt great. The second year was the direct opposite. I didn't lose a pound. Instead I went up and down and up and down over and over. I have no excuse for this, except that I was sabotaging my success, most likely to mend a broken heart. (That's a whole other story, not worth telling) So after a year of too tight, too loose, too tight etc. I realized that I have been sitting on the couch eating Haagen Dasz every day instead of cooking healthy food and going to the gym. I'm back to it now, I started a new workout regimen and I feel wonderful. I also joined a weight loss clinic, because I need the accountability. I hate it there, I have to lie about everything because when I try to explain to them that I can't eat eggs anymore, or that 6 oz. of chicken at noon is out of the question, they just think I'm making excuses. So I do the best I can and am using them to have accountability for myself. I guess it's not using them when I'm paying $1000.00 to go there and be tortured three times a week. The moral of the story is...I need to find some support. I need to stop beating myself up about the lost year. I truly thought that I would be one of the people that loses all of their weight in year one. I overestimated myself, but I'm figuring out that it's ok. I have the band. I've had no complications. I don't break the rules about pop or overeating (except ice cream, which I know can't hurt the band, I wish it did cause then I'd never do it.) I just wanted to post here, and tell my story. The band journey is not an easy one. It's really hard work. I have 50 more pounds to lose, and I'd like to do that over the course of the next year. Does anybody else find that months have passed, and they have screwed up their weight loss? I need a kick in the butt, so if anybody wants to help me out, Here I am. Thanks for listening...

I'm really really glad I found this thread. I actually cried when I read Dr. Deol's letter. I have had my band for two years, and I am used to being able to call with any concern and have her or Rebecca (who I just learned is already gone...) tell me exactly what to do. I am having serious abandonment issues. I'm working on finding a new doctor right now. I'm really excited for Dr. Deol, she deserves it, but I haven't considered not being able to talk to her if I need to. I'm glad to know I am not the only that freaked out over this. My sister was taken off guard when I called her crying about this! It's all going to be fine, right??? Did anyone make any decisions? I made a call to Henry Ford this afternoon. My other doctors are all through HFHS. I went with Dr. Deol in the first place because I really loved how she did things. I'll be reading to find out if anyone has found a new surgeon and what their response was. I'm nervous!

Thank you! I'm on my way...

I was at 40 (I gained about 10-15 pounds so I would qualify, because I didn't have any comorbidities.) Before you go to Mexico, talk to a surgeon in Michigan. You're better off flying here. Or have your surgeon's office talk to a Michigan Surgeons office. I remember the form letter being very simple, and BCBS does not require that it go through them first. My surgeons office just included it in my file, and we moved forward. You shouldn't have to worry about getting approved after you have waited the year. I didn't even have to do that...I had obviously been trying everything up to that point. I actually think it is a really simple formality with BCBS PPO unless your employer has exceptions, which it doesn't sound like it does. I couldn't hurt to call a michigan surgeon and find out about the form so that your Texas surgeon can have it on file. I've read other people's struggles with getting approved and I had zero. For me it was smooth and easy (at least the insurance part of it.) It could be as simple as consulting with an office that is used to the Michigan Insurance process. Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions...

I have BCBS PPO Michigan. My surgeon had a form letter for me to give to my PCP stating that I had been actively trying to lose weight for at least 12 months. She signed it, since I had been struggling and she knew I had tried WW, Atkins...etc. I had no problem with insurance covering it. Who is your surgeon?

Thanks for the info. I guess I've been asking the wrong questions. I had no idea Zoloft came in a liquid form. I have an appt. with my psych this week. I'll check with her. THANKS!

I started taking the zoloft with yogurt, and stopped cutting them in half. I have had zero problems in the past two days. I was positive my band had slipped, and was starting to panic. I thought all of the burning was from the size of the pills, so I kept breaking them. Won't be doing that again!

Hi. I haven't posted in a really long time...but I am having some issues this week and I can't believe this thread. I am on Zoloft, and over the past couple of months I have started experiencing intense fiery pain after I take it. I attributed it to the pill getting stuck, but that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense considering I am able to take most pills without a problem. I threw up right after taking it two nights ago, and haven't quite recovered as of yet. I'm still trying to figure out how one thing can lead to the other...I plan to call my doctor(s) about it as soon as possible. I would appreciate any suggestions as others learn more about this...at the moment, I can't really eat anything because I had a bad reaction two nights ago and I'm still feeling crappy. I keep thinking something has gone wrong. Thanks for the information, I plan on doing some more research.

Congratulations! If ever there was an appropriate time to say it...I told you so! Rebecca is amazing. So is Dr. Deol. Good Luck!

I have BCBS PPO, which as you knows covers the surgery. My surgeon had a form letter, stating that I had been attempting to lose weight for 12 consecutive months, and I took it to my PCP. I had tried for years, so she was supportive and signed it. It was not a big deal, as long as you have a doctor familiar with your weight loss efforts. Once I got the letter signed, the rest was basically easy. I didn't have to get any pre-approval, my surgeon just needed the letter in my file. I went to Dr. Zoe Deol, and they made the whole thing really easy. My surgery was covered in full, and I had it just a couple of months after I first heard of it. That was this summer...From what I have read people have to do to get approval, we have it very easy with BCBS PPO. Good Luck...

There is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Zoe Deol is the best doctor in Michigan. I have had nothing but positive experiences with her as well as the staff. She is experienced and very knowledgeable with this surgery. I had my surgery in August and I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in Lapband surgery.