lapbandbarb

I am wondering if anyone in Westchester has attended the support group at 19 Bradhurst near Westchester Medical Center. I was not banded with that medical group but am allowed to attend($10fee). I know this Thursday is the post-op support group and I wondered what other people have thought about it. Also, one time I was told it is at 5:00 and another at 6:00. What time does it start? I can't get a straight answer from the hospital and they keep disconnecting me. I'd appreciate some info if anyone knows. Thanks!

Are you talking about the support group for the practice at Westchester Medical Center? The one at 19 Bradhurst? I will probably be there. I asked and I can attend even though I didn't have the surgery with them. Has anyone gone to that group before? Does it start at 5:00 or 6:00 I got two different times quoted to me an need to find out. Thanks!

Glad to help! Good Luck!

My Dr is Fielding and from what I understand, the dietician is available by appointment only or you can call her anytime. I don't think there is a charge for seeing her either if you had your surgery there. I asked a while ago.I have not seen her since the day I was released from the hospital after my surgery but I have called her and she got back to me pretty quickly. The fills are done by the Drs (any of them) and I went to one of their satelite offices last time. They are aggressive with your fill if you want them to be. They do not numb the area or use any instrument to locate where to put the needle. I have had no problems and I trust them. I have had two and I am restricted. I have a10cc band- got 3cc first time and 3 cc last time. My band had about 1cc when he put it in. I asked. I ask a lot of questions all the time and get good responces. I will tell you that the NYC office is always very busy and you have to wait usually. Dr Fielding has the band himself and he is a great Dr and person. I just finished reading "Fighting Weight" written by him and Khaliah Ali. Great read Good Luck! :thumbup: Feel free to ask any other ???.

You are lucky, but TAKE credit for it too! It sounds like you have stayed with liquid Proteins mostly, which is what I have tried to do. I've had some tough times turning away certain foods that I used to binge on(like pizza and ice cream) Didn't want to even attempt them incase the old demons returned and I lost control. Could really hurt my band. I have also lost about 1/3 of my excess weight. This is from my very heaviest back in late April when I really decided to go for the surgery. Thing is that I have managed to lose 100+lbs 2x before. Difference is, now with our special tool, we will keep it off!!!!Yea for US!:smile: That is where we can really consider owerselves lucky!!!!!!!:mad2:

I feel the same! I was banded on 7/7 and had my 2nd fill last week and feel like it is all I need. The thing that I know from my Dr is that as you lose weight, the band will become looser and then you will most likely need another adjustment. Lets consider ourselves lucky!

I can understand being so frustrated! I am new and reading what the others have to say hepled me and made sense. Please don't get your band removed! Give it some more time and I can almost guarantee that things will turn around for you. Good Luck and keep us up to date.

what a shame this thread turned so nasty. There's a lot of good advice in here, but I have a feeling none of it will be taken on board. I have to thank you guys for giving me a good laugh while reading this thread!

You have lost weight(and a gallbladder) since your third fill at 8.5 cc that is why you are handeling 8.5 better now. Your gallbladder is in the same general area as your stomach so not having it gave you more room.You have been through a lot. Are you sure it is true hunger? I know I get confused with my head hunger esp when so much is happening. That is why you are hungrier now. How long did you go when you were vomiting all your food and liquids? I had a fill yesterday and have been having that problem(not with water) I am concerned that I could damage or slip my band and I was wondering if you know or anyone out there knows more about that. Thanks

Is PB a bad thing? I had my 2nd fill yesterday and have had some issues with it with shakes(not water) I also had some issues with it during my 1st and 2nd fill when I didn't chew enough. I am concerned that I could hurt my band. Does anyone know if it is harmful? I sent Wendell a PM but did not hear back. Does anyone know how he is. He is so informative. Lets get this forum back up and running! Great info here!

My Dr doesn't put the needle through my scar. The scar is where the port site is. He puts the needle below to insert the saline through the tubing. Make sense? He never misses and I am restricted.

I had my second fill yesterday and I have restriction! I didn't lose anything since before my 1st fill but feel hope now! My Dr is pretty aggressive with my fills because he has been banded himself and knows that people want results quick. I have a 10cc band and he filled me with 3cc 1st fill, I felt no restriction. Yesterday, another 3cc and I am good to go. Will I get less restriction as days go by or is this generally how you stay feeling? Have I really reached my "sweet spot"? One you reach it, do you stay there or lose it and have to find it again. I, of course, am on liquids for a couple days but don't feel like solids like last time.

I think that is a really good question and I hope someone can answer it. I'm thinking that as you lose weight, the band has more room and that is why it feels like you have lost liquid. But I don't know. I had my second fill yesterday and am not sure if I have too much restriction. My first fill did nothing for me. The only thing that I can hold down is Water. No Protein drinks and I am hungry! I was really hungry last night and gagged on shake continuously so gave up and went to sleep starving. I had my fill at 1 and did not eat anything but protien shake before. Bad idea. Do you think it will get better in a couple days? It is really hard for me to get to my Dr. He is near me only 2x month or I have to travel an hour(w/ kids) and wait in the office, usually a long time. Did anyone ever feel this and then have relief after a couple days? Please help. Thanks!

I had my second fill yesterday. My Dr said CLEAR liquids rest of yesterday and today. Straight liquids tomorrow and then soft until I can tolerate more. I feel like I have restriction now. I can keep water down. That's it. Problem is, last night, I was starving and felt like I needed to eat(headach,lightheaded) so I tried a protein shake and I couldn't handle it. It came back up little by little mixed with saliva(soor so gross) Do you think I am too tight? Dr said if water goes down, I am OK and it will get better. Still. my stomach kind of hurts. Maybe from not keeping down shake yesterday. Any help is welcomed. Thanks!

Does NY Presbaterian- Columbia have any satilite offices in Westchester or anywhere other than NYC? Congradulations on your weight loss! I realize I haven't posted on this forum since before my surgery. Hope everyone is doing as well as I am! Let's get Westchester support going again! :Banane37:

Wow, you guys are so supportive and encouraging! I have been having a hard time too but trying to keep a positive outlook. After reading all your ideas and encouragement to Jorge, I feel better and feel so lucky to know that you people are there sharing my journey thru lapband hell(I meanweightloss hell). Jorge, I know it is hard but listen to these people. We all care and want you to succeed. Nothing happens over night. It takes time. If my Dr was not supportive, I would look around for one who was. Support is so important! Good Luck!

All of the Drs at NYU accept different insurance so make sure that the Dr you choose accepts yours. I was lucky that Dr Fielding accepted Magnacare, which is mine. He is dropping GHI and magnacare now among a few others. I think the other Drs are also dropping some too. Three months of aftercare is included after your surgery so I won't be paying for my fills until Oct and he said he'd work with me on the cost. I would still say Dr Fielding is the BEST. I have seen him everytime I have had an office visit. Best of Luck to you. When is your date?

Are you talking about Dr Cerabona from WMC? Where in Dutchess does he have hours? I almost went to him. I live in upper Westchester, NY. I decided on NYU-You flew to Westchester from Ca- not NYCity? I would think LA would have great Drs to choose from. Anyway, don't mean to have too many personal questions! Glad that you are happy and doing well! I was banded 7/7 an doing well.

Therapy for food=mind therapy Try to keep yourself occupied with something else, that helps me. Talk to someone who you can talk to. Become a computer junkie instead of a food junkie! Don't weigh yourself too often. Try to make healthy food choices- sometimes I eat three 10 cal sugar free jellos. Nothing wrong with that. GOOD LUCK!

Hi! Glad to meet you! I was banded by Dr Fielding on 7/7/08 and my experiences have only been great. I hear good things about the other Drs at NYU, too. I know that Fielding is very well regarded and he has done ALOT of bands. He is very busy but very good. I think he did something like 18 bands on the day he did mine. I had a pretty easy time. I know many people that went to him for help after another Dr made a mistake or their band slipped and they needed help. I can't tell you enough good things about him. I have more and more to say! He did his all the people who needed it in his hometown in Australia. Fielding developed the technique that is presently used worldwide to implant the band. Check out his Videos on the NYU website. They are very informative. Not alot of people know this, but Dr Fielding is married to Dr Ren. He is no longer accepting my insurance but he is such a nice person that he is going to work with me so that I can continue with him. I live in Westchester and there are several satilite offices if you don't want to go to the city. He is even available on Sun in one of them. Sometimes his office in the city is packed and the office staff do try their best. The surgical coordinator left much to be desired and I had to push her. The nutritionalist didn't really do anything but give me paperwork guidelines to follow. It is all worth it to have Fielding. Hope this helped you a bit. Feel free to PM me or post any questions you may have. GOOD LUCK!! Keep me updated!:cool2:

Hi. I was banded 7/7 and like you, my Dr told me 2 weeks in that I can eat whatever I can tolerate. I got a fill 3 1/2 post-op because I felt that I was eating too much. I still don't have too much restriction, although I am losing... not complaining, but don't know how. I am not even really exercising. Doc says 3 fills and you are good for a while and weight loss will really start:biggrin2:

I was banded 7/7 and boy can I relate. Lets face it, we had WLS, not mind surgery. Of course we are still going to have the same thoughts and want to take the same actions with food as before surgery. We chose the band, not any of the other major, invasive, dangerous surgeries that give you a honeymoon for a year or so before you can eat. We have to deal with the issues now, not after the weight is off. I think it is a good thing.Good news,too, is that we have a "tool" that is forever. We are adjustable so we can keep the weight off. Other surgeries, which are permenent, can stretch the pouch back and alot of people regain all their weight. We need to be understanding and kind to ourselves and not worry so much. I have got involved with private therapy as well as OA to aid with my Lapband "tool". We need this support. We cannot expect to change our old ways just because we had the surgery. Try to be kind to yourself, Not mad. Be proud of yourself for doing this and take one day at a time. Or if needed, like I do, One hour at a time! :cool2:

Right On! My goodness, give the girl a break! I am 5 weeks, too and after two weeks, my Dr (who is the best in NYC ) told me to just be careful and take it easy. We should not worry so much. We all just need to try to support each other and let the day begin new!

I can relate to that! My husband refuses to eat healthy, too. He works a very active job and never has a weight problem. My two kids are starting to get a little heavy and we fight about food choices all the time. It is so much better when he is at work. He's off this week:glare: Wish me luck! I have to really try to stick to my own choices and it is hard!!!