Alicia99

I also had my first experience with true depression last summer, about three months after my surgery. I was not losing weight, but still not eating like before surgery...I actually considered going on anti-depressants. My DOC THANKFULLY told me that the depression was a side effect of my taking away my ability to self-medicate with food. She suggested I learn to LOVE spicy foods, foods that burn your mouth. Peppers (and other hot food) burn your mouth and your brain then releases endorphins as a response...au natural anti-depressant! Worked VERY WELL for me. Enjoy Peppers!!

I have not heard that, but would be interested to find out more. I have heard that tighter= more problems.

Neugene, you are a sweetie! This is exactly what I needed to read today!

Thanks so much! I just saw her yesterday and she was wonderful. I may be back soon, because I am not feeling a thing yet. Looking forward to a little restriction! I really enjoyed meeting with her, she has a really great attitued. I am SOOOOO thankful that she is local, and reasonably priced.

Also an update after my fill: I was told by my prior fill RN's that I was at 3cc...I just had a fill, and my new fill DR pulled out all of the old saline, turns out I was only at 1.6. She filled me to 1.8. I am actually relieved to have more room to go than what I thought I had. Now, I still have 2.2 room left. Yay!

Cleos Mom, sorry if I misunderstood you. Good luck with your new doctor, I hope you reach your goals!

I don't know yet the answer to your question, as my weight has not yet come off, but I wanted to say GREAT JOB, you are a shining example!

Coolchick, I get my fill today..I was thinking anywhere from .2 to .4...but I will let you know what the Dr decides. One thing- I really think that if I felt every day like I feel on my pre-period, I would be happy. When I am like 4-5 days pre-period, my band is perfect and I have that control that I like. Its the other 25 days I need help with! I have experienced that same thing- take a bite, get stuck, then able to eat the rest...One day I ate an entire Bratwurst! I had the last bite, then remembered- I have a band, should not have been able to eat this! :thumbup: But, if .2 or .4 does that for me, then my sweet spot is not too far off. Until then, I am Holding on to the Hope!

Dear Cleos Mom, I am surprised that you didn't get any paperwork with your surgery, and you should have gotten your card too. But- just for your info, I got my first fills at the same speed as you have. You mentioned a minor slip, a few little problems, but nothing that has caused your band to be removed, really not too bad, and nothing you can't recover from. I have not lost much weight either, and I had my surgery before yours, but I haven't given up on my band, and I sort of feel like you are either giving up or getting close to giving up. I knew the fills would be difficult to get due to location and cost. (Thankfully I have a local fill doctor now and I go see her today!) I think you still have room for fills and I still think this band will work for you, and for me too. I also think your frustration is completely normal, and I have been fighting it as well, but we have to look at the big picture...until we reach this all-important "Sweet Spot" we aren't going to really see leaps and bounds of progress...but we all have to get there first. Another thing- by "sneaking up" on our sweet spot, by getting there over time rather than jumping up to full, we are taking better care of our bands and re-learning how to eat, so the s-l-o-w progress may ultimately be better for us. Cleo, Coolchick, I think since we are all three in a relatively similar spot in our progress, I would really like to keep in touch on this. What are your thoughts?

Dear Cleo's mom, I had mine put in April of 08. You need to understand- this is a 9.75/10 CM band, and max fill is 4cc. They probably told you you had a 10CM band, but the fill volume is only 4 cc. Does that make sense? I was thoroughly advised about the size of my band, and was banded on the same day as another woman who was given the larger band, the one with an 11cc fill volume. I asked my surgeon why, and he told me that it had to do with the size of her stomach vs mine, he said she had more weight to lose, and he also said that she had a hiatial hernia. Unfortunately, due to problems with her hiatial hernia, she had to have hers removed. He advised that I would have better results with the 4cc band, because as I got closer to my goal, it would be more difficult for me, and I would need the 4cc band vs the other. There are many people who are good candidates for the 4cc band, not everyone is the same. There are many people who have lost weight with both kinds. It's not that one is a newer or better model. Lap band was never a guarantee from the beginning, and the fact that you have lost 75 lbs shows that things are working. I would like to advise you (kindly, gently) to be patient and stop playing the victim role, or you will continue to make excuses and nobody wins. You have had some really great progress with your weightloss, and I don't think you should downplay that. Minor setbacks are to be expected, but nothing you can't work through. Your body is an amazing thing, just take care of it and your band and have some patience.

I currently have 3cc in my 4cc band, and I am not at sweet spot. Some times of the month I can seem to eat anything and forget my band, while just last week, I was "reminded" that breads are out of the question. I am thinking that if I was always as tight as I am the week before my period, I would be happy, so I am going tomorrow for another fill. I am guessing she will fill me anywhere from .5 to .3, and I would be happy to give that a try. I am very bad about going for my fills and have had a hard time finding a local doc, but I have one now and am looking forward to getting on the "band" wagon. At this pre-sweet-spot, for my 3cc, I have only lost about 3 lbs in 8 weeks, which is not really weight loss in my book, but the next fill may just get me there. I am very interested in learning what other people have to say about the 4cc band. ...Also- I was advised by my doc that he did the 4cc in expectation that it would be harder to lose weight as I got closer to goal, because I started at "only" 100lbs over goal weight...not sure if that sounds right or not, but I have never thought the bigger band would have been more beneficial...plus, I have heard SOOOO many times that you can go up to 5cc in a "4cc" band.

THANK you for posting this, I am going to schedule my fill this month!! I tried Dr. Spitz at the RW clinic and got the runaround- first they weren't sure, please call back, then called back, still not sure, then finally they said NO to Mexican patients. I JUST WANT A FILL!! Thanks so much.

I have the 4cc band too...and was banded in April too...and I weigh the same as I did when I started. Its my own choice, because I have been unable to get my fills, and I am at 2cc...but I go this Saturday for another fill (finally!) and I am so looking forward to getting closer to my sweet spot. Don't get discouraged now! I still feel just amazed that I was able to have the surgery and pay for it out of pocket, that was such a big accomplishment for me, and I didn't think I could do it. Getting this fill and finding my sweet spot is my next goal, and delayed, yes, but still a very GOOD thing. I am so encouraged by the victory's I read about here. You can fill a 4cc band to 5. You have plenty of room to go. The difference between needing a fill and a sweet spot can be a tiny little fill!

Just wanted to mention here- I can go from PBing in a couple bites of pasta to 4 slices of pizza too, from morning to afternoon...I think it has to do with time of day, time of the month...I don't like the lack of restriction either. My goal is to get to the restriction I feel just before my period ~ only all the time. I bet your band is fine.

I would like to attend that Starbucks Liberty Lake group too...I am not sure if they are meeting or not. I can also relate to STARTING OVER! Those fills are HARD to go after when you have to go all the way to Arlington...I am going to try Richland after this next one. I did try the Rockwood Clinic, but they have not yet confirmed that they will take patients banded in Mexico. I hope they do!! I love my band but have not kept my weight loss, I really need a fill...FINALLY have one scheduled this Saturday, so I am very excited to jump back on the wagon. I am also thinking I need to get obsessed with exercise...real soon. If anyone knows about this Liberty Lake Starbucks group or if anyone wants to make a new group in the Valley, let me know!

Its great news to me! I am going to Arlington on Saturday for a fill...after that, I may just have to take your advice. I think I will schedule my next one in Richland! I have been desperately seeking a REASONABLE Spokane doctor to do fills...but Richland will work just fine. THANKS SO MUCH!

You mean we have an alternative to Dr. Trotter? What is the clinic contact information? I will call!!:cursing:

I would LOVE to join this group, but they want $2500 up front out-of-pocket just to see Dr. Trotter for consult for a year. That is just TOO much when you consider I am still paying for my surgery. I WISH I could though!!:drool::w00t::tt1::tt1:

:rolleyes2:Hi there, Just wanted to let you all know that the fantastic ladies from Northwest Fill Management will be in Liberty Lake on September 12th doing fills. I have used Kitty and Robin for my fills exclusively (I had my surgery done in Mexico) and they do a great job. The office is in Liberty Lake at the same location as the Urgent Care. If you want to schedule a fill on that day, go to their site www.northwestfills.com and email or call them for an appointment.

She just put a little numbing cream on my port site, and I guess it was easy to find, because she held her fingers around it and it was pretty obvious. She then proceeded to fill me. I had this done with them two times, and am now to 2 cc in a 4cc band. It was a simple piece of cake, don't know what else would be necessary since I have only used these ladies. Also, I think at the time the fill was just right, because it was my first and second fills, and they worked just fine, and now its time for fill # 3. I did not do the flouro, did not want to, but could any time I need to...I am a simple person and prefer things as simple, cost effective, and quick & easy as possible. She seems to know her stuff. She is a lap band patient herself, and I like that ALOT.

I have used them twice and they are very good.

I get really belchy and gassy for about a week after each fill every time. But it goes away.

Any updates from E. WA banders? Any successes?

I had to cover my own. But I am so glad I did!

Nice work, Angelnurse! Your stats rock!