HF2008

lapband967, Don't fret.... Get another fill, I was concerned because I was in your same position and I was almost at max recommendation for my Realize band. Well it took me to get to my max recommendation and now I feel restriction. When you are at your "sweet spot", you will know! You have to pay attention to the full alert. Because if you don't, you then get chest pains because you are stuffed! And it doesn't feel so nice! My surgeon suggested before I got to restriction....The 10 cc is a recommendation and you can continue to fill a bit further to get restriction. I too was thinking, what have I done! But after my last fill which put me at max... I am happy with it! Because I am now starting to lose weight and have gotten the restriction, I needed. I have lost 40lbs to date, 10 post op, 20 until I got to my sweet spot, and 10 within the last 3 weeks. So, try another fill and see how that works out! By the way, I had surgery, June 2, 2008. I believe with the Realize band, we lose a little slower if the surgeon doesn't fill our band a bit during surgery. You'll be fine...get antoher fill! And please let me know how it turns out.

You cannot compare your journey to anyone else's....If you are basing it on how much weight you have lost...you will continue to feel the way you feel. You need to pay attention to how your body handles your food intake and then decide if you are too tight! I went through this same feeling, and I found solace in reading posts and taking away from the post....My journey is my own, and I need to pay attention to how I am eating! Hence change the way I eat and maintain a regular excercise routine. I hadn't lost weight then when I started paying attention.. I dropped 10 lbs quickly....Hope this helps!

Heather O said it the best, and someone mentioned a fill center, and working with someone who works more closely with you. All of that is the BEST advice.. Let me tell you... I have the Realize band and I had surgery on June 2nd. I didn't start getting restriction until I was at my max of 9cc. I felt like I was failing but as soon as I got restriction...I am going down hill. We are along the same track becuase I have only lost about 35 lbs but everyone is different. You can't compare your journey to anyone else's because we are all different beings although we share a common ground. So, go get a fill, GIRL! Find a doctor that will work with you because you need restriction, or your band is just there for internal decoration. GO GET A FILL! You will fill so much better when you get restriction.

Your words are true but I believe it's about sharing the spotlight! No one wants to share it when they have had it for so long. And our friends may say things that they really don't mean. I was the worst critic when my best friend got gastric bypass about 3 years ago. I just felt like she wasn't big enough, and I knew she was going to be waaaay smaller than me. And our weight problem was the meat of our friendship! LOL! So, I thought! Well after 3 years, I decided to get lap band because she looked soooo good after a while and was able to keep the weight off after so many years. I had so many failed attempts at keeping weight off! Soooo I said all that to say...I have been the one to say negative things when someone is doing something to better themsevles. All because I didn't want to be a big girl all alone! Now that I have been banded for 7 months and my weight has slowly began to fall off ... she is supportive and my ROCK! She helps me understand my issues and progress with the surgery. I soooo regret the things I said to her because I was ignorant to WLS. So although our friends say things...be patient... all they need is time to accept the NEW US! We will look so good they can't, HATE forever! They will come around! LOL! I did! And even jumped on the wagon!

WOW! Your weight loss is impressive! I have been banded for 7 months and loss 30 lbs since, and I agree it's hard to accept the compliments. The thing that really ticks me off...they guys who want to talk to me now that weren't interested before! :frown: Anyhow, keep up the good work! I can't wait until I get to a 70 lb weight loss.

I think you should listen to your doctors advice. My doctor tells me the same thing. However, he allows me to fill when ever I feel, I need a fill. I am 8 cc in a 9cc band, and I have lost 19 lbs. I will admit, I don't have a traditional excerise regiment. I play softball on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and that's my excercise. I eat pretty much whatever I feel like eating, but have gotten to the point where I feel a bit of a restriction. I had a fill on Thursday, and I am now ready to start eating the right things. It was a bit emotional to have to give up the things I love!!! But, I have had enough and feel ... it's time to get on the right track. I said all that say.....just wait..everyone is different. None of use can tell you when you should start losing or fill restriction. When it does happen it will hit you over the head....I promise!

Yeah my journey was really simple....I thought about getting it and I woke up banded...LOL! My BMI was 41.2

After getting a referral from your PCM... Tricare Prime will pay a consultation with a surgeon, then the surgeons office will send in your requests for approval for the surgery. I am Tricare and I had mine on 06/02/08, and have looked at my claims, and it's all taken care of... You don't have to have co morbitites because I had none. I was just 100 lbs over weight. When you chose the office you want to work with all you have to do is be completely honest on the questionaire, and that's where your comorbitities come from, believe it or not. The surgeons office you work with to get the lapband wants you get to approved so they will work with you on getting that approval. You see normally they know what each insurance policy calls for to get approval ...Good luck!

Depending on your insurance...you won't be waiting long for anything. They are really on top of things!!! My process moved so quick sometimes I have to remind myself I have already been banded....It took all of my maybe a month and 2 weeks...

I was banded by Dr. Fass at Southwest Bariatrics, and I was pleased. The nurse is awesome and the receptionist is sweet. I mentioned those because I almost backed out of the surgery with the office because I was uncomfortable with the office staff before they switched receptionists. I talked to the doctor about it and he said, I had nothing to worry about she wouldn't be there after the next week, and she was gone. I think you will be very pleased with the office....

Call me the devils advocate but whatever!!!! Before I transitioned back to solids I called my office's nurse and she said that the stages are just a guideline. When you feel you are ready, move on but not until you have stayed on one stage for at least 4 days. And when I went to see my doctor post op, I admited to my skipping from liqiuds to solids and he said, "Honestly, you're young, and most young people do the same thing and it's fine" So as someone said earlier, and my doctor said on my last visit. Don't worry about losing until after your first fill. It is not a war to indulge a bit!

I can't wait to get that feeling!!!! But Your husband didn't see the scars?

Heeeeey YoungNY..Girl you are doing good! I just ate a 3/4's of a hamburger and a small fry. I have restriction sure but not so much that I can't eat. My doctor told me don't worry about losing yet, until my fill, and I don't get my first fill until July 19th :ohmy:! So I am so jealous of you!!! LOL! Don't worry after your first fill- your whole life will change! Keep us posted!