juliegeraci

This time of the year is especially hard. Please take good care of yourself. Drink plenty of water, take your vitamins. Your fill on the 2nd will help. Keep going back as frequently as you need to to find your sweet spot. About the finances. I can relate. I am self pay with my fills which ran me $2k last year. Ugh. My husband is unemployed so it is much tougher on us at $400 a week. He use to bring home $900 a week. I had to take my 6 year old out of daycare, I cancelled the housekeeper and my gym membership. I know it will get better though. I have my band and I eat really healthy so I am very happy. Good luck to you and have a nice Holiday. Julie

Sue, I take Lexapro as well. I was diagonosed bi-polar with depression a couple years ago, preband. I have stayed on all my medications. My doctor added in Wellbutrin which helps the appetite. I would go back to your Psychiatrist and restart the program. You'll feel better in matter of days. Good luck.

There is also a thread you can post on called "Canada Local support". I would post it there too.

I would post this question in the Doctors and Hospital area. Title it "Lapband doctor needed in Alberta". Good luck.

I would wait 2 weeks then make another appointment.

I would wait. When you lose weight in the bust area it can create additional sagging. I would wait until you are 10 lbs to goal. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

I look away when he does my fills. The only thing that hurts is when they put the numbing agent in with the smaller needle. It stings a little bit. The filling needle is long. I look away and that helps me. Good luck.

I look perfectly healthy. I have never had an issue not getting in enough nutrition. I feel really good too.

I am a big drinker and my liver count was up before surgery, primarily because of the fat content. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Right now all you should focus on is getting in your protein, resting and healing. The weight loss will follow once you start getting fills. Take it easy. It will happen.

Linda, fashion bug is really good. They carry both plus and regular size clothes so its an easier transition.

Fully clothed.

Hi Guys, just wanted to give you an update. I am on day 3 of the Chantix. It has me quitting for good next Saturday. So far, I am way down on the smoking just 3 days into the medication. I am really looking forward to quitting now. Thanks for the posts.

Thank you all for your inspiration. I am day 2 on Chantix. I quit in 5 more days. I am looking forward to it! Goal this year and quit smoking!

Liz, if it were me I would stop eating bread and steak. Especially if you are losing. Restriction can be funny sometimes. I PB too so sometimes I'll just stick to softer foods. I had a shrimp salad for lunch today and I was able to consume all of the shrimp and avocado because they are soft. Yesterday I had sashimi for lunch. I was again able to eat all of it. I do eat carbs so last night I had some lean chicken and a baked potato. Remember there are 2 types of tightness. Tightness to liquids and tightness to solids. If you are tight to liquids that is not a good thing. If you are tight to solids you may want to have a softer diet ie. cottage cheese, yogurts, shrimp, tuna salad, etc. I can't lose unless I eat a softer diet typically. I can't eat more than 1-2 oz of hard protein at at time. I go back in on 1/2 for a slight fill .3ccs to my sweet spot. I wanted less restriction around the Holidays so I am down to 2.9. My band holds 4 ccs. Hope this helps you. Good luck.

Hi Dr. Watkins. My feedback is below. So, please give me some feedback: What do you love about your band surgeon and their practice? He has excellent bed side manners. He cares about his patients and is available 24x7 to assist us. What do you hate? That he doesn't take insurance. Fills 4un me $200 each and I have had lot of fills and unfills in 1 1/2 years. What do we do well? He counsels me well on how the band works, what to eat, etc. What could we do better? Nothing. He is awesome. What more could we do to help you succeed? Early on it was hard for me to really know how to eat. I think working with a nutritionist or dietician more would have helped me. How could we improve your customer experience with our practices? As far as my surgeon goes, Dr. Robert McKeen in San Jose, CA there isn't anything I would change besides the insurance. He has a friendly staff, he is very knowledglable and reliable.

Do you get this after you have eaten? if so its a sign of restriction.

Getting a fill will definitely help. It might be the Holidays. Go get a message or do something nice for yourself. Recommit every day. You can do it!

Congrats on your new arrival!

cin, my doctor told me there are 2 types of tightness. Tightness to liquids and tightness to solids If you are tight to liquids that is bad. If you are tight to solids and don't mind a softer diet and you are losing it is up to you. Are you losing on a softer diet?

There are 2 types of restriction. Restriction to liquids and restriction to solids. Restriction to liquids demands an unfill. If you have restriction to solids I would recommend trying softer food first. If you start to lose again on a softer diet you need to make up your mind if you want to stay there. Sorry I can't be of much more help.

Thanks for the tip. My insurance covers it too. I started the Chantix today. I have to smoke for a week then stop. So by next Saturday I'll be done. I am looking forward to it. My only concern is that my husband still smokes so the sensation will still be there.

Denise, if it helps it took me forever to get the right restriction. 5 fills and 6 months. I have had probably 12 fills, unfills since I started. Probably more like 16. Good luck.

Liz, I am sorry this is happening to you. Hang in there. Everything will be okay.

Anything that fits through a straw. I would try creamy soups. They are made with milk added and seem to have kept me fullest the longest. Good luck.