carissarenae1986

Just wanted to offer some words of encouragement. I was banded on 3/9/2009. A little over a year ago now, Wow I cant believe its been that long!! I too felt like you at around the 6 month mark. I had only lost about 30 pounds and I was stalling out. I would plateau, Going up 5 pounds and down 5 pounds. Until I hit my sweet spot!! I have a 10cc band and I believe I am at 6.5cc. I don't know for sure at this point because I have had a few unfills due to reflux. But when I finally did hit my "sweet spot" I have lost like crazy, and I continue to lose. Altogether now I have lost 80 pounds, and I only have 40 left to go. I feel amazing. Although I agree with some of the other posts I cannot eat much at all. My daily meal plan consists of a granola bar for breakast, maybe a half of a sandwich and a few chips for lunch, and then probably half a cup of whatever is for dinner at night. And no snacking in between. But the bright side is I am never hungry. I forget to eat and have to make myself go to the kitchen and find something. Pre Band I was a binge eater, anything and everything I could find even when I wasnt hungry. So please don't give up hope, You have to give your body time to get used to the band. If I have learned anything it is that the band has a mind of its own. Sometimes I think it gets mad at me and punishes me, lol. But we are on good terms at the moment. Good Luck!!

I have had several fills and every time they numb me.. I would almost rather them not because I've had plenty of shots before and donated blood.. and nothing stings as bad as the lidocane does.. But I guess they know better than I.

I'm so happy for you, I know that felt great! None of my pants fit me anymore!! Yay! I never wanted to go shopping because I was always so depressed because I would usually have to move up a size. But now I can honestly say that none of my jeans fit me anymore and I need to go shopping, lol. I'm curious to know what size I am now. My largest was a 22 and I have a few 20's and 18's and they don't fit without a belt. So maybe a 14 or 16? I'm too excited, I've just recently found my sweet spot and the pounds are steadily coming off. Keep the good news coming!:bored:

Oh how do I remember those first few days! MISERABLE is the only word I could use to describe it. Laying down wasn't so bad, it was getting up that was the worst part for me. I would have to make a plan every time I wanted to sit up, or sit down, or go to the bathroom. Thank God my mom was there to help me shower and other things. I'm sure your feeling better by now, I was up and driving by the third day and it was all downhill from there. I wouldn't say I was back to normal until about a month post op, but definately tolerable after about 4 days. Good Luck with everything. Hope you are feeling better.

See, I was scared something like that might have been happening to me, that's why I opted for an unfill. I guess everything is ok, because she did look at me under fluro and everything was fine. I have actually been able to eat normal amounts of food and drink too so that makes me feel so much better. I would hate to be unfilled for that long, It would be like starting all over again. :thumbup:

Yea, lol. Tell me about it. I was banded almost 6 months ago and had only lost about 14 pounds up until that last fill. And then Wham! The pounds started flying off left and right, But I was so miserable I was actually thinking I had made a mistake on getting the band. I mean I was eating maybe 2 ounces of food a day and drinking very little, but every bite no matter how small it was would hurt so bad and I would feel it stuck in my chest for hours. I did like the weight loss though, so I was determined not to go back for an unfill. I guess the band won in the end though, It usually does. Also, I didnt want to hurt myself or cause any more problems. So to anyone who may think your too tight.. You most likely are, and dont wait too long to go talk to your doctor. Let them decide for you. I hope you find your sweet spot with your next fill, just make sure its not too sweet :thumbup:

I definately know about the 2 week thing. I had a fill two weeks and 2 days ago. I had lost 18 pounds in this short amount of time and it is still coming off at about a pound a day. I didn't want to go back for an unfill because I was finally losing, even though I was pretty sure it was what I needed after about the 2nd day. It seemed as if my band was getting tighter everyday, and when I would throw up even tighter. About 2 weeks later after the fill I woke up one morning and couldn't even swallow water or even my own saliva. I ended up going back for an unfill that day (which was about 3 days ago) and my doc was a little upset with me for not coming in sooner. She took half a cc out and I feel so much better. I'm not miserable now and I can actually eat and drink. The tiniest amount in your band can really make a world of difference. There is such a thing as being too full and even though you are losing weight you will get dehydrated and you will regret it then.

When I go for my fills, I don't know if its the same with everyone, but when the nurse hits my port I can always feels a little pop when the needle goes through. So, I myself can always tell if they have it or not and usually I will tell her yea thats it because I can feel it. Next time you go for a fill try and concentrate on whether you can feel it or not. It should help put your mind at ease a little. I just got my 5th fill last Tuesday which puts me at 6cc's in a 10cc band and I can definately tell I had a fill of just 1cc. I have lost 11 pounds in less than 2 weeks. So, I would think getting a 4cc fill you should feel something. And I have never heard of using anything but saline, But I guess he knows better than I do. Anyway, Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Hey, I know that this forum started about a year ago but I just stumbled across it and noticed I have alot in common with all you guys. I am from Beaumont, I started the lapband journey with Dr. Speigel. I decided not to use him and went with Dr. Hahn. I have United Healthcare Insurance and was approved in Feb 09, had surgery on March 9, 2009 at the Medical Center in Port Arthur. Dr. Hahn is leaving his practice and moving, so now I will be going to St. Elizabeth Bariatric Center for my aftercare and fills. It's good to see other folks from SETX, I would love to hear from you and see how things are going. I don't know anyone else who has had this surgery and would like to know people in my area. Oh and By the way if you did end up having surgery with Dr. Hahn and want to start going to the bariatric center for your fills they are waiving the 1500.00 enrollment fee for his patients.

I am pretty sure that he is being cautios.. But maybe a little too cautious! I have never had to drink water or anything. My visits are maybe 2 minutes in length from the time he walks in the room to when I'm walking out. He asks me one question and that's Have I been throwing up? and then I get a fill and he says see you next month. That's IT!! I'm not even close to kidding. I mean I could go on about this all day. I just want some restriction. That is the whole point of the band right? It's no good without proper fills, I know a lady who had a leak in her tubing so all her fluid leaked out and now she has regained all her weight because she can't afford the corrective surgery. (Just incase you're wondering how her leak happened, a nurse that did her fill punctured it with the fill needle because she didn't know what she was doing.. so beware of inexperienced nurses doing your fills.) Anyway, the band doesn't work without the fills and I am just getting frustrated. I know that I do need to be patient, but it is just really hard. I did call today and I have an appt. with another lap band doctor on 6-30 to see what he says.. kind of a second opinion I guess. So, Thanks so much to everyone for all of your support. You have no idea how much help this site is to me and your words really do help in so many ways. And I will keep you updated. Thanks, Carissa.

Yea, I'm pretty sure that I can go to another doctor to get fills. I don't see why I couldnt?? I know that some doctors don't like taking on other docs patients, but I did call the Bariatric Center close to where I live and they do. So, we will see what happens. If he doesn't want to give me more than than half a cc next time then I'm not paying for it and I will just start going elsewhere. It's seriously throwing away 200 bucks every time because I feel absolutley No difference whatsoever after fills. Wish me luck, lol.

Yea, I definatley think that he is just making money on me. He is an excellent surgeon and my only problem is the tiny fills. I keep hearing that people are getting 3-4cc's, hell I'd be happy to just get one full one. By the posts on here I am guessing I am just now to where my tubing is filled. It really is starting to get to me because everyone keeps asking me how much weight I've lost and when I have nothing to report I get that failure look. Grrr.. I have my next appt on 6-23 for another fill and I am going to ask him for more than half a cc and if he says No then I am going to start looking for another doctor. I mean its just ridiculous I told him I only lost one pound in a month and he was like "What, you dont want to lose weight?" He is just really smart ass and I don't really think he is in this for his patients.. I hate to say this but I think he's probably in it just for the $$. Oh well, just one more obstacle I have to overcome on this journey. I am trying not to get discouraged but it is hard. I mean I waited so long to have the surgery done and when I finally do it is seeming like I've made a mistake and I will never get this weight off. I'm not gonna give up. I can do this, lol.

I am so stressed. I had my band put in on March 9, 2009. I have lost about 15 pounds, but lost all that in the first week or so. I have a 10cc band and at surgery I had no fill whatsoever. My first fill wasnt until 6 weeks after surgery and it was only .5cc. And it has been that way every fill I have had since then. The doctor only puts half a cc every time. I have had 4 fills since then at 200 bucks a pop and my tubing isnt even filled??? I think I am at 2.5 cc's right now and I can eat, drink, whatever I want and as much as I want. Is this normal or am I being ripped off? Has anyone else experienced this? Please help. What should I do? I try to talk to him about this and ask for a larger fill but he just says he doesnt want me to throw up and he intimidates me. I'm not rich by any meeans and its going to take a long time and tons of $$ to finally get where I need to be at this rate.:ihih:

I am so glad to see this post and know that I am not alone. I was banded on March 9, 2009 and my first fill was not scheduled until April 14, 2009!! Are you kidding me? 5 weeks? I started getting my old hunger pains after the first week! My doctor had informed me that when my appetite returned that this was a good sign because it meant that I was healing nicely with no inflammation, infections, etc. I guess that I just healed a little to quickly because I was still in the liquid phase when it decided to come back full force. I am in absolute hell. I forced myself to eat liquids and mushies for another week, but I am STARVING!! I couldn't take it anymore and broke down and had a 2 soft tacos, and then another time I ate a sandwich and a few chips. I was surprised to find that I had absolutely no problem getting these meals down and actually I was still starving and wanted more when I was finished. Now, I am feeling soooo guilty and hoping like hell that I haven't messed anything up. I mean I feel so weak and dissapointed in myself for not being able to resist temptation and stick to my diet. So after a few days of overeating and not being able to take it anymore, I decided to call my doctor. He told me that I was just in need of a fill, and to come in next week.Thank God! I am so excited to get my first fill and actually let my band start working. I lost 15 pounds in my first week with the lapband and now it is slowly trying to come back. I go up and down about 3 pounds a day. Maybe you should call your doctor and he will give you a sooner appointment for your fill? Good luck in any case.