Lisa73

I have United Healthcare and just received an approval letter 3 weeks ago. I am so excited! I chose DePaul Hospital based on it's reputation. I was assigned Dr. De La Torre which was fine by me I attended his seminar and he seems very personable. I have an appointment wed sept. 9th for the all day testing, counseling and surgeon consult. I was told I would schedule my surgery date at that time. I was just curious if anyone else was a DePaul patient and had any advice for me? Thanks Lisa

Dr. De La Torre left the DePaul location not long after I had my surgery so now I see Dr. Morales when I go in. My surgery went really well and I highly recommend him. Dr. D is very conservative with fills. No I don't workout in Granite I have a membership to Club Fitness in Alton. Good luck!

You are not a failure at all. I experienced the exact same things you are. I have very good restriction right now but it took me 9 months before I got it. Every person is different I required my band to be almost full before I felt resrtriction. I know how you feel I started thinking I had made a mistake that this was not going to work for me, but I am 40lbs lighter than before the surgery and my doctor says my bloodwork is really improving and my health is the most important thing righ now. Try not to compare yourself to others on this forum who are rapidly loosing weight or have great restriction early on were not all going to get to our goal at the same rate of speed. I have learned that the band takes a great deal of patience and communication with your doctor.

I agree with ILOVEBEAGLES I did not get my first fill until after six weeks from surgery I was very swollen too, but I wish I would have gotten a fill under fluoro with barium way sooner than 7 months after having the band that was too long for me to wate. I had no restriction for 7 months-very frustrating I am so tired of people asking me so how the weight loss going and trying to explain why I don't have restriction yet. As of today I am 9 months out I have only lost 35 lbs. I have had 7-8 fills only the last 2 have been while drinking barium, the last fill I had one week ago with barium was the first time I have hit true restriction. Before this last fill I could eat a whole plate of food and not really have to chew my food that well. What a difference this last fill has made I am just now experiencing what I have read so many others posting about-take small bites, chew really well and eat slow. Everyone really is different and what works for one person may not work for another I think thats why my doctor is so conservative. I am looking forward to seeing the weight come off now!

Your welcome I'm glad I could help.

Sherrye22 I don't understand how just doing a fill under fluoro is showing your PA you have good restriction they have to have you drink barium to see how fast or slow the barium is traveling through the band. Fluoro is so they can see the port and then The band when drinking barium. My doctor told me on my last fill I would only need 1cc, but when I drank the barium it ran through so fast He ended up giving me 2 cc's that day. I would not have gotton what I needed if it had not been for doing the fill under fluoro. Oh and I know most people will not agree with this but I eat when I'm hungry if you are loosing weight only on will power then what was the point of getting the band? I listen very closely to other patients complaints in the waiting room and they are complaing about the same thing they need a fill and are only getting these tiny tiny fills, I say just eat when your hungry then when you don't loose any weight they will give you a fill. Doctor's always go by numbers and charts not by what the patient is telling them. If your loosing they will only give you a little fill or nothing at all that's been my experience with my physician. I know it's a slow process and we will all get there in our own time hang in there we all want the same thing RESTRICTION.

I have had every fill under fluoro thats just the way my doctor does fills. I do not drink barium every time (thats the only way they can see if you have good restriction or not.) I think the reason for fluoro is some patients have had thier tubbing punctured by trying to do a fill "blind". Under fluoro they can see exactly where your port is located. It's just the latest technique in the field there are plenty of patients who have had "blind" fills and have never had any problems with a punctured tube. You will pay more for fluro, but I think it's worth it I would rather pay more money than have another surgery for a punctured tube. I would not have a fill any other way. I researched and found a doctor that only did fluoroscopy.

I have had this done twice since I was banded They did not do it the first fill, not until I had the band for 7 months I wish they would have done it sooner maybe the 4th fill since I have not lost very much weight only 29lbs. since Oct 7, 2009. They do the procedure in the radiology dept. in the hospital called fluroscopy it's a live x-ray (pretty cool) then they stand me up and have me drink barium (thick, white liquid) I can see my stomach, the band and the liquid travel down my esophagus until it hits the small pouch and travels through the band. He always has all his patients go back to the waiting room and drink a cup of water before we are allowed to leave. I had the second one done yesterday and I can say this is the first time I have ever felt restriction. I've had a lot of discomfort if I do not chew my food but never much restriction if I waited 2-3 minutes the food would slide through the band I could always finish my entire plate of food. That is not the case anymore! I'm excited to see how much I lose.

I watched that very episode this morning I have learned alot about myself from watching that show I have only seen about 4 episodes and I'm hooked.

I am starting to think maybe I am a food addict. I think about food all the time and I eat for all kinds of reasons, hunger, cravings, boredom the list goes on and on. Something I am going to have to investigate for myself.

Betsy, thanks for the reply I didn't see your post until after I posted I guess thats what happens when there is 5 kids in the room with you. LOL :thumbup:

I'm aware of the daily requirements of protein and that at each meal you should eat your protein first and if you have any room then the veggies and carbs, but I never heard of anyone waiting until they have consumed all of thier protein for the day before eating any carbs. I really thought this was interesting since I can still eat alot of food and maybe this approach might help me until I get some restriction. I was just wondering if she is eating just straight eggs, meat and cheese or if she allowing herself condiments, sauces or veggies with the protein. I was just asking what she typically eats in a day. Thanks for the reply, Lisa

coloradobanding, could you give me an example what you are eating for meals in a day I have never heard of this approach and I'm very interested. thanks

I was banded Oct 7, 2009 starting weight 242.0lbs and have 7.75cc in a Realize Band and I have only lost 20lbs. I am so tired of every time I attend a function everyone asking how's the weight loss going and trying to explain to them about restriction and I don't have any, and they get that puzzled look on thier face and they really don't want to know all that info anyway. I know alot of people may not understand this but I refuse to starve myself just to loose weight if I don't have any restriction and I count every calorie and exercise 3-4 times a week just to loose a few pounds my will power may only last a week or two and those pounds just come back. I have noticed other patients at my doctors office complaining about they are starving and the doctor only gives them a tiny fill because they are loosing weight but it's all on thier own not the band I just don't understand this at all. I do eat healthy, exercise, drink 64oz water daily and do not drink with my meals. So until I get restriction I don't expect any weight loss. I do consider it a success not to gain any weight. For the first time in my life I did not gain through the holidays and I lost 5lbs. I know that was because of the band. I do not get another fill for two weeks he mentioned that when I come back He would have me stand up and drink water which I have never done that before and I have had 4 fills. I really hope that makes a difference.

I was banded and my doctor did not require a pre-op diet of any kind he told me he only requires those who have a really high BMI I would not stress about it. Lisa

brendar, I still do not have good restriction I do eat less, but it is still like 2 cups of food. I had a wisdom tooth cut out yesterday so I'm back on mushie foods for a few days. The pain meds make feel a little light headed so that's no fun. I have found some recipes on this sight go to the main page select FOOD & NUTRITION look at the sub-forum and select COOKING, BAKING & RECIPES. I also like my cook books titled Hungry Girl 200 and under 200. all the recipes are under 200 calories I bought them at Target I really like them alot, most of the recipes are a single serving dishes. I also take my daily supplements but I think they taste horrible I'm going to look for something different I have Bariatric Advantage. Doctor told me to take Prilosec and I have already found a different Calcium supplement I use over the counter chewables. I get on this websight everyday and read alot I usually just go to New Post at the top of the home page. To get to our post you select LAP-BAND SURGEONS (BRAND NEW) then click on Missouri then select Bridgeton then select Dr. Roger De La Torre then select Does anyone have Dr. De La Torre?

To- a dairy farmers chubby wife, unfortunatly those 40lbs were before the lapband and that was the most I lost and have since gained that weight back I am currently wearing size 18/20 in jeans and have not seen anything smaller than that since highschool. I think the smallest size I have ever worn was 13/14 at about age 13. I think I weighed 160lbs. not really sure back then I did not weigh myself. I'am only 5'2" but I do carry my weight really evenly over my entire body (everything looks fat) lol, but its true. Lisa

I thought this would be a fun topic. I have always been to shy to name my husbands would love to hear yours.:rolleyes2:

I think this is really common 5 years ago I lost 40lbs. and still wore the same size jeans and unable to wear the next size down. I did however go down in size in my t-shirts so I was really happy about that. Lisa

I lost a pound every day for one week straight while on the post-op liquid stage and I was so excited but not for very long I gained all 7lbs. back once I started the mushie stage and increasded my calories back to 1200 - 1500 calories. I have lost some weight since the surgery I do not have any restriction yet but I know some lose slower than others. Lisa.

brendar, I had my 4th fill yesterday and received 1.75cc and was told that was an agressive fill. I think that brings my total to 7.25cc I'am on liquids today so it's hard to tell. I was never told to count calories, but when I keep track I'am always under 1,500, most of the time it averages 1,200 a day. I was told to drink 64oz water daily (no caloric fluid), exercise for at least 20min and eat protein first. I thought the weight would fall off at this point. I usually only get to the gym 3 days a week. When I weighed in yesterday at the nurse station I weighed exactly the same as last month. It is my time of the month so maybe I lost 4-5lbs. I started at 242lbs the day of surgery and my scale says 221.6 so that is a total of 20.4lbs lost since surgery 5 months ago. I am thankful for those 20lbs. I know there is no way I would of lost and kept those lbs.off without the band I feel that is progress. I'am 5'2" so I think 130lbs. is also a good goal for me but I really go by what size clothes I wear more than anything and I want to wear a size 12 in pants or a size large in shirts and I would be happy. that may be a weight of 170lbs. for me. which I have not seen since high school. I usally only take it 10lbs. at a time I like mini goals so I have celebrated 2 victories already. Oh and yes Dr. DLT did my surgery at DePaul Hospital.

I was not required to do a pre-op diet I had surgery 10-7-09 I have only lost 20 lbs. I have 5 and 3/4 cc. I have no restrction. I have to diet and count calories if I want to loose any weight. I do not eat in between meals like I use to and I eat alot less food then before. I joined a gym 3 weeks ago so I'am hoping that's going to boost up the weight loss. I never thought it was going to take this long to get restriction most people have lost 60lbs. by now I have noticed from reading other peoples post that our doctor is very conservative alot of people get 3 and 4 cc for thier 1st fill or they already have some fill in from surgery. I think it's just going to be a matter of time until I get some restriction and the weight will start coming off. I always beg for an aggressive fill but never get one. I can still eat anything and really do not have to chew things up all that well yet so that makes me think I may have to have 2 or 3 more fills to hit my sweet spot. I just keep concentrating on drinking my water, eating protein first and exercising thats all I can really do for now. I have read alot of comments on here about not eating slider foods I guess the more solid food you eat the longer it stays in that upper pouch so the less calories you eat overall. I try to stay away from yogurt pudding and cottage cheese for that reason. Do you attend the support groups?

brendar, how are things going for you how much have you lost and how much fill and or restriction do you have? Lisa.

I was wondering about whay BetseyB said that some pills that use to go down before are no longer going down anymore. I do not have any restriction yet I am on my 3rd fill with 5.5cc. So what do you do to not have a stuck episode. I have quite a bit of medicine I have to take Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Cholesterol pills none of them are extended release so do just break them in half or do you have to crush them to get them to pass through the band? I would like to avoid as many stuck episodes I can. Lisa

Yes it is true I joined a gym and the second week had a session with a personal trainer and he weighed me that day and it matched my scale at home. The the next morning I was so sore I could hardly walk up and down the stairs from the squats he had me doing the day before and sure enough when I stepped on that scale the next morning I was 3 lbs. heavier. I could not go back to the gym for 4 days I was so sore but my weight returned to the previous weight within a week. So I don't care what anyone says you will gain weight from muscle even if its just the muscle temporiarly swelling it does happen. Lisa