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I am self pay and I paid $150.00 which was a checkup and fill and fluro. People were very nice. I used Dr Terry S. Cheri

Do you want it to work? If you do you have to stop now eating all that stuff. You have to know WE still want some of those things but you just have to say NO. It does not matter if you were filled to the top if you want to eat you will find a way. We all know how. The choice is yours. Put in the time and do it right and It will work. Heck if you just follow the diet and do not workout you will still lose maybe slowly, So many people would like the opportunuity to be in your shoes Banded. Sometime you have to mature and say I am gonna do it and then struggle through it and it does get easier. But your in control not the Band. If I was you I would be on the phone tomorrow finding myself a therapist that deals with eating disorders and find out whats going on? Something is you have to know that. Don't give up just ask for some help and then do it. Nothing wrong with seeing a therapist everybody could benefit from it. Then I would find me a support group meeting and go to every meeting. We need support from people who are going through what we are going through. You are no different from all of us, you want to lose weight or you would not have done this right? food is just food and living is living you have a fork in(sorry)the road which way are you going? You can do this. Are you married? Do you have kids? Do you have parents? Do you have loving friends? Somebody loves you and wants you to live. Do you want to live? The step in the right direction is what you took when you decided and went through the surgery Your weight is still pretty high, do you want to have a heart attack! Spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair? Do this for yourself go see that therapist and work out your problems just think you could be getting healthly on the outside while you are get healthly mentally. Please don't give up on yourself you already have the tool just start doing your part. So many people here can help you but you have to stop that kind of eating otherwise nobody can help you. Help yourself first. I have lost 84 lbs and it was not easy but easier with the band. I wanted to eat some things I shouldn't but you have to decide what rules your life Even if you could eat a whole chicken does not mean you have to, Stop Cheri

Wow it is weird that you all have to wait so long. I had my surgery with Dr Spivak in Houston and I could always get in the same day and he always did the fills and fluro, not a nurse. But since he moved overseas I had switch to TLC and I did have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment. But they do take people from other Drs. and they always do fluros with each fill which it what Dr Spivak did too and since he put your port in he got it first time everytime. So if you can't get in try them. They are all very nice. That was my first fill in over a year so I am glad Dr Spivak was here in the beginning for all the first fills. Cheri

I totally agree with Corrigan. But only you know what you can deal with. If you are a praying person pray and ask God to let you just really know what you should do and then expect an answer. He likes to be asked what His will is in our lives. Will your problems be worse or better without the Band? Look at the big picture, better to go through some stuff and be alive or take it out and your problems get worse or put your life at risk. Like I said only you know what you should do. I am a praying person and I will pray that God will show you what you should do. Keep us updated and let us know what you decide. After I got the Band I asked God just please let this be the answer to my weight problem, but it may not be everybodies answer so far it has been mine. I am so sorry you have had to go through so much at a pretty young age but you don't want to be 50 like me and going through it when you can fix it at a young age. Too much to consider best wishes to you. Cheri

Probably still gas, but as much as I hate to agree with the above poster they are right. It never hurts to go see your dr for even the smallest things, thats what you paid them for. Better to be safe while it could be nothing if it was something to worry about you will have caught it early. Good luck!! Cheri

Jachut you are a real inspiration making it through all you have and never stopping to be helpful and encouraging to others. I for one have learned a lot from you and always look for your posts. I too am crossing my fingers for you! Cheri

You could have picked up something in the hospital. A little infection or virus. My dr said it is not unusual to leave with something. But you just might need more time to finish healing. It is hard on our bodies and to some (me) it is an emotional thing too. I hope you feel better really soon. Cheri

NY, It will happen! Think positive don't let yourself get depressed keeping coming here and tell us all about it. Somebody will always be ready to listen to you and cheer you on. You are right only someone going through this knows what it is like on our highs and lows. If you do not have a lot to lose it is gonna be slower than others who have more to lose so remember that. You will find restriction soon I bet. I think the slower the fills the easier it is for your body but that is just what my dr told me and I believe it. Cheri

I am glad you went in for an unfill. Sometimes it takes hours, days or even weeks to tighten up after a fill. I went in for a slight unfill about a year ago and I was not gonna let him take out more than .3 ccs even if I had to leave. I was holding my hand over my port to guard it. I am so afriad to ever get a complete unfill because some people say they never feel the same, but some do fine. I try not to mess with my Band anymore than I have to as I want it to stay the same. But being too tight is horrible and not worth it. I just had a fill about a month ago first one since about a year ago and of course now it feels too tight, so I am playing the waiting game and really watching what I eat and how slowly I eat it. I do not want to go in for an unfill but if things do not change soon I will but only to get ½ of what they put in at my last fill. But I will go in with hand over port. Have fun in Vegas come back with more money and less pounds. Cheri

Please let us know what happens in those 2 weeks and after you get filled again. Cheri

Great Blog! Thanks for posting it! It is slow going at first for some but you have to look at your life, nobody is the same. So many factors come into play as to how fast or slow we lose weight. Age, gender, medications, amount of normal movement during the day and so much more. Don't compare yourself to others. I would consider myself a slow loser, but I sit at a desk all day (if was a postman/women I would be more active before adding the workouts), I am almost 51 years old and take some meds that have been known to slow weight lose or work against it. I only had 3.4 ccs in my Band for the first year and a half and that is when I lost the best, my doctor gave me nothing during surgery (fill) and only ½cc every month or longer as he thought it was good to go slow. I still lost maybe not as fast as some other people but it was pounds gone that I hope to never see again. If you keep feeling really depressed talk to your regular Dr. about maybe something to help take the edge off. Depression is a real thing and can be treated. But I also know depression can be caused when we feel sorry for ourselves that could be your case only you know, but that can be fixed: see a counselor, join a support group, make a new Band buddy and talk to them or e-mail them all the time (thats what I did). I am the first one to admit that even though I have clinical depression I also know how to feel sorry for myself to make something so tiny into something so big and I can carry it on for days and shed many tears. You are gonna do great just believe in yourself. Find ways to encourage yourself and if it takes you longer than you thought it would so what it is gonna happen! Cheri

Thought that I would tell you that I have clinical depression and it did not seems to cause me any trouble with weightloss after surgery. Lost 84 lbs. Still really no hunger 2+ years later. I had a good 7 or 8 months of no hunger whatsoever after I got through the first month. The first month people are gonna be hungry so just accept it and plan ahead. Buy you some movies you won't watch, or books that you won't read until that month begins, new fingernail polish, polish every night if you have to, fix your photo albums, buy some special bubble bath and bath products Just something to keep your mind off of the fact that you are hungry. I would go to bed with my stomach growling. So find a project or something you can be doing during this month to make you feel special. Because what you are doing is so worth it. After you get through that first month or 6 weeks you will be so happy you did it. But don't let your depression get you down. One reason I decided to get the LapBand is because of the depression. I could not handle dealing with that and the weight and I am doing everything I know to do to help with the depression, but the weight being gone does help. All of you sound so excited and happy I keep coming back here to read and take it all in. I know you all will do so good and as I said I will be praying for the November bandsters to do good before during and after surgery. You all seem to be bonding with each other, such a GOOD idea and it will help you all so much, support, support can't get too much. Also it is okay to be nervous it is surgery and it is something new and seems like your future is unknown. But it will be filled with feeling better, smaller clothes, healthier bodies and minds, workouts that make you feel so good (some during, some after), compliments, energy, healthier eating plan and so much more. Again good luck to you all! Cheri

I am self-pay too,did not touch a Diet Coke since 11:59 pm the night before surgery I am 2+ months out. But about a month ago when I was feeling down, I wanted something to pick me up and a had a diet coke poured over ice and then let all ice melt and then drank it. Now I can't stop having at least one a day. So of course I am not getting all my Water in. I have hear the rumor too about how it can enlarge your pouch, but how can it, it is liquid and goes straight through the band unless you are drinking and eating then i could see the carbonation enlarging the pouch I was a good pick me up and did not hurt me. But you should always listen to your Dr. I was over 2 year post opt when I try some Cheri

I was self pay very fast too, 1½ days from consult appt. to surgery. When I went to consult I took copies of my medical records and they were up to date, along with copies of my last blood work up. We talked about my diet history and medical history. He suggested I might would be happier with the Bypass but being self pay I could not afford it, So we talked about the LapBand. I had just been to the seminar a few hours before. He did ask me when was the last time I had a pap? Which I was up to date on. He asked when I wanted to do it and I said Monday morning he said great. 1½ days later I had surgery that Monday morning. I paid $100 for the consult and $12,999 for everything including office visits and fills for the first year and I paid him before I left his office that day. I have had no trouble during surgery after surgery or for the last 2+ years. I have lost 84 lb and trying to lose at least another 15 or 20 lbs, Self pay is super fast. But if you have any concerns you should talk about them, Maybe you want some tests done, then I would say so. Hope that helps. Cheri

My dr. does not like my cholesterol numbers so he wants me to be on a low cholesterol diet. He also put me on Crestor which I consider evil. But here is the problem what do I eat? I know Fiber, fruit, only lowfat dairy, veggies which I mostly hate. I am doing no meat if possible chicken if I have to have meat. How is it possible to get all my protien in? One scoop of whey Protein 46 gm. I do not see how I am gonna do this. Anyone else doing this if so help! If I am gonna have to take meds for it I want to follow a diet that helps the evil little Crestor pills, so I won't have to be on them when my numbers go down. I had no trouble with my numbers before about 1½ years post opt. I thought is was suppose to go down when you lose weight. I think I am suppose to be under 200 mg a day or less. I know my age 50 is not helping it. Anyway any help will be welcomed. Also people all say oatmeal so I am doing that too. Cheri

If you were a bypass person would you be excited to see or eat something that would cause you to “dump”. According to my friend who had the bypass you would never put yourself through that if you had a choice. Cheri

Would dry heaving count in your book?. We need to understand that there are 1000's of surgeons and they all say something different it seems. So why try forcing what your doctor says on everyone. Or making people think something is wrong with their band when it is not. I know the difference between vomiting and spitting up and I have done both as do a lot of people. We would perfer not to but you can't help what comes up. But why scare people? Cheri

I really hate working out, but I have to, to lose anything, inches or lbs. But I feel so great afterwards! Cheri

I have to drink coffee in the morning in order to take my meds. I have really bad Insomnia so after that it is decaf anytime I drink it. My doctor and staff never told me no coffee. But if I am hungry coffee kills my hunger too. I am sure a bottle of Water will too. I also have anxiety that I take meds for and my Dr. told me one bottle of coke or coffe wipes out your anxiety meds if it has caffine in it. Cheri

Sorry to hear about your possible job loss. I hate drugs as they have destroyed most of my family. My brother started with pot and overdosed last Christmas and died. But I agree with the posts before mine, maybe they will be willing to let you get some therapy and keep your job. I believe God closes some doors before He opens others, maybe He has a new direction for you and a better job waiting. I will pray that He helps you. Thanks for being so honest I am sure it will help somebody. Please don't let what happen to my brother happen to you! Also your weightloss is great! Cheri

My advice to you is change your plans now. The chances that you will want to play host to many people and be around all that food one week out of surgery are small. Why put all that stress on yourself. There will be many more Thanksgiving to come when you will be able to eat more normal. You know yourself better than anyone. How will you feel having to prepare all that food and play host too as you drink your dinner. Let someone else host this year and go and see family and friends after dinner time. But like I said you know yourself better than anyone. Solids a week out of surgery could damage your band so really what is your willpower like? I would pass myself, but you do what makes you happy, put yourself first since you are right out of surgery. It's okay to put yourself first every now and then. Hope it is a happy day for you whatever you decide. Was reading my post and it sounds like I am telling you don't please don't and I am. Once I was in the same position and it takes so much out of you to pull off a big event and you are going to be right out of surgery. Cheri

You need to talk to your Dr. as you are wrong. Different people respond to the band differently. My Surgeon a well known and respected man, knew that I spit up - vomited whatever you want to call it since I had surgery. But it is normal for some people. I spent about 2 months too tight so I know what too tight feels like and I am not too tight. Sometimes when food hits my pouch it is just instant reject. I have even had coffee come up through my nose . . . if it wants out it is coming out. I am more than 2 years out and have had many fluros and my Band is just fine and when I drink the barium it passes right through. But people's bodies react to things differently. Such factors as stress, medications, age, etc. can cause people's bodies to react differenty. You seem so negative about every issue involing the band. You only see black and white and not the grey inbetween. None of us is right all the time and we do not know how other people's bodies will respond to the band. If I had read that I would spit-up - vomit all the time I would have passed on getting the Band as I always hated to vomit. But this is what I have and it has worked for me, with a few side effects but none like some medication's side effects that we choose to take. Elcee is right it is really not vomiting but it seems like it, it is food in your pouch not in your stomach, except the coffee I think it comes from the stomach. Its not like I eat and then run to vomit, trust me I would bet many try to wait it out and when it seems it will not go down you just have to cough a little and up it comes along with whatever is on top of it. I am not sticking my finger down my throat to make myself vomit or spit-up. We do not want to spit-up or vomit it just happens so we make sure everything is okay and then we check and see if we can change anything up, if not we deal with it. I have several banded friends more than 2 or 3 years out and they have never vomited but they slime so much they have to spit it out in a napkin, sometimes many napkins. I would rather spit-up than slime, but they did not choose that either it just HAPPENS! Cheri

I ran in to the same thing at a WLS convention. They really did think they were better than me. Why because they spent more money? They had some body parts taken out? I was very shocked at those people's comments. They even talked about moving to another table since we were banded people and they were bypass people. The convention was for people with all types of WLS. But I also attend a WLS support group where people have the band, or they had the band and changed to the bypass, last week one had their band removed and got the sleeve, but were are all respectful of each other and their choices mined is the Band. Cheri

My husband has never had a weight problem. He still weighs the same as when I married him 30 years ago. But he eats all the junk food and lots of it. We went together to the Doctor we both did blood work, mine was not that bad but his numbers were perfect. I walked out with 4 prescriptions and he walked out with “Try to drink at least one glass of milk a day” What? I have lost 84 lbs . . . him nothing. I workout . . .him no workout (unless you you consider mowing grass on a $5000.00 lawnmover) Yes I said $5000 he got that and I got the band. I make him buy all his junk food pre-packaged for one person. It cost more, but I will not open a package to get a cookie but I might eat one if it is already open. I also have a 2½ and 5 year old grandbabies who I have at my house about 4 days a week for about 4 hours/day. They want ice cream and fruit Snacks, chips, crackers etc. I never knew a Dora fruit snack could taste so good. But I do the same with them. if they open a tiny package of Cookies and do not finish them, they have to take them home. Right now in the kitchen there are 2 chocolate filled donuts sitting in a box on the table, not the so so ones from the grocery store but the good ones from the Donut Shop. They are calling my name, even though I could not even think about one passing through my band. I am just crazy enought to try. So my point is buy stuff in one serving size packages or make him keep his junk in his car, we did this right after I got the Band done untill I started getting fills. Cheri