Ms. RJ

I totally understand how you feel. I have lost about 30-35 pounds in 15 months and have had about 6-7 fills at $175 each! I honestly think there may be a problem with my band. This is my 2nd band (had a Lap band the first time have Realize band now) and with the first band I lost 60+ pounds in about 8 months--which I was happy to do! I was looking for similar or better results with this band. I do what my doctor asks me to do, but admit I have temporarily slacked up on exercising as much. Many of the people that are telling you that YOU are the problem have already lost tons of weight. It is easy for others to see the error in your ways when they have been successful. It is also easier to stay motivated and encouraged when you are seeing progress. YES the band is a tool, but it should play a major role in your weight loss. Many advise cutting calories, exercising more, seeing a therapist, and watching your portions. I AGREE. You should definitely do that, however, if it were that easy, you would have lost weight without the band (and they would have to)! The first time I lost weight, I was encouraged by seeing results. It doesn't make you feel good to spend $20,000 and be told that you need to diet and exercise more. You could have saved the money and stuck to dieting and exercising for the results youve seen!! You (and I) are just the types that may not respond well to the band. It sucks, but we are going to have to do it on our own...let's encourage each other. You may also want to consult with your physician to make sure there are no malfunctions with your band. Good Luck!

Well...apparantly there was a kink in the tubing and the 5cc was actually still in me. Therefore, when he added 4cc more, I was COMPLETELY full!! I went back the next morning and he took out 3cc so now I have about 6 cc total. I feel so much better now. I was choking on my own saliva at first, now I have a healthy restriction.

All of you have really helped me with your comments and stories. I was sitting here debating on whether I could wait until tomorrow or if I needed to go to the ER NOW!! I am EXTREMELY restricted and choking on my own saliva. I have been throwing up slime and mucus for about 6 hours now. It began almost immediately after my fill. I still regret that I didn't go back and have him take some out. Hopefully, he can work me in first thing in the morning. I literally feel like I am going to die if I don't have some of this fill let out! I feel miserable!

Today I finally went back in for another fill. After being reprimanded for seeing another doctor (who was unable to give me a fill), my doctor decided to continue working with me. I only went to see another doctor because his nurse ABSOLUTELY despises me and though she tries to hide it, I can sense it everytime I am there. Anyway, my doctor decided he was going to add 1 cc to what should have already been 5cc. I asked if he would take the fluid out to see if I actually had 5 cc because I had NEVER really fely any REAL restriction. He agreed and after struggling to even access my port for 15 minutes, he attempted to empty my band and realized that just as I had told him for the past 3 months, my band was pretty much empty!! I STILL managed to lose a total of 19 lbs by changing my diet and exercise. Anyway, rather than admitting that they had made a mistake all of the previous visits, they made up several theories as to why my band was empty...maybe my band had a leak or kink in it. MY theory was maybe you weren't actually accessing my port the past 3 visits! I came up with this conclusion when I went to another doctor and after nearly an hour and a floroscopy machine, he was unable to locate it. That made me wonder if my doctor's nurse had actually been accessing it. This time, my doctor gave me the fill, and I can actually tell it's here. It is actually too tight! I am afraid to go back, but I don't know how much more of this I can take. I am only on liquids today, but I am having problems getting them down. "If it ain't one thing, it's another!"

Thanks for the link Vikki99. It made me feel a LOT better! I am scheduled to get my 4th fill and have been quite discouraged because I have yet to fell any REAL restriction. I know that it's here, but I have minimal restriction and can eat almost anything as long as I chew it well. Hopefully I'll see a difference with the next fill. I'm ready to lose weight!! I've only lost 5 pounds since December 2009! I am NOT happy!

I am going in for another fill next week. i have minimal restriction and mostly when I drink too fast or too much at one time. My dr is very conservative with the fills, but promised he would be more aggressive this time. No I am not doing most of the "good" things that I should be doing. I am exercising a little and I drink tons of water, but I REALLY need to up the exercise and probably watch my food intake. Congratulations on your weight loss! 66 lbs is AWSOME in four months! I must admit I am a little jealous :wub: but keep up the good work! Hopefully this next fill will put me at the proper restriction! Thanks for your encouragement!

I called my doctor's office today. I have actually gained weight over the past few months rather than lost! I hve now had 3 fills and will go back in next week for another. The nurse (from the doctor's office) keeps telling me to eat less and exercise more. I do agree that I should take heed to her advice, but why did my insurance company pay them tens of thousands of dollars if I am doing ALL of the work. Again, I do respect and value exercise and healthy eating, but the band should STILL be doing something. I am a little disappointed in this new band. So far Inamed's Lap-Band is winning over REALIZE's band. I guess only time will tell.

I called my doctor's office today. I have actually gained weight over the past few months rather than lost! I hve now had 3 fills and will go back in next week for another. The nurse (from the doctor's office) keeps telling me to eat less and exercise more. I do agree that I should take heed to her advice, but why did my insurance company pay them tens of thousands of dollars if I am doing ALL of the work. Again, I do respect and value exercise and healthy eating, but the band should STILL be doing something. I am a little disappointed in this new band. So far Inamed's Lap-Band is winning over REALIZE's band. I guess only time will tell.

You can also call them and get them to mail you a copy of the policy. I had the surgery with BC/BS and my policy required me to be on a 6 month diet and have a BMI over 40 along with a psychiatric evaluation.