Gone4Good

I had my surgery May 14, 2010- Everything went great, and Dr. Groves was WONDERFUL- I really appreciated him coming in and praying before the surgery and being so supportive- I went in for my post-op 2 weeks after that. Up to that point, my weight-loss had been great. Dr. Groves said to come back in a months time. I go and check out, and get my appointment. Well, when I got home and looked, they had made it for 6 weeks instead. I called (thinking it was just an honest mistake) and they offered to move it up a week. Okay... But that is still longer that a month- So... As time went on, I could eat whatever I wanted, and was having to fight myself every day to keep from gaining weight. I called them back to try to move it up some more, but the lady said she could only move it up one day. Really? What would the point of that be exactly? She said the doctor was going to be out of the office until then- Well, then I get a phone call from my friend that uses that doctor- She had just got back from getting a fill- From this doctor that wasn't supposed to even be there. So apparently, they lied to me?? I wanted to call up there and be rude, but I thought better of it, and just waited my 5 weeks. When I finally got there for my fill, I had lost 1 pound. That really surprised me, since I figured I had gained some. Dr. Groves was as awesome as ever- He did my fill, and told me to come back in a month- When I get my appointment, I noticed it was for 6 weeks AGAIN! Are you kidding me?? So, I go back to the desk, and ask why not a month. She tells me that he is going to be out of the office the 2 weeks prior- SO, once again, I bite my tongue, smile, and leave. The next day, I called back up there, and asked them to move it (to the week before he was going to be out of the office) because my niece is having surgery the scheduled day. This lady was really nice, and moved it up a week for me. So... He ISN'T going to be out of the office? I'm either confused, or I've been lied to again- My view is this... I paid them a lot of money- My family sacrificed a ton for me to get this surgery- We sold our home, and moved in with my mom. My husband is now working 3 jobs to help pay for it, and this Dr's office is jerking me around, and waisting time- They were great at first. They got me into surgery super fast (and made sure to get my $15,500 even faster) And now that they have my money, they are making me sit at home and wait... I didn't have to wait to pay, but I have to wait for a fill?? And wait and wait.... You get the point!~ It's very frustrating to have my family looking at me like I'm doing something wrong because I'm not losing any weight, and then have this Dr's office make me wait longer that necessary to get my fills- I don't go back for another fill until August 13- I can already tell that I need another one- I stay full longer than I did before, but I don't get full any faster. I am tired of playing the waiting game here. What would be the harm in getting my fill sooner? Today has been a week- So next Friday, would seem to me, like a reasonable time to get another one- I dunno.... Dr. Groves is the bomb- I just don't appreciate this over waiting (it just leads to MORE over eating)

Yes. They got a new staff. I told Amy about how I was treated and she pointed out that they had replaced a lot of their staff, and that they weren't aware of how the former staff had been doing. I LOVE Amy. She is great. They all are, but she is my favorite! Good luck with your weight loss!!

Thank you for responding. It worries me that it took you a year to start losing. I only have a year that I can go before I have to start paying for every visit- That's the deal when you pay instead of using insurance. Its $15,500 and that covers everything for a year- Its called "The Fast Track" I was told I would lose 80% of my weight in the first year- Of course, I am doing really good I think. 30 pounds so far- I got stuck at the same weight for about 4 weeks after my first fill, but the last week, I've dropped a few pounds. I really love my LB, and I love Dr. Groves and the people there. It just boiled my blood to know they lied to me. And if the 6 week thing is their guide lines, then Dr. Groves needs to start saying "See you in 6 weeks!" instead of "See you in a month!" cause when he says he wants to see me in a month, that's what I expect- Lol- Paitence.... I need some- :thumbup:)

No I haven't- Honestly, I was pretty mad when I wrote this. Had I calmed down, I probably wouldn't have- It still aggravates me that they lied, but when I go, they are all so nice, I don't want to say anything rude to them. And Doc Groves is usually in a hurry, and so stunningly handsome, I forget any questions or issues I may have. I'm just going to chill out, and wait my 5-6 weeks. I know the pounds will come off eventually. The thrill of losing weight, and knowing another fill could maybe speed it along, makes it hard to sit and wait. Especially since it's longer than the doctor ask me to- But, Now that I have calmed down, I'm really not worried about it. Thanks to everyone that responded to my post-

I know it won't do all of the work- I'm not expecting it to- From what I was told at my nutritionist meeting, I should feel full after 1 cup of food, and that should keep me full at least 4 hours. If the band isn't tight enough, some of the food will go through, and I won't feel full as soon. I'm just now getting used to the band. I am SUPER far from an expert, and I really appreciate your advice, and wisdom on the subject. All I know, is what I was told by the Dr's office. And they said I should feel full sooner, when my band is filled enough. I don't expect it to be full enough yet, because I have only had one fill. What has me aggravated is the way they do their appointments, and the fact that they are not being honest with me about not being able to get me in any sooner. To tell me they can't get me in sooner because the doctor isn't going to be there, and then have a friend go and see the doctor, is irritating as hell. I paid them too much to have them lie to me. I hate a liar anyhow. One that I paid to help me is even worse. The band is working as good as I could expect it to at this point. And I want to stress again (to anyone that may read this that is wanting to use Dr. Groves) He is awesome. Definitely use him! I wouldn't change doctors for anything. Even shorter wait times!

Thanks a lot for the advice- Mine seems to be working better now. Either that, or its getting easier.

Yeah- That sucks! Did you ever get through? My weight loss has improved the last week or so, but only from sheer will power- I am down to 214, so I guess I should be happy- I just want my fill, so it won't be quiet as hard!! I absolutely love my doctor- Just not the appointment making his office does! Lol-

My doctor didn't numb mine at all, and it didn't hurt any- I could see it filling up on the x-ray machine, but I couldn't feel any difference. 2 months is absolutely absurd! As long as we've waited to get this surgery, do they really think we want to wait any longer that necessary to get it working at it's best? I don't get it!!

Hey yall- How is everyone doing with their weight loss?? I had my first fill last Friday (July 2)- I have no idea how much he put in- He didn't say, and I didn't ask. I figure there's no need in worrying about how much is in it, as long as it's working. So far, I have gone from 240 to 217- I lost most of that the first week- Only 1 pound the month after that, and 5-ish pounds since my fill. Since my fill, I have noticed that I can stay full longer- I don't get full any faster though, and that is bothering me a little- It's mainly will power that's keeping me from eating everything in the house, and I doubt it will hold up much longer. I don't go back for another fill until August 13- They're really making me mad about procrastinating with my fills- The doctor tells me to come back in a month, and the secretary makes my appointment for 6 weeks instead. I know I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, but where I'm from, a month is 4 weeks! Then when I ask about it, they say the doctor is going to be out of the office the 2 weeks prior- Well, why not move it UP a week instead of pushing it back?? Then, I call the next day with some excuse as to why I can't come in the scheduled day, and they move it up a week (Yes... the week that the doctor is supposedly going to be out of the office) I just paid these people $15,500, and I feel like they are jerking me around. They were all about getting me into surgery quick, fast, and in a hurry, but now that they have my money, they want to make me wait forever between my fills- They know I'm only paid for a year, so why are they bullshitting with me?? So yeah... I'm really not happy with that AT ALL!! But- I am trying to bite my tongue, and be happy that it's kind-of working now. I've been exercising quiet a bit here lately- Got my Ab Circle Pro out of storage, and my exercise bike- We can't afford a gym membership right now, so I've just been doing it here at home. How is everyone else doing??

It would be much easier if I felt any restriction. Today is my one week mark, and I feel like I could eat a normal portion without any problem. I'm supposed to drink 3-4oz of a protein shake 3 times a day- I can easily drink almost twice that much without feeling full. Then, I am hungry again in no time- I'm going to call my doctor about it Monday- I shouldn't be able to take this much in at a time- If I wasn't hungry, I wouldn't be having such a hard time with it. And if I had the will power not to eat on my own, I wouldn't have needed the band to begin with! Can't wait to get a fill-

Man- I am having a really hard sticking to this liquid diet!! All I want to do is eat. I am home alone, with a kitchen full of cookies, ice cream, chicken fingers, fries, and loads of other sweet and fried goodness- I had to sell my home to be able to afford the band, so I live with my mom. I can't expect everyone in the house to suffer, just because I have to- But it's super hard to be here with all of this food! So far, the only cheat I've done is having a spoon of sugar free ice cream. Not too bad, but I'm only one week down. I have to survive a whole nother week of this!! Plus endure a birthday party, and grocery shopping! I want to go crazy, and eat everything I see. This is HELL!!!

You use the first code on there- bb code or something like that- Then, when you go to your user cp, and edit signature, you just have to paste the code in there. If there are too many lines, it won't let you do it, so preview it before you save it.

I have been feeling hungry the last two days. Had my surgery Friday- I don't know if he used a larger band on me or what, but the Jello just isn't cutting it. The nutritionist told me, and the lady in the class with me, not to eat yogurt during the first 2 weeks, but I had to- broth makes me want to throw up. I get so nauseated when I smell it- So I had to have something with some nutritional value. The yogurt seems to be doing fine, but I still feel hungry again within a couple of hours. I can definitely tell that I am going to need a fill when the time comes!!

So have I- It feels like I am hungry, but when I try to eat, I can't. Then I'll finally burp, and feel better. I will be glad when the gas is gone. I hate not knowing what by body is telling me it needs-

So glad I'm not the only one~

Well, I don't know how I got so confused, but I got my book out tonight, and was looking through it. I only have to do 2 weeks of clear liquids, then I can do soft foods. I was thinking 2 weeks of clear, 2 weeks of thicker liquids, a week of soft foods, then normal food. I am SO glad I looked at it. Makes it a load easier to face it.

I wish I knew too- I can't have soft foods until week 5- Then solids at week 6. I honestly don't know if I will make it that long. I don't have any energy-

I've had diarrhea the last couple of days- I just assume that since liquids is all that's going in, that's all that will come out too- I'm just glad it's not to where I would have to push it out! Lol- That would suck! I'm feeling weak today- I am going to try and get more fluids- More chicken broth instead of all Jello and pop sickles. I just don't know how it is okay to go a month with nothing but a bit of broth to live on. I can't even have protein shakes for a few weeks still- My mom cooked a burger today- It was torturous. I can still smell it- She asked if it was alright, and I said yes. The world isn't going to do me any favors, so I figure I may as well get used to it now. I am worried that when I get to where I can eat solid foods again, I am going to go right back to the bad choices. All I think about is what I am going to eat once I can again. I hope the band will help control some of that- Or my strength and determination come back before then. Right now, I dunno- I knew this was going to be hard. I just didn't realize HOW hard. I'm only 3 days in, and I already want to cave and eat. I have a 5 weeks of liquids left to go- I hope I can make it-

I'm glad I'm not the only one- I was starting to worry! I had to take a pain pill walla go- I wasn't hurting really, but where my port is felt like it was pulling- I think maybe I over did it walking, so I'm going to slow it down a bit. I know they say the first month is about healing, not losing weight, but I am SO ready to get started exercising! Still gonna walk, just not up hill like I did today (It was a small hill, but still)

Man- That sounds delish ) Sounds like you're doing awesome- 32 pounds lighter!! Do you feel any different yet? Hopefully, you won't have to worry about taking BP pills for much longer- Loosing weight should get rid of that issue~ Sure hope it does for mine!! The protein shakes are nasty, but, to me, they are better if I mix them with Milk- I hear the "Elvis shake" is really good- I haven't tried it myself- You mix vanilla protein shake with yogurt, honey, peanut butter, half of a banana, milk, and ice- Blend it up, and it's SUPPOSED to be awesome- I don't know the exact measurements, but I can find them for you if you want- Good luck with your new life- Keep us posted!!!

I got to the hospital Friday around 9am- Had my surgery at 10:30, and left there just after 6pm- I could have left a little earlier, but I got nauseous, and they gave me something for it. I couldn't leave for 2 hours after that- I have noticed that I can feel my stomach more today- I feel hungry, but full at the same time. It's weird, and I don't know how to handle it. If I don't eat (drink actually) then the feeling stays, and if I do, I feel over full even though I only drank a bit- I'm sure it will get easier as I learn what all of these feelings mean. Right now, I just don't know what my body is telling me- Regardless, I just weighed, and I am at 226 already!! I can't believe how fast it's coming off!! I totally understand what yall are saying about the comfort of food not being there. Having the band doesn't make the urge and want to eat go away. My son had pizza for lunch, and I wanted it SO bad- It's all part of battling the addiction- It's not going to be easy, but it IS going to be worth it!!!! I work at a kitchen of all places! LoL- Talk about torture! We cook for senior citizens, and then deliver the food to senior centers. I worked in the kitchen for 4 years, but the last year, I have been in the supply room counting out stuff for the centers. So, basically, I am locked in a room with all of the potato chips, and Little Debbie cakes I could eat! It's going to be tough to go in there and sip on broth while everyone else is eating burgers and drinking sweet tea and chocolate milk!! I could probably go back tomorrow, but I am going to wait a few more days. Just to be safe ) Alrighty- Time for a walk- Talk to yall later )

Thank you ) I freaked out before the surgery. So much so, that I almost backed out (I didn't tell anyone how freaked out I actually was) BUT, it was all for nothing. The worse part was how dry my mouth was. Definitely take some chap stick! The gas pains are not nice, but really aren't that bad. The more you can walk, the better! Since I've been home, I've only had to take one of my pain pills. I've only had one bout of nausea, and the more the day goes on, the easier it is to move- I even slept on my stomach last night!! So- Don't let it freak you out too bad. It's no walk in the park, but it's not near as bad as I had my self believing it was going to be! Good luck!!!

Hey yall- I had my surgery Friday, and I can finally sit in front of the computer without it hurting me :redface:) Everything went smooth, but when I woke up, my mouth was so dry I wanted to vomit. The nurse gave me some ice chips, but that really didn't help any, and after about 4, I felt too ful to have any more. Gas pains have been my biggest obstical. They flippin SUCK! Lol- I weighed this morning, and I'm down to 228 (from 240 last Thursday) Not bad huh? Woke up this morning with my first hunger pains. Either that, or I needed Water. Is anyone else having a hard time getting their bladder to empty? I have to sit there and fight mine. Never had this problem with any other surgery, so I dunno :smile2:/ Anyhoo- Hope everyone else is doing well! We are all on our way now!!! Yippee!!! )

Hey yall- I had my surgery Friday, and I can finally sit in front of the computer without it hurting me :redface:) Everything went smooth, but when I woke up, my mouth was so dry I wanted to vomit. The nurse gave me some ice chips, but that really didn't help any, and after about 4, I felt too ful to have any more. Gas pains have been my biggest obstical. They flippin SUCK! Lol- I weighed this morning, and I'm down to 228 (from 240 last Thursday) Not bad huh? Woke up this morning with my first hunger pains. Either that, or I needed water. Is anyone else having a hard time getting their bladder to empty? I have to sit there and fight mine. Never had this problem with any other surgery, so I dunno :smile2:/ Anyhoo- Hope everyone else is doing well!