Feeling really discouraged

[Ninababy 5]

I had my first fill.. the fill NP was "new" and I think fearful of filling me much.. Long story short.. I only got 1 CC in I feel nothing.. My next fill is in a Month and they expect 10 pounds down...

My Doctor comes in and sternly gives me the "we gotta get serious" speech I have only lost 7 pounds since my banding 6 weeks ago and 20 since preop.

The point is... It was such a negative experience and I have lost all faith in this band... I just don't think I am going to be successful.. and feel really discouraged.

Wonder if anyone successful has been through anything similar? Just pretty down today I need a ray of hope...

[skinnygirl 1]

You have only had your band a month and your ready to give up. 1 cc of saline is not going to do anything it takes many fills before good restriction. The first months are up to you to do your part. You must have some control because the band is only a tool. The amount youve lost is great! Less than you wieghed before. I have 5 cc in my band and its time for a fill thursday. I have been starving for three weeks but we have to stay strong. After you lose weight the band will lossen and you will be starving agian. hopefully in the end we will not be as hungry. anyway sorry bout the lecture but someone gave be one during the first weeks I felt like a failure.good luck

[Ninababy 5]

No really thanks.. this is why I posted.. I need some perspective.. I just feel so down about it.... only other "bandsters" can relate to this ... and I need to hear what they are saying..

[KikiVal315 4]

it's true, you have to do your part. :cool: way back when i started my journey, it took about 4-5 fills for me to get to my sweet spot and have great restriction. you're doing good so far congrats, keep it up, and there will be days when you feel like, why the heck did i get this done? its all for an awesome cause, right...our health. keeping in touch with other bandsters or just to be on here reading, helps in keeping up my motivation. im sure it'll do the same for you:wink2:

[Cleo's Mom 257]

I had my first fill.. the fill NP was "new" and I think fearful of filling me much.. Long story short.. I only got 1 CC in I feel nothing.. My next fill is in a Month and they expect 10 pounds down...

My Doctor comes in and sternly gives me the "we gotta get serious" speech I have only lost 7 pounds since my banding 6 weeks ago and 20 since preop.

The point is... It was such a negative experience and I have lost all faith in this band... I just don't think I am going to be successful.. and feel really discouraged.

Wonder if anyone successful has been through anything similar? Just pretty down today I need a ray of hope...

Tell your doctor that you'll get serious when he gets you to your sweet spot. That is his job. If you wanted to starve and use will power you wouldn't need the band, you'd just go on yet another diet. His having unrealistic expectations for weight loss when you only have one cc is not fair to you. Are you sure you don't have my former doctor? I got the come to Jesus talk. I finally left and found another doctor. Best move I made. My new doctor was thrilled with my weight loss and very encouraging.

[Libbyjane1976 1]

Wow are you serious??? That is extremely unrealistic expectations that your doctor has of you. The whole purpose of getting lapband in the 1st place is that you are expected to lose only 1-2 lbs a week. 7 lbs in 6 weeks is actually the average. The most i've ever lost in 1 month is 8 lbs (2 lbs a week) and that average only lasted about 4 months before that slowed down.

Don't let your doctor's unreal expectations discourage you. Are there other LB doctors in your area that you can start seeing? I would definitely change doctors.

Granted we do have to "do our parts" but still for him to expect you to lose 10 lbs a month? That is very unrealistic. Good luck to you and DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!! It is worth it to regain your health and your life back!!!

[LeighaMason 19]

I didn't lose hardly anything until I started getting fills then I started with the 2 pounds a week. Keep working and don't give up.

Measure yourself. Even when you are not losing weight this can help you see reality. I took my measurements this morning. I have "only" lost 4 pounds since May 23 but that 4 pounds has taken an inch off my waist, an inch off my hips, and inch off my boobs:mad2: and an inch off each thigh (they no longer touch!). That is a huge improvement but if all I was looking at is the 4 pounds in 9 weeks I would feel bad.

How are you doing with eating and exercising? I found that it was helpful for me, at the end of each week, to look at what I was doing and then I tweaked it for the next week to include or exclude something. This helped give me continual improvement, one change at a time so I wasn't overwhelmed by trying to change my whole life at once.

[Ninababy 5]

Thank you He is very pro gastric bypass and he was not happy with my decision to banded. But I really felt it was the right way for me. Its my body and my journey There is another doctor in the group who is the band expert. And I wonder if I should go with her. He is a great surgeon but perhaps not as positive about the band. That is good advise to re think my doctor.

I really needed the encouragement. You all are wonderful.

[Libbyjane1976 1]

Thank you He is very pro gastric bypass and he was not happy with my decision to banded. But I really felt it was the right way for me. Its my body and my journey There is another doctor in the group who is the band expert. And I wonder if I should go with her. He is a great surgeon but perhaps not as positive about the band. That is good advise to re think my doctor.

I really needed the encouragement. You all are wonderful.

I would DEFINITELY switch over to the lb doctor! That explains why your doctor expects you to lose so much in 1 month.

For a lapbander you are definitely on track with your weight loss as anybody else in your shoes. So DO NOT get discouraged!!!! Your doctor has expectations that are realistic with a gastric bypass patient. Keep up the good work.

[Cleo's Mom 257]

Thank you He is very pro gastric bypass and he was not happy with my decision to banded. But I really felt it was the right way for me. Its my body and my journey There is another doctor in the group who is the band expert. And I wonder if I should go with her. He is a great surgeon but perhaps not as positive about the band. That is good advise to re think my doctor.

I really needed the encouragement. You all are wonderful.

Yes, switch to the LB doctor. He is used to seeing bigger weight loss with the bypass. He has unrealistic expectations of you. I sometimes think that with the big egos doctors have they take your weight loss as a victory (or failure) of themselves. And if you don't lose enough weight then they blame you.

My doctor wanted me to lose 10-15 lbs in three weeks after my surgery and before my first fill and I had already lost 60 lbs. on my own and with all the pre and post op dieting. I sometimes think these doctors took speed courses in the surgery itself to get on the lucrative bandwagon of WLS but don't know anything about proper follow up. Good luck.

[Libbyjane1976 1]

My doctor wanted me to lose 10-15 lbs in three weeks after my surgery and before my first fill and I had already lost 60 lbs. on my own and with all the pre and post op dieting. I sometimes think these doctors took speed courses in the surgery itself to get on the lucrative bandwagon of WLS but don't know anything about proper follow up. Good luck.

OMG are you serious??? That period of time is known as "bandster hell" and he expected you to lose 10-15 lbs??? wow. insane!!!

[bambam31 168]

ninababy,

I posted this recently... it might be relevant to your situation.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/how-soon-did-you-start-lose-weight-after-surgery-118334/#post1495432

Good Luck and keep your spirits up! I think your doc is expecting the results of a bypass patient at this stage post op, rather than a band patient.

Brad