I still have not had my first fill!

[Cherie Murphy 22]

Will I be sorry?

Unfortunately I'm stationed at a base where the community has no sense of customer service! I have been going to the same Doctors office since January and I have never been seen at the appointed time or even close to the appointed. He has been late to two of my surgeries and my last appointment to get my first fill was changed the day before because he scheduled someone else's surgery. Today I'm in the office 30 minutes early for my first fill of the LapBand (which is suppose to happen 30 days after surgery and now its going to be 60 days!) and I over hear the receptionist rescheduling people on the phone... Saying the "doctor" is in surgery and won't be coming back to the office. After the third phone call I get up and ask if Dr Singh is running late! She proceeds to then tell me he won't be coming back in today! Okay so the Doctor you have been rescheduling for is the one that I have been waiting to see!!! Are you a complete MORON! Oh they call my name... maybe he came in... no....the nurse brings me back to the patient room and tells me I can see another Dr if I would like but they can NOT do the fill only Dr Singh can do that... Omg are you kidding me? I looked at her with complete disdain and said now why would I do that ...it's pointless! Nurse... Oh okay so you just want to reschedule? Really ?....what do you think? When is the next appointment ...next week! Okay how about you bump all the people tomorrow and give us (the people that have actually been waiting in the waiting room?) preference since you people can't get your act together and/or your so greedy you can't stop taking new patients! Totally frustrated!

I understand now why he was pressuring me to go gastric... No follow up! Luckily for me I have lost 18 pounds since being banded 6/20 with the largest band. Ive lost 38 pounds total since May 1st. I'm now questioning if I need a fill or not?

Since my next appointment is scheduled for 1:20 I asked the nurse if I can eat lunch and she said no problem? I thought I read on here you shouldn't eat before a fill? Correct?

[GoingforGoal 1,734]

Hi Cherie,

Sorry for your frustration. I remember military living and seemingly you have no to limited choice as to what happens when it comes to medical care. Needless to say, I would certainly throw a pitch with the doc and explain to him that your follow up is what will lead to your success or failure. Ask him what can be done in emergency situations where he has to go into surgery. Fills take no more than 15 mins and can be squeezed in for sure.

Fortunately you are still losing. Things to consider for a fill are: 1) are you losing weight? 2) are you satiated at least 3 hrs between meals? 3) are you not having any negative symptoms (stuck, gerd, eating too small of portions etc). As long as you answer yes to all of these a fill can be postponed. However, also consider that as time elapses (for the most part) the band restriction diminishes and it became increasingly harder to maintain your diet. Secondarily, when/if you feel the need to start fills you'll have prolonged your time to get to green. Most of us get our fills like clockwork every 4-6 weeks until we reach green. I hear stories of people who are equally frustrated because they are near a year out and still not at green because of doctor issues.

As for eating, I stop at least 1 hr before the surgery to ensure there is no food in my pouch which could cause increased pressure on the band. When you get your fill you want everything unaffected so that you can get a real sense of what restriction you have with no pressure on the band.

Good luck and great job on the wl so far!

[jsws91 153]

I just had my first fill last week, 9 weeks post op. I can definitely tell a difference now. my weight loss was stalled for about three weeks before. my doc was on vacation..

[Cherie Murphy 22]

Thank you for your replies. I am feeling satisfied between meals and so I'm good at that end. I started at 260 in January banded 6/20. I'm 5'9 and now weigh 222 this morning. I am anxious about getting the fill and maybe that added to the anxiety but I'm more pissed about the lack of customer service! I agree that with the LapBand follow up is the most important thing... I will have my fill next Wednesday and ill tell you all how it goes. My appointment is at 1:20 so ill eat my lunch around 11:00.