Help...or maybe just a smack upside the head...

I have had my surgery for over 2 years. I lost 80 pounds in the first six month....and now nothing.... My original surgeon was insulting and demeaning. Basically, he made me feel like if I wasn't going to be one of his poster girls for success than he could berate me into losing weight. Well, anyone who has self esteem issues knows that being berated just leads you to the refrigerator.

So I found a new doctor about a year and a half ago. He was nice. Helped me realize that I needed some therapy to help me understand why I set myself up to fail. Then he retired. And I've been without a doctor for about a year. I have been working with a therapist and definitely improving and getting more confident...and therefore making better choices.

Here is my quandary: for the past year I've had days where I could feel the restriction properly, eat small portions, doing well. And then suddenly, I will go for 3-4 days where nothing goes down. I've had to resort to smoothies or carnation instant breakfast just to get enough calories to not faint...and even then I have to take small sips. Then just as suddenly, the next day, I can wolf down a 6 inch sub sandwich from Subway as if the Lap Band doesn't exist. I don't get it. I have tried the hot liquids to relax the banded area but sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

SO I'm looking for two pieces of advice:

1. Has anybody had this on again/off again issue since being banded and if so, can anybody explain why?? Maybe if I can understand the physiology I can react better.

2. Anybody know of a support post surgery doc in the Houston/Katy area that will take on a patient who already has had surgery?

Thanks for help.

Judi

Firstly I want to thank you for affirming that I made the right decision NOT to use Dr. Spiegel!! You might try Dr. Spivak's office to see if he will take your case. I'm not sure what his position is in that regard, but he is the sweetest man and very understanding and encouraging.

I've had my share of too tight/too loose issues too....but not so much the on again/off again situation like yours. The two things I KNOW will make my band tighter in the wink of an eye is STRESS and IRRITATION of the stoma. Stress I don't need to explain. Irritation you probably understand.... if I've gotten stuck on something earlier, or the day before, my band may seem tighter for a couple of days afterwards.

Not that you asked for it, but my suggestion is that you have just a smidgen taken out...maybe 0.1 or 0.2cc.

Good luck to you!!

I haven't had these problems but I wonder why you would have a 6" sub. That's a theray issue but I wondered of you for about a week only ate meals in the proper portion (about 1/2c) if you might not find more success. I would think that when you over eat the pouch swells and then you need liquids to let it heal and you are just repeating this cycle over and over again. BElieve me I know how hard it is when you eat for emotional reasons. Did it for years. Just don't present yourself with things and amounts you shouldn't have. Particularly quanity. If you need to indulge and we all do, then just choose something like a kiss or whatever and be sure to by the smallest and not store it if you can't walk away from it and forget about it. I hope you find a good doc and keep going to theray but try to find a wls support group as well. Sometimes only people who've walked in your shoes can really understand.Good Luck to you. I hope things go better from here.

Well, why I ate a 6 inch is sub is a good question...both for therapy but also for understanding. I split the sub into 3's. Ate the first one...was still hungry...ate the 2nd part...and an hour later ate the 3rd part. Never felt any restriction. Now I understand psychologically, I should have made better choice. But if I didn't have self control issues, I never would have ballooned to this size.

But point taken, perhaps I'm damaging the pouch and then can only handle liquids until it is healed. I'll give that some thought.

Hi MizJudie
I am using Dr. Garth Davis in the medical center and he is awesome. If you need more info just pm me. You could just give them a call and ask them about taking you on. Good Luck!!!