Lap Band ~ HELP!

I am soooo........ frustrated! I need to find a support group, but am limited on where I can go. I thought there was one at Norton's downtown....I can never find my way around Louisville and Dr Allen's office and Norton's are the only places I can actually get to without sending my blood pressure through the roof! Also, I would love to find out how others are doing with their weight loss and the band. I had my first fill on Dec 20 and still have no sensation of restriction at all! I have only lost 23 pounds and feel like it should be so much more. Please advise......

My surgeon's office has a support group meeting every month, but I don't think you'd want to come all the way into E'town.  The medical center in L'ville can be a nightmare to navigate. Have you asked your surgeon if there are meetings in other, easier to get to, locatons?

You don't feel any restriction because you are probably not restricted as yet.  Most of us feel that way.  You are just preparing yourself and building self control right now.  You will start feeling the restriction and you will start not feeling the hunger.  It takes time.  I know as I am just starting to feel restricted.  I believe if you continue as though you are restricted you will be happier in the long run and be well adjusted.  We are all in this together.  Don't take that 23 pounds lightly.  It is great and you will get it off.  I am one of six that had surgery together and our weight loss the first time we returned after surgery ranged from 30 to 15 lbs loss.  We all loss and we all are not the same size.  I loss the 15 and feel just as good as if I loss the 30.  It will come off if I keep following the directions given.  Lapband is slower than some other types of weight loss surgery. Take care, keep in touch, we are all pulling for each other. Zo,  Providence, KY

Lee Ann, The downtown meetings are normally the second Tuesday of the month.  Do you use the parking garage that's connected to the building where Dr. A's office is?  If so then you are so close to where the support meetings are that it isn't funny.  That garage connects to both the Norton's Pavillion (where the bariatric group is) and the Children's Foundation Building (where the surgeon's offices are).   If you went to your initial seminar downtown then the support meetings are in the same room in the basement. Sounds like your band experience so far is right on track (or so i'm told).  I had my surgery 4 days after yours and I'm sitting right at the 23 -25 pound mark too.  I'm due for my second fill next week and I haven't found restriction yet either.  I also feel ike I should be so much further along on the weight loss as well!  Keep the faith though, we are both early in our journey and i'm sure things will pick up for both of us after our next fills!

I have to say that I feel so much better knowing this isn't something else I have tried and failed at! I also went to the local YMCA and joined today! I have decided its time to try something else since my way obviously never worked or I wouldn't be in this situation! I walked on the treadmill for 45 min and felt great when I was done. There were other people there that were really going at it and at first I felt ashamed and embarassed that they were watching me. Then I realized that I was there for me...not them. I thought to myself,"Ok...so I am bigger than you...but we all have to start somewhere and if ya want to watch...go ahead and watch cause pretty soon you won't even believe I was ever the size I am now!"  This message board really inspires me when I feel low and for that I say thanks!

there is a support group meeting the fourth thursday of every month at suburban also.. Not sure if you want to drive that far but it is ALOT more band patients with all different kinds of losses. Alot of  the weight loss depends on the band size and the doctor from what i am seeing. I have the new AP BAND. and I have lost 45 to 50 pounds from surgery date on 9-14. But I was also a little to tight and didn't realize it.  Please don't get discouraged everyone looses differently but the end goal is the same.  Hope to see you at the meetings!! dawn