karenlynn79

Huh, that's really weird, I couldn't find that to see what they said. Gail (Dr. Altschuler) is super quick on email and her office person Cathy is busy but gets back to people asap, so that's really surprising. Maybe they called an old number?? Not sure. The # I have is 415-897-9800

Great Michele, you won't regret it, she really is an excellent doctor!

Yes, I know I should! Just too busy I guess, like a lot of long-time bandsters so used to the band don't really even think about it! No Dr. Altschuler does not use Fluoro. She was trained down at the OCC years ago and she's really good "blind". I'd only had OCC-fills before her so I was kind of nervous, but she's cautious and makes you drink icy cold water, you can really feel the pause, then trickle, and get a sense of how tight you are with that. I am not 100% sure what she'll be charging now that FCUSA isn't around, so I don't want to put anything out there. It's about what everyone else charges, I think, though the other SF Bay Area docs charge WAY more because you're a "Mexico" patient.... =)

I just started a new topic re: a WONDERFUL Northern/Central CA fill doctor Gail Altschuler in Novato- she was with FCUSA but obviously not now. (they also didn't pay the docs for August and September fills BTW). Anyone who needs a fill in this area, I would recommend her 100% (I drive 2 hours to see her).

Hello, I don't get on this forum, but I am a long-time bandster (successful, though still going after 10 more pounds!). With FCUSA closing, I wanted to put my fill doc's info up here because she is WONDERFUL. Dr. Gail Altschuler has a clinic in Novato (and sometimes San Rafael I think), her practice is called The Altschuler Clinic for Weight Loss. She does a lot of different things, fills is just one of them. She's very much a global, whole-picture kind of fill doc, it's not just all about fills and restriction. She spends a lot of time with people and is very personable, fun and I trust her. I used to go back to OCC for fills but found Gail about 2.5 years ago and have been going to her since. I have a touchy band, it takes nothing to get me super tight out of the blue, and she's been super patient and helpful, letting me come in on a moment's notice if needed. I'm going to be writing an official testimonial for her website soon, but wanted to put it out there for anyone interested. Good luck to all!

Karen

Hi all I don't post often anymore but this has been a long time coming. I've been putting off posting an update trying to make my F%$&* goal! But it hasn't happened yet. Short version for those who don't know me: banded Sept '06; got pregnant July '07, was 250lbs had my daughter; now at 160... been around 160 for a YEAR!! ah! So annoying! Last Xmas 08 I had my band tightened up on me from stress and since then it's been up and down. I've had so many fills and unfills I can no longer remember them all. Right now I am at an OK level but not losing so it's hard to stay positive! I started a job in July (hadn't worked in 2 years) so that is new stress that I am coping with. I have been really trying the past week and lost 0lbs but I didn't lose hope for once! Usually I spiral down and just give up when I don't lose but not this time! I am fitting in some size 8's, mostly 10's. My goal is to be a small 8 and I have tons of pants that I WILL fit in to damn it! None of my family has known about my band, I've experienced it all over the past 3.5 years. I can say that if I never was banded I might be closer to 300lbs now so I will never regret it! I have a local fill doc through Fill Centers who I really like though they are blind fills so I think that's been part my tricky fill level problem. Oh and most of you probably don't know - I had a breast lift with augmentation last March and an extended TT last April which is why my tummy looks so flat in my last pic!! Best thing I ever did (besides banding). Anyway I am posting this to encourage myself to not give up again!!! What's crazy is that I was about 8lbs lighter than now and I got depressed! and started gaining. I think a huge issue with me is that if I meet my goal then what will I strive for? And second I don't know how to have a normal food relationship! I can gain and I can lose but I cannot just co-exist with food. So resolving those 2 issues are my focus now. I love to read everyone's posts and I don't often respond but I've been there and you all are doing great!

Karen

I had a breast lift and augmentation with Dr. Quiroz at Cosmed and they look fabulous and he gave me exactly what I wanted. I would recommend them definitely.

Hi all,

My sister has the band too, and lives in San Francisco. She's never found a doc in SF who will see patients who were banded in Mexico, and has gone to the OCC for fills. At this point she's really wanting to find someone local.

Let me know if anyone has any suggestions - thanks!!

Susan

The Novato Fill Centers USA Dr- Dr. Altschuler is great. I have been going to her for a while and I highly recommend her.

Karen

With me rice ALWAYS gets stuck so does bread. I can usually eat chicken in soups but protein any other way usually gets stuck. I pretty much live on soups, salads and protein shakes and i have NO FILL! I also notice if i eat too late, like right before bed, the next morning I can't even get coffee down. But if I stop eating at least 3 hours before bed, I have no problems the next day.

I have had my band over a year and it has tightened so many times that now I swell just if one thing gets stuck. That's why I have no fill. Plus I am at my goal. The and is not easy by any means. But, I have lost 120 lbs and have maintained it without a fill. Its the best thing I ever did for myself! You wont regret it!

Hey Lisa I thought I had 0 recently too and went for a fill; I actually still had .6. Sometimes there is a little that stays in there so you might actually have a little bit. I am glad to hear you are doing better now. Sounds like you did irritate it and you're doing the right thing.....

Hey everyone.. Its been a long time since I've been on here, but knew this would be the place to go for support! I was banded just about a year ago. And have had a 50lb weight loss.. but still have another 70 to go. I have neglected my poor band for awhile now, and recently have gained back about 7 hard lost pounds. So, I'm not going to stand it anymore.. its time to get back on track! I still have some restriction, but certainly can pretty much eat anything with the exception of bread (its never gone down) So here I am, and now that I think about it.. I think I need a refresher course on my band!!!! Hope everyone is well.. take care j. (btw.. I love my band, I've just ignored it lately)

That's great! I am in a similar boat, been trying to lose the last lbs forever!!! I don't have much restriction either but I do check on here once in a while just for a boost on bandster life... good luck!

I would like to add that my suggestion (as a mental health prof) is that even if your husband does not want to attend therapy - go yourself!

Hi Stephanie,

I am a long-time bandster and I had my daughter 19 months ago (wow) and since then I have been all over the place with fills, and I wasn't before her. I used to be at 2 or 2.2 ccs; now even with .8ccs I've tightened to where I can't eat. I have been at zero for a while and I am battling maintaining and/or losing at this point. I don't know if the baby thing factors in, but it seemed to with me at least. Since last Xmas I have had so many fills and unfills I am not sure if my signature even covers them! I would agree with Pammie that you should get a small unfill. You don't want to wait it out like I always did and end up with an emergency (like 4 for me I think) where you can barely drink.... good luck

Karen

Carrie when I weighed less than my husband I was sooo happy!! Now I am like 25 lbs less than him!! Ha! I have been stuck at this weight since March now so you do have to appreciate the NSVs more. You are doing great!

Karen

Hi Nicole,

I haven't been on the forum for weeks and I just saw, I am so glad you are ok! After the hell you've been through I am sure you are feeling so much better now! Definitely keep in touch on here!!

Karen

Sabrina,

Trust me, I feel your pain. I've been unfilled completely for weeks. I do still have restriction which is scary yet good. My secret is to keep exercising and I LIVE off of the "Eat This, Not That" books. I seriously think everyone on earth should have the books. There are 4 now I haven't got the newest yet but I read through them at each meal. I also am enjoying fruits and veggies that I couldn't eat with a fill. I've had some bad days for sure, gained like 5 lbs in the first week! But I am back down 6 lbs since so I am still going down. Good luck! Just pretend you have a fill!

Karen

Hey Nicole, I have been on the board for a while as I just started a new job but oh my gosh! So you know how you and I always seemed to be too tight together? I had ONE fill on May 5th and have had 3 unfills since. July 23rd I had to have it all taken out. I haven't posted because I don't want to scare people! It's so weird. Now I have gained a few lbs back but for the most part all day it still feels like I have a medium fill. I have PB'd twice since the total unfill and often get food stuck. What the heck?? I am so glad that you are ok! I hope the liquid diet does the trick for you. I have been trying hard not to overeat in the evenings as that is when I am looser of course. I didn't realize they could "squeeze" out more cc's than you thought you had. Maybe I do have a little left. I am so glad that you did not have a slip. Hang in there!!!! How crazy that we are both so close to goal and this keeps happening? I wonder why???

Karen

OCC says 4 weeks; I had a scheduled cesarean too and I was ready at 4 weeks and did great. I did not breastfeed but you need to consider that too....

Good luck

So, I was banded my Dr O in September 08. I have had a great lapband experience. Almost to goal, give or take a few pounds. Had seriously tried to get pregnant for the past 2 years with no luck. I do have an 11 and 10 year old, but wanted just ONE more. So, I decided that it just wasn't meant to be and made an appt to go back on birth control. Suddenly, I was a few days late.... .....then just found out that I am pregnant. I have been reading the past posts about pregnancy and the lap band. Just have some questions if anyone can help. Any advice is welcome!

1. Did you have to get unfilled? I am at 2cc which is my SWEET SPOT and I don't really eat that much. Have been feeling it loosening lately and was thinking of going for a fill before I found out about being pregnant.

2. How many calories are you (or did you) aiming for daily?

3. Did you OB FREAK out? I am not looking forward to that conversation. I KNOW how some doctors can be.....

4. Lastly, I am sort of stressed about overeating. I truly do not want to gain back all of this weight. I know that sounds selfish, but I want to come out of this with a healthy baby and not another 60 lbs to loose. You know what I mean????

Thanks everyone for your help.....

Congrats!! First my OB was cool. She wanted me totally unfilled and to gain 30lbs. I have heard from several others though that they are advised to gain 15-20 lbs which is totally reasonable. I didn't worry about calories just tried to eat healthy overall. You need to take a deep breath and realize you HAVE to gain weight and seriously within 1 month I was down 20 lbs with no effort whatsoever. So really it's not going to be starting over at all, just the small amount of baby weight. You'll definitely need to get unfilled maybe not all the way but some so that you can eat salads and fruits and veggies and that stuff for the baby...

Good luck and congrats again!

Karen

I just stood on the scale on a whim and fully clothed, mid day I am 249lbs!!! I haven't been below 250 for 8 years and even then it was short lived! I'm supposed to have another fill next week but I don't think I need it.

People are really starting to notice my weight loss too and I feel great!

Louise

That's awesome Louise!! Congrats and keep up the hard work!

As some of you are aware I've had multiple unfills after my band has tightened almost always due to stress. Last week I could eat quite a bit and was planning a fill after the 4th as I am going on vacay. Well come Father's Day, out of nowhere I get super carsick and threw up really badly. Since then I have been very tight. Tonight I am eating a little but for the most part I've been unable to eat solids all week. Plus side I've lost 5 lbs this week-- but at a price that I am not comfortable with! So I am off to my local Fill Center Tues a.m. for an unfill AGAIN!!! I am still hoping it'll calm down. If I wasn't going on vacation 1st-6th I wouldn't do it but I'll be with a huge crowd of friends and fam and no one knows about my band. I am at the point where I couldn't hide it. So I am sure after that I'll need a fill. I am so close to goal this is so frustrating!! But I am at the point where I need to be able to eat fruits and veggies and as of now it's impossible. I am always amazed by those of you whose bands tighten and then relax on their own. I've never had that happen. This will be the 3rd time it's tightened on me and the past 2 it didn't relax but I am still hoping......

I have heard many of you mention the P90X workout DVDs. What are they? How are you finding them? Do you need equipment at home or it is just yourself? I really need to add strength training to my cardio routine and work on my last very stubborn pounds and I am wondering if this is something I should try?

Karen

I'm 4 days from my surgery and I ate. I mean- I didn't have my shakes for a whole day- and I really ate. (Stupid STUPID GIRL)

I know the point of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver as well as to lose weight for the op- so will I have disqualified myself for surgery as the liver will (maybe) now not be small??

Oh I'm freaking out they're gonna turn me away on friday!!

help!

I've never heard of anyone being turned away because of not losing their whole pre-op weight amount. I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck.

I am getting ready for my journey to have my tummy tuck and lipo done. And my question is to those who have had it done, did the doctor make you get unfilled before the surgery or was it a personal decission to have an unfill. And how long did they tell you it was ok to get youre fill back. Thanks for all youre help in advance.

Hey Denise,

I didn't have great restriction before my surgeries. I actually asked to get a fill BEFORE my surgeries because I knew I'd be sitting on my butt at home bored = eating. They said NO! If you have tight restriction I might get an unfill a little at least. I had a couple days where I felt naseaus and it was awful. You don't want to irritate the band if you get sick from the meds. Good luck!!!!

Karen

That is a common issue I think. I have heard from 2 docs to stop eating 20-30 min after you start. This includes how slow we have to eat. But I am so with you on sometimes trying for longer. Personally I usually eat several bites and then wait a while and then eat some more. Especially if I didn't get much to eat throughout the day for whatever reason. Some days if I do stop I do finish the meal hours later. Or not. It just really depends. I think just listen to your body. But I wouldn't make a habit of sitting for 40 min and trying to get down more food if you don't want/need it right then. That's kind of the point of the band. Maybe try a little smaller of bites? That way you can get more in before 20/30 min and you might not get hungry too soon?

Karen

p.s. your avatar pic looks great!

I am looking for a good fill dr near the central valley IE. Bakersfield and Fresno that doesn't cost an arm and leg to get filled? I have been quoted around 350-400 from most doctors, which is way too high especially the fact that they are blind fills. If you can please help it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

Fills centers USA has a new one in Novato. The fill doc is great I really liked her. It's 350 the first visit and then 165 after so in the long run it's cheaper than flying to OCC from NorCal.