Donna113

I don't know why people have abortions, I assume the reasons are as varied as the people. I can't imagine it's easy for anyone who goes through it just as it's difficult for people to go through with an unwanted pregnancy.

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I don't know if one is "led" or if one is simply more "receptive" because one is ready to hear the message. Either way, if one is considering the surgery, then it's definitely time to do something to make the necessary changes in your life to regain control of your health and ultimately your life.

If he doesn't care whether you are being satisfied, then trust me, he's not a keeper. This will prevail to other areas of your lives.

You can go through True Results and several doctors including Spival and Spiegel are on their list or you can choose a doctor and go through the doctor's office. I chose Dr. Spivak and True Results was one of the places he happened to perform his surgeries. Depending on the date, it could just as easily have been at another hospital based on which hospital he was scheduled for that date. Dr. Spivak has a support group that meets at his office on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month and there are several other support groups throughout the Houston area. I have been to the support group at Dr. Spivak's office a couple of times but didn't feel it was the right group for me. This site actually offers more support and info than the group I was attending.

Gadget lady, are you voting for McCain because you believe he will try to influence the Justices to overturn Roe v. Wade or that if he gets an opportunity he will appoint a Justice that will overturn Roe v. Wade? You are certainly free to vote based on whatever criteria you have, but is McCain your choice because of abortion issues? I believe I read in some other thread that you consider yourself to be a true liberterian in every sense of the word, but if that was the case, you would not want the federal government to legislate abortion.

I researched the length and number of surgeries performed and Drs. Spivak and Spiegel came to the top of the list. I was impressed that Dr. Spivak was also one of the doctors to work with the FDA to get lapband approved in USA and that he taught many of the doctors currently performing the procedure today. I was self-pay so I was free to choose any doctor. My surgery was performed at the True Results Center and I left an hour after I woke from surgery. Post op they make sure you've passed urine before you leave and that someone is driving you home.

I just wanted to enlighten people. If people are voting for McCain thinking he will spend all his efforts on overturning Roe v. Wade during his presidency, they may be in for a big surprise. I plan on voting for McCain because I believe he will stick to governing the FEDERAL government and stay out of bedroom politics.

I recovered quickly and had no complications. Dr. Spivak is very proud of the fact that he's had 0 fatalities and very low complications. He does both bypass and lap band.

I had my surgery on 7/16 and didn't have a pre-op diet requirement. I've lost a total of 17 lbs since the surgery so I guess that would be considered slow but I am hoping it will step up a bit faster after I hit my "sweet spot". At least I'm not 17 lbs heavier which could have happened since my weight was really climbing fast after quitting smoking in January.

Luluc, good luck on your run tomorrow!

Long, you are right and I misspoke (mistyped). What I meant to say is that they shouldn't vote for McCain or Obama based on their stance on abortion since neither want to overturn Roe v. Wade. Make your decision on something else.

Can we take the pro-life/pro-choice debate elsewhere? I don't believe anyone's going to vote for or against McCain based on their stance on abortion. While McCain has hmmmed and hawed around this issue recently, in the past, he's said he is personally against abortion but doesn't want to enforce his beliefs on this issue on anyone else. SO IF he gets to nominate a supreme court justice, I don't believe his final determination is going to be decided by whether that particular judge will overturn Roe v. Wade. SO, let's get this discussion back to Obama vs. McCain and not a pro-choice/pro-life debate.

I researched all the doctors in Houston (including Spiegel) and chose Dr. Spivak. My final deciding factor was Dr. Spivak's staff vs. Dr. Spiegel's staff. Dr. Spivak's staff is just that much better to deal with. I have actually spoken with a few of Dr. Spiegel patients who went through surgery fine but was very unhappy with aftercare mostly attributable to Spiegel's staff. Check out Dr. Spivak. If you are self-pay I believe they are about the same in cost but if you are going through insurance, you need to check with your insurance company.

Saundra, my husband went to WV. He's Icelandic and came to the US to go to school and picked WV because he had friends who were attending there. He still has very fond memories of Morgantown.

Saundra, what's that around your neck? I'm grateful that I found this link to remind me to be grateful. Love you all!

Janet, as usual, your explanation is right on point.

Janet, I'm going to get a bit personal here... why is such a hot, sexy babe not dating? I never hear you mention a BF so I'm making an assumption.

Janet, you hot sexy thing you!

What is Obama's voting record? Oh wait, he usually votes present... I may be just repeating what I hear about Obama's record since I didn't actually fact check it myself but where did you fact check McCain's voting record? Is there a governmental website where you can go to actually check the voting records yourself or are you just repeating what the media is reporting or "fact checking". The factcheck.com results are much like pollster results, easily skewed to the outcome desired.

For salons, the typical tip is 20%. For those of you who say tipping has gotten out of hand, keep in mind that for many, the tips are their salaries. It's not like in the UK and Australia where you have minimum hourly requirements and health benefits for all. In the US, while there are minimum hourly wages, there is no compulsory requirement to provide health insurance and in many service jobs, there is no minimum wage requirement. Most waiters/waitresses only make $2.01 an hour and are expected to make their actual wages by tips. In most salons, the stylists are paid a percentage and the percentages vary depending on the experience and level of stylist. However, most salons also do not provide any insurance, sick day or vacation. You get paid when you work. The tips are to offset those costs. So, consider the 20% part of the fee. If you have a $40 haircut, then you should budget $48 for the cut. If you don't like tipping, then demand that the US government force all employers to provide healthcare and paid sick and vacation days off. Of course, if you do that, you will have to pay more taxes. The Brits and the Aussies pay WAY more taxes than the average American. One way or the other, you will pay for it, wouldn't you rather it be voluntary than involuntary through taxes?

BJean, why are you so convinced McCain is another Bush just because he happens to be a Republican? I'm a Republican but I'm no Bush. I got banded but I'm not like every other bandster on this site. I was a huge fan of McCain because although he was a "Republican" he was an "American" first and foremost and always did what he thought was right for America, even it it angered others in his party (which it quite frequently did). Notice I use the past tense "was". That is because since McCain started his campaign for the Presidency this election, I've noticed he has modified himself somewhat to perhaps win over the right wing Republicans who in the past despised him for being "too liberal." I trust McCain because I have actually followed and admired his political career from the time I first moved to Arizona in 1997 and even after I moved away, I still kept tabs on McCain because I was convinced he'd be our President one day. I am still pretty sure he will become President but I'm less sure of my feelings for him. He lost some currency with me when I noticed his rhetoric had changed to appease the far right. I hope it's just a campaign tactic and that once in office he will be the Maverick I admire.

Thanks, we didn't have any damage to our property but it wasn't much fun. We evacuated to San Antonio Thursday before the storm and waited until the electricity came back in our neighborhood a full week later. Hotel bill $1,000, eating out and misc. $1,000, dumping everything out of 2 refrigerators $700. So, we call it an Ikation but it wasn't fun and it really sucked having to spends hours and hours cleaning pool, yard and fridge upon our return. We were the lucky ones.

I got banded on July 16, 2008 and have had two fills the first on 8/19 (3 ccs in 8 cc band) and the 2nd on 9/2 (pulled out 3 and put in 4 then pulled out .5 because water wouldn't go down for a total of 3.5 cc in 8 cc band). I don't have much restriction, and I'm hungry within an hour of eating. When does the hunger go away or does it go away? Does the sweet spot mean you get the right restriction so you can't eat much but you still have the all consuming hunger?

I went in last Tuesday to get my 3rd fill. Dr. Spivak thought I might have a leak but when he withdrew the liquid the full 3.5 was in so he gave me another 1 for a total of 4.5. That was a bit too tight so he took out .5 and I now have 4 ccs in an 8 cc band. I definitely feel the difference. I don't think I'm at my "sweet spot" but I get satisfied on less food and the feeling of satiety lasts longer than it did before. I'm due for my TOM next week so I was thinking I'll wait until after that to see how things go. If I am still losing too slow, then I will go back in a couple of weeks.