Bear's Mom

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">My band is tighter in the morning too. It helps to have a small cup of hot tea or some kind of hot liquid to help it relax. Usually after a few sips, I can then slowly drink a protein shake or have cream of wheat. I'm able to tolerate eating better as the day goes by.</TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Please don't take any gel caps. I learned the hard way when one got stuck. I was going on 36 hours without any food or water before I was able to see the doctor. They had to unfill my band and clear it with hot tea. If that hadn't worked, they were going to have to do endoscopy. Only take medicine you can chew or drink. </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I had mine on a Monday morning and went back to work on Saturday night. I am a neonatal nurse and do a lot of walking, bending, standint, etc. I was really sore the first night back. I found that wearing a panty girdle that covers your stomach up to where your bra goes really helped to keep it supported and it wasn't as sore to work. I only needed to wear it 3 or 4 days after returning to work.

December 19, 2005, Dr. Spivak, Houston, TX

I sure do. Dr. Spivak's # is 713-520-8900. Just call his office and they will set up an appointment for you. I just called this afternoon to get a re-fill and Monday is the day. :biggrin1:

I use Dr. Spivak in Houston, TX. He is wonderful. You can even get a hold of him through his answering service after hours if you have an urgent need.

I had my gallbladder out 14 years ago after being sick with it for a year. All the tests came back normal, but I continued to have the pain and nausea. I didn't have stones though. The Dr. told me that it was diseased and not functioning right. Please pursue this problem until you get an answer. If you do have your gallbladder removed, stay on a low fat diet afterward. I was not told after surgery and found out the hard way. Anything with fat in it will cause you to have an attack as if you still have your gallbladder until your body adjusts to the change. Hope you feel better.

I've been battling a cold for the past week. Yesterday I took some cold medicine in the form of liquid gel pills. The first few doses went down just fine. But, about 11:30 last night, that dose felt like it sort of got stuck. After about four hours, I tried to dring something, but couldn't. It all came back up. This happened at work. When I got home, I still couldn't keep anything down. I had to soak in a hot tub of water and go to sleep with a hot pack on my chest to calm my body down. About 3pm today, it took me about 30-45 minutes to get a glass of milk down, and carefully at that. About 5 pm I tried to eat something soft, but couldn't keep that down either. I'm going to do just liquids for the next 24 hours to see if it is only my stomach and esophagus that is irritated. Has anyone out there gotten something stuck and then had this reaction? Help!

Thanks for everyone's support. I went to the doctor the next morning. I had to have an unfill because that liquid gel I took for my cold got lodged in my band, not allowing ANYTHING to pass. Even after the unfill, it two glasses of hot tea to push it through. Wow! What relief I have now. But, now I have to start all over again with the liquid only and mushie food days. I will be able to get refilled when I'm over this cold.

I was banded on a Monday morning and went back to work the following Saturday night. I was sore to bend. What helped me the most was to wear a girdle that goes up to your bra to give support. After a few days, I didn't need the girdle anymore. My first night at work was the first time I needed to take something for the pain.

:) :bananajump: Dr. Spivak is very thorough and answers all of your questions. He even has a couple of patients that have lost weight with the band come to the seminar to answer questions. I recommend him.

I've told just about everyone. I don't feel it's anything to be ashamed of. It gives me a larger support group too. In fact, some of my co-workers are now interested in the band now that I've done it.