Shayne9927

I have to admit I ate like a pig before my surgery. I had to get in that last amount of whatever I can't eat now! Brenda gave me a diet to follow, but I never followed it.

I went back in 4 days. Not because I had any pain at all, but because I wanted to be lazy and stay home a couple of extra days.

I've wondered about this too. I keep telling everyone that when I'm dead in the box all that will be left of me is bones and my band.

Just make sure your steri-strips don't come off. Be careful when you're washing around them and you'll be fine.

I've had a Magic Bullet for awhile and love it! You can do anything in that thing.

The first time I went out to eat with my band I ordered a glass of tea. When it came I looked at my son and said "why did I get this? I can't even drink it!" I had a few sips before my lunch came and left the rest. I hope they didn't think they served bad tea! I usually don't drink a drop until well after I've eaten. If I've eaten something spicy or what I ate leaves a horrible taste in my mouth, I take a small sip to get rid of the taste and that's it.

I'm so glad this question was asked! My husband is in prison, but will be released this summer. We were talking about this very thing yesterday. He's afraid he's going to hurt me, or bust something open. Now I can tell him for sure that he's not going to bust anything. LOL! MEN!

I had a hiatal hernia too and my doctor repaired it when he did my band. If my doctor had insisted on a RNY, I would have found another doctor.

Deb... I was banded by Spivak on the 19th too! I was his second surgery that day. I was in the OR by 8:30, out of the hospital by noon. No complications, everything has just about healed, and I feel GREAT!!! I took my stepson out for Mexican food today and ate refried Beans, but I couldn't resist trying to eat a chip and did that with no problem. Dr. Spivak is my hero!!!

If you're not sure whether your meds can be crushed ask your pharmacist. Mine was very helpful in giving advice about this. My doctor told me not to swallow anything bigger than a birth control pill, and luckily none of my meds are. But I checked with my pharmacist before my surgery anyway.

The 25th is awesome! I'll be almost one week post-op and by then I'm sure I'll need lots of support!

Carole... I read on another thread that you're being banded by Dr. Marsden. I just wanted to tell you how much I love that guy! I've known Dr. John for about 20 years. I lived in North Texas for years and his office was one of my clients at an answering service I owned. If I still lived up there I'd have him band me in a second! I even started to go up there to let him do my surgery because I know what a wonderful doctor he is. If you have any problems with your surgery he'll be right there for you. I can't say enough about what a caring and compassionate surgeon he is. Good luck with your surgery today!

I agree that there's no way this could be the same woman in some of these pictures. The thing that got me is that he says "maybe I'm looking to sell her story." A grieving husband, whose wife has been dead for a week, making a statement like that? Give me a break! My husband wouldn't be able to get out of bed, muchless create a web site like that!

Add me to the list! Made my appointment yesterday for Jan 19th with Dr. Spivak in Houston! I can't wait to get this over with!

Dr. Spiegel of course...LOL! :help:

I'm in The Woodlands. But I spoke to my PCP last week about band doctors, I'm still in the process of deciding on who to go with, and he highly recommended Dr. Spivak. My PCP has dealt with surgeons in The Woodlands, Conroe, and 1960 for many years. He says Spivak is the best for banding in Houston. I have to go self pay too, but I value my PCP's advice. He said he's had patients who have had bands with Spivak and done wonderfully. He also said he had a patient who had complications with Spiegel and that Spiegel acted insulted that the patient would complain. I worked with doctor's offices for many years, and am still in the medical field. I have always judged a doctor by this staff and the way they treat patients. Yesterday I spoke with Dr. Spivak's office. I called to ask them some questions about the surgery and payment. They were super informative. Never once was I put on hold to find an answer to a question I had. The lady I talked to knew everything I needed to know. I was completely impressed.

I've had thyroid disease for many years. I've had more than one Endocrinologist tell me "you can't blame everything on your thyroid". Like being overweight, thyroid disease does run in families so it's very likely that you could have a thyroid problem. If you're being advised to take thyroid medication by a PCP, don't take it! Go to an Endocrinologist and have your thyroid function checked. The biggest mistake people make is listening to a doctor who has no clue what they're dealing with. See a specialist. When you start toying with your thyroid function you are playing with more than just your weight. Your thyroid controls a host of functions in your body that you won't even think of. Over-medication, under-medication, and non-medication of your thyroid can causing lifelong damage to your other glands and organs. If your TSH level is between 1.5 and 5.5 and a doctor puts you on thyroid medication that doctor is a quack. That is a normal thyroid function and medication can cause your thyroid to become hyperactive, which is just as bad as hypo. In all the years I've been on thyroid medication I've not been able to lose the weight I want to lose. My thyroid function has been in normal range for many years. I lose some weight, then it just stops. I eat a healthy diet always and see my Endo every 3 months to have my TSH checked. Sorry to sound like a medical journal. My thyroid almost killed me several years ago and I hate to see anyone taking chances with theirs...I hate even worse to see doctors handing out thyroid medication.

Hi Ya'll I've done all the research, had my family help me do the research, and am totally ready to have the surgery. Now I just need to figure out who to get to do it! I attended a seminar in The Woodlands (where I live) held by a couple of Conroe doctors, but they hadn't actually done any lapbands so I quickly crossed them off my list. I plan to call Dr. Spivak's office to schedule a seminar with him. Dr. Wilson's office also. Can anyone suggest questions that I might ask when attending the seminars? By the way, I'm going to be a self pay patient. My insurance has already told me they won't cover the procedure. Thanks for any advice ya'll can offer.