I'm still here

How should I handle this? Should I just ignore her, stick with my answer that I'm eating less, exercising more - which are true. Or should I beg her not to tell and come clean? Shame on HER for putting you on the spot like that . . . you are absolutely right, it IS none of her business!!! I personally do not feel like you owe her or anyone else an explanation other than the one you gave, which is the truth. I have CHOSEN not to tell either and I feel like it is my right to keep my medical history my business. And about husbands . . . mine has been instructed to say that I am eating less, period. If HE choses to tell my secret I wouldn't want to be him. Hang in there honey ~ Lynn

Thanks so much for posting that Betsyjane - I had seen it on here before, but could not find it when I went back to look for it. That is some GREAT info . . . this time I am going to print it out! Have a great Monday ~ Lynn

I am curious what the 'sweet spot' is supposed to feel like . . . Anyone know??? Anyone who is there, or has been there willing to share??? :welldoneclap: I was banded on 1-12-07 and have had two fills. I have restriction, but can still eat . . . I want to lose this weight, but know I don't want to be too tight again and I am afraid if I get another fill I right now I will be. I am just curious and hoping someone can shed some light on this for me. Thanks, Lynn

Hang in there!!! I was hungry too, much sooner than I expected to be, and much more than I thought I'd be . . . I remember telling Dr. Spivak at my first post-op check-up that I had never heard a stomach growl as loud as mine had been, and I was hungry . . . it wasn't just a noise. I have had two fills and I really don't feel 'hungry' anymore . . . I can eat, but I don't have that hungry feeling like I used to . . . . Give the band time to work - and your body and mind time to adjust to having it. I was banded exactly two months before you and I promise it gets better every day. Lynn

I wonder exactly what the 'sweet spot' is supposed to feel like??? I have had two fills and have restriction, but am not losing nearly as fast as I would like . . . I am afraid if I get another fill I will be too tight and I know that is no fun either . . . Anyone have any idea what the 'sweet spot' feels like??? Thanks, Lynn

Hi Betsyjane, thanks for responding . . . That is what I have heard too, the problem is that I am not losing 1-2 pounds every week . . . I guess that is where the AVERAGE part comes in . . . Did I mention I am not the most patient person in the world??? Ha, I know I'll (we'll all) get there, the pace is just slower than I like. Have a great Sunday ~ Lynn

The funniest one for me is that when I think I'm not losing and falling behind in my weight loss, I go back and average across all the weeks since my band, and I'm right on target. I'm usually surprised about that. I am curious ladies . . . . how much are you (should we be???) losing say, per week??? Dr. Spivak said 1 pound a week is good, Brenda said 1/2 pound a week is good . . . I want to lose 15 pounds a week!!! ha . . . I had my surgery on 1-12-07 and have had two fills . . . I am pretty restricted, but can eat things I know I shouldn't. Just when I think I need to call and schedule another fill, I will get 'stuck' on something and then be messed up the rest of the day. I guess I am struggling to understand what is 'normal' and am wondering how long it is going to take me to lose 40 more pounds??? Did I mention I am a little impatient??? I did attend the support group meeting on Tuesday at Dr. Spivak's office and plan to continue attending. I think alot can be learned from the folks who have walked / are walking in the same shoes as us. Lynn

Me too, same one (Health-O-Meter digital) from Wal-Mart and it is within an ounce or two when I weigh at home and then at Dr. Spivak's so I feel like it is accurate.

I absolutely love him!!! He seems to be the sweetest man in the world and is concerned about each of his patients. He is a wonderful, very caring doctor. Unlike some others, you will see him after your surgery. Good luck to all of you who are having your life changing surgery today ~ Lynn

Hi Enterprise01 ~ It is amazing what a difference .3cc's can make . . . I was absolutely miserable when I was at 2.1, but now at 1.8 I am doing okay . . . It still feels like stuff could easily get stuck, but a definate improvement. Hang in there, when you find the restriction you will definately know it! Lynn

It's almost first fill time for me too, and I'm nervous about potential pain. I'd love some feedback about what to expect. I have had two fills and one 'adjustment' and didn't really experience 'pain' with any of them. The most uncomfortable thing for me was when they were pressing around on my port area before inserting the needle. It didn't hurt, just felt wierd. The actual 'fill' itself is painless . . . For the fills I don't think Dr. Spivak used anything to deaden the area, but when I had to go back in to have a little taken out, Brenda did use some type of cream before inserting the needle . . . I honestly couldn't tell a difference. I have noticed a tremendous difference after the second fill. I have major restriction and know that I am eating less. Now if I can just drop some weight! Good luck ~ I think you will do fine for your fill . . . Lynn

My second fill was with the omnipaque as well because about half of my first (which was the saline) had disappeared. The difference for me has been night and day! Even after the first fill (2.0) I could still eat just about anything, but after the second (2.1) which was with the thicker solution, I couldn't get anything down, not even liquids . . . . I went back on Tuesday and Brenda removed .3ccs and I think it is going to be much better. I am at 1.8 now and have major restriction - maybe now I'll learn to slow down and chew my food better! I was very pleased with the weight loss during those 5 days, but learned that being too tight is not the way to do it. Lynn

Thanks Tonya ~ Yes, I wanted to lose 45 pounds overnight, but after being way too tight, I realized that is NOT the way to do it! You all learn from my mistake, it was NO fun! Lynn

Hello everyone ~ I thought I'd post on here to let you all know what happens if you get too 'filled' . . . I was banded on 1-12-07 and went in 3 weeks later for my first fill. That day my doctor gave me a 2.1 saline fill and for a week or so I felt alot of restriction. Then the restriction starting getting to be less and less . . . So, I went back last Thursday for my 2nd fill and my band had absorbed about half of my first fill (common I understand the first time). My doctor decided to use the thicker solution the second time and gave me a 2.1 fill again. . . . Within a couple of days I was miserable . . . A couple more days and I couldn't even get liquids down . . . So, I went back yesterday and had what I consider to be my first 'adjustment' since we are trying to figure it out at this point . . . The entire 2.1 was still there (apparently the thicker solution doesn't go anywhere) and so they removed .3ccs. It was amazing the difference when all of the solution was out of my band - I was able to drink a whole cup of Water before they put the 1.8 back in. I was pleased with having lost about 6 pounds in 5 days, but will say - being too tight it not the way to do it! I feel much better today and am going to resign myself to being happy with a slower, more safe weight loss. I just thought I'd share what happens if you get in a hurry . . . Lynn

I went in yesterday and had a slight adjustment to reduce the amount of 'fill' in my band. I had gotten a 2.1 fill on Thursday of last week, and yesterday they removed .3, so now I have 1.8. We'll see I guess . . . I am most hopeful that this adjustment will help and am now just waiting to see. I will keep you all posted. Lynn

Thanks for the advice Janet, I am on my way in right now to get a slight un-fill. I hope it helps because this has honestly been miserable and I just need to be patient with the weight loss. I'll let you all know how today goes. Thanks for the support ~ Lynn

Does anyone have any suggestions for constant queasiness? I've tried the Sea-Bands on my wrists and peppermint tea. They help a little. It's so hard to eat when I need to when I feel queasy all the time. Thank you all again for your care and concern. I am allergic to Phenergan and my OB/GYN suggested over-the-counter Dramamine which worked like a charm for me. I took it the entire time I was pregnant and have taken it off and on as needed ever since. It can be bought at any pharmacy, Wal-Mart or Target (over the counter). Good luck to you - I am not sure there is anything worse than that constant underlying nausea. I have a question - I was banded on 1-12-07 and have had two fills, most recently last Thursday. I think I am too tight . . . I can't really GET (much less) KEEP any solid food down and liquid seems to sit for a while before finally going down . . . I am wondering if I need a slight un-fill. Since I am so new to this I am not sure I am thinking right! I am thrilled with the rapid weight loss, but do not want to risk a complication from being too tight . . . Any thoughts from those of you with more experience would be greatly appreciated ~ Thanks so much, Lynn

I have two kids - a 13 year-old daughter and an 8 year-old son. I chose not to tell them because I didn't want them to worry and I also worried about the message it would send to my already very body-consious daughter. When I got home the day of my surgery, I just told her that I had to have some 'girl' stuff taken care of and she didn't ask any questions. I am not sure that my son even knew anything was different - he stays so busy just being a little boy. The only people who know are my husband and couple of very good friends. I figured this was going to be hard enough without other peoples expectations too.

I would drive a very long way to have Dr. Spivak as my surgeon.

I think her name is Ferdita . . . she was a sweetheart, and so pretty. I do recall being a little freaked out about all of the things she said she could NOT eat, but I have a friend who had the surgery two years ago also with Dr. Spivak and has done great! So, I just called her and she calmed my fears. I can understand how someone would be overwhelmed if they didn't have someone else to talk to about the procedure to get more information. I had my second fill yesterday and am amazed at how restricted I feel. Hopefully, I'll lose some serious weight now!

Gosh! After reading Carlene's reply I am calling for another fill! I am obviously not tight enough!!! :phanvan Lynn

Hi TerriDoodle ~ I was banded on 1-12-07 by Dr. Spivak and have had one fill so far. I have found that if I eat very slowly and chew until I don't think I can chew another time, I can eat pretty much anything . . . The only things I have had a real problem with so far have been tortillas and pineapple . . . Good luck ~ Lynn

Me too - I have just said 'girl stuff' and you wouldn't believe how fast folks change the subject, especially men!

I only told my husband (wouldn't have told him if I didn't have to) and my best friend. I chose not to tell my Mother or anyone else, because like everyone else has sort of said - I wanted to do this on my own without people breathing down my neck asking a bunch of questions that are none of their business. So far I am so pleased that I haven't told anyone else - maybe in time I will, but for right now my little band buddy is MY secret.

Absolutely not true for me . . . I have only seen Dr. Spivak for care after he did my surgery and just as before the surgery, he made me feel like he had all the time in the world to answer my questions, and he did my first fill last week in his office. I don't think there could not be a nicer, more interested doctor . . . I think if you tell them when you call to make your appointment that you want to see him, you will.