faybie

I have no regrets, but I am such a "newbie". People have made some really great comments for you to read here, I can't really add much more but to say that I agree with them..... I agree that YOU have to make the decision and be 100% behind it. I agree that a person can eat around the band and have it not work. I agree that it does not help emotional issues in any way, however it does give the courage to fight back with your stomach when you can't with your mind. I agree that surgery is one tiny small step in the right direction and it requires a lot of knowledge, understanding and committment for it to work effectively. P.S. I knew it but didn't really KNOW IT that my head hunger controlled me more than I realized until after surgery. good luck,

Well Penni, I don't know a single thing about anything that happened here on LBT. In words, you don't hear inflection, so often times many things that were meant innocently are taken in the context that the author did not intend. I have been moderator of several boards myself. I have deleted posts, moved posts, locked posts, etc. Not everyone agreed with what I did or why I did it. However the owner of the board was behind me 100%. Sometimes, removing people from the situation can help them calm down and come back more level headed. If you are a moderator, its because you are experienced in Lap band, are on the boards frequently and are willing to help Alex. Just because someone disagrees with a choice you have made in the past, doesn't mean you should feel the need to resign. Most of us here probably have no idea what happened. Learning from your mistakes is growth and maturity, no one is perfect. And yea, people can say they disagree with decisions you have made, however they have no idea how difficult those decisions were to make until they are in the position to have to make them themselves. Just my 2 cents......I don't think mistakes or regrets equal failure. I don't know if its too late however, I think you should reconsider.

From what I am gathering reading websites and posts of people who have had erosion, they have admitted for the most part that they did not stick to 6oz. meals in any way shape or form. Dr. Spivak gives his stats in his seminar, so you don't even have to ask.

What did you learn? just that throwing up is bad? This is interesting to me actually because I am a cancer survivor and there is a chance I will need to go through chemo again. Throwing up is an everyday occurance for chemo patients. I hadn't thought about that....

Ok, ok. LOL. I was trying to be so middle of the road on this one but after seeing the responses, I am going to have to jump off the fence and join in. Phone courtesy is HUGE to me, because (kind of like bathrooms to a restaurant) it lets you see the true colors. When I called Speigels office the lady was short, rude and "didn't have time for my questions or concerns". She wanted my facts and figures including my social security number. I was like O.O. I made my appointment anyway. When I called Dr. Spivak's office the lady who answered the phone was extremely nice and when I went in for the seminar everyone in the office was friendly and the lady remembered talking to me on the phone. Somehow as I was sitting there I imagined that the lady that I spoke to at Speigels office wouldn't have a clue who I was. After my visit with Spivak, I called and cancelled my seminar with Speigal.

I had something that wasn't necessarily "diet" like last night and felt guilty all night until this morning when I was discussing it with my husband. A light bulb went off, I didn't choose the band because I wanted to not eat regular food the rest of my life. I had a half of a handful of what I was eating, where normally I would have a HUGE bag all to myself. As I look back, I have absolutely no reason to feel guilty or upset. I was completely satisfied with my half of handful and that is JUST AMAZING.

I haven't had anything to drink with any meal since banding including my liquids. I really do think this helps me stay full longer. I thought it would be hard to do and it was hard the first week just because its a natural reaction to reach for your drink. I would accidentally reach for my tea or water on occassions. Now, if im at home or work, I make sure nothing is near. If I am at a restaurant, I make them take away the glass. The waiter usually thinks I am crazy and I have had one manager walk over and make sure I was being taken care of properly. LOL.

Welcome, don't forget to find your September bandsters post. Its a post where all of you being banded in September share a special bond and get to know one another and share the experience together. I am an August Banster and my month of people are great!

Awwww. I didn't get to know you very long. Sorry to see you go. Just curious though, can't people post on multiple forums?

Nice Diane, congratulations.... your NSVs gave me the "happy chills" those are some great NSVs!!!!!! I have said this in the before and after post or something similar, you really do look great. Ten years younger! and you look fabulous in those jeans.... You go girl!!!

tee hee! I won't tell..... I will be having a dairy queen vanilla cone soon. It's a bit out of the way or I would have already done so.... =P

I can drink as much water as I want at once. I haven't gulped yet, but I usually take in 96oz + of water a day and have no problems still doing that. I can't have beef yet, but if I can't have steak, I will be a very, very sad bandster.

sure $15,700

I think the wine is a coincidence. I had wine on my birthday on Saturday and no ill effects what so ever.

Here is a thread that has a bit of information on both Doctors. http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=21832 I really loved my experience with Dr. Spivak. I did not feel like his seminar and office meetings were like a cattle call at all. They have called and checked on me twice since my surgery. The Surgery Center was very nice and everyone was very friendly. My choice was between Spivak and Spiegel as well. I don't think you could choose a "bad" surgeon between the two. I personally was turned off about the "cash only" policy of Spiegel. I used my credit card to pay for the consult with Dr. Spivak. I had planned to go to both Dr.'s seminars. I liked Spivak and his office staff so much that I decided not to go to the Spiegel seminar.

My Dr. allows us to eat mushies starting day 3, I think I started around day 5. I don't know if I could have survived this long on just liquids, so you are very, very disciplined. Good Job! I still have the same restriction as I did on day 3, so I can only take in about 4oz. at a time. I never have anything to drink with any meal, however my lunch seems to pass through and digest the fastest, breakfast and dinner last a long time. I added a low carb, low sugar, protein supplement (from a previous diet) at about 3pm and it seems to work for me perfectly. It's cappacino flavored so its like my afternoon pick me up. I don't want to suggest you go against your Dr.'s wishes. Try call and telling the nurse that you are getting too hungry and want to eat every hour. I bet she will tell you, you can add a few things.....

Welcome Amy, I think you will find all of those answers here on this board. One neat trick that someone taught me when I was new, was to use the "search". On the blue bar above the posts you will find "search" right in the middle. You can enter the topic you are interested in reading about. I bet you would find a plethora of topics on "insurance". As far as chosing my Dr., I had 2 narrowed down and use the real life experiences of the posters here on LBT to decide between the 2. I was self pay, but you will find people on here who have had insurance pay. I don't think it was too painful, however being a cancer survivor, I have been through my fair share of surgeries and this was by far a simple procedure compared to others I have been through. I was only off for 6 days, including my surgery day. I had my surgery on Wednesday and went to work the following Tuesday. I would not have been able to work on that Monday, however Tuesday was just fine. Good luck,

Well remember that statement was made for a RNY patient. It is an RNY article. I hope I didn't confuse anyone, I just thought it was an interesting test. I found that article in the archives of posts here, btw.

I am still new to the process however I was just reading a post by a member who's bandiversary is today. I thought it might give you a positive side of the band. http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23467 And don't worry EVERYONE gets nervous! That's normal. I am 13 days out and I feel complete restriction still. I can only eat about 4oz. at a time max right now, however I feel full and have no desire for anything else to eat until meal time rolls around. I was only required to stay on liquids for two days. I ended up having liquids for longer because I didn't feel I was ready to move onto mushies. You can also read through the monthly bandsters threads. Mine was August. It is just a thread where people share their experiences leading up to and after their band surgery. http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=20336

I am sorry that you are having this pain however if it does end up being your gall bladder just say you are having complications from the surgery or you developed a hernia from the surgery. Those types of things do happen and they have no reason not to believe you.

Wow you have so many interesting things ahead of you in the near future! Congratulations on your bandiversary!! P.S. I turned icons off so everytime I posted I didn't have this big square of smileys, which was a dead ringer that I was surfing the web. LOL. [lets pretend I put some cool congratulation banana here] O I got it! ~~~~~,~~'~~@ Flower for your bandiversary. he he.

It can. Below is a post that I made on another thread. I edited it a bit but I think it is very interesting and important information to understand about the tool that we have had inserted in our bodies.

This is interesting. My mother was telling me about this. She wanted me to wait and get one of these shots instead of getting my band. LOL. Needless to say, I am very happy with my choice. It would be interesting if it works. I could see how it would be used as a tool to keep you from going into starvation mode when dieting, but I think it would also take effort on the one receiving the shot not to succumb to their head hunger. If I could overcome my head hunger, I wouldn't have needed the band.

Wow, so its day 13. I can walk at my normal pace now. I can also wear a bra with no problem, yesterday it still hurt. I still cannot eat over 4oz. at a time. The pressure in my chest definitely tells me that it will send it right back up if I dare. I am still staying full for hours and hours. I wasn't even hungry at lunch today, so I only ate about 2oz. I was at lunch with my SIL. She knows but I would have felt bad not eating anything at all. She ate a whole filafl (sp?), fries and pita bread. My favorite dress is missing and I am majorly bummed. It was a basic black dress that I could throw all kinds of shirts over to give it different looks. I am lost without it. I have easily lost 5 or more outfits from my wardrobe. The last time I had it was on vacation in Maine. I checked the suitcase, not there. So, do I go find another one that fits now or wait until I fit into the smaller identical one that I have? hmmmm. I may not even be able to find such a dress, it was so awesome. =( Morning Scale: 210 Food today: coffee w/ 1 equal Breakfast - 1 scrammbled egg with cheese and 1/2 slice of bacon. Lunch - 1/3 of a spanikopita snack - protein cappacino drink Dinner - snack - Excersize:

What a great feeling.... I feel slimmer in my body too. It's almost like a I have a spring, I can just bounce all around. I probably knew this at one point, but I can't believe I didn't realize how much the weight was "bogging" me down. And a whole size down too that is awesome!