HotMusicMomma

Does anyone know if there is a support group available in the Sugar Land area? I was banded on November 16 and have been going to my Dr.'s support group, but it only meets twice a month.

Jennifer, I think it all depends on how many people will be there at your seminar. The night I was there, there were about 25 of us plus supporters/spouses. Some of his staff and previous patients are there, and they talk to you ALOT about the whole process. It's VERY informative, and you can ask them ANYTHING, they know, they've been there! Then the prospective patients will meet with Dr. Spivak as a group, where he will discuss the options available and the major differences in the procedures plus the ups and downs of each procedure and answer general questions. He is a doll and has a great sense of humor. Then, you will all go back to the waiting room while he meets with each prospective patient for the individual consults. Have a list of questions ready if there are specific concerns you have, because this part goes pretty quick. This is when he will review all the information you've brought in, and decide whether or not you would be a good candidate for the surgery. If so, then he will give you directions for what you need to do before the procedure. You will also meet with someone to discuss insurance or self-pay, etc. Bring a good dose of patience as it may be a bit of a wait, show up early so you get a good seat (his office has to have the best view in Houston!), and make sure you have all the paperwork from the website downloaded and filled out completely. You will also need to pay a $100 fee for the consult. Most of all, bring a good attitude and a list of questions, and don't be afraid to ask the girls ANYTHING...and I do mean ANYTHING. My husband had them rolling with his questions, and we had a GREAT time--but most importantly, HE was convinced not only that I needed to do this surgery for me, but that I was in the most capable and caring hands with Dr. Spivak and his staff. I would never go to anyone else!! God's blessings to you in your journey!

Well, I just found this journal entry feature, so what the heck, maybe it will help keep me motivated. I went in for my second fill today. I am up to 5.5 cc in an 11 cc band. I a little over 6 weeks post op and have lost about 28 lbs on the doctor's scale, 30 at home in my undies. I just want to see the 2's by New Year's! I'm praying for 50 lbs by Valentine's, and 100 # by the end of July. We'll see! I hear the leftover Christmas cookies in the kitchen calling my name. I need to get some ear plugs!

Thanks everybody. Calorie wise, I am getting 1000 cals a day or UNDER, it fluctuates from day to day. I have started fluctuating the amounts I'm walking too, to see if that will help.

Hey, guys, PLEASE pray for me! I am getting SO DISCOURAGED. I have been walking 2 miles a day, eating extremely carefully and staying under 1000 cals/day, and increasing my activity at every opportunity I get, yet I am stuck and CANNOT break 300. Despite everything, this morning I actually saw a gain for the first time since I was banded on Nov 16. It made my world spin backwards and ruined my entire day. Words just cannot express how disappointed I am. Please please please pray for me!

I have subscribed to that one, too. They seem to meet around Alvin, in the Woodlands, or out on the Beltway, but so far, no luck with a group in the Sugar Land area, which is surprising. Thanks for your help!

hey, ya'll. I was banded on Nov. 16 2007 and have lost 33 lbs. I live in Ft. Bend county. Is anyone aware of whether or not there is a support group in the Sugar Land area?

I took off the Friday before Thanksgiving break for my surgery (we had off the whole week for thanksgiving), and I went back to school on the Monday after Thanksgiving, no problems. I was still a bit sore and all, but it was WONDERFUL timing, plus I didn't have any excuse for binging over any of the holidays! I'm a jh/hs band director, so I had to be careful with lifting, especially in preparation for the Christmas Concert, but other than that, it's been GREAT. I'm on the SW side of Houston, btw. Surgeon is Hadar Spivak, who is WONDERFUL!

Soreness lasted about 3 weeks for me, then subsided for the most part, but every once in a while if I lift something a little too heavy, it let's me know it's there. The funky sensation for me right now is the port migrating around under the skin. My support group members said it was probably from the weight loss. I asked when I went in for a fill the other day, and the nurse said that would definitely happen as I lost more weight. It's not like I feel it moving or it hurts or anything, but one time it will be in the middle, the next time to the left, etc.

I decided to tell my fellow teachers on my campus, especially because so many of them have the same problems I do, struggling with their weight. It's been really a good thing for me, because they are VERY encouraging in the past six weeks, and several have become so extremely interested that they are thinking of having the procedure themselves. I also chose to share the info with my closest colleagues in my specific teaching field...band directors from other schools, several of whom have also taken an interest, and one of which has even taken the first step by going with me to a support group meeting. It's extremely empowering to be a positive influence Healthwise, not only to my own children, but to my peers and students, as well. I understand what kbinaz means, it could go either way. Believe it or not, those who have been LEAST supportive have been my own parents!! If there was ANYONE I wish I had not told, it was them, but someone had to watch my 5 and 3 year old while my dear hubby was with me for the surgery!! My mother actually semi-accused me of being selfish for wanting to continue to go support group meetings after the holidays!

The next meeing is January 15th. They have moved the start time back to 6:30ish because we have to leave the office by 8pm. Park in the lot on Binz facing the medical building, it is free now. The lot managers asked that no one put money in the boxes at night any more.

Hi, Jill, nice to talk to you! I have lost about 30 lbs (hard to tell for sure since I'm bloated--don't you just love this time of the month?) I had my second fill on Thursday. I'm up to 5.5cc in an 11 cc band, omnipac. I have been going to Dr. Spivak's support group, but it's only twice a month, and I LOVE it, and definitely thrive on the support of those who know and have been there. I was hoping to find another group closer to home (I live in rural Ft. Bend County) that might meet on the "in-between" weeks to help me stay motivated! It's been hard making it through the holidays without them, and I think that's why I hit a brick wall and had to have the second fill. One thing is for sure, I'm DEFINITELY feeling the restriction now! woohoo!

I am so so blessed to find this thread! You all are wonderful! I began my journey on November 16 with Dr. Spivak in Houston, self-pay since my insurance won't cover since I didn't have any co-morbidities YET. Dr. Spivak is such a blessing, too, as is his staff! I went back for my second fill yesterday after being stuck for about a week. I now have 5.5 cc of omnipac in my 11 cc band, and I am DEFINITELY finally feeling restriction now! I also started exercising (FINALLY) on Christmas, and have been increasing the speed every day. I just finished 33 minutes at 3.5 mph, which may not sound like much, but is a HUGE step for me! So far, I'm down 30 lbs. 114 to go! I've been feeling in a slump, though. It's amazing what a stuck scale will do to your morale. The funny part was, every time I would picture the devil sitting at my feet with his hooves on the scale, going "ha ha! You just THOUGHT you would be successful!" I have GOT to stop being a slave to the scale. But it's hard, especially when you've been fat ever since you were in first grade. I will never forget to the day I die, the elementary school nurse berating me as I stood on the scale in her office at the tender age of 6, being called Miss Piggy. And now, I see my oldest son going down the same path, and am watching my parents kill themselves one twinkie and one chicken wing at a time, and I'm screaming SOMETHING HAS TO STOP. That's why I had the surgery. Please pray for me. God bless you all!

I am usually VERY hot natured, and I haven't been anywhere without a light-weight jacket since my surgery six weeks ago, despite 70-80 plus degree temps in south Texas. I even keep a blanket on my recliner. Also, despite being a slow healer, my incisions were completely healed by day 8 or so post-op. UNBELIEVABLE!

I hurt for about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks out from the surgery. The bruising really didn't appear in its full glory until about 6-7 days post-op, and then lasted until about the beginning of week three...keep in mind, I am a slow healer. It hurt really bad to sleep on my right side for about 3 weeks, which I thought was weird because my port is in the center, but I was told it was probably because I was manipulated more on the right side. sleeping on the left or on my back was fine, just turning over was a challenge. Gas pain for me didn't take hold until about day 3-4 post-op, when the painkillers given intravaneously/intermuscularly in the hospital had really worn off. After a deep-tissue massage at my chiropractor's office and several sessions with a heating pad plus lots of walking, I was fine by the end of the first week. My right shoulder and neck was the epicenter of the gas pain. By one month out, I felt better than I have since high school, so hang in there. This, too, shall pass, maybe like a kidney stone, but it WILL pass!

Well, I just found this journal entry feature, so what the heck, maybe it will help keep me motivated. I went in for my second fill today. I am up to 5.5 cc in an 11 cc band. I a little over 6 weeks post op and have lost about 28 lbs on the doctor's scale, 30 at home in my undies. I just want to see the 2's by New Year's! I'm praying for 50 lbs by Valentine's, and 100 # by the end of July. We'll see! I hear the leftover Christmas cookies in the kitchen calling my name. I need to get some ear plugs!

Hey, guys, I am on the mushy stage and am complete SICK of fish already. It's good and all, but I need something to break up the monotony. I am tired of canned Soup, oatmeal, etc. I want something that tastes GOOD! What I wouldn't give for a big bowl of Zuppa Toscana and a hot bread stick!!

Any of you guys that are vets at this...I have noticed that trying to lay/sleep on my right side is WAY more painful than the left, especially in the port area. I am 9 days post-op. Any ideas??? I'm tired of sleeping on my back!

Hi! I was banded on the 16th, as well, and am doing great. As of Tuesday, I had already lost 10 lbs. I haven't weighed since then (my home scale is a piece of poo, and I need a new one), but I feel I have been eating well, and thanks to all the housework getting ready for the holidays and the Christmas shopping, I think exercise is going well, too. I go back to my doctor on Thursday for a checkup. I'll let you know how it goes! Happy NEW Birthday to us both!

All of my experiences with Dr. Spivak and his staff have been WONDERFUL. My surgery was done a week ago at Park Plaza, and their staff was amazing, too! In fact, several of the staff members who helped me on the day of the surgery had been banded by Dr. Spivak as well, and a year or two after their surgeries, they had nothing but glowing things to say, as well. Dr. Spivak came to visit with me before AND after the surgery, and he visited with my husband while i was in recovery, too. I started running a fever about four days after the surgery, and I called his after hours number and left a message. Less than two minutes later, I was talking with Dr. Spivak himself, and he met with me the next day to examine me and make sure that everything was ok. He is having me come in next week, as well, just to triple check! I have NO experience with surgicenter, but I can tell you that Park Plaza is A+ in my book! Even the hospital has called several times to check on me. I have a very close friend who was banded by Spiegel in July, and his after-care has seemed less than stellar in comparison. I think Dr. Spivak is the perfect combination of knowledge and experience with caring and compassion.

I think my husband was more worried about this than I was, especially since he called it an "elective surgery". I told him if I didn't get control of my weight, my elective was to die. Once he met my surgeon and talked with him and found out how experienced he was and had never lost a patient he was fine. So fine, in fact, he spent my entire time in the hospital by my side...playing Call of Duty 4 on MY laptop!!! I woke up knowing I was QUITE alive...with a screaming kid in post-op a few feet away...I think the first thing I said was "too loud" to the nurse, and he laughed and gave me a pain killer. It's all good! I was banded last Friday, and have lost 10 lbs as of yesterday at noon, just 96 hours after the surgery. Hang in there. You're worth it!