I didn't get the impression that his pre-op diet requirements are very strict, did you? I mean, Brenda basically said, "Here's the diet but don't worry about it too much...a lot of people don't follow it." And since I am self-pay I could schedule my surgery anytime I wanted to. I could have had the surgery within 4 days if I wanted...so how would that have allowed for any kind of pre-op diet?

I don't mind going low-carb, but I can't go low-carb and low-fat at the same time!!! My hypoglycemia would give me FITS!

What were your impressions?

CPAP is a machine for people with sleep apnea.

I never got the diet from Brenda but I ate my way around the universe before surgery. Despite the admonition to not gain any weight before surgery I actually put on two pounds.

I was worried that I would have a fatty liver both because of my size and my eating extravaganza but Dr. Spivak actually commented on what a beatiful liver I had - perfect size and perfect color. I was really relieved and feel kind of silly for tempting fate.

Thanks on the CPAP 101. So I'm not missing out on anything. I've been cleaning like crazy, don't ask why, maybe to keep my mind off of things. I steam cleaned my entire house.

Eclipse

Thanks on the CPAP 101. So I'm not missing out on anything. I've been cleaning like crazy, don't ask why, maybe to keep my mind off of things. I steam cleaned my entire house.

Eclipse

*Snort*

I went into Stepford mode right before surgery too. I cleaned, I did laundry, I cooked. I guess some sort of weird nesting instinct.

Ha! I was planning to eat at least one of everything before surgery. Sort of saying goodbye.... And then Spivak looked me in the eye during our consultation and said "It's a very bad sign if you gain weight just prior to surgery." He did it so intently, it just blew my "Last Supper"!

Ha! I was planning to eat at least one of everything before surgery. Sort of saying goodbye.... And then Spivak looked me in the eye during our consultation and said "It's a very bad sign if you gain weight just prior to surgery." He did it so intently, it just blew my "Last Supper"!

That is so funny. I'm really glad he didn't say that to me because I very much enjoyed eating everything in sight during the week before surgery. Somehow I managed not to gain any weight, though.

My first meeting with Dr. Spivak and the seminar was 6 months before my surgery. I forgot all about the diet thing. I ate everything I've ever loved...things I knew I shouldn't be eating. I gained 20 pounds in that 6 six months....somebody in the office really fussed at me..don't remember who it was...I was so embarrased. So I dieted like crazy for 4 days and lost 6 of those extra pounds. (Still glad I did it!!..I won't make you hungry by listing all of my no no foods). Haven't craved any of those foods since surgery 4 weeks ago.

It's kinda strange to me to hear the wide variety of things that we were each told. ??? You'd think he'd have his speech memorized by now!! LOL

I just heard a radio show today with a lap band Dr. being interviewed. He said that the people who "get it" (meaning lose a lot and consistently) are the ones who use the band for one thing----to realize they don't feel hungry anymore. Consequently they limit themselves to 3 solid low fat ,high Protein, high Fiber meals with no snacking....and then spend their time dealing with the emotional issues of losing food as a companion. Period. That's his summary.

He said that those people who "get it" from the beginning may not even need any fills. Everybody else has to learn it somewhere along the way.

He said the Atkins diet works best, and said eating mushy foods (and sliders) is as bad as eating liquids: Food should have to be a big effort to chew chew chew until liquid. Period. "No fat person has ever chewed their food well enough...They couldn't and still get all those calories in in a meal." "One reason for the mushy diet at first is to get people used to chewing food well enough."

What do you think?

I've had 4 fills so far. The first one was at surgi-center w/ Spivak watching. The next 2 were at his office with Brenda, and I agree she is gentle. The one I just had was from a lady I have never seen before. I don't know her name, but she has short brown hair. She was friendly, but it hurt more than it ever has before. She mentioned that because I'm losing weight my port is harder to get a hold of. Maybe that had something to do with the discomfort.

I didn't get my band through Dr. Spivak, as I'm near Conroe, but now I'm scared as the dickens to get a fill. I don't like needles and I don't like pain:faint::omg:

I get my first fill in a couple of weeks -- boy I hope my doctor or whoever does the fill in his office is GENTLE!!!!!:paranoid

I don't know of anyone who DOES like needles or pain!!! You got thru the surgery, surely you can handle the fills!! I've had 3. They have all been quite tolerable and are over so quickly that it's not even an issue. The one I had yesterday I could hardly feel at all....it was nothing!!

I can handle anything I'm asleep for (LOL) -- the pain I wake up to, I can handle. When I have to be awake while they stick a needle through my belly is terrifying.:faint:

Oh well -- I'll get through it somehow.

I can handle anything I'm asleep for (LOL) -- the pain I wake up to, I can handle. When I have to be awake while they stick a needle through my belly is terrifying.:faint:

Oh well -- I'll get through it somehow.

For the past 3 fills, I've numbed the area myself before I go in for a fill. I have a prescription for Emla cream -- it's a topical anesthetic. I put the cream on 45 minutes before my appointment, cover it with saran wrap, and tape the edges down (kind of like a saran wrap bandage), and leave it on until they are ready to put the needle in. It works wonders -- I never feel a thing.

Thank you, enterprise01, for the info about that cream. I will see about getting a prescription for it and using that (just in case)!!

Have a fantastic weekend!