JosieK

hi lou lou, i did it at 2 years but only because my schedule dictated this. for me..being near goal weight was most important rather then how long after i was banded. i originally was going to do it at 1 year after banding as i was near goal then. i had it all set up and something came up that caused me to push it out. seems like you are near goal. good luck in whatever you do josie

hi potatie ....believe it or not i got very comfortable sleeping in the recliner. i think it was a week i slept in it out of doctor's orders. then another few days just because i liked it. when i did get back into a bed....it took me about 3 weeks to start sleeping on my side. that was a bigger issue for me. i used a pillow to help me on my side. it hurt and felt like i was stretching out. are you having liposuction too? i had a little on my side "boobies" and a little on my hips. i have to say that bothered me more then the areas they cut. nothing hurt alot....but i was surprised by this. also..lipo didnt bother me until 2 weeks after the operation. once the numbness starting going away. anyway it's very exciting that you will have this operation...i'm so glad i did it. josie

hi potatie good luck in your journey. i had a TT AND Breast Lift on 5/11/09. everyone's recovery is different. in looking at mine...i absolutely could've gone back to work within 4 weeks. physically i bounced back quickly (much quicker then the lapband surgery-relatively speaking). i am so glad i did these surgeries. i am here to help if you need any. my experience is detailed on the cosmetic surgery forum. one last thing...i actually bought a lift chair because i couldn't find a rental place. the company failed to deliver it. and i used a regular recliner....i was glad this happened because i didnt need another chair and the recliner was fine. this was just my experience. josie

hi mommy of 2 and agnes, i did this (filled too tight) when i was first banded and stopped losing weight. i didnt believe it till i experienced it. i finally understood our bodies are like machines and must be fed to lose the weight. the best combination i experienced was eating the recommended calories/protein, etc and exercising 4-5 times a week. i dropped weight like crazy when i did this. anyway good luck with your band.... josie

hi sue, from what i understand this can be fixed in the doctor's office. i also think the doctor should do this as part of the original operation. my doctor likes to wait till 6 mos after the original operation to do any revisions. some things i thought would be a problem actually worked themselves out recently. hope you are well. ' i just got back to the gym last week (altho' i was cleared to go weeks and weeks ago...) i'm so sore just starting up again take care josie

hi 123, i used these periodically (and still do) when i had trouble eating. it helped me to get my Protein in so i wouldnt lose my hair. i buy them on the website A1Supplements.com - America's Favorite Supplement Store. they come in 25gms and 42 gms. i like the blue raspberry and fruit punch. they are called "new-whey liquid protein" hope this helps josie

hi whitepants. just know 17 is a "temporary condition" everytime i read about someone's teenage daughter...i think "ouch...what i did to my poor mother". i really think aliens come down and possess us. i was a monster. so self centered and thought i knew it all. funny thing now...i'm 51 and wish my parents would come down and tell me what to do. julie...i just had my band totally unfilled. i have had trouble eating from day 1 of being banded. while i needed to lose weight i was ok with dealing with it. i considered taking the band out but my doctor suggested this as a first step and i'm thrilled. i can finally eat again. and since i missed "good" food for the past 2 1/2 years...i seem to be staying away from junk. i keep saying if i gain any weight i have to put the fill back in and go back to the Protein shake world...which i dont want. i'm enjoying simple things like tuna fish. mrs husker....you are in my prayers...what a great attitude you have. i think this is key for a great recovery which you are on the road. jeni...sorry about your hair. every once in awhile this will happen and i double up on my protein. this usually fixes it. i take the protein shots as a protein boost have a great day everyone

hi scout hope you are feeling better. i just saw your question below re: my plastic surgery my insurance didnt pay for any of the surgery. it was all self pay. in addition to Overeaters Anonymous the is a group called FAA-food addicts anonymous. it is based on the 12 steps and concentrates on eliminating sugar, white flour, etc. there are a host of great books you can read also on the subject of emotional eating. i find them to be helpful. anyway hope you are doing well. josie

he told me to take liquid tylenol for pain

hi luluc, thanks for sharing your story. i actually had my first salad in 2 1/2 years tonight. it was soooo good. it was a simple caesar and i kept say "this is so good, this is so good..." my fiancee' was laughing at me.... he saw me eat a meal for the first time without getting that "deer in headlights" look i would get when i wanted to PB or slime. or having to walk around the restaurant to let the food go down like you i am in such a good mood. my doctor wants me to try to maintain my weight without a fill. i am really going to try. the funny thing is...so far my craving for sweets has gone away. it may be temporary but for now...i'll take it. he thought maybe my cravings were related to not being able to eat food. anyway....thanks again for your story and good luck too... josie

My most successful times in this "band-journey" has been when i journalled my food. and when i was totally honest. i used sparkpeople.com. there is also one name fitday.com both are good if you have I-Phone, there is a new application called "mynetdiary". it works with both your phone and computer. and it's super easy fyi...i still communicated with the people i met in weightwatchers online while i was losing weight with my band. i found i received more emotional support from them. what i did get from this site was alot of great information. good luck josie

My most successful times in this "band-journey" has been when i journalled my food. and when i was totally honest. i used sparkpeople.com if you have I-Phone, there is a new application called "mynetdiary". it works with both your phone and computer. and it's super easy josie

hi i was completely unfilled today. i've been having issues eating sitting down since i was banded. it's pretty weird when i go out to dinner...i have to walk around to eat. while i was losing weight i could deal with this....to do this the rest of my life seems a bit much. i've considered the sleeve...but that is so new and i would like more long term success on that surgery. last time i went to my doctor to explain this issue....he was a little flip with me. he said he never heard of this issue before. so this time i asked to see his nurse. she was the one who figured out that i had pneumonia early on. i guess my doctor was curious why i asked for her and not him so he came in instead and was soooooo helpful. (i actually love my doctor...he is really very good) so we agreed to completely unfill to see if i can eat more easily. he feels i may be able to stay unfilled and maintain my weight. if i cant and i start gaining...i will go back and get filled under fluro. i had my first meal sitting down tonight and it put me in such a good mood. i had chicken which i haven't been able to eat since being banded. i really would like to keep the band and not undergo another surgery... i still love my band and the life i've gotten back since losing weight. i was a prisoner in my own body. josie

hi i didnt have a pre-op diet. i went to my doctor's seminar Wednesday night and had my surgery Friday morning. (obviously i was self-pay) my doctor just asked me not to eat meat on thursday. i probably wouldnt be banded if i needed to do some of the pre-op diets i've read on this site. my doctor said "if you could do a pre-op diet and stay on it....why would you need the band?"....made sense to me :thumbup:

i count every ounce i lost! we deserve it...we worked for this... :thumbup:

hi skinnysue i just did both on may 11. my doctor initially wanted me to separate them and do in 2 operations. i knew once i did the first one, i wouldnt go back for a second. i am so glad i did it this way. i actually had a pretty easy recovery. i have a thread on the cosmetic surgery forum called "josiebies TT and Breast lift" you can read through and see my journey. i am thrilled with the results. i have to get pics up here.... anyway good luck in making your decision on how to handle josie

2 weeks after

hi healthy Centrum has a great chewable that is meant for adults. initially i took flintstones and the gummy ones (they got stuck) because i didnt know about the Centrum....and i wasnt getting enough Vitamins for an adult. hope this helps josie

hi scout, in my journey this has happened to me. what i've done to try to break the "spell" is the following: -start journalling my food. this helps me to actually look at the calories i am consuming. i tend to minimize when i "taste" something. i used sparkpeople.com but there are other good sites like fitday.com, etc. -i force myself to start moving. for me it is to get to the gym. i find if i work out it helps to me reason with myself "why would i eat junk if i just busted my butt" or go for a morning or night walk. it needs to be brisk to get the heart rate going. even if starting with 10 minutes and building from there -i also read motivational literature. i try to look at all of this only one day at a time. the key is....dont give up. you can get back on the wagon...."one day at a time" these are just some of the steps i've taken when i lost my way since being banded...hope it helps. josie

hi i joined match.com before being banded but hid my profile. i "unhid" it when i was size 16 because my niece took a headshot of me where i didnt look fat. i wanted to practice. i talked to guys but delayed meeting any till i was size 14. the first guy i met was a mucky muck surgeon down here that made me feel like s*&t about my size. so i went back into my shell until i was size 10/12. i'm now engaged and getting married to a wonderful guy (he's eye candy) but he doesnt care about my size.... i'd like to say size doesnt matter but it did to me....so i'm definitely grateful for my band. i wouldnt have been able to do it without it. josie

hi mimi, so glad you are doing better..... i like you need my coffee...or else i get a big fat headache. sounds like you are on the mend but go slow..... josie

Good luck ashley with your band. you can get alot of good information on this site. if you need any help...please just ask. josie

hi everyone, glad to see Marchies '07 are still around. i didnt know about the july "marchie" thread until today. so i searched to see if we had an august thread....i miss not being in contact with people from our month. thank you mrs H for starting this. we will always be the marchies and we are all at different points in our "band-journey" so you are definitely "active" at it. i will keep you in my prayers as you are going through your cancer recovery. where i'm at...2 years 4 mos down the road. the good news....i'm near goal, i'm engaged to a great guy and i just had plastic surgery to take off the belly skin and have my boobs lifted. my fiancee' and i are about to contract to build a new house (i cant believe i have to move again...i just moved to texas less then 3 years ago) we are staying in texas..just moving to a very small town out west. (i'm from nyc moving to a town of 3600 people) god has a good sense of humor...but i've never been happier. the not so good news....i havent started working out since before my surgery in may-everything is moving south, i am TOTALLY addicted to sugar...especially ice cream and i feel like crap eating this way. i've had trouble eating with the band since day 1. i cant eat sitting down, i cant eat some days, despite having hardly any fill. i am trying to work my way out of this funk.... i am going to see my doctor next tuesday. i am going to get totally unfilled as an experiment to see if my eating problems are due to the band, my anatomy, etc. i am going to force myself to eat good food like i did when i was first banded. i am then going to get myself off sugar. i did it when i got banded and felt great when i ate good nutrition. i also am starting the gym this week. instead of thinking of the whole enchilada...i'm going to just make myself get dressed and walk into the gym. i saw that suggestion on here and it made sense. my problem is i think of having "to do it all" and then i get overwhelmed. once i'm in a routine at the gym...i do much better... i am totally happy i got the band. i just need to get back on track especially with regards to the sugar. so glad we are still around....hope more of the group shows up josie

hi mimi, maybe just let your stomach relax for a few hours. whenever i've had an issue...i usually get so nervous and want to get it "fixed" that i aggravate it more. i try to force it to take in liquids, etc. then it swells more when i do nothing for a period of time, it will usually come back in place. it's weird...i havent had a bad episode for over 2 years...except this past friday night. i think i ate too fast or too big a piece of steak/lobster. i got worried and started trying to drink Water, eat ice cream, etc and made it worse. i couldnt get anything down. luckily it was time to go to bed (which i sat up on pillows to sleep half the night) and it gave me 8 hrs to let my stomach relax. i was better the next day. maybe this can help? hope you feel better.... and maybe look for a new doctor who will work with you then work in "absolutes". josie

hi, i have to say i agree with those that say going into this....we just dont know how whatever WLS will be for us. we make the best decision based on what we know at the time. i was one of those who said they would never, EVER have anything but the band. i didnt want my intestines or stomach cut, etc. even without much of a fill, i experienced issues with eating. i still cant eat sitting down. now that i am at my goal....i have to say i'm not sure i can keep living with the band. while i was losing weight....i didnt mind the pb's, sliming, etc. but i'm starting to think a permanent "diet" of these issues is not in the cards for me. i havent decided anything definitely yet.... the sleeve has peaked my interest but i must say i want to see more history developed on this surgery. i dont want to "switch seats on the titanic". but people that had similar issues with the band that i do...seem to have a much easier time with the sleeve. most importantly i have to say everyone is entitled to their own experience and opinion....and sharing it with someone that requests it is the best we can do to help. josie