tztmama

Ok I am feeling better about this. The pillow is the backrest with arms type, I can get that at walmart. Pacomomma, wow! already cookin' and cleanin'! You all have really helped to ease my mind. I am grateful, really. Thanks for being there and I am in awe of what you all have accomplished!

Thank you so much for the tips. Okay, so far on my list is....stretchy pants, back rest pillow, sounds like a "lunbar" pillow (tube shaped), and set up card table beside bed to hold supplies (pills, magazines, remote, etc.) I cared for my totally disabled mom for 6 years before she died in Feb. 06. She had an electric wheelchair and I am seriously thinking about charging that thing up and having it near my bed just to get to the bathroom and back. I think my ex hubby may stay with me for a couple of days, or at least come and check on me. I'm having surgery on a thurday. My daughter will stay with me that weekend if I need her to. She is 27. Thank you so much for all the help and I hope you don't mind if I pop up with questions or concerns for awhile. i will return the favor by sharing my experience with others.

Pacomomma, I just realized you reallydid just have your surgery! I thought about the date after I posted a response. You are already up and around???? This makes me feel sooo much more at ease. I'm visioning myself lying in bed for weeks unable to even lie flat. How did you sleep? Did you have to sleep sitting up? Any helpful hints regarding how to prepare? I live alone so I need to get everything set up before I go in. Thanks ladies!

Thank you so much, you all have helped so much. I will go out next month and get those stretchy pants, for sure. My surgery is July 19. Countdown!

Wow! all i have is zip/button up. right now i'm a comfy size 10, snug 8. were you a size smaller at 6 weeks?

I just wanted to give credit to (and brag about) my awesome surgeon. I went in for a slight fill (first in 8 months) on Wednesday. It was way too tight and I was writhing in pain all night. I called him on his cell phone at 6:30 AM Thursday morning. He told me to meet him at the clinic at 8 AM where he removed 1 cc. I went to work only to continue to be in pain and to vomit several times, unable to keep even my protein shake down. I was so tired I went home after work and eventually called him again. Even though the office was closed he had me meet him in the hospital lobby where he then personally drove me to the office to do a complete unfill. Without charging me anything more, he let me come back today, Friday, to do a re fill. He even offered to let me go try to eat something and then come back for more or less fill afterwards. Now that is committment! I live in SaN Diego and my docs name is Milton Owens. He is the best!

Just tell the truth. I had recurring back pain when my band was too tight. Especially in the upper back between the shoulder blades.

I maintain at 100 -1200 cals. I lose at under that. I lose best on 800. Today, I had coffee and a 100 cal bar for breakfast. Lunch was tuna on crackers. Snack was a chocolate chip bar one of my students brought me. Dinner will be beef soup and I'll have another 100 cal bar.

Thank you so much, ladies! I am sorta stessing this. I will have 4 weeks to heal before I return to my teaching job. I'm getting excited about it though. Do you think I'll be able to wear my same clothes by the time 4 weeks are up? I have this vision that I'm going to be in too much pain to shop and also be swollen up so bad my pants won't button. Sounds like that isn't going to happen but thought I'd ask. Thanks again, youv'e both helped immensely!

I lost very little the first 4 ish months. I'm 20 months out now and have lost 80 lbs. I have had multiple fills and unfills.

I lost only about 10 pounds the first 4 months because I had to keep going back to adjust fills. Its frustrating and I thought I'd be one of those that just "wasn't successful" witht he band. Here I sit now, 20 months out, and I've gone from 226 lbs to 148. I'm getting my tummy tuck in July. I'm not at goal but I am ok with where I am. I'm 46 yrs old and don't need to be super thin at this point. Best of luck!

Puddin, Get to a meeting. You are hurting yourself as much as others, even though these men who are committed to other women are to blame for their own poor judgement. Go get help. Go to a sex and love addicts meeting along with one on one therapy. Your behavior is NOT ok. It is self destructive. You didn't come all this way with your weight loss etc just to be miserable.

Puddin, There is an fellowship called "Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous". It is a great program based on the 12 steps used for addictions. You are a beautiful young woman in many ways and deserve so much more. I know that I feel uncomfortable when men notice me and often crave my "fat suit". Albeit, I am 46 and don't get the attention of a young woman, I still sort of cringe when I do. I have gone through menopause so my sex drive is not what it used to be. I hope you do whatever it takes to find true and lasting happiness. Take care, sweetie.

I am not sure what my BMI was but I know it was under 40. Maybe it was 37. I am 5'4 and weighed 226 twenty months ago. I now weigh 150. I got down to 142 but..............I'm working on getting another 15 pounds off before my tummy tuck in July. I didn't lose much weight for the first 6 months because I have a "moody" band. It has only been at the "sweet spot" for maybe 4 months out of 20. Mostly it has been too loose or too tight. It is during the times when it is just a little too tight, meaning I mainly have liquids and soups, that I lose the most weight. Until I could "get" with that, I lost very little. I am so glad we were able to get our bands even though we didn't meet the BMI guidelines. The surgery really has changed my life!

I'm 20 months out and as long as I get fills, I still lose. The problem is that I have tired of being overfilled and having that pain in my back and chest. I have had a complete unfill (6ccs) and just had him refill me up to 4ccs. I hope I don't start to gain but have resolved myself to the fact that I have to "diet" again, count calories, and exercise. We'll see how it goes. If I start to gain you'd better believe I'll go get a fill! I'm only about 12 pounds from where I want to be.

Hello, I am also a bandster her in San Diego! I was banded in Sept. 05. How much have you lost? My dr. is Dr. Owens. Do y'all still get together at Mimi's?

I have had my band for 1 yr and 8 months. I went from 226 lbs to 148 lbs - size 20-22 to 8 - 10. I have an extended tummy tuck planned for this July. I have had a fairly complication free journey. A couple of times I had an over-fill but it was adjusted and I'm fine.

I have loose skin on my upper and lower tummy area. My thighs are a bit jiggly too. I am having a tummy tuck in July.

I have loose skin on my upper and lower tummy area. My thighs are a bit jiggly too. I am having a tummy tuck in July.

Wow! You look fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I am not as computer savy but if I can get some before and afters, perhaps my daughter will help me post them. I went from 226 lbs. to 146 lbs. and am scheduled for an extended TT in July. Thanks again and best of all to you!

Hey there partner! Yup, this time of year can be stressfull! Lets all hang in there. Congrats to you for working out! I still fall very short in this area. i just come home from work and want to sleep. My new years resolution is to start working out. I really want a tt and need to start getting ready for it. happy holidays to you and yours and keep your chin up ( sounds like you are doing great on your weight loss!) Darla

Hi alll, I have a dear friend who is interested in getting banded. She lives in LV and I told her I would check with y'all and see if anyone knows of a good surgeon in her area. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance. Darla

I have a dear friend who is trying to get banded. SHe lives in LV and asked me to ask y'all if anyone recommends a surgeon in the vicinity. Thanks in advance, Darla (banded 9/05, down 72 lbs with 12 to go)

I took my 8 yr old grandaughter to an info seminar where they passed an actual lap band gadget around for all to see and feel. I was paying attention to the surgeon when I happened to look away for a moment to find my g-daughter wrapping the thing around her head and looking out of the circular part that goes on the stoma. I explained it all to her beforehand. She is actually sort of fascinated with it. She just didn't like the thought of me "shrinking" because she likes a "soft Nana".

I am in a 10/12 now and started at about a 20/22. I was banded 9/05. I would like to be in a size 8 and would be pretty close to it if I could get a tummy tuck.