princesstuiaki

My friends and I are going in Feb and we are going with Dr Ortiz and a different company. We are nervous. Does he give a leak test after surgery? Can you tell me how it went for you? Me too! I'm not on the wet side of the state, but I can't take the heat. My surgeon was Dr Ortiz with a different company in Tijuana.

@@PuraVida37 I guess it is a good thing to enjoy every stage of pregnancy. I have had terrible pregnancies with really high sugars in the past and so my doctor was hesitant about me getting unfilled. Since I have been pregnant I have not had to have ridiculous amounts of insulin injections everyday and he is actually surprised that I havent gone up on my insulin since I started 25 weeks ago (im only insulin dependent when Im prego). So, I guess it all depends on the situation. Ive actually lost weight since I started. I started at 245 and weighed in at 243 when I went to get unfilled. My surgeon/doc told me that he will just take out 1 cc so that I dont have to start from the beginning when I want to start filling my band again. I got the 1cc out yesterday and already feel a world of difference with my eating, so I have to be careful not to go crazy with it. I have about 9 more weeks to go so I will just monitor what I eat and try to make better choices. My port is higher up on my abdomen, towards the left. It gave me problems/pain in the beginning of my pregnancy but not anymore. Only thing now is that its starting be get pushed out and so I can feel it more. Hope it doesnt protrude out of my belly. LOL. Good luck to you. Hope all goes well with your pregnancy. This is still a fun event so just enjoy it and dont worry about the weight gain too much. That's what my hubby tries to remind me. LOL...and besides, were growing humans in us, so we can gain a little weight

I was banded in Sept 2013 and got pregnant July 2014. I wasn't sure about getting any saline taken out. My cousin took all her fluid out for her 1st baby and gained 60lbs and so for the 2nd baby she kept all her fluid in and gained like 10lbs. I decided to keep all my fluid in (3cc in a 10cc band) and was doing well up until my 25th week or so. So now I am in my 29th week and have finally decided to take out at least 1cc. I go in tomorrow to do that. Main reason I am taking out is because I have not been able to eat well with all the tightness that I have been experiencing. I have gained about 3lbs since i have gotten pregnant. Usually by now that number would have been about 25, so I am happy for the minimal weight gain. I hope I don't gain too much after I get unfilled but am more worried about baby's weight gain than my own. I have 9 more weeks so I am sure it wont be too bad. I also want to get the unfill to make sure that I am staying hydrated and eating well for when I breastfeed. I will decide after baby comes when I will get more saline in to my belt. My doctor as has never been too concerned or worried about my minimal weight gain and that has been the main reason for not taking out any fluid, but For now, I will do what my body says is right

@@PuraVida37 congrats. How is the pregnancy going? I'm 29 weeks. My first baby post lapband. I wasn't sure about getting unfilled and my doctor wasn't pushing it so I left it unfilled. Now that I am this far along, it seems that I am getting stuck more often and am really tight so I decided to get unfilled. I go in tomorrow. I think I will just ask for 1 cc to be taken out. I didn't want to gain too much weight, which I haven't (I think Im at about 3 or 4 pounds gainged) but I am starting to worry about baby's weight gain. My doctor still doesnt seem to be worried about babys weight. But just for my peace of mind and also so that I can keep things down, I will go and get unfilled. I only have 3cc's in there...so that will put me at 2cc's in a 10cc band. I havent been on much but I have been reading all the updates via emails sent to my every time someone posts on this thread. Sounds like we are/were all on the same page of standing still as far as weight goes. I was stuck at 245 before baby came for about 3 months...and now that I am pregnant I am at about 247, give or take. I hope that I don't gain a whole ton after my unfill tomorrow and I hope that I can get on track after baby gets here and be able to lose weight. This has most def been a really trying and frustrating journey. With all the stand still on my weight loss and all the getting stuck. I have never been able to eat right after because everything I eat usually gets stuck and so it has kinda forced me to do shakes and chips and other sliders, just so that I feel that I am getting things down. I'm hoping to get a better diet in after i get this cc taken out. And with a regular exercise routine after baby comes, I hope I can get back on track. I'm 17 months post surgery and I have only lost about 1/3 of what I was hoping to lose by now. Anyways, hope all is going well with everyone else. Have a good week

Ive gained like 3 pounds. I dont know if I should be happy or worried. LOL. Usually by this time in my previous pregnancies I would have gained at least 20 lbs and another 20 in the next 10 weeks. I'm 29 weeks now, so I have 11 weeks til term but I am high risk because I have had a still born at 39 weeks so I am usually able to cry my way in to an early labor...I usually get induced at 38 weeks, so I am about 9 weeks away from D-Day. I have been so tight lately and worried about baby's weight gain so I will go and get about 1cc taken out tomorrow. I cant wait to actually eat

PuraVida37 and Chasingadream, I am soooooo envious of you and your progress. That is so awesome for you two, congrats. I feel like some of the other ladies here. Such slow and hard process. Interlish, you seem like you are doing well as well. 72 pounds is awesome and fitting on the plane is such a great feeling Arch002 and NewMeDebbie, I feel some of your pain. I started out a year ago at 285 pounds and am at 245 now, give or take a few pounds. I did not think I would only be 40 pounds. I was actually planning a summer beach, bikini bod for this past summer but that did not happen. I too know that it is all up to me and that this tool is to HELP me try to help myself. Although, I sometimes wish I just had the sleeve where it would so much more easier to lose weight. Then again, the grass is never greener on the other side So I struggle a lot with what I eat and with exercise. I was doing so good with exercise then just as you all know, life gets in the way. I am a full time student, work full time, a full time wife (sometimes I wish I could be a part time wife *rolls eyes* )and a full time mommy of 4. Then to add to the plate, as if it wasn't full enough, I just found out that I am pregnant. I didn't want to be pregnant again until after I was at goal weight and done with school but nothing that I can do about it now. So with the poor food choices and me struggling with exercise, I am way disappointed with myself. I hardly feel "full", just stuck and that frustrates me a lot as well and is another reason why I wish I just got the sleeve. With the pregnancy, I am trying to be more conscious of my food choices because I don't want to get unfilled. I would like to just stay with whats in my band now and try to go the whole pregnancy with out taking out any saline. Ofcourse if the doc suggests, I will take it out. He said he will keep an eye on me and will let me know if he wants me to get unfilled or not but for now he thinks its fine. I am just terrified of gaining so much weight that I am trying to be grateful for the 40 pound loss and trying to maintain this weight, or even lose a few pounds, during this pregnancy. I wish you all luck. We can totally get to where we need to be.

I was banded about a year ago and am only half way to my goal weight. I struggle a lot with what kinds of food I have been eating and that is why I believe that my weighloss has been slow. I recently found out that I am expecting. This is my 5th child but 1st since being banded. Does anyone have any suggestions or stories on how their pregnancy went after they got banded? I am wondering if I should get my band loosened although I feel fine with where it is at and do not want to gain extra weight if I get it loosened. Any suggestions and comments help. Thanks.

Hey everyone. I'm glad that everyone is doing well. It seems that we are all experiencing the same struggles. I don't respond much but I have been keeping up with all the updates. I feel that I have the exact same story as some of you. I have been eating terrible lately because it seems the bad unhealthy foods go down a lot smoother then the good foods that we need to eat. I have been struggling with chips and Cookies and slider foods and so reading that I am not the only one struggling with this makes me feel better. I am afraid to get another fill because I am already struggling with stuck episodes when I eat. I have a hard time taking smaller bites and slowing down when I eat :/ that is another struggle of mine but I am slowly learning. I have been stuck in the 250's for about 3 months now which is really depressing. 2 weeks ago I finally broke it and am in the 240's now. It has been a slower, longer and harder process then I expected. Sometimes I wish I got the sleeve or gastric but remind myself that the struggle will help teach me and also make me appreciate the weight loss a lot more. Keep trekking everyone. Slow and steady wins the race. I'm rooting for each and every one of you. Your updates give me hope and make me happy.

Thanks for the advice Debbie...I guess I am just so used to snacking because even with all my other fills I have always just snacked but I am seeing what you mean about not needing it. Today is my first day on real foods after the fill because my doc put me on liquids for 48 hours after my fill and so I had my first meal today at 1pm (work late and woke up late hence the late breakfast/lunch) and I had a cup of food and was full and now I am here at work and pulled out some almonds to snack on and after like 6 I felt the restriction...so yeah. I will for sure have train my body not to snack Thanks.

I never come on but I love getting notifications in my email with all your updates. I am not doing well as far as eating and being faithful at the gym and so my weight loss has not been doing well either. I have to keep having these pep talks with myself that I can do it and every morning I recommit to doing better at making better food choices. I had another cc put in to my band on Tuesday and the restriction is unbelievable. I seriously have about a cup of food and I am done. I have never had that feeling before. I love to chug water but have noticed that I cannot chug like I did just a week ago, I can take a couple big gulps and then stop and just sip through out the day. So that is 3.5 cc in my 10cc band. I am hoping that this last fill will really help me with my portions and eating habits. I am a snacker, for sure, and so I am making sure that I only have healthy snacks around me at all times. Slowly but surely. I started at 285 and am at 255 now and so I have lost a total of 30lbs and am hoping to lose some more weight with this last fill and the restrictions. Hoping to find my green zone soon. All your journeys inspire me. Thanks Lets keep it melting!!!

GeorgiaRN, I am just EXACTLY like you. I have lost a total of about 30 to 33 pounds depending on the day, I am active at work and school and home, haven't been making the best food choices but still not eating as much. I feel horrible because I am not progressing as much as I wanted but also realize that it is because of my eating and exercise. I have 3cc's in my 10 cc band, I will go for another fill soon. I have also started making better food choices and make them available at home and work so that I am not tempted when I get hungry and I have also started juicing fruits and veggies to drink throughout the day. I am hoping to make some permanent changes and see some better results because I need to. Good luck to you all.

Sorry about the no support at home. I am lucky and have some good support at home but I still come here for EVERYTHING that I need to know. This site offers a different kind of support that I feel like people at home can't offer. I hope you find more support and help here on this site. I have it on my phone and am always reading. Good luck.

Hey bandsters, I had a question about eating? I am 18 days post op and I am now eating "normally". As normal as it gets. I am eating softer normal foods but I feel that I am eating a lot... by a lot, I mean like...2, maybe 3 cups of food. I have not been filled, I will have my 1st fill on the 18 of next month. First question, do you think my band has slipped. I have had no problems what so ever with any of the foods going down, and I have not felt sick after eating anything. 2nd question, do you think that I am eating too much? Should I try to eat less since I will have to adjust to eating less after my fill?

I was also still sore 3 days post. I think I started feeling better about 4 or 5 days pay. I did not have plication. And my band is not filled yet so now that I'm getting in to "real"foods I'm getting more hungry. u can't wait for my first fill. I hope you get to feeling better.