Connorsmom

Hi All To those of you who have had trouble conceiving or told it is because of your weight, I share my story..... 2002 I was 29 and my husband and I decided we wanted to start a family. I knew I would have problems because I was very irregular and had been diagnosed with PCOS. At the time my weight was around 280. I had gone to a fertility specialist and told I needed IVF - started my meds and my cycle was cancelled - told to lose weight (try weight watchers) and then I can try IVF again Onto the next fertility specialist - she was kind and understanding regardless on my weight - we moved quickly to IVF and had a great cycle, unfortunately it failed. We then used my frozen embryos and again - failed - Doctor was stumped. We decided to try one last artificial insemination and that too failed. Doctor decided that I should take a break and try to diet - maybe weightloss would improve my chances of success. Ok, so.....I decide that I want Lap-band surgery, my weight had creeped up into the 300's and I was tired. We bought a puppy and started to purchase our first house. Well the next month after my last failed cycle I was pregnant!!! I had a wonderul, easy pregnancy and my son was delivered November 10, 2003. Fast forward to January 2004. I had my lap-band surgery - yeah!! June 2007 - we have been trying without success to have another baby. I go back to my fertility specialist. Now I am down 70 lbs (260), feeling great, on Metformin for my PCOS and ready for IVF.. August another "perfect" cycle - we were sure this was it - but sadly this cycle failed. Now my doctor is looking for answers - I have testing done and test positive for natural killer cells - they kill the embryo - we plan my treatment but while waiting for my period I discover I am preggers!! Ok, so IVF failed - 4 weeks pregnant, but found out not a viable pregnancy - so I am told to wait for my period and we will start up treatment again. This was not September - we go away to Florida and I am waiting and waiting for my period - no show. We come back from Florida, no period. I can't say what made me decide to take a pregnancy test but I did and it was a BIG FAT POSITIVE!!! HUH????????? I run to the doctor the next day and it was confirmed 5 weeks pregnant. So I ovulated right after the first pregnancy failed but before I had a period - strange I know, but true. So here I am 11 weeks pregnant with a healthy little bean - feeling great. My doctor calls me her miracle patient! I hope my story is encouraging, never give up, anything is possible. lauren

Hey all I had my second son June 2, 2008. I started my pregnancy about 268 and delivered at 288. I am still at 288!!!!!!! My band is 4cc and filled to capacity - I have no restriction and am eating like my old ways. I have appt with doctor on Wednesday - hoping for a maybe new band?? Thanks Lauren Dr. Bertha 1/24/05 330/258/had baby back up to 288/230

Hi All Well I am down about 42 lbs! Feeling really happy about that but at last visit in July Dr Bertha suggested I go to nutritionist and go back to him in a month to evaluate my loss. Well now it is September - I have not gone to the nutritionist yet and am stuck at 42 lbs. I keep going up a couple of lbs and then losing it. I joined Curves and never go (maybe once a week) I am not eaing so great and feel I need a fill (only had one). I am afraid to go back to Dr. Bertha!! HELP

After a 70 lb loss and a pregnancy (with 25 lb gain and loss) I suddenly lost my restriction and gained 35 lbs within months. Had a fill - still no restriction - had endoscopy and all was fine. I went today for a fill and after some struggling to inject the saline we found out I have a leak in my tubing. Fill was done under flouro. Calling tommorow for surgery date and excited to be back on track!

Help Something has happened with my band - I did great with my pregnancy and gained about 20 lbs - still had restriction after he was born - all of of sudden - nothing - no restriction - I can totally eat like I did pre-band - as soon as I stopped breastfeeding in November - the wait just came on. My doctor thinks I have either an erosion or my tube disconnected! Anyone with similar experience? Lauren banded 1/05 330/258/268/288-pregnancy/302 now!!!!!!!!!!!

Long story shot - banded in 1/04 - lost 70 lbs - happy, happy happy!! Maintained and was feeing great. Band was filled to capacity (dr's words) still maintained Got pregnant 9/07 - gained 30 lbs - no un-fill - still restricted Had baby 6/08 - lost baby weight - still restricted - happy, happy, happy!! 11/08 - restriction gone - POOF! 30 lbs back on in no time at all - reached the dreaded "300" lb mark!!! Not happy at all Go for a fill - put in 1.5cc (where did the saline go from before?? doctor says ???) Band looked fine - No restriction still!! Now I am 305 lbs up from 265 and miserable - going for an endoscopy tomorrow and hopin that all is fine and I just need another fill which will be on May 18. I joined weight watchers and still doing bad - my whole body aches, my back hurts - I feel like crap!!!!!!! I keep thinking about the bypass but am so against it! I am afraid of it and have seen too many people gain back after Looking for encouragement

Before I was pregnant my 4cc band was filled to capacity. I got pregnant - did not have an un-fill and did fine. I had the baby and still had restiction - lost my baby weight (25lbs) and then all of a sudden - POOF - my restriction was gone. I can eat like I did pre-band. I quickly put on 30 lbs. I had a fill last Tuesday and he put in 1.5cc - I still have no restriction (a tiny, tiny bit but not like pre-baby). When I asked what happened to my saline that was in there - my doctor just said he did not know! This is totally crazy - where did it go? I want to feel restricition like I did before I had the baby and get these 30 lbs off. I go back in a month and am asking for another fill. Anyone else experience this??

Help Something has happened with my band - I did great with my pregnancy and gained about 20 lbs - still had restriction after he was born - all of of sudden - nothing - no restriction - I can totally eat like I did pre-band - as soon as I stopped breastfeeding in November - the weight just came on. My doctor thinks I have either an erosion or my tube disconnected! I have gained 30+ in 9 months!!!

I should have mentioned that I have an appointment for a flouroscopy fill on the 27th to find out what is going on. What are the symptoms of a leak?

my first fill is on the 24th of this month and I have little to no restriction or I am not paying attention to my fullness because I cannot stop picking all day!! I had to make Cookies for a play group and I was eating the dough without any thought about it!! I feel like I am out of control - I have lost 25 lbs since surgery and am so happy about that but in my head I keep saying that it is "ok" to gain some back before my fill!! This is bad, bad, bad!!! HELP

Dr Bertha is my surgeon - I really think he is a great surgeon - a bit forward - meaning he does not beat around the bush. They will have you attend a seminar. Good Luck

Hi Everyone Well I am not preggers yet but am having my embryos transferred back into my uterus tommorrow - this was an IVF cycle. I have a son who was conceived before surgery (312 lbs!) and now since losing 70lbs we decided to try again. Wish me luck!

I had my band checked under flouro yesterday and I am filled to the max. I do not feel any good restriction so I am on my own now. I am disappointed but happy that I have lost almost 70 lbs thanks to my band. My doc mentioned how a lot of patients in my shoes have had their band removed and had a bypass but that is not in my future - I still have the same feelings on that surgery and it is not for me. I truly believe that I can still be healthy and not have to be 130 lbs. My goal all along has been to lose 100lbs and I am almost there. We are going to be starting in-vitro fertilization in June for a second baby so until then I am going to buckle down get on track.

Mind you I am 2 years out and asking this question - duh??? When I take a bite of something I get a "stopped/stuck" feeling and if I take a drink or I can literally feel it go down. That initial feeling I get is that restriction?? Am I supposed to stop there? Almost always even without a sip of Water I chew and chew, swallow, it stops for a moment and then I can feel it go through - do I keep eating? Please explain and help!

bump PLEASE HELP

So I am over 2 years out and was down almost 70 lbs - have put on about 6lbs, eating everything, not exercising and now my doctor is dropping my insurance. My motivation is gone and still want to lose at least 35 lbs and cannot!! Please help, I need some inspiration. Lauren

It is precribed for women with PCOS, often regardless of their insulin resistance results. It can help with the weightloss of PCOS patients which in turn can bring back cycles and assist in ovulation. I have PCOS but not IR and I took it for a short time. It did not help me and I could not handle to side effects but I know MANY women with PCOS who take it and do just fine.

I know how you feel - I put on about 10 lbs and could not get it off, lose a pound, gain a pound...... I went to the doctor and have started Phentermine 37.5 mg. Along with that I am eating healthy: Protein shake for breasfast small lunch small dinner (usually fish) no snacking and no carbs I have lost 6 lbs since starting and feel much better. I am not recommending drugs by any means just telling you what I am doing. Good Luck Lauren

SO here I am almost 2 years out. I had gotten down to 262lbs from 330 and now I am back up to 272!!! This 10 lbs has been lingering for too long. Along with that I will be started infertility meds soon and they also put weight on - sooooo I bit the bullet and started on phentermine today to get this 10lbs and hopefully more off before starting meds. I have to say it really works awesome - no appetite. I had a Protein shake for Breakfast tomato Soup for lunch flounder filet and squash for dinner Just wondering if anyone else has any experience with this drug??

Thanks for the info but I am an RN and am very familiar with this drug. No this drug is not very bad for you. If you are taking the correct doseage for the correct amount of time (3 months max) you will be fine. Just for your info all drug companies have to put anything that may have happened while their drug was in the testing stage (before FDA approval) and that info HAS to be listed as a potential side effect.

I won't be taking these as long as three months, as we will be starting fertility tx and I hope to become pg. But as I said earlier, I am eating three small meals a day and no snacking and loosing!! I have no plans on looking for another pill after this one - I do believe that these are a short term thing - a jump start for some.

Actually my band is adjusted pretty well (i.e I had lost almost 70 lbs) but the fact is that I really did not watch what I ate nor did I exercise to lose the weight. I guess I am lucky in that the weight came off like it did but now it has stopped, I put on a few pounds and the pills are helping me mentally and physically get back on track. Yes, I realize they are a short term "tool" but I cannot think of a negative reason not to use what is available if it helps. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my band and could not have lost what I have so far without it but yes, it is a lifetime commitment, I fell off the wagon and need some help. I have lost 6 lbs in 3 days and am feeling good again. I was in such slump after putting on weight and now I am totally motivated again. So....sorry if my prior post was snotty.

The reason I am doing the "pills" is to get off weight I have gained (10 lbs- due to hormonal issues) before starting infertility drugs and to hopefully avoid gaining while on the drugs (they tend to put weight on you) I just have to say the the band is a tool and I did not get it so that I will never have to try any other method of weight loss again. That is unrealistic. I have lost almost 70 lbs with my band but never have I lost interest in food or had a complete loss of appetite as I am experiencing now. I feel great and have been eating healthy and have lost 4 lbs so far. How can that be negative?? IMO you should have not posted if you have a problem with it - we all do what we have to.

www.phentermine.com

I have lost 4 lbs in 2 days since starting the Phentermine. I feel fine and really no appetite but am eating healthy Yipee!