mbanja

:confused:I am currently too tight. Not to the point I can't drink water (cause I got a slight unfill), but to the point I can't really get any solids down. My NP is out of town until Saturday so I will probably be getting a slight unfill then. In the mean time, is it just me or is it easier for some people to get things down when they are at a slightly reclined angle. I know on my first fill if something got stuck, I could do a little "wiggle dance" in my seat and it would work its way thru. Any one else notice this?

Well to start let me give you a little history. My first pregnancy 2years ago I had acid reflux really bad. I got banded 7months after my DH was born and Did fine with no acid reflux up until my second fill (6months after banding). 2nd fill was too tight and had to go back down to 1.2cc in my 4cc band which was my origial fill. Acid reflux was still present but I didn't want it completely unfilled (I mean I paid outta pocket for this thing and I was a slow looser so I was going to stick it out if you know what I mean-no pain no gain or loss that is!) So I was put on protonix which curbed the throat pain but didn't get rid of the acid reflux all together. My fill doc and I decided that I am just super sinsitive to getting fills. So, We now know that I cannot have any substantial fill put in at one time rather I will have to have small amounts at a time put in until I reach optimum fill level. Which is just freaking great cuz I gotta pay outta pocket for each fill!!! Then outta nowhere boom I am pregnant exactly 1year after my banding! AAAHHHH, I was on birth control for goodness sakes. It was totally unexpected!! I am not ready for another one yet!! Anyways starting at 4weeks I was puking my guts up and finally starting the 8th week went into the hospital for dehydration and stayed 4days. Since, I haven't thrown up and miraculously I haven't had any reflux!! Oh man its the best feeling to not dread going to bed at night!!! I don't even have to sleep on a stupid wedge anymore. I totally hope the reflux doesn't come back when I get bigger! UGgghh, I dread getting bigger. I gained 60lbs my first pregnancy and my goal for this pregnancy is to only gain 15lbs. Wish me luck. I am 12 weeks now and have not gained any weight yet, even with a completely unfilled band! Yea!!

Poor thing, I'm so sorry! I know what you are going thru and it really sucks!! I hope it gets better for you! Having a baby is so wonderful but going thru pregnancy is just the pits. My first pregnancy wasn't so bad but this pregnancy has been awful from the beginning!! I think it is because I have a little one to take care of, so I can't rest when I want to and I can nap when I feel crappy. So no instead of sleeping durring the crappy part I am forced in a sense to focus on how tired I am or how bad I feel. And when I get stressed I can't have a couple of drinks to relax- WHICH REALLY SUCKS!! LOL! But the out come of our pain and struggle is the most beautiful thing in the world and you will see that you will be willing to go thru it all over again in a heartbeat! MAYBE!!! LOL!!

Fairy, did you ask you doctor about taking the prilosec? I was on protonix and the doc said that it was a catagory B drug and ok to take during pregnancy. Since prilosec is an anti acid just like protonix I would think that it would be ok. My doc made a comment that anti acids are usually safe, and that is what they give infants with GERD. If you are really suffering ask your doc. If you are not able to take prilosec she might be able to give you something that would help. Just a side note, if she gives you protonix (which is now available in generic) it takes a couple of weeks to start working (just like an anti depressant) Before I was put on protonix, I got a wedge to sleep on because I was choking on stomach acid that was comming up during the night. It was so bad I'd have to get up and throw up to get some relief. I hope they can help you! I know what it is like, and I know it is not fun at all!!!

Sweet! Good luck and keep me posted. We can root each other on!!

OMG. I am now 12 weeks prego and starting at 4 weeks all the way to 8 weeks I was puking my guts up. Probably like 20-30 times a day. At the end point, I was just eating to be able to actually throw up food instead of stomach acid. Durring this time, I had 1.2cc in a 4cc band and could not make it out to my local fill center to get an unfill because I was so sick. My OB gave me Zofran (witch is I believe the strongest antinausia med you can take,not positive though) I also got phenergan suppositories since anything going in my mouth was comming right back out. Eventually, I had lost 15lbs and was so dehydrated (and had not peed it 3 days) and fed up I went to the ER and was given 4 bags of IV fluid. Even with all that fluid I still didn't urinate that day or the next morning so I went to my OB and they immediately admitted me and I was in the hospital for 4days on IV's. Upon arrival at the hospital I was immediately seen by a GI doc (due to throwing up blood) and a Bariatric surgeon (due to the band still being filled) They ordered an xray of the band and immediately unfilled the band. Luckily the band had not slipped (THANK GOD!!!!) and after the unfill and 4days and 10lbs of fluid put back into my body I have not thrown up since. It was really rough. So if there is anything I can advise people that are acutally throwing up constantly, make it your first priority to get your band unfilled. I personally think that if my band was unfilled I probably would not have gotten into such bad shape as I was in. I was hoping to actually leave my fill in through out the pregnancy because it was not that tight, but I'd rather be healthy and pregnant than skinny and pregnant. This time baby is priority and not me. Even though this was an accidental pregnancy!!!

Unfortunately for us Migraine sufferer's, the reason it is so hard to get pain killers for migraines when you go to the doc is because Migraine and back pain are the top excuses for pain med requests (for abuse purposes) and docs and ERs know this so that is why it is so hard to get them. Keep in mind to that anything with codine in it can make a migraine worse, codine is also a trigger for migraines. Personally, if I'm gonna get a pain killer high, I don't want it to be with a migraine. Thank goodness Imitrex works for me.

This happened to me after my surgery. I had stitches but the doctor put tape over them so the knots wouldn't catch on my clothes and pull. Well, I guess I was allergic to the tape and it made huge welts over the incisions and they itched like crazy. The ONLY thing I found to help stop the itch was Bandaide brand anti itch gel. It is for insect bites I think but it has menthol in it and it was the only thing that kept me from scratching. Not even benedryl cream worked.

LOL!!! What is that icky feeling.....OMG where is the bathroom!! LOL!!

Honestly, the men I used to work with wouldn't even notice if I dyed my hair pink and came to work. I think it is just their nature. Unless they have any attraction to you they usually don't notice much. Not to diss men or anything, guy's can just be oblivious most of the time. At least that's what I think. I've been wrong many times before.

Messy, is a nice word to explain the impact it had on me. If you do try it, do not try to pass gas unless you are on a toilet "period." The consequences are just too awful to relay in words. If you do want to try it, buy some panty liners....no wait, buy the pads designed for overnight use!!! Otherwise you will be buying all new panties and pants, and do not try passing gas while seated on a couch or chair cuz it will go right thru clothing and stain the seat!!!! I took it pre and post band and it didn't really even have a good enough effect on weightloss for me to continue taking it.

Good point Jachut, I was so focused on our "diet" and not really paying attention and when I got my chl results back I was like "Oh my gosh, I've lost 40lbs since last test, it should be good, what have I been eating...etc"

It is funny this came up right at this time because I just had a yearly check up at my pcp office and my bad cholesterol levels had gone up and good cholesterol had gone down since being banded. I agree with Jfran and Telicia and Jachut. It just depends on other factors. It is funny though cuz even at my highest weight I never had any problems with my cholesterol it was alway perfect just like my glucose levels and BP. That is why I was a self pay, healthy as an ox other than being fat.

I hope you didn't think I was insulting your intelligence or experience in babywearing, I was just trying give you the insite you asked for from my perspective. Sorry if you got offended by me posting instructions and a website to show you how to make the wrap. Everyone is different, I was personally more comfortable wearing DD in a wrap right after surgery. If a wrap is not for you ok. (Maybe I am just misunderstanding your tone in your post.) I was just trying to help by giving you my perspective on the different types of carriers and what was most comfortable for me in the beginning and now.

If you are still tender now try a wrap instead of the mei tie. A wrap can even distribute the weight better and is way more comfortable in my opinion. 3 months out of my surgery I was walking in the park with DD but I carried her infront since I am not so good at getting her on my back. With wraps you can still do back carries. It is easy to make one, just go to your local discount fabric store or walmart. I go to walmart and get the fabric that is on sale for $1 a yard. You need 5 yards and it should be cotton material. Anything will work as long as it doesn't stretch too much but cotton gauze works best and is more breathable than other materials. You don't even have to sew anything just cut in half length wise and your done. There is a great site that can show you how to wear it at TheBabyWearer.com

I am an avid baby wearer too. I had no problems even right after my surgery, but I wore my DD in a wrap though which is wider than a mei tie. I have made a mei tie and now where my 17month old (22lb) DD in it and I had my surgery 9months ago and it doesn't bother my port site at all. The straps that go around my waist are 1inch webbing and I tie it very tight and it still doesn't bother it. I do the ring sling too and it doesn't bother it either. DD's bottom could be right on it and it doesn't hurt.

Ooohh, I have never heard of their shakes. Sounds good! Everything else they make is good....well except the frozen dinners. I also add powdered milk to my morning coffee instead of creamer just to get a little extra protien in. It is not half bad. Its not as creamy but it doesnt water it down like skim or regular milk.

Coffee has alot of acid in it and cause the heartburn for some. Maybe if you drink it daily it is just now giving you heartburn due to your newly tightened band. Like I said, if you start having to throw up acid or it wakes you up at night and you have to throw it up, go immediately and get an unfill, you could risk slippage if you ignore it. That is what happened to me. Fortunatly, I caught it in time and was able to get a complete unfill to correct the problem. Try taking (along with your prilosec) a zantac 30mins before you drink your coffee or eat anything with alot of acid in it. My doc said it was ok to take in combination, just not past 14days. Keep in mind to that if you go to get an unfill before you get too bad off, it might just take a slight unfill, like 0.1cc. Believe it or not that can really make a difference. Personally, I'd say, if you have ins. , go in and get 0.1cc taken out at a time till it goes away. If that is possible for you. For me, I am a self pay, so I try to make ever cc count and try to tolerate any discomfort. Its just this time, It was too tight for my own band's good!!

If you cannot get a good amount of hard protien down (chicken, beef, tofu, etc) you may be too tight. I was having problems with acid reflux and I was too tight. My doc also told me that acid reflux for some banders is a side effect that they have to deal with long term. It is even on the Lap Band commercial that it is a side effect. Hopefully it isn't perminant. You should talk to your band doctor about it, they can put you on a regimine of antacid meds that might help. My band doc told me to double the recommended dose of prilosec otc because it is only half perscription strength, but it is only recommended for 14days. If it becomes such a problem that you are waking up at night to throw up acid, deffinately talk to your doctor. You might want to examine the foods that you are eating too. Please don't try to medicate yourself without advice from your doctor. I mean it is probably really hard to overdose on antacid meds, but when you are in pain (or when I was) you tend to over treat trying to get rid of it fast!

It is probably just one of those crazy symptoms of lapbanders. Have you notice that your gag reflex is more sensitive? It could be because of that, cause when your are about to upchuck you start producing large amounts of saliva. I used to have an iron stomach and a desensitized gag reflex, from years of throwing up due to migraines. In high school I tried one time to make myself throw up and I could pretty much stick a toothbrush all the way down my throat and nothing would happen. (Sad story I know, don't worry never became bulimic) Post band though, if a straw goes too far into my mouth I gag. I personally think its funny. It also makes it alot easier to expell stuck food if it is being stubburn and won't come up. Just stick my finger in my mouth a little ways and bam.

Heartburn is a sign of being too tight, Abi sounds like you need an unfill. Do not wait too long either thinking it will go away as you loose the weight. I was on the tight side for about 5 months and into my 6month I started having heartburn and acid reflux really bad. It would wake me up at night and I'd have to throw up acid. Turns out, as a result of the throwing up from acid part of my lower stomach was forced thru the band and kinda mushroomed over the top of he band. Basically a sliped band but one that could be repaired by having a complete unfill for 2weeks. Don't wait get to the doc asap. Plus all the acid can ruin your esophogus. As for being stuck, you will know when it happens. It is nothing like "Hmmmm am I stuck?" its more like "OH GOD IT IS STUCK BE RIGHT BACK" the easiest way for me to get unstuck is to bend competely over the toilet, usually gravity will take over and it will slide right out. If that doesn't work, I bend over the toilet and cough. My gag reflex is really sensitive now so caughing will trigger a gag which will bring up the stuck food. I have also hear that some people look up at the ceiling and stretch their neck up then bend over the toilet and expell the stuck food. Yeah it kinda actually does get stuck in the esophogus, I mean if you thing about it the band is put around the top part of the stomach near where the esophogus and stomach meet.

I am totally feeling you (OP). To compensate not being able to eat for comfort or boardom, I went back to smoking. Now, I have stopped smoking, and I am just nervous all the time and want to eat!!

Um yeah it all sounds great now you need to bring it to georgia!! LOL!!

Yeah, that doesn't sound good. It was also my understanding that it is sutured to the muscle wall of your abdomen. Unless they put it where it is now, it sounds like it has become loose. That should be the fault of the surgeon unless you did something really crazy. Even still though, it seems like it'd take alot to rip it free and even if you did you'd probably would have been in serious pain. I am not an expert though, but I'd still tell your doctor and I would be really ticked if he made you pay for the correction!

Sorry for your loss as well. As for the fill, this is a time of celebration. Personally I would not get a fill. I am not saying this to mean a celebrations is for stuffing your face. But you want to be able to eat and not be running to the bathroom to hork up every bite you try to put in your mouth. After being filled too tight, I would not want to be on a honeymoon and that restriction kick in and leave me not able to swall spit and hours away from my fill doctor. Why not wait until you get back? Keep in mind restriction can kick in anywhere from right after you get the fill to up to 4 weeks afterwards. You don't want to be dealing with suprise restrition on your honeymoon. You deserve to enjoy it.