shrinazaldivar

I have an almost nine month old who is still nursing. Not only did I not need to get an unfill while pregnant (I had just gotten a fill when I got pregnant) I got another fill when she was 2 months old. I breastfed exclusively for the first 5 months and then started with baby foods for her etc. She eats small meals now--and does take some water in a cup--but she is still breastfeeding 5-6 times in a 24 hour period. I have not had nor needed an unfill. My doctor's were happy with my pregnancy--I actually didn't gain weight--and lost more after. I am healthier now than at any time in the last 20 years of my life. My youngest is healthy and happy and her doctors are happy too. I nursed my other two children pre-lapband and gained more weight than I want to admit during that time due to sugar cravings. This time, I have lost steadily if slowly. I am now working harder at losing by upping my exercise regimen etc. But if you wanted to know about breastfeeding after lapband--don't let it stop you--it works just fine:) I hope this helps anyone who is researching this now or in the future....now if I could just find what I was looking for when I found this thread.......lol....happy bandster journey to you all. shrina 286/175/140 Dr. Kuri 07/12/05 fill doc Dr. Malley in Ks

anyone else been in this situation? I am pregnant--I spent most of my morning crying yesterday. (we spent over a year actually trying--and just when I decide that I want to wait until I get more (read all) of my weight off before getting pregnant to have our third child--you guessed it--I am pregnant! So--my conclusion is to relax--this is going to be my last pregnancy--so I am going to let hubby pamper me. I am going to enjoy every minute of it! I am not *emphatic* NOT going to gain 70 lbs--I am going to let my band continue to do its job of helping me not eat a ton. I am going to use this tool. I am not going to freak out and start eating everything in sight--I am going to eat nutritious, fun, healthy foods and enjoy them. I am going to have a healthy fun pregnancy! And then I am going to finish my journey to get to goal! Any comments are welcome--

The first time I heard about lapband surgery was from a dear sweet lady named Theresa passing through my life--leaving behind in her wake--a hope that things could change for me. I did look up the surgery then--but my insurance didn't cover any part of it--and self pay in this area was so high--it was unthinkable for me--even with the changes I now know it brings. So--a few months later--I was on the path to gastric bypass--which my insurance does cover--ever more nervous and getting more frightened as I heard first one then many side affects/risks--which I had to decide if I was willing to take for the drastic change I needed to make in my life if I was to live to see my small children grow. My history with surgeries and complications being as it was--I was VERY sceptical of the numbers I was given--I know that some of it was just to filter the serious from those who were not--but 1/50 was a number that really made me uneasy--as the other times in my life the numbers game showed my in my favor i.e. 1/500 or 1/300--and I still ended up being that 1 percent with complications. I know we all go through a tremedous amount of inner turmoil in making decisions that can affect the length and scope of our lives. Many thoughts and fears, hopes, and dreams. I was no different-- and I had hit that moment in my life where It was do something--or be lost to myself. I am sure that if I had gotten through it--I might have had another of those moments...we all come to our own crossroads--this was mine. I decided to look up the lap band procedure one more time. This time--I really started digging--and comparing for me--which one would give me what I needed most--as well as be affordable for us. Comparing what I could--researching where I could--I looked more deeply into all of it--obsessively (my husband's word). I finally found a dr with terrific credentials at a more affordable rate for me to handle--which I needed if I was going to self pay-(another story there believe me). I had more than a week of sleepless nights (not unusual for me anyway) thinking of the hope--and the chance lap band could give me--and finally told my husband--this is it. He said to give him some time--so we could figure out the finance part of it--lol problem there is once I came to the conclusion that this was it--there was really no stopping me-- I gave him 4 days--then called and booked my appt for 2 weeks out. He had that long to figure out how we could pay for it. When I told him that I booked the appt--he laughed--he thought I was kidding. I had never been more serious. Healthy and young still at 30--even at my weight--I was starting to have more issues with joints, and been warned of pre-diabetes--I could see the road ahead of me with out some action. I had dieted and lost 60, 80 lbs more than once--only to have them return and bring friends--over and over for the past decade or more. I have been heavy since the onset of puberty-- progressively more so at I get older--I just couldn't let it keep happening--this is where it had to stop. I started the liquid liver shrinking diet the day I booked the appt-- and promptly lost all control--like some switch was flicked in my brain or something--eating a bag of doritos-and whatever else I could get my hands on that day and the next. I finally got a hold on myself the third day and managed to stick to the pre-op diet losing 12.5lbs by the day before my surgery. I spent every one of those days researching on the yahoo boards-- asking questions of all of the post banded people who woould answer and reading every post along the way--finding that others often asked questions I hadn't thought of yet--but was glad to know the answers to. When I got to TJ--I was nervous--but exceedingly well informed on what to expect, and everything went very smoothly. I met up with 3 other women having the surgery and their support--I had also arranged to bring with me a very dear person for support. So we all shared info and stories and got to know one another through that first day while we all went to pre-op testing and checked into the hotel for the night before surgery (included 3 nights in the price for the surgery), we all got to enjoy a really super "last supper" as we thought then at a restaurant called 'los arcos' MMMMMMMM yummy! and we met with the surgeon and his team for question time and basically for them to explain more on what to expect. I found it funny almost to learn that I had already gleaned in my research most of what they had to say--and after meeting with them and finding out what order the surgeries for the next day would be in--we were free to do as we pleased--in this case--we all met in the restaurant of the hotel to chat some more--I found myself being able to field a lot of the questions that some of the others still had--ironicly enough. (told you I am obsessive--lol) The next day--we had surgery and everything went very quicly--I woke up after surgery to some nausea--and sipped some water and slept a lot. The next day--I walked to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription and then it was off to the airport to fly home. My friend made sure to get a wheelchair for me--which I didn't think I needed but by the time we got across the airport I was thankful for--and I was pre-boarded on the plane for the 2 hr flight home. I spent the evening at home-- resting as much as possible. The next day--I drove my friend the 7 hours home, and spent the rest of the week with my daughters (2 and 4) up at her house--chasing littles and visitiing with family. Drinking fluids--Not so easy since everytime my family gathers-- there is a barbeque--lol. I progressed well for the first six weeks--my appetite returning with a vengeance after the first week--and struggling to eat like a bandster should and not always winning the battle. By 6 weeks out--I was SOOOO ready for my first fill--1.5cc--I was disappointed in myself because I had only managed to lose 10lbs (actually 20 but with no restriction--gained 10 of it back by the first fill) but determined that this was going to work. I had very little restriction still--but forwarned is forearmed--I knew there was a possibility that it would take 3 or more fills to get there--that was part of my choice in picking the band--and that I REALLY needed to work on my patience--gee wonder why that was so hard--I know that it took years to get to this point--what made me think I could change it all overnight? So, as soon as a second fill was allowed I was there! I managed to lose 3 lbs between my first and 2nd fills. But after that second one--I felt the restriction--not immediately--it actually kicked into high gear about a week later--and by this third fill I got--I had lost another 15 lbs! Now I am losing steadily and happily. I have continued to live on the support boards, and exercising (yes--you guessed it--almost obsessively--mostly walking 4x a week for at least an hour) So that is my story--basically anyhow-I left out the depression I was going through before, and the bandster blues after as I mourned food, (and wanting to throw my hubby from the 2nd floor window because he just didn't understand what I was going through--bandster rage--it passed--lol)--he never knew that part until yesterday--you should have seen the look on his face when I laughingly told him he narrowly missed a few broken bones at the least.(it really was a true ally mcbeal moment) -I am sure there are people making the same decision I had to make here on this board--and others in other places on a daily basis--I can only say--ASK QUESTIONS! Be proactive--don't settle for what you can get if you really want something else. You are worthy, and smart and should be proud of yourselves for making a choice to take your life into your own hands and make it happier and healthier and longer than ever. I, for one, would not go back for an instant! If anyone wants to ask questions--please feel free to email me I am by far not the most experienced person on the board--but I am here:). Whatever your choice--it is YOUR choice--and you make the best of it. I wish everyone well in their journey--and reasearch. Hugs, shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/226/125-150 3 fills Dr. McKeen 2.4cc currently

boy you got that right--lol I am not sure others so much pass that part over as when we get past it--there are so many other things going on that we have to deal with that we almost forget it--if that makes any sense. I wrote about it here both to remind myself--and to encourage others who are just coming into that part of things--I don't want anyone to be disillusioned by expecting the band to *fix* everything for us. It won't fix it--but it does help--once its finally adjusted right that is. happy journey--and glad my posting helped a little thats what I hoped for--

WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!! Great Job!!

question--who is your facilitator? the good thing about dr. Kuri is that they have a list of fill docs that they keep and give to us newbies. and as more are located in different areas by those of us who start searching on our own--they add to the list. email me off list and I will look to see if I still have the original list in my saved msgs. I know there are docs in Oregon--I was banded with a gal from there--and I always look for things there because I am a transplant from there--lol.

what a dope! How does a medical professional not figure out that its probably a bladder infection from your symptoms--it doesn't take a genius or a doctor for that. You didn't sound like it was anything to do with incisions or your port from that description---some people!! sounds like you have good handle on it all--hope you are feeling better

I think everyone here has said it well--exactly in some cases--lol--another thing I wonder though--is do you need another fill? My problem seemed to get a lot easier to cope with when I finally got good restriction---maybe someone else here said it---- prayers

do you mean the 10ml band? there are three inamed band sizes--11ml, 10ml, and 9.75ml the 11ml has a capacity of 10cc's (I think) and the other two both have a 4cc capacity. My understanding of it is that they use the one that best fits your stomach -(maybe your doc uses the middle one?) when it comes down to it--they all give restriction--it just depends--i.e my first fill in a 4cc 9.75ml band was a 1.5cc fill--and someone with the 11ml band might get a 5cc fill--we'd each technically be getting about the same restriction---I hope that helps--and I am sure if I am wrong--someone will rescue me here--lol Happy Journeying,

Welcome to bandland!

ok--I give--how do you get that tickerfactory counter to show up

I can try--lol open a second window and go to tickerfactory.com pick your ticker and your counter clicking next after each--the part I got stuck at was the end when you are supposed to figure out which url to cut and paste to your signature it will say done your ticker url is: and then a box will be there and a sample of what it is supposed to look like--if you scroll down there are three more boxes with typing in them--the one you need to highlight and right click on is the first box--cut or copy the whole thing then go to user cp at the top of the board and select edit signature--from there you create what you want your signature to be and paste what you copied from tickerfactory into the bottom-- I know that is jumbled together--please let me know what if any clarification you need good luck!

now I don't feel quite so alone in my computer illiteracy--lol email me privately and I will give you my number and walk you through it on the phone if you like

we all have some things we have to hit the wall on for ourselves--and thanks for posting that--I will take your lesson in mind for my future fills too

smile--how silly am I?

did it work?

yeesh--maybe I can make it--I have two girls 2 and 4--lol and they are fun! I am exercising too---chasing them--lol, walking, etc. You must be sooooo proud and excited! shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/227.5/125-150 3 fills dr McKeen 2.4cc currently

what they all said sums it up--but I want you to know I understand too. I remember about a week out I was seriously considering throwing my hubby out the 2nd story bedroom window---its normal to be emotional and exhausted after a surgery--if you have never had a surgery before--it can be a shock just how much. let us know how you are doing--and keep your chin up shrina 7/12/05 dr. Kuri 274/227.5/125-150

LUCK!!!!! See you on the other side! shrina 7/12/05 274/227.5/125-150

WOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!! You go girl! how did you do that? 101 in 7 months? WOWW!~ I am totally inspired! I would love to hear more of your story-- if you don't mind emailing me? shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/227.5/125-150 3 fills Dr. McKeen 2.4cc currently

restriction is when you are full pretty quickly---if you eat more--yes you will pb but you really don't want to get there if you can help it--as too much of that can endanger your band. when you eat so much it comes back up on you or you can feel it in your esophogas---a)thats too far and you will know pbing is productive burping--I have heard it described in a couple of ways--my favorite explanation is when you burp food instead of air the second way is vomiting-which it basically is--but if it hasn't gone through the pouch there is no stomach acid in it-hence productive burping sliming is when you have eaten to big of a bite or just plain old too many bites--your throat will produce extra saliva to help you pass the obstruction if it is a bad one--you may end up with saliva that is extra slimy feeling--and either it will end up going through--or you will end up pbing--by the way--if you are ever stuck--DO NOT drink Water to help it pass through--that only makes is hurt worse (personal experience with my one and only pb) At this point--you should still be on mushies I think--so you should be ok for the moment--pbing usually happens more when you are on solid foods --most of the time its a non-thinking thing--when you are talking and forget to chew, chew,chew--or you are in a hurry and forget. If you are very careful, and lucky--you can go a long while before you ever end up having to deal with these reminders--lol happy journey--and welcome to bandland! shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/227.5/125-150 2.4cc current fill in a 4cc capacity band

ooohhhh--I want one--wait no I don't--I have enough-------ooohh cute!) shrina

I have to laugh--I said almost the same thing the first time I posted doing research--shortest answer to your first question? YES:) my suggestion is to read as much as you can here--and also check out lapband groups on yahoo--smartbandsters, bandsters, etc. you can get a lot of input on different docs from the different people too. ask questions--as many as you can think of--and read the answers to others too--because other people will ask questions you haven't even thought of yet--another thing is wherever you go--try to get a list of banded people willing to talk to you--talking to people about their experiences is really going to help you with your decision making process. --- I ended up going with dr. kuri because my insurance wouldn't cover it--and to tell the truth--he had better qualifications than many of the surgeons in my area. on top of that--better price which since I was self-pay was a factor in my choice too anyway--I had surgery 7/12/05 flew home the next day and had 2 small children to handle when I got home--and the day after we all drove (me driving) 6 hours to my hometown to visit family and 'rest' (yeah right--lol)long and short of it? I would NEVER go back-------- feel free to email me privately and you can ask any questions shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/230/125-150 3 fills Dr. McKeen 2.4cc currently in a 4cc capacity 9.75ml inamed band 7/12/05

sounds like you really are getting a handle on it--I really hope that they get you in sooner---I am really sorry to hear about your loss--seems like I usually to the baking, cooking thing this time of year too (my gran passed 2 years ago--so my loss isn't as fresh) between family connections on holidays etc, this tends to be a really rough time of year for many --I went in yesterday to make sure I was tight enough going into this first real battle (so far its easier than usual--but I am filled pretty well already and I didn't just get kicked like you did. the important thing here is that its only a week out--and you have already recognized your issue--your behaviour (reaction)--and are taking action to stop--kudos to you girl---you are gonna be ok! prayers and bear hugs, shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/230/125-150 3 fills dr. Mckeen 2.4cc current in 4cc capacity 9.75ml inamed band

popcorn is a can-do for me too--although I can only eat a couple handfuls vs a couple of bag fulls. shrina