jfromsd

Hello all! I'm only 5-6wks pregnant but excited already of course;) After being overweight for a long time, being on "the pill" for 16yrs, and having PCOS, I was thinking it'd be difficult to get pregnant, but that was not the case--YAY!! Anyway, I keep reading through the threads about unfills and pregnancy as I'm very interested in the subject. As it turns out, I was about 10lbs under what my health insurance would consider overweight enough (BMI of 40) to cover my LB procedure, so I opted to self-pay in Mexico instead of gorging myself and playing insurances stupid game. I'm soooooo happy that I got my band!! It was a great present to myself and my health. So, since I wasn't getting banded locally, I knew I had to be smart about it and find a fill Dr close to home prior to having my surgery done that'd take me even though s/he didn't do my surgery. I did and all was well. I was banded 4/08 and had lost 55lbs in a yr and a half with the help of my band and lots of exercise (it's definitely easier to do when you're smaller!!).. and then the bariatric surgeon who was doing my fills retired last fall. Although I haven't lost weight since then (and honestly, I spent too much time on the couch over the long winter), I wasn't too overly concerned about finding a new fill Dr. until the news of baby-on-board came. Now thus far I haven't had any morning sickness (I'm very early in my pregnancy though), but I keep getting rejected as a patient by the surgeons in the area because they didn't perform my surgery. I have had a wonderful experience w/ my band so far, and I am hoping maybe I'll be lucky and can keep some or most of my fill that I currently have (I have very little restriction and can even eat sandwiches/bread/any type of meat, but I do eat much smaller portions than pre-surgery). Obviously the baby comes first though, so I need to find a fill Dr. in case I find myself too restricted or having issues with nausea. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has had issues with this sort of thing?? I mean, I know I'm not the only person who wasn't banded locally. My physician offered to write a letter to bariatric surgeons to plea with them to take me on as a patient, and I'm thinking I just may have to take him up on his offer. (HE is a great doctor!!) So if anyone has any advice or has gone through this sort of issue, please shoot me a line. Thanks! J

Yes! for 7-10 days before I got a positive pregnancy test, I was noticeably tighter (which really made me believe that I was indeed preggo!). I actually PB'ed twice which I hadn't done in nearly a year. Good luck with things!

Thanks for telling your story, Sugarbear. Hearing how other women have done it in the past sure helps me to know more about what to expect and what might help me along the way. Best of luck with your last few weeks!! How exciting!

Thanks for the input about fillcentersusa.com, aSpen. They were already my last resort cause I figured they'd take me no matter what, but the nearest one is 230mi from me, so like I said, it's a last resort. I actually *think* I may have given enough medical records to a much closer surgeon so that he will actually take me on as a patient... fingers crossed!! The honeymoon is sure over as far as an easy pregnancy though!! Major nausea during all waking moments for the past week--UGH!! No puking though, thank the Lord--my band doesn't need any of that!! I'm really wondering if a little unfill would help my nausea at all, but am a little doubtful since I have very little restriction?? Well, once I find a Dr, I'll see what his input is on this matter. Well, congrats to all three of you on your band babies--this really is exciting! :thumbup: Keep us posted!

Yay Cindy! I'm due tentatively Dec 16th! Happy Pregnancy! :thumbup:

Hey there! Just noticed your thread and thought I'd say "HI!" I've been banded two years also and am 5-6wks pregnant also. I'm not sure what is recommended as far as unfills, etc... any advice anyone??

Hey TerMur! I was just reading your post about minimal weight lost since your banding and your 32 BMI and I'm thinkin' we're about in the same boat there... I was banded April 14th and am only 11lbs under banding day weigh-in. UGH!! I am at a BMI of 33. I've had two successful fills (and one unsuccessful) thus far and am still far from proper restriction. I've become a gym junkie and am trying to "be good," but if I had all the self-control to do things that way myself, I wouldn't be banded! Anyway, my fill dr. won't fill me again for another 6wks as he's on vacation. Oh well.. So I'm just wondering how things are going for you... Gettin' hitched in Jamaica in Dec... time to get crackin'!! Banded: 04.14.08 HW: 238 SW: 222 CW: 211 GW: 145

Well, I have a 4cc band and my doc did an "agressive" (his words) .75 fill for my 1st one... So far I haven't noticed a difference... My second fill is scheduled in a week.

Congrats on your great accomplishment! You're ahead of me in the lap-banding process, so I don't have much advice except to keep up the good work! :cursing:

Hey Sally! How goes it?!! Weight coming off for ya?? I've got a couple questions I'd like to message you if ya don't mind!! Just noticed your post and I thought we had the same band?? Maybe not? Anyway, mine's a 10cm band that holds 4ccs. Kinda confusing, but that's what it says on the box/book that came with it. Anyhoo, you should message me! Reply here or send me a private message;) I'm off to the gym to recapture my youth--hitting the big 3-0 today! Have a good one! Jaclyn

I was banded 4.14.08. I lost 16lbs pre-surgery and only 5 since. But, I had my 1st fill yesterday, so I'm hoping to start losing again! (Although I'm eating way less, I haven't lost since going off the liquid diet a month ago) :rolleyes2:

Congrats, Tracy! Lookin' great and workin' that Lap Band! :huh2:

Hey Woody! I was just banded like 9 days ago, so I know about where you're at;) I'm just wondering what "soft foods" your dr specifies as okay... I'm just curious because it seems like different drs give different sets of food guidelines sometimes. Just curious;) Mine basically said to blend food up until it's the consistency of applesauce for the next 3wks yet.. Hmmm.... :blushing:

Well, I thought I was so smart and scheduled surgery on a Friday and didn't have to return to work until Wednesday the following week... Well, a good ol' blizzard hit and cancelled all flights (I'm up in South Dakota) and luckily I was still able to have my surgery late morning on Monday. Well, I ended up going back to work @ 6am Wed--that week was a little long, but I got along alright... and I didn't even have to take any pain meds, so I was happy. Now if I can just get rid of the remainder of this bloating, I'll be OH-SO-HAPPY!! :biggrin:

Hey Sally, my lap-band buddy! (We were at Dr. Gonzales' office getting banded the same day!) Good to hear you're doing so well! I'm getting along great too--just can't wait for the remainder of this bloating to go away, but I'm sure in a couple days it will. So yes, I made the 5-hr flights back to South Dakota and even made it through work on Wed and Thurs--Yay! Have one question for ya though, Sally... How are you doing with getting those antibiotics down?? Do you crush them? They're nasty and so big that I'm afraid not to break 'em up... just curious about your luck (and thanks again for "halfing" them with me!!) Take care and stay in touch!! Jaclyn:wink2:

I hear ya about the gas pains! I was banded Monday... and here I am on Friday and still bloated up like a pregnant woman! It's definitely getting better though... (And I did have a 5-hr flight on Tuesday and then worked the next two days, so I haven't really been able to take it that easy.) I'd have to say that in my experience the gas-x has done little or nothing, but walking and moving the sore belly around a bit as well as sleeping with a pillow against my belly seems to help. I hope both our gas pains find a way out!

I'm a 35BMI and getting banded in less than a week--Yay!! I just woke up one day and after not wanting to put on any of my tight and unflattering size 20's, I decided it's time to do something!! I'll be 30 this summer and wanted to be healthy by then. I've lost 25lbs 4-5times in the past few years only to gain that back and then some. Strictly diet and exercise was not working for me to get and stay healthy because the only way I could lose that weight was 6 days/wk of 1.5hrs in the gym! So that morning I woke up and thought, "What the heck am I waiting for?!!" I could yo-yo with my weight for the next 5 or 10 or 50yrs... OR, I could take charge NOW and reap the benefits for years to come:) A month after I scheduled my LBS in Mexico, I became engaged and I really think it all comes back to that whole "what are you waiting for??!" question...

Ha! This thread is hilarious ladies;)

Good deal, Sue! I'm glad things went great for you!! And 20lbs... that's just awesome! I'm getting banded April 11th... so it's coming up fast!! As for the "damn ladybug," (ha!) I really don't have a clue except to go back to tickerfactory.com? Please wish me the same luck and keep in touch! Jaclyn;)