ErinMarie

I think the biggest thing for me in the beginning was people NOT watching my every bite and constantly asking me if I could eat something I was eating or looking at or talking about.

Your doctor is all about RNY because the numbers look better. More percentage of weight lost and better odds of keeping it off...ie it makes him look better! Go with your gut and do as much research as you can! I researched lapband for 2 years before I was able to actually get it and I think that really helped me be confident in my decision. I made sure to read good and bad stories so I knew what I was potentially in for. Good luck!

I'm pretty much on board with what everyone else here said, but I also wanted to add another thing I liked about it was the adjustable part. Yes, getting in the green can be a pain, but if I am super stressed and can't swallow I can get some taken out and I feel better and can be refilled. You can't do that with the other surgeries! I also got this surgery because I wanted to get pregnant and I knew the adjustable part would come in hand then as well.

Having babies definitely makes bandster rules harder! Eating slowly and concentrating on my bite sizes is super tough with an 18 month old! If you are feeling depleted don't be afraid to add in some extra protien for the energy!

I was at 295 at my heaviest and also nevef had normal periods. They didn't come regularly until I was under 200 lbs (197 actually) and my second regular cycle I got pregnant! I'm assuming once I get back under 200 again it will normal out again...but this time I'm on birth control!

"Clearly you've never seen me naked."

Ok people, I have a fill appointment coming up in a few weeks and I can't decide if I need it. I want your opinion on if I should even keep this appointment or if I should cancel it (its an hour away) and save my gas. I currently have about 6 cc's (I think) in my band. I got this fill under fluoro in March or April. I'm roughly 2 cc's away from my green zone pre-pregnancy. Currently, it still takes an average sized meal for me to be full, although I can stop after about half of it and be okay for a few hours. I get stuck easily if I'm not paying attention or take too big of bites (which is more often than I'd like to admit). I have NO IDEA if I'm losing weight because I also moved in April and forgot my scale. I've not been the best bandster lately because I crave chocolate almost everyday but its finally easing up! So, should I go to this appointment and attempt a fill? Should I go and just get weighed and talk to the nutritionist? Or should I just save my gas? Thanks in advance!

Going to see my lap band dr tomorrow! Wish me luck!

I was 100 lbs down when I got pg. I had half of my Fluid taken out due to swelling and ate whatever I wanted during pregnancy and paid the price! I gained 60 lbs in the end but had no issues during pregnancy or labor and birth. My guy is 18 months and I'm just now even getting back into the swing of things. I stopped caring about myself for a long time. Even now I'm not in the green and my weight loss has been more about re-learning self control more than anything. I agree staying focused will be key...also when and if you breastfeed make sure you have ways to keep your calorie intake up and stay hydrated! I cannot tell you how important fluids are to breastfeeding. Good luck!

I didnt have ivf or multiples but my pregnancy did cause my band to feel tight and I got half my Fluid taken out for the rest of my pregnancy (I was only 10 weeks when I got my unfill). I didn't have any issues with vomiting, dehydration, etc. Congrats and good luck!

Thanks ladies! I kept going back and forth on if my clues on needing a fill are in my head or not but I'm going to go anyway so I can talk to my nutritionist and get a professional opinion.

I don't purposely skip meals but I'm usually too tight to eat breakfast in the morning. I never skip lunch or dinner.

Thank you for all the advice everyone! You are all right, I just needed to hear it from someone else. My husband is very hesitant about me getting fills because he has seen me too full and needing emergency unfills and it worries him. To answer some questions: @@lisacaron I probably won't ever get a fill under fluoro again unfortunately. I loved getting it done that way but my insurance does not cover anything lap band related anymore so its all out of pocket for me if I get my fills that way. (Thankfully they bill as an office visit if I get it in the room.) @@Jim1967 I was grazing, but now that I'm busy at work I'm not anymore and am starving by the time I get home from work and make dinner...then I shovel it in and probably get stuck 50% of the time after a few bites (you'd think I would have this down after 3 years). I am staying full between meals by at least 3-5 hours depending on how much I eat. Thanks again everyone! I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to touch base with everyone there, especially my nutritionist!

Removing the fluid is not always necessary during pregnancy. As long as you are getting calories! Swelling and a growing baby are the main reasons for fluid removal.

Well....I completely spaced that I was going to fast yesterday and ate normally. Sigh! Going to keep my planned fasting days of Monday and Thursday though, so I guess I'll make an alarm on my phone for next week to remind me. I feel like my band has been a bit tighter lately but more in terms of getting stuck (due to eating too fast or not chewing well enough/too big of bites) than actually staying full for long periods... or I'm just not paying that much attention. I think I really need to reel in on only eating when hungry instead of just the times most people eat. I KNOW my portions are way too big however, which is why I still intend on getting my fill next month. I still have hope for this! (even if I'm nervous!)

I just didn't plan my calories accordingly yesterday and had already used them up at lunch. Today is a normal day for me and i will fast tomorrow...and I'll plan it out a little better!

Well... I talked with my husband last night about wanting to do the 5:2 and he was pretty upset that I would be not eating dinner with him on a night he was actually home, so I've decided my fast days will be best taken on days he has class in the evenings. I'm going to try to do them on Mondays and Thursdays instead. I'm leary after yesterday...I forgot how much it sucks to be so hungry! Hopefully when I get a fill next month that will ease up the hunger pains.

I would still be me...just not as stressed.

If you can eat enough calories with no unfill then there isn't really a need to losen it! If you are overweight then they won't get super concerned about minimal weight gain or even a little loss during pregnancy. Just keep an eye on how you are feeling and if your band gets too tight when you swell up. And stay hydrated!!!

Mine is about 2-3 inches to right of my belly button

Panera! I'm eating half of a turkey sandwich (or less because this bread is kicking my ass right now) and half or less of a cookie. 500 calories goes by fast!

There is a rumor that a drug rep is bringing my office lunch today... if there are no good choice then I'll go to the cafeteria and get something more substantial other than soup and salad. Thanks!

Read all of this again because she is 100% right! If you are not too full and are getting stuck and throwing up, YOU are (most likely) the problem, not your food. Smaller bites, slow down between bites. I have been banded for 3 years and still struggle with this! Breads, Pasta, tough meats are especially triggering for stuck episodes for me. Once you realize what makes you get stuck more often, you can try to avoid it so it doesn't happen. Throwing up too much is not good for your band or your stomach so if you are doing it too much you really need to re-evaluate your eating habits!

Can you have coffee on fast days? If you can, then technically I can start my fast now. I haven't eaten since 7 pm last night and I don't plan on eating until lunch at around 11:30 anyway.... Might do soup and salad for lunch...or should I do something more substantial?