SunnyCorner

Hi Suffolkgirl19 and anyone else still interested in this thread, Well I ended up having the band removed whilst pregnant (roughly 15 weeks ago) which was not an easy decision to make. I became so ill from lack of food AND WATER that it felt the only option. I had the band emptied in my first trimester of pregnancy which I believe caused the band to drop or move position, the last thing I remember eating was one cracker with cheese on it and a handful of grapes and then the next couple of weeks were a joke. I was admitted to hospital and put on a drip at one point, another point the reflux was so severe I was bringing up blood due to over gagging. Food was a definite no no and liquids were hit and miss hence the hospital stay. The stickiness or tightness did start to subside a little after a couple of weeks though and I could tolerate liquids. It was this point that I was prescribed weird milkshake things to help aid me in my pregnancy and ensure I was getting the right nutrients etc for the baby. I became very down though and felt so guilty at my decisions and the impact it was now having on my unborn child, I think I was pretty depressed with it all to be fair. At this time I was offered surgery to remove the band (now costing the NHS along with the hospital stays etc) which like I said earlier was a difficult decision to make however I was so scared I might become blocked again or have further complications later in my pregnancy that it felt the safest option at the time. They give a five week window of lower risk for operation during pregnancy so I didn't have long to think or to actually have the surgery it was all a bit of a whirlwind. I think the thought of carrying out my pregnancy on milkshakes alone helped make my decision too as morning sickness wants what it wants and it certainly didn't want some thick powdery milkshake and didn't tend to stay down anyway. Anyway I had the surgery and quite simply it is the best thing I have done! Baby is due anytime now and I don't feel my weight has piled on despite craving constant dairy throughout. In fact I lost so much in my first trimester that I feel once I have given birth I will be better off than when I fell pregnant. I know I shouldn't be so negative as there are so many happy and successful banders out there. I appreciate that it works differently for everyone and also people have different expectations too which can be a major influence on how you adjust to the band. I just know that I had problems throughout and when I did get something stuck or had a bad time with it I felt incredibly lonely and scared and it always tends to be at its worst in the middle of the night so want people to know that you are not alone. I think my surgeon was fantastic, my after care was fantastic and on the right person the surgery itself is fantastic....just not for me. I feel free and safe now and love that my body is back to how it used to be. One thing the experience has shown me is that I actually don't mind my size, sure I am still probably two stone overweight but having the removal was the best decision I have ever made and I will never again complain about yoyo dieting or the constant weight struggle I have! I am looking forward to it, ha! If anyone ever asked me for advice on having a band fitted now I would say take the £5K and invest in a life coach, or a high end counsellor to support through changing their behaviours and habits, or time off work to attend some remote fat camp, or all of the above....I don't know.....throw all the money into people who can help change embedded habits for good and give the kick start needed. I wish I had just paid someone to lock me in a room for a couple of months and forced me to work out and eat well until I reached my 'target' then I would have sought support to change my thought processes. I'm not even saying throwing money at it is necessarily the option but I think I would have had better results than what I have now. I guess I am writing this as is one person reads this thread and it helps make them make a better informed decision then it was worth it. Suffolkgirl19 I really feel your pain and don't even know what to suggest, I guess finding support in your new body and ways to deal with it when things don't go to plan? It's hard because sometimes you can do everything 'right' and still find your body doesn't want to intake any food or drink. Please get in touch if it helps you though as I know it can feel pretty shitty at times. xxx

Well I found out I was pregnant a few weeks ago so whatever I do will be in a years time. Already struggling with the band being pregnant though 😢 despite it only having 0.5ml in it. I’m so fed up and it’s stressing me out of how I will be when heavily pregnant and if it is going to cause extreme restrictions. I felt like I rearched everything so well before I had the band fitted but it’s only when you have it you truly understand what it’s like. What is an RNY? I am thinking of just paying for a removal once I have given birth. Such a large waste of money. Sorry for all the negativity, had a sleepless night with something being stuck (still is) x

Hi Allybee, i know you posted on here a long time ago so I’m not sure if this message will come though to you? I just wanted to know how you got on since? I have had the band for about a year and a half and it is my biggest regret in life! I am searching through the internet to find someone else who obviously feels the same way and I’m just curious to know if you still regret it or if you ended up with having it removed? Hope to hear back, L x