Congrats to all the preggo bandsters;)

[jfromsd 0]

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

[aSpen 0]

First off I want to congrats on your pregnancy :biggrin: I know what it is like to have PCOS, I was diagnosed over 2 years ago and had a very difficult time getting pregnant...Second I want to tell you to look into Fill Center USA's they are all over the United States and provide fills for patients (like us, I was banded in Mexico too). They are a bit on the pricey side to begin with but the 2nd fill drops down in price a lot..It has been very hard for me to find a doctor locally that would provide me with fills since I did not get it done in the United States or by them...As far as being filled or unfilled during pregnancy, honestly I think it is a personal choice..I myself don't count calories, I also have become a vegatarian (not by choice) apparently my baby does not like meat so I have just been eating what I want when I want...I drink at least 2 Protein Shakes a day to get that extra Protein and I eat alot of veggies, fruit and Fiber cereal..My doctor honestly has no idea really what a lapband is all about, I am his first patient but I think as long as I am able to keep my meals down, my intake steady then I am good to go...I also haven't gained any weight since I got my BFP (big fat positive)..I actually have lost 20 lbs and keep losing which my doctor doesn't feel is a bad thing...so I hope your able to find a doctor..and once again congrats on your pregnancy...:wub:

Edited April 24, 2010 by aSpen

[TracyW2 137]

Congrats to both of you. I found out about a week ago that I am going to have a band baby. :eek:

I am constantly hungry and have put on 4 pounds in a week, but I know I have not been making good food choices either. Plus I haven't gone to the gym due to being so tired. But I am trying to get back to my routine without over doing it.

[IamMe 0]

Congrats to both of you. I found out about a week ago that I am going to have a band baby. :thumbup:

I am constantly hungry and have put on 4 pounds in a week, but I know I have not been making good food choices either. Plus I haven't gone to the gym due to being so tired. But I am trying to get back to my routine without over doing it.

OMG! I know exactly how you feel! I gained 1.5lbs last week. Not that I have been perfect since being banded last June (I've only lost 60lbs) but since I found out that I am BFNP (bare foot n prego) I want every sweet thing in site. I am not having much restriction either. I am WAY too tired to go back to the gym and my dr told me not to lift more than 10lbs so I feel like I can't do anything.

Congrats on the band baby!

[jfromsd 0]

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!

[Sugarbear214 0]

Congratulations! I wanted to tell you a little bit about my pregnancies. I was banded in May of 2003. Lost 130 lbs in about a year and a half and then found out I was pregnant! I just assumed that I would never get pregnant after trying for 14 years and then suprise! I'm sure it was the weight loss.

Anyway, my first preganancy I had my band almost completely unfilled at about 23 weeks because I was experiencing really bad reflux and heartburn. I gained 40 pounds during the pregnancy. It took me about a year to lose it because I was trying to do it without my band but that didn't work out so I finally got my band refilled and was able to lose it and keep it off.

In October I found out I was pregnant again! This time I thought I would stick it out and not get any removed from my band. Well, here I am 37 weeks pregnant and miserable because of the nausea and the inability to keep anything down most days (not even water). As of about 8 weeks ago I was ok and had only gained 8 pounds. As if today I have actually lost 14 pounds in the last 8 weeks due to me bemying stubborn thinking I could last it out and not have to get any taken out because the Dr. keeps telling me the baby is fine.

Well all that being said, I have an appt. today to get some taken out of my band. I have less than three weeks to go but I am so miserable I cannot take it anymore. Yes I am worried about gaining weight but my baby is more important and although the Dr says she's fine I feel like I am starving her. Also, I have been so weak and dehydrated that I can hardly get out of bed most days. So don't be stupid like me and think that you can keep your fill the whole time. If you get sick, have some removed it's just not worth it. You can always get refilled and lose the weight again!

[jfromsd 0]

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!

[MrsEOD_2004 0]

Congrats on your pregnancy! :biggrin: I found out a few weeks ago we're pregnant, and we're at 11.5 weeks

I have the same problem with finding a doctor who'd take me, and I had my surgery done here in the states! I was banded in Texas, but we now live in Florida, and it's insane to try to find someone who'll do it. One doctor will, but I have to take all the classes most pre-bandsters take, plus pay $1,000 to get established. Insane! I figure I could drive the 10 hours to TX numerous times before I'd even reach that amount. *lol* So far I'm about 3.5-4 cc's in my 10 cc band, and haven't had to worry about a de-fill yet, but I'm sure time'll tell.