New Fill after Pregnancy, Back on the Wagon

[CandySmooch 0]

Well hello everyone. I used to be a regular poster here, but grew bored and tired of the same topics so I took a leave of absence. I think I grew bored and tired because I wasn't having as much success as everyone else. I'm back and although I've been banded for 2 years, I feel I am just beginning.

I was banded in May 2005 and had struggled to lose 35 lbs in my first year. I then became pregnant with my first child in Nov. 2006 - we had a boy born July 31, 2007. Through my pregnancy with the band I was able to enjoy it to the fullest and only gained 6 lbs which is what my son weighed at birth so essentially I lost my pregnancy weight with him. Without the band I know I would have easily put on 50lbs during pregnancy - for that I am so thankful! It was such an easy pregnancy. I noticed after birth my band had loosened slightly which is understandable.

I received my first fill in almost a year last week...........I've never felt this way before with any other fills and I need some help understanding. I thought I had all the answers to lapband questions.........now I wonder if this is how I should have been feeling since 2 years ago.

I struggled and struggled and fought to lose the first 35 lbs - I was so distraught I left this forum after getting my Water, Protein, Fiber, excercise in for a year and still only had a measly loss. With this fill I received, I think this is how tight I should have been all along and I just didn't know it.

I am now only able to eat very very small portions (which I already thought I was doing)

I've had this fill for one week - out of this week I have "PB'd" 5 times but I believe it is my fault since I'm not used to having to take such tiny bites and chew chew chew. I've always been able to take "small" bites, but never ever had to worry about whether it would go down or not. Most everything I always ate went down. Now I find myself making sure to chew and tiny bites so I don't PB. I mean I've thrown up before with the band but NOW I understand the "slimes"!! I also have woken up twice in the past week with acid reflux - that has never happened before - those were also the same nights that I had ate too much and slimed a lot.

Yesterday I had this to eat: and it all went down

Breakfast: Protein shake & 3 TBS of oatmeal

Lunch: 1 veggie & cheese stuffed mushroom

(the size circle of top of a Soup can)

Dinner: 2 TBS Lean Steak & 2 TBS salad

Is this too little? Is this what it means to be restricted? Is this how it should have been all along my banded journey? I really feel my band could allow me to lose some weight right now compared to the first 2 years I had to FIGHT for it.

[fabfatgrl 10]

Hi Candy!

I'm getting my first fill after my third Lap-Band pregnancy tomorrow. I've had trouble keeping a fill since my first pregnancy, because I PB all the time. I have no idea if it's psychological or something different mechanically because of the pregnancies. I've met a few other post-pregnancy Bandsters with the same issues

IMHO, it sounds like you're too tight if you're waking up with acid reflux. Your surgeon may be able to remove just a tiny bit... and that might make all of the difference.

"Yesterday I had this to eat: and it all went down

Breakfast: Protein shake & 3 TBS of oatmeal

Lunch: 1 veggie & cheese stuffed mushroom

(the size circle of top of a Soup can)

Dinner: 2 TBS Lean Steak & 2 TBS Salad"

When I was super restricted, I could eat a little bit more than this. I could never do much in the mornings except warm liquids... so always had a hot chocolate like Protein shake... then around 11ish, I'd move on to some cottage cheese. lunch might be almost all of a small container of Wendy's chilli. Then dinner might be 1/2 - 3/4s of a Lean Cuisine. But that was me... who knows how things will be this time around.

Are you breastfeeding?

[Liz1531 3]

It seems like that is way to little to eat, but I don't know any better. I am so happy to hear of ladies who have had successful pregnancies with the band. I am hoping to lose all my weight within a year to have my next baby and was a little nervous about having the band. I just got my first fill of 1.8 and still don't feel very restricted...

[Sweetmelliemel 0]

Anytime you get acid reflux with the band call your doctor asap to have some removed. You can damage your band and so much more in your body.

I do have a question I have been banded for 4 years now and this is my first pregnancy. They emptied my band completely. My question is how long should I wait to refill my band after birth? (I do plan on nursing)