4 years banded and need help getting started again

[autumnlee 0]

Hi, I am new to the forum but would like some help. I got my band in 2004 in Colorado by Dr. Johnell. 10 moths after I got banded I got married and was pregnant with our honeymoon baby. They took the Fluid out and have not had any in since. When our son was 1 year old we got pregnant again and we now have a 26 month old and a 5 month old sons. After our first son was born they kept me empty so I could nurse. And have been pregnant and nursing since. I am still nursing but would like to get back into the diet and mind frame of the band again. I was wondering if anyone has had the band this long and been pregnant and if everything was ok. I have been having problems with food getting stuck even though I am empty. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Autumn

[faithmd 14]

Welcome to LBT. Autumn!

Congrats on your two sons!

To answer you, yes! Absolutely! There are loads of bandsters here who have had successful pregnancies and nursed and then gotten back on the "bandwagon."

You might want to check out this forum:

Pregnancy with the Lap-band (NEW!) - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

It is all about pregnancy and the lapband. There are threads about breastfeeding as well.

Hope this helps!

[Anyalee 0]

Hi! I am not in your boat yet, but would like to be. I have been banded by Dr Johnell for 6 months. I would like to get pregnant soon, but he said not to until 18 months after surgery. What was the reaction at the dr's office when you were pregnant after 10 months? Did you have any fertility problems before your surgery? I have PCOS and have just started having my period again on my own after 10 years. Do you ever wish you had waited longer to get preggers so that you could have lost more weight? How much did you gain back with your pregnancies? Welcome!

[autumnlee 0]

Hi, It is neat to talk to someone who had the band by Dr. Johnell. Their group is awesome I think. When I told them I was pregnant they were very happy for us and they told me that it happens quite a bit since some people are infertile til they start to lose weight and they don't think they can get pregnant so fast and they do. They were not upset and were very supportive. I hadn't tried to get pregnant before we got married and we just decided not to use any protection on our honeymoon. I wouldn't change a thing about the timing. I had lost 40 pounds and was feeling better about myself. I gained about 20 pounds with both pregnancies. With the first I ost the weight quickly and was back to pre-pregnancy weight within 4 months and with this one I am 10 pounds still over pre-oregnancy weight. Still not too bad. I am nursing and that really helps. I had no problems with the band most of the time.Toward the end I would e sore where the port is and when he would kick near it but wasn't enough that some Tylenol didn't help. I would wait until you are at a comfortable weight that you can be ok with. The more weight you loose the odds of having compications go down. Best of luck and thank you. Autumn