PuraVida37

Had a great sonogram today! Baby is perfectly healthy and besides gaining weight (UGH!) I'm doing great! Just wanted to check in with everyone and let you know how things are going.

NT scan this weekend was very good! Next step is genetic testing in 2 weeks. Wish us luck!

My somewhat normalized period (only in the last 6 months) was a little late, so I took a HPT, and holy crap, it was blaringly positive!!!!!!!!!! I've suffered from secondary infertility (13 medically assisted procedures-IUI and IVF, none successful) for the last 8 years and so I never thought this would happen. I've got a lot against me: I'm 40 and I've had six previous losses, so I'm keeping my head on straight and my heart guarded. I am not certain about how far along we are, maybe 6+ weeks? Went to the RE and they did a scan. Shows a baby and a yolk sac. Next week I go back to look for heartbeat and dating.
Wish us luck. I'm terrified. I'm not going to change anything in my diet except adding one more Protein Shake a day until I see my lap band doc in late December, provided the baby is still viable at that time.
Who else is PG with a band right now?

¡Bienvenido!

I had borderline PCOS and insulin resistance. I've lost about 90 lbs and my periods regulated...and know I just got a surprise BFP this month! I've heard some very positive things about WLS and PCOS.

Thank you guys!! The motivation is amazing! Thank you a million times!

Great question!! I would have done it in my early 20s. I lost so much time and quality by making the wrong choices and giving in to my food addiction. However, I wouldn't have had the insurance coverage, nor the emotional support--my mom (who died from fatty liver disease) was very against bariatric surgery, even though she would have benefited from it and would probably be alive today if she had had it.
If my child were very obese, I'd try to get the very best care for her before considering surgery. To me, it's a last resort. Knowing what I know now, I COULD do this on my own. It would be extremely hard. though. I could exercise and eat better, but the band sure made it a LOT easier. I'm grateful for the tool.

My advice to a newbie is get yourself a nice 1/4c measure that you can bring with you everywhere. Pre-measure everything and eat only that 1/4c at a time. Wait 20 min or 30 min. If you're still hungry, eat some more.
Also, start exercising as soon as you can. The couch to 5k program is great motivation!!
Finally, here's the bible of Lap Band
Live it.
You're gonna be great!!!!!!!!!! Trust the band!! Trust yourself!!

Great question!! I would have done it in my early 20s. I lost so much time and quality by making the wrong choices and giving in to my food addiction. However, I wouldn't have had the insurance coverage, nor the emotional support--my mom (who died from fatty liver disease) was very against bariatric surgery, even though she would have benefited from it and would probably be alive today if she had had it.
If my child were very obese, I'd try to get the very best care for her before considering surgery. To me, it's a last resort. Knowing what I know now, I COULD do this on my own. It would be extremely hard. though. I could exercise and eat better, but the band sure made it a LOT easier. I'm grateful for the tool.

Great question!! I would have done it in my early 20s. I lost so much time and quality by making the wrong choices and giving in to my food addiction. However, I wouldn't have had the insurance coverage, nor the emotional support--my mom (who died from fatty liver disease) was very against bariatric surgery, even though she would have benefited from it and would probably be alive today if she had had it.
If my child were very obese, I'd try to get the very best care for her before considering surgery. To me, it's a last resort. Knowing what I know now, I COULD do this on my own. It would be extremely hard. though. I could exercise and eat better, but the band sure made it a LOT easier. I'm grateful for the tool.

Here is an interesting article about some of the effects of weight loss (increased energy, improved memory, relationship changes, etc.)
9 things no one tells you about losing weight
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/18/health/weight-loss-mystery/index.html

I'm excited. I have been at a plateau for almost a year. I am 25 pounds from goals. He finally gave me another fill today. I hope it makes me feel tight not too tight but I do love the feeling of being tight so I know I won't over eat. I have absolutely no will power up but if I'm feeling sick I will stop eating. I depend on my band a lot. I absolutely love my band. It was worth every dime to me. If I could do it all over I would and get the band again.

@@Keeper, @@ErinMarie, Thanks for asking about me. Baby is doing well--passed all the genetic testing and sonos so far. At Wednesday's appointment, heartbeat was 160. I'm still confounded that this all happened and is still going strong!! I just announced to many colleagues and a class of students (I'm a HS teacher) yesterday.
It's been very tough since I got unfilled. I have my appetite back and it's stronger than ever. I gave myself permission to eat, and I've gained 11 lbs since November!! I've stopped running because the weather is so bad, and the thought of smelling the sweaty gym makes my stomach turn. The last two weeks I've tried to make more of a concerted effort to eat more Protein and a "rainbow" every day. Once the snow lets up I'm heading back out to walk. I miss it terribly.
Had I known I wasn't going to have morning sickness hardly at all, I wouldn't have gotten the unfill, but I was worried and the doc wanted to do the unfill. I do battle cravings, but lately they have been for salad (esp greek salad for some reason) and kale smoothies, so I'm gladly giving in to those. Trying to stay away from those damn Cookies.

@@chasingadream, Yes, Winter here in NY has been AWFUL!! I really want to go back out and walk outside without slipping on ice or getting frostbite.
How exciting about your fresh start!! Wishing you lots of luck !!!

@@Keeper, @@ErinMarie, Thanks for asking about me. Baby is doing well--passed all the genetic testing and sonos so far. At Wednesday's appointment, heartbeat was 160. I'm still confounded that this all happened and is still going strong!! I just announced to many colleagues and a class of students (I'm a HS teacher) yesterday.
It's been very tough since I got unfilled. I have my appetite back and it's stronger than ever. I gave myself permission to eat, and I've gained 11 lbs since November!! I've stopped running because the weather is so bad, and the thought of smelling the sweaty gym makes my stomach turn. The last two weeks I've tried to make more of a concerted effort to eat more Protein and a "rainbow" every day. Once the snow lets up I'm heading back out to walk. I miss it terribly.
Had I known I wasn't going to have morning sickness hardly at all, I wouldn't have gotten the unfill, but I was worried and the doc wanted to do the unfill. I do battle cravings, but lately they have been for salad (esp greek salad for some reason) and kale smoothies, so I'm gladly giving in to those. Trying to stay away from those damn Cookies.

I work in a VERY gossipy workplace. I chose not to tell anyone at work, not even my best friend. I told my family, and 2 friends. That's it. Nobody needs to know my business. They all know I am working toward being healthier, but no one needs to know details.

I'm almost 15 weeks. Going a little nuts because I'm waiting on my genetic testing results. I also hate that appts are a month apart. I wish I could go more often to make sure everything is ok with baby.
It's nice to see other preggie banders.

NT scan this weekend was very good! Next step is genetic testing in 2 weeks. Wish us luck!

Just wanted to come back and let you know that so far, so good! Saw baby wiggling on the sono today.

@@PuraVida37 I guess it is a good thing to enjoy every stage of pregnancy. I have had terrible pregnancies with really high sugars in the past and so my doctor was hesitant about me getting unfilled. Since I have been pregnant I have not had to have ridiculous amounts of insulin injections everyday and he is actually surprised that I havent gone up on my insulin since I started 25 weeks ago (im only insulin dependent when Im prego). So, I guess it all depends on the situation. Ive actually lost weight since I started. I started at 245 and weighed in at 243 when I went to get unfilled. My surgeon/doc told me that he will just take out 1 cc so that I dont have to start from the beginning when I want to start filling my band again. I got the 1cc out yesterday and already feel a world of difference with my eating, so I have to be careful not to go crazy with it. I have about 9 more weeks to go so I will just monitor what I eat and try to make better choices. My port is higher up on my abdomen, towards the left. It gave me problems/pain in the beginning of my pregnancy but not anymore. Only thing now is that its starting be get pushed out and so I can feel it more. Hope it doesnt protrude out of my belly. LOL. Good luck to you. Hope all goes well with your pregnancy. This is still a fun event so just enjoy it and dont worry about the weight gain too much. That's what my hubby tries to remind me. LOL...and besides, were growing humans in us, so we can gain a little weight

I'm 15 weeks now, and going stir crazy waiting on genetic testing results. After my many losses, I just want to get to a point where I'll stop worrying and having nightmares.
I wish I hadn't gotten unfilled so quickly. My doc insisted on it right when I told him I was pg, only about 4 weeks pg. I've gained ten lbs and have been eating a bunch of junk--things I never would have eaten before like Bagels and sub sandwiches. I hope I'm not stretching things out, but I can eat just about everything now. And yes, I know, just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.
I've been craving salads, which is funny to me because it's something I couldn't eat when I was filled. I am SO hungry all the time. I miss running. I miss having loose pants. I miss not feeling hungry. ...but I'll be back there after July!!!
Where is your port? Mine is around my belly button and at first I did feel some real pressure around it. But now it's better.
Thanks for asking about me, @@princesstuiaki !!

I am up 10 lbs since the start of my pregnancy, and now that the doc unfilled me I can eat anything and I'm SO hungry. And I hate seeing my belly get bigger again. But I guess it's all for a good cause!!

Oh man, I love this!!! I can't believe how much difference it makes to use a Ninja blender for a Protein drink! I took my usual 8 oz skim milk and Bariatric Advantage chocolate powder and put in 2 tbs healthy Peanut Butter and some Fiber powder. Blend. Then some ice. WOW!! It tastes like a frosty from Wendy's ...no, even better!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've screwed up and since Halloween I've reintroduced sugar into my eating. And now I'm eating everything. I've gained about 10 lbs. Thanksgiving and seeing family made reverting to old habits too easy and I ate many, many things I shouldn't have. But I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I will just get back on track. I did do something recently that I'm proud about--I ran a 5K Turkey Trot and got 6 of my family members to do it too! But then I gave myself permission to eat like a crazy lady and that's gonna stop right now.
It's gonna be a rough week detoxing from sugar again. I've done it before, i'm gonna do it again!!!!!!!!! Send me some positive vibes.

And three days later I found out I am pregnant. HA!!! No wonder I was craving foods so bad. haha