tizen33

I am now 17 weeks pregnant. At 5 weeks along I went and had a slight unfill. I had them take me down to my previous fill amount. They took me down from a little over 4 1/2 cc's to 4 cc's. I still have quite a bit of restriction in the morning but by the late afternoon can eat anything. I still can't overeat though. It is nice because I can get the nutrition without having the hunger. I was really scared of getting to much taken out and getting up over 300lbs like I did with my first child. I have only one pair of pants I can't wear that I could pre pregnancy. As of my last appt I have gained 2 lbs. I will find out if that's changed on Monday when I go to my next appt. My doctor is concerned I won't gain enough weight. She wants me to gain 20-25lbs. My goal is to only gain between 10-20 if possible. I think as long as I make sure I am eating a well balanced diet and know that I am consuming enough calories that everything will be fine. I have eaten sweets when I've really wanted them. I try to keep my calories at the same range so as not to gain to much weight. The amount of calories that each of us can consume and not gain more than just actual baby weight will obviously vary. And this is just my strategy. This is the first time I have visited or posted in months. I came looking to see what experience other pregant bandsters have had or are having. Nerdine_mit's weight loss after her pregnancy is inspiring. It gives me hope in case I do gain more than planned. Good luck and congrats on the pregnancy. :biggrin: ~Martina

Hi there- I was just wondering if anyone else's hair was getting thinner. I got banded in Oct 2007. I've been thinking my hair was getting thinner the past couple of months. Well today I was looking at some photo's from 2 Christmas's ago and well I'm right. My rear isn't the only thing that has gotten thinner and it's freaking me out!! My hair wasn't very thick to begin with and I'm able to see scalp around my bang area. Would prenatal vitamins help maybe? I don't know. I even checked out a Rogaine sight online the other day. Just wondering if anyone else is going through this and if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks!!

I went in for my third fill on March 4th only to find out that my port had flipped. I had to go back into surgery yesturday and have it fixed. This is an expense my insurance doesn't cover. I remember mid January being at work and feeling pulling/pain in the port area when I was lifting and moving some pretty heavy boxes. I feared that my port might have flipped then. I was just wondering if anyone else has had their port flip? And once it's fixed is there a greater chance it will flip again.... because I'm pretty sure my doctor stiched it back into the same spot. I'm sad of course that one of the "risks" of surgery happened to me but I'd much rather have a flipped port than a slipped band or band erosion. I always try to look on the bright side.:tea:

My thought would be that the stitches are probably pulling and causing that pain. I have port discomfort on and off all of the time. Sometimes I don't even know it's there... otherdays it feels sore, other days there is sharp pains kind of like what you are describing when I move a certain way or if I touch it. I actually went in for a fill after my port revision surgery and after x rays they found my port had flipped again. The doctor scheduled an adjustment under floro where he was going to try to manually flip the port and give me an adjustment... well that day my port had flipped back!! I think all you can really do is just let your doctor know the symptoms you are having. I'm a little discouraged about what can be done to fix my port issue. but I've just come to accept it. It's kind of sad. I thought that any issue could be resolved... especially after the port revision... but it just hasn't been the case for me. I would however still do it all over again at this point. I feel better than I have in years. I just recently really started missing being able to eat a burger or a whole peice of pizza:rolleyes:. But it has been worth the sacrifices. Good luck and take care ~Martina

I haven't had any trouble with any of my pills until after my last fill yesturday. This morning I got up and took my medicine. Wellbutrin XL. and immediately knew it was a mistake. It is now almost 4pm and I am still uncomfortable. I just did some research and one page says the shell they put on this tablet doesn't desolve that it is usually just passed through the GI. So now I'm thinking I have a pill shell stuck in my band!! I've made an appointment with my regular doc to see if she can put me on something that is either smaller or that can be crushed. I've also decided once I'm done writting this to call my band doctor and see what he thinks. You might have to find some alternatives too. You will want to talk to your doctor about what to do right after surgery when your only supposed to be on liquids while your stomach heals. Good luck to you.

to wish you were someone else, is to waste the person God created you to be. Also...I just had to say that I love this quote!!

Hello ladies, I just had to comment on the bulimic in training comment. I had to laugh out loud. Ever since my last fill (back in March) if I am not super careful that if what I feel like. I've really had to slow down and sometimes it still... well you know. As far as being an emotional eater, I'm there with ya... as most (not all) heavy people are I think. I've actually looked into "Positive Changes"-to help me get my head right. I have a pattern of self destructive behavior that has to stop. I don't think positive changes is for me. I would do it if I had an extra 2700 dollars to throw around but I don't want it because the band isn't working. - this is kind of what the lady there insinuated- I just want to fix my head. Does that make sense? Anyway- Congrats on 45 lbs lost and to the newly banded... WELCOME!! Take care girls!!:biggrin: ~Martina

I just called my husband who happens to be at Walmart to bring me home some biotin. We'll see how it goes. I haven't been actually counted my protien in a long time so I guess I'll do that again. I'm still curious on everyone's experience with this. Thanks!! Take Care:redface:

Also....Can anyone tell me where I paste the tickerfactory info to get my weight loss ticker back? It's been so long I don't remember:unsure:

Congrats on getting banded!! And before you know it the gas pain will be gone. I hear walking around and using gas X helps.... I was one of the fortunate ones who didn't experience any pain from gas. Hope work goes well. Take it easy. Good luck and take care!

Just keep in mind that this stage of the diet your doctor put you on is so your stomach can heal. My doctor said that it is very important for all that scar tissue to start to form so the band doesn't slip. I ate/drank a lot of cream soups. Also broth with Idahoan instant mashed potatoes mixed in them were REALLY good after so long on liquids. Hot cereals also aren't bad. Being sure you are getting enough protien also helps. I actually started pureeing things that I never would of thought of eating in a liquified form. I think the most shocking thing was a mexican casserole thing.... yep... sipped it through a straw. Now the thought about kills me but at the time I thought I was in heaven. Restriction doesn't happen just from getting banded. It took me 5 mos after surgery and three fills until I felt "restriction". You can make it!! Good Luck!!

Don't be discouraged! The most important thing right now is to stay on whatever diet your doctor has prescribed. Your band has no fluid in it so after the swelling of the initial surgery goes down, it seems a lot of people ( me included) get really hunger. It's normal. It is just important to follow your doctors diet so that your stomach can heal. I also gained weight back right after surgery. I think it was 5lbs also. But I later learned that it was because of all the fluid that the body retains after surgery.... it's all part of healing I know it's frustrating and all but soon the weight will start to come off!! Good luck!!

It could be that you are too tight and need a slight unfill. But it could also be that you just haven't learned to take smaller bites yet and really chew your food. That's what happened to me. I had the same experience and wanted my Doc to unfill me a bit. He said that he wanted me to try slowing down a lot and chewing... then chewing... then chew some more. Anyway, since I have done that I have only had a couple of episodes of real discomfort and/or PB'ing (productive burp). And both those times it was pretty obvious that I had eaten to quickly and hadn't chewed as good as I now need to. I know that pain and it's awful- and the salivating/slimming is just gross. I usually have to get a cup and carry it with me to spit in. I wish you the best of Luck! Take Care!!

Well my appt last Thurs with my surgeon was good. I keep losing every week. I am down to 227 from 295. My surgery date was Oct 18,2007. My home scale must be brocken. It has said 230 lbs (give or take a pound or two) for over 3 months. Yet everytime I go to the doc. I've gone down. I usually am only losing a pound a week. The least I've lost in a month is three. The most is eight. I can't complain I guess. If I didn't have the band I know that I would be as big as I was if not bigger. Sometimes I want quicker results. But I don't do anything to acheive that... you know... like excersize. I do have that in my future plans though. I also drink a couple times a week, which makes it nearly impossible for me to lose any quantity of weight. But, as long as the scale keeps trickling downward then all is good. I should come on here and blog more often and be involved with the posts. It would do me good to take advantage of all the support offered here and yet I don't. I need a swift kick in the arse. Well, I hope all of you out there are doing well. Take care everyone!!

Well my appt last Thurs with my surgeon was good. I keep losing every week. I am down to 227 from 295. My surgery date was Oct 18,2007. My home scale must be brocken. It has said 230 lbs (give or take a pound or two) for over 3 months. Yet everytime I go to the doc. I've gone down. I usually am only losing a pound a week. The least I've lost in a month is three. The most is eight. I can't complain I guess. If I didn't have the band I know that I would be as big as I was if not bigger. Sometimes I want quicker results. But I don't do anything to acheive that... you know... like excersize. I do have that in my future plans though. I also drink a couple times a week, which makes it nearly impossible for me to lose any quantity of weight. But, as long as the scale keeps trickling downward then all is good. I should come on here and blog more often and be involved with the posts. It would do me good to take advantage of all the support offered here and yet I don't. I need a swift kick in the arse. Well, I hope all of you out there are doing well. Take care everyone!!

starting weight: 295 today: 231 Well, I'm going down again albeit slowly. I knew the day would come to were I would actually have to use the band as the tool it was meant to be. Up until 6 weeks or so ago I didn't really have to even try to lose weight. Now I'm having to track my diet and actually concider exercise. Thank goodness the good weather is here and I garden a lot. I also found my favorite palates tape that I need to start doing again. Anyway, just a quick check up. Take care all.

starting weight: 295 today: 231 Well, I'm going down again albeit slowly. I knew the day would come to were I would actually have to use the band as the tool it was meant to be. Up until 6 weeks or so ago I didn't really have to even try to lose weight. Now I'm having to track my diet and actually concider exercise. Thank goodness the good weather is here and I garden a lot. I also found my favorite palates tape that I need to start doing again. Anyway, just a quick check up. Take care all.

starting weight: 295 current weight: 234 surgery date was 10/18/2007 So my doctor appointment was okay. The one thing that drives me really nuts is the fact that my port sight always hurts. It's a pulling type pain. It's kind of hard to explain. but it hurt like this before it flipped and now it hurts a lot again since the surgery where they redid it. I just worry it will be a life long issue. I guess I'm gonna have to use this to track what I eat. I usually use slimfast.com but they have been down for almost a month now. I really need to start tracking what I eat. I PB to often. I think I might be too tight. But my doc said to track what I eat and how I feel. It's hard to get into the habit of documenting what I'm eating again. Here's today: 6am- coffee with nondairy creamer and splenda 8am- same lunch- 5 oz tuna w/mayo and mustard 1pm- coffee as above dinner 4 oz hamburger, 1/2 an advocado If I have a snack tonight it will be my protein shake. until next time

starting weight: 295 current weight: 234 surgery date was 10/18/2007 So my doctor appointment was okay. The one thing that drives me really nuts is the fact that my port sight always hurts. It's a pulling type pain. It's kind of hard to explain. but it hurt like this before it flipped and now it hurts a lot again since the surgery where they redid it. I just worry it will be a life long issue. I guess I'm gonna have to use this to track what I eat. I usually use slimfast.com but they have been down for almost a month now. I really need to start tracking what I eat. I PB to often. I think I might be too tight. But my doc said to track what I eat and how I feel. It's hard to get into the habit of documenting what I'm eating again. Here's today: 6am- coffee with nondairy creamer and splenda 8am- same lunch- 5 oz tuna w/mayo and mustard 1pm- coffee as above dinner 4 oz hamburger, 1/2 an advocado If I have a snack tonight it will be my protein shake. until next time

April was a very slow month for weight loss. I only lost three lbs. I have so much restriction. I just don't always eat that great. I don't eat real bad though either. I'm just wondering if my body is slowing down for a little while. I know my new job doesn't help. I now have an office job and just sit on my butt for 8 hours a day. Having the scale not reward me weekly is getting me motivated to take some serious action. I need to get moving again. The weather has finally started to get nice so I have been working outside a lot on the weekends and in the evenings. I'm not looking forward to my doctor appointment on the 8th. My doctor is so funny, if I lose 6 lbs and say I ate the way he wants me to eat (basicly atkins) then he compliments me and says I'm doing great.... that I'm "right on track". But one month I lost 8 lbs and was honest about sharing a milkshake with my hubby and eating a sandwhich or something like that and he gave me a bunch of crap. So this is the first month I haven't had pretty significant results and I'm not sure what to expect. I know sure as hell that no more fluid is going into this thing. I can't eat until almost noon as it is. And if I eat the wrong thing or accidentally swallow something before it is chewed to oblivion then I about die. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I've still got a few days before my next appt. maybe I'll drop a lb or two. Until next time................

April was a very slow month for weight loss. I only lost three lbs. I have so much restriction. I just don't always eat that great. I don't eat real bad though either. I'm just wondering if my body is slowing down for a little while. I know my new job doesn't help. I now have an office job and just sit on my butt for 8 hours a day. Having the scale not reward me weekly is getting me motivated to take some serious action. I need to get moving again. The weather has finally started to get nice so I have been working outside a lot on the weekends and in the evenings. I'm not looking forward to my doctor appointment on the 8th. My doctor is so funny, if I lose 6 lbs and say I ate the way he wants me to eat (basicly atkins) then he compliments me and says I'm doing great.... that I'm "right on track". But one month I lost 8 lbs and was honest about sharing a milkshake with my hubby and eating a sandwhich or something like that and he gave me a bunch of crap. So this is the first month I haven't had pretty significant results and I'm not sure what to expect. I know sure as hell that no more fluid is going into this thing. I can't eat until almost noon as it is. And if I eat the wrong thing or accidentally swallow something before it is chewed to oblivion then I about die. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I've still got a few days before my next appt. maybe I'll drop a lb or two. Until next time................

I usually don't/can't eat until around 10am. I eat then, usually a granola bar. Two hours later at lunch I'll sometimes have something (small) sometimes not. If I don't have something at lunch time then I'll usually have a peice of fruit around 2pm. At dinner I'm usually hungry. I'll eat between a 1/2 a cup or a cup (depending what it is) of food and am full for the rest of the night. If I don't stop eating when I just start to feel full then I feel too full and that feeling remains usually for the rest of the day making it very undesirable to eat anything else the rest of the day. It's only been this way sinse my last fill. Before that I could eat anything- not as much as before being banded, but still anything. It's hard to get used to having to figure out what I can and can't eat. I really watch how I chew and how it feels.

Congrats on your decision!! I remember when I told my grandmother (She came and helped with my 1 year old daughter after surgery), she saw that I'd lost 25lbs on the pre-op diet and thought that proved I could lose the weight on my own. I had to explain to her, yeah- I can lose weight (never all of it) but I always gain it back and usually more. I've only told a small handful of people. Most are very supportive. But the people who aren't..... oh well..... they aren't me so it doesn't matter. I love the lapband as a tool. It has helped so much. Everytime I want to give up and cheat- and I have cheated- the band keeps things from going out of control. And it's exciting to think that when I do reach my goal I have a tool to help me stay there. Anyway- best of luck to you and your lapband journey!!:biggrin2:

Congratulations on getting restriction. I too have resently finally acheived the restriction level from my third fill. Just be careful, that discomfort you felt can get worse. I've found that things I could eat before are now off limits. Yesturday brocolli about killed me. I'm actually back on liquids for a couple days because I vomited and am sore still. But on the bright side the "tool" side of the band seems to be working. I am full very quickly now and I have to slow down and chew unless I want to experience terrible pain. So now REALLY for the first time I am changing my eating habits. My doctor said I should be down below 200 by mid summer if things keep going as they have. Crazy. I haven't weighed less than 200 in 15years. So I agree- Yeah for ristriction!!!

I am over the half way point to my weight loss goal. I've lost 58lb and have 57 more to go. I've been hovering right at 240 for a couple of weeks. I started drinking my protien again last week. I dropped three pounds... yippee! I still have a long way to go. My doctor is happy with my progress. He thinks I'll be under 200 by July. I haven't weighed under 200lbs since 1993. It's crazy to think about. My port area has that "pulling/sore" sensation that I had befor my port flipped. I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. I can't afford to have it done again. The last time was out of my pocket. I'll be making payments on that for a while. Anyway, I've got to get to work. I hope everyones lapband journey is going well! Until next time.... Band-day: 10-18-2007 starting weight: 295 pre-op weight: 270 5 mos. post-op: 240 12-05-2007 first fill of 2cc's 12-20-2007 second fill 1cc total of 3cc 3-6-2008 surgery for flipped port and third fill 1cc total of 4cc