kimmcneely

I had my band in '05, got pregnant in '06 and had my son in '07. I only gained 9 lbs during my pregnancy and he was 7 lbs 1oz. Big difference from the 50 lbs I gained with my first one 11 years ago without the band. Of course my band got pulled and I had to have it replaced when he was 3 months old. I had gotten very anemic because I wasn't able to eat any protien. But I liked what the scale was saying. Of course now I am back at around 160. I have stayed there consistantly.

Dr Ciaravino is in Houston. Here is his website. Houston Plastic Surgeon Michael Ciaravino MD, FACS and his phone number is 713-627-1200.

Just getting back to the forum after months off. I had a baby in June, replacement band surgery in September and a number of other things. I am also a Spivak patient, living north of Beaumont and considering PS with Dr. Ciaravino. He seems excellent. A few of my friends have used him for different surgeries and they were very very pleased with the results. I really want to lose about 20 more lbs but am anxious to get all this belly fat off too. Just wanted to make sure you had check into Ciaravino because he could be a great fit for you. Good luck and keep us updated.

I have been suffering with terrible reflux and went to the dr this week and he said that during my pregnancy (my son is now 5 weeks old), that my band had moved around my stomach and was now blocked. So I have to have it removed. Good thing is, acid will be gone and insurance will pay for a new band.

Ok, well I guess I will reply. I just don't look on here very often anymore. I was banded in July of '05 and love my band, even to this day. My husband and I decided to start trying to have a child together in July of '06 so I stated getting myelf off of birth control and by September was completely off and was pregnant in October. I am scheduled for my c-section on the 28th of June. I have actually done excellent with my band during my pregnancy. I had my saline taken out of the band in November so that I could eat more. Don't know that I am really able to eat a lot more. I am almost 31 weeks pregnant and have only gained 6 lbs. The baby is growing great and I have had a great pregnancy other than the heartburn. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me at kim_mcneely@hotmail.com as I don't get to check the forum as often as I would like.

I must be lucky or either my doctor attached something to my band that runs directly to my brain when he did my surgery because I have been very well but not over restricted since my surgery. I actually had lost down to a little less than 150 lbs (which I never thought I would see) when I found out I was pregnant in Nov of 06. Now...6 months pregnant I am still at 150 lbs. I had lost about 6 lbs in the beginning of my pregnancy, thankfully not because of morning sickness, but I have just now gained that back. I rock between 147 and 150. I have gained a belly where my "little man" is growing well, just haven't gained in numbers. I think that my biggest gain from the lap band surgery is the mental piece that I have had to have to lose the weight and keep it off. Although when I found out I was pregnant, I was immediately scared about gaining. Even now, even knowing that it is all baby, it is hard to look at my tummy growing big again since I had lost all of it and had a nice semi-flat stomach. I am just anxious to continue and meet my new son come June.

Congrats! I am also pregnant with the band. I have had my band since July of '05 and am almost 6 months pregnant. I lost several pounds in the beginning of my pregnancy even though I never had morning sickness and now am just starting to get a belly but haven't gained any weight yet. Even though I had all my fill taken out at the beginning of pregnancy I am still very restricted. Oh well. The doctor said all is well and that the baby is growing just as it should. Thanks for your inspirational story. We will keep both you and your family in our prayers.

We go to Alaska every other year to fish and there are lots of ways to cook both the salmon and the halibut that we bring home. I am like you, salmon isn't my favorite but I love the halibut. One easy receipe that even the kids love is to: deskin the halibut season with lemon pepper and whatever else you like. take ritz crackers (amt depends on how much fish you are cooking) and put them in a zip lock bag and pound them until they are fine. Coat the halibut in a milk and egg mixture and the put it in the zip lock bag and coat it there. That make the crust. Put it in a glass pan (works best) Drizzle with butter and cook on 375 for about 8 min. This might vary on how thick the fish is. We love it!!! I hate it because I have a freezer full of this and salmon and because I am pregnant I can only eat the salmon.

Congrats! I am also banded and pregnant. Now in my 12th week. This is not my first baby although since my son is almost 11 it feels as though it is. This is my first band baby though. I still have questions about that. I had an unfill done when I first found out that I was pregnant but I still feel really restricted. Of course I had lost a lot of weight so the size of my stomach is very different than what it was. I try to eat a lot of small meals but I have a hard time even doing that. Like my first pregnance I haven't had any morning sickness so that has been nice but there have been times that I have felt that my food wasn't going down and that I needed to just "get it up". I am still very, very tired at this point. I am anxious for that to pass and to get my energy back. I am taking a prenatal Vitamin (chewable of course) that is really not bad. I was nervous about that because I wasn't liking the thought of chewable Vitamins...yuck! but this one is really okay. My OB doctor says that there isn't anything to worry about with having the band. Since I had a c-section with my first, I have to have a c-section with this one so they have tentively scheduled me for the last week of June. I am so looking forward to it. Good luck and hope to hear how your progress is going.

I have a low profile port and mine sticks out pretty good. Mine is directly between my breast bone and my belly button. I like the location because my bra doesn't irritate it or anything but I am considering a tummy tuck. As a matter of fact I had already had my consultation for that and my boob job when I found out I was pregnant. Guess I will have to wait a bit. Anyway....what I was going to say was that my low profile port still sticks out quite a bit. More when I am laying on my back than anything but I have lost a lot of weight in my tummy and it is noticeable. However I wear a girdle and it seems keep it tucked in. Now my concern is going to be the baby pushing on it.

I also have more restriction in the morning and help loosen things up with something warm to drink.

I apologize, I meant keep my fill until then.

I have just found out that I am pregnant. We haven't had an ultrasound yet and have had strange periods so I am either 5 weeks or 9 weeks. Not very far along at all. My lap band doctor said I could keep my band up to my 7th month but I am going to go ahead and have it out. I currently have only .7 cc in and am real restricted. At one point I did have 2 cc but began to have acid reflux. Congrats!