Apryl Showers

Dr. Susan Brinkley in Frederick, maryland is who I use. She is pretty good. She isn't a bariatric surgeon but she has a band herself.

Hi, it's been a loooong time since I have been on here. Here is a brief synopsis of my band history. Hope someone can give some advice or relate.

Banded Aug 2005. Lost over 100 pounds by June 2006 (less than a year). Get pregnant and unfilled June 2006. Gain 85 pounds by April 2007 delivery. Refilled June 2007 (2 months post-partum). Have one or two more fills by December 2007. Lose no weight until end of December/ beginning of January 2008. I am now down over 60 pounds in less than 6 months. I am losing slowly and frequently hit plateaus.

Here is my problem. I never had any issues with my band before getting pregnant. No PB, no reflux, nothing. My last fill in December has gotten progressivley tighter each week. At first I would PB a few times a week. Then that stopped and about a month ago I went for two weeks barely able to drink Water without it coming back up and i wasn't able to eat any solids until late evening. Then two weeks ago I was able to eat easily thru out the day (even in the am), but had problems in the evening. For the last week I have been getting terrible reflux at night while I sleep. I have woken up many times with actual vomit in my throat. I also make very loud gurgling noises if I lay down. I have stopped eating past 6, and I am not sure if that even helps. The past two nights my reflux has started before I even go to bed.

Tonight i am going to try OTC Zantac to see if that helps.

I rarely, if at all, feel hunger pains, and 99% of the time, when I do eat, I am able to eat only a few bites (maybe a half cup worth). Drinking liquids is a chore too. Each sip rises up and then slowly drains down. I have been getting very light headed recently, my hair is starting to fall out, and I have developed very deep, dark, black circles under my eyes. I also bruise very easily and severely.

What makes it even more frustrationg is that my weight loss has slowed down again.

Has anyone out there experienced anytything like this? Any advice?

Common sense tells me to get a partial unfill, but why is my band getting tighter if I have lost weight since getting filled?

I do not think I am slipped or eroded but I am still confused and a little depressed by the whole thing. Not to mention frustrated.

Any help would be appreciated!

Apryl

Just wanted to hear from any bandsters who may be currently pregnant or have been pregnant with the band. I am currently 28 weeks (fill removed) and have had no complications, but I was concerned that labor (pushing) may cause a slippage. I have not been able to find any information on this and was wondering if anyone knows or has experienced anything. Thanks!

Apryl

Congratulations....we just found out that we are expecting too! I had my band completely unfilled last week and I have gained about 8 pounds since then! I couldn't believe it....I have been eating healthy (healthier than I have even eaten in fact) but I guess larger quantities is what has done it. We were on vacation for the past week and I kept hoping that it was Water weight from flying....but my doctor basically said "fat chance". Oh well....I am hoping it will level off so I don;t end up gaining 40 pounds over the next 8 months....but at least I know the band will help me lose it after I give birth.

One question for you....what is your OB/GYN's reaction to your band? Mine is completely panicked becasue he has never heard of it. They are making me go to a nutritionist and a Bariatric specialist for monitoring, and they are even considering me "high-risk". This is all crazy as far as I am concerned.....

I find it so strange that there are so many doctors who don't know what the band is.

Congratulations! I just found out that I am pregnant too...hmm...wonder if it's something in the water...ha ha...anyway...I spoke with my Ob/Gyn today and he has never even heard of the band and kinda freaked out and had me contact a nutritionist. I am scheduled for an unfill mainly because I am suddenly really tight and have been having problems getting things down. I usually consume around 1000 calories a day which I know is way too low for pregnancy. Keep us posted on what your doctor tells you....and good luck!

Awww...thanks...DH and I are very excited!

Hi everyone! I just found out that I am pregnant and due in March...yay! My question is...what next? I am almost one year post op and about 35 pounds from my goal. Obviously I don't want to gain very much weight, but I do want to make sure that my baby is healthy. Should I get an unfill now, or wait till later in my pregnancy? I am also a little worried because my OB/GYN has never even heard of a Lap-Band....I have had to explain the entire procedure and concept to him! I was just wondering what some of you have experienced, and inf you have any suggestions for me. I was also wondering how much weight some of you gained and if you continued to lose weight after delivery? I am so frustrated because I am only 35 pounds from my goal! I just bought a pair of size 12 jeans too...I guess I won't be seeing them for a while! Ha ha! Thanks!

Apryl

I am 5' 5 1/2" and 184. Goal from doc is 138 - 145 but at 184 I am a size 12 so I think 138 is too low. I would be happy at 155. Good luck to everyone!

I am 5'4 and I was told that I should aim for 135-145. But I am 185 now and a size 12/14. My fill doc told me 135 is way too low and I should aim for a size rather than a weight. She explained that because of carrying around all the extra weight that I used to have, my muscles and bones are denser...meaning that I basically weigh more than I look. She said that's why 135 is really unrealistic becasue I would probably end up as a size 0 or 1.

I have found that I can still eat bread if it is toasted, or if I only eat the crispy crust from a dinner roll.

I have lost 100 pounds and I have about 40 - 50 pounds more to go!

Hi everybody! I just need some encouragement....I have totally fallen off the bandwagon. Lately I have been eating too fast (resulting in several sliming sessions) and too much. I eat...am satisfied...and then I find myself eating again an hour later...even though I am not hungry. I don't think I need a fill because I am not really eating large quantities (1/2 - 3/4 of a cup) but I am still eating more often than I should. I am going back to the emotional eating thing rather than relying on physical hunger.

I am also worried because I wonder if I could be stretching my pouch or maybe even making my band slip. Can eating too much make your band slip? I don't have any symptoms...can you slip without symptoms? ARGH! The worst thing about this band is that I constantly wonder if it has eroded or slipped. I am driving myself crazy!

They don't always come in packs of 4....now they sell the mini eggs in packs of 12...and you can always buy them out of the big bins that have...oh probably 100 eggs in them! It is a damn conspiracy or something. Glad I'm not the only one with a problem...he he he!

Hmm...."won't power"...I like that. I am going to have to try it. : )

I really dislike the Easter season for one little reason....CADBURY CREME EGGS! I mean really...how disgusting are these things...yet I can not resist them. Ugh! I have eaten three in the last two days...even though they are fattening and they make me want to puke! Sorry...I just needed to vent....mostly because there is still one more in the kitchen taunting me! :faint:

It is interesting that someone posted this....I had a fill Feb 22nd, and like three days later I got my period. After my period was over, I swear that I hardly feel like I have had a fill at all. The worst part is...the doctor I go to for fills only does them the last Wednesday of the month, which is right in time for my period. Argh!

What gives here?!?! For the first week after my fill I was incredibly tight and felt like I did right after surgery....but now I feel like I could eat all the time. For dinner last night I ate about 4 oz of tuna filet and was satisfied...but an hour or two later I ate some Cheetos. I wasn't hungry but I felt like eating. In fact...all I did was eat yesterday! A few days after my fill I got my period...do you think this has something to do with me feeling so loose now? Since my fill I have been consuming around 600-1000 calories a day. I lost 7 pounds the first week and like a half a pound this week! This is so frustrating! Anyone else go through this to? I really need some encouragement here.

I am 5'5 and I started at 289. Dr.Ortiz gave me a goal of 138-145. I am about 6 1/2 months post op and am down to 199. I am not sure if the goal he gave me is realistic or not....the last time I weighed 138 I was in high school and I looked pretty skinny. I would be happy to get to 145 -150.

Good luck!

It took me a month or so until I could fully move around easily and sleep on my stomach. I did cheat a little though....I would lay on my stomach but more on my right side and then I would prop my left side up with pillows....I felt like I was sleeping on my stomach but the pillows relieved the pressure onmy muscles and stitches. I was able to do this about 1 week post op. I hate sleeping on my back so it was nice to finally get some rest!

The pharmacy normally has to special order it.

My fill doc (who also has a band) told me that after carrying all that extra weight your bones and muscles become denser. This makes sense because I am wearing a size 14, which I haven't worn since I weighed 170...and I weigh about 200 now. I also told someone the other day how much I weigh and they didin't believe me....so maybe there is some truth to this...oh...and I don't exercise so I know I haven't gained any muscle...ha ha.

MMMMM....Filet Mignon....my (old) favorite. I am too chicken to try red meat because I have heard that a lot of people have problems with it getting stuck. Every time my husband makes himself a steak I accuse him of trying to torture me.

Ok...maybe I am not sick of food after all....maybe it's lap-band freindly food that I am sick of! Ha ha ha!

I think it should qualify as a NSV! Ha ha! : )

Before my surgery food was the greatest thing ever....it was my best friend and kept me company when I was unhappy, bored, whatever. (Probably the reason I gained so much weight huh?) Anyway....since my surgery I am sick of food. I rarely crave anything, and I usually end up just eating a snack size cottage cheese whenever I am hungry. When I do cook now I usually make yummy, exotic things, that I would love to eat but can't or shouldn't, and then give it to other people. This is the first time in my life that I haven't been interested in eating food. Anyone else feeling this way?