slcmommy4

The great thing is that you know you can lose weight with the lap band, so you'll be able to lose again. I got pregnant 7 months after I got the band, this is my 5th child. I was freaking out a little at first, but just remember the babies health is the most important. I got my fill taken out at 17 weeks. If I could do it over again I would have gotten half taken out, and then at 6 or 7 months looked at where I was at and maybe had the rest taken out. I'm in my 7th month now and have gained back 17 pounds, but I gained all of that since my unfill. I went back at aboutt 22 weeks and had them put a little back in. But I still have no restriction, so I am a little worried. But I just keep thinking that I lost weight before and I'll do it again. So don't worry about it, and just see what happens. If you are losing to much weight and it's 3 or 4 months then have a little taken out. But you never know you could gain the weight you need just fine. Hope this helps. Good Luck

I am pregnant with baby # 5 and this is the first baby since my surgery. I got pregnant about 7 months after surgery and I am now in my 7th month. Not only was I not gaining but I was actually losing so I got my fill taken out at about 17 weeks. If I could do it over again I would of had half taken out, because I feel like I've gained too much weight. I literally gained 12 pounds 4 weeks after getting unfilled. So at about 22 weeks I had a little put back in, and it's still not enough because I have no restriction. So my advise would be to weight until about 15 weeks or so and get some taken out, then if you havn't gained a lot of weight by your 6th month you can have more taken out. Obviously the baby is the most important thing rightnow so you want to be giving it all the nutrition it needs. Just have fun with the pregnancy and enjoy it. You only have to add like 300 calories a day so really you probably only have to have a little fill taken out. Good Luck with everything.

The lap band is only going to help you if you've gained weight because of eating too much and not being able to stop. All the lap band does is force you to eat less. So if you think there is some other reason for your weight gain then it probably won't work. On the other hand you could be in denial. I was never overweight and then I had babies. I exercized a lot but could never lose the weight, I honestly thought it was because of my thyroid disease. I was 210 when I got the surgery and I am 5'7. In 7 months I lost about 40 pounds. It wasn't until after the surgery that I realized I had been sabotaging my weight loss by the amount of food I ate. I had no idea. Having the surgery was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I searched for an hour and this was the only before pic I could find of myself. I was probably 15 pounds heavier then that by the time I got the surgery.

I searched for an hour and this was the only before pic I could find of myself. I wish that I had taken some progression pictures as well.

I was severely nauseated for about a week. Every time I stood up I had to throw up. Make sure that you are getting up and walking around even if you feel sick. Because I didn't get up that often(because of the nausea) I ended up with blood clots in my lungs. The only reason I found out about the blood clots is because the nausea was so bad I went into the ER, that's where they found them. If I hadn't went in it would have been fatal.

I actually did things a bit backward. I had 3 children then a tummy tuck and lipo. I then got pregnant with my fourth child. After my fourth I went and had the lap band. I actually had made a decision not to have children after my tummy tuck because I was so worried about ruining my tummy tuck. Although my pregnancy didn't undo my tummy tuck, I did get the stretch marks and my stomach isn't as flat as it was. That being said, you can get pregnant after a tummy tuck, it doesn't affect the pregnancy at all. The question is whether you are willing to go through the expense and pain involved just to have to do all over again. If you are willing to do it again then don't worry about it. Getting the tummy tuck was the most painful thing I have ever gone through in my life. You can't even sneeze without being in the most extreme pain ever, but I would do it over again if I had to. Good Luck making your decision.

Love WENDY'S Chili!

I havn't had a fill yet because I've had a good amount of restriction since thesurgery, but here's what I eat, B-2 eggs over easy L-Chili 1cup D-Oatmeal or chicken salad Surgery date 2/21/08

Even though I've had several complications it's still worth it. Banded by Dr Alldredge, Southvalley Surgical Sandy, UT

First I will give everyone a heads up on what has been happening, I had my lap band surgery the 21st of February. I admitted myself into the ER 6 days after the surgery because of a slight pain in my chest but more for extreme nausea I was having. It turned out I had several blood clots in my lungs. I've been in the hospital for 3 days now and was just told that my insurance will not cover this because it's complications from the surgery. Anyway I have to inject myself every day with blood thinners for six months and have to go into my doctor several times a week. This is going to cost me about $1000/mth. I'm guessing based on other hospitalization bills we've recieved in the past that this will cost anywhere from 7K to about 12K. Don't ask me how we are going to do it. We are both students and have 4 young children. And I had to take out a loan to get the surgery. Not only that I have to pay for the blood thinning treatments as soon as I leave the hospital. Honestly I think I'm just in shock right now. I have no idea how we will pay for this. What I've learned is that blood clots are apparently very common under any kind of surgery, and once you have them there is no way of getting around it, you have to take blood thinner for atleast 6 mths or you could just drop dead one day. So I would encourage anyone thinking about getting the surgery is to have a back up as far as finances go, just incase. I didn't get the leg compressions with this surgery but I did have them with another much more invasive surgery 2 years ago, and I can't help but wonder if I had them this time if it would have made a difference. All they gave me for this surgery were leggings, that kept falling down by the way. So anyway I guess I just want to say don't take the surgery lightly because, I did, I honestly did not think anything would happen, I had to learn the hard way. If you have the surgery atleast make sure that your doctor does give you the leg compressions I know it made a difference with my first surgery. Anyway, good luck to all those considering this.

First, I want to say thank you for your prayers and concern. I really appreciate it. Things have turned out a little bit differently than I hoped. Because I was self pay for the surgery my insurance will not be covering any hospitalization or treatment. My hospital and ER bills are probably going to be around 7-10K and the treatment for the blood thinner which I have to inject myself every day for the next 6 mnths is going to be about $1000/mth. Don't ask me how we are going to do it. We are both students and have 4 young children. What I've learned is that blood clots are apparently very common under any kind of surgery, and once you have them there is no way of getting around it, you have to take blood thinner for atleast 6 mths or you could just drop dead one day. So I would encourage anyone thinking about getting the surgery is to have a back up as far as finances go, just incase. I didn't get the leg compressions with this surgery but I did have them with another much more invasive surgery 2 years ago, and I can't help but wonder if I had them this time if it would have made a difference. All they gave me for this surgery were leggings, that kept falling down by the way. So anyway I'm really not sure what we're going to do since we had to take out a loan to get the surgery. I guess I just want to say don't take the surgery lightly, even though it is very minimally invasive. I had to learn the hard way. Good Luck with your decision

Well, I'm 7 days post-op and back in the hospital with several blood clots in my lungs. I'm definately surprised because I had an abdominoplasy 2 years ago where I couldn't move for 2 weeks and nothing happened, although I did have the leggings that pump your legs every few minutes so I'm sure that helped. I guess I'll start at the beginning, in hopes that if someone else goes through the same kind of situation that they atleast go get checked out just in case. When I came out of the surgery I had serious trouble breathing which I know most people do, but looking back what concerns me is that I was the last one out of the surgery center, and there was only one nurse who was basically waiting for me to leave so she could go home. I was way too nauseated to walk around at all before I left. (My husband said when he had his they forced him to walk around right away.) Anyway the next day I had to re-admit myself into the ER where I was staying because I could tell I wasn't breathing right and not getting enough oxygen and my chest hurt so bad. The conclusion was that I wasn't taking enough of the Pain KIller.The pain killer basically takes the pain from my lungs so that I am able to take deeper breaths and get my lungs working properly again. Meanwhile I was so nauseated I could barely walk, but I forced myself to do it. I get home after a short stay at my sisters. The pain was pretty much gone after 4 days and I was breathing better, but at night I couldn't take those deep breaths you usually need to be able to sleep. Something just didn't feel right. The next couple of nights I was able to sleep a little better but when I would breath in or out at the end of the breath there would be a sharp pain in the middle of my chest toward my back . In the meantime I felt like I had the stomach flux and can't do anything. After 3 days of this I decided to go into the ER. They discovered the blood clots and Fluid in my lungs. They asked me if I ever threw up or coughed severely that would have done it. I hadn't. They seem to think it happened during the surgery. Now I'm in the hospital for 2 days and have to be on blood thinner for 6months. HOnestly if I hadn't had the extreme nausea I wouldn't have even gone into the ER. So I'm glad I did. An interesting thing though is that I tried to call by doctor 5 times. One time before going into the ER the first time, 3 times during the week, and once before I went into the ER again. How ridiculous is it that I couldn't get a hold of anyone. Basically it goes to a machine where it has you push a button for and emergency, then it tells you the doctor on call, and it will try to page him, seconds later it tells you he's unavailable and to leave your number. I left my number twice and didn't even bother the other times. When you are sick and uncomfortable and panicked the last thing you want to do is wait for someone to call you back. I should of been able to atleast get a hold of someone. When I had an abdominaplasty 2years ago it didn't matter whether it was the weekend or the middle of the night I was always able to talk to my doctor directly. Very Frustrating. I'm still glad I had the surgery, and apparently blood clots are common with the surgery, I'm just glad I have insurance for these hospital visits or I'd be in a lot of trouble. I'm not sure how much I weigh rightnow but the last I checked I was 192 which is down 18 pounds from a week ago. I just want to get feeling good so I can enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who responded to previous posts. And good luck to everyone.

:cursing:Well, I'm in 7 days post-op and back in the hospital with several blood clots in my lungs. I'm definately surprised because I had had a much more invasive surgery 2 years ago where I couldn't move for 2 weeks and nothing happened, although I did have the leggings that pump your legs every few minutes so I'm sure that helped. I guess I'll start at the beginning, in hopes that if someone else goes through the same kind of situation that they atleast go get checked out just in case. When I came out of the surgery I had serious trouble breathing which I know most people do, but looking back what concerns me is that I was the last one out of the surgery center, and there was only one nurse who was basically waiting for me to leave so she could go home. I was way too nauseated to walk around at all before I left. My husband said when he had his they forced him to walk around right away. Anyway the next day I had to re-admit myself into the ER where I was staying because I could tell I wasn't breathing right and not getting enough oxygen and my chest hurt so bad. The conclusion was that I wasn't taking enough of the Pain KIller.The pain killer basically takes the pain from my lungs so that I am able to take deeper breaths and get my lungs working properly again. Meanwhile I am so nauseated I can barely walk, but I force myself to do it. I get home after a short stay at my sisters. The pain is pretty much gone and I feel like I'm breathing better, but at night I notice that I can't take those deep breaths you usually need to be able to sleep. Something just didn't feel right. The next couple of nights I was able to sleep a little better but when I would breath in or out at the end of the breath there would be a sharp pain in the middle of my chest toward my back . In the meantime I feel like a have the stomach flux and can't do anything. After 3 days of this I decided to go into the ER. They discovered the blood clots and Fluid in my lungs. They asked me if I ever threw up or coughed severely that would have done it. I hadn't. They seem to think it happened during the surgery. Now I'm in the hospital for 2 days and have to be on blood thinner for 6months. HOnestly if I hadn't had the extreme nausea I wouldn't have even gone into the ER. So I'm glad I did. An interesting thing though is that I tried to call by doctor 5 times. One time before going into the ER the first time, 3 times during the week, and once before I went into the ER again. How ridiculous is it that I couldn't get a hold of anyone. Basically it goes to a machine where it has you push a button for and emergency, then it tells you the doctor on call, and it will try to page him, seconds later it tells you he's unavailable and to leave your number. I left my number twice and didn't even bother the other times. When you are sick and uncomfortable and panicked the last thing you want to do is wait for someone to call you back. I should of been able to atleast get a hold of someone. When I had an abdominaplasty 2years ago it didn't matter whether it was the weekend or the middle of the night I was always able to talk to my doctor directly. Very Frustrating. I'm still glad I had the surgery, and apparently blood clots are common with the surgery, I'm just glad I have insurance for these hospital visits or I'd be in a lot of trouble. I'm not sure how much I weigh rightnow but the last I checked I was 192 which is down 18 pounds from a week ago. I just want to get feeling good so I can enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who responded to previous posts. And good luck to everyone.