HeatherO

This is absolutely normal and an expected part of being banded. Almost all of us go through exactly the same thing at that stage. The important thing is to stay on your post-op diet so that your band heals well and is well-seated to help prevent future slips. Real weight-loss begins when you have restriction . . . this doesn't occur until a fill or more down the road.

Now that I am an experienced bander, I would say the answer is a definite no . . . perhaps you might want to ever consider a miniscule unfill. Reason being, you are still pb'ing a lot and already have heartburn which are definite signs of being too tight. If you get tighter, you are just going to aggravate yourself more and be more likely to get a slip while still not really affecting your desire to snack.. Unfortunately, eventhough banding can be a godsend, snacking on junk is going to go through your band regardless of how tight you are. More restriction isn't going to make this part easier, just futher aggravate the pb'ing and heartburn. I had your same dilemma in the past, thought I would get another slight fill and not only did my heartburn go 110%, I got acid reflux where I was throwing up in bed in my sleep. I was much too tight, but I can assure you that if I had some popcorn, chips, cake or anything of that nature . . . it was moving through my band with no problems or discomfort at all. Your best next steps would be, eliminate the snacking or allow yourself a limited snack on an allotted day or something along that line. If you are pb'ing a lot but do not feel that you are too tight, you may want to concentrate on eating slower and chewing more. I was able to hit goal . . . but for me I had to give up snacking on anything at all resembling junk food.

TOM made a huge difference for me as well. I have always lost in fits and starts throughout the banding journey. The only time time I lost regularly was the first several weeks. My weight loss graph shows plateau, dip, plateau, dip and repeats repeatedly throughout banding. The only difference now that I am pretty much at goal is that the changes are a lot slower and the losses smaller. I always had a steady decline a week or sometimes more right after a new fill. Right now I have been holding steady for about of month . . . but I am half unfilled for being preggers and I went on a three week vacation in the middle east where I ate whatever I wanted. Even with all that, I don't seem to be gaining for which I am very grateful.

- mucus plug - I never saw this with my first pregnancy. However, the day I delivered I had an ob appointment where the doctor did something he called "stirring the cervix." It was supposed to help induce labor, was really painful and I think basically he was loosening the mucus plug. It worked, he did it at 10 in the morning and I was not in labor at all, I had my son before 4 in the afternoon. I never had any discharge that was different than what you might have on non-period days prior to pregnancy. My Water also never broke, they did it in the hospital for me so I missed all of the special excretions, lol. - you said "way more blood" - for me it was like period blood and was never more than heavy to light and was never very bright red. - fetal movements - mine was always in sessions like you and never consistent at the end. Also my doctor said through the end of the pregnancy I should be feeling for fetal movements daily, no movement = potential serious problem. This really freaked me out because he wasn't moving regularly and I went hours or even most of the day without movement. Everything was fine but I am not sure why I had dramatically reduced movement at the end of pregnancy (other than the lack of space issue). - catheter - I think everyone gets one. Also, one thing noone ever told me . . . and I almost died of embarrassment and can't even write about it now without blushing, is that if your bowels have anything at all in them, they will be empty by the time the baby is born. So this time, if labor is approaching, I will make an extra special effort to be empty. - post partum bleeding... how bad is it? It was like an extra long period lasting a couple of weeks instead of a couple of days. Not really a big deal. - mesh underwear - they supply them to you. However, they are not especially attractive when your gown gaps open in the back post delivery, lol. You also will want to probably not wear your best underwear when you get back home for a while. I bought some cotton granny bloomers which worked great, are comfortable, were incredibly cheap and I tossed them after.

It is really odd, I just responded to this thread last week with no experience with port pain. Would you believe I started having port pain over the weekend??? It is just tender, like as if I overdid the exercise just around the port. Funny thing is, I have been so exhausted lately that my routine of several days a week at the gym has changed. Now the act of "not taking a nap" is about as much exercise as I have been getting, lol. Please let us know what your doctor says or if the port pain dissapears.

She is absolutely beautiful, congratulations. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It seemed like your OB office kind of overlooked your labor. I am not sure if it was because your labor was extremely atypical or what. Have you talked with them about it again since delivery? I had a bad tear as well. I remember that I could feel every single stitch going in and could feel it pulling. In some ways it was worse than delivery because it is a little freaky feeling the sensations and it was painful. I did not have an epidural because I wanted to go natural. I was well and good until the last 10 minutes or so . . . then I desperately wanted an epidural but they told me it was too late :0). It is entirely possible to go without if you have a high pain tolerance. My best friend had a baby a year ago and I was there after she had her epidural. Other than occasional nausea related stomach upsets, she was speaking normally, and even though labor was progressing . . . it was like she could have been at home having a cup of tea for all the distress she was in. If the epidural takes well, it seems like labor is a breeze and I was a little shocked it was so easy. A t this point in time, the epidural is looking good to me for this go round.

I think strange and vivid dreams go hand-in-hand with significant life changes . . . and what is banding other than a full lifestyle change, lol.

Cottage cheese is awesome and you can have it so many different ways. It has been a staple of my banding life, that is certain. I now use yogurt in place of cottage cheese. I also eat it near different meats because it tastes good together and helps it to go down when I am tight.

It is great to see how everyone is doing. Chrisann, thanks for the thread . . . and I see you are halfway finished as well, congratulations. Everyone is doing great in general . . . and I miss discussion in the Knockouts section. I am always dissapointed when there is nothing new to read here. I am down to 142.5 currently and a BMI of 25.2 (need to update my signature). To be honest, I am happy at this weight . . . anything more is just the icing on the cake. I am no longer trying to lose, only maintain for now. My band has also been unfilled down to 4 cc's but I am still losing albeit very, very, very slowly. I had band problems with extreme tightness and the need for an emergency unfill in early September (went from normal to an inability to drink Water in 3 days) . . . and later discovered that the real reason that my band suddenly closed up on me was that I had conceived, surprise, surprise. I went in for a small unfill in early October but once I let the office know I was expecting they said I had to have a completely unfill. I pleaded, begged and negotiated my way to the 4 cc's I have currently. I am finding that my hunger is still decently maintained although I can eat bread now. Amazingly I am not gaining weight eventhough I am eating much more than before . . . however, I am keeping it healthy (and trying to forget about the Halloween candy craze I fell into a few days ago, lol). I just got back from a 3 week vacation in Turkey and it was so nice to have my band a little looser. It was just loose enough to make everything comfortable but I wasn't eating excessively. I gained 1 pound which is already gone again within 1-2 days of being back. I am in mediums and size 8's. My size 8's were getting a little loose and I was ready to start 6's, but I decided not to buy any clothes for a while that aren't maternity. 8's fit comfortably and my belly has already started to fill in the excess room. I am surprised and amazed and absolutely thrilled that I have a normal sized body . . . and will have a normal baby bump without people wondering if I am preggers or just a preferred member of the local Dunkin Donuts, lol.

I think it is a wonderful idea to name her after your husband's mother. Picking names always seems so difficult to me. I couldn't decide until I was in the hospital with my son, lol.

Everyone has great advice. Perhaps you need a little makeover . . . it really gives you a boost of self-confidence. Are you keeping your hair the same as you always have, have you changed the style of your clothes. It makes all the difference. I lost my weight and was at a loss as to what clothes to wear. My husband asked me why a couple of months ago, why do I dress like an old woman in the new clothes I am buying??? Well . . . because clothes when you are heavy are not usually trendy and I had forgotten how to choose flattering things. I actually had my husband and a couple of my trendier friends go shopping with me a couple of times and let them help choose what looks good. I bought some things I never, ever would have picked out on my own. Now I get noticed all the time. I had to relearn what to wear with my new body. Size 8's are not the same as size 20's, lol. My husband also said I needed to cut my hair. I had been hiding behind long hair througout most of my "heavy" years. Cutting the hair seemed to really release me from the holds of my old mindset. I think I was also insulating myself with my hair as well as being heavy. I agree with this 100%, because I see it the other way as well. As a woman, you can always sense a man who is a little too desperate to be noticed . . . and I dont know why but it makes me naturally want to avoid these people. We naturally are attracted to people who are self-confident and feel comfortable in their own skin. It is easier to be thin than heavy . . . but I have known plenty of heavy people who never have a problem finding someone knew because they are comfortable with who they are, and I know plenty of skinny people who can't find what they are looking for due to lack of confidence. I have a brother who is heavy, and has been throughout late childhood. He is 18 now, so still relatively young. He always has a girlfriend or two waiting in the wings and they are always very attractive. He is just so friendly, has such a nice smile and good personality that he makes friends easily and naturally everywhere he goes. His weight never held him back for a moment. I however am shy and had been deeply ashamed of my weight for a long time. It took me a while to get my self confidence back. My husband helped so much in that he loved me for me . . . heavy or thin. Now, I can't believe it is me in the mirror anymore. It is not only being pretty much at goal weight, it is being able to accept that I am attractive and I never suspected it before. I realize now that I had always been at least moderately attractive but I was always so ashamed of myself. Anyways, I think this is one of the primary legs of the banding journey . . . readjusting your sense of self to who you are now and who you have always been. Once that comes together, being noticed comes naturally.

Well, you have a little bit of time before you go to see him again. When you go back, ask him to check your volume . . . it is not an unusual request and is standard. This also helps to show if you have any potential leaks and is very simple for the doctor to do. In the mean time, if you are hungry and it sounds like you are, eat but do so in a healthy way. Have your normal standard meals . . . but allow yourself a big serving of veggies (non-starchy, corn and potatoes are too high in carbs if you eat a lot of them). Stick with salad or other veggies that are healthy and low in calories. Lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, onions are all great for you and will not impact your weight in any significant sense because they are so low in calories. Be really careful of too much salad dressing that is high in calories. Pickles are only 5-10 calories, if you like them, you can eat just about an unlimited quantity without much impact. Brocolli, cauliflower, zuchinni, etc are also healthy if you cook them in a way that doesnt use a lot of fat/oil. Cauliflower can be steamed and blended in such a way that it is almost the consistency of mashed potatoes . . . if you add a butter substitute and a little salt & pepper or low-cal cheese, or even some parmesan cheese . . . this can really satisfy cravings. I have been banded for a long time now . . . and have had occasions where I am super tight and super loose. Following the strategy of finding healthy things to eat when I am extra hungry has kept me losing steadily since banding . . . I highly recommend it. Also, you don't have to feel guilty about it which tends to be a trigger for some of us to overeat. You can get through this . . . you just have to have a plan on how to handle the times when your band is not working for you. :rolleyes2: Please let us know what happens next Wednesday.

You should schedule another fill appointment. At the very least, contact your fill doctor and let them know that there is a problem. It seems unusual that you had more restriction before your last fill. It very rarely happens, but does happen, that the last .5 cc's was not injected into the port properly. Did your doctor test your Fluid level by first extracting some into the syringe to see how much you have currently?

I think taking some time off is an excellent idea. It is too much stress . . . and I think stress definitely affects conception. Also, as far as looking for signs and tracking ovulation . . . as long as you and your hubby are spending some quality time together every couple of days, if it is going to happen it will happen. I am sending more babydust your way and hoping that everything aligns perfectly and we can swap our delivery stories next year :tongue2:

I didn't want to get unfilled at all . . . but I had to do so. I don't have morning sickness, but a pregnancy symptom for me was a super tight band. If you don't feel nauseous, and it doesn't sound like you are overly tight if you can eat bread, they why not leave well enough alone? It sounds like you are at a good spot now.

I would also suggest checking with your surgeon. 10 weeks is still pretty early and the baby shouldn't be pressing against your port at this stage. Where is your port located?

Congratulations!!! Have you been thinking about any names yet?

Just a quick update . . . I went to my slight unfill appointment and the fill nurse wanted an immediate complete unfill. I pleaded and bargained for a partial and ma down to 4 cc's. However, amazingly, even though I could eat a horse at 6.8 cc's in the past, I still have some restriction. I just came back from a 3 week vacation in Turkey, and I also took a band break and ate the things I usually don't, but I only gained 1 pound and still had very limited capacity. A few bites and I am full and bread in any significant quantity is impossible. There is no doubt, I am definitely tighter than normal post pregnancy.

I think it is better to wait in my opinion. Better health leads to a better pregnancy and a healthier mother and baby. If you have found your soul mate, then waiting a little while will not hurt. It is better for a new relationship not to have a baby immediately . . . life will be very different once the baby comes. Take a little time to enjoy each other and being in each other's lives. 1-2 years won't make a difference if it is meant to be . . . but it is not always good to make a life-altering decision in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship. You still have plenty of time to get pregnant at your age.

Congratulations . . . it must have been meant to be.

Congratulations!!!!! I definitely want to hear the long version and to see the pic's as well.

I agree with FairyFacade . . . count your blessings. Better not to gain excessively. I am up 1 pound from my lowest which amazes me because my band is only half filled . . . however, pregnancy has made my band extra, extra tight. I notice that sometimes I am HUNGRRYYY, almost so hungry it hurts and I need to eat NOW . . . but then I eat a few bites and it goes away. Most of the time I am not really that interested in food for some strange reason but have been craving salt in excess.

I can feel mine slightly and I am not as far along but I have to stand up to feel anything. I notice it because it is not flab, it is under the stomach muscles and is a little hard and mine is right above my pubic bone. I am not as far along but since this is my second pregnancy it is expected that the signs show earlier. Other than a little excess skin, I don't have much belly fat anymore (I always carried it most in my hips and thighs anyway). If this is your first pregnancy, it is not unusual not to feel much yet . . . but you will and it won't be long. With my first pregnancy, I don't think I felt anything until 16+ weeks out. Have you had any gain at all yet? I am up 1 pound so far which isn't so bad.

Amazingly I am finding that I still have some restriction at 4 cc's although I never would have thought it possible. It must be pregnancy making me tight. I never had tightness problems before pregnancy, but around the time of conception my band has become very fickle and difficult to work with. I have been traveling in Turkey for more than a week now and have had nothing but foreign cuisine daily. I can not tell you how good it has been not to pb most meals like I was doing right before the unfills. I have been trying to eat carefully, but I miss my kitchen and banding favorites. I have been eating a lot of red lentil Soup lately, it really seems to go down well and tastes great . . . and it is healthy too. Everyone is trying soo hard to feed me here. I don't really have morning sickness other than the occasional twinge . . . but I kind of pretend I do. I just can't eat much and people keep trying to fill my plate to the ceiling. It also seems to be the land of 10 course meals, lol. It is also funny what people keep giving me to eat. There is some fruit that tastes kind of like a really sour apple but is big like a grapefruit. People swear that this will give my baby a pretty face - and actually it tastes pretty good since I like sour so that is going well. Everyone is also giving me nuts as well, especially walnuts since that is supposed to give the baby a strong head and good brain development, lol. I seem to always be walking around with walnut bulges in my pockets. If I try to refuse anything I keep getting "oh your baby just needs a small taste" lol. Middle eastern bathrooms are also not very accomodating to pb episodes, or to the needs of pregnant women who feel queasy when bending as their are no seats and the toilets are not much more than sinks imbedded in the floor. I think if I had to do this at 9 months out, I would probably fall in and have to yell for rescue, lol. Two nights ago I had a dream. I stepped on the scale, which is in the front hall of my friends house here in Turkey, and I didn't know what it would say. I don't really know how many kilograms I am, only pounds. So I step on it . . . . and I weighed 400 kilograms, lol. It was such a strange dream and just goes to show how out of touch with kilo's vs pounds that I am. I told my husband and he said that is about the same weight as a cow, lol. Anyway, it will be easier once I get home again I think. I am going to ask for another fill if I get ultra hungry.

I had an unpleasant unfill appointment yesterday, but the fill nurse did share an interesting story. She had a banded patient who was in for a fill. While she was locating the port, she said she told her she could feel her fundus . . . could she be pregnant? Well the women told her no, it isn't possible . . . she had been suffering from fertility problems for many years, and after pursuing a multitude of unsuccessful treatment options, she had adopted 2 children with the thought that she would never be able to conceive. The fill nurse said she was pretty sure that she was pregnant, so she took a pregnancy test . . . and lo and behold it was positive. She got an unfill that day. She called back a couple of days later to say, not only is she pregnant, but she is 4 1/2 months pregnant. She had no idea she was pregnant through half of her pregnancy. Her cycles were so irregular, it was not uncommon not to have them at all. She was also going through banding so some of the unusual feelings and sickness she attributed to life with the band. The baby was born later healthy after a successful and uneventful pregnancy, albeit brief since she didn't know for half the pregnancy, lol. Anyways, I enjoyed this story because it goes to show that there is still hope for some of us who have given up. Just one more of the many reasons to love our bands.