eejaydiva

heather, first of all, CONGRATS! you give me hope, we've only been trying 3 months, but i want this so badly! this is exactly the expectation/hope i had when i started this thread, thank you so much for your updates (same to everyone else who's posted here!) as well, i know that the digital pregnancy tests are much more sensitive and will give you a def yes or no. it may be a little late for that now since your line is darker, but it is great for eliminating squinting in the bathroom! i should be ovulating within the next 8 days or so, will keep you posted. as well, i'm only 3 lbs from my 50 lb loss goal! hopefully i can make that by november. hugs everyone!

just one side note on the ginger...you may want to google it. Ginger has been known to cause uterine contractions and many doctors have advised against using it in early pregnancy as it can lead to spotting or cramping that may bring on miscarriage. I don't want to alarm anyone, but i distinctly remember them telling my sister (who was VERY high risk pregnancy) not to go near the stuff even though she was sick for months because they were worried she'd have a miscarriage...some docs say it's fine to use, but i'd look into it, and as with all other issues regarding band or baby, ask your trusted doctor.

heather, as far as i know, ANY positive is a pregnancy, no matter how faint! if you had only taken 1 test, i would say that there was a 50/50 chance that your positive line may be an evaporation line (as tends to happen sometimes), but 2 postitives is probably a good sign! it's early, so be careful and test in a week, as FairyFacade said, but i'm hoping for ya!

So Aunt Flo arrived right on schedule for the first time EVER this past weekend. Why is it that my cycle is finally working itself out at the very stage in my life when i want nothing but to not have it and be preg? Anyhoo, I'm choosing to see it as a positive thing, hopefully it will make ovulation and everything more on schedule and regulated. BUT, I am not quite done with the pity party thrown by me, in my honor. A depressing thought occured to me. If DH and I don't successfully concieve until April or later, we won't be parents until 2010. That just seems so far away...sigh. How's everyone else doing?

OMg, what a cutie! I love all her dark hair. Congrats, what a blessing! We're still trying, keep your fingers crossed that October will be our month!

Heather, Hi cutie! You and I seem to be in the same boat, yet different situations. My period arrived on saturday on the EXACT date it came in August, meaning it was right on time, which has NEVER happened to me before. Even though I was a little disappointed to get it since we're trying, the fact that I have now gone 3 consecutive months with a period every month is amazing to me. Maybe weight loss has finally helped regulate my cycles?!? As for you, a few bits of advice/knowledge. Yes, weight loss can dramatically influence the dates and timing of your cycle, as can obsessing about getting it when hoping/wondering if you're pregnant. As well, I am a big believer in dollar store pregnancy tests, they have always worked immediately and been accurate for me. Just ensure the expiration date on the box hasn't passed (I've never found an expired one, but I know Dollar Stores sell old merchandiuse sometimes). As well, you cannot take the dollar store tests before you miss a period, but other than that, they work wonderfully! If you truly think there's a chance you conceived this month, all the fertility sites say that certain women's cycles will cause them to have negative test all the way up to 5 days late. So, if you're really late on your visit from Aunt Flo and have taken negative tests, I'd prob assume it's stress and your weight loss influencing your metabolic systems and periods.

update time yet again. been counting my cycle days, taking ovulation tests, "trying to get preggo", etc. started spotting today and having some cramps, so i'm bummed. doesn't look like we were successful this month. Aunt Flo's due in 2 days (based on my crazy, eventful cycles), so oh well. it looks like she's arriving earlier than usual, rather than 3 weeks late. Hubby has been wonderful and supportive all thru this for me...he rocks.:thumbup: how is everyone else doing out there?

I agree with everyone else, especially Michee's idea of how to present your mom's little party as a traditional thing, it seems more appropriate that way and you'll achieve the same effect...she will be thrilled. When my bro and his girlfriend were preg, all his guy friends (and he had ALOT of them) threw a "Dude's Baby Party". Now since this was primarily a ton of 20-something guys in heavy metal T-shirts, it was hysterical and touching. None of them wanted/knew what baby gifts to buy, so I told them all to bring diapers, any size or brand. It worked like a charm and the diaper party was so very valuable because they were stocked up for months! As well, a few of his friends have gone on to start families of their own and we've continued the "Dude's Diaper Party Tradition". You mentioned your hubby doesn't have a ton of male friends that are truly his, but if there are peeps who care about him, I'm sure it would work.

hey peeps, here is my go-to list for mushies/pureed/soft phase. i'm gonna list it all and depending on how you're feeling, you'll know what you can try. (side note, Pasta is not recommended due to gluten/sticking issues no matter if its blended or what) Here goes: pureed chili (YUM), egg drop soup (GREAT Calcium and Protein source) tuna, soft boiled eggs, applesauce, carnation instant Breakfast with pudding, all Soups, black Beans, kidney beans, all beans, ground meats simmered in enchilada sauce, hot/sour soup, sardines, canned ham, oatmeal, grits, jelly, (avoid Peanut Butter, it gets stuck), honey, yogurt, oyster or saltine crackers soaked to mush, beef gravy, and lite Spam (its better than expected, I had never eaten it.) As well, never forget baby food, it's actually a great nutritional source and perfectly pre-measured servings, good way to get fruit and veggies in! Good luck!

OMG honey, congrats! i am thrilled for you as we are trying also! i haven't seen you on chat in forever! this is wonderful news! good luck!

heather, welcome to our hopeful little club! as for me, things are going great! I have been using the ovulation kits and yesterday, the lines finally matched, so I must have been having my pre-ovulation hormone surge. As well i've had what feels kinda like minor menstrual cramps the past 2 days, so something is definitely going on down there! Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I hope all of us have success on this very soon. Hubby and I have been "trying" all weekend! :thumbup:

hey baby luv/lapband twin sis! i am SO glad you posted, i was thinking about you all day, but you were never on the chat when i checked in....i'm very relieved all is well! take it easy and get some rest babe!

hi ladies, i'm not currently preg and have never been, but since we're trying, i'm reading a few pregnancy books. I'm not sure if you can find anything online such as a book excerpt, but in "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy", it has several pages all about "dingy dirty hair syndrome". Most women feel their hair darkens or has an oily sheen in the later months of their pregnancy, close to delivery. Hope that helps?

hi there. the only other time i've heard of this was in a friend who had a band that was fairly old by medical standards. she got it in 2002. after her pregnancy, she developed an allergy to her band and had a gastro-infection. the tissues in her surrounding organs were irritated by the band and got inflamed, causing pressure in her lower throat and the constant vomiting you described. the vomiting didn't help. she had been having port issues anyway, so she finally decided on a complete band/port replacement surgery last april, 2007. she's fine now, but all she could eat was frozen yogurt and Soups for a long time until they figured out what was happening. good luck.

i got banded 3/19/08 and we started trying exactly 4 months later in july. my BMI dropped pretty quickly, so doc gave us the go ahead since i'm almost under 200 lbs. (9 to go!) good luck and if you're not having a lot of other health issues, i hear the magic number is around 200 lbs...if you can get near that, then you're good.

hi peeps. time for a quick update yet again. i got my period today! woo hoo! while normally when someone is hoping to get preg that is considered bad news, it means my cycle is finally regulating a little bit (July & August mark the first 2 consecutive months I've had a period since October) and it also means i can buy and use ovulation test sticks now! woo hoo! I can't seem to find the Answer brand ovulation kits anywhere...where do you get them?

Michelle I wish you much luck in babyland! I took a 3rd test this morning due to STILL no TOM (was due 8/5) and feeling nauseaous. It was negative, so I'm thinking I have some psycho-somatic issues with thinking I may be preg and being more in tune with my body has caused me to question every little twinge and pain. I will be calling the doc to see if the fact that I've always had irregular cycles should be cause for concern or if I should still give it a few months. After all, being logical about this, we've only been trying 2 months. Anyhoo, there are plenty of women with irregular cycles who conceived no problem, right? I am trying to keep an eye on the cervical mucus as well...fun!

FRANNY!!! My Franny is gonna be a mommy! OMG honey! CONGRATS! WOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:tt2::thumbup::crying::biggrin:

Thanks guys for all the kind words! A little update/more info: since getting off the Pill in October, I've had VERY random, odd cycles. Pretty much January, February, May and July...so it's kinda like every 8-10 weeks I get a cycle?!? The sites and books say the same thing...if you have truly inconsistent periods, try constantly and take 1 test a week. I took another test yesterday from the Dollar Store. I looked and the same experts say dollar store tests are just fine, as long as you make sure they're not expired. The only thing I am wondering (let me know if you have the answer!) is if we should also do the Ovulation Test Strips? I kinda think you have to start the strips on a certain day after your period ends, but since mine ended July 13 and I've gone 2 or 3 months at a time, I'm unsure of if this is worth it at all. On the other hand, with someone who's cycles are as jacked up as mine, it can be REALLY hard to know when our best conceiving chances are gonna be. It's funny how we've only been trying about a month and it can fill my thoughts so many hours of the day! Here's hoping!

hi guys, i started having some early preg symptoms so i took a test, big fat negative. oh well! i knew we'd be WAY too lucky to get it our first month. i am a bit sad though. Hubby picked up the tests and he got the ones that say you can use the day AFTER you miss your period. well, mine's due tomorrow, so maybe there's a teenie chance i took it too early, but i doubt it. just wanted to keep you posted! send baby dust my way!

Hi Kristy and LosingJusme! First of all, thanks so much for your replies! Losing, you made me laugh out loud! I'm working on both bits of advice you gave, thanks so much! Mostly I'm just very excited and a bit of an impulsive person, so of course, (in Veruca Salt's immortal words:) I want it NOW! Side note: Losing, I've followed your blog (found thru LisetheLoser) for several months now and I am very happy for you to be growing a little baby bean! Your blog is awesome. Kristy, keep me posted on your progress as well! I'm from Tucson originally. I was born at TMC and my parents went to Catalina HS. Most of my parents families still live there, mostly near Rita Ranch and Swan/Grant Road. I love Arizona! They have the nicest people on the planet... I'm just really hoping/praying/obsessing that this happens soon for us. My weight has been at a plateau for the past 2 weeks or so...if I could just reach 40 lbs, I'd be thrilled. Currently at 39 or so.

Hello, Hubby & I are currently trying for our first baby! We've only been working on our little project since mid-July, but I'd love to hear your words of wisdom or tips for acheiving pregnancy! I will say first of all, that while most bandsters are supposed to wait a minimum of a year/attain goal weight before getting pregnant, I have special health issues that can no longer wait. I fully support and agree with the theory of waiting, but we have been told by Gyno and Band docs that we better start a family soon, or lose the chance. So join me on my journey, and I'll keep you posted as well! I am SO EXCITED!

hello, congrats on joining the bandsters. how are you feeling? is your 26 lbs lost a result of surgery, pre-op diet or both? if you have to ask yourself if you're chewing well, the answer is no. next time you take a bite of ANYTHING, try counting 30 chews...it will quickly become apparent to you that you've probably never chewed anything that well in your life! alot of bandsters say that constantly having to really chew certain foods well has actually led them to avoid certain naughty foods simply because you kinda get turned off of that steak after you have to turn it into pulp just not to swallow in pain. my first few weeks on liquids and mushies was frustrating trying to stay within the half cup or 1 cup limit. you feel hungry! they call it Bandster Hell for a reason. i finally gave in and bought some paper cups that were EXACTLY one cup. that way, it took the guess work out of it all and my weight loss sped up dramatically. from apple sauce to pureed chili, if it was going in me, it was going in the cup first. good luck.

hi juno, congrats on your pregnancy by the way! i'm worried about the scars being seen by my close girlfriends and family members that will inevitably ask to see my belly. we are a close-knit bunch and thru their pregnancies we have all rubbed the bare belly of whoever's preggo, or taken pics to show the kids later in life. hope that helps.

Snowbird, I suggest you re-read my original reply. Not ONE WORD of negativity was said about the docs themselves down there in Mexico. Being from Tucson, I have tons of experience in traveling to Mexico. The whole importance of Beans posting this thread was to hear various opinions and input from others. That's what I gave Beans. Besides, if you research the lap bands product listing, they are not even licensed to be sold in Mexico, so those docs often don't have access to the most recent band versions. There is a reason American docs won't touch Mexico bandsters. Beans, my main point was that if you're gonna have to pay minimum of $600 or $700 for a fill from an American doc who's fearful of touching a Mexico band, you would probably be better off just financing your surgery thru Care Credit or your doc's payment plan. I pay $146 a month.