Motherof3

Hello, I rarely post on forums, but I am in need of more information. I was banded in 07 and got my band due to slippage in 09. I was at 125lbs-my goal weight at the time, for several months. When I found out I was pregnant, I had a complete unfill, 5months of my pregnancy, I kept get food stuck, major heartburn and at the end of my pregnancy, I was lucky to be able to drink an 8 oz Protein shake in a day. I waited until I had my baby, I did not want to go to TJ while pregnant. The emergency rooms in CA just kept saying I was dehydrated and needed more magnesium/potassium. I gave up on ER after the 5th time. Everytime I spoke about the Lap Band, they looked clueless, and the Dr. would look into it, but had nothing to say. My OB was not worried as my baby was growing perfectly and I was overweight, so I those lbs lost was not a bad thing. After 6wks of having given birth, I went back to Dr. Ortiz's office to be told I still had liquid in the band, there was never any record that I had gone before my pregnancy to get unfilled. I have plane ticket receipts to prove it. Needless to say after the unfill, my band never readjusted and I had to get it removed. I was 125lbs and very weak. I was happy to be able to eat and drink once again. A yr and so later, here I am at 184lbs, feeling awful about myself. I wasn't able to keep it off, as I had promised myself I would. I went into Dr. Ortiz's forum and saw he now offers the plication, which I had never heard of, but am researching on it. His office is more like a clinic and not a hospital. The people there are great, except for the Dr. that did not note my unfill and did not unfill me completely like I had asked. He is no longer there. I would consider going back there, but I would like an actual hospital setting, as this surgery is more complex then the band. Can you tell me which Dr. you had surgery with, your experience, is it a hospital setting or at least close to one? How much did it cost? I am in the early stage of research, but I would like to get this surgery before April of 2011. Your help is greatly appreciated, if there is anything else that I should ask, please include it. By the way, I live in SF-CA, but am willing to travel in the US or Mexico. Thanks, Motherof3

Counting the days! Dr. Aceves on 2/12/11 in Mexicali.

I have finally decided a week ago to go forward with this. I am excited! I scheduled my surgery for 2/21, but decided I couldn't wait that long. I am now scheduled for the 12th with Dr. Dr. Aceves. Did I mention I am supper excited and nervous. I will be leaving on the 15th.

Your post has excited me.. more! I am moving forward with this surgery. I now how it feels to be at weight and how great I felt. I am eager to get started as well. I will follow your story and hopefully join you in this journey soon. Please post your experience with Dr. Rod. I am still narrowing down on which MD I will go to. Happy New Year to you. This will be the beginning of a new you!

Bigboned, Yes, thank you for sharing your story. I know I am not alone --I am too am in the same situation. I had my band removed 8 days ago in MX-self pay. I am wondering if the two bumps I feel, will ever go away. I am not sure if it is swollen and eventually if it will disappear and how long that will be. Every time after I eat, I get this big two lump stomach, kinda looks like I'm 4mths pregnant. I have searched for answers and can't seem to find it. Please let me know how you are doing?

I have been told many rude things, but this is the one that I just heard today. Are you sick? Is everything okay? Incredible, do I look sick, or just skinny?

I have a long story which I will try not to bore you with. 1.5yrs ago I was pregnant; I decided to get an unfill, since I had not gained any weight at 3mths, plus that is what the Dr. recommended. The Dr. doing the fill, (not the surgeon) said he had unfilled me completely. At 6 mths I noticed restriction, I thought it was the baby growing and pressing on my stomach. The last trimester it went from bad to worse. I lost wt during my pregnancy, but my OB was not worried since he said the baby is growing fine and I was overwt to begin with. On the 8-9th month I could not eat, much less drink. I was in bed weak and thirsty. Most of the time, everything that went down came right back up. I went to ER--etc. I had low potasium that could at the end stop my heart, due to dehydration. IV was given to me, but due to lack of knowledge on the band, the ER physician did not do much else. I finally had my full term healthy baby boy at 7lbs. 7 days after my delivery I went to see the fill Dr. and was told that I had 2cc's left in there, that had caused all of my issues, if I would of come in before, it would had avoided my complications. **I was never unfilled at 3 mths as I was told. I waited 3-4mths after that to recover, the wt started to creep up, so I was told I got get another fill, since the band looked ok, the anatomy of it had changed but it was not an issue said the Fill MD. I got .8cc's, then a couple mths later I got another fill which took me to 1.2cc's. My NIGHTMAREs returned! I had night cough/regurgitating at night/heartburn, etc. I say my Dr. today, my band has slipped and I will most likely loose the band. The case would have been different if I would have seen my lap band surgeon on time. I was just too scared to pass the US border into TJ,MX at 7-9mths pregnant, while feeling so weak. I also did not want any x-rays or any barium while pregnant. I chose to suffer, rather then harm my baby. I hope this helps. If you decide to keep a fill, as soon as you feel any restriction, see your md for an unfill, it is not fun to go thru everything I have gone thru.

Yes, this sounds all too familiar to me. I went thru the night coughing/regurgitation/choking feeling/liquid coming out thru my nose and running to the bathroom to throw up- slime, or sometimes food. This is a long story, I will try to make it short. I'll start by saying I had my surgery 3 years ago at 210lbs 5'1''. I got pregnant in 07, when I was 3 mths pregnant I went for a complete unfill. Then at 6mths I noticed I had restriction and assumed it was the baby pushing up on the stomach and it would get better (not sure why I thought this). My last trimester was hell, my health declined and by the last month I could not even keep liquids down. I refused to see my surgeon as I had my surgery in Tijuana, MX. I did not feel safe being pregnant and passing the border, and I was just too weak to endure it. I went to the ER twice while pregnant and once after, I was just told I was dehydrated and my Pottasium level was to low. The ER dr's had very small info. on the band. My OB would say the baby is growing fine and no concern w/my weight since I was big to begin with. Bottom line, I got an unfill 7 days after giving birth. The unfill that I had in my early pregnancy was never taken out completely- I had 2cc's. My cough/heartburn --all of the above, went away completely. I saw my weight creeping back up and went back after 5 mths. I was told I was lucky it had not slipped but we needed to keep an eye on it. After my pregnancy I had .8cc on the first fill, everything was good. The 2nd fill 3-4 mths later was another .4cc bringing me to 1.2 which started my cough and all other symptoms. I am now at goal weight 123lbs. I went back today to TJ and was told the band has slipped and I have a big pouch. My band is not at a 45degree angle (which it should be), but at a 90 degree. I was unfilled and told that if I continue to have the night cough symptoms to go back immediately for an URGENT surgery to remove the band. It is scary for me to go without my band, but health is first. Don't take this lightly if you have all that, go see the Dr. even if you get an unfill, it is better then loosing it. You'll then have to wait another 6 mths. I tried to keep it short, but it didn't happen. See your Dr.