Mjv013

I had the pox 3 times. As a kid they werent really bad. I got them again about 19. Only about 6 spots showed up. And again when I was about 23. No spots then but confirmed with a blood test.I felt run down but not really flu like. I lived in different parts of the country each time and it must have been a different strain. Have been exposed several times since 23 and never did get them again. Hopefully never again.

No cath here. But about 3 days post op I was completely constipated. Horrible few days!!

My hair is gone!! The cheek/side burns are gone. The chin and beard hair, gone. I only have slight hair on my upper lip but it has really faded and sparse. I only wax maybe a few times a year now since its so light but being dark haired I think Im going to laser what is left when I get my under arms done.

I made better food choices simply because I felt better and since I didnt eat as much anymore knew I needed to get good nutrition in. I personally do not find the band "hard" work. It is God send for me! However, I did change my life style completely and it was not that bad. We all mourn the loss of "food". I freaked out in the beginning as I think we all do but seeing healthy bloodwork come back after only 4 months I was totally committed to being healthy.

I used sugar free creamer. No way was I giving it up. I gave up coffee when I got pregnant but am looking forward to the day I can enjoy it again. It did not hinder my weight loss at all but I only had 10 oz a day. Thats what fit in my Mickey Mouse cup!!

Good luck and Congrats!! I had a lot of heart break in the 17 years of trying. Im about 38 weeks now and freaked out everyday. I still get scared now but Im also sad I spend my entire pregnancy scared and not fully enjoying the experience. Its tough but enjoy it!

You know, some Dr's dont require a liquid diet at all. Most do for 2 weeks pre op but some dont.

I do have sips from my husband now and again and I do drink root beer or sprite on occasion. But for the most part I dont. I cant eat and drink soda cause the carbonation swells my pouch and it hurts until I burp it out. I think I may have 6 oz a month if that. Never a full drink by my self.

Its your choice. I found that once I told people they were more supportive then I thought. But some people will never be supportive. I personally could care less what people think about my decision because it has been the best for me. But Im very lucky that my family is not critical of my choice. The ones who have never had a weight problem are interested on how it works and are learning that I had a food addiction. Its easier to compare to an alcoholic since we have a few in the family. But so far almost 2 years later no one even says anything except now they ask if it interferes with my pregnancy.

Lifting weights and abdominal workouts will be a few months. Always check with your Dr first. Cardio is really all you should do at this point. I think it was a little over 3 months until I was comfortable enough to do light weight training and a good 6 months until I started my core workouts. It wont take long once you are healed. You probably will feel pulling in your muscles at first but as long as there is no pain you should be good to go.

Some pretty great advice! I have a large family that everything revolves around the kitchen and food. Usually everyone is so into what they are eating and talking that if you pay attention to your food and choices, no one realizes what you eat. Make your decisions on the food you will eat and pick at that. You can eat just about any food you really want but you just have to make the choice. For me it got much easier and now most of my family members ask me which food I want to eat and want to know how much and what type because Im doing so well. They are supportive and if they eat waaayy to much, Im the only one not miserable from over eating.

A few weeks (maybe a week, week and a half) after my surgery, my port site and another incision got really red, raised and itched like crazy. I called and they told me it was a reaction to the internal stitches. My body was healing faster then the stitches were dissolving. I used Aveeno anti-itch cream for a few days and then it was gone. I was told it was a fairly common reaction. Hope that helps.

The next day. Just dont soak them and youll be good!

That is a very familiar story. I had many problems for 17 years. Was banded for about14 months, went off BC and was pregnant weeks later. SO married and trying for 17 years and one day...!! Get healthy and the rest follows!!

I assume it will pass like anything else. My Dr NEVER said anything about gum and I chew it all the time. Swallowed it once but it didnt get stuck. SO its stuck now? I would thing your body temp would melt it enough to allow it to pass. Any luck yet?

I had my dog stay with a friend 1 night cause I was worried he would jump on me. Dr never said anything about not being around dogs. When my dog came home he could tell something was wrong and just laid next to me.

I had triwest prime when I had mine done. I didnt do anything special but I did provide for the Dr in the paperwork all the different ways and times I tried to lose weight and everything else that was wrong like pcos, high blood pressure and such. It was very easy and fast for me. As for out of pocket for standard, I dont know. Im standard now and pregnant and triwest told me I would owe co-pays and hospital fees and such. When my Dr filed everything I ended up paying nothing so I dont know how standard does things.

Good luck, I found tricare to be very easy.

Im almost 37 weeks and I have gained. But only about 16lbs. I have 10cc's in a 14 cc band and had none removed. Didnt have morning sickness and was able to still eat well. Im told that all the weight I gained will be lost at delivery due to baby, Fluid and placenta. Although to be honest I could care less. I can always lose more weight but at 35 my chances of getting pregnant again go down. Dont worry about weight gain, its part of growing a human being!!

Reading this gave me hope... I am 38 banded 3/26/12 down 25lbs... I didn't get the surgery to help with my PCOS I got it to get healthy and to move on with the thought of never having baby.... but now I am thinking I should give it another shot once I loose more....Thanks ladies!

You know, as long as your healthy there is no reason NOT to get pregnant. I lost all hope even with the band. But after this, I plan on having one more and will be at least 38. Im 36 with this one anyways. My OB is very pleased with me and the development of my son that I have had no worries. Just know, after 35 they automatically put you in a high risk category simply because of age. My Dr never even questioned or even mentions my band. The only precaution I am taking is at delivery I asked to be prescribed anti nausea medication in my IV so I dont vomit and dislodge my band.

Keep your head up and work on getting healthy for you before anything else. Several of us are here if you ever need anything!

I used the mini pill for several months until I stopped. It worked fine. Better then any other pill they had me try. Im so sensitive to the hormones but this one caused the least amount of side affects. I stopped taking it because it made my boobs sore. Then 2 weeks later.... pregnant.

Mjv, your story is very inspiring. My husband and i have been together for 17 years and ttc for just as long. No luck yet. I am really hoping the lapband makes a difference. I am currently down 71lbs, but am only 9 months out of surgery, so they want me to wait a little longer. How much weight did youi lose before you started trying? I turn 33 this year and had started to lose hope that it would ever happen. Congratulations and best wishes to you and your family!

I stayed on birth control until I lost 60 lbs and got pregnant about 2 weeks later!! I wanted to lose more before trying but the pill was making me uncomfortable so I quit not expecting to get pregnant at all. It can happen!!!

I think it was 2 weeks or less. It got a bit itchy then totally starting coming off.

BC= Birth control

There is a thread in here somewhere. But YES you can. Doesnt mean everyone will but it does happen. I was diagnosed with it years ago and tried for 17 years to get pregnant. You can tell by my signature I am 35 healthy weeks into my first pregnancy. Without the band I dont think I would EVER have gotten pregnant! It is very very possible.

We all have to mourn our old way of life. We mourn the habit of food. I dont really think its the food itself but the activity. Sure we say "I like the taste of food". Its a habit. I struggled post op for a bit but since Ive learned to eat differently it has stopped. I have no doubt after I have this baby Ill have to go through morning again since I did have to change my diet a bit to have enough nutrition.

You will get through it, and be better for it. YOU CAN DO IT!!