Sorry if these questions have been asked already, I tried looking around a little.

The reason I went with the band was because I was 18 and thought it would be best for my as I grew up. I liked knowing it wasn't permanent and was less invasive. My questions are about fills and pregnancy. For those who have gone through this, have you kept the band filled, not changed anything, were you able to gain enough weight and be healthy with the band still full? Did you unfill completely, if so, what does that feel like? Are you able to eat without any restriction? I have always figured I would unfill completely and just wanted to know what other people experiences were.

It doesn't look like you're getting the answers you're looking for. I'm sorry, but I've not been pregnant with the band, but I have heard of a few that have. From what I remember some had a complete unfill and some kept the fill they had, but got no more. I think it depends on how well you're able to gain the weight you need to with a pregnancy. I also heard of someone who didn't gain at all. That doesn't sound healthy to me, but I'm not a medical professional, that's for sure.

Are you pregnant now or just thinking about the future? If you're pregnant now, you should consult your doctor. He/She will know what's best for you.

Good luck!

No I'm not pregnant right now. I wold for sure be seeing my doctor if I was, just thinking about the future and thought I could get answers from people who have been in the same position.

Mostly I was curious how some felt once the had a complete unfill.

I have been banded a little less than a year and I'm proud to say that I'm 3 1/2 months prego. I did have a SLIGHT unfill. Not a complete one. It was just enough to help me get down more protein...

Doc says that later on, we can take more out if I'd like...but for now, I feel great.

I am now 5 months pregnant, and voluntarily had a slight unfill so that I could get in all the nutrition that I need. I still get full very quickly, but don't have problems with PBing.

Good luck with your decision.

Join the PregnantBandsters yahoo group for good and accurate info.

Hi:

I was banded in June 2001 and have gone through two pregnancies with the band. (I also started Pregnant Bandsters on Yahoo Groups.) I was unfilled for both pregnancies for a variety of reasons.

1) I wasn't eating enough with a fill to support a healthy pregnancy. The minimum calories recommended for a pregnant woman are in the 1800-2000 kcal range.

2) My surgeon, Dr. Rumbaut, who has banded well over 3000 patients (last time I checked, probably a much bigger number these days) recommended it.

3) It was the reason I chose the band. So I could be unfilled and then refilled after pregnancy.

If you are suffering from nausea, I would definitely recommend unfilling as well as excessive vomiting can cause band slippage.

Anyway, even though I was unfilled, I maintained a good % of my original weight loss through two pregnancies. I don't regret being unfilled at all and am thrilled that now that both of my boys have been born, and breastfed extensively (each exclusively for 6 months, and then breastfed with additional food for 1 year after that (2nd guy is still nursing), I'm ready to be refilled.