Banding After Miscarriage, Future Pregnancies?

[AbbieRoad 26]

Last year around this time I started seriously considering lap band. Jumped through all the hoops, all that was left was a barium swallow, which I needed to be below 350 for, and get down to 343lbs. (I'm 6' tall and 350lbs now)I was scared to do it, and dragging my feet a bit..

Then I got pregnant. After almost 4 years of trying, I got pregnant naturally. We were thrilled! At about 2.5 months, just this past week, I miscarried. I am devistated, and I have no answers as to why it happened, they say 1 in 4 end that way, so I am blaming my weight.

So, taking my mind off my loss and my sadness I am focusing on getting banded, and taking off weight.

The good thing that came from this, is had to be put under general anestesia for a d&e after my miscarriage, and I handled the anestasia just fine. I was really nervous about that with the band.

Some girls in my plus size & pregnant group I was in mentioned they had lots of issues with their bands while pregnant, and if they hadto do it again they would get the sleeve. I was always scared of the permenance of the sleeve. What do you all think? Has anyone been pregnant with the band? Does it get in the way when the baby is closer to full term?

What happens if you vomit a lot during pregnancy? Could the band slip? What happens if it slips during pregnancy?

Abbie

[honk 780]

Most of the people on this site have the band. You may want to search out a sleeve support group. That said their is a Preg. section on this board where you could ask specific questions.

[AbbieRoad 26]

oh I know it's mostly banders. I'm looking for band experience with pregnancy. I went to obesityhelp.com and read - it seems like the anti LB page. It kinda scared me. I'm sure people here considered the other options of wls before choosing the band.

[adorkbl 156]

OH can be quite anti-band. It is hard to stay positive after a trip there. I have not had a pregnancy.. but I do know several bandsters who have had successful pregnancys after banding.

I got banded myself in hopes of being able to get pregnant after losing weight. it is absolutely possible to have a healthy successful pregnancy while banded.

Some people empty their bands so they can eat more to accommodate pregnancy. Some find they don't have to make any adjustments.

I know there are some threads on here about it. Good luck with your decision.

[lilbit182004 5]

I am having the same doubts. I am day 2 of liquid diet and my surgery is in a week and a half. I am now having doubts because every where I turn there is negativity about the band. I am thinking I want the sleeve now because there is nobody who has encouraged me that the band is a great thing for me! I am so confused I don't no what to do!!!!

[Kiwichick42 2]

Hi Abbie and Lilbit,

I haven't had surgery yet either and went through the same dilemma - band or sleeve???

I spoke to a range of people ... And one thing a bypass friend said to me, made it so much easier to make my decision to go with the band. She said....

"At your age (42) you will see other great weightloss solutions be developed. Medical science is developing so quickly. Imagine if you make the irreversible devision to cut half your stomach off (sleeve).... And then in 5 years time the 'ultimate' solution comes along? At least with a band you are taking control of your weight NOW .... But giving yourself options for the future. "

Don't know if the above will strike a chord for you.... But it made sense to me ... And made my decision making easy.

All the best.

Kiwi. :-)

[AbbieRoad 26]

Thanks all. From what I'm reading it seems like there are an awful lot of people I'm finding who had the band and ended up having the sleeve surgery or another gastric surgery. That scares me, I want it to be done, so I can focus on my health, and not worry about future surgeries.

I like the outlook you shared Kiwi. I'm 30, I know more things will come out. I'm terrified to change my body forever. What happens if I'm 60 and there's an issue, I can always have the band removed, I can't have my stomach put back on. Then again, will the band last until I'm 60? Will it need to be replaced, will it erode, or slip in the next 30 years?

I feel like I need a crystal ball to make this decision!

[pandabear 39]

Did you talk to your doctor about the sleeve/band and later becoming pregnant? My doctor, when I told him I was just THINKING about having kids in the future, said hands down go with the band because if you need more nutrients and such it is more flexible than the sleeve and he actually likes doing the sleeve surgery more than banding. Just might be his opinion though and doctors do tend to differ in opinions. Find a doctor you trust and who will be with you through all of this (mine will track me down for aftercare, and not let me get lazy about my follow up).

[AbbieRoad 26]

See I've been looking for a doc that does sleeve AND band, but can really only find ones that do one or the other (or combinations there of, but not the 2 that I'm looking for.)

I've spoken to a band doc, I've spoken to a sleeve doc. They both suggest their relative surgeries and assure me child bearing afterwards will have no consequence as long as I wait the suggested amount of time after surgery.

I wonder if I have too much to loose for the band. I am 350, my ideal weight is 180 according to my height (6' tall) 170lbs is a TON to lose.

The fact that in the sleeve communities there are whole forums of people who had the band for 2 & 3 years and then went for the sleeve - that scares me. I want one surgery, and that's it!