Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

band doc an integral part of pregnancy?



Recommended Posts

Was your band doc an integral part of your pregnancy? I am just wondering because I found out last week that I am pregnant. I am hoping that I won't have to get an unfill during pregnancy, and that I won't need to consult my surgeon for anything. Not because I don't want to gain weight, but because my surgeon is not covered by my insurance.

Long story short, I have a different insurance now than I had for surgery, and my surgeon and the hospital he works at is not covered. And because I have a realize band, none of the surgeons for my new insurance will touch me.

So I am just curious if any of you had complications from the band with your pregnancies, and/or if you had to consult your surgeon often?

I am not really worried about needing an unfill because I am not very tight and I am able to eat around the band to get all the food I need. Luckily I AM tight enough that I should be able to manage to stay under the recommended 15 pound weight gain, which is good.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've seen my band doctor and his nutritionist twice since I got pregnant. I will see the doctor every 6 weeks or so for the duration of the pregnancy. First they needed to make sure I wasn't too tight to get down enough food, which I'm not. I have not had an unfill yet. However, it seems that each week that passes I get just a little tighter and eat less (which is good because I was eating way too much). So I think eventually I will need a small unfill. My doctor said he hasn't had to unfill any of his other patients who have gotten pregnant at all. Maybe I'm wrong and I won't need one. We'll see.

I would recommend seeing your doctor and letting him know you are pregnant and be prepared for an unfill should you get too tight. I know some of the others got too tight really early in pregnancy so it can happen.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I immediately got super tight and needed an emergency unfill before I even knew I was pregnant. I got a slight fill again and then needed another unfill. I found that my band got extremely tight after pregnancy.

My fill nurse said I had to have a full unfill because it is their policy. I begged and pleaded and ended up with a half fill (4 cc's current compared with the original sweet spot of 8.3 cc's).

I will probably have no need to see them again until after delivery unless I need another unfill. They said they will not give me another fill (or if I really, desperately need it they will give me only .25 cc's per month if I am lucky . . . but probably not even that much).

If you want to maintain some fill, you may want to find out what their policy is on pregnancy before you go in.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I immediately was super tight & needed an unfill. He only took .5cc out. Beyond that, he wanted to see me once a month during the pregnancy (I am his first pregnant bander), and I would have gone had he not been so far away. It's a 3 hour drive (each way), so I didn't want to spend 6 hours every month just going and letting him see how I'm doing with my pregnancy. I also only have 2 free appointments left, so I am saving 1 for when the baby is born and I get filled back up.

I don't think it's necessary to have the band doc involved, but if my doc was local I would have probably gone to see him every other month.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't seen or talked to my band doc since early July, when I had my last fill, which was my sweet spot for awhile. I was feeling good. In late summer/early fall before I was preg, I noticed I was slowly being able to test the band and eat more quantities/types of food. My weight loss had slowed for sure by the time I found I was pregnant in November, but I always experience a little "loosening" of the fill in the weeks that follow it, and my weight loss also slowed because I was less motivated to behave and diet like a good bandster, so that's all my fault. I lost 50 lbs before I got preg, so I'm happy with that. My doc said very few of his preggo bandsters needed unfills during pregnancy.

A huge amount of us had issues with the band in early pregnancy. Mine was tight for a few days here and there, then fine again. I also had very little morning sickness, which you also have to consider. If you get pregnant and are sick alot, most docs will want an unfill just to protect their hard surgical work in securing the band. As you know, vomiting is known to cause band slippages and other issues like esophagus erosion. I worked with my band, behaving on mushies and smaller meals on days/weeks it was being tempermental.

Oddly, I was hungrier the first 8 weeks than I've been the past 4 weeks, which is good because I gained alot at first! Now it has tapered off and I actually lost 2 lbs. I was up 8 lbs in my first trimester! Not good when you want to only gain 15 the whole 40 wks.

I still have days where I "slime" and spit up Water when I try to eat a meal, if I rest for a few minutes and try to eat after I "slime", I'm usually fine, but I did actually PB up some food the other day, which hasn't happened to me in 6 months! My band is still tempermental, open and relaxed some days, closed and tight others. I find that if it is tight at the beginning of the day, chances are it will remain that way all day.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My band is still tempermental, open and relaxed some days, closed and tight others.

Mine is the same way, extremely fickle. Some days I can eat a horse, some days I can drink Water, lol.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

my band doc left the decisions up to me (i had been banded 2+ years and he figured i knew my body/my band the best)...

in the beginning i got really tight, had unfill, then a fill then completely unfilled about 17 or so weeks (my choice)...

im glad i did get the complete unfill due to port placement and where my uterus has grown to...

good luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I honestly would have only had to see my band doctor once to do an unfill at about 20 week. Unfortunately, we found out my band was flipped and we had to do revision surgery (with NO anesthesia!!). But, I don't know if that was a complication from pregnancy or just happened.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×