nursemom

Have you thought about trying the "five day pouch test"? I have seen many posts regarding this over the years on this site. You could search the site or do a google search. Good luck!

I was banded Sept 08 and got pregnant in June 09. I am about 33 weeks along now and have done fine. Did have to get an unfill around 6 months along because I was PB'ing all of the time. Have gained the normal amt of weight and am looking forward to being refilled after delivery. I haven't had any problems and was only about 10 lbs from goal when I got pregnant. I'd be happy to answer any specific questions if you need. Best of Luck

It doesn't hurt as bad as surgery..... Just keep in mind your GOAL and how a little needle poke will help get you on the road to success. Plus don't look....that always helps.

Thank you thank you to everyone. I have my first appt in a few weeks. I think I will just make sure I am getting enough calories for now and see what my OB thinks when I get there. I think I do need to accept that I am going to gain some weight but that I DON"T have to let it be a "pig out" fest for the next 8 months. I am pretty tight and agree that I will need an unfill. I feel much better after your responses.

So, I was banded my Dr O in September 08. I have had a great lapband experience. Almost to goal, give or take a few pounds. Had seriously tried to get pregnant for the past 2 years with no luck. I do have an 11 and 10 year old, but wanted just ONE more. So, I decided that it just wasn't meant to be and made an appt to go back on birth control. Suddenly, I was a few days late.... .....then just found out that I am pregnant. I have been reading the past posts about pregnancy and the lap band. Just have some questions if anyone can help. Any advice is welcome! 1. Did you have to get unfilled? I am at 2cc which is my SWEET SPOT and I don't really eat that much. Have been feeling it loosening lately and was thinking of going for a fill before I found out about being pregnant. 2. How many calories are you (or did you) aiming for daily? 3. Did you OB FREAK out? I am not looking forward to that conversation. I KNOW how some doctors can be..... 4. Lastly, I am sort of stressed about overeating. I truly do not want to gain back all of this weight. I know that sounds selfish, but I want to come out of this with a healthy baby and not another 60 lbs to loose. You know what I mean???? Thanks everyone for your help.....

I can totally understand your concern. Here are a couple of things that might make you feel a bit better. 1. people with asthma have surgery ALL of the time. If you are super concerned, you might want to call OCC and just discuss the precautions they take for people like you. 2. OCC does SO MANY surgeries and they are really good at the whole process. It is an impressive set up they have. It is like clockwork 3. Lastly, you are under anesthesia for a very short time. It is like less than 20 min. Not as much of a concern than if you were having a major surgery that would require you to be under for longer. Hope that helps. You will do great! Good Luck

You said that Molly isn't aware of the fact that "this isn't the way it should be". I feel so sad for her because very soon the teasing and bullying will start. I remember feeling that way and I wasn't even that big. I have issues with my sister but not over nutrition. It is hard and you can't change them. Just be a postive influence when you are around her!

As a fake blonde, I didn't miss a beat in coloring my hair. Even when my hair wasn't at it's healthiest, I still colored. But I can see what Lindsay is saying about waiting too. I just couldn't STAND the roots showing. Vain, I know..... My hair did fine, but I am a veteran. I am not even sure of my natural color.....

Lindsay, I have been banded since september and still get shoulder pains. Mine were like yours at 3 mo post op. I am so sorry. I was always asking my son or husband to pound on my back. Mine seems to flare up now when I am too hungry or too full. It does get better. Of course, I gladly welcomed the pain as I saw the scale go down down down....... Broken record I know, but lying down on a heating pad still helps as well as warm liquids. Same as you prob did for post op. hope it gets better soon!

Babe, I think other people have looked this up as well as I have seen the threads on here, but I think I googled "protein requirements daily calculation" or something like that. I THINK it is like 1gram/kg of body weight but don't quote me like that. My sister is a professional athlete and she tries to get like 100 grams/day but I aim for 60-65. I am not an athlete or a burn patient so I don't need tons of protein. I weigh 187. You might want to try the shakes for a month and see what happens. Can't hurt......

I agree with what everyone else has said .....PROTEIN!!!! I just posted this information on the protein shake thread, but I started the shakes and my hair loss stopped!!! I can't stress how important it is for so many functions with regards to our pathophysiology. Anyway, I also started taking GNC's hair, nail and skin vits and that helped too. GOOD LUCK. I looked online and found out how many grams of protein I was supposed to be getting daily and try to aim for that. You might want to try it as well.

AMEN Lindsay! That is exactly how I feel! I do the salad thing too with the meat on top like others have mentioned as I don't eat much/any bread. I also have a growing 10 year old boy who loves my half of anything.

I have at least one and usually two protein shakes a day. I LOVE GNC's Advantage shakes. 120 calories and 21 grams of protein. Before I started drinking the shakes, I was in a plateau. My hair was looking bad and falling out and I was bruising lots. So, my husband (also a nurse) had a talk with me about protein intake. I knew he was right so I went to GNC and got the shakes. I mix mine with skim milk because I always need calcium. Since I started, I have lost another 20lbs. It was just what my body needed.

Christy, I was plateaued like you for a while and adding protein made a HUGE difference. I wasn't as detailed as you are (like knowing how many calories per day etc) BUT, I could tell I wasn't getting enough protein. So I went to GNC and got a protein shake and have lost another 10 lbs since doing this. So, for what it's worth..... GOOD LUCK!

Drinking lots of water will wash out your sodium. You are perfectly right Smiley! I have this problem as well as I have low BP anyway and then drink lots of fluids. I get very dizzy as well. He could give you salt tabs but they are big. I agree with you about the med for HR. Nobody wants to ADD a medication if we don't have to. Have you thought about drinking a sports drink? They are always loaded with electrolytes.

Although it is scary and not ideal, lots of people wake up from anesthesia like that (cold/crying). Sometimes, it is just part of the surgery process. HOWEVER, at OCC they put you out fast and you aren't under very long. I usually have probs with traditional anesthesia and did great at OCC. They do thousands of these surgeries and are very good at what they do. GOOD LUCK!

how about.....you know you are a bandster when you get nervous watching TV commercials for something big and bready and you are thinking HOW do people eat ALL OF THAT FOOD?!?

Hi Lisa, Be ENCOURAGED! You have come so far! WOW! I know how you feel though. It's like, I've come this far and want to finish the race. But, I agree with Smiley that it is a slow and steady race. I only have three suggestions and sorry if you've already thought of these.... 1. re-read dr. ortiz's book. It helps me when I start to plateau and then I can re-focus on the rules and get back on track. There are lots of good lap band books out there. I read a great one written my Muhammad Ali's daughter who was banded. 2. Protein (broken record, I know...) but the last time I plateaued, I added an A.M. protein drink and it worked like a charm. 3. I keep hearing lots about the "5 day pouch diet/test". It has really seemed to help lots of people. Might be worth a shot. Hang in there. You really are doing great.

Hi April, Well, I guess I will put my two cents in. I have not told ANYONE except my husband. Not my kids, my mom or sisters or coworkers or anyone. ........ For me, it is a very very personal decision and I don't think anyone is entitled to know. HOWEVER, having said that - It does make me feel bad when people ask my HOW I have lost weight and I have to say something like "portion control" or whatever. OYE! I also come from a family of skinny people. I was always the "smart" one. My sister is a professional boxer and personal trainer in NYC and my other sister is naturally skinny. and then there's me.... ha ha - Anyway, good luck with your decision. It is a hard one.

I have faced the same issue, lisal..... Although I am not as thin as you, I find that my husband is saying to me "ok, that's enough....you've lost enough weight." Last week he had a "serious" talk with me about my protein intake. As we are both nurses, I understand where he is coming from. He is very proud of my weight loss so I don't think it is a jealousy issue. I just think he worries about me and thingks I look good where I am. Not sure how much more I want to loose as I am pretty happy at this point. I agree with you, I never thought that THIS would be an issue for consideration.

Sounds like your port! I agree with Smiley. Mine gets sensitive if I mess with it or if it rubs on things too much. (Especially now that I have lost some weight.......)

Sounds like a smidge of reflux. Reflux can take many forms. I always say............when it doubt, call.....call.... can't hurt and then you can rest easy. They are tons of types of OTC and prescription acid reducing type meds. Have you tried prilosec or prevacid? I know the OCC is really good about helping patients out with questions. Good Luck!

Hey Stormy, I think this is a great question. Just to clarify, if you stop breathing and they put a tube down your throat, it is in your trachea. And if you would need as scope to look into your stomach, that would be in your espohagus. They are two separate areas (but close to one another). So, you could have a breathing tube and it wouldn't damage your band. I think a bracelet is a good idea if you don't mind wearing one. Since I haven't told anyone about being banded (except hubbie) I think about that same thing. GOOD LUCK!