CindyLou

Hi, anyone have breast augmentation at OCC? I'm considering it and just wanted feedback on doctor and experience. I was banded at OCC in 2008 and LOVED my experience. Any help is appreciated. Cindy

I was eating too slow and too much and stretch my pouch and was gaining. Had a complete unfill for one month and then 2 re fills. I'm down 12 lbs since then!!!! Maybe you need a reset ?!?

I did the same thing. I was acatually gaining weight because the band was too tight and I as eating too much. My pouch did stretch. My doctor unfilled me completely. I gained about 5 more lbs during that time for a total of almost 20 (. But good news is after a month of unfill I was able to now lost 10 lbs in about 6 weeks and I'm BACK IN THE GAME!!!!

Ok, found a doc who take my insurance and will see me even though I had my surgery in Mexico. I go in on Aug. 7 for a consultation and then get sent for a upper gi and then go back for my fill!! Yay!!

Well, I haven't been on in quite a while. Had a baby, moved from Los Angeles to Fresno, started a new job, bought a house. You name a life stress and I've done it...LOL. When I had my baby I only gain 15 or so lbs and then it took me like 10 days and that was off and I was back to my pre pregnancy weight which was approx. 55 lbs down. I still have about 35 lbs to go. My baby girl is almost 2 and I haven't lost anything since that initial return to baseline. I know I need a fill but now that I'm in Fresno I can't find a doctor that will take my insurance. As luck would have it fills are covered under my new insurance with a $20 copay!!!! But everyone here either won't take patients from Mexico (they say their malpractice won't cover it) or they aren't on my BCBS PPO. Does anyone know of any fill docs or nurse practitioners in the central CA area or within say 150 miles of Fresno that does fills? If you do let me know. I'm going to do some reading and see who all is still on here now!!!!

It worked for me and it stayed off....but I hated the low carb diet.

It WILL get better!!!!!!!!! Take care.

I have ZERO regrets!!!

Yes! You can! The question is whether your doctor will do it! My baby is 10 weeks old. When I left my band very tight when I got pregnant. At around 7 month it got too tight. I had it unfilled and began eating everything and promptly gained 6 lbs in 2 weeks. I went back and got all the fluid put back in and just made do with protein shakes and softer foods. I gained 21 lbs which came off easily after delivery (I'm guess the last 8 of it was water weight.) Lucky for me my OB doc has a lapband doc for a husband so she didnt freak out about me doing adjustments. I know the OCC recommends unfilling completely so they probably won't be much help but you can try. Also, how far along are you?

I am ashamed to admit that I only stopped them for about a month. But I am careful to take small sips.

Attached are some photos of our new baby--Sadie Josephine Rose. She was born on November 29, 2010 @ 2:12 PM weighing 5lb 14oz. I had an easy delivery and couldn't be more thrilled with my perfect little girl. And some additional GREAT news: as of my 10th day post partum I am back at my pre-pregnancy weight!!! Yep! So now I can get back on track with my band and continue my weight loss. My #1 reason for getting the band was so that I could go into a pregnancy at a more healthy weight and be able to gain a minimal amount of weight. Mission accomplished!! So, now I am back here and ready to lose another 24 lbs to get to my target weight of 163!!! 163--HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well this 9 months has flown by! I haven't been around here much as I really haven't been too focused on losing weight . I'm going in to be induced tomorrow and I am so excited. For those of you who don't know, I had this lap band in anticipation of getting pregnant at a healthier weight and not gaining too much. I am happy to report that I gained just 21 lbs. My goal was 15 but I am very satisfied with 21. I kept my band filled until around 7 months when it got very tight. I had about 1/2 of the fluid removed and I was able to eat anything and everything so I went back a week or so later and had them put it back. It's been hard and I've had to make adjustments like protein shakes, etc to get something in my stomach in the mornings. I am looking forward to jumping back on the bandwagon and continuing my weight loss journey!! So, I'll be back soon for some support. Cindy

If I have restriction I cannot eat any chicken AT ALL! So I have really given up on eating chicken--ever!!

Honestly, IMO, the only way to see if it is too tight or just swollen, is to go on liquids for 2-3 days then go back to food. Now, if it's too tight and you can't get liquids down that's an issue. I know liquids are miserable but some people can react with a tight band if they swell up some after the fill. If you are unable to do liquids for a few days then definitely go back and have some taken out so you don't end up with a slipped band. Good luck.

ok, so I'm back EXACTLY where I started 3 weeks ago. TOO TIGHT. But I give up. Hello protein shakes. I will travel to the OCC once the baby is born. I am still able to eat plenty of food as long as it's soft. I'm just happy to have some restriction back.

The band has been great during the pregnancy. I have had quite an appetite and honestly if I had not been overfilled until now I would have gained 50lbs already. As of my last visit I had gained 8lbs but I go in today and I think I've gained about 2 more. I am VERY happy with 10lbs so far and my doc gave me a goal of 15 lbs--so I'm pretty much on target. Now, hopefully I can get some restriction back and I'm really hoping I didn't spring a leak with these last few adjustments. I don't feel much restriction even since the refill yesterday. He told me there was 3cc, but when he withdrew there was only 2.5. He put 3 back in and I go back in a week and he wants to check the level. UGGGGHHH..I should have left it alone and dealt with the tightness. I know I did the right thing by taking out some fluid but geez--I want some restriction back!!!

Ok, most of you know I'm 7 months preggo. Band was a little tight so I reluctantly went in for a slight unfill by a doctor who is a friend of a friend who offered to do it for no charge. He told me I had 3.2 cc's when he withdrew the fluid. So I wanted .5cc out. He talked me into taking out 1.2 cc supposedly leaving 2cc even. Well, afterward of course I was TOTALLY a happy camper. No heartburn, no getting stuck etc. BUT I was able to EAT EAT EAT. And being preggo, well you know what kind of appetite I have anyway. So I went back last week and asked him to put back .5cc. When he withdrew the fluid there was only 1.5cc in there. Hmmmmmmm....did he miscalculate, is there a leak or did he take more???? SO--he reluctantly agreed to put me back to 3cc. When he withdrew the needle I noticed that he didn't do it fast and also didn't hold pressure on the plunger and I swear I felt cold fluid leak under my skin. So I go home and eat dinner and I didn't even have to chew. So I go from the original 3.2cc where I can barely swallow milk to 3cc where I can eat anything. Fastfoward to today. I got back in and when he withdraws there is only 2.5cc. Geez. What is going on here? He says there is not a leak b/c when he does a pressure test....pushes in fluid it has a good pressure that pushed back. And I doubt it's a slow leak cuz then I would have had restriction in the beginning and tapered off. So today I did see that he applied pressure to the plunger upon removing it and removed it fast to keep the fluid from coming back in the syringe. So now I'm back to 3cc and on my way to a dinner meeting and anxious to test it out. Wish me luck. I'm praying for some restriction. I have 10 weeks left in this pregnancy and now is not the time to try to start depending on will power and I refuse to gain a whole lot of weight. UGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! I know I'm getting enough food b/c I was constantly grazing and drinking shakes, etc....and the baby is growing on target....so no haters on the fill during pregnancy )) Thanks for listening and has anything like this ever happened to anyone????

Ok, so I'm 7 months preggo and had made the decision to keep my fill as is. Well, little did I know that with the baby pushing up on the band I would begin to have the TERRIBLE heartburn. But as hard headed as I am I just got a huge bottle of Pepcid and was dealing with it. Also over the course of the last few months I have completely eliminated most meats from my diet because they get stuck no matter how much I chew. I REALLY REALLY did not want to cross into Mexico while I'm pregnant so I figured I would just deal with it. So I was eating lunch the other day at a meeting and one of our surgeons here at the hospital asked me why I was picking out the meat from my food--he had noticed it a few weeks prior as well. (he knows I have a lapband). So I told him because I'm too tight. He told me I should have some taken out and I told him I don't want to go to Mexico and I don't want to pay the $500 deductible on my insurance to do it here. So he said, "my cousin does fills, here is his card I will tell him to take care of you." So today I stopped by his office to make an appointment and he saw me right then and there and took out 1cc for me. He told me that he will be happy to fill/unfill as needed til I have the baby. Then when I went to leave I asked the receptionist how much I owe and she said "nothing, we will just file your insurance and if they pay, they pay...if not then at least you have something toward your deductible and they can pay us next time you come in" I was so happy I could cry!!!! What a great day! Maybe now I can eat breakfast! Maybe I can eat dinner without jumping around to get eat bite to go down!!!! So I've gained only 8 lbs so far and my goal for the pregnancy is 15-18. Wish me luck!!! ) Hope everyone is doing well. I haven't been around too much cuz I've been busy on my pregnancy board ))

I'm 23 weeks along and feel great. I've gained only 2 lbs on the scale, but I've definitely lost weight in my body--especially my face and back. I've been able to wear bras that I couldn't wear for years due to "back fat". It was hard having so many cravings and not being able to really fufill them. But thankfully I have my band or I would have gained AT LEAST 40 lbs by now!! I stayed fully filled and had very little morning sickness with no vomiting. I've have been a little tighter than before but I am determined to just deal with it because I KNOW my doctor will want to take out more than I want. Her husband is a lapband surgeon and I know she will tell him to take out more...lol. I don't really want to travel to TJ pregnant so I'll just tough it out. I've added whole milk to my diet to make up for the few extra calories I need. I have had some minor discomfort with my port. It now sticks out and you can actually see it if I wear a tight shirt. I think it's partly b/c of the weight loss and also from being pushed up. The great thing is that I've had shoulder pain every day since my surgery. I have been convinced it was due to the position of the tubing off the port. It's like to could literaly feel it rubbing the diaphram causing that referred pain. But since the "shift" of everything it feels like it moved and I hardly have any shoulder pain. I am SO happy I got banded--which I did mainly in anticipation of becoming pregnant. I wanted a baby but was not willing to weight 300lbs to have one! Congrats to the other girls and hopefully we can keep each other posted by way of the this thread!

I eat very little meat. You can get protein from soy, beans, peanut butter, and milk. Hopefully once you get restriction your weight will come off quicker. Honestly I never really quit eating sweets and bread and chips, etc....And I've lost weight but it's just been slow. I decided in the beginning that I would rather lose weight slow than count or restrict. Good luck and hopefully you can find alternate protein b/c eating meat when you don't really want to is no fun at all!

Ok, I guess I'm just in an honest mood today So in the 2nd week I actually started eating things like very watery cream of wheat as well as baby food. I loved the baby food because I was just SOOOOO hungry! I also ate things like mashed potatoes. I had an actual meal on day 20 instead of 21 Now, I'm not endorsing this but it sure kepts me from eating real foods. I had gotten the post op instructions from one of the docs at my hospital and I kinda went by that instead of the OCC rule. This post op allowed you to add "mushies" on day 14....so that's what I did. Hope this helps and you CAN get through this!!!

I haven't been around much lately...been focusing more on my pregnancy web board --but I thought I would chime in here with an opinion and give my honest story. I had my lapband 20 months ago. I've lost 50ish lbs very very slowly. I'm about 20-30 lbs from my goal. I can say that I have 100% relied on my restriction and the band. I have not been a steadfast rule follower. I still drink while I eat. I still eat bread. I don't get enough protein or fiber. I still drink non-diet soda's. So shoot me! For me, I got the band b/c I had no will power. I had no discipline. I needed the band to do the work for me. There! I said it! And you know what? The band has totally come through!!! I had given myself 2 years to get to my goal. Not quite there, but I am 5 months pregnant and I have only gained 2 lbs!! I fully expect to get to my goal in the 3 months after I deliver! My baby is healthy and growing like a weed. I still have no discipline or will power. But I tell you one thing. That band sure has a lot of discipline. Eat too much=PB! So for me, I feel that restriction and I stop. I hate PB'ing and that is my incentive to stop eating. Plain and simple. The band is my will power. Now for some people this may not be the way to go. Maybe they got the band to help them learn new habits. I got the band because I wanted to lose weight. And new habits have come about for me. I don't eat as much as I used to. That's my new habit So for me, restriction is very important. Sadly enough, I don't exercise or count calories or count carbs. I just live life and let the band do it's thing and it works for me! So I guess my point it this: For some the band is more of a tool and for some the band is the silver bullet. And for some, they are somewhere in between. But to each his own however they can be successful, I say more power to 'em!

Well, mine wasn't in public, but was in front of my husband and pretty darn embarrassing. We were eating steak and baked potatoes that I had cooked. It was SOOOOO good! I usually do fine with both of these foods, however, I had a bad cough. About half way through the meal, I coughed and without warning, up came my ENTIRE meal and it landed in my plate. DISGUSTING!!! It seemed like so much food. YUK. My husband was disgusted and humored all at the same time. Dinner was over.

I'm 7 weeks today and planning to keep my fill as is!! I don't see any added "risks" to the pregnancy due to the band, in fact I got the band in anticipation of this pregnancy and feel that I have decreased my pregnancy risks tremendously just being 50+ lbs lighter!! Good luck and keep us posted on your "progress" Happy Baby Making!!!!

I know the price changes from time to time as the economy also changes. The coordinators are available most days and will give you the current info quickly. If you would like to PM me I can share what I paid in 2008. But the prices do go up and down a little depending on many different issues. Good luck and hope to see you stick around.