GiBaby71

If you are pregnant, you should not be having any abdominal surgery that is not an absolute life saving emergency. Honestly, I would be surprised if you can find a surgeon that will do the surgery while you are pregnant. You will probably have to wait until after you have the baby to have the lap band surgery. For the health and safety of your baby, you need to wait. Just try to eat well while you are pregnant and you can have your lap band soon after the baby comes. For now, enjoy being pregnant and focus on you and your new baby.

I will and thanks for the support. For those of you that may find yourselves in this situation. Always protect the baby first. Lap band will be here.

Regina

Congratulations Regina on your new bundle of joy. Sorry we won

Hello All,

I just found out that I am expecting a baby in December. My lap band is scheduled for this month. Should I go ahead with it or cancel. I know that once the band is in place you can have it adjusted for the pregnancy but I don't know about getting it while you are pregnant. Does anyone have any idea? :-?

Thanks,

GiBaby

Hey Dove! I am arriving at 9:50 on the 17th also. I only used "Lap Buddies" because someone else had used it earlier in the posts. I thought it sounded funny as well. I will be traveling alone so it's nice to meet someone else who will be coming in on that day. I am on Continental Airlines though. Good Luck!

It looks like my plans maybe changing. I just found out that I am expecting! I have to say I have mixed emotions about it. But that will be my new bundle of joy. =D>

This support is exactly what you need before the surgery. I am not really sure how much i am suppose to loose pre-op. The diet is working but I am irritable and hungry. My children and husband are getting the worst of it. But they are so supportive. Good luck on the 16th keep in touch.

I can understand exactly what you mean. I am trying to quit smoking and loose 11lbs prior to my date. I is not easy and is a very frustrating process. Hang in there and I will do the same. I think I will come back here and chat if things get too bad.

GiBaby71

Regina,

That would be great! I hope we can all meet up and be as Beery put it

I QUIT 4 or 5 DAYS BEFORE SURGERY, I SMOKED MAYBE 1/2 A PACK A DAY FOR 30 YEARS. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR ME HAVING THE SURGERY IS I WANTED TO TRY AND QUIT WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT AND JUST BE A HEALTHIER ME

Thanks you guys, you have really relaxed me about the tests. I was so worried about being a smoker and trying to quit that I was really working myself up. I don't know what I would do without this discussion board.

GiBaby71

Hi, GiBaby71, Beery and White dove,

First of all if we are going to be lap buddies I must know your names. Mine is Sue.

I am getting excited now. I've been doing pre-op now for 3 days and have lost 4 lbs. Boy does this bring back memories of the milk shake starving days only to gain all my weight back plus some.

But this time will definitely be different. I said by the time Im 50 I am going to have this done. Well I'm only 5 mos. past due. So here we goooooo. See ya all there.

I'm Regina and I see you are making progress with the preop. I haven't started yet. I tried but didn't make it. I am going to start again on Tuesday.

GiBaby71

Good Question. He is doing great. He's down 34 pounds as of today!! No problems with him and fills, because his fills were less agrresive then mine, which is the way to go. Saves on the troubles. We just had them add little by little for him because he had already felt some resctrition when getting filled.

Teri

Thank you and congrats to you both.

Hey all,

I hope to banded soon, like in the next month or two and one thing keeps making me stress. It's the tests they take on your blood, lungs and heart. I have no problem with any of these, but was wondering if any of you were stressed about the results of these tests?

I keep thinking about passing all the tests and going all that way and then having to turn back because they wouldn't do surgery on me b/c of something found in the tests. I am positive I have nothing wrong in any area of testing, but it's just been bugging me.

What exactly are they looking for other than a good heart and lungs, and what else?

Thanks for any replies in advance.

Peace,

Judy

I have the same fear. I smoke and I am going to stop on Tuesday. I hope I will be able to pass the lung test. I hate to go all the way down there and end up not getting banded because of my smoking habit. I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Hello everyone I am a new member. My date is April 9th, it just can't get here fast enough. I wish I could sleep until it's time to leave because I am so anxious. I am 36 years old 5'2 at 196 lbs my goal is 130 lbs. I want to know anyone who has a similar profile. Angela Valentine

My profile is almost like yours. I am 36 year old, 5'2" and 211 lbs. I am hoping to be down to 200lbs when my surgery date rolls around. My date is April 18th. Keep in touch we could become buddies across the internet!

GiBaby

Have been out of town, my daughter and I went shopping in Las Vegas! So much fun, we hit all the premium outlets, especially liked the coach store! Any way, dont be scared. Some people dont have a problem with fills at all. When your still at surgery weight like i was for about 3 or 4 months, yes, you do tend to want to start the process that you paid money for. So, to do that, you aggressively want to find restriction, and when you do, like I did, it was to much. So, you adjust. Then, when you can eat the same as prior to surgery, you go in for a fill. I found out, it doesnt take a lot of saline to make a HUGE difference. The problem is, you dont know until you start eating, which is 24 hours later, usually. When you find out you cannot eat, or keep water down, (even when you could when you left the office) then, you go for another unfill. This is where the frustration of fills/unfills come in. It's not a big deal if you can get back quickly if need be. From experience, it is best to creep up on the fills. I have been going nuts with finding the right amounts. But, it takes time, because often, the band gets tighter as well, which is something the band just does. There is a happy medium, I think, with feeling tighter at certain times, regarless, just because it's how the band is. Any way, nothing to be scared of.

Teri

Thanks Teri,

It seems you are well versed on the fill subject. How is your son doing with his fills?

Hi GiBaby,

Personally I don't think I am having complications, just a good fill with restriction. You have to realize that you literally have to eat completely differently than you used to and it's hard to adjust! I am eating healthy and normal food. I can only eat a little bit though and very slowly- so even if I ate "bad" food it's still a small fraction of the calories than I used to be able to eat.

Hope that helps!

Karen

That helped some, I guess I just won't know until I experience it. Thank you

If anyone finds one in Nashville TN please let me know because that is where I live and that would help me out a lot.

I found this doctor. His office is not in TN, he is in OH. Fills are done for "out of towners" the first saturday of the month. Here is his response and contact information:

Regina,

We do fills on lots of patients from Tennessee actually! We only do it on a self pay basis though. We charge $300 for the first adjustment which includes a fill and a nutrition eval by our banded registered dietitian Erin. Subsequent fills are $150 and also include a follow-up visit with Erin. You will need to make a commitment to 3-5 fills to achieve success. We see out of town patients for band adjustments on the first Saturday of each month from 1-4pm, so you can drive up that morning and get your fill. I went to med school in Nashville so I have driven it many times, it

Congratulations Sue!!! I am scheduled for the 18 - 21 - Would love the support!!!!! We can be lap buddies!!!

Does anyone know how to get the weight loss ticker at the bottom?

Go to My Controls at the top right of the screen. Click edit my signature. Type in what you want. If you want to add color or some other type font, highlight the text then choose the font, then choose the color and click save.

Hope that helps.

GiBaby71

Congratulations Sue, GiBaby71, Beery and anyone I may have missed!

I am scheduled for April 17 -20. I hope we can all meet up and be as Beery put it

Congrats to you all! I so want to have my surgery done then also, but was wondering how long the process takes in order to have a definite date for surgery.

I am waiting on my 401k money to come through soon, I hope. I know those dates are only a few weeks away. How long does the process take? I know there is probably a pre-op diet involved, which I feel like I am doing already in a way because I just had two teeth pulled and have to eat mushy or very soft foods. Also, sending in the deposit. What's the time frame for that?

Maybe I should wait and see when my 401k comes through and go from there...lol

Peace,

Judy

It actually does not take that long. Once you contact them and let them know you are interested they send you an information letter. If you still want to go ahead you contact Dr. Ortiez's office and let them know. They will then call you and tell you what you need to do. There is a pre-op diet involved and it depends on your current BMI when you start. You should contact them now and then go from there. I hope you join us as well.

GiBaby71

Hello All,

Just wondering if any of you have used this website to find a fill doctor in your area and what your experience was like. I see that they will have a doctor coming to Duluth, Ga starting in April (one Saturday a month). I an concerned because we don't know how much experience these doctors may have. How do we check them out?

http://www.fillcentersusa.com/locator/index.php

Thanks,

GiBaby71

FYI- I have called every bariatric surgeon in the Memphis area and none will touch someone who they didn't operate on. I will be going to the Fill Centers USA Missouri location in a copuple of weeks for my first fill. It is easier to drive 4 hours and pay to have the fill done than fly all day back to TJ and have to stay overnight.

If anyone finds one in Nashville TN please let me know because that is where I live and that would help me out a lot.

Hello All,

I was just wondering if anyone knows of a doctor located in Nashville, TN that will do fills completed by Dr. Ortiez. I am willing to go back to TJ but if I could cut down on some of the cost that would be better.

GiBaby71

Hello..! My name is Violet.!

I am new to this forum and I am really excited about this Discussion and would love any kind of guidance.

I hope someone can help me with this question that I have..I found this article to be very interesting.

The good news for me...Who is a moderator of this topic..??

If anyone has any info. on this subject ( recipies are also welcome) I would greatly appreciate a reply at 'violetgorman'@'yourwebpublic.org'

Are you asking for guidance on the lapband or the experience before or afterwords?

GiBaby71

Hi there - I am feeling a little discouraged, but I know that if I just hear from a couple of people who have been through this, I will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I had surgery on 1/8/07. Before my first fill, 6 weeks later, I had lost maybe 2 lbs. I had little to no restriction during that time - I wish my first fill had been at 3 weeks. Anyway, after my first fill, I lost in about 6 weeks, maybe only another 2 lbs. With 1.8 ccs I felt really no restriction as to the amount of food I could eat. I had to eat slower, but not less. Yesterday, I received a fill - I am now at 2.9 ccs. I feel restriction now, maybe too much. But, that is a different story.

So, my frustration is - all of my life, I haven't been able to lose weight. I have screwed everything I have tried up. I just plain eat too much and what I shouldn't. Is it possible that I am so prone to being fat that I will screw this up too? Am I so addicted to food that I should just resign myself to the fact that I will always be this way? I am not looking to be a super model - but to wear normal clothes would be nice. Today is my 29th birthday - and I don't want to start my 30s the way I am today. Anything anyone could tell me would help a ton. Thanks.

Stockprincess,

Haven't heard from you and I wanted to check to see how you are holding up. Weight loss is a very stressful factor in the lives of those that are trying, please remember that it takes time and that we are here to support you.

GiBaby

Thanks everyone. I will try to answer some questions. First of all I am only 5' tall. I still have 15 lbs to get to my goal. Exercise is totally key!! I exercise at least 45 min per day. Either Curves (which I love!!) or my eliptical cross trainer at home. I swear tanning helps the scars...even though some say it makes them worse. You can still see my port incision up close but it doesn't seem to show up much is photos...I can't even find the other ones anymore. I have always been like that with scars though so it probably just depends on the person. I also have a ton of freckles everywhere so I guess it's kind of a good thing in this case because they help hide the scars.

Since you provided the motivation I am now looking into an excercise routine that I can work into my scheldue. Great job and I know you will make it to your goal.

GiBaby.

Hi,

Im sure we will all run into one another.

Can I join your buddy group? My dates are 17-20 April as well.

Gibaby

I my surgery date is April 18.

That is mine as well. I hope we will have the opportunity to meet and form a support circle of our own. My name is Regina and I will see you there.

GiBaby71