Newbie

Hello, everyone!  Yep, I am fairly new to his board and I am enjoying it!  Everyone is so amazingly supportive!  My name is Christie and I live in Chalmette, LA with my husband, step-daughter, Daisy (my dog), and 2 gerbils.  It is so good not only to be back home, but, as well in my house!  It has been such a long journey up to this point, but, as I have always said (especially with Katrina), everything that happens in your life, whether pleasant or unpleasant, it shapes the kind of person you are and there is a reason for everything.  Let me tell you a little about myself...... Pretty much, I have battled my weight all my life.  Always on and off diets just for me to lose weight and then gain what I lost and more back.  It is pretty much a viscious cycle when you think about it.  My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for at least the last 4 or 5 years with nothing to show except a miscarriage after doing an IUI.  Of course, I had to do fertility meds, blood work drawn once a week, and vaginal u/s once a week before the actual IUI itself.  I was diagnosed before doing IUI as having polysistic ovarian syndrome and balance translocation chromosome (pretty much, the PCOS causes me not to ovulate, hence the ovulation induction meds, and the balance translocation chromosome in a short synopsis causes the miscarriage, among other things).  Anyway, after I had the miscarriage, I decided to hold off on trying to get pregnant for a little while, then, of course, Katrina hit and that definitely put a damper on the thought of getting pregnant......UNTIL RECENTLY.  Needless to say, at my last visit to my obgyn (who is with the Fertility Institute) I told my doc that I wanted to try again.  At that point, we both agreed that it would be better for me to see one of his colleagues, who mainly specializes in the PCOS and who could assist me better.  So, I make an appointment to see her and discuss options.  When my husband and I met with her, she expressed her concern as of right now was more about my health and it was at this appointment that she suggested that I get the LAPBAND procedure.  Now, I am not going to lie, I was a little upset because of course this is not something that I want to hear when I am talking about getting pregnant.  When my husband and I left, I realized that she was right about the fact that I am a possible diabetic (although not confirmed since my father has it) and I already do have high cholesterol.  My dad also has a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.., which, means, that I am a likely candidate.  You know sometimes the things that we do not necessarily want to hear are the same things that make our lives change.  I appreciate the fact that she was honest.  She made us promise that we would at least think about it and that I did....actually, it has been all I have been able to think about since I seen her 2 weeks ago.  At first, my attitude was this:  well, if this is what i need to do to get pregnant, then, i will do it.  however, as time has went on, my attitude is this:  i need to do this for me to be healthy; this is what i have to do for me right now and worry about getting pg later when my body is healthy because if i get pg now, i run the risk of having an unhealthy pregnancy, and moreover, how selfish for me to bring a beautiful baby into this world and it not have me there because if i continue down this road, i will not live to see it grow up.  The point is that I have shocked myself how my attitude is different and positive about myself because ever since my DH and I have been trying to get pregnant, I was going to do anything I could to have a child; even when my doctor told me then that I would increase my chances if I lost weight! So, I started researching the LAPBAND and the more that I learn about it, the more I want to do it!  I have always looked on this type of surgery and others like it as unnecessary surgery, but, in reality, at least in my case, it REALLY is necessary and I wasn't getting that part.  It is has been through my researching and sooooooooooo very, very much from this website that I have learned more of what I need to start my journey to a healthier life style and committment.  Sooooooo, with that being said, I have a doctor's appointment with my PCP on this Friday, June 22nd, to discuss the LAPBAND with him and to get his thoughts.  Of course, the other problem is my insurance does not pay for it even if I have a letter from the doctors saying that it is medically necessary, so, looks like I will have to finance it.  WOWWWWWWWW, if it isn't one thing, it is another.  I see everyone's success stories and it gives me such hope!  CONGRATS to all of you out there for reaching your goals!  If anyone has any questions, just feel free to ask! Talk to everyone soon and I will let you know how my doctor's appointment goes with PCP! Sorry for the long story...tried to make it short, but, if anyone knows me well, enough, this was keeping it short...lol! Christie     

Welcome to the board! Roz

Nice to meet you. Pattie

Thanks to both of you, Pattie and Roz!  It is definitely nice to meet both of u as well!  I will definitely let you guys know what happens tomorrow at the doctor's office.  Talk to you soon and thanks for being so supportive! Christie    

Welcome to the board!!!!! I was in the same boat as you.  1 miscarriage, 1ectopic, and PCOS to boot.  I tried IVF and it didn't work(I used the Fertility Insitute of New Orleans, too).  It was the proverbial straw.  I had the surgery and felt great.  I still have to do IVF because of the scar tissue, but I hope to have a better shot.  Good luck to you.