Vent & Question for Lap-Band Moms....

Well, I've gone 6 months without having any fluid taken out of my band, and I've been pretty comfortable. I'm able to eat and drink normally, etc.

Suddenly, over the last few days, I've been getting some shoulder pain. Like, the kind of nerve pain you get when you have excessive gas. I don't notice it all day, but I do notice it when I first wake up, and after I eat. So, I'm assuming this means it's time for an unfill.

I don't know if they're going to take all of my fluid out, or if they'll take half or what. I have a 10cc band and I have like 8cc's in there... so I'm kind of afraid of going from 8 to zero and having my appetite get out of control. I've been doing great on my weight gain thus far (only 4 pounds). Everyone keeps telling me, "Don't worry about if you gain weight. You're pregnant. It's for the baby." But I'm TERRIFIED of gaining an excessive amount because even though I have the band, I have to work damn hard to take off every pound, still.

Anyway, I guess my question is: Did you have to get an unfill while pregnant? Did you find that you gained a lot of weight after your unfill? Did you feel that your appetite changed and you didn't feel full as long? Was it difficult to control?

Thanks a bunch!!

No first hand experience, but we were talking about pregnancy at my WLS support group just last week. 80% of the group is lapband folks with a few RNY, a couple sleeves and a DS'er.

All the lapband mamas in my group said they had their bands deflated at some point during pregnancy because of "issues", it seemed like most either had it early on for morning sickness or in the 3rd trimester for heartburn, and a few because their OBs insisted on it.
Most said they had a huge regain because they went back to old habit and "took advantage" of an empty band.

Goodluck! I hope you figure out something that works for you! ((hugs))

Yeah, in the beginning my surgeon said that he "recommended" getting unfilled when I found out I was pregnant because most women experience nausea. I have had no nausea, so I haven't needed to get unfilled.

I'm not worried about going back to old habits or taking advantage of an unfilled band. I'm not one of those people who eats just to eat, and I am pretty tuned in to my signals so I know when to stop. It's just concerning to think that it will take more food to make me feel satisfied. Most people I know who have had Lap-Band surgery chose it because they were "volume eaters."

I got my band because I have insulin resistance and I metabolize food differently than most people. I worked out like a crazy person and ate the strictest diet, and still didn't lose weight. I was often described as the "fattest health nut ever." LOL

I guess I'll discuss it with my surgeon and see what he has to say! I just have a bunch of unsubstantiated fears.

I had 6.5 cc's in my 10 cc band all during pregnancy, but after delivery I needed an emergency unfill due to all the swelling after my C section, I couldn't get any water down. They completely unfilled me and it's been a pain trying to get good restriction since then. I unfortunately have gained weight and am at the same weight right now that I was at 9 months pregnant (that was a 37lbs weight gain). So, my advise would be to just get enough of an unfill to make pregnancy more manageable cause it has been so hard for me to feel any restriction. I just got a fill yesterday and I'm so thankful I can start to feel some restriction again. Makes me realize how much I love my band.

I went today and had half of my fluid taken out. I've only gained 3 pounds so far (according to their records, since April) so we'll see how it goes! I can already feel a difference, which makes me kinda nervous, lol.

I have a 4cc band and had 50% of my fluid removed when I was 3 months pregnant.  I gained 40 lbs, and lost 30 within 3 weeks of her birth.  I still have 30 to lose before back to my ideal, but overall, i'm glad I got fluid removed.

Of course, she spent a month in the nicu with meningitis, but we're all home now.

I'm glad everyone is home and doing well now! I also had 50% of my fluid removed. We'll see how it goes!

Well, I HAD a lapband. I would get an unfill of no more than 1cc, if you feel you need to. You can always go back if it's still too tight. As someone who had unfills and frequent emptying of my band, I can tell you how devastating to feel like your tool is "broken" and how easy it is to regain weight, quickly. It is like an emotional roller coaster. Please be very careful with unfills. Don't let anyone convince you to empty your band just because you're pregnant....the Dr's may drag their feet if you ask for a fill. If you feel like your baby is not growing enough, maybe try some extra EAS shakes, like 2 per day? Good luck, and be careful.

I decided to have half of my fluid removed. I know that things will get tight in there naturally as the baby grows and as I gain more weight from amniotic fluid, etc. Seemed like the best decision for now. I've done really well so far (only having gained 3 pounds since April) and I'm pretty sure I'm capable of making good choices and eating well. Only time will tell!

You could try an unfill, but it may not fix it. i had this intermittently during my pregnancy and it was just from having all my innards squished up. The shoulder pain is usually referred nerve pain from the area of the diaphragm (hence gas/bloating/hernia can all cause it). if you look a diagram of what happens to your insides once the baby gets pretty big, you can see why it might cause the same problem:

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/images/28weekspregnantla rge.gif