Search the Community

I wouldn't tell anyone before. You'll get negative Nancys (including my cardiologist for my pre-check who said that I wasn't super heavy and should just diet). I've started to tell folks afterwards, one, because they were worried about me, and perhaps more importantly for accountability. As the motivational speaker Zig Zigler said, you want to share your "Give Up" goals with the as many people as possible to keep you honest. I'm only 2 weeks into this sleeve, and I'm already pretty sure that I know how to beat it with milkshakes and ice cream if I wanted to (thankfully I don't have those cravings). But I think that by telling more people, I'll have more support. I told my boss over the weekend and he was EXTREMELY supportive, since he had started razzing me about my weight gain. I'm not sure that he would have been as supportive beforehand. But after it's done, you can't go back!

I'd love to hear how I screwed up. I never ate off plan until I passed goal. I followed every instruction my doctor gave me. I have gotten 60g+ Protein and 64oz+ Water every day. (Except when I was so nauseous from a medication I was on for a C. diff infection that I couldn't even swallow my own spit...which of course led to dehydration and IV fluids at which point my doctor and I found an alternative solution to cure the infection. In other words, make sure you drink!). I take my Vitamins every day. I get my bloodwork done as recommended and adjust supplements accordingly. I am active everyday. I lost over 100% of my excess weight and have kept it off for 7 months. Sure, now I eat deserts and carbs and drink alcohol, but I'm in maintenance and I'm allowed anything and everything in moderation. Any weight gain I observe I immediately check by going back to strict protein and veggies. Again, where is my non compliance? But if I was, then good for me for being so successful despite all my cheating! My point to the OP is that this is a lifetime commitment and she struggled with just 7 days. food addiction is serious business and everyone needs to get whatever help they can to overcome it. Like @@VSGAnn2014 said, not everyone is successful with this tool and not taking responsibility for your choices and trying to validate cheating makes for a slippery slope towards failure. I consider myself a rockstar of WLS, and I'm on here to pay it forward. I'm a big proponent of everyone making a plan that works for them. My way is not the only way, just one of the many ways that works. But not being able to say no to sweets is generally not one of the plans that works.

For my visit, I talked on the phone to a nurse and after met virtually with the physician's assistant and dietitian. I can post about my dietitian's visit later if anyone is interested. First, I spoke with the nurse over the phone for about 15 minutes. She asked the following questions: What type of surgery or intervention are you interested in? What is your current weight? What is your blood pressure? Tell me about any prior surgeries? Next, I met with the physicians assistant (PA-C), for about 50 minutes. She asked the following questions: What is your weight history? How long have you struggled with weight? What do you think is the cause of weight gain? What are your lifestyle habits? Have you taken weight loss medication? Did the weight loss medication work for you? How much weight have you gained in the last year? What is motivating you to lose weight? What type of exercise are you doing? What's your living situation like? Do you eat out? Who does the cooking in the household? Do you eat three meals a day? Do you snack? What are you snacking on? Do you struggle with emotional eating? Have you been diagnosed with a kidney stone? Do you have an irregular heart rhythm? Have you had an EKG? Any bleeding disorders or blood clots? Have you been diagnosed with an eating disorder? Have you met with a therapist? Do you have heartburn? Do you have a stomach ulcer? Do you use your CPAP? Multiple family planning questions. Next, we discussed my medical history. She gave a general overview of: Obesity Metabolic processes Emotional health Coping skills Lifestyle changes Weight loss medications Expectations The differences in surgery, benefits, and risks associated with the sleeve and RNY were discussed. She made a surgical recommendation. There is a 2-form of contraception requirement. I was given an outline of tasks to complete. Those were: scheduling a blood draw and contacting my sleep center to request my CPAP usage download. A scheduler will call to schedule a psychological assessment, physical therapy, and an appointment with the nurse clinician who'll act as my contact throughout the process. It was also encouraged that I attend the support group for bariatric and weight management patients. Lastly, I was given the clinic's late policy and the reminder that if I gain 10 pounds before surgery, I will be re-evaluated to be sure I'm a good surgical candidate. I had the blood draw and eight tubes were taken. I was tested for vitamin deficiencies including B1, B6, D. Also, calcium, iron, prediabetes, cholesterol, creatinine for kidney function, parathyroid hormone, and others. Hope this helps anyone curious about the first visit.

Hey guys! Remember me?? I was banded on July 5th 2006.. OMG what a roller coaster I have gone thru.. I have only lost 20 lbs. First thing is, I was my Doc's guinea pig. I was his first band. (of course he had a specialist with him to do the surgery) Filling was new to him and he thought he was filling me up but in actuality, he wasn't. I also have a wiggler port. It takes 2 people to fill me. One to stabilize it and another to inject. Doc says I might have to get that stabilized in the future but it is okay for now. That was the first problem. Second problem was me. I totally BLEW it over the holidays. I got a mixer (Artisan) for christmas from my fiance and was "going to bake for the family and friends".. well, apparently that means for myself too.. UGH.. When I went for my January check up, I gained 6.. thats right 6 pounds!! Boy did the nurse ream me out.. whew.. she made me cry but then felt bad and hugged me.. she said I had to get some "tough love" .. I then went home and went thru my kitchen. I got rid of the crackers, pretzels, bread, micro popcorn etc. (just like Dr. Phil says, get rid of the triggers) And then I did the unthinkable... I JOINED THE GYM! ME! wow.. If you would have asked me if I would join a gym a year ago, I would have laughed in your face! And it is a regular gym.. not curves or a gym geared towards "fat people".. do you know it was sooooo hard to walk in there the first time.. My friend couldnt make it so I went alone! I went alone!.. I got there, scanned in, went to the locker room and even struck up a conversation with a young girl (24ish) who was all thin and trim.. she said to me, "comon! lets grab a treadmill before they are gone!".. So there I was.. working out with a stranger.. a nice one at that! Me, Ms. Low Selfesteem.. I walked on that thing for 30 mins and then rode a recumbant bike for 15 mins. WOW.. and I actually liked it! I go every other day now. Last thing that inhibited rapid weight loss is that I suffer from "seasonal" depression so I am on wellbutrin. My doc says wellbutrin can cause weight gain. yay.. but I will be off that shortly.. Fast forward to this past Friday... I went for a check up and lost 7 lbs!! and Doc gave me a 2cc fill.. aggressive I know but I tell you.. I feel restriction now.. for the first time in 8 months!!! So with my new exercise routine and FINALLY getting restriction.. my ticker better show some loss! I have given up some comfort foods and what not and that is very hard.. things like pizza, rice, regular pasta (I do still eat wheat pasta but only once a week or so) That is my update and I am so glad to be back. So sorry this was so long but I really wanted to get stuff off my chest. Love and loss (weight loss that is!), Donnamarie

It doesn't irritate me, I just feel bad for them. I think the maintenance stage will be difficult when the restriction is less and you haven't changed your eating habits. I wish everyone success but there's a reason statistics show a lot of people experience weight gain after maintenance.

Congrats to everyone! I have not had the time to do my fills and I guess that is my big problem. I went from 220 to 172 in about 6 months and didn't get a fill until I started to gain back weight. The fill didn't really do much. I gained more weight and went up to 194. Granted, I only had 2 fills this whole time and I am in the VG band which I understand you have to be a little more aggressive. I was embarrassed to go back to the doctor b/c of the weight gain, so I lost 14 pounds in the last month on a low carb/low calorie diet. I have an appointment to get an adjustment next Friday and hopefully I can get back on track. Currently, I have 5 cc in the large VG band and have little restriction right now. So, hopefully I will be re-committing myself to the band once again next week. I wish I could be a success story (by now) like everyone else here!

At a normal weight I only had a B cup. Then I breastfed and got a lil larger. Weight gain made me a C almost D. I'd take the B's as long as I can keep some hips and booty!.

I have had it for years, but was only diagnosed this year. My symptoms are: infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes acne, oily skin, or dandruff weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist type 2 diabetes (I don't quite have it, but am borderline, with pre-diabetes) skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome I was just wondering if there's any other women out there that have this? I have it and due to it I don't ovulate at all and I have darkening of my skin on my neck and armpits and around my waist line. I'm just wondering if this all changes after having the band and losing the weight. Symptoms of this are: infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes acne, oily skin, or dandruff pelvic pain weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist type 2 diabetes high cholesterol high blood pressure male-pattern baldness or thinning hair patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep I'm sorry if this is a reaccuring topic. I didn't see anything about it. Does having this make it harder to lose the weight even with lap band? Any insight would be great. Thanks!

I want to know if anyone developed asthma do to massive weight gain and does it go away with weight loss from the sleeve. Ps I'm miserable.

One if my closest friends and I talked about this very thing. She and I actually train and dance together. She does not have a history of obesity or weight gain. She said, "I really didn't know what to say that was my business." Because I hadn't started the conversation. We all come from different places.

It’s been six years since I have my surgery. Lost over 100+lbs. However in the past few years, it’s slowly regaining - approx 70lbs up atm. Most because I went vegan for two years and regained a ton because I ate quinoa mostly (carb galore) ughhh...mad at myself for that. I’m a lacto-ovo vegetarian now and looking for some help. Can anyone suggest any tips on how I can jump start my weight loss again? I’m thinking about doing the 5 day pouch test to start.

My feelings are not hurt at all. I definitely got side tracked. Vets is definitely a maintenance issue. It has nothing to do with number of posts. Suppose someone just found this board who has been sleeved longer than me, and is having trouble with weight gain. They would be starting out with very few posts. I don't think being at goal should be a requirement either, because some people never make it what ever goal they wanted or their doctor wanted, but they still lost a lot of weight. I'll leave it up to the board administers to decide this issue.

newhope - I came home with a 10 lb weight gain and FREAKED! Over the first week it came off. Your's will too. You sound like you are doing exactly right with tiny sips every few minutes. I don't know your diet, but warm chicken broth sure felt good too. I also had a hard time sleeping on my back for a few days, I think it was the fourth day I used the headboard to get on my side and it was okay then. I loved my heating pad on my tummy too. Keep up the good work!

Well i got approved with some extra documentation. i ducked out of here because i had gone on the 2 shake diet, lost 14 lbs and then they told me I was going to have to do weight watchers for 6 months. So I compleatly wigged out because the surgery planner told me to just maintain that weight for six months. They said if; lost too much more, i wouldn't be covered. I have to be over 40 Bmi even with all my medical problems. I have never been a weight I needed to maintain...so no surprise, I now have 10 lbs to Lose again. Once my doc faxed over the proof of weigh once a month at his office, they approved it. Sooooo my pre-op class is Friday at 8 am. They are calling me back to schedule a surgery date. It could be this month, I will have to waiting and see....but I am approved. I am mad at myself for the weight gain...now I am back to shakes starting tonight since I already ate lunch. I am feeling very nervous now. I am worried I won't lose it in time...I am going to have to be close by Friday.....how am I going to lose 10 lbs by Friday? Any suggestions? I know it is my fault for reacting in this way and I know it is my responsibility to lose this weightl but I am seriouse about this...please help it you can.

Ms lady, so glad it went well. If you get back on your program it will all even out. Sometimes we just have Water weight gain so maybe it's that. Bobrocky, hope you next fill will do the trick. T'giving is going to be a challenge for all of us so stay on course. Chich, congratulatuons! 30 lbs is amazing. Let us all know how the fill works out. You're doing an awesome job. Genesishanna, steady loss is good. I've heard a lot about Zumba. Sounds like fun. Keep it up I bet it is amazing exercise. I've had lots of company since last Wed. I've fixed dinner for 20 three times and I am exhausted. Our youngest son Daniel flew in from NY Wed with fiancee and my hubby's niece and her whole family came up from GA. We had an engagement party Friday nite for our closest friends to meet Rebecca and I cooked an Italian dinner with lasagna, chicken parm, and Pasta with cream sauce,salad and dessert for 20 that night. We had enough leftovers for Sat nite.for everybody so I didn't have to cook again. Then Sun we had T'giving dinner for 20 also. Everybody goes home today and tomorrow we are taking the kids and grandkids to see the Rockettes Christmas Show. Thursday my hubby's sister and hew new husband are coming until Sun. It's been a lot of cooking and lots of fun. I have not overdone yet but have eaten a few things I probably should not have eaten. So far I have not gained any. I am back on my program and will start exercising again tomorrow or Wed. Still sitting on 20lbs loss and hopefully can start loosing again soon. I am not in a race with anyone and will take i slowly and steady until I am at goal. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and stay on your programs the best way you can. If you falter don't bet yourself up, jump back on the program and don't look back. We can do this! Blessings, GG

A vit D deficiency can be very serious. There are several negative effects of having low levels (especially over a long period of time) that are irreversible. Definitely look into it and talk to your nut about it. Don't forget that you must take bariatric vitamins for the rest of your life. I have a severe Vit D deficiency that is being treated with high dose supplements for at least 6 months. I stopped taking my vitamins over a year ago and I quickly became deficient. I'm post op 9 years but I'm now having a revision due to weight gain and some other issues.

Can someone tell me about the weigh in the day of surgery with Dr. Posner? I have so much anxiety. He said if there is any weight gain, surgery will be cancelled. My date is this wednesday the 16th. Does the nurse weigh you in? The doctor? Is there a weigh in at all???? Soooo nervous !!!

Well I went in Tuesday and got a really nice fill. It's working nicely! I did drop 2.2% of body fat but went up in water weight so the scale showed 2lb gain :biggrin: but Sue said not to worry about it cause its not real weight gain. Have anyone else met Sue.. She's the new NP and really very nice. Anyone have anything interesting happening this weekend??

notice i didnt mention HOW MUCH my Water weight gain was... (let's just say total gain is still more than yours...) i dont think we should obsess about weight gain right during pregnancy... i really dont... i mean 100 pounds, that would be an issue cause its not healthy, but 'average gain' is what 15-35? so you're a bit more than average ... so what. you'll drop it quickly ...

vicki, im glad u are okay. i didnt think u would be back online so soon but i am glad u were. they prob gave you a ton of fluids during surgery which is most likely why you have the weight gain...be patient...lol...dont be in a rush

You know Val, maybe that is why they are cancelling surg. due to weight gain because they know they are overwhelmed with people waiting to get in. They can pick and choose who they want, and who they think will have the most success rate..Not to imply you renee, because we have all had struggles with our weight, you just happened to have your weight fluctuate right before your surg..

This is a thread that should be read by band doctors (if there any out there that are still putting in bands!). Like the OP, I'm convinced that once an unfill is performed, it is unlikely that a refill back to the same level of original fill will provide the bandster with the same, good level of restriction and feeling of satiety. My sense is that you have to go up and over the original fill level to find, if it is even possible, the green zone again. So many on this board never find a sustainable green zone again after an unfill. What all pre ops should know, and what all banding surgeons should tell them, is to take the utmost care of their bands, working them to the max in the first year of banding. That's where we all see the most weight loss...motivation is at its highest, and the band and the banded area is pristine. Barring a surgery screw-up or medical issue, no unfills should have to happen in the first year if the patient is compliant with the post op way of eating. There are a couple of well-known bandster bloggers who just had unfills followed by refills and are now struggling with weight gain (small, but gains nonetheless). Anyone read Chronicles from Bandland or Lapband Gal? Both are star bloggers, longtime bandsters with perfect track records for compliance. Both lost massive amounts of weight and got to goal in their first year. Now, five years out (more or less) both have had issues and have had to get slight unfills. LBG got refilled but her weight is up a bit, and CfB has gained a bit and can't get it off, even with restricted calories and lots of sport. The minute the band gets tinkered with, weight will seek to return...even if we are eating the same amount of calories as before. It's an area that really should be studied but of course won't be because you can't control the study unless you lock up the patients and control their caloric intake. But damn I wish a medical team would look at this and figure out why it happens! And then find a way to stop it from happening!

While Iggy's story can be the case, do know it can be relatively smooth sailing too. Here is my almost 2 week post-op story. Yes, I know I am not out of the woods yet and can develop a leak or some other complication. -- No major pain after surgery, other than my wrist arm swelling from the vein they blew -- still hurts -- No major gas pain -- No nausea -- No close calls with throwing up -- Able to drink fluids relatively easily, albeit slowly -- Moved to full liquids per my Dr's plan easily -- I am getting 60+ grams of protein, and close to the 64 oz of fluid (remembering to sip water and waiting the 30+ minutes after is annoying) -- Since moving to full liquids, I am been getting 600 to 700 calories in, is that too much? -- Finally lost the water weight gain plus, and an additional 4.2 lbs since the surgery for a total of nearly 12 lbs -- Traveled to my client site and worked pretty much my same routine of super fulls days, i.e, 10+ hours (yes, I did crash as soon as I got back to the hotel) Now, for the minor complaint, when will my wrist along the vein stop hurting? It hurts to stretch the arm out and to touch it. OK, I know I will hit a stall, I am thinking moving to more solid foods might present a problem, I just know I will hit a road bump at some point and will be on here asking for help. But, until then, pre-op patients, please know that the ride can be smooth. I know so far I have been one of the lucky ones. Thank you to who ever is watching out for me, I really appreciate it. Personally, I attribute some of my smooth sailing to my lower BMI and being healthy going into the surgery. No heart complications, no high BP, etc. Mary

I have a semi low BMI, I cannot lose any weight during my preop,still following NUT diet though to maintain in a healthy manner. I am with WTgirl,I have lost the weight, gained it back, plus more. I was thin most of my life. I just can't do this to myself anymore. Out of control eating, being much heavier and growing ,and health issues creeping in.These are the reasons I am using this as my tool, I know I can stick to a diet if I have some support, and I WANT this so badly!!