Search the Community

I'm starving corn toasties for breakfast... they work so well everyone has been telling me the weight gain horror stories of lexapro... i lost 3lbs... so i'll take that. i'm still borderline a mess so i can't get into that right now but getting better still starving... and i have a dish of icecream everynight too... but now want nachos!

Thank you so much . I'm glad to inspire someone but I just feel I am doing average. I want to do way more and be that girl who defeated all the statistics about heart disease, sleep apnea, joint pain, liver issues, edema in extremities, chest pain and generalized depression due to weight gain ( because that is so real whether or not docs acknowledge it or not it is real). Everyday that God gives me strength, I am doing my best to make a difference in my life and I want to be a blessing to others as well. I truly thank everyone here because whether or not you all know it, you have been my source of strength and inspiration throughout this journey and even before I started the journey. So I thank everyone who has commented on a post or sent me a private message to encourage me. I am forever in your debt.

My band has slipped. I went for an esphogram yesterday and it shows that the majority of my stomach has slipped up through the band. I have to go for another surgery. I need to meet with my surgeon on Nov 10th. I am unsure as to what my options are insurence wise. I am thinking about switching to the VSG, but I'm not sure. Doing my research about it. I think my surgeon is going to direct me to just getting a new band, or just moving the one that is in there already. Not sure what to do. For now I have an open band and hope for very little weight gain during this time. Sorry I have not been on the boards often at all. Good to see some familiar names around. Congrats to all that made it to goal and keep up the good work to all who keep using their band...the tool we chose. Christine

Oh and the weight gain is always possible! That's why this was step 1 leading to step 2 bypass! This surgery isn't malabsorptive, the biliary pancreatic diversion offers best weight loss over all surgeries, but more risk by far. If you get 2 + years out and need to lose more weight they can adapt the BPD to your sleeve, or do the total bypass.

Yeah after being on chemo for a full year at the age of 40, then needing a hysterectomy at the age of 45, monthly fluctuations are way back in my rear-view mirror. Sucks, because I started gaining even more weight early because of the early induced menopause. On the upside, I’ve already been through that so now I don’t have to deal with all of the weight gain that comes from pre and peri- menopause post surgery. Lol, I’ve already been through all of that hot mess. 🤣🤣

Wow guys. These posts really resonate with me: I gained 110 pounds when I was pregnant with my daughter (2nd child) and the abuse I took from their father still haunts me. That’s the baby that changed my whole metabolism and all I got from him was quiet disappoint and criticism In the weight gain and subsequent PPD. By the time she was 3, I found out that their father was having an active affair with one of my coworkers and that basically everything I had been struggling with had been used against me and that the 2 of them were plotting to try to get custody of the kids. They were actually using my new-found Morbid Obesity as a weapon against me to “prove” that I didn’t have the self-control necessary to raise 2 kids under the age of 6 as a single mom. I fought sooooo hard that year and in years after, trying to fix what was “broken” in me only to fail over and over and over again. Thankfully I had enough of a career and enough self-esteem to survive that onslaught and make it through. Those were several tough years where I was reminded painfully over and over that I wasn’t good enough-or desireable enough, smart enough, or like able enough to be considered a “good” parent and I was reminded on a monthly basis that it was going to be a a WAR of 2 vs 1. I somehow persevered and got those kids raised. I spent over 13 years single and afraid to even think about having a life of my own. I survived breast cancer as a single working mom. At that point, my biggest fear was dying before I could finish raising those kids— aged 16 and 12 when I was diagnosed. The kids dad stopped paying child support after our first year divorced and I was afraid to even take him to court bc I didn’t feel worthy enough to raise my kids as a MO single mom in her mid-30s. When I think of the years lost due to my feelings of inferiority, it almost makes me sick. I wasted almost 13 years of my life feeling like a sub-par human and thankfully my current husband saw me— the true me— underneath all of that baggage. He loved me— plus sized and all— in spite of me not loving myself. It took that brave and kind man’s love to realize that I could be so much more than the reality that I was currently living. With his love and respect and complete acceptance, I was able to start this journey that has led to where I am now. Ironically, my ex is a mere shadow of the man he once was— he won’t call or reach out to his kids and I’ve heard that he and that woman live a very small and petty existence where neither of them are fulfilled or even remotely happy. If I were a better person, I would feel pity for them, but I must honestly admit that I do derive some satisfaction from their misery. At the end of the day though, my best revenge is to live my best life as happily as possible, and I plan on doing that every. Single. Day.

Hi all and Happy New Year - great to hear from you Aussie girl! I too have put some weight on after maintaining for nearly 6 months! I have been eating crap over Christmas and it has finally come home to roost! I have also noticed that over that last month or so I can eat larger quantities so this has probably got something to do with it. So my goal now is to cut out all rubbish and watch my portion sizes and snacking between meals ( I obviously don't need the Snacks if I am eating more at meal times). I have finally joined the gym but have lost momentum over Christmas. I think I will buy myself a personal training package to get me going again for the year. Unfortunately I can't blame muscle gain on my weight gain as I just haven't been doing enough! Regarding stalls - I have come to the conclusion that some people's bodies just hold onto weight more than other people. I agree with everyone's advise on just sticking to the program - even if you are only dropping and average of 500 grams a week, if you add the weeks up it is a significant weight loss and more that most people could hope to achieve without the sleeve. My only advise is focus on developing healthy eating habits now as when you get to maintenance it is that much harder to break any habits you have formed over the great weight loss window of 6 months or so - I am learning the hard way and my surgeon did warn me about this (but who listens to the doctors all the time right!). I think it is nearly time for another Sydney Siders get together - Kelli - when did you say you would be in Sydney? Hope you can make it Aussie girl and Susan? All welcome of course!

Hi Wenjea - Thanks for the info - that helps a ton!!!! I start my puree in a week and cannot wait. I wonder if dr oh and dr srikanth have the same post op instructions cause mine say puree wks 5-6 an oz at a time per serving having the protein shakes in between... So I will get an oz of cream of wheat and that is it, the rest is protein drinks and liquids. I will double check my instructions... hmm Funny thing on the shoes and clothes deal. I was in "denial" a little about my weight gain so I am still fitting into stuff after all my weight loss, I am still somewhat bloated but I have at least 2 sizes down worth of clothes to wear before I have to go shopping (yes some of it is dated). Shoes are fitting loosely as well since I am loosing fat in my FEET. Jeez... Hope everyone is well...

Hey Laura, INGDirect has great rates on cd's with no minimum. I think you could put a dollar in a cd if you wanted. I think if you are interested I can get you $25 by being a member? Let me know. I just got a cd that will be due at tax time, so I can pay my taxes (remember I am self employed!). Slept late this morning and feel a little better!!! It sounds like we all need a K.I.T.A. The holidays are coming and that is just another reason for us to beat ourselves up over weight gain. We need to lose, or maintain during this time.

Wow. Thanks for all your advice. I had no idea that PCOS can cause a lot of weight gain, and cause all these things. I just thought it was a chronic growth of cysts. I know a good female doctor, but she is not on my insurance group. I'll have to see what I can do. I'm now very concerned and confused about my doctor's response to my inquiries. What an A-hole. He didn't even bother to explain any of it to me. I guess I should have known when I had a uterus the size of a 5 month pregnancy for two years..... DUH!!!

I believe I've been on Actos and Met for about 6 months. There's been a marked improvement when it comes to my glucose levels. When testing my sugar, I'm usually in the range of 90-115, which is wonderful for me. I'd been testing at 200ish for such a long time that my PCP almost jumped for joy when they did my first A1C after taking the Actos for 3 months. As far as the PCOS and its symptoms - there's been no real change that I can see. My cycle is still incredibly irregular and my cravings and PMS are insane. I have to admit that I've been apprehensive about Actos since it is a relative of Avandia. I read recently that it "may be less effective than other drugs for diabetes and cause liver damage, weight gain, anemia and heart failure". Fortunately, it has worked for me as far as the blood sugars go...but my weight is still a problem. PS Thank you all for the warm welcome. I really appreciate it!

I asked my doctor about spironolactone, and he said that is is contraindicated during pregnancy and since I choose not to use birth control, he is not comfortable prescribing it to me. I tried laser hair removal and epilation, but it scarred my face and was so expensive. I wax my lip, chin, and sideburns once a week. Facial and arm hair are probably the two things, next to weight gain, that I hate the most about PCOS. Amy

Hi Karen. Sounds like you've been through the ringer and emerged with your good attitude intact! Congrats! I'm at a plateau but happy with the weight loss to date. I don't believe I've even had a plateau that wasn't followed by a weight gain. This is pretty cool!

....and WTH?!?!? i totally forgot about the weight gain after surgery (fluid i guess, plus air) i almost had a fricken heart attack when i got on the scale this morning!!!!!

I got my Aetna approval on Friday and it was pretty easy. 4 months of supervised nutrition visits, meet their minimum BMI (or BMI and comorbidity) requirement, and don't gain any weight from your first visit to your last. Easy peasy!! I asked Aetna why on the no weight gain rule and apparently there are studies showing a much lower success rate for people who gain pre-op weight. It can cause more surgical complications and shows a lack of dedication and knowledge about what is required for a banded lifestyle. Makes sense to me, it just sucks people weren't grandfathered in if they started the 4 months prior to the rule change.

Okay here goes nothing I am going to change my ticker to reveal my weight gain!! SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!

I stopped the medicine and I thought the weight gain might stop but it has continued.

Let me give you an example of what happened to me - I went from this (June of 2006 to January 2007) to that. See the difference? I was at my weight that I am now in June, and by November, I went from 195 to 248! Man, talk about a lot of weight gain in a short period. And notice the difference in hair and makeup.

Hello everyone! It's been quite some time. This thread is pretty much dead. But if any of you are still around, I thought I'd share... My second LapBand placed in Feb 2009 became disconnected!! I mean really?? How many LapBands should one girl have to mess with? LOL....so, I started gaining weight pretty fast and had to bicker quite a bit with the insurance company. But ultimately I was approved to have the Band removed and get the Vertical Sleeve. I had surgery almost 2 weeks ago and so glad it's over. I am so frustrated with the weight gain, but so glad that there won't be any more fills/unfills or getting stuck!! I'm on the mend and tired of mushies....for the third time! hahaha I hope all is going well for the rest of you!!! Best to all, Carol

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.

Getting banded has been really great so far. My surgery went without a hitch and I was out of bed and rarring to go almost immediately following. Its early days, but I remain hopefully optimistic that this will work out in ways that all the other diets that I have tried have not. I consider myself a professional inexpert dieter --if its out there I have tried it. Low carb, no carb, nutri whatever, ww, fasting, diet pepsi and cigarettes, opti, medi, HMR, slimfast, diet pills (Rx and OTC) added to the mix to keep my appetite in check. My best and longest successful dieting foray was from the winter of 2000 through the summer of 2003. With boatloads of Water, a low carb diet, and as much exercise as I could stand -- I managed to lose about 90 lbs (this left me still needing to lose about 50 or 60 lbs to achieve a healthy weight by American standards and certainly by my standard). However, the long plateau worked to undermine my dedication and the weight began creeping back at a pretty steady clip. I never again got to my high of 292, but at my first weigh in with the lap band surgeon I was about 268 or so. It was a tough decision for me to make. For a variety of reasons I wasn't interested in a bypass....and it killed me that essentially I am paying someone to restrict my food intake. But the yo-yo dieting had really defeated me. I have been forturnate in that I am a relatively healthy fat person -- but I knew that time was working against me and the older I got -- the less likely that that trend would continue. So it was with alot of baggage that I started shopping around for a bariatric doctor to explore the lap band. The whole insurance thing was/is a hassle. They cover, but I couldn't find an in network provider (in NYC or NJ), just out of network with a threatened 70% coverage amount. I haven't seen any bills yet. I will certainly provide updates as that situation unfolds. Post surgically I have "officially" lost 14 lbs.... this is a little sketchy in my opinion. They weighed me at the hospital the day of .. and I was a whopping 274. I think working the day before from home, planted in front of my computer all day with no food after 3pm and no liquid (because I can be overzealous in following pre-surgery instructions) had me retaining major water. If I go by my last weigh in at the doctor the week before my surgery my weight loss as of 12-19-2007 is closer to 4 lbs. Post surgically, I was bullied by my doctor to lose about 10 lbs. Surprisingly, I have found that I am not at all interested in monitoring my weight other than whatever I am forced to do when I go to the doctor. I mean why torture myself? That's why I decided to get the surgery, right? This should not be interpreted as not monitoring my intake.... I have. Although I didn't do so good with the whole crushing pills until 1 month after surgery. Yuck! I just couldn't. I have tried my best to limit my intake, eat three times a day with no snacking and don't eat and drink at the same sitting. The last has proven to be the toughest thing. Also, it has put me in jeopardy of not taking in enough water -- I am trying but if you can't drink during, or up to 30 minutes before or after, and can't gulp it down like medicine.... I am reduced to totting around a bottle and taking sips all damn day. It has proven to be my greatest challenge so far. :faint: But generally speaking -- its so far so good and I am hopeful that I will have lost another couple of pounds when next I see my doctor 1-15-2008. And if I haven't... that's alright. The average weight gain between Thanksgiving and New Year is like 5 lbs, right? If I managed to dodge that bullet -- its all good. Later,

Good info. But to clarify, I didn't say it was true - I said that other people use it that way. I do not think this will cause weight gain as part of a normal bariatric diet.

I think the weight gain was from the air installed in my tummy as well as the huge amounts of Fluid they infused in me. And last but not least, TMI - but being constipated by the pain meds. But all is well now. I'm pretty darn happy! The doc said that surgery would probably be 2 hours but I was done in an hour! Started walking around as soon as I got to my room later that evening and never stopped! The walking was key to being discharged and getting my body woken up from the anesthesia. I was discharged two days after surgery! In on Wednesday and out on Friday. Not too shabby! I've not had any issues keeping fluids down or drinking, and I've had to remind myself to take it slow. Pain has been minimal, but of course, if you move the wrong way too fast, you'll feel incisional pain. Not a big deal. I have had a "upset tummy" at times, but I think that is partially from drinking too much at a time. That subsides, and the Omeprozol helps. Happy to answer any other questions! Best wishes to all and I'm so glad I did this! Crash!

Do NOT let yourself get upset over this weight gain. You have been in the hospital for several days now and no doubt with IV fluids being pumped in 24/7, right? I gained 6 pounds in one day being in the hospital! It came off very quickly once off the fluids. Any new updates from the docs on your condition? Did you surgeon ever come by to see you and if so, what was his excuse for not coming over the weekend? I am thinking about you daily.

Here's Dr. Matthew Weiner's take on weight gain and stretching out your tool. It's a common issue. And newbies defend their position to the death: that "everything in moderation" is ok. Dr. Weiner calls it the myth of restriction and malabsorption. Love it! This isn't magic bean surgery. They operate on our tummies not our heads. So we have to do everything we can to address the head issues that contributed to our disease while maximizing the advantage that WLS provides. It doesn't just "magically" end being a tool at the end of our honeymoon periods (anything equal to or <2 years). You still have your tool. But you have to exercise it. I too highly recommend how healthy counseling is for us. Get a referral to your RD for post op loss care and also to a bariatric counselor. All of our surgeons wish that their patients come back to them when they are only at the 10lb regain stage rather than the 50 or 60 or 100lb regain stage. 10lbs in 3 months really needs to be quickly evaluated. It could be your choices, but it could also be hormonal of some nature and you need to have a complete work-up and evaluation. BTW, you should stick around here and get support and provide support. Your journey will help others just like you/us!!!! Here's Dr. Weiner on the subject.