Search the Community

So I had my gastric sleeve on October 18th and since been losing weight evenly. I was down to 209 and then my period started on the 5th and I jumped up about 5lbs. I wasn't really worried as I normally gain 5lbs around my period but yesterday was the last day of my period and I'm still up about 5/6 pounds. Any of you have similar stories? Should I be worried or should it go down in a bit? Any advice is appreciated! Also having my 2nd follow-up with my surgeon next Monday.

I’m scheduled for a gastric sleeve in a few weeks because I’ve been heavy all my life and can’t lose weight any other way. I found some of my old doctors notes last night and noticed that I started the year 2016 at 190lbs and ended at 250lbs... that was also the year I was in an abusive relationship. The only weight I’ve gained since then is 20lbs of “and then some” weight from failed diets. I had never noticed before that most of my weight gain occurred during that period of my life. During that year I knew I was gaining a little weight but didn’t think it was that much and never thought I used food to cope or anything but I obviously did. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand it may be easier for me to keep the weight off as long as I don’t fall into any more toxic relationships. On the other hand the fact that I didn’t notice that those were related before now may be problematic when other stressful things happen in my life. Anyone else have a similar situation where your weight gain happened in a short period of time because of a stressful life circumstance? Did surgery help you if so?

Obesity is the symptom of underling issues. I am very thankful that I was able to have VSG almost a month ago. However, the surgery is just a medical intervention to a problem that is not solely medical. This post will discuss the emotional/psychological aspects of weight gain. If obesity was simply a medical issue then all WLS would work of 100% of the time. However, we know this is true. Yes the success rate of having surgery is greater than that of people who lost weight by diet and exercise alone. This post is not about the success rate or failure of VSG or any other procedure. If we look at obesity as merely the outcome of inactivity and too high calorie consumption we are not looking at the root cause. How many of us would say this is true of us: *I grow up in a food insecure household and as a result I would either hoard food overeat at meals? *My was physically/sexually/or severely neglected as a child? *I was never thought how to deal with my emotions as a child, so as an adult I dealt with them through what I ate? *I eat when I am hungry *There are indicators in my life that I binge eat I could go on, but I think you are starting to get my point. If we have been misusing food then we must learn what compels us to do so. It is my strongest belief that until we deal with the underlining issues of our emotional eating long term success will be more of struggle and for some it will be impossible. Please know that I am by no means mastered this area of me life, but I am aware it needs to mastered. However, I have read books, I journal, and next month I want to start counseling. I will confess I emotionally eat. I eat to reward myself. I overeat in social settings. I was sexually abused as a child. I started become heavy shortly there after. I view my extra weight as a mark in my physical being of that abuse. I have carried around this mark for close to 30 years. It is my belief that surgery will allow me to remove this mark from my person. Regardless of where you are in the journey if you have not taken the time to exam the emotion/psychological aspects of your obesity I would suggest you do. Exercising-- good. Changing eating habits-- good. Taking the time to heal old wounds-- the best. There is a song with the line, "Lord make me over." I want to be "made over" in my own being not just physically. May the Lord make you over in your entirety.

Did anyone have any issues with gaining weight during the process with the surgeon, nutritionist etc? I gained about 2Lbs since last nutritionist visit, hoping it doesn't cause a issue with insurance coverage. Any input would be great. Thanks, Joe

I was so happy to see your post when I logged on this morning!! I too, have a lower BM I(33.3) but I feel very passionate about fighting for this surgery. I have been in the support group since Oct and fighting with insurance, etc ever since. I have gained almost 70 pounds over the past 6 years and it won't budge. I have recently been diagnosed w/ a blood clotting disorder which significantly increases by heart attack/stroke risk. But when paired w/ my weight gain I am even at greater risk!! So... I had the MD write another justification letter so now I am waiting again from insurance!! There are some amazing books out there they go through all the pros/cons, list hepful tips, websites, etc I have found it to be inspiration to attend the local support groups out hospital has. Its one of the best programs I have researched and I have done a A LOT!!! I wish you all the very best...keep us all posted!!

Have you considered Mirena? That has worked wonders for me. Before the Mirena I had an extremely heavy flow( I know, TMI) and always had to wear a super huge pad AND a tampon:cursing:. I would probably change it every 2/3 hours. But now all I have is spotting when my period comes around :thumbup:, Its great! Best part, no weight gain and I don't have to worry about taking pills everyday. You should ask your doc about it.

My wife is on anxiety meds and they make her put on weight like mad. Ask your prescribing doc if that's a side effect of yours and see if there is another variety you can take? I know they're very hard to get off of and change. And it sounds like you need them. If you must be on them, you'll have to work them into your lifestyle. Research how they work chemically and see if you can't make some nutritional changes to minimize their weight gaining side effects. And try to get off them when the time is right. You've been through a lot, but you can do this. Tell the people closest to you how much you need them. People react poorly to friends and family with depression. They just don't know what to do. Tell them what you need and forgive their dumb reactions.

On the face of it that seems extreme. I was fat when I was a kid and I think if someone had helped me with my relationship with food I would have slimmed down naturally instead of getting morbidly obese as an adult. But I had lots of emotional problems that contributed to my weight gain.. I am assuming these children are morbidly obese so maybe this surgery in conjunction with a lot of counseling both emotional and dietary is necessary.

Hi Folks, I have been reading the forums and learning that many people rapidly gain weight between the period of time that the band is removed and having VS surgery. It will be four months between my procedures and I asked my general practitioner to prescribe me phentermine to help control my weight gain because my appetite returned with a vengance. I am wondering why this is not a general practice with revision patients to help them maintain their weight loss until the sleeve surgery. If anyone knows, I would appreciate being enlightened. Thank you.

If anyone know of any doctors that approve the sleeve revisions. It has been 5 yrs since my sleeve. I cannot find a doctor to approve for a revisions. My eating habits is still the same. I am not sure for the weight gaining. I have severe arthritis in my knees & shoulders. So exercising is not fun for me. Are all doctors against revisions. Help!!!

I'm only 9 wks out but ill try to help. Yes, I think these dietary restrictions 'would' help anyone lose weight. The difference is how long can you follow these restrictions with a whole stomach and plenty of gherlin to boot? Me personally, I've done it ALL. Any diet u can name, I've done it. Low fat, low carb, pills, shakes, supplements, the list goes on. And yes, I lost. But never maintained, because eventually I got HUNGRY, and there was nothing stopping me from eating whatever I wanted to fill up. It was a viscous cycle of diets, hunger, guilt, weight gain, diet again. I'm 52 pounds down now in 9 wks. Not hungry. For once in my life im Eating to live and no longer living to eat.

Hi ladies! Has anyone had any experiences with getting the depo shot post-surgery? My surgery was Nov. 23rd, 2018. I'm terrified of the weight gain aspect and I was thinking of switching to the patch instead. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank-you. [emoji3] Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

seems upper GI was "normal" -- with minor dilation that is expected given I am 3 yrs with band -- told doc I don't like the pain when I eat (and not the get stuck pain) but this other weird pain for the last 6 months. So I am going to push for the revison and have them submit to insurance and we'll see. He is also going to do an endoscopy (which means an empty band and more freaking weight gain)

When I had my rapid weight gain, I couldn't stand having a photo taken, and I couldn't stand looking in the mirror .... Yes, I never want to look like that, ever again! Months later, I am no longer photo shy. All the Best @@Treadmillwalker I am looking forward to your updates, later on

I'm 2 years post op. Had horrible time the past 2 years with strictures, ulcers, and revision surgery last October. Now that I can eat I'm starving all the time. My start weight was 245 Got down to 123 now I'm at 156 surgeons goal was 145. I have fallen off the wagon any advice to get back up and lose about 20 lbs. I feel fat again and its a mental struggle now! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J120A using the BariatricPal App

This surgery will not control your hunger. It might change it, lessen it. Food will be different, cravings will be different. But you'll still get hungry. It will also not change your ability to overeat yourself into gaining weight. It will be more difficult than before to overdo it, because you'd have to eat many times a day, but you can definitely still get hungry and eat yourself to weight gain. Ultimately, the surgery doesn't do the "work"....you have to do the work. The surgery gives you a jump start. It gives you restriction so that your ability to screw up in one setting is minimal. And it gives you a chance to revamp your diet and pick a forever diet that is more sensible. It gives you more rapid reward for good habits like exercising, sticking to your calorie budget, and making good choices. But it's no miracle. In the end, all the work is on you.

I was curious how much weight gain is expected during pregnancy. I know everyone probably has different numbers I'm starting to plan for my little bean and curious how much most of you have gained. I'm 8 months post op and down 76 pounds bringing me to 182. I know in my heart i should probably wait till I get down some more but truthfully I can't get this thought out of my head. I want a baby so bad this was the reason for my surgery..

It depends on how soon you get pregnant and it's very individual in any case. Most that wait experience a normal weight gain. For instance, I gained 32 pounds. Right on track with a normal pregnancy and the first time I gained a normal amount. I've seen posts from anywhere in the low twenties to more than fifty pounds. Much of it is individual and whether or not you have complications will effect your gain. Those that get pregnant while still in their early stages post op might continue to lose for several months of their pregnancy. Some simply stall out and start to gain. Again, it's very individual. We have a few cheerleaders here for just getting pregnant right away, and that's fine if you're willing to do it. I would not intentionally get pregnant if you still have trouble eating your nutritional guidelines, though. I'd very carefully weigh the pros and cons of where you're at in your loss as well as nutritionally and make a smart decision that will work for you. I was seriously deficient in several vitamins/minerals until more than a year post op. Additionally, I had tremendous restriction until almost 1.5 years out from surgery. I still get an overfull feeling from eating one hard boiled egg. Because I'm also lactose intolerant and developed an aversion to meat while pregnant (I had terrible morning sickness for almost six months of my pregnancy) I had a hard time eating. If I hadn't had the capacity to eat what few carb-laden meals I could manage I would have had a real problem. I'm actually amazed I gained weight at all because I felt sick almost the entire time. And my baby was born small - 6 pounds, 7 ounces and they induced me a week early because they were worried about IUGR. Again, it's an individual thing and you aren't going to know how it will happen until you've already made the choice. But weigh that against your fertility, too. For instance, if your fertility is definitely decreasing (say, for age or poor egg quality that will only get worse with time) you should move ahead sooner rather than later. I can say that it's always possible to pick up and lose weight again. However, weight loss does seem to slow down a bit once you pass a certain point. I am having a heck of a time losing the last few pounds from my pregnancy. They have come off and gone on again more than once in the past three months. It is not easy to transition back into losing weight once your body has been eating more and gaining, that's for sure. If you're close to a year out and close to goal I'd say jump on and do it. If you're still in the early stages of loss or having a sleeve it's one thing for it to happen unexpectedly and quite another to choose to do it. I'm just putting that out there, because there are a lot of women that have surgery to increase their fertility, and who knows who will wind up here reading this? Both of you are far enough out that you should be okay but make sure you're prepared. Good luck! ~Cheri

Hi- I have been considering WLS for the past year. I have been overweight for about 10 years. Most of my weight gain has been caused by the hunger that has been driven by the medication I take. I don't have insurance, because in Canada it is difficult to get insurance. I have saved my money and now I am going to meet with my doctor. Overall I am healthy; no major illnesses, except for the Bipolar. My main depression is driven by my weight to be honest, so I REALLY want to get WLS. My fear is that because I am bipolar, I will be denied. We don't do psych consults here, but just the same...I am very nervous. I see this proceedure part of the solution to help get myself on track. But I am afraid to be let down. My question does anyone who has WLS also suffer from serious mental illness or bipolar, and did you have problems getting the WLS? Were the doctors concerned by your mental illness. As a side note for the most part I have been stable for the last year. Was anyone denied based on mental illness? I am very committed. I just need some feed back...and more importantly hope.

4 mths pregnant . Already lamenting my weight loss . Can any fellow mommy’s who are sleeved shed some light on the experience . Any tips or tricks ? And what’s the general amount of weight gain Ty in advance 😊

YAY! Well I am certainly always glad to kill two birds with one stone! I am 23 soon to be 24. I just got married 4 months ago. We have been together about 5 years. When we first started dating I was the "ideal" 155. I gradually and unwillingly gained slightly over 100. I suppose I was in denial for years of the gradual weight gain. However, It was always that elephant in the room! I saw my wedding photos and I was just astonished. It was almost like a slap in the face, I knew I just was so unhappy. I didn't get to have the wedding dress of my dreams because every bridal shop we went to only have sizes 4-10 to try on it felt like. I havn't told my husband yet what I am going to do. Not that I think he won't support me but more like I would love to not bring attention to something we have always know was there but yet opt not to talk about. Obesity runs in my family, my uncle and my mother definitely struggle. My Mom fortunitely had gastic bypass 6 years ago. I thank god every day I see her that she did. She is so happy and loves life and lives it to the fullest everyday! I have never seen her so happy. I wish she would have done it sooner. So I know I do not want to let it get that out of control I want to put an end to it now. As for not having a safety net. I suppose it will still be there however, you will probably learn really quick as to what it is willing to take and what it just won't. At first it's hard to get things "threw" In time in moderation I hear it's easier but simply only as a "treat" not a permanent fixation.

So, it is said that some people who lose a lot of weight gain the self security and corresponding attitude within themselves to be more open to others of the opposite sex. Has anyone left their spouse or significant other because of their new weight loss?

I think there's a HUGE range of normal and you just have to go with your symptoms. Hopefully by now you're able to eat something. You may need an unfill, you may not. Totally depends on the person, but don't be afraid of the unfill. It doesn't HAVE to mean massive weight gain. Good luck!

I'm shocked and awed by how fast 7 months have gone by.... What have I learned since beginning this journey? So much, so much.. I've learned that I remember who I was pre-weight gain: a dynamic woman, full of life, with an opinion that matters, who can take anything on and succeed. I have learned that it is OK to ask for and accept help and guidance. I have learned that the weight loss also sheds unwanted baggage. I have learned that failure is not an option. I have learned, once again, to not only love myself, but to allow others to love me. I have learned that sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees and often times you need a guide. I have learned that whatever is worth having is worth fighting--HARD--to get. I have learned that letting go of the past is easier when someone holds your hand and walks through and away from it with you. I have learned, simply, to be true to myself and to those I love. I have learned that good things can happen at any time- on any day. I've learned to be partial to Tuesdays Finally, I have learned to be Lisa and to be the best version of myself, with the person I love, my children and my God. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi, my name is Linda and I'm really new to this my start date is May 2014. I have been rather heavy most my life but never this heavy at 213 lbs. I have many health issues and on so many medications that increase the weight gain also that I need some help getting this weight off and keeping it off. I have been reading the many forums on here for a week now, every day I have read something new that will help me in my Quest to be thin, or at a decent weight. Some say your not over weight enough to have this done, but when you have to buy 1x and 2 x tops there is a weight issue. I started out at the PCP at 215 he said at 5'5 I have a bmi at 37. I have had my meeting with the surge in and he is wonderful! Been to see nut and a support group just yesterday. I've had my exercise eval done and will have a EDG done on Tuesday the 10 June. My ins calls for 6 visits with PCP and I have to have medical problems, which it have many. What do I want to get out of this? I want to get down and play with my 9 wonderful grandchildren, work in the yard, do my own house work and to look healthy and live longer. Is there any one around my age that has had this done, I'm at 57. Would love to hear from you or anyone on how you made it through the surgery and recovery. I've had so much information from drs nut already that it's a bit over whelming. My fiancé was not on with this, and I don't know if he is or isn't now. He tells me it's to drastic to go through just to lose a little weight... Ha 75 lbs is not a little weight, and I want to keep it off also. Were to be married Jan 31 2015, I believe it will be put on hold just because I don't know when surgery is or what faze I will be in at the time. Also haven't told my kids, just know my daughter will have her say in this. My son well he's easy going and what makes me happy makes him happy. Wow looking back I've written a book so I will stop here and thank you all for writing on this forum for people like me to read.