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Weight gain can cause testosterone levels in men to drop significantly. Pair that with the fact that many blood pressure/cholesterol and depression meds can jack with both sexual interest and equipment functioning and it's a recipe for disaster. I am like you and went through a similar issue with hubs. I finally convinced him to have his testosterone checked and his was ridiculously low. He found that embarassing for some reason but he also felt better knowing there was a reason for the lack of interest. The gel actually didn't work for him and he has to take injections once a week right now. The good news is that testosterone therapy has greatly improved his mood, his energy level and he dropped 50lbs. in three months on it. Oh yeah, that not interested issue cleared up pretty darn quick. FTW!

the only thing i can tell u is that over time the redness will fade to a color that is white and "less noticible" then the red ones. of course they will always be noticable and probably look 'horrible' to u... but they really will start to look better. I rememeber the first ones i ever got on my stomach when i was 19! I cried soooooo hard...really u would have thought something really horrible happened to me! It was one of the most shocking and painful 'realisations' i have ever been thru in my weight gain/loss journey. I couldnt beleive it was happening to me!!!! I thought WHYY IS GOD PUNISHING ME...first im FAT thhhhennn to top it off I HAVE STRECH MARKS. I was sooo mad!!! lol I too went thru EVERY possible creme and remedy on the planet. Keeping ur skin mosturized does help...so try and do it everyday. I used to look at them in disgust (sometimes i still do if im having a bad day)...but most times i think of them as battle scars...a reminder of what used to be and what is now. They never look pretty but i dont let them stop me from feeling good about myself.

Thanks fort there response. I'm on SSRI meds that I'm unable to do without and the only one that works well for me is prozac. Ice been on integers that either did not work or had weight gain where I was 290 which is 20 more than I am now. I'm just starting out into looking at this as an option. Ice never been able to maintain a diet of 1000 calories a day... Not even close. The meds make you both hungrier and slow you ability to lose weight. Do people on this forum have experience with doing our at least researching doing sleeve in Mexico... Which is not because I'm cheap but rather it's because i don't have the money to do it here in the states.. Thank you for your help

Hi everyone! I havent been super involved in this community yet, but was hoping to start. Thought it would be best to share my story. I apologize in advance if there seem to be details left out, just a long, long story. I got the sleeve in 2009, when I was still in high school. I was on the lower end for the band, at about 5'8 & 220 lbs. I had tried every diet imaginable (weight loss camps, etc). Unfortunately, the band never worked for me. From the first time I tried to get it adjusted, the nurses could not get the needle into the port (I actually did not have a great deal of abdominal fat, so they didnt even try to do it under fluoro the first time). They claimed that the band port was "malrotated," but it would cause no issues. I never, ever, felt "right" with the band. I never felt appropriately restricted, and in the same day I would be able to eat a sandwich then later not hold down food. I had horrible pelvic pain that no one could diagnose, went from doctor to doctor. After years of failure (and a ton of weight gain), I was so sick of the band. I thought that it might have something to do with my pelvic pain, but two different band docs denied it and gynecologists couldnt find any explanation. In 2012 (ish), I started having intermittent sharp pain, that felt like it moved from throughout my pelvis. It hurt so badly I could barely walk during those episodes. Again, no doctor could diagnose it. In December 2013, I went to the ER with a ton of pelvic pain that I thought was appendicitis. When I went for a CT the pain suddenly moved to my left side, so they thought it was a kidney stone. However, the CT came back negative for everything, and I was sent home yet again with no answer. Over the next few months I went to many docs, from gynecologists to urologists to urogynocologists. At last, I went to Dr. Iannace in NJ in June 2014 (took me almost 6 months to get two other bariatric surgeons to send my records over!). He pulled up my records from the ER that night, and found that the tubing of the band was broken!!! There is actually a part of the band half way between the port and the band itself that comes apart, and the broken tube was lying in my left pelvis. The radiologist read it on the report, but no doctor ever called/told me. I was incredibly upset/pissed but also relieved that I finally had an answer. For years doctors told me that I was "cheating the band," and that I was lying about being able to eat bread but threw up liquid. With the broken band, changes in pressure in my abdomen could explain the differences in restriction. Dr. Iannace took the band out in august 2013, and said that i had no adhesions (yay!), so that the sleeve is totally safe. I am getting sleeved tomorrow, and I cant wait. I am super excited, but nervous for the surgery. I really hope the recovery will be easier than the band removal (getting the port out really hurt for me!). I hope to share more about my journey in the future

You have to remember there is a difference between weight gain and FAT gain. Did you gain fat? Highly doubt it. (Generally accepted) Consume 3,500 more calories than you burn, you gain 1 pound, burn 3,500 calories more than you consume, you lose a pound. So ... in that period of time, do you think you consumed 7,000 more calories than you burned? Yeah, didn't think so.

One year ago I was rolled down the isle in an 2XL gown, big ole booties and a smile because I knew my life would change. I went in prepared to face the challenges and joy that this decision would cause me. The first month I survived the liquid diet, post-surgery pain and discomfort and lost bonus 10 lbs that I have yet to see again. The second month I noticed my clothes getting looser and another 5 lbs gone, I can eat but the problem was I wanted to eat everything so I was welcomed to Bandster-Hell. The third month I had gotten my first fill 2ccs humm felt tight for like a day then back to eating it up… good thing no weight gain and another 2lbs gone. Month four, I noticed my size 22’s are falling off of me literally and another 2lbs gone, this is going slow I thought time for a fill and off I went another 2cc’s now 4ccs in a 10cc band. Month five another 2lbs goneI am still hungry and my 20’s are fitting loser, food still goes down pretty easily, and I have yet to experience a stuck episode I was so happy. Another .5 ccs in the band. 4.5 ccs Month Six no weight loss nothing, not a pound, I am starting to feel full faster but I can still eat two burritos and taco bell. And my workouts are sporadic time to make an appointment with the doctor .5cc’s he said I say more but I will see. Month Seven, Had .5cc’s in my band I don’t think that will do much of anything for me, but I took the doctor said wait another week and if it doesn’t work out then I can come back however, I got really busy with life and alas no weight loss but bread is off the menu forever, I experienced my first episode of slime and stuck with a piece of pork chop, and then a piece of bread. 5.5 ccs in the band I am halfway full that has got to count for something. Month eight, I am feeling discouraged I ended up not losing any weight this month, I lost 5lbs with my fill and I gained it back. I don’t know why because I can’t eat as much, and I am moving more it is spring and hot around here. I ended up having hernia surgery and couldn’t get a fill until I recovered from my surgery and I finally got the fill I wanted 1 cc’s now I am more than half way there 6.5cc’s and I am really feeling that day to day stuff that I have read about on the boards, feeling tight in the morning, I can eat a yogurt and be stuffed, and be satisfied for hours oh and my 20’s are now gone, I am now in a very loose fitting 18…I can’t wait. Month nine, it has been a few weeks since my fill I lost another 5lbs which is nice and my 18’s are gone I am in a 16 which I haven’t been in since 2003, I still have a ways to go I somehow thought I would have gotten further in my pounds lost but it is not that bad. I would have hit this point without my band. My eating is good I think I have hit my sweet spot but some days I am a little tighter I have learned to eat slow, I can’t eat fries, bread, and dry turkey oh and nothing on the McDonalds dollar menu goes down… so no bad foods for me. Month ten, weight loss has slowed down I think my body is doing the starvation hold, so my goal to combat it is to increase my exercise. Month eleven, I have increased my exercise and I am starting to feel better, I went shopping and no matter what store I went in I fit the 16’s and some were even loose and I lost another 5lbs this month. Now at month twelve I don’t regret my decision to have the band, my life has changed in my activity level my confidence I am still struggling or say dealing with the consequences of not planning my meals, eating too fast or trying those forbidden foods, but I know I am this for the long haul which is awesome to me. I have increased my activity level and plan to keep that up, I will be at my goal weight next year this time and with my band to use as my food tool, and my motivation as my next I will be there… Happy Bandiversary!!! :redface:

I'm worried about this! my weigh in is Thursday and I'm starting my period soon and I'm already feeling bloated and I checked my weight on my scale and I'm up 7lbs from last week! That can't be right I'm working out everyday and eating right. I'm scared I'm going to gain weight and be kicked out of the program. I'm not aloud to gain any weight.

well I am 22 weeks pregnant and all was going great. Up until last week I had gained only 2 kilos and was pretty happy. I was able to eat a moderate amount, nottoo much, but enough according to dr and dietician. so I remained unfilled. Then last week I started experiencing mega heart burn and was unable to hold much down. I was paranoid somthing had happened to my band. But going to see my band doctor he said that pressure during pregnancy can cause the band to become tighter. He took out 1 mil and now I can eat again. Not too much, but in a week I have put on 3 kilos. I am npw back up to 112 kilos I am assuming it must be just because I was dehydrated. But I am so scared that after I give birth I will have all this weight to lose again. Iknow I should just focus on a healthy baby, because thats the main thing, but can't help feeling worried:scared2: What has your experiences with band tightning and weight gain during pregnancy?

That doesn't sound right. There is no way you should gain 50lbs in 4 weeks and have someone tell you, you just need to adjust. Please call and let them know about the weight gain and swelling and ask to see the doctor.

Are you measuring yourself? The scale is not the whole story. I went from a size 14 to a size 10 with only losing 5 lbs. I'm working out like crazy, my hips are narrowing, my waist is shrinking, my thighs, are getting more firm, as are my arms. I keep dropping the width on my bras! But in that time I've fluctuated between 172 and 168. Sometimes up, sometimes down. I'm about to start trying on size 8's and haven't lost a single lbs in 3 weeks. Also make sure your sodium intake isn't too high causing retention, check to see when you will be getting your period as that can cause water weight gain as well. DON'T PANIC!!!!!!!!!!! You are committed to this, working hard. It will happen for you, don't give up and don't be discouraged!!!!! CHeck your measurments, enjoy the success you've had so far. You are doing AMAZING! You have recommitted and are on fire, this is exciting.

All carbohydrates are not equal!!! Processed and refined carbs are the bad ones, Sugar, Flour etc. Un-processed or complex carbs are low GI and are digested slowly without triggering the glucose spike and excess un-usable glucose in the blood that is responsible for the weight gain associated with PCOS as well as the low energy levels. Carbohydrate is a very important part of any diet and should not be omitted. Reducing carbs too far will slow your metabolic rate futher. Good quality carbs are what you should be eating. Low GI is the way to go. Pick low GI carbs, good quality Protein and good fats. These are all important for gaining and maintaining good health. Stay away from the empty calories provided by junk food and drink. Keep taking Metformin, if you are on it, and slowly build up the exercise, one step at a time, and all should go well. ....that's my opinion and everyone is welcome to it...no charge.

Thanks. I've already started going back to the lower carb way of eating. For the most part I do eat low carb, but I started adding things back into my diet (good carbs) back in January. So, I started eliminating stuff again this morning thinking that the extra carbs may be what's doing it. I just can't get past that feeling of being hungry. I'm not used to it at all!! So, I'm focusing on Protein, veggies and good fats. Thats the diet I've followed since I had my surgery. I have PCOS so my body doesn't respond well when counting calories. Low carb is the way to go for me. I just wanted to know if anyone else had experienced a significant weight gain after an unfill? It's only really showing up around my waist. I mean, I have skin from my weight loss, but I suddenly have a muffin top & it's making my clothing SO uncomfortable. Anyone else out there have this happen?

I take Benadryl fairly often (at least once a week) and no side effect of weight gain for me.

AND I DIDN'T GAIN A POUND!!! WOOHOOOOOOOOO! Never before in my life have I ever gone on a cruise or vacation and didn't come back with weight gain. I did get stuck once and PB'd, but I certainly watched it the remainder of the time. I'm perfectly restricted. Thanks Dr. C and staff!

LOL Goodness, you're giving me too much credit I have zero self control, which is why I needed the lap band in the first place... My blessing is that I've always been a good eater in that I love ALL foods. Fruits, veggies, Proteins, good carbs... I love all the foods I'm "supposed" to eat, but I also love the foods I'm NOT "supposed" to eat. My problem before WLS was that I'd load up my plate, big time. Heaping piles of potatoes, 8-10 ounces of meat, heaping piles of veggies covered in olive oil and/or tossed with feta cheese and lemon juice (YUM!!!) and then I'd eat dessert like a 2 pack snack cakes or a bowl of ice cream. And I'd eat my partner's leftovers. Every meal I ate would be balanced, but would also be enough to feed 2-3 normal sized people. The lap band enables me to eat an appropriate portion for one person. I think you need to focus on what your problem is. For me, it's always been portion sizes. I have a hard time dishing up a normal serving size for myself and I use salad plates now so I won't over-do it. I fill the plate mostly with Protein and veggies, and then one scoop of rice/potatoes/pasta because I just can't do without a few bites of it. I eat the protein first, then the veggies, and that leaves very little room for starches so I eat a couple bites and then I throw the rest away. Usually that's good enough for me. I eat until my stomach says "stop" and then I'm done. If I eat beyond that "stop" I get a stomach ache. There are times where I'll stare at my food and feel totally baffled because I WANT to keep eating but I CAN'T keep eating. It's a very, very strange feeling for a volume eater. My PA told me everyone's weight problem stems from different issues. Some of the folks she saw ate only carbs and had to get used to including proteins and veggies. Others loved dessert too much. Others struggled with emotional issues and needed counseling. My problem is I'm an enthusiastic eater with a very powerful appetite. The lap band itself easily resolved that for me - my issue appears to be purely physical. I've thought about it a lot because I thought I was an emotional eater and I went through counseling only to learn that I'm really not... I don't know why I have an abnormal appetite, I just do. So I think you need to really think about why you're struggling. What are you eating? How much? How often do you get hungry? When do you get hungry? Do you have situations that trigger your hunger? Are you drinking enough Water? Do you have a medical condition that caused/causes weight gain? Hope that helps a little... I'm sorry you're struggling I'm not quite an expert yet because I only just had my surgery a couple months ago but I'm happy to answer any questions!

I asked my surgeon generally about this because I am also looking to have kids in a few years after the sleeve. When I asked specifically about weight gain, my dietician said that most women gain way too much weight with their pregnancies and that it should really only be about 25 to 30 pounds of weight gain for a healthy woman. She told me that it will be easier to gain with the sleeve (since it doesn't have a malabsorptive aspect by itself), but that women also gain normally after gastric bypass. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have been banded for 6 days and I have lost 12 pounds so far. I pretty much living on 1 protein shake, some broth, and popsicles. I was wondering if once I start eating solid food, will I gain some weight back. I intend on following a low cal. diet, and exercise. Has anyone experienced weight gain after they were back on solids?

I have been on Paxil for GAD since 2000 when I was 120 lbs of solid muscle. I've tried weaning down my dosage or changing meds and never been able to come off it. But, since it's cheap now, I don't think it's a bad thing to be on. It had nothing to do with my weight gain, btw. You should see your GP about trying a SSRI/NSSRI. You may be able to take it short term, as most people do. It should not medically affect your surgery in any way. Self medicating is always a bad idea, especially since (#1. you're not a doctor and #2.) valium can cause hypotension and reduce the amount of oxygen to the heart muscle, so if you were having a heart attack, would be more harm than good. p.s. I'm not a doctor either!

Ok ok, I know that it should be expected to gain weight when we finally switch back to solids from liquids. But, when I see 5 pounds come back after losing 16...I feel like a failure. I did what I could to prevent it, but it still happend. I want a HUGE fill so that I will have super duper restriction. When will this weight gain stop?? How can I slow it down?? Lots of exercise maybe?? I know I'm being a drama queen, but I was so excited about the lap-band that I could hardly contain myself...watching the scale go up is something that I hoped wouldn't happen. I am so tired of being fat!!! I am tired or snoring and not sleeping well!! I am tired of being unable to jog or climb up stairs without being winded!! I AM FED UP WITH MYSELF!!! Whew...thanks for listening.

Very interesting research study released that I thought I'd share. (CBS) Is loading up on lots of Protein the best way to lose weight? Some dieters think increasing or cutting back on protein will trick the body's metabolism into causing weight loss. But a new study suggests if you're going to eat a lot, changing the amount of protein in your diet probably won't help you lose weight. In fact, too little protein might make you fatter. "You don't fool nature by adding more or less protein," study author Dr. George Bray, an obesity researcher Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, told Health.com. "You may fool the scale, but you don't fool the metabolic processes which store excess calories as fat." For the study, published in the Jan. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers took 25 healthy, normal-weight men and women between the ages of 18 and 35, and put them on either a low protein diet where 5 percent of their caloric intake came from Proteins, a normal protein diet (15 percent from proteins), or a high protein diet (25 percent from proteins) for about 12 weeks. The researchers overfed the study participants by nearly an extra 1,000 calories for the last eight weeks of the study to see whether the amount of protein had an effect on excess calories when it came to weight gain. By study's end, all participants gained weight, regardless of diet. Those who ate a low protein diet gained about half as much weight as those eating the normal protein and high protein diets. But the researchers found those eating less protein saw reductions in their lean body mass, and stored a higher percentage of calories as fat. Those overeating a high protein diet gained more lean body mass and stored fewer calories as fat. "You may gain less weight by overeating on a low-protein diet, but it's because you lose lean body mass, not because you store less fat," study author Dr. George Bray, an obesity researcher Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, told USA Today. The bottom line? Overeating - regardless of the amount of protein in your diet - will cause you to gain weight. "Most people are overeating and for those people who are, they need to pay attention to what they are putting into their mouths," study co-author Dr. Leanne Redman, an assistant professor of endocrinology at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., told HealthDay. "If you overeat a high-fat, low-protein diet, you may gain weight at a lower rate, but you are gaining more fat and losing more muscle." http://www.cbsnews.c...or-weight-loss/

I have been gaining and lossing the same 10lbs for 3 months. I can not keep most meats down. I almost always PB my first meal of the day and then it seems I can eat like a pig. I think I am to tight for a fills but I am having trouble reaching my goal. I am 9 months post op. And I am so happy with my weight loss, but could use help in getting off the last 30 lbs.

Hello, I'm incredibly new here but i've been reading people's posts. I still considering weight loss surgery and I will most likely do it due to my years of weight gain and loss and my family history of health problems associated with obesity. I just wanted to say hello and tell you that I think you are courageous. You made a really big decision for yourself and from what I understand it is normal to grieve or feel symptoms of depression as you consider the many ways your life has changed. You chose surgery for a reason. I think that finding new ways to celebrate ourselves can be a challenge to anyone. I wish you happiness and the drive to hydrate ; )

I was seriously ill in April and had no choce, my band was infected and had to be removed. I was devastated and very concerned about just what has happened, I have started gaining weight. I saw my doctor today and was told putting another band in could be very risky and lead to even worse complications. I am seeing a nutrtionist and having medobolic testing next month to see if we can figure out why the weight came back on so fast. I am very afraid that I will go back to how I was before the surgery. I went from 267 to 138. I am now 158 and am afraid to even get on the scale anymore for fear it will show more weight gain. Any ideas I will gladly listen too. All advice is welcome and it sure is nice to know I am not the only one this has happened to or that feels like every pound just makes you look terrible.

I'm feeling pretty depressed and guilty and discouraged and and and... and I'm tired of feeling this way! I've got my band in april of last year and didnt get my first fill until 6 months later. I've lost 55 pounds since but just cant seem to stay on track these days. Ice cream.. crackers.. mini candy bars at work... sometimes in the afternoon at work, I cant stop thinking about a snack. I obsess over it and end up becoming grouchy because I cant stop thinking about it. I end up feeling deprived and punished because I cant eat what I want... then the guilt that I even feel like that in the first place makes it worse. sigh... WHATS WRONG WITH ME??? I'm so happy with my success so far, but I feel I cant do it anymore. I was going to the gym 3 times a week, so even when I cheated, I wouldnt gain. Unfortunately I fell and hurt my ankle 4 weeks ago and can only do so much before I'm in too much pain.... so now I only go 1 or 2 times a week. I was working back to my consistency, but then I must of reinjured it because it started swelling up and hurting so I am back to square one. Boo! Although I know my depression meds contribute to my weight gain and my lust for sweets, it doesnt make me feel any better. Feels like excuses. Its my 41st bday today and I had wanted to reach my first goal of 200 pounds by today, but am 11 pounds short... and its my fault. I get up every morning and tell myself that today I wont eat anything I am not suppose to and that I will go to the gym and be proud of myself... but that never seams to happen 100%. I'm sorry I didnt have any words of wisdom or positive energy to contribute... maybe I shouldnt of posted at all... anyway, good luck to you...

I was banded in February 2008. I blew that. I lost like 24 pounds. Then in June 2011, I was having problems. I had upper GI test and hiatal hernia. When I had surgery for that, he did a band revision. I said this is it.... Time to shine! NOT! I have two of my grand kids and it is hard when they want something for me not to dig in. I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and plantar facciitis. It is hard for me to move with pain and exhaustion. The meds I take cause weight gain!! I actually gave up. I stopped going for fills. I was due last month and said what's the point. I need help!!