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Hi All! Its been a while since I posted anything or been active. I found out in November that I was pregnant. I was 8 months out of surgery when I got pregnant. My fiance and I had just gotten engaged a few months before and were planning our wedding. So it was definitely a surprise! I was really nervous about proceeding with the pregnancy. I just knew I would be ready in just one more year (I've been saying that for the last 5 years!) BUT I was pregnant now, 33, in a great relationship, with a stable income, healthier then Ive been in a while and all out of excuses not to start my family. So my journey began... I am currently 23 weeks pregnant! This is my first pregnancy so I have nothing to compare it with but this has been my experience in case any of you find yourself in my situation. Its hard to find doctors who understand how VSG affects my pregnancy. They understand that I need to be monitored more but don't really get the nuances. One example; I was given this HUGE jug to collect my urine over 24 hours. When I returned it, I was told that they need AT LEAST 4X more urine than I had collected. They were convinced I didn't collect all my urine. I told them that was everything I had to give! They told me to drink more water. Now this community knows how hard that task is. I still can not eat and drink at the same time. I also cant just drink a gallon of water in one go. It feels like a herculean task. I have tried 3 times and have still not filled this jug! I've learned that drinking tea increases my urine output so I have hope for my next attempt. I was really sick throughout my first and second trimester. I already had bad acid reflux before and after surgery and was taking omeprazole to relieve it. Turns out you can't take anything stronger than Tums while pregnant. So on top of the normal nausea, I felt the need to throw up to relieve my indigestion and heartburn. I started really hating food when everyone else kept trying to feed me more! I've been feeling better now though. I was allowed to take pepcid and it actually helps. Now, I have the desire to eat more but still cant eat more than a few bites of anything in one sitting. My food also takes forever to digest so I have to be really picky about what I eat. Fruits are my best friend! I kept my surgery a secret. My fiance and sister are the only ones I told about my VSG. So no one really gets why Im having a hard time eating more. They also keep wanting to see my belly but Im not sure how to explain my incisions. It feels too late to say anything now... so its awkward and more isolating than it could have been. But my family can be SUPER judgy so I think they would just find a way to make me feel bad about it and I don't need the added stress. I get to do more sonograms than your average mom to be. Because of my VSG and previous hypertension, I'm monitored more and have more doctor visits. I really don't mind! I love getting to see whats going on in there! So far so good... mostly. I keep expecting the docs to say my baby isn't growing or Im malnourished but that doesn't seem to be the case. Everything is progressing normally and baby looks good. They did mention that one of babys kidneys is not eliminating waste as it should. The other kidney is fine but they want to keep an eye on it. Of course we are worried but its actually pretty common and generally resolves itself. If it doesn't, there is a small procedure to fix it after birth (if necessary) so we are trying not to sweat it. I got Covid. I'm a teacher and as soon as the mask mandate was removed, I got COVID. Never mind that Ive been vaccinated, boosted and was still wearing my mask! Im actually recovering now. (SIDE NOTE: We seem to be having a second surge at my school. I wonder if any other teachers (or parents) have noticed that?) I was EXTREMELY sick the first week. I was lightheaded, coughing, full of mucus, achy and just couldn't get out of bed. I also couldn't take any medicines because of the pregnancy. My mom kept sending me home remedies but when I looked them up, there was always a warning for pregnant people. I just had to ride it out. Baby seems ok but I'll know more at my appointment next week. As far as my VSG goals... I was 195-200 lbs when I found out I was pregnant (SW:267) and had been stalled there for almost 2 months. I was getting a bit discouraged because my whole weight loss process had been so slow and felt harder for me than it seemed like it was for some people here. I also had a friend who had her VSG after me and had lost almost twice as much weight as I had so I knew it wasn't in my head. I started drinking again and sneaking in more cheat snacks. When I found out I was pregnant, I cut out all alcohol and was really strict about making sure the little food I ate was good for baby. I dropped 20-25 more pounds. Im currently 175 lbs. I havent really gained any weight. Part of me is happy about that and still trying to get to my goal of 155 while pregnant. But I know I have to put on weight for baby. It's really a mind f**k. Doctors say the baby is growing normally so there isn't much to worry about... yet. Technically I'm still overweight and they don't recommend as much weight gain for overweight moms. Im entering my third trimester now and am supposed to put on 1-2 lbs a week. We'll see how that goes. Im still trending downwards... If you made it to the end, thanks for reading through this entire post. I hope it helps. I hope to update you with only good news in the weeks to come! Last note, I'm having a girl! So exciting!!! My VSG has definitely complicated things but I think we made the right decision and I am really excited about entering this next chapter of my life healthier than I have been in years!

Thank you for sharing. Sadly I am in the same position and today is my 3rd day without alcohol and the withdrawals have been so bad that I needed medication from the doctor to get through it. My blood pressure raised at such high levels it was dangerous. All this is such a shock to me and before my bypass back in December 2017 I was never really interested in alcohol but over the last few years my drinking has increased so much so it had taken over my life…I seemed to look forward to the joy it gave me and the quick fix that food no longer could give me. I am hoping I can keep going and start to feel better soon. I hope to learn to live my life without alcohol and the extra weight gain from the late night snacks and start to enjoy eating healthy and to feel alive again! 🙏🏽

My mother and aunts and older female cousins (and my PCP) are/were the only ones that talked to me about my weight gain…at least to my face. They never actually called me fat, but did say things like “maybe you should lose some weight”, “oh you’ve gained weight”, “you are bigger than the last time i saw you”, “you are eating too much”, etc etc. In the case of my PCP, he said stuff like “losing weight may help alleviate x” It was annoying, but i chalked it up to busy-bodiness on my family’s part at least. But i will say i got like 50x more comments than i ever got to my face about needing to gain weight, looking sick, not eating enough, being too skinny in the one year after WLS than i did about being fat in the 10-ish years i was overweight. And from a wider range of people, including stangers. Which was equally annoying. Mind you these same family members say other stuff too like: “oh i think its time to dye your hair, i see greys”, “you look tired, do u have any makeup on?”, “your forehead wrinkles are showing”, “your legs aren’t the best for miniskirts”. 🙄 I just nod/change subject. People suck. Let it roll of u, if u can. P.S. My legs are awesome for miniskirts, thankyouverymuch.

I've been taking Zoloft for over a year and didn't notice any weight gain. I took Prozac before Zoloft and it caused hair loss. I love my Zoloft and how much better I feel mentally. I believe everyone's body reacts differently to anti-depressants. You'll have to figure out what works for you. They have been a life saver for me. 🙂

Hello fellow DSers I have recently gained a few lbs and I’m freaking out. About 10 since fall with about 5-6 in the past 2 weeks (due to a bed rest situation/no exercise situation from a non related medical procedure I think). I am normally very active. I also do intermittent fasting. I work out about 2 hours a day 7 days a week with few exceptions. But to be honest I’m a terrible eater. I’m a sugar and carb addict and live my life a slave to my upset stomach (ds related) Again to be honest that has worked for me 2 years out I’ve lost 100% of my excess weight but it’s not working anymore. I went from 283 to 138 and am now about 148. How have you all handled these weight gains if you have had them? I’m afraid of the slippery slope. Should I go back to basics? Proteins and veggies? This is such a weird statement but I feel like the sugar is what has helped me get here bc I don’t keep the calories in (ya know) and I’m afraid to give it up. Any advise appreciated. TIA

Don't over think it, This fear (GERD) drove me to have a melt down right before surgery and to be highly anxious for weeks after surgery. I had reflux before surgery for many years and had been on 20-40 mg of Nexium daily for about 15 years and as my weight got higher so did the occurrence of my reflux to the point of along with the Nexium I was going through a bottle of Gaviscon a week. fast forward 8 months post op I still take 20 mg Nexium daily but only because I am to scared to tapper off as I remember the rebound reflux from prior to surgery when I would try to come off them and I have to be honest I suck a Gaviscon dual tablet if I get the slightest inkling of reflux which I think half the time is in my head lol. So prior to surgery I told my surgeon reflux was my biggest fear as I didn't want a bypass either and I certainly didn't want to have to have a second surgery, He said the weight loss would reduce the reflux and I think he is right. its just my own fears and thinking about it and sometimes eating the wrong things or too much that causes me get reflux now and its pretty mild. Now I am going to say this and I don't mean any offence to anyone as it is just what I have observed, a lot people who have had revision surgery due to GERD/reflux also seem to have had a substantial weight gain too, now if anyone out there has experienced different I stand corrected but that's what I have noticed. So that is a pretty good incentive for me not to regain. Talk to your surgeon though as he/she is the best to advise you we can only share our experiences

some SSRI's cause weight gain, others don't. Paxil (paroxetine) is notorious for weight gain. I think Wellbutrin is one of the better ones in that dept - it doesn't cause many people to gain weight. Not sure about Zoloft - but ask your doctor or pharmacist. If it's one that causes a lot of people to gain weight, maybe your doctor can prescribe a different one. if you need the med, you need the med - but again, there are some that aren't as bad - or bad at all - when it comes to weight gain.

I was started on zoloft prior to surgery, I didn't notice any weight gain then. I've continued on it since surgery and to my knowledge it has not had any effect on that aspect of things.

18 years ago, I had a RNY. I lost 124 lbs. I kept most of it off until the last 3 years when I gained about 45 pounds. I have been successful in losing weight that additional weight and am back with 5 pounds of my lowest weight! I did not have plastic surgery 18 years ago and it's my biggest regret. Now that I am stable in weight, I'm looking at plastic surgery. I've talked to 2 Docs. And I'm confused and torn. Doc#1 says Fleur. He says that I don't have much back skin/fat. He can pull the skin forward and tighten it. I have a pronounced belly that hangs quite low and I get heat rashes/yeast infections frequently. Doc#1 says that Fleur should be a great solution. He said it will also take care of my sagging mons. (Which I really want gone!) He will also tighten my abs after nearly 50 years of weight gain and loss. Doc#2 says to do a panniculectomy and lipo around the sides. She feels this is the best option as my frame is not necessarily curvy and she could not be sure of getting a flatter tummy. Let's assume, this is all out of pocket cost. I like both Docs. Which would you choose and why? I could use some insight and advice! Thanks

Hi everyone, I'm 7 months out of RNY (Aug 23, 2021) and my weight loss has been great (down 82lbs). I have been struggling my entire life with anxiety and as I get healthier I have been more motivated to deal with my mental health issues as well. I had a conversation with my primary care dr. this morning and she is prescribing 25mg of Zoloft and talk therapy. My question is - have you been on or started Zoloft after RNY? My main concern is weight gain. I am soooo nervous about taking this medication and losing the results I have worked so hard for the last year. I'm also concerned about it slowing my weight loss. I am 100% going forward with the talk therapy and honestly feel I could use the help of a medication, but am so nervous about trying it and then gaining. Thanks all!

Sending hugs, and I'm very sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Thank you for sharing your experience with weight gain after surgery. I think it is a fear that many of us have & it is unfortunate how easily the weight can come back. I hope getting the help you believe you need gets you back to where you want to be. I wish you well, and know you can do it. 😊🍀

I think a lot of us here feel the shame and take the blame for our weight issues. In part yes we have all made bad food choices but weight gain and our bad relationship with food are for various reasons. During this process, you will speak with a psychologist or therapist and they can help you better understand your relationship with food and how to make it better. You are taking steps to improve your health and life. Look forward to what will be and dwell on was has been. Best of luck

Hi, everyone! I’m 11 months post-op from VSG and I have a bit of a dilemma. I have not been losing any weight as of about 6 weeks ago. I’m 38, 5’5”, and currently yo-yoing between 177 and 178 during every weekly weigh-in. I still want to lose about 30 more pounds to put me in a healthy weight class. Nothing has changed with my eating habits - I still eat very small portions, mostly solid protein, and do not snack much during the day. Since the surgery, I have had some issues with orthostatic hypotension (dizziness from low blood pressure) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so I would be very surprised if my diet needed any adjustment right now. I should mention that I am coming off of ten years of disability for early onset degenerative disc disease, so other than twice-weekly physical therapy, exercise has been completely foreign for me, hence the excessive weight gain. I’ve had four neck surgeries and countless back injections and procedures. At my heaviest, I couldn’t stand for more than 10 minutes without excruciating pain in my lower back. However, in the last month, I’ve been feeling well enough to start seeing a personal trainer once a week and easing into a light workout routine (dynamic stretching, light free weights, strength training, etc.). I’m also walking more frequently and for longer distances. My question is this: could the lack of weight loss be due to rebuilding muscle from my new exercise regimen? Or should I try to adjust my food intake again and see what happens? I have my one year checkup with my gastric surgery team coming up next month and I plan to talk to them about this issue, but I wanted to seek out any advice on here, too. Thanks so much in advance!!

I'm doing fantastic. One has to remember, it's a lifestyle change. This isn't a switch you can just turn on or off. Your stomach will reject certain sugars, and mine rejected peanut oil (Chinese food). Once you dump a few times, you'll know what you can and cannot tolerate. My initial weight loss was 197lbs, but I gained 40lbs back over the 15 years since. I don't like the weight gain, so I went back to the foods I ate when I first had the surgery, and I am staring to get back down.

I am also on bipolar meds that are not notorious for weight gain but they caused it in me. I have lost weight post sleeve but am currently sitting about 9 pounds from normal bmi and stuck. My team says this is not totally surprising to them because as they warned me, people with bipolar disorder statistically do not lose as much as others with the same surgery. I am still trying but I have accepted that this may be it for me. I think it’s the meds competing with the surgery and the surgery wins but the meds still kick in and decrease it effectiveness by just a bit.

Thank you for the quick responses! I've been wearing orthotics since I was young, so I don't expect that to ever go away, but my feet definitely got worse over the years with more weight gain, especially in the last 3 years it became so painful to walk for longer than 20 minutes without massive aching in my arches and feet, and of course the fun bonuses that go with it like shin splints, tight tendons, and knee pain! I'm just hoping some of those symtpoms go away with the weight loss. I've got some good ASICS now that have taken me a long time to 'break in', my feet still get sore no matter what I wear after a certain period, but at least I know that it should improve a bit and that I'm wearing good shoes and have proper orthotics. I'll see how I go later down the track when I've lost some weight!

I was sleeved 9 years ago. I lost 110kg over the first 2 years and maintained weight at 67kg for 3 years. Then, I was put on ssri and anti psychotic meds and gained 10 kilos in the first 3 weeks. I went on to gain back 70 kilos of what I lost over the last few years. My psyc. put me on metformin to minimise the weight gain (even though I’m not diabetic) and my weight stopped going up for about the last year now. I have just come back to the community today as I recently committed to losing this weight again. I’m pleased to hear a previous comment here that says that people have lost weight on mental health meds successfully, I’m on the wagon and going for goal.

Is it something you’ve always had so your natural physiology, or something that developed with your weight gain? If it developed with your weight gain it’s likely it will improve. My ankles ached when I had my final big weight gain which was sudden & the balls of my feet burnt. Both these things improved heaps or disappeared completely. I’ve always had a degree of pronation (my ballet teacher lamented all the time) & it hasn’t changed because it’s how my body is built. Unfortunately the knee pain I get from sitting too long hasn’t improved but that’s from being short & sitting in chairs that are too high 😆. You may notice additional pain & discomfort as you lose weight as your muscles & tendons get used to not having to carry & balance your excess weight & get used to your improved posture. I had upper back pain in around month 3 or 4 because my bust had got a lot smaller & I was carrying myself differently. (Buying underwear that fit stopped the pain.)

My surgeon explained to me the that the muscle tightening portion of a tummy tuck is to basically sew the gap between the abdominal muscles together. See those six packs on super fit people? Im referring to that vertical line between the “packs”. pregnancy and midsection weight gain push this gap apart resulting in outward bulging. Sewing the gap together give a tighter, flatter look.

Your body will need more sustenance to maintain your exercise levels, you will need to eat more. The balance will be how much more. If you aren't losing weight eat a little less than 1600cals and keep adjusting down. There may be a pause on weight loss at the moment which is not related to weight gain due to additional calories, but if your muscles are really sore after each workout, your body is very likely retaining fluid to help repair the muscles. If you are really sore you may also be building lean body mass but this wouldn't be happening as fast you'd think it would and hopefully you are losing body fat at the same time.

Virtual hugs sent! One thought: see it as you would a work assignment. If this approach won't solve your problem, then find another. I definitely don't want to discourage you, and it's obviously important you try to get the most out of your surgery, but if you've done that and it still doesn't work, don't beat yourself up! (Beating yourself up leads to weight gain, too, so it really doesn't help ) Give it the time and effort it deserves, but be open to needing a second stage intervention if it doesn't get you to where you want to be. I suspect your BMI is relatively low since you got a band, so maybe a second surgery isn't on the cards.

I had my surgery (sleeve) on 2/14 and recovery is going relatively smoothly. I’ve been following the dietitians guidelines and starting to walk 30 minutes a day. Over the last few days the scale has been going UP not DOWN 😫. Has anyone experienced this? My thought is that I didn’t get enough protein in the first week following surgery and my body is balancing that out. Thoughts?

I mean, we know why people can't keep their losses off. It's not an individual failure, we're built for weight gain. But otherwise, I agree.

It's much less, unfortunately. Even the new obesity drugs don't work once you stop taking them. https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/complicated-reality-weight-gain-weight-loss-and-weight-stigma

I know most of you are not doctors, but perhaps you can speculate about something that just happened to me. For the past year, I have maintained within a 3-4 lb range, never deviating. About six weeks ago, within three days I had gained seven pounds to my highest weight in about two years. I dismissed it as water retention because I hadn't changed my diet or any medications, but for the next six weeks I stayed five to seven pounds above my baseline, so I began dieting and drinking more water but to no avail. I couldn't figure out how it could be from food because I log calories every day and there were no changes in calories or types of foods that I ate. Then a few days ago, I had a horrible mood swing -- so bad a depression that my family and friends were really worried about me -- and they said they had never seen me act like that before. I recovered from it but the following day, I began vomiting out of nowhere, tons of water, something that has never happened before since WLS and was something I can't ever recall happening even before WLS. And then for these past few recent days, I'm exactly back to where I was for the entire year -- within that 3-4 lb range again. The five to seven pound gain is gone. I'm post-menopausal so it's not hormonal I think. No dietary changes. No new medications or getting off old ones. No changes in activities and exercise. The massive weight gain seems to have just "happened," remained in my body for weeks, then dispersed. And possibly could have caused a serious mood swing. Oh, and for an annual checkup I had an EKG which was normal so it has nothing to do with my heart. And I had a recent brain scan six months ago that showed no abnormalities. My blood work also is normal.