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@SAsurgery Hi. I'm 15 1/2 years out from a traditional DS. - What foods do you avoid? (Fatty foods? Carbs? Can you tolerate small amounts?) I eat fatty foods. It helps to "grease the wheels" so to speak. For instance, I buy 80% chopped ground beef as I need the fat. It does generally takes me 2 sittings to finish a meal. - Do you have diarrhea? Sometimes. My doctors classify diarrhea as going too much and/or going liquid. I'm more in the too much area. This will occur if I eat junk and/or too many simple carbs. That's why I eat them pretty much only at home. If you have diarrhea and you're not sure why, it can signify it's time for a dose of Flagyl. Many DSers I know take it yearly and I probably should, too. Just to keep things even. - How many Vitamins do you take? Have you experienced Vitamin deficiencies? Have you had to get infusions? I take over 40 a day. It's second nature. As a matter of fact, when I wasn't permitted to take them while going through gb surgery, I went a little nutty. I'm just so used to it after so long. I've had some issues with my bloods. Sometimes the numbers are too high, other times too low. My surgical group has me do them every 6 mos. so tweaks can be made to what I take. The only infusion I take is Reclast. But I know a good many DSers who need iron infusions. That's never been an issue for me. - Do you struggle to maintain your weight loss? Do you feel like you are constantly on a diet? No and no (and we don't count calories). I kept a food log for the first 6 mos., now I have a protein ticker in the back of my head that just checks off protein grams. I eat 125-150gr/day so I'm constantly eating protein. Just had my mid-morning snack which was cheese and nuts. I also keep it low on the simple carbs. I don't want the weight gain or the gas/stool issues. I'll probably grab a triple cheeseburger w/catsup from McD later if I'm hungry in the afternoon. I just eat the meat. First, bc the bun is too filling and I always eat protein first. Second, bc I don't want what will come with the carbs. - Anything else you wish you had known before surgery? Do a Dexa scan preop. So you can have a baseline. Keep all your blood work. I have it since preop. It allows me to look for trends (esp. the last 3 draws) and also can help out if there's an issue. Some DSers I know have made a spread sheet for their blood work. I've never missed a day of supplements. I expect as a Dr. you won't either. 😊

Hello, I was wondering if anyone in TX has been approved for the gastric sleeve with a BMI of 32? Since getting injured and being on depression & anxiety medication, I’ve gained 50 lbs in a year. I’ve always have difficulty losing weight, and I’m growing more concerned with the large weight gain + my families medical history of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, etc. I don’t have an medical diagnosis other then endometriosis, pcos, & chronic depression so I can’t imagine insurance is going to cover me - which is okay I guess. I’m just looking for a way to get help because I feel like my health is spiraling.

Wow@beth_d that's awesome! Firstly, you can do it! Once you get back on track for a week or two it will feel normal again. Secondly, I need to know how you only gained 2lbs in pregnancy. We are going to try again in a few months (I'm 4 months post op and down 60 lbs so want to lose another 60). I'm nervous about the weight gain though. Any tips would be very much appreciated!

I am also an insulin resistant diabetic and I have heard from docs that you have to take in a lower amount of calories as well. I agree that you don't feel well when you are starving yourself like that, however, for me, exercise has made all of the difference. Even something as simple as an exercise bike, with no resistance and done for only 20 minutes a day, I notice that my blood sugars drop like crazy after about two weeks of the exercise regime. I can eat between 1000-1200 cals a day and lose weight, not quickly, but at the average 1-2 lbs a week. I am so convinced that exercise is the key to battling our insulin resistance. As a nurse I know that you understand how diabetes works and the whole insulin resistance issue. By exercising, you are creating more receptors on the cells accepting the insulin, thereby, lowering the blood sugar. Insulin and the oral meds also cause weight gain, so it stands to reason the more of that stuff we need to take, the harder it would be to lose as well. The band has helped me enormously with this. I have been able to lower my caloric intake and still take in enough nutrition as to not make myself sick. Only you will know if the band is the way for you to go, but it can't hurt, it will only help you with all of this. I hope this information is helpful to you. Keep us posted on your decision and PM me if you have any other questions you like to talk about. Cindy

Hi everyone...I'm new to this site. I've been reading thru your posts about weight gain. I was banded on 3/22, haven't had a fill yet. But when I went for my first 2 week visit I had lost 14lbs. Weighted this past Thursday an I've gained 6lbs. It happen when I was at the week where you start eating regular food. I'm praying that this is not a sign. I too have struggled with me weight for years. Hopefully I will see a difference after my fill next week. Any advice is greatly welcomed!!!!

Have you had your thyroid checked? Adrenals? Blood work? Vitamins? How many calories do you consume day? I would go get your thyroid checked... weight gain, mental fog, lethargy and feeling cold are classic symptoms I don't know why, but for some reason that medication i remember has an effect on thyroid.. i will try and remember where from though

HeatherinCA…. so you've had your band three years now? your weight loss has stalled?? when you say your diet isn't good… how much are you eating ? what sort of foods? I'm wondering if you have an ''acid stomach'… it definitely sounds irritated, for sure. Perhaps you are eating foods that are too acidic? have you tried taking some antacids? to see if that gives relief? even at 5 you have a lot of fill.. well, in comparison to me you do. ARE you having wine? i have to ask because that is one of the worst things we can have as it prevents weight loss. … even causes weight gain. Also, as its acidic, it causes acid stomach. This is why I'm asking you if you have tried any antacids. Ive been having issues. Ive lost about 35 lbs in two years and ive levelled out now. But, I'm having some white and red wine. I feel this is causing acidity and my stomach isn't good some of the time. I do slime a bit sometimes. i have to be very careful what i eat. i have a lot of Soups. At the moment I'm taking Zantac for the acidity… its helping me. So, do you think that your stomach is too acid? are you sleeping at night? i was sleeping half sitting up some nights…. last night i slept well after taking zantac.

Hello everyone, I have decided, after the hardest year of my life, that VSG might be the solution. I know my story sounds impossible and hard to believe, but allow me to explain what happened. In September of 2014, I began taking a medication called Aldactone to help with acne. I took a really strong dose for about 8 months. Around 4 months in, I started noticing that my clothes felt tighter, until one day my jeans didn't fit anymore. I started working out longer and harder, replacing my regular cardio days for more Insanity, HIIT and strength, until I was working out 6x per day instead of 4-5x, and at higher intensity than ever before. I have been eating clean and low carb for years, so the only thing I did in respect to that was to make sure I wasn't getting even any 'bites' here and there of someone else's cookie or chocolate -- ever. It didn't occur to me that the medication could be causing this. I kept working out harder, and restricting my diet more and more, while I kept gaining incontrolably. It didn't make sense -- I had maintained my weight of 130 for years, felt great, and had a normal relationship with food. I knew that as long as I put my effort in every day and ate sensibly, everything was fine. Fast forward to May 2015, nothing fits anymore, I look in the mirror and my face looks completely different -- I am NOT this person. I had gained 25 lbs while exercising like a mad woman and eating as healthy and restricted as I ever had. That's when it clicked: it had to be something more than what I was eating / how much I was exercising. I began to suspect about the medication. Sure enough, a quick google search turned up a thread with more than 200 posts with stories exactly like mine. I was devastated. Girls who were doing everything right, who started working out more, eating even more carefully, only to find that nothing they did stopped the weight gain. It's been more than a year since I stopped taking Aldactone, and I haven't gained any more weight, but I also haven't been able to lose a single pound. I do Insanity 3x per week, Body Pump 2x per week, and Power Yoga 1x per week. I bike everywhere I need to go. I walk a lot. I eat a high Protein / low carb diet. I never splurge. I'm even afraid of dark chocolate at this point. And yet, most of the time I'm in a room I'm the fattest girl around. If only people knew how much effort I put into my workouts and my diet EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I've decided to do the VSG, even though technically I'm a low BMI (currently 155lbs at 5'2). I know some may disagree, but nothing else I've done in the past year has worked. I'm out of options and I'm depressed. My major concern is regarding mental energy after surgery being on such a low amount of calories. Currently I'm taking some appetite suppressants, and although they do seem to reduce my hunger, I notice that I find it hard to think and concentrate (even though I'm not starving)... I feel lightheaded and with very little energy to think. How are you able to think hard and work when you're eating so little? I'm a researcher, so I constantly have to be reading papers, looking up protocols, doing mental math, and just thinking hard most of the time. It scares me that I'll be useless after surgery from eating so little. My second question is related: are you always cold / are your hands always cold after surgery? I notice also on the appetite suppressants that even though I'm not as hungry, so I can get away with eating less, my hands get really cold. I haven't lost nay weight on the appetite suppressants, either, in case you were wondering. Thanks in advance for your responses.

I have PCOS I found out after I had the mirena taken out and I just wasnt getting my period, the weight gain was crazy, a beard on my chin and acne like I was a teen uggh I hope the sleeve helps with some of these symptoms... Sent from my SM-G900P using BariatricPal mobile app

I have come to realize from being on this site that every surgeon is different. I have gained 20lbs since my consult to now which has been 10 months total, 6 of which was my 6 month diet (which didn't work for me) and then three months of sending requested paper work from my doctors office to the insurance company and the review time it took). At any rate, I went in for my pre-op appt yesterday and the surgeon never mentioned a word about my weight gain. As long as insurance approved it, he is good to go. It's a shame some surgeons are such a pain when it comes to this.

Hi guys! I was banded in December 2010. Lost some weight, gained it back. I'm at about the same weight I was when I started. I've been having pain like right under my ribcage, and where my bra sits, especially when I sit down, (i feel better walking or lying flat), like something is pushing me there (center of my chest), it's extremely uncomfortable and bras are horrible, I've been through a bunch.. could that be my port? Or something? I know where they put in the needle is maybe 3 inches lower toward my belly button, but I know there is something near my ribcage. Also a ton of gas, burping gas. The last few weeks I've been scared to eat, because it's so bad. I did get 1 CC taken out a few weeks ago (I guess I had 6 now I have 5, but I don't know my capacity), that feels a little better. Eating less seems to help, I'm not going to lie my diet isn't good. I've been eating fairly regularly for the past 2 years. I can still get food down now, I'm not vomiting or sliming. I'm scared something is wrong.. But, it could be my bad anxiety blowing everything out of proportion (I have terrible anxiety). Any advice? I have an appointment soon and I feel like I need to ask my band doctor for help, but I don't know what to say exactly. (is there a test I should take, or should they empty my band? did I slip?) Last time they just asked if I was vomiting and then he took a little out and that was it...

I am 23 weeks along an had to be emptied at 16 weeks due to a nasty virus with some severe vomiting. My surgeon said that although I hadn't had the morning sickness is was unwise to stay filled due to moving organs. As the baby grows and organs get pushed up, so too does the band and pressure on the band is well, no bueno. It can cause a slip in some cases. My weight gain was normal to that point. I'm now reaching the Mac what I "should" gain the entire pregnancy (I was 127 pre preg. Gain should only be 25-35 pounds total and I'm up 26 so far). ::sigh:: we lost it before, we will lose it again!!!!!!

Got my band in Aug last yeaer did great lost 70 lbs of the 90 I wanted to loss then I had problems. Band slipped and had fluid removed then started to refill and then got dehydrated so out the fluid came again..maintained my weight loss but want to eat all the time. having some family problems and I am eating at night but still no weight gain Thanks God I have no resticktion, not getting stuck, can eat fast or big bit and hate that but I am still trying to slow down and eat right.. I did LOVE the band and not sure what to do now $150. a fill and $900 if problems and a special exray and unfill...darn this is difficult good luck to us all

yup, perfectly normal. If you've just moved from liquids to soft, then you suddenly have mass in your colon. which was pretty empty from the weeks of liquid. Lots of people see the scale move up at this stage. notice I did not say weight gain. Very important. Any weight lost before the first fill is BONUS and not band weight loss. Many people don't lose any real weight until after their first and sometimes second fill. Cheers and Courage!

Oh gosh, dont remind me. Fat has crept up on me mostly at major life events (births of babies specifically) not as a constant thing. At 40, my next major life event is probably menopause, lol (though hopefully a way away yet!). I have given lots of time to hoping I can maintain this loss past menopause. Because when I look at women who I think look fabulous in their 50's and 60's that I would like to emulate as I get older the one thing they have in common is a youthful figure. Its not about keeping flowing blond locks that you can flick around or having 20 facelifts to look like some macarbe impersonation of a 30 year old, its that around the middle weight gain that to me identifies women as old or middle aged. Those that stay slim always look more youthful to me, even if they've aged completely normally skin wise. I fear looking "old" more than anything I think, I dont need to be stunning or beautiful, I just want to maintain that fit, healthy and vital look becuase that's what I think is really attractive, not beauty itself which fades for everyone. And that is entirely within MY control. I will be that 70 year old woman still running. That makes me feel good about myself regardless of what I actually look like.

I have TX Federal BCBS...I am trying to find out Exactly what I have to have to qualify through insurance. Doctor is NOT helping at all. Would like to know what you did. THanks! Forexample...regular BCBS requries 6 months diet history, when I called my federal plan, they said this was not a requirement, though the doctor tells me it is. It seems they don't want to call MY insurance plan and discuss it and treat me like a regular BCBS patient. Help! Oh...I have a BMI of 36...I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome), high cholesterol, undiagnosed arthritis, sever back pain, thyroid disease. When I called my plan they told me they defined a co-morbidity as "anything that causes weight gain". As opposed to things that are caused by weuight gain. Sounded backwards to me. Either way, I think I will qualify. PCOS and Thyroid cause weight gain. Others are a result of weight gain. Other than co-morbidities, trying to find out what others had to submit to be approved. Thanks!

One of the main reason for having the surgery is because of infertilty. I have PCOS and have been unable to have children. Having PCOS is part of the reason for the weight gain but I also have made some very bad choices. The pain was not unbearable but it was there. When I came out of surgery I was in a lot of pain but was given meds and felt a lot better. I guess it is different with everybody but the pain is not unbearable. Not eat really hasn't been a issue. I really haven't wanted to eat but I know that will soon change. It doesn't bother me to see my husband eat but I know soon that will change too. I hope this helps some....I am also doing a VLOG on youtube. Here is my username so you can link to my videos: hholly112002 you can watch some of the things I found important and I do have one update since the surgery and I will be posting another one today. Good luck all!!!!!

Thank you very much! Glad to be able to help. I'm a "pay it forward" kind of guy, and willing to offer any and all help possible to those walking this path with me. There is a lot of surgeon-speak buzzwords and rhetoric tossed around before folks get banded, but not a lot of experienced support after the fact. My surgeon and his team are great folks, but none of them are band patients, so they can only tell me what it's supposed to be like, not how it IS. LBT and forums like it are a wealth of information for those who can use it, but it seems a lot of posts are about problems. Being able to share what "normal" is like for me may help others a bit, who may not be having problems, but who want some ideas of how to make the most of their banding experience. Once the parts are figured out, your day to day routine can be very easy and predictable. One thing I don't talk about too much is the Bodymedia.com armband I wear. It's made by the same company that makes the BodyBugg worn by contestants on The Biggest Loser. This thing is amazing, and does all the hard work for me. Calories in and out, exercise, other activity levels, food eaten, steps taken, sleep quality, and weight gained or lost - it's keeping track so I don't have to. Highly recommend this gadget! Wishing everyone good luck! Dave

I have to agree that once you start, it's hard to stop... this has been my problem the last week or so... all those xmas parties and food. I try to stick with the plan but have noticed that I want more food than I was having. I so desperately want to get through xmas without too much damage but with my current level of restriction I'm afraid that I will go in the wrong direction. So far no weight gain but the idea is to lose. Good luck getting through this.

Hello Friends: I just posted this in Dr. Kirshenbaum's thread but thought to share it with you all. I just got back from Colorado where I had a fill and a good consultation where the article below came up. It helped me put FILLS into perspective. Once of the challenges I have had is going from thinking about food, being able to eat anything, to changing and the state of being where I am not able to eat whatever I want and do I THINK I am hungry or am I really hungry? and what about those of us who are emotional eaters or have some nasty habits to break? The article will make reference to colored zones, green, yellow and red. I think I am now sitting in GREEN which feels awesome. I hope you find this beneficial as a tool to help you in your journey. I did. Patty Think You Need a Fill? THINK AGAIN By Nikki Johnson Do you remember that feeling you had when you first had your band placed? For a while, everything was great. You didn't experience hunger, you felt satisfied with a small portion of good food, you had more energy, and you were thrilled with your initial weight loss progress. If you are like most people, your experience changed over time, Some of those feelings of hunger returned, and you stopped losing weight. You knew you needed something, so you went to your surgeon's office and asked for a "fill" right? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it is your thinking about your band, and not the band itself, that needs adjusting. The LAP-BAND Bad Word Paul O'Brien, MD, FRACS, is a skillful, compassionate surgeon and a foremost expert on the LAP-BAND System. he was involved in its design in the early 1990's and placed the first band in Australia in 1994. Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and is recognized worldwide for his expertise. When his patients utter that worst of four-letter words, "fill," in his office, they are asked to throw a dollar in the Red Cross donation bucket--a reminder that, according to Dr. O'Brien, thinking about a "fill" is just wrong thinking. How can a concept that we hear about so constantly be so very wrong? Dr. O'Brien's answer is simple: "Any adjustment to the band is something that only takes place in the context of clinical consultation--part of a relationship of trust, honesty and communication between patient and surgeon--that is much more key to the success of the patient than the precise number of milliliters of Fluid in the band. This concept of partnership is the central theme of Dr. O'Brien's new book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership of Weight Loss. Patty's Note: Available on Amazon.com ISBN#9780522854121 Like many people, you might assume that weight gain or a sustained plateau means an incorrectly adjusted band; in fact, you may be right. But you may be surprised to learn that weight gain sometimes results from a band that is too tight. This is part of the reason why the "fill" concept is so misleading. If your surgeon determines that you are not losing weight as you should, then discovering why that is happening is crucial. Sometimes adding fluid to the band will only make matters worse. Life in the "GREEN ZONE" Most people who have the LAP-BAND operation will have an amazing feeling of disinterest in food for the first week after surgery, before any adjustments are even made to the fluid in the band. According to Dr. O'Brien, that lack of interest in food is referred to as satiety. A related but different feeling is satiation, or the feeling you get as you are eating, precisely at the point that you don't need any more food to eat but you do not have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. These two feelings--satiety and satiation--are what the properly adjusted band helps you achieve, allowing you to maintain your new healthier eating habits. Your careful observation and truthful sharing of your feelings and eating behaviors, combined with the expert care and training of your surgeon and his or her staff, can make the very individual determination of whether your band is properly adjusted much more accurate. In order to help create the most effective partnership between themselves and their patients, Dr. O'Brien and his colleagues at the Australian Centre for Obesity Research and Education have developed a concept they refer to as the "Green Zone". When patients are in the green zone, they experience satiety, satiation after properly-sized small meals, and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance. However, there are also yellow and red zones, both of which indicate that the band is not optimally adjusted. If your band is too loose, you will not have the benefits the band's hunger-controlling mechanism. If your band is too tight, you will have trouble eating properly and may actually gain weight because the foods you can eat more comfortable, that tend to be liquid and calorie-rich, like ice cream and chocolate, do not provide the proper nutrition. Learning to recognize when you have the feelings and eating behaviors that signal a problem can help you give your surgeon the information he or she needs to help you keep the band optimally adjusted. Thinking Adjustment Once you have eliminated the concpet of "fills" from you Lap-Band vocabulary, you will be able to let go of much of the conventional thinking connected to it. Perhaps you have heard talk about the "ideal" amount of fluid in the Lap-Band. While it may be helpful to have some idea of how much fluid is in your band, Dr. O'Brien says there is no magic number. No perfect amount of fluid will provide the best results for everyone. He says, rather, that "whatever volume of fluid is needed to achieve the [feeling of non-hunger] is the correct volume." When you notice that you are feeling hungry or are not losing weight, your body is telling you it is time to revisit your partner in weight loss -- your surgeon. your success absolutely depends on this relationship. So rather than thinking "adjustments," adjust your thinking, and, in partnership with your surgeon, find a lifetime of health! For more information about all of the themes discussed in this article, please see Dr. O'Brien's book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership for Weight Loss, which is available fro Amazon.com. We also invite you to visit LAP-BAND® System Forum - Home for more information and supportive resources.

There are some antidepressants that are notorious for causing weight. My doctor refused to put me on anything except well butrin because of my family history and my weight. He didn't want to give me anything that could cause weight gain (gained 40 lbs once in 2 months on an antidepressant with another doctor). Well butrin is not shown to cause weight gain. I'm sure there may be a few others. I think it is really important to see your doctor, and get back on medication if he thinks it is warranted. And continue to take it! Just make sure to discuss with him if you want something that will not affect your weight - there are many medications doctors have to choose from. Be very careful with just stopping anti depressants because some can have a huge effect on you if stopped suddenly. Good luck.

I have BC/BS AZ and I have a problem. Here it is: BC/BS of AZ: Current history and physical, psychological evaluation, nutritional consultation with licensed nutritionist, 5 years medical records, letter of recommendation from PCP, and continuous participation in a weight loss program for 6 months or longer within the past 12 months. Weight loss program includes: · A structured program that includes documentation of diet and dates of participation (a minimum of one face to face visit per week attendance for dietary counseling/education is required. And · A structured exercise program (unless medically contraindicated) designed and supervised by a certified or qualified professional with documentation of attendance (a minimum of three sessions per week of participation in an exercise program is required) and, · Demonstration of a commitment to results by documenting weight loss, maintenance, or no more than a 5 pound weight gain over a minimum six month period. I have everything except for the exercise program. Weight Watchers(2004-6months)Do I have a chance of getting this approved? Has anyone ever got approved with some of these requirements? I guess I am holding on to a little faith that I have left...at this point I have given up and just have to realize that I will be obese for the rest of my life.

Hey Tiffkins and thank you... That is probably a good idea. My major weight gain started when I quit smoking, so I can't go back to that. Might try a quick home improvement project.

Yes that's right. I had been working on weight loss for a while and was in the process of getting approved for the sleeve when my pcp said to take out my IUD birth control as she contributed my sudden weight gain to the hormones in it as one last thing to try before WLS. Yeah well within a month I was pregnant. I had completed practically all the requirements before getting pregnant so the doctor said if everything went well with delivery I was OK to get it at 2 months post birth. I'm so glad I had a smooth natural delivery. I'm still on maternity leave from work so I'll get another month to recover from the sleeve. I don't have to come back to work them take off again in a few months so it worked out really well. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

Hey, I thot my family was nuts, but I am truly lucky. But from a psychological point of view, do any of you think that the abuse or just wierdness in the family may have contributed to your weight gain and obesity in the long run? I know that while I was little my mom was a little nuts because her mom (my Mama Di) treated her like she wasnt worth the dirt she walked on, so Mom pushed me to be the perfect little girl, especially since my Mama Di took away my sister from my mom after she was born and told everyone that she had had a baby when she was about 35 (which isn't old btw) but everyone saw Mom pregnant, and never saw Mama Di pregnant, but she honestly believes that everyone thinks that my biological sis is her daughter (weird huh?) My family is WACKY! That's all, when I was little Mom used to make me do pagents, to this day I dunno where that money came from because my Mom worked for Mama Di in her conveniant store making $50 a week, and Dad made about $6,000 a year. I am a natural blond haired, hazel-eyed girl, with dimples, and it was more than anyone could stand (I was soooooooo cute) but I started gaining weight when I was about 3 or 4 like CRAZY!! And have never lost it, I was born big, but I mean I blew up and Mom did everything she could to stop it which led me to being a Binge Eater from the ages of abour 4 until I was about 12, then I became a short-term anorexic (when school ended I started eating a lot in the summer). Now I am just huge and in a lot of pain, but I am so lucky to have the parents that I have, and you all have shown me that, thanks, you all are an inspiration Oh, wanna here something funny!!!! My other grandmother (Mamo) got arrested about 5 weeks ago for public intoxication, she had went to the doctor and faked serious depression to get Xanax and Trazadone and took some on the way home, and did not make it 2 miles before she hit someone in an intersection but drove off to Casa Ole (mexican food place) and hit someone else then freaked out, turned around and almost hit another person trying to back out of the police baracade!!! All they gave her was a PI tho, but we made her sit in jail until she sobered up!!! My family is just plain ZANEY!!