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Sorry I didn't put much information about myself to the above question. Hello, I'm 37 years young, mother of 3 beautiful children. My Bmi is 43 right now, it often fluctuates between 40-43 depending on my weight gain or loss. I'm an active mother, wife, worker, and very healthy young woman to say the least. However, I'm sick and tired of the yo-yo dieting. I've taken diet supplements along with injection (and I'm scared to death of needles- but did them anyway) for years I know since 2013, I've been on a strick diet plan for over a year and lost only 7lbs from 250lbs of weight I already had on my 5'4" body frame. At weigh in just the other day and was back up 243lbs. So all that being said....... I'm more then ready, to use this WLS as an added tool to stay healthy and fit. But I just can't get the one person I felt that would understand, to understand!!!!! I love my life but I know that I have to do this for ME and I don't want it to seem as if I'm being selfish and not considering his concern for me..... I've had 3 c-section do to my children and those are the only surgeries I've every had & all went extremely well by the time we had our 3rd child I was up walking around on my own the very next day, the nursing staff didn't like that but I told them "I can't take you guys home with me, so I have to do this on my own, you all just supervise me cause I don't want anyone getting fired because I wouldn't let you hold my hand!" They understand and just simply walked behind me as I walked the halls of the hospital... so when, I'm determined I'm determined!!!!! Mind over matter!!!! Sent from my SM-T817V using the BariatricPal App

I had my band surgery in 1/2011 first 8 months good, but after that had so many issues. Couldn't get correct fill. Slipped 3 times and after each slip had to have all Fluid taken out and wait 3 months to start filling again. Which meant weight gain. Just did not work for me. So finally decided to do the sleeve. So happy had it on 9/27/16. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I don't consider the fills/adjustments a drawback; I consider them one of the positives of lapband. If I start to eat too much, there is a quick and easy fix. Two and a half hours?? That's nothing. DH and I drive 5 hours for our fills. It isn't that often, and we make a day of it. I've had two fills and I will not need another to reach goal. As others have said, I have friends who had gb, lost over 100 lb, then gained it all back. Plus, one friend who did that STILL throws up every time she eats a meal. The fact that the band can be adjusted when weight gain slows down or stops is one of the things that sold me on it. Your doctor may have reasons for recommending GB over lapband for reasons that have nothing to do with your health or chances of success.

Hey everyone! I am excited to be a part of this community as I am very active in forums all over the net. I am a 23 year old college student at Winona State University, MN. I am in my 5th year, completing a BSN Nursing degree with a minor in Psychology. I will be graduating in May and will be working in a hospital in the Twin Cities. A little hx of me... I was a swimmer from kindergarten until 8th grade. When puberty hit during my 7th-8th grade years, I could not get over my large size and could not feel comfortable in a speedo. I quit swimming and joined football from 9th to 12th. During my junior year in high school, I was at my largest weight... 320 lbs (I am 6'2"). Because of this, my senior year I worked hard and hard with a Body for Life program my coach recommended to me. For the three years I worked hard with the BFL program (from senior year in high school to my second year in college), I lost 80 lbs.! I was at the happiest point in my entire life... 240 lbs., met a beautiful girl, changed my major to Nursing (I wassss computer science), and felt that I could conquer anything in this world! I even got a chest liposuction to make my chest tighter/form-fitting and I looked great! Things quickly turned around. Our bodies loooove homeostasis and so when I reached my low weight, my body did not want to stay there. I started gaining weight slowly but surely. It was a process that took another 2 years (to where I am at now), but I am now 321 lbs. again. During this weight gain period, I have done everything under the sun to stop the weight loss and reverse it. Instead, I only slowed the progression at times, but my body kept gaining and gaining. This summer I discussed with my family doctor about my options. He mentioned gastric bypass and I about jumped out of my seat. I left not ever thinking I would get surgery at such a young age to lose weight that I had already loss before. But because I have tried everything, I looked into what options I had. I did not want a "cure" or a "last resort", but something that would WORK for me... and also is not so drastic as to cut and re-shape my stomach (the bypass). Hence, I discovered the LAP-BAND. I have since done a lot of research on it and feel that this may be my best option to aid in my weight loss efforts. My family hx includes everything... heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, etc. etc. I already have hypertension (on Lisinopril when I was 22) and mild sleep apnea (dx 2 weeks ago and am using a C-PAP). My father is on a heart transplant waiting list and is in very poor health in his 50's. My relatives are all extremely obese with already five of them having a gastric bypass already, and unfortunately many more who could use that sort of surgery. I know I will have heart disease and will die at a young age if I do not fix my problem now. Being in the health care field, I have seen people in poor health and I know I want to do everything in my power to prevent being sick at an early age. When I talked above about how happy I was at 240 lbs., it was truly the best days of my life. I miss that time. My girlfriend and I have been struggling a great deal in our relationship because of my weight. My activity level is horrible, our intimacy is shallow, and I can't do many of the things I used to do with her. We had broken up once before, but I do not want to let it happen again. She is extremely supportive of me getting this surgery and hopes that my struggles and our struggles together will be solved. I hope this forum will be a great way to tell my story and document my journey through my weight loss. I've already got the wheels rolling and getting all the pre-op stuff out of the way. I am hoping to get my surgery scheduled in March, during my spring break. I would be sacrificing a free Washington D.C trip for this life-changing event. I will be doing my surgery at HealthEast (in St. Joseph's hospital in St. Paul) and am choosing to do it with Dr. Michael Schwartz. I hope to hear many responses from people who are understanding and can help me in any way through this process. Thank you everyone! I look forward to the future! -Jason

don't worry it's not real fat or weight gain! to gain 1 pound you would have to eat 3,500 cals more than you need a day! which at five weeks out i've doubt you done. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Looks like noone hasnt posted to this thread for a long time, but I have noticed that Al has gained his weight back as well, I dont watch TV very often so I am a little slow lol... anywho, I am almost 4 years post op gastric bypass and lost all of my weight in the first year, from 260 to 155, I now fluctuate in between 140 1nd 150. I have not had any weight gain issues, however, my surgery has not been without its major health issues, the first year I almost died due to a strangulated intestinal hernia, in which the FDA finally approved 4 months later that surgeons were able to correct this problem during surgery for this to no longer happen, after several people dieing from it in a 5 year period, thank god I wasnt one of them and its a shame so many had to die from it till they fixed it!!!.. then 6 months later another surgery from the inside incision not closing up all the way... an incisional hernia repair... since then nothing until this year when i got extremely fatigued and could barely even get out of bed due to severe anemia and B12 deficiency... so it is not without its faults, not I have to get B12 injections 1 time a month for the rest of my life and, and have had to go in for 8 iron infusions. I have been to every kind of Dr you can think of Hematologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, because I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and have severe back issues that I thought would clear up after my weight loss but not.. oh well... would I do it again, I believe so... would I recommend to others, probably but not without letting them know that it is not a cakewalk... So I think it just depends on the person as far as whether or not they gain the weight back, I eat whatever I want, I actually dont eat that healthy at all... i still cant eat large amounts of food, if i do i throw up... still cannot consume more than 10 grams of sugar at once or I will get very very ill... anyways I could go on and on but just wanted to post this for others to read... Good luck to you all and if you have any other questions I can answer for you please feel free to email me at kaligirlcb@yahoo.com... Have a wonderful day!! And Happy new year!! Good luck on you weight loss and health!!

It really doesn't matter what WLS you have, if you don't change your attitude about food and your eating habits, you may be able to lose in the beginning but you will not keep it off. I've seen this in my own family. My sister had bypass about 8 years ago. She's since had 3 kids. She's doing great! Her DH had the surgery after she did. He lost a lot of weight. Then started eating til he puked, then went back for more. Disgusting. AND he's gained most of his weight, if not all, back. My mom had bypass about 5 years ago. At the age of 61, her chiropractor says she's working out too much at the gym at an average of 12hrs a week! She just did her first bike race in August. She and her boyfriend are heading out this weekend for a hike they signed up for. She's back to horseback riding, which she hadn't done in well over 40 years!! Between the 3 of them, the difference in attitude is huge. Mom and sis knew they had to make changes in order to make their surgeries work for the rest of their lives. Sis's DH expected the surgery to do all of the work and now blames the surgery for his weight gain. (Of course, that's how he is in real life anyway, never his fault, it's always someone else!) I've also been on this site for awhile now and have seen the stories of people not losing and/or gaining and come to find out, they're eating too much, have no restriction or are eating a lot of garbage. Now there are truly people on this site struggling and I'm NOT talking about them. I'm talking about the ones who aren't using their tools and then wonder why things aren't working for them. So, like I said, a really long time ago (above!), it's all about changing your attitude and how you look at food. Doesn't matter what WLS you have.

I told one person in my department, the one that can't keep a secret, so she could tell everybody my plans to have surgery. I'm not ashamed, they've seen me lose weight, gain weight, and so on and so forth. I put it out there that I'd tried everything else, and surgery was my last option. I've not heard a single negative comment, however, two other nurses came out of the closet with their plans to have WLS too. Another is seriously considering it after talking to us openly about it.

Yes - they are the ones that gave me the medicine that I think made me gain the weight. I stopped taking it after I gained 30lbs. I guess it was too late because the weight gain continued. I tried to lower my calories as I use to - 700 calories for me in a day use to be no problem but after that medication I now seem to be hungry all the time. While I still it small quantities and small amounts with each setting, I eat more now that I use to and my pouch - most times has no issue. I eat about 6/8 ounces maybe depending on what it is - however the body craves items that are easily liquified and I am conscientious of that aspect.

Just do it. Accept and practice the affirmation that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. From what you have written in your post, it would seem that wine is the trigger for the eating behaviors which have caused your weight gain. And, not to seem harsh, but from the perspective of an addictions counselor, if you are drinking enough wine to "lower your inhibitions", and thereby cloud your judgement, you are drinking way too much wine. Wine is empty calories...which obese people need to avoid. You are misinformed if you believe that initially the band will assist with controlling one's appetite. Just ask any bandster who is or has experienced "bandster hell", which really means just about everyone who is active on this forum. It is a tool to assist with portion control. But the journey with your band has a long way to go before you get some restriction in the band and get to the "green zone". Having a band, to be successful with achieving weight loss, you will have to change your relationship with food. You will have to change the things which are allowed on your diet, most likely for life. The foods which contributed you your weight gain will need to be restricted to the smallest of portions, or in some cases, given up entirely. These behavioral modifications are difficult under the best of circumstances...but have to happen to be successful. I seems to me that it would be helpful for you to do some additional research into the band, how it works, and the diet you need to agree to adhere to for life if you want to have a lasting success with it. Best wishes...

Hello Everyone; I have been searching for answers and ran across this site while surfing the web. My story: I am 52, divorced, have raised 4 children and am a Family Practice physician. The year my life became very stressful (1998) I gained 100 lbs. That was the year I chose to let my husband leave the family (he had another "love"), I was accepted into medical school and moved the 4 kids to a new home, in a city where I had no friends or family and no employment. Yes, STRESS will cause one to gain weight. At that time I couldn't focus on my body and had to get through every day one at a time. Now fast forward 15 years: I have had a successful career as a physician, raised 4 wonderful children who are all now married and living good lives and am now an "empty nester". I decided it was time to focus on my health and weight. I always felt awkward telling my patients they needed to loose weight when I was overweight as well. 3 years ago I started working on my weight and was able to loose 65 lbs with a low carb diet & exercise. My weight stalled at 198 lbs but I felt better than I had in years. I knew stress was a factor in the plateau (I was "retiring" and closed my clinic since the economy was chipping away at my income as the sole proprietor.) I took a year off of "dieting" and went to work for a cruise line to travel and see the sights. I managed to maintain the weight loss for the most part (gained 10 lbs while cruising) and exercised an hour daily on the ship. Then my grandmother was placed on Hospice for back pain from crushed vertebrae (she was 90 years old) I quit my job with the cruise line and came home to be around for my parents and grandmother. Then my mother had her 4th heart attack. More stress and a new PCP (primary care provider) that insisted on messing with my thyroid medication caused me to gain all the weight back (265 again). I commented to the PCP that he should have listened to me (I am a physician after all and know my medical history) and his solution was to suggest bariatric surgery. The funny part is that I have recommended this to many of my patients and never thought about it as an option for myself. I believed that carful healthy diet and exercise would work again. My concern was "stress" seemed to be the bane of my existence and I would never loose weight when stressed. I researched the options (medical web search), had the PCP office request the prior auth and then met with the surgeon to set the date for surgery. Since I had the records from my weight loss progress and my PCP provided the weight gain record (I gained the weight back over 3 months) The auth for surgery was approved. I had a vertical sleeve procedure May 29th this year. My pre-op diet started the weight loss (incidentally the pre-op diet was similar to the low carb diet I had followed previously) and I lost 13.5 lbs the 2 weeks prior to the surgery. I also had my gallbladder out at the same time and the surgeon performed both procedures by a new technique using a "spider instrument" which was through one umbilical port (so only one incision!) My hospital stay was prolonged by a day because of the additional procedure. I have not been able to take in more than 3-4 oz at one time since the surgery. I thought this was normal and didn't ask questions about this until my weight loss stalled. At 7 weeks post surgery I hit my first plateau. I was following the diet to the letter (2 Protein shakes and one "meal" of protein, soft meats & cooked veggies) I would mix the shakes so the 3 oz had 25 gm of protein and would create a Soup that had at least 10 gms of protein in the 1/2 cup of soup. I was taking in 48-60 oz of Water each day and my exercise routine included walking my 2 dogs (a bull mastiff puppy and an 18 month lab/heeler mix) 2-3 times a day (60 to 90 min) and swim laps for 30-45 min when the weather cooperates. My surgeons response was I was eating too much! He wanted me to cut back to 50-55 gms of protein. Now I know the protein is the main measure but the calorie count of my meals was under 500 calories. He stated that didn't matter. I followed his advise for the next week but still did not loose any weight. That was the last time I went to his office. I have increased my intake by adjusting the shakes (still 3 oz) to 10 gm each and increasing the intake to 3 shakes, "lunch" (the soups), a snack of either cottage cheese, yogurt or string cheese (1-2 oz for a snack) This has increased my calories to around 750-800, my protein intake is 55-60 gm daily and I am slowly starting to loose weight again. I average 1 lb loss a week over the past month. So this is my story and I am looking for others to build a support system since I am on my own (my choice)

I pulled that article for you Gummiebear. It's a good read. 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.

I am way older than you. Don't be worried about your age. You are considered young yet.I was to have the gastric bypass several years ago but after a WLS Picnic I came down with a serious lung disease.My GP didn't investigate & put me on a medication that made the fungus in my lungs grow rapidly & also caused a weight gain of over 60 lbs. Now my health is in jeopardy. I would like to know from anyone asap if the banding is covered or partly covered by insurance. I can't afford it but my health is seriously compromised. Someone told me it was & another said "no" What is the real truth? I cannot get my surgeon's assistant on the phone. Signed "Desperate" :thumbup::ohmy::sad:

hi stephh! i just had my baby 9-28-15. i started at 257 and was reached my goal of 150 when i was 14months out, then two weeks later i found out i was pregnant. i too was only taking in about 700-800 pre pregnancy. around 13 weeks pregnant i started getting insanely hungry, literally every two hours. for me it really didn't ease up until i was about 32weeks. my dr wanted me to take in about 1800 calories a day i ended up putting on 42lbs in total. i lost 15lbs after my c section taking me from 192 to 177. i have been stuck there for the past two minths unfortunately, the scale just doesn't want to move for me. keep taking in as much Protein as you can. keep high protein Snacks with you if you're getting hungry often! congratulations on your pregnancy, you can pm me if any questions Thank you so much for responding!!!!!! I feel like I'm in the exact same scenario you were. I feel so much better knowing that someone else is hungry too. I was afraid of it being head hunger. Congratulations on your new baby! How was your pregnancy besides being hungry? Had you been pregnant before? Was it different? Sorry, I have SO many questions!!! Your weight gain doesn't seem bad to me. It seems like a manageable weight and will probably come off. I already have argued with my Dr about gaining weight... He said I could aim for 10-20 pounds because I'm at the top end of my healthy weight range. So far, I've stayed steady, but I'm not very far along. i sent you some photos in pm

I'm 9 months out. But, I have Multiple Sclerosis and I can relate (a little) at least with a few things. The medication your on alone can cause weight gain, it sucks but not a lost cause. I'm sure any excersises are fine. As long as you listen to your body and take it easy. Gosh! You have been through a lot! I'll keep you in my prayers. As far as a meal plan? Two years out? 600 calories? I eat a cup in a half at Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have two Snacks in between. It goes something like this. breakfast ( lunch (L) dinner (D) snacks (S) ( oatmeal w/ walnuts and honey, a boiled egg. (S) 1/2 cup low fat yogurt. (L) A lettuce wrap with turkey, tomato, thinly sliced chili pepper. (Because I like a little spice) Low fat mayo sometimes but, mostly some mustard. (S) cheese and Almonds. (D) Homemade chicken Soup with papaya, ginger, spinach and rice. (I save the broth for 45 minutes after I eat the chicken, papaya, ginger and spinach.) ( Two cups of coffee w/creamer and almond milk. (S) Pear w / Peanut Butter. (L) (Baked) 1/2 a chicken breast, cut up in cubes, roasted eggplant. (S) Whole Wheat crackers, spinach/artichoke hummus. (D) Salmon, Quinoa, and (my salad) lol, it's a salad I eat all the time. Expecially if I'm still hungry after dinner. Or whenever I still feel like I'm starving! It consists; Fresh...Spinach, purple onions and green onions cut up, cilantro, mint leaves, pepper (thinly sliced), bean sprouts. These are a few things to eat. I hope I gave you some ideas. If I missed anything specific you wanted answers to, let me know. I'll try to help. Good luck and best wishes! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using the BariatricPal App

While I concur on cereal and applaud all the healthy suggestions (carrots, apples, etc), I think we're talking about crafting a new lifestyle as opposed to "dieting". Like most of us, I crave an occasional salty/crunchy snack. As I have told my NUT, I think most of my weight gain came from eating nuts which are full of calories. The first thing you have to do is make it a treat -- not a daily habit. My sense is a treat should be eaten no more than 1-2 times a week. Second, understand that sugar is POISON. Not only does it cause weight gain, but it also kills you! If I eat sugary food, I limit it to once a month. For the last 6 months, I have been enjoying something that I never would have eaten in my pre-VSG low carb days - JOLLY TIME POPCORN. They make a single serve 100 calorie bag that they say makes 5 cups of popcorn (it looks like less than that). Even in my pre-sleeve days, I couldn't eat more than one bag. I know popcorn is frowned upon, but in my case, it works!

So cool of you, Andrew, to be sitting in top of all that data about your eating and being able to see what changes you'd made and correlate those to weight changes (up and down). After 17 months post-op, I have come to respect that everybody's body needs / wants what it needs / wants. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for you or others. And vice versa. Having said that, I do know that in my case different foods with identical calories have different effects on my body -- re weight gain, weight loss, physical and mental energy, satiety, and muscle-building capability. All I can do is understand as best I can how different foods affect me. And then I have to have the discipline to (most of the time) eat those foods that help me meet my goals. I follow these rules 80-90% of the time. And then sometimes I decide to do something different. But those are exceptions. Once on another forum I said I thought it should be required for all WLS patients, after they reach goal and maintain for a while, to then regain 10 pounds on purpose -- so they could learn how to recover from regain and not fear it. So congratulations. This is your opportunity to learn all that.

i think it's possible that constipation can cause a little weight gain. but i was wondering if being over-weight can cause constipation in adults. please sure ur thots with me. Blessings, sasha

Hello friend! I'm sorry you are struggling! I found the months of pre-OP preparation extremely uncomfortable emotionally, which I'm guessing must be the same for you? My partner at work, who is a health care provider like me, actually gained 10 pounds the 2 months prior to her surgery. She's been wildly successful since her sleeve, tho. You may be in for a question or two about the weight gain, but you can just be honest and tell them what has been stressing you out. Once you get that surgery date, the stress of waiting for approval will be behind you and you can focus on the future with great encouragement! And truly, once you have the sleeve on your side, you can spend more time focusing on healthy, non-food ways to soothe yourself when times get tough. You'll even have the energy to work out, which is awesome for mind as well as body strength! Blessings to you!

Never did I ever think when I got banded in 2010 I would be getting my band out and revising to the sleeve...Everything went so well. For 2 1/2 years everything was wonderful. I did my homework, I did what was expected of me and dropped about 70 pounds.. Talk about a new me. I still had like 50 pounds to go but I was on a roll and wasn't going to stop. I was on top of the world. Went back to school and found that confident person I once was before becoming obese. Unfortunetally after an unsuccessful fill due to the port twisting, everything went to crap. I had my port fixed and never found my green zone again. I am a 46 year old woman that knows her body and when something is wrong, something is wrong....after numerous attempts ( seven long months of trying to convince my doc something was wrong, like weight gain, starving all the time and horrible pain after my fills) he finally listened and sure enough I had a leak and my port lies right where my pant belt lies. Why would you put a port there in the first place? So not only did I go through physical and emotional pain. I went through a lot of financial pain. All those fills that never worked and the horrible pain I faced. I just never understood why a doctor would let a patient continue to feel this way...and yes, I have gained all my weight back and more. Talk about ashamed and feeling like a failure for the millionth time....The good news is..I fired my doctor and hired a new one (same practice, awkward, but its my body!. He is awesome, kind, very sensitive to your needs, caring and listens to you, Not like the doctors that ask you the question that you just answered to him. One time I had the doctor ask me the same question three times that I had answered. Talk about wanting to get up and walk out...So I have been blessed for a second chance per insurance. They are paying for the band removal and the sleeve. I am scared right now, but I have faith in my doctor and staff. My life will be for the better and I have much support. I have three young boys and wonderful husband supporting me and believing in me. I am not bashing the band, I am bashing the doctor that would not listen to me. He should have never let it get this bad. If I won the lottery, I would help set up a foundation for those that could not afford this surgery. It is life changing and I would want everyone to have that opportunity....obesity is just an awful disease to live with..So my new journey begins MAY 1 and I am so blessed. I think about a year from now how much healthier I will be. Plus I will finish up my schooling and be ready to conquer the world. Best wishes to everyone for whatever choice of surgery you chose...I commend all of you for taking that step. Surely a life long journey.

I was in the same position re-op. My toes looked like sausages and my hands like a bricklayer. The scale went up when I really needed it to go down. Your body will readjust to life without the diuretic, but it takes time and you will be puffy for a while. The good news is you will not be dehydrated. I would caution anyone about taking a diuretic unless prescribed by a doctor. Try to power-through a little longer with the retained water (your body clearly needs it) and the resultant weight gain (its only water). I promise you will balance out soon. Cheers!

well i think this is normal, i have thought over the years, gosh darn it why can't i just eat less , well i can but not forever, that is the problem for me it is not weight loss it is keeping it off, and i think that is where the struggle lies. i tell myself do i really need to have yet another surgery (lapband) oh gosh, my little ones, but the weight gain over this last year with the band complications is tough, i still think i can do it without anything, but i know i can't, does that make me weak? well if morbid obesity is a disease logic says we need to treat the disease and if NIH and so many others say that surgery is the only lasting effect then that is my thinking, but is it logical? not sure, it is still a difficult thing for me, but right now i have a mess to deal with, so it is fresh, and continues to linger in my mind (band complications, emptied, surgery 4/26 new band, hernia repair, new band never filled, erosion now, waiting for removal surgery 7/12 then wait 3-6 months for esophagus to heal, erosion is probably the easiest thing to heal as i have significant damage as i am in my 8th lapband year) so for me it i think about it, but i have made peace with the fact that this is a disease state like anything else, to not do anything is iresponsible for me and the kids, i am trying to do what is best for me, even if my family (siblings) don't and never have supported me on this "surgery that is not necessary" as "i can just eat less"-----ok ranting.... Mila

I was sleeved (after having my lap band removed) in march 2013. It's been a while. I've had to reconnect bc of weight gain, oh yeah it's real. I'm 5' 9" HW: 259...left: 170 cw:201....when I saw that number over 200 I almost passed out. Yesterday I saw my nutritionist and that was hard bc I've had to relive my worst fear. I will not go back. I've signed up for several 5ks, 10k's and half marathon over the next year. I'm currently walking on an incline on the treadmill bc that burns the calories the fastest. I've paid for weight training and hot yoga, which I will implement over the next few weeks. I will not go back. I've come way too far. But I need support. So if anyone has advice, pls share. My motivation is here bc of fear but I'd like it to stay bc I'm comfortable with how I'm challenging myself. Please join me MyFitnessPal: treciagesq99 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

thb, Hello. I didn't know if you were experiencing this personally or if it was just a research q. But yes, you can technically gain weight post fill. Examples: 1) First few fills may not get you to green. Some people may not feel any restriction at all depending on how aggressive/conservative the doc fills them. As a result, they may struggle with hunger, portions and food choices. Resulting in weight gain 2) Too tight? Than there's the bandster who gets too tight of a fill and either they don't recognize the symptoms or are so #'s focused they deal with it. As a result, this bandster does not eat proper foods to avoid getting stuck. Rather, they eat sliders and justify higher cal foods like milkshakes. And, you can stall or gain weight as a consequence. Hope this helps

The holidays remind us of family get-togethers sharing food, laughter and bonding. If you are a food addict, the holidays may be one big guilt ridden binge. Food addicts think about food and have memories of food too, but they will most likely be linked with memories of hiding food, being punished by withdrawal of food, or being abandoned from loving relationships and using food for comfort. This is one reason the holidays are so stressful for people who struggle with food addictions. The frenzy and excitement brings stress, and food addicts comfort and calm their stress with food. Many people don’t understand the obese person’s journey with food. Nor can they relate to actually being under the influence of the intense food cravings, but ask any alcoholic or drug addict what these cravings feel like, and a food addict will be able to recount a very similar craving. The substance most craved with food addicts is sugar, and anyone who has tried to remove sugar from their diet knows how incredibly difficult that can be. The majority of food addicts have been brought up with another addiction. Maybe their parents were alcoholics, abusive, gamblers, smokers or hoarders. The child learned it was safer to turn to food or some other substance for comfort, because turning to a human for a hug or soothing words was impossible. Many food addicts lose weight to get married, only to find that they don’t have the skills to communicate loneliness, boredom, or anxiety to their partner. They slowly begin to turn to what has helped soothe them in the past, which is food. Before long, communication is compromised in the relationship. There is severe weight gain, which begins a disastrous cycle of withdrawing from sex, and turning to food. Soon the partner isn’t happy and the food addict feels shameful and guilty. These feelings of guilt and shame lock the cycle of turning to food even more securely. Weight loss surgery can help minimize disease and help people become more confident and mobile, but if there is an underlying sugar or food addiction, the weight will be re-gained. Sometimes that is in excess of eighty pounds. How can you help if you are addicted, married or know a food addict during the holidays? The key is to plan now. Realize that your partner or friend has a bigger problem than just eating too much. They need professional help, and they need it now. Find out who is on your plan for insurance and what it allows for help with eating disorders. Begin journaling your intake and talk to your partner about journaling theirs as well. This helps you become a team and to feel supported. Encourage your partner to begin turning to you for comfort or if you are alone, have someone who can accompany you to the party. Stay close to them, and when you feel alone turn to them for conversation or hold their hand. This helps delay your sense of needing food. Help them join a food addiction group, and if they are your partner, go with them if they need your support. There are several in Houston, and “Over Eaters Anonymous” offers a 12-step program for food addicts. Your partner suffers shame and guilt every day. Try to remember this, and be gentle. There is a lot of secrecy in this disorder. If they let you in, respect that. Food addicts are hurt, and we as a society can become part of the problem or part of the solution. Most addicts of food (and other addictions) have an enabler. The enabler complains about the behavior, but also supplies the fix. People who are co-dependent or have a low self-esteem may derive their security from enabling an addict. If you live with a food addict, or you suffer a food addiction, the best thing you can do prior to going to the party or being with friends where a lot of food will be present is to have a plan. Set a time limit for yourself at the party and have someone you are accountable to who helps you stay on track. –Mary Jo Rapini *As with all addictions, interventions only work if the addict wants to heal. Harping, nagging and pleading will be met with resistance to change until the addict is ready to make the change.