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Hello All: I was banded in March of 2011 and had great success, I lost 240lbs. Back in December of 2013 I started getting this weird feeling near my port, not pain, just a weird feeling. I didn't think much of it and thought maybe some scar tissue was forming. A few weeks went by and pain started to creep up on me and get worse each day. I went to see my primary care doctor who ordered an xray. I was told that I just had a backup in my intestines and needed to add some Fiber into my diet. I did as the doctor instructed and noticed a slight increase in my bowel movements however the pain was not getting any better. I was a little reluctant to see my lab band surgeon because I had gained a few pounds since my last visit and didn't want to disappoint him since I had such great success overall. The pain got even worse so I thought I would face the music so I went and saw him in mid January 2014. Of course the dr confronted me on the few pounds I had gained and performed a fill. I think expressed my true purpose for seeing him which was the pain not necessarily my weight gain or need for a fill. He ordered a CT scan and sent me on my way. Over the next few days absolute hell broke loose on me. The area he inserted the needle to fill my band turned blochy red almost looked like a rash was forming. A swollen bubble started to form over that area as well that looked like a blister full of liquid. I called his office and got some receptionist telling me he had no openings for two weeks. The instant I mentioned the rash and bubble the told me to come in immediately. I went in to see him and the results from the CT scan were in as well. I was sadly informed that my band had eroded into my stomach. There was a nasty infection brewing inside me around the band and my stomach as well as all down the tubing and around the port. The band was removed the next morning where I then spent the next week in the hosptial on IV antibiotics. For two months i was out of work on hardcore antibiotics. I also had to see a dr specializing in infectious disease and had a home care nurse come to my house twice a week to clean out the wound from where the port was removed. Here I am a year later having gained about 30lbs back and so mad that the band failed me. I was doing so well, people were looking at me differently, and it was all taken away in an instant. Has anyone else gone through this? What could have caused the erosion? I asked the dr and he said it just happens to about 2% of people.

50 pounds in 12 days? Is that a typo? The amount of calories one would have to eat to put on 50 pounds in 12 days is....not even doable, especially when sick, especially with a band. But still. I'm sorry for your complications and weight gain. Yes, I agree. Finding the weight loss rhythm and optimal fill level after having been unfilled has proven challenging, and perhaps ulimately impossible for me. I'm back to traditional good old dieting (willpower + hunger + calorie counting) just to maintain my loss. Very depressing.

I won't admit that in my WWs days, I measured my wedding ring, watch, earrings and outfit on my food scale so I could justify any weight gain or very small loss at registration.

No way honey!!! No way. It will stretch your pouch. Maybe not all at once but over time. Diet coke causes weight gain. Research it. There have been many studies to support it. It's terrible for you, very hard on your stomach and could give you an ulcer. It has a ton of chemicals in it which are awful for you and your new lifestyle. http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20739512,00.html Must read this. Start exploring new things. Perhaps iced decaf tea? Decaf coffee chilled with a little cream? Crystal light.

No way honey!!! No way. It will stretch your pouch. Maybe not all at once but over time. Diet coke causes weight gain. Research it. There have been many studies to support it. It's terrible for you, very hard on your stomach and could give you an ulcer. It has a ton of chemicals in it which are awful for you and your new lifestyle. http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20739512,00.html Must read this. Start exploring new things. Perhaps iced decaf tea? Decaf coffee chilled with a little cream? Crystal light.

Is it just straight caffeine or are you jazzing it up? I wonder because I'm drinking coffee now and I get dumping if there's to much cream in it. Not related to low sugar so do you know why your sugar drops? If it's not to personal, how's your weight now? I ask because you were so young when you had the surgery that you may not of had the benefit of having a nutritionist to help guide your eating. The stats show we're all susceptible to weight gain after a period of time, and if you have gained what's your thoughts about correcting it? Sorry for all the questions but when I started this journey I was full steam ahead and now that I know I'll be successful in the weight loss I'm looking at what to expect or try to prevent from happening in my future. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience.

I had my first appointment with surgeon in Virginia on October 15. I weighed 265. I had my first appointment with my primary care on October 31 I weighed 269. I had my second appointment with my primary care on November 18. I weighed 276.2. I had a third appointment with my primary care and I weighed 276.4. Worried about net weight gain, I did the cabbage soup diet and went back to my primary care on January 6. I weighed 266.2. My surgeon submitted my paperwork to Aetna open access on January 9. The surgeon was told I was denied due to net weight gain. Unknown to me the surgeon coordinator appealed on my behalf indicating blood pressure medicine had caused me to gain water weight and that I had since been on a diuretic and lost weight. Aetna approved on Friday, January 16. Submittal rejection appeal and approval all took 7 days. My surgery is scheduled for February 12.

Wow! That will be one busy appointment! As far as reading negative things, don't let that scare you. I remember reading the "weight gained since having surgery" thread on this site before having my sleeve surgery and nearly backing out of it because of it. If you take the opportunity this surgery gives you, follow the plan, and do the emotional and physical work you need to do, you will do great! If you want to read some positives instead of negatives, feel free to check out my blog in my siggy. I've tried to share the good, the bad, and the beautiful from my first appointment on. Good luck to you on your journey!

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I loved my nuvaring. No side effects. Insertion was a bit intimidating, but the pill made me very very sick. I had no weight gain, didn't have to remember to take a pill, and could make it so I didn't have a period every months. I totally recommend it.

Good evening all, im new here and not sure i posted in the right place but figured id give it a go, I really need some 'spousal support' here....im the fiance to be exact, however. I apOlogize in advance, as this will be long...My fiance had sleeve in November 2014, though I am extremely proud of him, as he is doing amazing and recovery went smoothly and all, despite him being down 92 pounds already, im having a lot of struggles and the pre and post-op stuff and its really effecting our relationship when it arises. When were good, were solid, when were bad, im more depressed than ever. To sum up the timeline; he struggled with the decision for surgery for about 2.5 yrs or so, basically since I had met him. Obviously his weight was no issue for me, ive struggled with my weight all of my life, as well. In fact, ive always been attracted to husky guys but he was the largest man i ever dated and i fell completely in love! I fell in love with him as a big man and love him regardless, its the changes and obsessions im concerned about (i'll get to that). Prior to his decision, we talked a lot about it and though i always told him if he chose to do so, id spport him, i was against it solely because in the time ive been with him, hes never seen anything through when it came to his weight, even though hed see great results! Prior to me meeting him, he did a medical weight loss program consisting mainly of shakes and lost about 110lbs, but gained it all back once he came off the shakes, coupled with some depression from a breakup and such. Post us meeting, i was about 25lbs smaller than i am now, which obviously bothers me, but again a struggle all my life...i was still however going to the gym, eating right, following tools from weight watchers etc. After some time of us being together, he would speak of wanting to lose weight, we talked about how having a buddy is helpful, etc, so id invite him to the gym with me, invite him to weight watcher meetings, etc. he would never come, so after a few weeks i figured he really wasnt into it and i stopped inviting. After some time, our relationship got more serious, i stopped getting to the gym as much bc wed want to spend more time togeher but that also equalled us going out to dinner more, staying in, being less active, etc. hence the start of my 25lb weight gain and him gaining more as well. With all of that being said.....he met with a surgeon in August/September and HE made a decision to have the surgery. He never spoke to me about it, as he had in the past, and when hed mention it wed fight bc id remind him that ill support it but i was worried he was having surgery and wished he would have at least talked to me before making the devision, and/or TRIED something first and seen it through;, tried the medical program again, a support type program like WW etc as he had previously done them and saw results but never saw them thru. I had reminded him i had gained weight since we met and i had begun working on that, maybe it was something we can try to do together before he decided on surgery. Initally he said no, then suddenly came home (he moved in with me in August, as well) one day and informed me he had joined weight watchers and was going to go to a group that week....i told him that was great and immediately took out all the materials i had previously gotten from family members that we could use (with the hope hed eventually want to try this route with me), picked up my food scale from my parents home, support guides, calculators, etc. and let him know i was all in for us to do it together. In addition, since we were now living together, i again began inviting him to the gym with me...nothing came of the gym or ww. After some time, little fights here and there about food, him effecting my eating habits, preventing me from going to the gym (id say i want to go after work, hed plan an activity or wanna go out to dinner, etc) and basically him binging all the time since he had made his decision, and my concerns for his health. Shortly thereafter again he returned home this time having went through with a new surgeon and now awaiting a surgery date. I was beyond devestated and angry! I felt he completely disregarded my concerns he knew of for him having this and even though i disagreed, its like he refused to even let me be part of his decision meanwhile i felt here i am trying to encourage you, in a different capacity, but encourage none the less BEFORE jumping to surgery. Not to mention, we now share bills but I was covering them all for about 4 months, as he is in debt and im not and i told him being i own my apartment and its my mortgage id carry that until were married and give him 3 mos before hed start paying his portion of monthly bills for the home,so he can try to pay off more debt first...he couldnt save money to pay help pay OUR bills but here he was setting up to have another bill for surgery, while were still paying off his eye surgery, student loan, car, etc in the midst of me carrying all of the household bills, saving for a wedding, etc and he makes significantly more money than me. Maybe financially this wasnt the time but we never even talked about it in definitive means, at all. Dont get me wrong, ive told him time and time agan, his weight was never an issue for me, but his health absolutely was! He is 30 yrs old with diabetes in his family and already on meds for high blood pressure. I digress....he chose the gastric sleeve and though i still disagreed with surgery, did feel it was his best option, which helped me a little...pre-op he was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks and lost 27lbs. I prepared everything for him, spent hours after work at night reading all of the materials from the doctors, etc. we'd fight, but moreover now bc i felt he didnt ask the doctor pertinent information, he rushed into a decision, hes gullable to begin with and i felt like he never told me anything unless i asked....i never even knew when his appointments were for all the pre testing! So, i joined an online forum and read endless at work, at home, when i couldnt sleep, etc. though i spoke to him about all of my concerns, he only seems to focus on my concern of him eventually no longer being attracted to me once hes skinny and feeling different about himself, since im not skinny and currently larger than when we met (minus 10lbs ive recently lost...im 5'0 170lbs, not huge but thick))...he doesnt seem to hear that one concern is more deep rooted and doesnt directly correlate to his surgery, but moreover some changes in him ive seen since he moved in with me and since he made a decision to have the surgery. Regardless, he believes what he will despite how i try to argue what my actual feeling/thought is. November came, i broke down the night before his surgery about not wanting him to go in, afraid he hasnt thought his through, wont wake up, wanted a quick fix, etc. His surgery thankfully went great, as did his recovery and he is now down 92lbs since November....i am extremely proud of him and think he looks great! Here are my concerns, one he has become obsessed with weighing himself daily. His attitude towards me has seemed to change completely as if i have no opinion on anything esp his new journey but it pours into household decisions, wedding plans, etc. he asks me my thoughts/feelings but then argues when im honest or he walks away. he cannot go a single day without mentioning how skinny he looks, his surgery, etc. im running out of responses wuthout being robotic or sarcastic. We walk in a store, he sees a mirror and stops or disengages bc hes looking at himself. we have countless convos about his food choices and when i try to make him realize portion control and helathier decisions is focus, not restriction he argues with me and we get in a huge fight, but when he eats something he considers bad or off diet (a food hes restricted or whatnot), he justifies it. He eats much of the same stuff and ive told him im concerned hell get bored and binge, hell argue me, then last week is complainiing hes bored of his food. He already obviously eats small portions and was up to about 6oz per sitting however went to the doctor today and because hes ahead of the game in his recovery, the doctor wants him to restrict more food and eat smaller portions yet intially told him kt was okay to increase if he felt hungry, but not if he felt satisfied. He is a big boned guy, built like a football player and very broad. I have grave conerns the his surgeon has convinced him to get to this magic number of 230lbs and not only do i think it is unhealthy but i also think hell be way too small. Not to mention, my fiances magic number went from 250 to now 220! I try to let him know theres no magic number, so long as he is happy, healthy and maintains his improvements in choices and such, its about him being comfortable, healthy and hapoy with himself, not a number on a chart! he argues me. Its like i cannot have an opinion on anything when it comes to this....every step of the way i feel he shuns me out, disregards my concerns etc. theres days i think he thinks i dont want him to be successful but its moreover i dont want him to be excessive and put weight back on, as he has time and time again, he has a trainer now, for 2 months after being cleared there was an issue with his training sessions, i told him lets still go to the gym together. He wouldnt, he relied on waiting on the trainer. He claimed hed go to the gym 6 days a week, i encourgaed him to start with 2-3 days and work to more or slowly Increase to keep himself with a goal thats attainable and maintable over time, fights break out. But yet he only goes to tge gym 2 maybe 3 times a week. Now, when we have days off together, we go to the gym together, he works with the trainer i dont, as we couldnt afford the trainer to begin with for one of us, let alone 2, so i told him he can do it. But i ask him to teach me things hes learning from the trainer or ask about stuff i can do (they know he comes to sessions with his fiance) and its like he purposely never wants to share with me. Many times, he makes comments like 'have that cookie for me', 'have some pizza for me'....its like he wants me to gain as he loses, sabotage me butne remains successful meanwhile he knows i struggle with weight loss to begin with, too. I tried to talk to him tonight, after he told me his doc wants him eating less and another fight broke out....he tells me 'its my freakin body' after i explained to him i was upset bc i feel like he asks why im upset but doesnt want to hear it and im upset bc im worried hes not necessarily being healthy if hes eating even less, considering he doesnt eat much because of the surgery. I tried telling bim that i understand its coming from a doctor but it also seems the doctor has an ideal weight for you that may not be individualized for you. He yelled at me and walked away. In the past ive tried explaining to him, at my smallest i was 19lbs above the american standard, but i looked sick and my family was ready to admit me for an eating disorder. Ive tried telling him that in my opinion, the standards do not take into consideration someones body type and how they carry their weight, its just a mathematical number. Ive told him that i really wish hed not focus on this magic number and focus on making healthy decisions and being active and how great i think he looks now, down almost 100lbs. He always starts a fight about it. Im beyond spent! I go to his support groups, when i can get there on time since its a 2-hour commute for me, from work....im one of the only people there as a support and they offer the support/spouses no support....so i go for him but i feel i have nowhere to take out my frustrations or talk about them. I truly believe in talking about things, or even fighting so long as theres resolution, being able to get things out rather than let things build up but he walks away from me.....when it comes to family and friends, i dont talk to them because i feel its 1- unfair to divulge his/our personal business and 2- unfair to let them know these struggles and how its effecting US because were engaged and i dont want anyone discouraging his weight loss or swaying us to rethink our marriage because of it. I absluetly feel we can work it out but im lost for what to do. I feel like i have nowhere to go, he wont talk to me or hear my concerns, he wont ask his doctors about my concerns just acts like their word is gold....so when he asks me why im upset and i try to tell him and it causes a fight, i later let him know you ask me but dont want to hear anything from me, you only seem truly concerned about what your doctor says and a degree doesnt make him anymore important than me. I tried telling him today, im not angry but what hurts and bothers me is he doesnt seem to care when he asks me, he asks to say he asked. Next to all of this, prior to him deciding on his surgery and having it, i began eating better and getting back to the gym. I suffer from a thyroid disease and ceased metabolism, and therfor struggle like crazy to lose weight and tone up. But of course, i easily gain. Regardless, i didnt have surgery so my weight loss will be muuuuuuch slower than his. He has never seemed to support me with losing weight and toning, but is quick to critisize my gym routine (i usually go 2-4 times a week...before he didnt care, now he contantly tells me i should go more), , i eat too little sometimes or no at all, etc. He knows ive been trying, making better decisions, encouraging him to stay on track etc, he will want to go get forzen yogurt, ill say no, hell convince me, then tell me im such a horrible support for him. He'll 'cheat' at home but in front of friends and family, eats like a bird, as if hes showing off but so far, will always eat later on when we get home! I have a feeling he told his doctor his eating has been worse than it actually has been bc some days hes very hard on himself and some days hes very reasonable and sees this is a process and journey and not every day will be great but it doesnt mean hes failing. I dont think his surgery entails him not eating. It entails him learning moderation and such, at least everything i read and have hard has said so. I shared with him one day MY excitement of how a coworker made a comment about me losing weight and looking 'brighter' and he got mad, telling me he tells me all the time....he has never once told me hes noticed ive lost weight, and ive now lost about 13lbs in total. In fact, its been quite some time since hes seemed to even notice me, period! I can walk past him naked and it doesnt phase him. I can tell him i lost another pound or 2, he barely responds to me. Ive explained these things to him, as well, as more examples of how things between US have changed since he moved in/made this decision and how the decision was going to effect us both but he never thought to include me in it. Our sex life is lacking completely, which again for me has been an issue that both coincide with, along with some 'personal' things i feel hed rather do than be intimate with me. He denies it all, tells me im crazy. Ive flat out asked him if hes cheated or is no longer interested in me or attracted to me, he denies it all and says its just natural changes bc were living together now. I dont disagree with that being partly the reason and i do not think hes cheating or trying to. I just am beyond broken lately and feel i have nowhere to go! I need help.....i dont know how to support something when 1- i disagreed with it being a first option, 2- i feel completly shut out and disregarded, 3- i feel it gets thrown in my face and only adds to criticism towards me, 4- seems to be consuming him and effecting our otherwise strong relationship, etc etc etc. I know this is a novel....i just dont know what to do anymore! Im a therapist and although ive got a lot of tools in my arsenol, i dont have the slightest clue what to do anymore when it comes to this....i feel ive tried everything! Ive been supportive, bitchy, ignored, etc. nothing seems to improve anything and im growing more and more angry, sad, etc Can anyone help, or recommend something? Ohhh and lastly, i dont feel comfortable inquiring about a spousal support group with the surgical team/office he used, since it turns out the PA who performed his surgery with the doctor, is his friends ex-girlfriend....i dont fear shed be unprofessional, as it seems she has been since day one, but i just dont feel 100% comfortable, not to mention its a 2-hour commute for me. Again, i apologize for the length....i hope someone can help or guide me! Thank you all for your time!

@@Stevehud - No one is advocating not listening to your surgical team. If you read my post clearly I stated that I worked with my nutritionist in coming up with a way to eat whole foods. It takes a lot of work. I had to do my part and research alternatives, but it can be done. You also assume that weight gain was because of over eating. I can't speak for others, but I know in my case multiple medical issues played a large part. Pre-mature menopause due to cancer and a tumor on my pituitary are just a few of my issues as well as my severe food allergies. What I am saying is it is entirely possible to eat whole foods on a bariatric diet. If you that is not the path for you, then so be it.

Par1959 you are so right, logging is a key factor in weight loss success for most people. I know that When I am brutally honest with myself not logging my food intake is first on the list of things I haven't been doing also not chewing enough, not waiting between bites and eating to many carbs. This certainly explains my weight gain. I will be having my revision surgery in two weeks to fix the incredible heartburn that I'm having. I'm not looking forward to starting over but I do feel like I have a second chance to relearn everything to keep my weight loss successful.

i went back to oral contraceptives. it remains a good option for me since I still have some form of PCOS (but it's fading quickly according to bloodwork and ultrasound!). my surgeon warned me to avoid Depo because of the potential weight gain with it, and ultimately left it up to my OB-Gyn who helped me make an informed decision.

you were banded a month before me, I gained 2lbs between surgery and my 1st fill I have since had another fill, how often are you seeing your Dr.? don't worry too much about a weight gain though like the person above said it's a marathon not a race, and there are days when I can retain as much as 5 or 6lbs of Water. Don't give up.

@@VSGAnn2014 I actually found this article very encouraging. Just think, this lady had tremendous success. Chances are, considering her pre-op weight and age, she would not be alive today if she had not had surgery. And she kept the vast majority of it off for a long time. And then, after a relatively modest weight gain she took action! I view this like a car or appliance-- sometimes things need a little tightening!

HEY GUYS HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED WEIGHT GAIN? I WAS SURPRISED AS HECK TO SEE TODAY I STEPPED ON THE scale AND HAD GAIN ALMOST 4 LBS. I DID UP MY CALORIES A BIT. I WAS EATING 500-600 CALORIES AND NOT LOSING MUCH. SOMEONE MENTIONED YOU SHOULD EAT MORE BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE THROWING THE BODY INTO STARVATION MODE. I UPPED MY CALORIES TO ABOUT 800. MY Protein IS AT 60-70 GRAMS. BUT THAT THROW ME THIS MORNING. I ALSO HAVE ALWAYS LOVED Water, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I'D REALLY RATHER DRINK WATER THAN EAT NOW. I HAVE AN APPT. THURS WITH THE DOCTOR AND ONE WITH THE DIETITIAN THE NEXT WEEK. I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR TAKE ON THIS IS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS THE RANGE OF CALORIES I'M SUPPOSE TO BE SHOOTING FOR, BUT JUST WONDERING IF IT HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON WHAT I FIND OUT.

I have bcbs of mississippi. I started my documented weight with my surgeon at 272. In December I weighed I at 258. Today I weighed in at 261. My doctor is submitting my information to bcbs of mississippi tbis week. I am worried that the 3 lb weight gain will cause a denial. Should I be worried? If I am approved how long will it take? Worried. ... VSG Ready

What the heck? I had gastric bypass on jan 8th and have lost 10 pounds already. When I got on the scale this morning I'd gained 2 pounds. Nothing I ate yesterday stayed in my system, I tossed my cookies each time I ate. How do you gain when you're tossing you're cookies! I don't get it.

I just had this discussion with my surgeon at a one year follow up visit. I've lost 145 pounds and I am about 13 pounds past my pre-established goal. Weight loss has slowed dramatically for me. He indicated that your body makes the decision for you. If you follow the plan for 12-18 months, the body will settle into it's comfort zone. You can push the limits through a strict diet and exercise plan but unless you can maintain that level, there might be some small weight gain; even when sticking to the diet plan. And that is the body adjusting to where it is most comfortable.

Good morning everyone, I had my surgery done Sept 20,2012..I have gained 20 lbs since and I don't know where to start to get it off. I have to admit that I don't exercise. I used to walk at the park but lately I have just been going with the flow eating whatever. I also notice that I can eat more now than before over the last 2 years. Any suggestions on Protein rich foods that can help me stay full longer so that I won't snack as much. Please help!

That's so awesome that you are freed of weight gain worries. I love that you call it a lifestyle change. I'm trying to adjust my life now (6 weeks out) so that I just ease into it. Sorry for the hormonal changes. I wondered if I would have some of that also. We'll see. I'm ready! Congrats on your success. Enjoy the journey.

Does anyone know if gababentin causes weight gain? I've been trying to lose and I've been eating right, but I have read that medication causes weight gain so I wonder if that's why I'm not losing.

HI EVERYONE, IM NEW TO THIS AND JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT I REALLY WANT INFO ONE.. MY SURGERY IS JAN 26 AND IM HAVING THE SLEEVE DONE. I WEIGHT 238 AND DECIDED THIS IS BEST FOR ME I DINT HAVE KIDS AND WANT THEM REALLY BAD I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME AND FOUND OUT IT'S FROM WEIGHT GAIN... HAS ANYONE HAD POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME AND GOT PREGNANT AFTER SURGERY?

I agree with everything that has been said here so far - no one is the perfect patient. (Well, maybe this elusive unicorn is out there, but fear not, sister - you are in good, imperfect company!) I agree with other folks that have said that this weight gain is not really an embarrassment, so much as a hiccup. You absolutely DESERVE to get back on track. You are worth it, right? RIGHT. :-) The best thing to conquer the disgust you feel with yourself and your depression is to get out of the pattern of having no control over your band, and get some professional help! If your Doc or surgeon is not available, find someone who is. Make some calls, get on the web, do some research... the moment you begin to take this matter into your own hands, the faster a solution will present itself and the better you will be able to sleep at night. We are cheering you on! Keep us posted...!