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@@diamondchic94 I have PCOS. High Testosterone Weight gain and irregular cycles. I'm early in my post op journey so im interested to see how my weight loss is affected by PCOS.

March 7 in Wichita, Kansas. I begin a two-week diet on Monday. I'm male, 6', 405 lbs. I used to be a super-fit gym rat at a muscular 210 lbs (15 years ago) and hope to get back to that level. I later put on a few pounds and had undiagnosed sleep apnea and low testosterone that zapped my energy and metabolism, which accelerated my weight gain. This is my first post, btw. Sent from my LG-E970 using BariatricPal

While I just had my lap band surgery I do have a few questions for down the road when I cross that 'lose skin path' I know I will cross. 1) I had a breast reduction back in 94, I went from a 32 III to a 32 C/D (I am now a 36 D/DD (kids and weight gain). Would I be able to get a lift after the initial reduction 14 years ago? (will be 15 by the time I get to that point) 2) I carry 90% of my weight on my bottom half, I know my insurance (at this time) will cover a full/partial body lift if I need it but my concern is how successful are thigh (inner/outer) lifts. I have been researching things and have read more then once that thigh lifts are harder then upper body lifts at being successful. Why is this? It has me concerned that I would be making a mistake.

I'm having left leg outer thigh numbness,its been coming on for a year .then it started like pins poking pain and burning. I had a EMG at neroligist. Its called MERALGIA PARESTHETICA. Google it. It's a pinched or trapped nerve. Femerol nerve. The nerve that let's you feel on the side of thigh. Its caused from tight clothing, or belt .Also from weight gain. It usually is only on one leg. My dr said after I loose weight it will start to heal. It itches also. And I get burning pain. The pain came on after 6 months of numbness. My surgery gastrectomy was March 4th. I'm down 13 lbs. Started at 210 now 197 5ft and 1/2 inch. I hope this pain stops soon. I'm on gabapentin and norco pain meds it hurts bad. Google it.

I’m lucky, I mostly work from home so haven’t had to deal so much. Or, with the few I had told and have spoken to since, they gathered it was a done deal, good choice and (ultimately) none of their motherforking business...in a nice way [emoji846] Most have just been fascinated by what it was all about in practice and throw in the metabolic, hunger hormone, and microbiome headlines that highlight there’s more to this than calories in and out and this particular path out of the weight gain/regain jungle was mine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

😭😭😭 Thank you soooo much. I think it’s all just so new and the fear of weight gain was seriously bugging me out.

We actually got a ride in not this last weekend but the one before....it was cold! We leathered up and went anyway. My stress levels were sky high, and nothing seems to help as much! Things here are going......not much change, the scale is still going up, up, up. The hives keep breaking out all over. Have had a couple of trips to the Dr. where even with the low dose daily steroids, they have been in my throat. He guarantees me the weight gain is issue with the steroids. But I know I am eating the food, I just cannot seem to stop myself. I have no control---and the more I worry about it the worse the hives get, and the longer I have the hives, the longer I keep on the steroids.....see the evil circle here???? I cannot get to my fill Dr. He is 6 hours away, over 3 mountain passes, all are snow packed, and one is totally closed due to an avalanche of snow. I would have to fly in. I pay $150.00 per fill, and to add an additional 2-3 hundred to fly....it just isn't in the budget. We are in serious cost saving mode. Ricks hours were cut back seriously, and lay offs are in the offing, so we are really trying not to spend much extra, and to cut back where we can. So to buy an airline ticket right now is not happening. I had arrangements between my Dr. and my former oncologist, she actually tried to hit my port, but I think her needle was too short. It was a huber non coring needle, but not long enough he thinks. So I got poked a few times, but no fill. So looks like I just keep getting fatter until Spring Thaw. Can you say depressed?????? It is upsetting to say the least. It is cold here, but just a skift of snow last night. It was finally drying up so I could get to the barn and ride without spending hours cleaning hooves.....and now it is pushing in another storm!! New grandson is ok I guess, we don't get to see him often.....the appointment thing is not happening! We also found out we have another grandbaby coming in August. Our son and his wife have a little boy,Connor who will be 3 in March, and they are having another. That one I will get to see without an appointment! Well sorry I have been MIA.....I have been a slug, and not exercising. Thinking seriously about doing the 5 day pouch test, just to maybe jump start my own enthusiasm again. Til then, guess I'll have another Diet Dr. Pepper! Sherry, hope you are healing from your fall. I fell in the wood shed not long ago. Just kinda hurt my wrist, and my ego! Y'all take care, and I will check back in. Kat

Hello. My name is Jenny and I have posted on here around the time of my surgery back in August of 2010. I'm not really sure where to post this but I'm guessing that the "General Lap Band Support is the right place because I do need support but I also want to share my story. I was banded on August 24, 2010 by Dr. Luis Reyes. On my pre-op diet I had lost around 10 pounds and on the day of my surgery I weighed 220 pounds. I recovered quickly and an appointment was set up to see Dr. Reyes in 1 week's time after my surgery. During that first week I drank nothing but pain medication in liquid form, chicken broth, and Water and could only drink all these liquids from a 30 ml medicine cup and it would take me about 45 minutes to get it down. I thought all this would surely drop a few pounds and it did. I went from 220 pounds to 217 pounds in about 3 days, but when the 7 days were up and I was set to go to my appointment I was 224 pounds. While in the doctor's lobby there were other patient's that either had lap band or gastric bypass and they were all excited and I found out that they were also there for their 1 week check in and they were all on cloud 9 saying "I already lost 10 pounds. I have lost 15 pounds. I have lost 20 pounds in a week!" some of these were lap band patients saying this. They seemed so ecstatic about the weight loss and I was happy for them but then I thought about my reality of gaining 7 pounds when these people had lost all this weight in 1 week after surgery. I got called in and was weighed and I was so embarrassed when I saw 224 pounds and I had to fight to keep the tears in. I was sent to a waiting room and when Dr. Reyes came in he discussed my weight and I guess at this point he mentally pinned me as a patient that was going to be noncompliant with the surgery's rules and the diet. He regarded me with suspicion because of my weight gain and I told him I was doing everything the rules stated and he told me that the gain was probably due to swelling. I went on my way and made an appointment to return in 1 month. In the middle of that month I was given the thumbs up to start exercising lightly so I chose Walking off the Pounds with Leslie Sansone and did it about 4 days a week for 40 minutes. I was still in the stage 1 of the eating menu and was slowly making my way to stage 2 and was feeling good. I got down to 212 and I surprised that I had because I was also in the middle of finishing up my last year of nursing school and it was pretty hectic. I was so excited that I was 212 because it was the first time I had hit that number in about 12 years.....but it didn't last. I kept with the same exercise regimen and transitioned fully to mushy food when I got the okay to do so by the doctor's office and the weight began to stagnate at 212 pounds and then slowly crept up all the way up to 224 pounds again. By the time my 1 month appointment came around I was furious and annoyed by all the happy people in the lobby proclaiming that they lost this amount of weight and that amount of weight. I was almost in tears when I saw the 224 pounds on the scale and thought "don't cry. the doctor will know what is wrong with me. he'll know why I'm not losing weight." I had my mother with me at the time and even she wanted to cry because of the anguish I was going through and she was also frustrated that the weight loss was not happening. The doctor came in and shook our hands and asked me how everything was going and I blurted out. "I don't know what's happening. I don't think it's working" and I think he took it as a personal attack on him and his work which I didn't mean it to be. It was out of my desperation. I told him what had been happening. That I got down to 212 then all of a sudden I was 224 despite the dieting and despite the exercise. He proceeded to cut me off mid sentence and told me "It's your fault. You must not be following rules. You have to change your eating habits or it's not going to work." and I furrowed my brow in disbelief and just stared at him and finally said, "No. I'm following the rules. I'm eating nothing but liquids and soft mushy foods. I stop when I get full. I try everyday to get in 60 oz of water a day. I'm exercising as much as my surgery allows me to at this moment. I'm following the rules but I keep on gaining!" He talked over me and told me, "Stop drinking the sugary drinks. Stop eating the candy. Stop drinking the cokes. Stop eating the chips. Stop eating the pizza because this is why you're gaining." And I looked at my mother for help because there was no point in telling him again that he must be talking to the wrong person because I am not cheating and I'm following the rules that he set for me. My mother told him "Look doctor. Before she had the surgery and when she was little I let her eat whatever she wanted, but this surgery was big and I don't think she would throw this all away to cheat. I live with her. When she's cooking her food I'm there in the kitchen as well cooking for the rest of the family. I watch her. She does not cheat because we both want this to work." and it was the God honest truth. I wasn't cheating. I did have cravings when she was cooking for other people I would resist tasting and leave the kitchen immediately and would be successful in doing so. So he told my mother "Does she have her own room?" my mother said yes. "Does she go to sleep after you go to sleep or does she stay up late?" and my mom said she stays up as long as she wants to stay up. And mind you I'm 26 years old and a nurse and he still treated me as if I was a child. then he told my mother "well, ma'am. that's it. there's the problem. She's sneaking in food late at night while everyone else is asleep. The candy, the Cookies, the sodas." At that point, I zoned out and was unresponsive to anything else he said after that. I hated him for accusing me of behaviors that I was not exhibiting. After that he decided that what I needed was a fill. It was my first fill and he told me I have a 7 cc band and he put 2 CCs in that day. He made me left my own feet so band can protrude out making it easy for him to eye the port underneath my skin. It was hard holding up my legs especially as an obese person. He saw me struggle. Then he poke and prodded me with the needle and hurt my with each stick. and that was that. He sent me out, I went home, drank some Powerade, couldn't keep it down, couldn't keep my own saliva down, and ended up having to have a cup with me for more than 24 hours to puke my bile into. I called the office and told them that I needed an unfill and they told me I couldn't come in right away that I had to wait til 2 pm and I had called around 10 am. I was miserable. I went in and they weight me again after a day and I had gone down to 217 pounds and the lady that weighed me was all "OMG! 2 pounds in 1 day! that is awesome!!" if only she knew the hell I was going through in that 1 day. I was told that Dr. Reyes wasn't in because he was busy at the hospital and I would have to see his colleague Dr. Garza. When I began talking to Dr. Garza. He actually sat there and listened to me and didn't interrupt me while I was talking. I told him that it wasn't working and that I was having more difficulty trying to lose weight than when I was trying to lose it on my own without the lap band. I told him I was following at the rules and he told me "well, it's different for everyone. but I don't want you to give up. Keep trying and if nothing helps then come in and we'll try to figure out what's wrong." So then he got me ready to removed 1/2 cc from my band and he actually had one of the ladies come in and hold up my feet for me which was so much more comfortable and when he stuck me with the needle his hand was steady and gentle and it didn't hurt. But what surprised me the most was how after I got unfilled he sat me down and gave me a a tiny cup of water and told me to take my time drinking it and if it goes down without any complications I was free to go and if it didn't then I'll come back in and I'll readjust you again. I wanted to cry because Dr. Reyes didn't even care enough to do this for me. He just told me bye without testing if I could drink and keep down the liquids after having my band filled. So I went home and I could drink and eat but less which was how the band is supposed to work. I lost about 2 pounds and ended up going back to see Dr. Reyes. He told me he didn't know what was going on but not to blame the lap band because it's the patient's job to to work with it. So I went to my main doctor and there was this new PA there and she diagnosed me with hypothyrodism because of my symptoms of not being able to lose weight and stuff and I went back to Dr. Reyes and told him I had hypothyroidism and I guess to him this was the reason I wasn't losing weight and he seemed to become nicer after I told him that. So then the PA calls me to tell me to buy some potassium pills to take with the thyroid medication she gave me and I did because I finally thought that the reason for not being able to lose weight was finally revealed. A couple of days later my doctor called me and told me to come in and when I did he told me that he had fired the PA because she was diagnosing multiple people with diseases they didn't even have and prescribing medications for these "diseases" so he told me that I don't even have hypothyroidism and told me to stop taking the pills that the PA gave me. So I was at square 1 again. Around this time my enthusiasm started to dwindle. I didn't care about losing the weight anymore. I didn't care about exercising. I didn't care what I ate. I thought what for? I'm a failure. I've been doing everything right. I followed the rules and maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I stopped going to Dr. Reyes' office and now weigh 230 pounds and have weighed this much for months. I recently went to the my main doctor for a 3 month check up and saw my weight at it was 232 pounds and something just clicked...that I need to continue losing weight and get rid of all the negativity and let go of the past. There was a time when I thought of revision to gastric bypass or gastric sleeve but I don't think that I could do this all over again. So, I'm trying to become more positive and I feel like this is my time to really lose the weight this time. Without the band. The band means nothing to me anymore. And one day I want it removed. I'm not focused on it anymore. I'm just focused on eating healthy and exercising. I'm currently doing the 17 day diet by Dr. Moreno and doing turbo jam and/or zumba 6 days a week and I have lost 10 pounds so far and contribute nothing to band anymore. It's all me! and will only be me. I would still like to come here on these boards for support on my weight loss journey though. I find that music really helps in situations and I just wanted to share a song that resonates with me and relates to my lap band situation with my doctor and everything and wanted to share it here. You can look for it on youtube. It's Called Monarch by Natalie Walker.

Many thanks to all that replied…Here's an update on me. The first thing I did was have an attitude adjustment with myself - I was feeling sorry for myself and discouraged. So, I pulled on my big girl panties and marched on…I changed my mindset from "this sucks", "the weight gain sucks", etc. to looking at this as an opportunity. There are people that have things much worse than I do - I have a great life, full support of family, a great job and a husband, son and dog that love me. I am blessed. I did well yesterday with the two appetite suppressants - I didn't feel weird, maybe a little jacked up (I also woke up this morning at 4:00 am wide awake). I had very little food yesterday compared to a normal day lately - I quickly realized how much I have been grazing. Today - same story. Very little interest in food. I feel like I'm feeling my restriction better - I'm probably more alert and I am going back to mindful eating. I almost feel like I'm at the 6 month post-op mark - remember those days? So, I'm going to keep on keeping' on for the next 6 weeks with the appetite suppressants until I see my doc for follow up. By that time, I will have had my upper GI and ultra sound on the gall bladder and we will see where the road takes me. Thanks again for the advice, kind words, and suggestions. This is an awesome forum with awesome people - I'm glad I came back.

Call your insurance and ask for the wording specific to your plan. Everyone’s plan is different. Just call and get it straight from the horse’s mouth. I’ve heard some say they can gain more than 6lbs, while others say nothing about weight gain during nutrition. Best of luck!

@nssmia A thought, bmi 30 and over is obesity range, WIll lyposuction get you healthy long term or will you regain with that proceedure? I'm also concerned about all the posts recently about weight gain and revisions. Know there are many of us that bounce back from surgery with no complications and have kept the weight off. I had the sleeve in 2014. I reached goal in six months. I maintain in the 130's. Many people at goal or maintaining no longer need the support on this site.. the positive is not getting enough recognition. You will see mostly. People researching, new to wls complications, weight gain and a handful of vets that stick around I have a link of positive experiences to help balence out the other posts. It may help calm someone's anxiety. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

Here is my experience with RNY. First, I had my original gastric bypass in January 2005 at the age of 24 with a starting weight of 249 lbs. I did great with no real problems. I never had a goal weight but I got to my stable weight at about 6 months (157 lbs.). My weight stayed the same till January of 2009 after my divorce. I did gain back about 75% of the weight I loss. It is 100% my fault. I could eat anything prior to weight gain but after the divorce when my entire life changed dramatically I started to eat more often and much more carry out/fast food. The weight came back quickly but I was in denial. This past July I decided to look into a revision. I met with a different surgeon that was a revision specialist. My pouch had obviously stretch. On October 31 I had my revision with a starting weight of 217 lbs. I am now 33 and my recovery has been very slow and painful. I have only lost 10 pounds but I have lost inches. I am struggling with Protein intake. I am positive that I can do this again and commit 100% as my life is drastically different and I actively participate in therapy. So in my nine years here is what I know: #1 You gain regain your weight if you stop following the eating rules. The pouch will stretch. #2 Vitamin deficiencies are very real and you MUST take Vitamins for life. You must also take bariatric vitamins. I will note this part was not true in, research wise in 2005. I developed a deficiency because I was told pills like Centrum and Citracal were just fine. I know now the importance of bariatric geared vitamins. #3 Once I got t to about a two years post op I forgot I even had the surgery because my eating habits were just natural. I didn't think about it. #4 I became extremely fertile after bypass and hormonal birth control didn't work. Most people here are under 3 years out so I hope my story tells a more long term view. I am not a model patient. I admit I did not have to try very hard to lose my weight the first time. But on the other hand it didn't take much to regain it back. For me I went back to letting food be my emotional crunch and coping tool. Now that I have that under control I can be successful. I am 110% delighted I had my original surgery in 2005. Even though I am not having an easy time this go around I know that I am older now but I know what is down the road for me. This keeps me in check.

You may have been able to fight off muscle loss. You may have been able to maintain and strengthen existing muscle fibers. But for substantial weight gain from increased muscle mass, there is just no way at 6 months out. I'm talking about lifting and causing muscle tissue to tear and split, then be repaired stronger than before. The only way to do that is with max lift reps and then lots of Protein. 6 months out, you should be at about 1300 calories, max. That is not a weight lifters diet. That is a weight loss diet. At best, the only thing at this stage anyone will be able to do is strengthen existing muscle. To gain muscle, he would need to take in about 1 gram of protein per pound. If the OP currently weighs 250, that would be 250 grams a day. Multiply that times 4 since there are 4 calories per gram of protein. 1,000 calories a day from just protein. Considering a steak is about 30% protein, he would have to eat 105 ounces of steak to hit that goal. So as I said before, focus on maintaining your muscle for now. Tone it up as best you can, but wait until at least a year out before trying to pack on the bulging muscles.

I cant thank you enough for the encouragement. I physically feel a little better since the band is open ( except for all the weight gain) but mentally it has been very challenging. I have always considered my band just a tool and really have worked long and hard to reach my goal. I am very encouraged and motivated by so many people in the same boat who are sharing their story and that the sleeve is an improved option for long term success. It is definitely reiteration that even after all these years of lifestyle modifications and hard work I still need it! I really appreciate it, I feel much more at ease that I have made the right decision. Here is to new beginnings!

Hey all..sort of good news...didn't gain anything since before Christmas!! That is a shocker...so maybe something was going right..but I sure felt like my stomach was poochy!! Confused...great goals...I'm inspired. And they seem doable. Way to go. Tonya..you are always a inspiration. I think the inches lost are terrific..even if the scale is hard to give up a few pounds. Geez...you work out like a mad-woman. Juno, you rock. Only 25 pound weight gain..isn't that the desired amount for pregnancy? I don't have any kids, but I thought it was around there. You are certainly doing something right.

I had my band removed a little over a year ago due to erosion. The thing with me is I didnt have any pain symptoms. The only thing I noticed is I started gaining weight. I also went to a different bariatric surgeon. He did an endoscopy and immediately found it. He immediately took out the band and during the course of a little over a year, I have gained 65 pounds. The weight gain has affected my moods, well being, motivation and friendships and relationships. I am happy to say that I have taken the first step to getting my life back. My surgery date is October 8th. I am having to self pay but I feel like its a small price to pay for a healhier me and getting my life back on track. I hope you find your way and wish you luck.

Hi all.... New to the site officially though I've been stalking for a few months....so tarted the official process back in jan... So things are moving along partly because of my outshines. I had been stalking my doctors office for a while ad tthis past Friday (2 weeks and one day since my last visit) got ge call I've even waiting for _ insurance approved surgery. I was having an awful day at work and just knew that this hone call would turn things around. Much to my chagrin it didn't. I didn't even tell my husband right away ... Instead I began stressing about coverage at work and scheduling. That quickly turned into worry about my latest eating patterns... I am theeaviest iI've ever been....246ish and have been eating everything not nailed down. This weekend alone I've consumed more than anyone should. I'm scared now that the moment I've been waiting for is so close and I'm possibly not ready. Past few weeks was stressful at work and that has contributed to the senseless eating. Which turned into crazy weight gain. I can't fit into any of my clothes and that only adds t my sadness. So it's here right, it's time for me to channel and refocus my energy to maximizing my upcoming tool.... Right ?JUST To ve u a glimpse of what's going on in my head. Eating but can't say I'm truly enjoying anything. I've read a few self help books regarding identifying what drives my relationship with food,... And the logic is all there and yet I'm still just spiraling out of control. I'm looking forward to surgery physically stopping me from eating, BUT I've heard so many horror stories of ppl gaining post surgery. To top it off I'm not ready to share with anyone only mom, hubby and my manager know what's coming. I want to transfer my food blessing with exercise but I've never loved exercise ... I want to and even broke y own record with an 8 month regular exercise regime. Didn't lose but wasn't gaining like I have since I stopped right before thanksgiving. Has anyone else experienced ths? Is something going to click for me soon to help me turn around? Has anyone else experienced any of this during their journey ? Would love some feedback/advice.

I personally log it all and the times bc there may be certain foods contributing to weight gain and/ or bloating. they may have added ingredients im not paying attention too, so i can look back and see for sure if there is a consistency.

I'll bet it's the steroids. They're famous for weight gain.

I just got my authorization for an appointment with the biatric team. Now its up to the case manager. I am crossing my fingers and hope she approves my revision !!! i really hope my Gerd and weight gain qualifies me to get REVISION !

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'm so sorry that you have to go thru this with your mom. It' is so hard to have your life changed and all out of whack too. I think you are very courageous> I also took care of my Mom and my Mother in Law in their last days. It was very hard to leave to go even to the store. You worry the whole time you are gone. Maybe you can go back to your basic program. I know it will be hard but you don't want your weight gains to continue. I would go back to measuring everything. Write everything you eat and drink down in a journal. It helps when you can actually, see where you are at. I don't know if this will help but good luck. BTW be sure you are getting your water and protein in.

You go girl! Maybe I should have, too! It might have helped me with my Water weight gain. I had lots of Soup this weekend because I had a fill Friday and my surgeon told me to do liquids all weekend. I would have stuck to Protein shakes but the ones I have are really high in protein and I didn't want to overdo it.

My surgery was March 7th, and I've lost 33 pounds so far (starting weight 193). Lately my weight has been doing a weird thing where I will gain and lose the same half a pound or so for a few days in a row. (I typically weigh the same time every morning) I don't understand how I could gain ANY weight when I'm barely eating anything. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm in luck my surgeon (lapband)has a twin bro who is ob gyn so the twin will delivery my baby.. I'm happy about that... I got unfil when I found out I was prego only because I was in green zone and was rarely eating... I wanted to make sure my baby gets enough food... I feel better about it as well... I was fainting fatigue and morning sickness so I def had to get unfil.. Of corse I didn't know I was prego I though I was just hot because its summer... I'm happy about it sorry if rambling baby about to knock me out lol... No comp as of now.. No weight gain either with unfil yet