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All the check-ins sound great! I was sleeved 3 Sep 14 and down 21 lbs. Monday I actually showed a gain of a few lbs but was back down yesterday. Constipation is the worst but I keep chugging alone. This is usually my weight gain time th e hours are long & stressful at work because of year end so it is great to be losing right now. On soft foods but don't think I make them soft enough nor chewing fine enough, I get horrible pain when swallowing. It's a process & I'm in for the long haul.

I had my lapband placed in 2007. Initially I lost about 35 pounds and then stalled. After my hysterectomy I noticed weight gain and went back for more fills and basically had 9/10cc. I have never really felt full and the only thing I can't eat is rice and a bun on a burger. Have never felt full but do produce a massive amount of slime that in turn makes me throw up nearly daily. I can actually feel food go down my stoma such as meat! I have gained all my weight back and then some. Earlier in the Spring I started to notice some refflux but nothing severe. Late this Summer it got really bad and I made an appointment with my surgeons office. She totally deflated my band and I swear it made the reflux worse! I am on Prilosec 40 mg. twice daily and eat tums and rolaids like candy with not much relief. Immediately after she took out the Fluid I started belching horribly and haven't stopped for 2 1/2 weeks. A week after they deflated I had an UGI study and an endoscopy that showed no slippage or erosion of the band but a little bit of a Grade A reflux and the lining of my stomach was inflamed. It has been a week after the endoscopy and over 2 weeks since the band was deflated and I continue to have reflux and a lot of intermittent pain on both my right and left upper abdomen and in the middle of my back. I feel so miserable and I want so much to have this band taken out and do some sort of revision but I have some major health issues that make me high risk for any type of surgery. Has anyone experienced the pain thing and what did they do for you? I have an appointment again next week but I feel just miserable. A few months after I had my surgery I had pancreatitis but this feels worse and I had a fever with that. I refuse to let them ever access my port again as fills are always extremely painful because they have a hard time accessing it. I gained 4 pounds since deflation and I don't have an appetite so I am really scared.

I had the sleeve done on Sept 15. When I had the one week check up I loss 10 pounds. I weight my self today and I gained the 10 pounds back. I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do, don't know why I'm gaining.

@@ivyh are you taking a steroid like prednisone? If you are on something like that it could be the meds that are making you more hungry as well as putting weight on you. Certain anti-depressants and even NSAIDS can cause Water retention etc. Don't give up, keep pressing Dr.'s to find out what's going on with you and see if they can find a medication that works with your weight loss goals but keeps you feeling good. The most important thing is your health so don't stress over the weight gain too much right now, light a fire under the Dr Try to if you can manage it to break up your meals into smaller more frequent portions so you feel like your eating something every few hours but keep your portions in check and that might help. I had to have Fluid removed recently and that is what is getting me through. Having something every few hours, and I have actually lost 4 pounds! Feel good and let us know what your Dr.'s say.

@@Embrace Hi! Thank you so much for checking in on me. Your note before my surgery gave me great peace and comfort. I have told NO ONE but my husband, so having you and others checking on me in INVALUABLE! I have had a tough 1st week of recovery, but am beginning to feel better. My 1 week check up is tomorrow. Because I was converting a "plication" to a sleeve, my procedure lasted 5.5 hours. I think this may be the reason the Anesthesia was particularly difficult to rid from my system. Not sure if this is the cause of my blurry vision for the last 6 days, but reading online, I have found that this can be a result of anesthesia and will improve in 9-10 days. (I have been unable to read the newspaper, emails, or any of the 3 new books I bought to enjoy during my recovery phase.) Additionally, I have had severe headaches that I cannot treat with my regular migraine meds, due to the complicated revision-----my doc's fear that the strong meds (even crushed) would cause damage to my new sleeve. ENOUGH COMPLAINING THOUGH!!! I'm grateful for my supportive husband who paid the 17,500. fee to have this done and my steady improvement. I actually feel myself getting stronger each day. Remembering what you said about walking the anesthesia off, I made sure to walk a little each day but honestly I only made it to my mailbox and back, walked from one end of my house to the other.....etc. (I was quite wimpy this week) I tried to balance what you said about walking and resting my body. I have a goal of walking 30 minutes (all at one time) by Saturday of this week. I hope I am able. Your 3rd piece of invaluable advice was very helpful and something I HAD NOT considered. As soon as I can get out, I'm going to purchase tiny bowls and small plates. Thank you so much for this tip!! Something I had not expected was the weight gain in the hospital from fluids. ( I probably should have done better research and made myself aware of this bc it SHOCKED me!) I gained 11 lbs and after 6 days that was finally gone. I hope I begin steady "losing" from this point on. I practiced "going out to dinner" last night with my husband. This is a little scary at first! We went to a Tai restaurant where I was able to order a bowl of simple broth. It was divine. (After eating broth from a box all week.) Since today is 1 week out, I'm going to weigh, take measurements, etc. I'm hoping I'm on the right path and will continue to improve. Enough about me! Are you doing o.k.? Still losing? Adding new foods to your diet? Feeling good? I think your surgery was this summer so we are just a few months apart. Your wisdom and compassion came through so clearly in your message to me and I want you to know how very much I appreciate the time it took to send it. Please continue to send your valuable tips and please let me know how you are progressing.

I think you're definitely right about it being a mental battle. I do have a counselor and am going to make an appt with her. I've had two kids (one vaginal and one c-section) and a hysterectomy (one of the reasons why I had the surgery was the weight gain from post-menopause). At 43, I would have thought this would have been a little easier. lol thank you!

@@Eclectick I repeat, I've gained weight because of immobility because of my injury and CAN NOT work my employment therefore my finances WILL NOT be back on track UNTIL I do something about this exceptional weight gain that has very much so impacted my knees which have lead me to become obese. Again, I will be having my schedule surgery on Friday for ALL health reasons. I thought that I came off a little mean with my response to comments as well as I thought some of the comments were a little harsh and that was what I really was referring to. Again, I didn't post my message for a pacifier or a pat on the back, I posted it simply because I THOUGHT that someone may have dealt with similar issues and I was looking to READ (as I like to do and UNDERSTAND) how they overcame..... I can't wait for Friday:)

I found myself sabotaging myself also. But then, I was having trouble seeing a thinner me. The weight gain in part, was to be invisible , and I just was not ready for all the attention that loosing weight was creating. Crazy huh? I'm a bit of an introvert, it's sort of like learning to swim, take a big gasping breath of air, then plunge head first back in the water!

Have you gals read Alex's book about the Lapband? I know I did, I proudly can say that 11 pages in the book are from me. They have me as Ilene from Ny and Florida. I never had a support group to go to as other gals do. After almost five years with the Lapband, I just live my life. I used to dwell on food all the time and even got chewed out by someone with a history like mine. I was so mad that I un friended her. But she was right. I now think of exercise every day, the food is secondary to me. I am 66 years old now and it took me 15 months to lose 86 lbs. at this time, I gained 27 lbs because. Last year I had 8 surgeries on my legs. And I was unable to exercise or walk much. Then 7 months ago my brother died, and I have been depressed and sad. A combo of stress, lack of sleep, no exercise and a band that needed some un filling created a weight gain for me. I now have a new doc and I am in the green zone . I am on my way. I am telling you this because sometimes life pops in and all the planning you might have done can mess things up. Rome was not built in a day. Hugs to all.

Admit this may be a long one so I apologize upfront for that! I was ridiculously out of control in my eating habits therefore I was also crazy worried about my ability to make the change. I did begin changing my habits before surgery. I began walking short distances as the 8 stairs up from my basement had me huffing and puffing. Initially I dreaded having to walk the 3 blocks to pick up my children from school. For almost 2 decades I never really dealt with hunger because I often ate so consistently I don't think I ever allowed myself to get hungry. I woke up and thought about what I would eat for Breakfast, after breakfast i focused on lunch but had Snacks, etc... I literally ate from wakeup, to my head hitting the pillow and often got up to eat more before I actually fell asleep. I remember eating 2 footlong subway subs in a sitting, and this wasn't a one time marathon thing; driving to 7-11 at midnight for junk food and then eating most of what I thought I would eat over 2-3 days. So I get it completely. Frankly I was scared sh**less that I would fail, or sabatoge myself along the way. Shortly before my first meeting with my center I had gestational diabetes but it went away immediately after my pregnancy. I admit when I am pregnant I am completely in control and anal about what I put in my mouth so lose weight throughout them. Of course post nursing forget about it! So after finding out I had no choice but to switch to formula I actually managed to become a full blown diabetic in about 5 months. It was a flurry of chocolate, fries and slurpees! My point being you and I are very much alike in being obsessed with food 24/7. So if I can do it anyone can do it! I found out I had become a diabetic at my first appointment at my bariatric center, March 12, 2013. That was the day the light went on for me, even if it was dim when it started. I walked 15 minutes that first day and I hated it lol. That night I completely lost all control of my sanity as every emotion under the sun came out over every little thing. For a second I thought OMG I am pregnant!! But no, apparently I am an emotional eater so now instead of eating, all of a sudden I was feeling everything and it was completely overwhelming. For this reason I strongly recommend trying to get at least 2-3 days of healthier eating out of the way prior to your liquid pre-op. The mental part of this is by far the hardest, so getting a small advantage before really does help. So expect to be very hormonal when you start out. Tricks of the trade pre-op.. I chewed a lot of stride gum especially during my liquid diet (3 weeks), lifesaver, that is my biggest thing to this day, although no I don't promote it post op as we all know it is a no no and I was 6 months out before I tried it. I drank a lot of low calorie fluids and I planned ahead for meals (before liquid pre-op). For the first little while I kept junk out of the house. I have kids so that's hard, so I chose to buy things they like but I don't, like all dressed chips, or cotton candy ice cream.. My fave thing being a large cup of lite hot chocolate with fat free hazelnut creamer in the evening as a treat and it kept me pretty full.. so I would do it at my peak struggle time. I started keeping fruit that I really liked around, cherries and raspberries and I would go to town. Not ideal but it was certainly better than the alternatives.. smart pop was another fave pre-op. No I was not perfect I had bad days, still do, but I started to convince myself that it didn't have to be a bad day.. instead it was a bad couple hours and then I let it go, guilt has no place on the road to success. It will not motivate you, it will only make you feel worse!! I made a list of all those things i wanted to be able to do post op... and a list of all those things I never wanted to feel or have happen to me again. That was emotional, then I put them up in a cpl places around the house where I thought they would most benefit me. I also included a list of the consequences of failing to follow my liquid diet. Number one of course being a cancelled surgery! So I actually made it through all 3 weeks or 22 days as my nutritionist miscalculated lol. A ton of gum, broth to break up the sweetness, I was allowed 2 cups of raw green veggies/day added garlic salt or seasoning salt.. no dressing allowed! It makes you an idiot about a week in, prepare to write things down as you won't remember them. Drink tons of fluids as the day 3 headache is a nightmare and will likely last a cpl days and nothing will touch it but hydration so stay on top of that. Post-op hunger concerns... I have hunger, boy do I experience real hunger. Now I am not trying to scare you, I didn't experience hunger like this until about 7 months out. So I have had a lot of time to work through better choices and options when I am hungry, the nice thing about being early out is that it won't take much to reel in said hunger if you are one who feels it. Have a cup of broth, some greek yogurt and boom it's gone for another couple hours. Also remember that your intake is soo limited that it is okay to feed it. Sometime just choose to feed it with fluids. That is the biggie, learning to decipher head hunger from actual hunger from thirst!! Once you get that straight your life will quickly become much easier. So pay attention to what each of them feel like, not as hard as it sounds I promise. Further out you can eat more, and I fall off the wagon the last time I was off for almost 4 weeks, stopped exercising too. I gained 5 pounds. The difference is that this time the weight gain actually scared me, having been a 'normal' size for a bit now I got comfortable and this was a well needed reality check. Now considering how much I was eating 5 pounds was kind, so the surgery really is just a tool. You still need to fight those demons for life but when I think about how much weight I could have gained in that same time period preop.. no comparison. I also dropped those 5 pounds during my 'taking back control' week. But what I didn't do is beat myself up for it, I went on a fabulous food vacation and when I landed back in reality I dealt with it. No guilt, just moved on and smartened up. So being kind to yourself is something that gets easier as you go through this process. It's also one of my favourite NSV's.. Sorry so long I admit I am horribly wordy... hope that helps alleviate some of your fears

Before surgery I was told that I would have to get off carbonated beverages and caffeine prior to the operation. I was on a 6 diet coke a day habit. So I went cold turkey. I suffered through withdrawal for about a week. But because of that change alone I lost 20 pounds before the operation. It is my belief that the carbonation produce miniature explosions in the stomach that slowly over time cause the stomach to expand. As the stomach expands it allows one to eat more and thus results in weight gain.

I went through my whole pregnancy and never had to have an unfill. I was able to have only small weight gain. I have just struggled to get back on track after baby. My biggest complaint was the baby kicking my port when I got further along. It's not necessarily painful...Just uncomfortable! And those people that always run up and rub your belly always mistaked my port for the baby's foot! LOL....My port started to show a little bit at the end. Overall you should be fine. I think the band helps us form not gaining a ton of pregnancy weight! No telling how much I would've gained without the band! Just listen to your body. You will know if you need to unfill. Some doctors recommend totally un-filling during pregnancy...I highly discourage that! Congrats on the baby!

Sandi, I've been experiencing the same thing this week. No loss, and actually a bit of regain. I am certain though that I'm eating more than you... I'm just trying to strike a balance between need for food (belly hurts if I don't eat every so often), energy (need to play T ball 3 times a week with the kids), and boredom (I'm tired of most of the foods I've been eating). Breakfast 1 premier protein Lunch 3oz of soft meat (cold cuts, rotisserie chicken, tuna, egg salad) + something to add interest like a cracker or two 1 oz of cheese Snack 1 Fage or Light n Fit yogurt Dinner Usually a small portion of what I made for my family (minus the carbs, breads, or starchy veggies) Evening Snack I stay up really, really late, so I typically have some yogurt or something in the evening. Not sure this is helpful, but there is it. My worst issue is with constipation. I'm pretty convinced that the weight gain has to do with food in/nothing out. Gross, but there it is. I'm taking steps to solve the issue. Sigh.

I think your doctor was too hard on you at your last weigh in. I wonder how many patients don't have emotional issues tied into their weight gain. I know I do. I also know that I can gain 5 lbs in Water weight in a single day. Please don't beat yourself up -- you obviously are making some great decisions to move in the right direction to lose your excess weight as most of us here on these boards are doing. I'm sure a lot of people have slipped on their diets along the way. I have too. Starvation is a quick way to lose headway on your diet though, because after the starvation you'll be eating like crazy after your weigh in. Be honest, even if it means a temporary postponement of your surgery. And be sure to tell them their criticisms of you at your last weigh in hurt your feelings and led to the gain. Bariatric surgery is not the easy way out as some people may think---and those of us who have elected this surgery know we have a lifetime of changes we have to make to reach our goals and stay healthy. We are all at different points (pre and post-operatively). Good luck, and hope all goes well with your appointments. I'm praying for you that your insurance approves you and you have a successful surgery.

I went through 12 weeks of classes and was expected to lose 10% of my weight. Gained three or four pounds! But...when I started my two week liquid diet I lost a lot more than 10%. You will feel so good about yourself when you get past this point. You sound stronger than the average person and are probably a lot harder on yourself than most. Give yourself a break and just make up your mind to forgive yourself and move on. Hopefully you will be encouraging others in just a little while.

Weight gain.. My husband gained 4pds I gained 17.. Still don't get it.. We both did it together he ate more than I did.. I can't blame no one but me.I've been going thru stress & have been taking Phentermine for the past 3yrs and once I got off it it all went down from there.

No, not yet. My husband and I were suppose to do the sleeve together. We were going to be each others support. Surgery was scheduled for this upcoming Friday September 26. He already got the approval from Aetna with a 4pd weight gain. I called my ins on Friday and they stated it was still in review. My husband starts the liquid diet tomorrow and he wants me to start it too. He states everything will be okay and approved. However, I would hate to keep having hope and then Aetna comes around denying me. I have all emotions going on. I hope I get an answer soon.

I know there are pros and cons for the various types of WLS as well as pros and cons for trying to do it on my own. Reading the various opinions here reinforces that. And they are good for me to see. Like WLS itself, I consider all of this information to be a tool to help get to where I want to be...healthy and fit. I do have a lot of confidence in my surgeon and the entire group of people associated with his practice. I visited both of the notable groups in the area and researched what they do and the outcomes. All things being essentially equal between the groups, I selected this group and surgeon because they feel right. Ability to talk about everything and bedside manor are also important to me. Right now I am facing the major test as to whether I will opt to do it by myself or proceed with surgery. My sister is having surgery for breast cancer on Tuesday. My father (88) was taken to the hospital Friday and admitted for breathing difficulties. He has emphysema and this is his first major setback. We normally share responsibility for him but it is all on me this time. I have and always will be a stress eater. If worrying about both of them and having to go work on top of it, doesn't trigger a weight gain I think I may have a chance to do it myself. So far I'm not doing so good. :-) Not as bad as I used to do but definitely not good. No decisions will be made until some time in October/November and a lot will depend on results of upper GI. Thanks again for all of your input!

what an awesome story! I've started my journey in early september. i'm 48 and i've been heavy all my life. I'm tired of the yo-yo diets, weight gain and loss...i'm ready for the real me to come out.... By the way I'm sure you will make a gorgeous bride....

Hello, I've been banded for almost two years. I've had a crazy journey. Lost weight, gained some back, mainly my fault. For quite a few months I was too tight and didn't realize it. It got to the point that I was contemplating removing the band. I would throw up every single day, some days it got so bad that I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. Finally I went for an unfill, the doctor took out 1cc. I have a 10 cc band and was at 6.4, now i'm at 5.4 Once she removed the cc I was immediately better. It's been well over a month and I've only thrown up twice and that's because both times I truly didn't chew chicken well and couldn't pass it. Now here's my current problem. About a week ago I felt a weird tingling sensation on my port area. Not painful, but weird. Then a few hours later I had a sharp pain on my side (right side, closes to the port) and sharp shoulder pain. I figured it was gas because I had a laparoscopic procedure done two weeks prior in my pelvic area and was still dealing with the gas from surgery. However, the pain on my side and shoulder has not gone and I"m getting worried. I can't take a deep breath, when I do, I feel a sharp tug/stab like feeling on my side and on my shoulder. It's not so bad when I'm standing, but it is worse when I'm laying down. I"m a side sleeper and laying on either side now bothers me. It's almost as if when I lay on my side I'm pulling on something inside me which causes the tugging like feeling and shoulder pain. I was hoping it would have gone by now, but I no longer think it's gas from my recent surgery. I would go to my lap band doctor but of course, as soon as this started, my job changed our medical insurance and they are telling me they cover ZERO obesity treatment, including follow up visits or diagnostic visits for lap band. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone? Any ideas what it might be? All answers are welcome! Thanks, Niobe

WLS, OA and my Higher Power... Ain't nobody's business but my own. The fact that so many WLSers don't avail themselves of the 12 Steps, and vice versa, is their business. I can't imagine not having both to even have a chance at stopping the weight gain that was killing me.

I have been seeing a dietician for a year and a half and through all this she has seen all the struggles I have had and I finally discussed weight loss surgery with her. I had decided years ago off and on to get it, but always thought I could lose it myself. Of course I did but you know how that rolls. Anyhow she was very skeptical at first but she decided to do some studies on it and to my surprise she decided to support me on my decision. This dietician works for the VA whom I am going thru for all this so we decided to get the ball rolling. She clearly has 1 1/2 yrs of records for my weight loss and weight gains. I wanted to learn how to eat healthy and not go on the all or nothing plan. I lost 32lbs which clearly wasn't fast enough for me but then again I was not dieting like I was use to doing and I really learned to live on a healthy plan. I went thru all the rig a moral with the drs, psy, therapists everything I had to do to clear me for surgery. My dietician told me she talked to the bariatric coordinator and she was going to call me. Well she did and everything sounded real good and all I had to do was wait for the hospital surgeons nurse to call and set everything up. Supposedly when it got as far as the hospital it was stopped, and I was told that they wanted 3 more months of record keeping and counselling before she would approve it. When I heard this I was livid, here I was waiting on my surgery date and then I was told a year and a half was not enough. I felt so much anger that I started eating like a crazy woman and gained all the weight back. I am trying so hard to get my head back in the game but I just don't know how and now my dietician and I are really struggling. I told her I cannot trust that if we do this another 3 mos that it will be enough for them. And can't they see how hard I worked to lose 32lbs in a year and a half? If I could have kept it off I would have? Now here I sit with a nontrusting bad attitude and can't wrap my head around the fact that I have to do this again. To me it is very much like losing it and gaining it back yo yo syndrome that I have been through all of my life. I know that I can't let this beat me because I want to get this done, but yet I can't get my frame of mind to do this again. I have waited all my 57yrs to be skinny and it just doesn't seem like it will ever happen. It pretty much destroyed my will to keep trying! So, I need help to get my head back in the game and get back on my eating plan. I know I am mad and distrusting of the VA but I am not doing this for them, I am doing this for me. How do I get myself to do this? any ideas? I just needed to get this out and I couldn't think of a better place than here! So thank you!

Thanks reallyrosy and sleeversue - I am drinking the drinks. 4 days post-op and I walked 1/4 of a mile yesterday. I actually could have walked a little more - but didn't want to push it. My friends come over and keep making me laugh - and it hurts to laugh - as I'm sure you're both aware. I look like I've been hit by a big semi truck. I'm sure you remember that, too. But each day is getting a little better and I am slowly losing the weight gained in the hosp. - thank goodness. Thanks for all the support!!!

Usually, it's your surgeon that requires you to lose a certain amount of weight and not your insurance. I would double check to be sure.. My insurance didn't give a crap if I'd lost weight or not, as long as I'd done the MD supervised diet for 6 months. It was my surgeon that wanted me to lose at least 10 pounds to decrease the size of my liver, which in turn can lower the risk of some complications. Since your surgeon believes your weight gain to be because of depo, if it's their requirement they might be ok with going ahead with the procedure. Depo only stays in your system 3 months though. Depending on when your last injection was and when your surgery is planned, you might still be able to lose some weight beforehand.

Has anyone gained weight from depo while on supervised diet?? I follow a strict nutrition plan, ecercise etc but keep gaining a lb or two a month. The nutritionist and dr both agree its from the depo. Im no longer going to get the depo shot. Im just scared ive gone through everything to get denied because of this.