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My insurance didnt care about weight gain between appts but between your initial weight and final weight before submitting you could not show a gain-ie no net gain. Be sure you know what your ins stance is. Aetna is who i have and they would have denied coverage.

I'm embarrassed to admit I gained 25 pounds between the initial consultation appointment (October 2014) and the month of surgery (April 2015). The weight gain was due to food funerals, a.k.a. eating my favorite foods one last time before saying "goodbye." I also couldn't control my ravenous appetite. Luckily, my surgeon and insurance company were very lenient and didn't care whether I gained or lost weight during the pre-op phase as long as my BMI remained greater than 35.

Hey, i just had a baby 5 weeks ago today. i was banded in july 2006 lost 20pds and had a new baby surprise! when i found out i was pregnant, my dr. said it would be best to get an unfil. four weeks after i gave birth i was very ready to be filled again and really BEGIN my weight loss. so i have lost 6 pds this week and am still nursing and my baby is getting plenty of milk. my baby was 3 weeks early and weighed 8pds 10ozs he is now over 12pds. so i'd say he's doing pretty well. if your worried about the weight gain~ get a fill. good luck!

I just wanted to, as a nurse, that there are low dose birth control methods that you can try that do not cause weight gain. My fav is the NuvaRing. Its the lowest dose of hormone possible and it only works where it needs to and doesn't effect the entire body like oral pills do. Hope this helps because as i want you to lose the weight I don't want you to get pregnant if you don't want to :thumbup:.

Still in the process myself but I think it's safe to say that both my husband and I were scared and skeptical for years when it came to talking about me possibly having it. And we both only really thought about it because my family doc kept suggesting it after years of seeing me trying everything under the sun and nothing working. When we first got together in our teens (he was 19 I was 16 and now......I'm 48 now and he's 53) he was under weight and I was at a nice normal weight but I always thought I was heavy. Despite being able to wear sexy clothes and fitting in a size 4, I still thought I was heavy. I guess mostly because I WAS heavy growing up but sorta slimmed down between the ages of 12 and 16. How and why, I have no clue. It just happened. But come age 19, that's when the weight gain started for me along with the other health and hormonal problems (i.e., PCOS, Endometriosis, Insulin Resistance). Anyway, over the years the weight just kept creeping up on me despite trying many diets, exercise programs, etc. He gained too but did not become overweight. His weight gain actually resulted in him finally being at a normal weight. LOL But either way, he NEVER EVER said a harsh word to me about my weight and as for sex, even despite having gained all this weight over the years, you wouldn't know it. The dang man STILL wants it ALL THE TIME. At least like once a day!!! LOL Me on the other hand my drive is non existent. And I blame the weight on that. Despite him telling me every day that I'm beautiful, he loves me, and that I "turn him on", I just don't feel that way about myself. I am so damn self conscious that I NEVER let him see me totally naked. Well, at least not standing up and walking around. LOL I don't want to say those words he says mean nothing, cause they do, they actually mean the world to me, it's just that they still don't change my own mind about myself no matter how reassuring they are. Ya know? I still feel like I look a mess regardless of what he says. Not in the face but in the body. IMO Anyway, he is totally up for me doing whatever it is I need or want to do to make myself feel better about myself and more importantly, to keep me healthy and around for a long, long time for him. So, that's pretty much where we are. As for the sex part, I surely do hope this sex drive of mine comes back once the surgery is done. I think and feel the world of him too, and find him highly attractive as well and I hate that I keep turning down his advances a lot of the time when this sh*t sex drive of mine has NOTHING to do with him. It gets tiring constantly trying to convince him it's truly NOT HIM and that it's totally all me/my body/hormones (and sadly my last blood work showed that I'm not near menopause yet so can't blame that either....lol). I seriously feel bad that he feels at times that I don't find him attractive cause that's really not the case. I LOVE that man!!

Hi David. Have you met with your surgeon yet? They will likely have an opinion of which surgery they feel is best for you. If you are on certain medications they may trend towards sleeve IF all other things are equal but if you have GERD they typically lean towards bypass (not always though). Those are not the only factors and it’s not exactly that clear cut. It certainly doesn’t hurt to do your research but you surgeon should help considerably to make this decision. Mine said he would do sleeve or bypass (if I really wanted it) but he recommended sleeve. He thought bypass was overkill for me and the NP thought because of my medications that the conservative option was safer. I didn’t lose all the weight I hoped though and struggle to keep it off. I will always sorta wonder if I would’ve lost more with bypass. Who knows though. I am on medication that causes weight gain so I may be in the same exact boat with bypass. It’s really hard to say. They are both really good surgeries, though. Regardless of whether I can fit into my skinny jeans I am very happy I did the surgery. I was already beginning to have knee pain with exercise and I know that at the rate I was going I would be even heavier now than I was pre surgery with more knee pain so the Fact that I am maintaining anywhere below that weight and pain free is better than I could’ve done on my own. I didn’t have to decide on which surgery until my pre op appointment. Hopefully your team will give you time to make your decision too.

The recent statistics from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has reported that about one-third (33.8%) of U.S. adults are obese. That number rises every day, and keeping up with it is more difficult than keeping up with your stocks. I work with the finest bariatric surgeons in the U.S. They are dedicated to helping their patients lose weight in an effort to thwart diseases, and minimize current disease progression. I also run several 12-step food addiction groups in the city of Houston and online in many cities. I talk to morbidly obese patients everyday. I teach them, counsel them, eat with them, and spend endless hours reading their journals. These patients have a story to tell, but we aren’t listening and we continue asking the wrong questions. To be sure, obesity is genetic and many times the social milieu of obese patients I work with is chaotic with issues of abuse, abandonment, shame, ridicule, and anger. The genetic role helps explain the body type; the way food may be processed, stored, and proportioned. It cannot explain what keeps the person from changing the behavior that contributes to obesity. In my work, during step 4 of the 12-step addiction group, the group members begin making amends. They look at how their behavior got them where they are. They quit thinking about how they were abused, and begin to consider how they hurt/abused others. The step is painful, gut wrenching and overwhelming for all of these patients. It is also the step I ask them, “How do you benefit from being obese?” At first they look at me as if I am crazy. After all, they are weight loss surgery patients, and have gone to extremes to lose weight. They laugh, shake their head, and say, “Mary Jo, what are you smoking?” Then the room gets quiet. One of the bravest patients will say, “My obesity gives me an excuse. I am not held to the same standards as others; they don’t expect it, because I am morbidly obese.” Another will chime in, “My obesity keeps men away; I was sexually abused by my dad for 4 years of my life.” A statistic that no one likes to talk about was one mentioned in Bariatric Times in 2007. As many as 20 to 40% of obese women have been sexually molested, harassed and/or perpetrated (they know it’s higher than that but can’t ascertain the exact amount). Yet another will talk about how her/his marriage is so distant that food has become their lover/best friend. They are lonely, and they eat to comfort that incredible sense of loss. Another part of my job focuses on the group that failed the weight loss surgery. If you have never been morbidly obese, or gone through a weight loss surgery only to have the weight come back, you cannot understand the depth of failing these patients feel. They are cursed by their unresolved reasons for going back to food. They don’t understand it, and often those who love them most don’t either. A Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Lap Band, or Duodenal Shift is never going to successfully keep weight off if the patient has no idea why they are eating, and experience a fear of stopping. Many of the cravings patients feel are emotional; totally unrelated to real hunger. How can a weight loss surgery of any kind manage emotional hunger? It cannot. When we evaluate patients who struggle with obesity we talk frequently about denial. I am beginning to think they are no more in denial than we, the health care professionals. We can talk food all we want, but most of my patients know what healthy food is; they could write a cookbook with the calorie count included! They know food like most of us know our lover. What they need help with are the tough questions. One of those questions is, “What are the benefits you are experiencing from your obesity?” We have to ask this, and we should ask it prior to weight loss surgery so we can begin the process of helping them understand this part. People drop old behaviors when they are no longer benefiting from them. You don’t need to be a weight loss surgery patient to begin the yoyo dieting process. If weight protects you from receiving attention, and you have been sexually abused in your childhood, then when you begin losing weight you are going to turn to food to manage the anxiety you feel when a man gives you eye contact. When patients begin to understand what they are protecting or avoiding with their weight, they can effectively work a weight loss program and keep the weight off. It is also important to look at obese children’s homes especially if there is a substantial weight gain. Many times, something is going on at home that is causing this child to medicate their anxiety with food. Society continues to be judgmental and negative with obese people. One thing is clear: shaming or ignoring obesity is not helping curb or decrease the numbers.

I felt the same way...I started my journey back in Dec, 2019 (right b4 Covid). So I stayed over again in Sept, 2021. My surgery is now scheduled for June 6. I have been told that if you have the sleeve done initially, that if there is a weight gain later in life, that they MAY be able to perform a full gastric bypass at that time. Sent from my SM-G981V using BariatricPal mobile app

some SSRI's cause weight gain, others don't. Paxil (paroxetine) is notorious for weight gain. I think Wellbutrin is one of the better ones in that dept - it doesn't cause many people to gain weight. Not sure about Zoloft - but ask your doctor or pharmacist. If it's one that causes a lot of people to gain weight, maybe your doctor can prescribe a different one. if you need the med, you need the med - but again, there are some that aren't as bad - or bad at all - when it comes to weight gain.

How's everyone doing? Has anyone completed their 1 year post on visit? Have goals been met? My personal goal was to be at or under 200 pounds for my one year. I've been sitting pretty at 220. A 6 pound weight gain since my last post 2 months ago. But I'm happy to report I'm back on track and I had a serious convo with a woman from my surgeons braitric support group. She's 2 years out and has gained 50 pounds after reaching goal so she's struggling to "get back to basics " as they say. I know it's a silly thought but at one point I did feel as though I can eat old guilty pleasures again like a whole bagel with butter (it took me 2 hours to eat and I vomited after because I got really sick), or nachos and cheese with Hot dog (AMC movie date with hubby). I now realize I can't and won't allow myself to eat like that anymore because the sleeve will not work if I don't continue eating right and working my Buty off at the gym. I'm ready to continue my journey and make the next 6 months count. Who's with me?

I take two antidepressants, neither of which is weight neutral, but the doctor explained that the benefits outweight the minimal weight gain they cause, so I need the healthy brain more than I need to be a supermodel. LOL!

Jillian You might want to check out this thread that Tiffykins posted. Its got lots of information on post op guidelines on what to eat - foods which will be 'winners' for you. Did you not get a nutritionist when you had your surgery with any guidelines from them? Basically if you stay within the guidelines of the good foods and stay away from 'bad' ones then you should easily be able to avoid weight gains. I can't recall when you had your surgery - but if you're sticking to your guidelines from your nutritionist then you shouldn't really be gaining, unless you are having bod foods all the time. The sleeve is a tool.... but not something to help you eat bad food choices and still lose weight.... to get to your goal you'll need to exercise and eat a healthy diet, and confront any issues you have with food. Perhaps your therapy you said you had started can help with this. Good luck

Question: should we be limiting our carb intake at all after surgery? Has anyone noticed problems with eating carbs after? Just wondering if that's the culprit of my weight gain last week. I do know that I get very full very fast when I do consume carbs, and do get a sickly feeling. It may just be me. We're all different.

I know this is an overly talked about topic but I'm 9 weeks out, this last week I lost 1.4 lbs and in the last 2 days, I gained 2 lbs. Like, really? I'm not doing anything different or crazy. I will say that along with the weight gain, I'm all of a sudden real hungry too. Help Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App

I too suffer from migraines - big time!! I also suffer from fibromyalgia - between these two lovely monsters, I don't have too many days when I feel good - thus the lovely weight gain over the last 20 years. Topomax is not a good drug - felt pretty good on it, less the memory loss and balance issue - until I was diagnosed with glaucoma!!! My eye specialist said this is definitely a side effect possible from Topomax - please consider this when considering taking this drug! I have started the 6-month pre-op program for the lapband surgery - it seems so far away and I just want it now! This program is mandated by my doctor - I'm sure it's good to learn everything prior to surgery - but 6 months - ugh!!! I'm in month 2 - so I"m looking at about September - another summer in fat clothes!! Thanks for all the comments on this forum - it's so helpful and great to know we all have the same concerns and questions. Anyone else in a pre-op program and just waiting??? Mom22

We all lose at our own rate & unfortunately our rate of loss slows as we get closer to goal. I wouldn’t worry about the 3lb weight gain. Yes, it could be a fluctuation & it could be as you said, you’re not monitoring your food intake as often & have gone off plan. Getting back on your plan is your best way forward. I wouldn’t worry too much about your level of activity. I really didn’t & still don’t exercise. I lost all my weight & more. The truth is exercise accounts only for a 10-20% loss of the weight you have to lose. Got 50lbs to lose, exercising will account for only 5-10lbs. Of course there are physical, emotional & psychological benefits to exercise which will influence your decision but how much & how often you exercise is ultimately yours.

This is pretty scarey but you can stop the weight gain right now and go back to eating Protein first and then some veggies. I do highly recommend that you get back to therapy and work on those negative thoughts in your head to curve this cycle. You are not at a loss, this is just a learning lesson that we all must learn..... Here is a copy of LilMissDiva's "The Basic Bootcamp Diet" that will get the sugar out of your system, to abort the sweet cravings.......BTW i don't believe 150 lbs is where your going to stop, so let your body do the work it is suppose too. Eat under 1200 calories a day. You can do this.. Here is the plan: The BASICS BOOTCAMP: For 5 STRICT DAYS I will eat only... Proteins: Seafoods, Poultry and eggs, Dairies, nuts/seeds including Peanut Butter. Veggies: Green only. Fruits: None. Breads/Cereals/Other Carbs: None. Fluids: One gallon of Water (128 oz.) or Protein drinks. Avoid: Sugar and Sodium Once the 5 days are over, I am pretty much over the Sugar Carb Demon. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate carbs! I do need them to live a healthy life and since I workout a lot it is important I have them. However, I need GOOD carbs. Whole grains, fruits, veggies... But I don't need processed sugars. White carbs, in cereals, breads, rice... etc.

Excellent!!! What do you contribute your success to? I read many posts from people struggling with weight gain and not feeling the restriction after some time. I am four months out and worried about putting the weight back on. Any advice for long term success?

Dry crunchy food goes down so easily because it doesn't bind together. Foods like Pasta, potatoes, some veggies, egg, meat, etc. will clump together if compressed. Grab a handful of tortilla chips and squeeze them hard, they'll crumble. Now grab some pasta (cooked) and squeeze - several pieces will stick together. Which is why, with pasta, you have to grease it up to stop the starch from sticking together. But, when you eat it, that coating is dissolved and the pasta sticks together - especially as it's forced through a small hole. Same goes for potatoes, etc. If you can't keep solid food down for three days, chances are you're eating sliders to get some food in you - hence the weight gain. Keep a food diary and you'll see what you're eating and why you're gaining.

I think that with the band it is better than with bypass as far as the long-teerm help from the procedure goes. I've been attending one of my surgeon's required pre-op meetings. He has some of his post-op folk go and sit on a panel for Q & As. I am the longest post-op aside from the facilitator who is 7 years GBP. The facilitator speaks a lot about the honeymoon phase with GBP, where you need to change your eating habits. She says that the body learns to work around the malabsorbption and can absorb everything you eat. She says this is the reason many bypassers regain weight. I just don't find that with the band. As we've absorbed every calorie we've consumed. Nothing has changed. Sure, we cannot keep forcing food down, else we can trigger a dilation. Or we can trigger a slip with extensive vomiting. But if all that is good and we are eating a bit too much, we can get a little fill to help us out. Nancy, don't wait to see your doctor because you are embarrassed by the weight gain. You might have problems with your band. Get it seen to. IMO, there is no point in keeping trying if your band isn't working right. That is the same thing that got us to needing WLS in the first place.

Hello Everyone, I am writing to you because I needed to get some advice. Last week I had my lap band removed due to some complications and thus decided to have it removed. I got my band 6 years ago and have lost 60lbs and was able to maintain it for four years. However, now that I have the band removed I have forgotten how life was before the band, which is a bit scary. Thankfully, since the removal I have lost weight, but I ams still nervous to eat too much because I may gain weight. With that said, my question is it possible to lost weight after the lapband removal, or is weight gain always going to happen? Sorry if this is all over the place. I appreciate any advice that you can provide. Thank you

rosie, They may have had to give you additional fluids in the OR during your surgery. I know that my blood pressure drops alot with anesthesia, so I am anticipating a weight gain when I have my surgery in 10 days. Best of luck to you!!

Hi ladies! Has anyone had any experiences with getting the depo shot post-surgery? My surgery was Nov. 23rd, 2018. I'm terrified of the weight gain aspect and I was thinking of switching to the patch instead. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank-you. [emoji3] Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm right there with you AudOne! No surgery ever and my only hospitalizations were when I had my babies....BUT...I want it enough to do it. At first, in looking into this last year, it scared me so bad I stopped my research for about 6 weeks. Then I worked through it and decided I would rather be on the sleeve road than the current one of weight gain each year and snowballing medical problems. Am I looking forward to the surgery? Yes and No. Not looking forward to the immediate potential for pain, nausea and possible complications. Yes - looking forward to getting it DONE and getting past it to use it for a permanent change. I'll be rooting for you on the 13th (and all our May sleeve buddies)!!

Are you guys itchy yet? Have you pooped? Have you lost your surgery weight gain? Inquiring minds want to know!