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Have you had any bloodwork done recently? Has anyone checked out your thyroid? While it wont cause a TON of weight gain, it will cause some, and I can see how that could easily translate into difficult weight loss, you know? Anyway, just something to consider.

I haven't found any active PCOS support boards on here, I've seen a few boards but not a lot of traffic or activity from what I can see. It would be nice to connect with other PCOS women for support and encouragement. I have PCOS without cysts. Diagnosed at 29 after I hit about 210lbs, No cycle for 9 mos, I actually thought I was pregnant initially but was relieved when It was confirmed that I wasn't. I have 2 kids. Boy 15 and Girl 12. I was in Nursing school at the time and my kids were like 4 and 7 so we weren't ready for more kids at that time plus we were satisfied with 2. Diagnosis was confirmed after elevated testosterone levels seen in lab work. Everything else was ok. Elevated HbA1c of 6.1 pointing toward insulin resistance. Rapid weight gain over the last year (like 50lbs), had been sedentary during that year with so much studying to do-- no time to workout. Absence of menstrual cycle, therefore infertility issues. No other issues really at that time. I did not get any male pattern hair growth or baldness. I guess it did get a little thin up top but I attributed it to years of chemical damage. My hair is pretty thick so I didn't really notice it unless It was straightened. Weight continued to pile on, extreme difficulty shedding lbs with moderate efforts. As the weight piled on, I developed the PCOS belly (looking 8 mos preg) I never really had a belly. I had extreme mood changes, aggressive, hot tempered. I believe my skin darkened all over. I'm a darker skinned African American female but it just seems much darker than I was used to. Especially when I would see myself in pictures. My face was huuuuge, My blood pressure started to climb 160's/100's and that's when I said enough is enough. Anyways that's it for me. I wish I had done this about 4 years ago but that's Water under the bridge. I'm very pleased so far, and I think the sleeve is great for women with PCOS. I have no cravings for carbs and I feel myself getting back into good habits. Now that I'm seeing results I think those good habits will continue.

I was "fortunate" that I was too large to fit on a home scale (or most doctors scales) so I could only weigh at my Doc's office at follow-ups. As a result I didn't see any stalls or phantom weight gains, so the scale never messed with me, so I was never tempted to "change things up" to get the scale moving. I just stayed on plan. Eventually, when I could weigh at home, I did it for a couple weeks until the novelty wore off, then I went back to only weighing at follow-ups then only annual physicals. You don't necessarily need a scale for success. My weight ruled my life for so long that I resolved after surgery I would stay on plan and let my weight take care of itself. Good luck, Tek

I had my surgery 2/7. I am on liquids right now but since surgery I’ve gained 7lbs. How is this possible? Anyone gain weight immediately after surgery?

Silk sutures would be a good choice. I prefer 2-O Ethibond suture which is a third generation silk suture. A 32 bougie would be a standard size bougie that is a good choice in my opinion. The surgery would not inflame gallstones. Gallstones are more common in women especially with weight gain and weight loss. That is why gallstones are common in weight loss patients. Brad Watkins MD

I am 46 years old - 260 lbs - I agree that even though our friends and family offer their support - they dont understand REALLY. I dont think anyone who is not going through this themselves. It has been such a roller coaster and I have not even had the surgery yet. I find myself trying not to talk too much about it to those around me because I think they are tired of hearing about it! I am scared, excited, worried and a lot of other feelings I cant explain. I am in info overload - yet feel I dont know enough. Have heard all the horror stories from friends who knew friends who didnt do well - you know there are people out there that want to scare you into not doing this. What I find though is those people generally weigh 120 lbs and have never fought weight in their whole life! They dont know how it feels to be someone else under all this fat! They also assume that if I would "watch what I eat" I could do this on my own. Well I have always tried to watch what I eat. I havent had a fried food in probably 15 years. I am not a binge eater nor an emotional eater. Though I do tend to graze when bored and I do have a sweet tooth from hell! I dont eat 3 hamburgers and a large fry with a diet coke in a single sitting! I do know I am fat because of the things I have put in my body and because I dont exercise. I also have thyroid issues and other health issues over the years that have added the weight as well.When I was 32 I had cancer - the treatments caused a 50lb weight gain in just a very short time. I have never been able to get rid of all of that even after all these years. They dont know crap! No I never was the type to just eat a small salad - but I also wasnt the type to over do it either! Anyway - none of us need to hear those types of comments. If we had not tried diets - starving ourselves only to gain more back once we figured out that being hungry all the time wasnt working. Do they really think this whole process is just a simple walk in the park? Do they not realize that we are cutting our insides in a last ditch effort to create a healthier happier person? Well that is the end of my rant..lol. I am here for you and anyone else who needs me. We can do this - we will do this - and we will be success stories!! You and me both. My date is also august 5th and scared to death.

DAY 14: Declutter. I'm doing a "mental" declutter. I'm throwing out all of the negative thoughts I had when I had a weight gain. I thought I had prepared myself for any situation with this WLS. The gain hit me hard, because in the past I would say just forget it and keep eating. Regain all of the weight back. I'm definitely not going to fall back into that pattern again. I started over, writing down everything I put in my mouth. Got rid of the protein crisps and cookies. Not going to jump on the scale yet. I still have some more mental decluttering to do.

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 there any bariatric surgeons/clinics who would go to bat for me for a gastric sleeve operation with Harvard Pilgrim in MA area hospitals? 30 y.o, 5'8", 232 lbs, fluctuates between 225s-240s. Serious yo-yo weight gain/loss between 180-240 over the last 7 years. Pre-Diabetic with frequent urination and low energy, chronic lower back pain (compressed L5/S1 with sharp pain and thrown out pain), chronic knee pain (torn ACL and meniscus), and now I'm getting chronic random toe infections. Numerous missed days due to these issues, especiall the back/weight immobility. I struggling with getting out of bed or even bending down to help my students with classwork. This limits my mobility but not my hunger, and triggers depression more. Attempts: Numerous years of health clubs, trainers, nutritionists, workout and eating plans, yoga and mindful eating, intensive therapy, and even stay away camps focusing on health/nutrition/fitness/therapy. It all centers around the hunger. At the end of the day, I am always hungry and/or exhausted. And the instability is something I can't take anymore. Are there any bariatric surgeons/clinics who would go to bat for me for a gastric sleeve operations with Harvard Pilgrim in MA area hospitals? Thank you for any help or advice that you can provide!

I never ate off plan until I passed goal. I followed every instruction my doctor gave me. I have gotten 60g+ Protein and 64oz+ Water every day. (Except when I was so nauseous from a medication I was on for a C. diff infection that I couldn't even swallow my own spit...which of course led to dehydration and IV fluids at which point my doctor and I found an alternative solution to cure the infection. In other words, make sure you drink!). I take my Vitamins every day. I get my bloodwork done as recommended and adjust supplements accordingly. I am active everyday. I lost over 100% of my excess weight and have kept it off for 7 months. Sure, now I eat deserts and carbs and drink alcohol, but I'm in maintenance and I'm allowed anything and everything in moderation. Any weight gain I observe I immediately check by going back to strict protein and veggies. Dear God: Please make me as perfect as Kindle,

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

I agree with a lot of the above posts. All I can really add is to ask yourself this... If you have the band removed, then what? Will you then be able to stick to a diet long term, to take off the weight? Will you be able to maintain that weight loss for a long, healthy life? Be really honest with yourself, and take a close look at your life long history with obesity. Now ask yourself, if you have the band removed, will your weight continue to climb? Is this "temporary" physical and emotional discomfort worse than living your life obese? Try to relax a bit, and let your body heal. The surgery is a huge assault to your body, and the anesthesia and pain meds can do a number on your mind. SO many of us went through a short bout of depression, but it does pass. I've had other major surgeries, and I really thought this one would be a slam dunk. I was really surprised at just how long it took for me to get back to feeling like myself. Granted, I also had plication, my gallbladder removed and a hernia repair, but even still, I thought I'd be feeling pretty good after a couple of weeks. It really took a good month, but never did I regret any of it. I thought long and hard before having the surgery, and in the (close to 12 months) of me deciding to move forward, I gained more weight. It was painfully clear, after I don't even KNOW how many failed attempts to lose weight, that I needed to do this to save my life. Now, close to 50 pounds down, I wake up, and don't agonize about what I'm going to wear. I go up and down the stairs without issue. And it will only get better. Please get some support, and hang on for another 2-3 weeks. This was a huge step, and I fear that if you reverse it so soon, you will regret it as continued weight gain becomes a reality. Feel better.....

My thoughts from being a speed eater. Thinking back I was disconnected to the feeling of full. When I ate fast, I didn't have the sensation of full until it was too late. Once the sensation came I was overly stuffed. I think I justified the behavior. I told myself life was too busy and didn't pay attention or care about nutrition. I would eat on the run to get back to business. It contributed to my weight gain. After reading this definition in the article: Metabolic syndrome occurs when someone has any of three risk factors that include abdominal obesity, high fasting blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and/or low HDL cholesterol, said Japanese researchers. How could I not have metabolic syndrome from my weight. My health was the worst it had ever been, After surgery. I'm thankful feel the sensation of full. I appreciated mindful eating classes. But it's still a work in progress to slow down.

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.

@Serengirl I checked my stats. I lost 34.8 pounds at my 3 month mark. Are you on any medications? I talked to my Dr after I read about a medication I was on (beta blocker) caused weight gain, I switched meds and it helped speed up my metabolism a bit. It wasn’t dramatic but it did help. I also switched up my diet and ate pretty clean for 3 months and avoided processed food. Keep moving, journal everything you eat and research any medications you are taking.

Hi all:scared2: It has been a while since I posted or came on this forum. I had many changes in my life since I the last time I was here. I got re-married, both my parents past away months of each other; I have had lots of stress. On March 3 2009 I had a fill and un-fill within 2 days leaving 8.5cc in my 10cc. Band. For the past 5 months I‘ve been plague with very bad acid reflux (throwing-up in my sleep even 3 to 4 hours after eating) and no restriction. As a result my diet consists of soup, and any mushy food. Today I went for a fill, instead I had barium and esophagus x-ray to find out I am to restricted which cause the acid reflux, and the diet of mushy food caused the weight gain (21lbs) and I had to have my band un-fill. They took out 5cc leaving only 3cc. I feel horrible, like I have to start all over. How will I prevent myself from gaining more weight? 3cc. Is nothing! Help me please, I need help:scared2::biggrin: Thank you

My only concern is that my records have me being 5'3 and my BMI increased to 39 and has recently become 40.3. My comorbidities include hypertension, fatigue, and constant weight gain. My menstrual cycle has been irregular for the last three years, which I think is because of the weight gain. Is that enough to get me approved? I've been really stressing about it since my appointment with the money hungry surgeon from hell. My husband thinks it was gods way if preventing me from going to a surgeon who didn't have my best interest in mind. I'm hoping this new surgeon helps get me approved. Hopefully he'll include pictures as well. I'm stressed but excited to be going to a new surgeon.

Hi there, so sorry that you are having this issue with weight gain at 6 months, I really do think that everyone means well with the advice given and I to think that you are consuming way too many carbs, so instead of the big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, have some protein, a boiled egg and maybe a turkey sausage patty, if still hungry after that have a 1/4 cup of berries (me personally can only eat 1 patty or 1 boiled egg at 7.5 months PO) I avoid carbs because that is what got me to the weight that I was and they really do make you more hungry...Just really start logging your food, I mean every morsel that you put in your mouth because you will be surprised at how many calories you are consuming if you are not tracking. My daily intake at this stage is about 560-800 calories, I lose slow but steady and I'm okay with that because I am following my plan. Also the surgery is just a tool for all of us so we have to work hard at losing the weight, so get in to see your nutrionist ASAP so that you can get back on track...don't beat yourself up, you are reaching out for help and we are here for you even if it's tough love, be open to constructive criticism. You got this ((Hugs)) I wish you all the best

I told my work friends and my boss but not other people I see everyday who I don't talk to about personal life. I never talked about my weight gain so why would I talk about my weight loss. It's nice that it's noticeable but I don't want to talk about it really.

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 was having horrible acid reflux in April 2011. It was going on for weeks and it took my awhile to realize that I must be too tight. I hadn't had a fill since 2010. So I met my surgeon at the hospital and he took out most of my fluid. He said he would rather see me gain 10-15 lbs then be suffering from acid reflux and having bouts of throwing up from being too tight. He said after my body recovered and I started feeling better, he would start with small fills. Well between April-Oct 2011, I gained 12 lbs. But also during this time, I was being treated medically for another medical problem. That medical treatment also causes weight gain, which was out of my control. So I got a fill in early Nov and I am back to my goal weight and am maintaining even with the holidays. Do not let having an unfill worry you. Your body needs to rest and recover from the constant vomiting. After a few weeks, you can start with fills and you will lose whatever you MAY gain. If you watch yourself carefully, you might not gain anything. Good luck to you!!

I do not have a eating disorder. I've seen a couple of therapists about my weight in the past, one was part of a supervised weight loss program where I lost 50 pounds. It was great. But not great enough apperently. There is nothing like the look of confusion on the face of a doctor that deals exclusivly with obese patients when he is faced with an obese woman with no eating disorders. I have been on steroids and hospitalized probably 50 times in my life for asthma. Each course of steroids caused me to gain weight, along with other medications that caused weight gain. Hard to get much excersize in when you get out of breath trying to catch your breath... I may not have lost much weight so far, but I haven't died from resperatoy failure.

Conceivably weight gain could make your band tighter as weight loss certainly loosens it. But it wouldnt be an overnight thing like you mentioned. Somethiing has more likely irritated your stomach and caused swelling.

Here's the post from Susan re TDEE: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/23110-weight-gained-since-having-gastric-sleeve-surgery/page__st__420__hl__+susan%20+tdee#entry789451

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