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Zoloft is one of the safest meds for depression/panic attacks. I would ask your PCP to see if that's a good choice for you or not. Also weight gain is not a concern with Zoloft but there are other adverse events such as insomnia, dry mouth, Steven-Johnson syndrome, depression exacerbation, bleeding..... but again those are not very common side effects. Most people experience insomnia tho. As the natural product OTC goes, there is not a strong evidence that Mg citrate can help with depression/anxiety but it doesn't hurt to try but as long as you are not taking too much of it cause hypermagnesimia has very serious consequences. And just as a reference, I studying medicine and I am doctor of pharmacy. Good luck and I hope this helps

Thanks for getting back on track all you May bandsters! I think the farther I get out of surgery the harder it becomes. I tend to lose some of that rigidness and can become softer in following the rules. Listening to your stories/successes/struggles help me out tremendously. After all, we are all going on this journey together. I, myself, just had a 1 pound weight gain following vacation. I could look at it as a failure that I didn't lose weight but I can also look at it as it could have been a lot worse. Back in the day, I would have had the mindset that I could eat anything because I was on vacation. I didn't this time, or rather, I couldn't. Did I make the best choices? No, not 100% of the time but I did make much better choices than I would have had I not been banded. Thanks to y'all for your support.... Katie

I am 5'6 and weighed 252lbs at my highest(1 week before surgery) and 242lbs on day of surgery (7.27.20). You won't regret surgery. Since i have always carried my weight well and had thick thighs and a booty, I wondered if surgery was really the way to go for me too. I knew i was unhappy and overwhelmed by my weight gain but I was afraid of lose skin too. I have lost 60lbs in total and 50lbs since surgery a little over 3 months ago. I am 192 today and feel amazing. I am a bit concerned about lose skin on my arms but I'll take it with how confident I feel now. I feel more confident today at 192 then i did at 145 before i had kids! Lol. It makes no sense but I've had a complete mind shift with this surgery lol. Best of luck to u! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

197 for me................grossly under estimated the weight gain from the cruise (5pounds) but I was able to get that off and still come out with a 3pound loss (I think thats correct).----so not too bad. I go you my 2nd fill on thursday.

I also had my band put in in 2010. After a year (exactly a year a week) and abysmal weight loss (@25lbs) my doctor discovered my tubing had kinked. He said he needed to go back in to fix it but it happened right after the bliss insurance expired (it is only for 12 months) and I was a cash purchase becuase my insurance doesn’t cover it. He could some how massage my abdominal wall and manipulate tube and get it to fill, but it was always a chance it wouldn’t work. And he wouldn’t fill too much because he was worried he wouldn’t be able to go in and let some out if the kink got worse. Then one day I noticed I would choke/vomit up everything solid, mushy and liquid. I even tried just sucking on ice cubes to stay hydrated. Nothing worked. Ended up at emergency room, doctor was called and greatly reduced band fill. Told me to get upper gi to check for damage and see him in three weeks. He forgot to leave script, came in mail about week later. When I called to schedule my appointment for upper gi a few days later (I was in no hurry since he wouldn’t refill for at least 6 weeks) I was told there was a problem with the script and to call doctor back for correction. When I called back I found out my surgeon had left for a tour with doctors w/o borders to Sudan. WTH. Went to a new recommended doc for a fill in a couple months after and she couldn’t fill it because of the kink. so here I am 8 years later and ready to start again with fills not even knowing if it will work. I called a new surgeon to make an appointment yesterday. I of course haven’t told them about the kinks or my upper gi appointment. That never came to pass. I would prefer a revision, but Medicare will not pay for revision unless there is a problem. Best case scenario is the kink worked it’s self out, it with additional weight gain I doubt it. Or next best for me is there is a band problem and Medicare will pay for revision. It’s kind of sad that my second best option is hoping for problems. Sorry for the length. I just know this is one group of people who understand the frustration. Sorry this was so long.

It could just be your PCOS, unfortunately. I just read another post of someone who had unexplained weight gain with it the other day. Try not to feel defeated or give up though. Even if you didn’t lose another pound which hopefully you will you are still better off than you were before surgery. Or at least that’s what I try to tell myself (I have bipolar and it’s similarly difficult for me to lose it all and keep it off because of the meds and depression). I would keep asking the drs and nutritionist for advice and try what they are suggesting (hopefully something does work for you) but don’t be too hard on yourself if it doesn’t. I know that for me that if I hadn’t done surgery a year and a half ago I would probably be even heavier now than I was before I started all this (I was gaining about ten pounds a year) so the fact that I am somewhat smaller instead of even bigger is certainly better than nothing. I may not fit into my skinny jeans but at least my knees don’t hurt when I exercise like they were beginning to pre surgery. Trust me, I know it doesn’t seem fair and it gets to me some days too but I just try my best to maintain what I have lost because I know that every pound I can keep off is better for my health. You are currently down 57 pounds!! That is definitely something you should be proud of and if I were you I would celebrate that loss. Don’t just give up on losing the rest by any means, but at the same time don’t be too hard on yourself either. Our bodies and circumstances are all different. Try to focus on the non scale victories that I’m sure you have already seen with a 57 pound loss when it starts to get you down.

Okay, so here's a thread for us. My story to start us off. Was overweight/obese my whole life. When I look back at pictures of myself as a young kid (7-8), I am surprised that I didn't look as fat as I thought back then. But by adolescence I definitely was. Had some hard life stuff (Mom got cancer when I was 8, friend in high shool died sophomore year, dad had stroke sophomore year of college, got diagnosed with PCOS, lost a few important friendships) - each contributed significantly to my weight gain. Then I just got so big, I felt like there was nothing I could do. I just ate worse and worse, because I felt so trapped. I was banded about 5 weeks ago. I have lost a good part of my weight, still have a ways to go. I now find myself constantly looking at my body, trying to figure out what it is going to look like. Unlike lots of bandsters I see on boards who are 30+, I am not married. I worry about my body, about whether I will need plastic surgery, about if I will feel comfortable. About dating after losing weight but before PS. About doing this forever, even though I feel confident. About keeping this weight off forever. About what happens if I lose my band. About the fact that at 22, I'm really going to jump in and start my life, and whether or not I'm sorely behind. So anyway, there's my story. Here's my stats: 9/28/05 (1st consult): 333 4/17/06 (2nd consult): 318 5/2/06 (Surgery day): 315 6/9/06 (today) : 278 Goal (I think) :170

Grace,It's good to see your post. One thing you have to remember is that we who are older and I am 73 will not lose as fast as those who are younger and a bit more active. Other things that affect weight loss are the medications that you are on and a lower metbolism. I had my surgery about a week before you and I have only lost 15 lbs. While it is frustrating I am okay with that and will be patient. It is a process. I do I'm eating between 6 and 700 calories a day which is where my doctors want me to be. I make sure that I get the prescribed amount of protein as well as fluids. My stomach definitely tells me when it's full and that's when I stop.So that is the advantage of your tool.Although you and your sister are both losing weight right now here's what's going to be different for you. You have a lifelong tool now a smaller stomach that's gonna help you maintain proper portions to lose your weight and to maintain your ideal weight. We have all experienced the ups and downs of weight loss and weight gain because the body tries to throw everything at us to regaining that weight (Hunger changing metabolism at cetera) And that's what your sister may go through again and you won't if you follow The rules. The surgery Lowers your setpoint For your body weight. Hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. And stay safe through the corona virus.

I am looking to see if anyone has gotten sleeved with the minimum bmi standard. I have tried so many diets only to have them ending in more weight gain. I wouldn't even be as upset about my weight or bmi number if it weren't for HOW i carry the weight. I am a big ol apple! Im looking to find others who are in my boat and what their outcomes have been post op.

Hi All, I understand. I've got an extra 15 I'd like to be rid of. But please... BIG picture!! I've got 15, not 115!! Do NOT beat yourselves up!! I think that only leads to depression and more weight gain. Take some small steps. And, maybe recognize that if it doesn't change, you are STILL so much better off!! :D

You may have seen my posts about my..what I felt to be lagging weight loss. I think your surgery was within a day or 2 of mine on 7/25? After being a bit depressed about that my husband asked me to go to a Dillard's Outlet to help him find some pants at a good price. My first thought is oh my Lord..it is hot...I don't want to go anywhere NEAR a mall...(but as well all know Dillard's is usually an anchor store so I didn't literally have to go into 'said mall'). Against all my hesitancy I went. There were some dicey moments...I had been up so much and taken so many steps outside of long loops at the hospital which were finished off immediately by sitting in the chair in my hospital room or getting back into uncomfortable hospital bed. I learned some important things even though I have NOT been able to walk much at all with my torn up knee, I actually seemed to have lost enough weight (from the START of my journey 15 months ago, not in POST OP loss)...that my knees were NOT in excruciating pain. I did have moments where are standing so still looking through hundreds of pairs of pants that I had to grasp the 'end caps' as I had several dizzy spells but they passed. I had some clear Premier Protein with me that I nursed off of. I got back and I felt better for having gently pushed my boundaries. The next day, I dropped a bit more weight. We shake our body up and it starts letting us lose. Then it plays 'survival mode' and gives us a stall....it will be a cat and mouse game but sometimes I've seen people who lose a lot of weight in the first 2 or 3 weeks having to contend with some rough stalls..and I wonder if the ppl who lose weight a bit more slowly...do they seem to have less stall..stalls of smaller durations, or ?? My Dr's office emailed a reply when I asked them to look at what my intake was as I was concerned about slow weight loss..and honestly...I have never heard this before but I will post what they said (they do hundreds of these WLS's each month): You are in what we call "survival mode" right now, everything you take in your body is storing to properly heal you. We do not begin to see the rapid weight loss until you are fully healed at 6 weeks. The weight gain is from fluid retention due to the amount of iv fluids you received in the hospital this typically takes 2 weeks to go away. Just continue to focus on sipping hydrating fluids and alternating protein shakes in between. Not sure about the 'rapid loss not occuring until I'm fully healed at 6 weeks but if it picks up the pace, then great!

@@dgross congratulations on your upcoming surgery! so many women here saying that pregnancy ruined their bodies, or at least started them down the slippery slope of weight gain.

I will say this, having read through the replies on this post.There were many women here that replied they gained weight after or as a result of pregnancy. I have said this for a LONG time, though Dr.'s really fail to listen to me and I'm sorry but I know MY body better then any of them ever could. I live in here...I know what goes in and what comes out and what happens on a 24/7 365 day basis no one knows it as much as I do. I was thin, and I do mean thin through out my younger years and into my very first pregnancy. That child did not survive but I noticed that my "body" had changed. Not only in my "mood" with the hormones that were coursing through it but in the way my body responded to those hormones and the shifts that go on. Suddenly it felt like trying to stick a square peg in a round hole, it just didn't fit. Next pregnancy, I didn't gain an ounce in 7.5 months Dr.'s began to "worry" so I began to EAT. I had a skinny anorexic cousin and my grandmother used to tell her to eat Peanut Butter and macaroni and cheese to gain weight. So I did that till I was ready to puke and then would lay down so I couldn't and that food would stay in. In a month I gained about 30 pounds, and the poor Dr. thought I might be diabetic. I had to go through 4 sugar tests because I would not tell her what I was doing to keep gaining the weight. Fast forward to the end of that pregnancy and a weight gain of nearly 60 pounds, no diabetes I confessed to the Dr. and my son was born of average weight 7.5 pounds 3 days before his due date on Thanksgiving day! The lovely nurse in the hospital (horrible experience there! A Nun there came to room and told me I should have died when I had major complications after delivery! Yes that happened.) the nurse told me as I squeezed into a control panty my mother told me I should wear after the baby, that the weight would not go away so easily nor would my "cravings". I almost feel like it was some kind of curse because after that....I never ate the same way again. My body never reacted to food the same way, and suddenly I always craved bad food, and I was hungry all the time. Fast Forward two kids later, my body now went from not gaining weight to easily gaining weight. As if once the fat cells were turned on they took over like a virus!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone could figure out how to cure that virus or at least put it into remission?!

I just wrote and article about the link between marriage, depression, and obesity. I think it played a huge role in my weight gain.

My weight gain started with pregnancy. 60 lbs gained with my first child. I lost 40lbs but with each child I pilled 20 pounds. Then, with 3 kids I just didn't take care of myself, I was too busy caring for my family and I didn't matter. I used food as a source of pleasure. It's what relaxed me. But I must say, I was hungry all the time. Even after a Thanksgiving meal I was hungry. I am so glad I don't feel that hunger anymore. It was horrible and there was nothing I could do to control it.

This is where I laugh all the time. I could have died or ended up with some serious complications. Other than that, for me, this was absolutely the easy way out and thankfully this way existed. I mean why would you want to do it the hard way when there is an easier way. Losing weight is a full time job for us fatties and losing weight is not the kind of job I want. I am certain that in the next 5 months I will have to put some effort into losing the remaining weight until goal, but anything that will get me to where I need to be easier and faster...I will take it. I struggled long enough with the weight gain and losses - I was over it! So I paid for a scary, but excellent tool which makes it easier for me to lose weight. I don't really see this surgery as hard, but if anyone says to me...why did you take the easy way out...I would say to them...why wouldn't I? Struggling is overrated!

Ok---I hate the new format of this website. I couldn't find this thread to save my life and wonder if that's why no one (Other than me!) seems to come on here any more! I'm 3.5 weeks post op for my foot. I can't believe how much faster/better I've healed this time around---and can't help but think about the nutritional implications of having a band. Mine still hasn't been "re-clamped". Went to see Dr. R again yesterday. Finally made wait. I finally have come to realize that EVERY visit I have with him, I'm more confused by what he says....and it's no longer my fault. He initially arrived and asked if I had come for a fill. Maybe he should start working to read a patient's file before entering the exam room?! It was just odd---so I made weight. I lost enough for them to re-submit to my insurance company. Mind you--I have all of the hardware still in me. Seems simple enough. He made a comment about how I "already was assigned a surgery date" but must have forgotten he told me I had to lose weight or he wouldn't do it. I was scheduled to go in 2 weeks ago and canceled when I thought I might not make weight. Was scheduled for surgery tomorrow, but was canceled when I canceled weigh in. This whole experience has me shaking my head---and I don't know if I have even explained it clearly because I don't understand any of it. Here's my one big question---I'm waiting for them to submit for insurance and for my new surgery date. Do any of you remember if I have to see HIM again before surgery? GOD, I hope not---but not just because talking with him is exasperating, but because I can't possibly not gain weight if I'm a few months out from surgery again. If I was honest with all of you and told you what I had to do to make weight this time, you'd be horrified.....but you've gotta do what you've gotta do. If he didn't hold me to this odd standard, I wouldn't have been forced to do it. Sad thing is, I'm still well within their "40 to 60% of excess body weight lost" category yet nearly couldn't have surgery again if I couldn't drop at least 5 pounds. Yep. 3+ years out. Even with my weight gain, I'm at 58% excess body weight lost. AND yet Dr. R wasn't sure I'd be able to have the stupid thing re-clamped if I couldn't drop 5-10 pounds to SHRINK my effing liver. I'm guessing my liver is far smaller NOW than it was when he did the original surgery and I weighed over 300 pounds. So....I'm confused. I'm annoyed that my life has been on hold since Thanksgiving. I don't want to have to agonize that I'll be weighed in again before I finally have surgery. I'm waiting for my phone to ring. Let's hope they're prompt!!! How are the rest of you? When is the next meeting????

I have an IUD and simply love it! No periods, no cramping, no weight gain, no side effects!!! And, I'm safe for 5 years! I would highly recommend you talking to your doctor about one! It's awesome!!!!!

wow Heidi thats so soon but now you dont have to fret for weeks on end. :thumbup: now is the time to kick it up into high gear. you can do it!!!! do you have an appt with her before the 25th for pre-op or are you all set? small confession I had a weight gain, due to TOM and salty foods.... not on the pre-op diet (before that) but she made me come back to show I could lose and I did. congrats!!

I agree everything don't work the same for others. However I feel that there is way too many women that actually suffer from the side effects from Depo. My eating habits didn't change. I didn't even have cravings. Plus I got started right after my daughter was born so I was actually trying to lose my pregnancy weight by dieting and working out! But I kept gaining...then that's when my OB told me I should consider different methods. (He was actually against the shot in the first place) after I came off it I still couldn't lose all the weight and it took 5 years to become pregnant again after my last shot. Too many people have had the same side effects to blame it on the individual eating. There has been many women that has never had weight issues till getting the shot. Just do a quick google search and look how many women experienced awful side effects besides just weight gain. With all options out now compared to when Depo first came out I'd urge anybody to pass on Depo. Sent from my iPhone using VST

OMG...I just thought of another one...from my dad. He is not skinny though. He had always tried to express his concerns to me about losing weight as best he could. Lose weight for your health, please lose weight so that you do not have to be like me, I love you and I want you to be healthy, etc. But one day out of the blue...I guess I had been on a weight gain or something and my dad pulls me over to him. "You know i love ya right?" "yes", I reply...then he says "well I know that you like boys but as your father, I do have to tell you that guys don't like fat girls...I know this because I AM a guy...baby, you have got to lose weight!" I was like "no he did not just go there"!

After a great weekend. I let myself indulge. I do not do this often. I am back at my goal weight. I reset my goal to a better weight gain bounce. Its always a reminder for me that I am not exempt from weight gains. I'm doing what I need to do. I'm looking forward to challenging myself to a new goal.

Are you feeling hungry and grit your teeth to loose? Or is it that you just don;t have any appetite? That is a good loss of weight. I do own a scale and am addicted to weighing every morning. I also weigh in with a buddy my age(non band dieter) every Sunday over the internet. She weighs once a week. I also weigh to see what foods cause me to retain water and have water weight gain. Even some low sodium foods cause that in the summer with me.

I just had mine done and from the day I talked to my doctor I 100% knew this is what I had to do! I could lose weight on my own but never could maintain it for any large amount of time, me and my body were so sick of the yoyo weight gain and loss that I knew this would be the only way for me to maintain a healthy weight! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It depends on how soon you get pregnant and it's very individual in any case. Most that wait experience a normal weight gain. For instance, I gained 32 pounds. Right on track with a normal pregnancy and the first time I gained a normal amount. I've seen posts from anywhere in the low twenties to more than fifty pounds. Much of it is individual and whether or not you have complications will effect your gain. Those that get pregnant while still in their early stages post op might continue to lose for several months of their pregnancy. Some simply stall out and start to gain. Again, it's very individual. We have a few cheerleaders here for just getting pregnant right away, and that's fine if you're willing to do it. I would not intentionally get pregnant if you still have trouble eating your nutritional guidelines, though. I'd very carefully weigh the pros and cons of where you're at in your loss as well as nutritionally and make a smart decision that will work for you. I was seriously deficient in several vitamins/minerals until more than a year post op. Additionally, I had tremendous restriction until almost 1.5 years out from surgery. I still get an overfull feeling from eating one hard boiled egg. Because I'm also lactose intolerant and developed an aversion to meat while pregnant (I had terrible morning sickness for almost six months of my pregnancy) I had a hard time eating. If I hadn't had the capacity to eat what few carb-laden meals I could manage I would have had a real problem. I'm actually amazed I gained weight at all because I felt sick almost the entire time. And my baby was born small - 6 pounds, 7 ounces and they induced me a week early because they were worried about IUGR. Again, it's an individual thing and you aren't going to know how it will happen until you've already made the choice. But weigh that against your fertility, too. For instance, if your fertility is definitely decreasing (say, for age or poor egg quality that will only get worse with time) you should move ahead sooner rather than later. I can say that it's always possible to pick up and lose weight again. However, weight loss does seem to slow down a bit once you pass a certain point. I am having a heck of a time losing the last few pounds from my pregnancy. They have come off and gone on again more than once in the past three months. It is not easy to transition back into losing weight once your body has been eating more and gaining, that's for sure. If you're close to a year out and close to goal I'd say jump on and do it. If you're still in the early stages of loss or having a sleeve it's one thing for it to happen unexpectedly and quite another to choose to do it. I'm just putting that out there, because there are a lot of women that have surgery to increase their fertility, and who knows who will wind up here reading this? Both of you are far enough out that you should be okay but make sure you're prepared. Good luck! ~Cheri