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I'm a year out and my periods are irregular and have way to many. I've been on the pill for 3 months now and it's made them worse, to the point of bleeding almost every other week. I can't do Mirena (New job cant take off work plus I've never had kids so they said it would be harder to insert), so I'm seriously considering the Depo Shot. YES i've heard all the horror stories from people who've had it BEFORE surgery and the weight gain blah blah blah, my question is for people who had it AFTER surgery and what happened. Generally speaking I dont see how you could gain weight after surgery if you can't eat much. Please those who've had the Depo Shot after surgery, did it make you gain weight, did it screw up your periods any more than mine already are, have you had any complications? Thank you

Thanks for light at the end of the tunnel! I too was denied, but for a weight gain. My husband had a heart attack and triple bypass (at 37 yrs old) and yes, I gained some weight. I just got my denial letter yesterday and plan on appealing. I can't wait until I get to come on here and scream at the top of my lungs..."I got approved!" So until then, I'm going to the gym every night with the hubs (he is doing very well) And eating next to nothing (I'm starving) :) Congrats on your approval and I hope to be not too far behind!!!

I can't tell you how much this post means to me. Right now, I'm up 30 from my all time post-surgery low, and about 20 from where I should be. I'm also about five above what my goal was going into the whole thing. Since January, I've had six straight months of average weight gain, and don't truly understand why. I'm exercising more than ever. My eating is poorer, but not to the level that I would think would cause that. I simply don't understand what's happening, and it's heartening to hear you had and beat that same type of situation.

At my recent pre-op nutrition seminar I got to hear a fellow pre-op discuss her awesome smoothie regimen. When questioned about her weight gain it turned out her smoothies were cherry slurpees and mcdonalds mango. But they were on sale! She exclaimed. Sigh.

Hope you are feeling a little better now wellbutrin is the only med I have stuck with it suppresses my appetite and gives me energy to exercise ..most importantly it eliminates my depression ...maybe it could work for you...all of the other AD i took caused crazy carb cravings and some actually raise your blood sugar and effect the way you process carbs ...most psych meds have weight gain as a side effect ..weight gain from psych meds is what actually made me feel that surgery might be a good option for me....Very sorry about your mom hope things get better for you ..nothing that i hate more than depression

I am band to sleeve...banded 2005 revision 2014...been sleeved for 3 months 4/9 and have lost 40 pounds since surgery...lost 77 pounds with the band and gained 70 back, took me a yr to lose 77 and maintained for 4 years then the complications started fiils/unfiils vomitting, gerd, stuck food, chest pain and weight gain!! My dr said revision patients tend to lose slower and thats fine im very happy with my sleeve and no complications and my weight loss im happy abt!

Type 2 I take metformin, and had things under controls with meds, until yet another weight gain after a failed diet. Now the drs upped my metformin and put me on Victoza. Even if meds keep glucose levels down, diabetes complications scare me. I know weight loss has an effect on diabetes first hand, because when I've lost weight, my need for meds goes down. Short answer, I want healthy levels without medication, and that is one of my biggest reasons for WLS.

Hello everyone, Ive been planning to revise my lap band to the sleeve due to weight gain. I've been having so many issues trying to eat what I should due to the food being stuck and the pain and throwing up it causes. Did anyone else revise there band due to gaining and did it help?

God bless you Katie, and I hope it gets better for you. It doesn't seem fair that insurance would deny a surgery that has such benefits just because someone has multiple complex issues that could cause a weight gain or loss. If I was an insurance company, I would take a holistic look at the person after their six month trial, and if they met all the checklist requirements (BMI, co morbidities, commitment, etc.) just approve it. Hopefully this will turn around for you and start a good momentum...

Hi all - I feel like a Newbie to Bariatric Pal when in truth I have been a non-active or at least not very active member since 2008 when I had my band placed. I am now in the process of insurance approval for RNY. When I first got my band in Sept 2008 I had great success in the first 4 months, losing 60 pounds, but then some stressful health issues raised their ugly head combined with depression and fills/unfills never finding that "sweet spot". I feel like I wasted 6 yrs of my life with the band. My original choice of surgeries was RNY but my previous surgeon talked me out of it due to the fact that I had a DVT 3 yrs earlier after bunion surgery. I guess was afraid of me coding on his watch... but that's another story. I have been trying to get thru all the hoops you must jump for both doctor and insurance approval since May 2013. I was at the point were my previous surgeons' office (not same surgeon, as he's no longer in the practice) filed papers with insurance and I was denied because my chosen surgeon did not work in a COE supported by my insurance company. His hospital WAS a COE just not an approved COE with my health insurance company - United Healthcare. So.... I had to start over with a new surgeon in Jan 2014. I am hopeful for an approval thru my insurance but they DO say that they will not pay for a 2nd WLS unless it is a medical necessity. Well, I think not being able to eat most solid proteins, throwing up or forcing myself to throw up because I feel like I have swallowed a golf ball, total weight gain and multiple comorbidities should be considered in their evaluation. I just hope they see it the same way I do. Good look to you all in your journey.

Hi, I have been at the gym 3 times this week and have gained 3lbs. Am a bit confused as am not eating more than 600-700 calories a day, at least 50g protein and trying to get around 40 ounces of water in a day too. What am I doing wrong? Is this normal? I am 7 weeks post surgery and have lost 35lbs so far. Please help!

Sounds about right, with the lapband....in most cases they have not done anything other than "Install" the device....now is the post op phase where it is all about healing from the surgery and getting back to normal...which sounds like you are doing. The next phase will be a series of band adjustments - fills....this is where the fun begins... Four weeks after surgery I had my first fill, and it was a good one....after which I started to gain weight....untill my 2nd fill 4 weeks after that..... I was very frustrated and upset to say the least....was told I needed to be counting calories, measuring portions, keeping a journal..... I immediately told them that that was what I've been doing with just about every other diet I have ever been on, and there have been plenty, and I did not need surgery and all the hoops and $$ that went into it, just to do what I have done before.... They calmed me explaining the adjustment process, Yellow-Green-Red Zone, etc, etc, and until I got the band in good harmony with me, there was nothing else I could do but diet.....but I stink at diets so weight gain it was...even with the band. For me it took 4-5 months after surgery to get it...then another few months of numerous stuck episodes, etc, adjusting my eating habits and behaviors, a new way of doing things... Happy to say, having gotten through that phase, the band is, and has been working PERFECTLY for the last 3 years now. Diet is a four letter word....I have adjusted myself to co-exist with a adjusted band, and have come to live a new lifestyle....a lifestyle that has brought me back to a normal weight, restored my health, and many other factors.... best thing I could have ever done for myself..... This thing DOES WORK!

Yeah the benadryl didn't work for me either (but I had to suggest it). Ive also tried benzos too (and agreed that I HATE them so I know how desperate you have to be to take them), vicodin, Electrolyte drinks, Vitamins, etc... I did not try the offered neurotin/lyrica as they both have a high chance of weight gain (as well as the fact my step father had been on it before and it made him...weird). I'm eager to know what your doctor suggests since mine seemed to be pretty useless about it, pls keep us updated.

I am almost 2 years out from VSG. I lost 60 pounds in the first year but have stalled for most of the 2nd year. I regained 10 pounds and if I let myself, I can eat more than I thought I would be able to. When I went to my pain management doctor last month, I got to talking to her about my sleeve surgery and my weight loss. She told me nobody loses weight on the pain medication I am on and most people gain weight. When I talked to my sleeve doctor, he didn't say much and just shrugged it off. This is very frustrating because I cannot be without my Lyrica (I have fibromyalgia). Is anyone else on medications where weight gain is the primary side effect? How has that impacted your weight loss after VSG?

My name is Becky and I just turned 21, I'm a nursing student and am engaged to the love of my life. I started my WLS journey in November of 2012 and got the gastric sleeve at the end of December 2012. My starting weight was 260. From the moment I woke up, I had a stricture and had pain with swallowing. We decided as I healed this would calm down and eating would become less painful. Well, that never happened..I've had roughly 10 endoscopy's and they have dilated the stricture each time hoping to help ease the pain. I've been hospitalized for pain and malnutrition roughly 5-6 times and it's been a tough journey. Now it's July of 2014 and I haven't eaten solid food since my surgery in 2012. I am in constant pain and have been taking the liquid Vicodin on and off this whole time. Living life has been a real struggle because I can't get in enough Protein or Water to stay energized or hydrated so I sleep a lot. I was a relatively healthy (besides some comorbitities) full time nursing student and now I'm barely staying afloat in school. I've pushed back my clinicals which pushes back my graduation date because I just don't have the energy to start them; plus I'm in the hospital so often that I miss class which is not allowed once I start working in the hospital. I went back to my surgeon two months ago and they ran all sorts of tests, he told me if I didn't get this fixed I was heading in the direction of Barret's and esophageal cancer which scared the crap out of me at 21. He said the only way to fix the severe esophageal spasms and the swollen inflamed stricture is to revise to a bypass which would stop the bile reflux and change the anatomy of the stomach which will hopefully help the irregular pressures in my esophagus and let the stricture heal. I agreed since that seemed to be the only option AND I haven't lost any weight...ZERO. It's because I can't eat what I'm supposed to eat, I can barely get down pudding and ice cream much less vegetables or protein so my metabolism is basically shut down and I'm stuck. We are hoping the bypass fixes my pain but it would also be an added bonus to lose the weight like I originally planned. We had set a date of 7/11/2014 which is today but I got a call on Wednesday saying the insurance retracted my approval because they want another EGD done. He did the EGD on that same Wednesday and came back out to talk to me about what he found. He said it's significantly worse than it was two months ago, my esophagus is eroding from the bile that keeps irritating the already swollen stricture. I asked about Barret's and he said not YET...so scary! My surgeon himself called the medical director of the insurance company to tell him how badly I need this surgery. He said he would be very surprised if we didn't get it approved and set a new date for next Friday. Here's to hoping I suppose. I will keep you guys informed when I have a date and I will update on how I'm feeling. Hopefully in a couple of months this will be another success thread, I'm crossing my fingers and toes! I already have all of my Vitamins and Protein shakes from the last go around and have tried a ton of stuff and have a ton of experience with all things bariatric that are soft. I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has and am thankful for all of the support that you guys provide. My current weight is the same as my starting weight at 260 but like I said, I'm more concerned with the pain stopping than the weight gain although I'm hopeful that this will help me with both. My surgeon wants to keep me 2 nights in the hospital and saying the surgery will take 2-3 hours. I'll post pictures soon and update the title with the date we select..hopefully it will be 7/18. Pictures: Pre-Sleeve 2012: Pre-Bypass 2014: Recent Face Shot 2014: UPDATE: Surgery is approved but won't happen until August 1st because my surgeon is out of town I'm keeping my head up and am thankful that it is approved at all even if the date is farther out than I had been hoping. I will keep everyone updated and am on a cancellation list so maybe I'll get in sooner.

Will do! I told my NUT about your post and she told me she's never heard of anyone being denied for weight gain so I am praying she is right. Besides a couple loose ends I should have all my paperwork submitted in the next two weeks

It's all about choices for me , in most cases. I can't eat a huge dinner, so I am sure that helps. I can sure eat in between meals and graze, and that's what causes weight gain. I'm 5 years out now, and I know the clue to keeping it off is not eat in between meals and not snack at night.

First--stay calm. Keep your self-talk positive. Celebrate your 52 lbs and tons of inches lost!!! This is a temporary setback. You REALLY do know what to do to get yourself back on track. Sometime we just get temporarily TIRED of our hard work and stumble a little. It doesn't mean disaster. It means we're human. Are you logging what you eat for the day so you know how many calories you're taking in? Are you getting in your right Protein amounts and Water amounts? Are you measuring your portions to be sure they haven't "accidently" gotten a little bigger than usual? I think one of the biggest things for a lot of us after we reach the one year mark is that we realize we have begun to eat more processed simple carbs than our bodies like and that is often the thing that is causing a weight gain (like a few too many chips, breads, muffins, candy, Cookies here and there, etc). The BEST thing is that you are here knowing you want and need to fix this and are asking for help for yourself. You will "regroup" and take charge again, and all will be well.

I'm one year out, I had 13 more pounds to goal. I've lost 52 lbs, I have lost tons of inches. I went from a size 14-16 to a 6-4 . I workout everyday and tried to be mindful of what I eat. I had Gallbladder surgery a month ago. I've recently stared gaining weight and I'm so worry, it's not a lot 7lbs I'm afraid that's how it's start and I gain all the way back. ( literally crying) I don't know what to do. Has anyone gained the weight back or gained weight. How did you loose it. Help please

This scares me . A lot of people have been denied due to weight gain in the NUT program. I have my last NUT appointment tomorrow and I have gained every month. have Aetna, but I was never told I needed to lose weight. This month will be no different considering my doctor has put me on a hormone pill and I have gained crazy amounts of weight in just 3 weeks on it. I get more and more anxious about all of this every day.

Celexa is notorious for causing weight gain. Your surgeon's office should be able to appeal successfully showing that your weight gain coincided with the start of the Celexa. That being said, it might be worth it to look into other medications that are less likely to cause weight gain so you're not struggling after surgery. I'd also avoid Zyprexa for the same reason, but you might try Paxil if you are taking the medication for anxiety/panic attacks. If you need medication for depression, try Wellbutrin or Luvox but I'd stay away from Effexor (very strong and hard to get off of), Zoloft and Lexapro. All of those are known to cause a lot of weight gain. I hope this helps and you get approved soon!

Good luck with appealing And I'm not familiar with Celexa, but does it cause weight gain? I know a lot of anti-depressant and anti-anxiety meds can cause weight gain (giving good grounds for appeal). Plus with all the other stressors?

1st - i am happy to hear your husband is getting better... 2nd Appeal! In Oct of 2013 I got sick with bronchitis and I couldn’t shake it… I was put on steroids for almost 4 weeks… (we all know what steroids do…) anyway I gained about 15lbs and come Nov when my doc office sent in my paper work, I was denied due to the weight gain. My doc office appealed before I even knew about it and got approved. My surgery was Dec 11th of 2013. DON’T GIVE UP!!! Write a letter, make phone calls… DON’T GIVE UP!!! KEEP APPEALING till you get a YES!!!! Good luck!!!

So after 6 months of tests and appts I was called by the nurse at my surgeons office to tell me that my surgery was denied. I am HEARTBROKEN. ???? I have been though so much this year. As I started this journey, one month in, my 37 year old husband had a heart attack. Which then required a triple bypass because of 3 blockages. We made it through 20 days in the hospital, 6 days in the cardiac ICU. We both quit smoking, and I was determined to keep going forward with this. I kept my appts and tests even with him in the hospital. Just so I could have this done and we can BOTH start our new lives together. Because when he was in the hospital I could barely BREATH let alone eat. I lost 15 pounds. Now because I quit smoking and my husband is recovering slowly but is recovering nicely, I began to eat. I'm starving. I'm following exactly what I should and I put on 10 pounds. I started a celexa for depression and blood pressure meds a few months ago. I was denied because of the weight gain through the 3 month nutrionalist appts. I am so sad, I am so depressed. I feel defeated. I plan on appealing. I don't know how to pick myself up from this. Thanks for reading, advice would be greatly appreciated. Katie

@lisacaron Your post brought a tear to my eye. Thank you! Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I am definitely a little defensive and one of those people who feels bad/guilty for my weight gain/size. It took the psychiatrist like 4 seconds to figure that out during my appointment. I'm definitely working on that.