Search the Community

New to the forums, and I have my date for 1/27 in Monterey, CA. I had tried to go through this route previously with Kaiser, but my surgery kept getting 'postponed' due to weight gain (after - surprise - multiple medication changes). Since I have my date booked, I'm starting to mini-stock the pantry and prep for a week or two of pre-surgery liquid diets. Just so I'll be somewhat aware of what I can expect right off the bat.

Read this on another WLS forum.... Slider Foods Spell Weight Regain For Weight Loss Surgery Patients By Kaye Bailey For most people eating sliders is a good thing. Popularized by the American food chain, White Castle, a slider (originally slyder) is a miniature grilled hamburger or cheeseburger on a steamed bun often served with onions and dill pickle and other condiments. They originally sold for a nickel a piece in the 1940s making it affordable to add a side of fries for just pennies. By all accounts this is a good kind of "slider" food. To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker Snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free Cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of Protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the "Protein First" rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain. Kaye Bailey 2010 - All Rights Reserved

I take the gapapentin for pain control for tardive dyskenesia (no cure). It has weight gaining properties that complicate my situation. I have verbal approval from the insurance company and my appointment with the surgeon next week. Is there anyone out there who as dealt with this.

My surgeon requires birth control for her patients. I have the Mirena (going on 7 yrs. now) and while I do think it had something to do with some of my weight gain, I am keeping it in for now. If I find I can't lose weight, I will have it removed. I've only been weighed once since my surgery, so we'll see how it goes when I get weighed next week!

Honey, no worries. Ur doing amazing n its showing:). U have 5 months to reach your 100# loss in 6 mths, don't stress, cuz it causes weight gain. Just relax n let whatever happens happen. Remember its been many years since our bodies showed a loss such as is, so b patient and ur doing gr8, congrats!!! Now, when I'm impatient, u have to tell me the same, we are human, lol;)

It's not just empty calories... http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-1/76.pdf This publication does talk a lot about long term effects in alcoholics, but there are also some key findings pertaining to acute alcohol consumption that affect us sleevers. Everything from esophagus and gastric motility (resulting in reflux) to damaging the lining of the stomach and intestines. Believe me, I am not anti-alcohol and loved my evening cocktails. I could binge drink with the best of them! I have no doubt alcohol has played a part in my weight gain prior to surgery. But at this point I am going to be on the wagon for a very long time to help protect my health and surgical investment.

I'll fess up...I enjoy a cocktail or two (sometimes up to 4) a couple of nights a week...whether mimosas at brunch or a trip to one of Denver's many breweries. I know I am going to have to give up bubbles...so no beer or bubbly which I am just fine with. I also am prepared to give up alcohol for several months prior to an after surgery. However, I just got off the phone with my sister who is coming up for a visit this summer and one of the things she and her husband are looking forward to are brewery tours and festivals that will, of course, involve alcohol. I know I will have to be careful about how much I drink as it will effect me quicker than before and with less (I'm thinking similar to moving to altitude). I also know that most drinks are empty calories that can and will lead to weight gain if you over indulge. My question for you wonderful post-oppers is how many of you gave up all alcohol for 18 months as many Surgeons recommend? And if you didn't what was the result? Am I going to be the designated DD for the next two years?

sounds about normal to me... the weight gain that is...I actually gain from 10 to 15 pounds here and there, but for some strange reason I lose it all. the depression needs to be addressed... I can see why you get a little down.... we don't want to gain a pound... I'm a 10 year vet. so keep your head up and no matter what keep it moving somehow... good luck

Hi ... I am unsure if this message will be read or acknowledged but I thought I would give it a go. I'm Angela, 27 years old . I'm engaged to my college sweetheart, Paul. We've known each other for 8 years now and he has been my rock throughout the years. We studied sport and exercise and I had hoped to progress to become a fitness instructor. I loved working out, always made me feel good afterwards. I loved the gym, swimming, hurling and dancing (I know some people debate about wither dance is a sport or not but it burns calories). I grew up without a dad. He left when I was a baby. My mother had a hard time and I didnt make things easy for her as a child. She was my best friend. At the weekends she used to do fun an interesting things with me like make a tent out of a bed sheet and chairs and we would cuddle with hot chocolate and marshmallows and read stories. She was a great mother. She died during my third year of studies and I hit rock bottom. I gave up on the idea of being a fully qualified fitness instructor and running my own gym(s) and I took over my mother's business, a little florist shop. I began binge eating and I started off thinking that because of my body's metabolism, I wouldn't gain weight. I was very wrong to assume I would never gain a pound. I did not notice the weight gain until my clothes shrunk. At first I blamed the tumble dryer. This upset me and what did I do? Only retreat back to the cookie jar again. I no longer felt full after a mcdonalds children happy meal. Now I am able to eat an extra large big mac meal and a regular cheese burger meal together. My BMI has shot up to 45.8 and I am far from the thin girl I used to be. It amazes me sometimes how Paul is still standing by me. He has tried to get me up and exercising again but I've asthma now and I find it hard to do any form of exercising. Ive tried a few diets but they don't work long term. My last option is weight loss surgery. I have only joined this forum and will have a look into the different topics available. Thanks for reading.

My nutritionist and my OB both say that although Mirena doesn't cause weight gain, patients do complain about not being able to lose. My OB said roughly 60 percent of her Mirena patients complain about trouble losing weight. I have one but am having it removed soon.

Ten years of seminars, learning, disappointments, frustrations, HBP, diabetes, more weight gain and other health problems finally got us to the sleeve. If you quit the cigarettes praise the Lord. What an accomplishment! Asthma helped me to stop smoking 4 years ago. Now I can walk and breathe thanks to sleeving. Your day will come. It will be so worth it!!! best of luck!

I want to wish the best of everything to each and every one of you! I won't say luck because there is no luck involved. It is hard work and you are each wonderful. I had gastric bypass surgery on July 31, 2007 and weighed 270 pounds. I was 57 years old, had chronic anemia (so the surgeon almost didn't do the surgery) and a 95% calcified gall bladder. So, it had to go at the same time. In 10 months, I lost 130 pounds, I never had the first complication and have had great labs ever since. I have however gained some weight since quitting smoking in December of 2012 (35 pounds). That is why I am here, to lose that weight gain and get back to goal. I have no doubt that I can do that with the support of the good folks here. Happy New Year everyone!

Depo is known for fairly significant weight gain. I gained 20 lbs in 6 mos on it and had not changed eating/exercising to attribute to it. I know lots of women who had this same experience. Further, Depo should not be used for more than a couple years at a time. It decreases your bone density. I became osteopenic in one vertebra after 3 years use. One year after stopping, my bone density did return to normal.

I have no side effects or weight gain. and much calmer so maybe you just need to find what WORKS for your body. There are some newer drugs that are time released and less side effects. Aren't Xanax habit forming and addictive? My son loves them. . I've never taken them so not sure about them. For me, it's easier to just take my one small dose a day.

Do you use FaceBook ? Linda Walsh from Nutley, NJ just posted the following question on the recently launched BariatricPal FaceBook page: Hi. I just returned home from losing my lap band due to severe slippage with a prolapse--the stomach had folded back over he band and twisted inside out. This was all due to a severe bout of the stomach flu twice last month. (I work in 12 Child Care Centers every week and am bombarded wth every virus you could imagine!) I could not hold anything inside me for a week. And of course I waited till I had things in control at home before seeking emergency care--of course it was a saturday. The Doctor said the stomach was very stretched out and battered--I had been vomiting blood and had bruised the top of the stomach badly. He refused to put in another band till it was totally healed. I agree, the pain and sickness it had caused me was not something I wanted to deal with before I got healed. The recovery is 100 times harder this time. My whole belly is covered in dark purple and red bruises. I barely can walk. The swelling is huge. I had nothing like this with the Lap band insertion surgery..Pain inside and out as well--He had to stitch the stomach closed also. Now what do I do? I didn't get a chance to think about what I would do in this instance. I am basically an emotional wreck, mourning the loss of this marvelous tool, and yet can't even think of putting myself through the agonly again. In the 2 1/2 years I had the band I lost 139 lbs. Previously I had lost 54 lbs. pre op. My goal is 150lbs. Ironically the time of the surgery I had weighed in at 192. I had gone below 200 and didn;t know it--well the fact that I lost 10 lbs in a week but puking and not eating or drinking. I was super dehydrated, and this morning the 10 lbs Water was replaced. Back to where I was. I have a goal of 150 (first goal weight) and know I am so close. I do NOT want to go back. But with a 10lb water weight gain in 2 days, how will I lose? I actually am not peeing enough still. I was seriously dehydrated!!!! Had to get potassium bags and 5 Fluid bags, and still very little pee. Dr said its my body absorbing again. I don't know. Im very depressed and very disgusted with myself for going through all the years of watching and measuring and hurting and not being able to get the right balance which destroyed my band and its usefulness. Is it worth putting my body through agony just because I haed the first band fail..IS IT STILL WORTH IT? Sorry for the rant but I.m feeling like a failure! Thanks for listening, Linda Walsh, Nutley NJ (Dr. Strom Montclair surgical associates) Click here to respond to Linda's question on FaceBook.

I have dieted off and on most of my adult life!! And if anyone would ask me if they should do it I would say go with your heart!! Do what you feel is right even if others don't!! But I agree I was just a few months from turning 30, but I say that it was a great time, I was done having kids, didn't have to worry about the weight gain there. But anyway long story short lol YES IT IS!!

We are all in the same boat, struggling with post-holiday weight gain, old, destructive eating habits coming back, and lack of exercise (other than shoveling snow). First of all I would gently suggest that you may have a sugar addiction. I know I do. So stop with the sweet tea and the cookies. You know what you need to do. I wasn't going to come back here either cuz I didn't like the new app but realized that I really need the support. So I'm back, hangin around. Check out the Valentine's Day challenge. That might help you get motivated. You are really close to goal, as am I, and I just need a little kick in the butt to get myself going again. Tell your hubby that you need his support and find out why he's potentially sabotaging you. He might think that you look just fine now or maybe he's tired of hearing you talk about the struggle. Up to you to have that conversation. For myself, it's the realization that I can't afford to become complacent about what I'm eating and not track my food. Otherwise, it's a quick and slippery slide back UP the scale!

I haven't gained any weight i spoke to my nut and she wants to put me at 2000 calories per day. I thought she was crazy I humored her and asked how many more calories do I need to eat while pregnant and she said 300 more per day so I'm going with 1750 for the day that will keep me at my current weight. Since I'm really at maintenance now. I'm going to be seeing a perinatologist soon so not sure if he is going to recommend a amnio or not. My OB wants me to gain 15 lbs max he's a real stickler when it comes to weight gain.

I'm 43 yrs old soon to be 44 ...this is my 3rd child ..I'm 16 weeks pregnant...I've already gained 19lbs...I'm getting worried more about weight gain then being an older Mom...I had lost over 60lbs...I was down to164lbs...how is your weight coming?My obgyn suggested an Amniocentesis? I'm not sure what to do??

It's like a love/hate relationship I have with my band -- UGH! Damn if I do (with restriction) and Damn if I don't (a looser band). I will tell you, after having a restrictive band year in and year out...sometimes it get OLD...at least for me. With my old band, I had kiss a@@ restriction and lived with that for years, until I had saline removed and I honestly (welcomed it) because I was sick and tired of getting food stuck, slimming, etc. chewing, etc. When my surgeon removed some saline back in 2012 due to a hiatal hernia and back pain when it was filled optimally-- I felt FREE.. a release from (lap band jail)...LOL.... I felt so free, I went wild....I ate a Five Guys burger, with melted cheese and fries without getting that ( Deer in the Headlights) Look...you know what I am talking about . Then I had a delicious philly cheese steak sandwich with toasted bun, onions the whole nine yards....I was on a roll.... I continued my FREEDOM...Until my pants started to get tight...and then I had to go shopping again for a new size.... At this time, my band was still pretty empty, I could not fill it properly because I had back and chest pains from my hernia, so I continued on a downward spiral of FREEDOM....forget about ice cream and candy...you know the sliders we sneak and eat with a very tight band....I wanted REAL food...and I got it... Well...50 pounds later and finding myself in a size tight 16-18 pants...something that I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN WITH A LAP BAND INSTALLED....HAPPENED TO ME...ME? I was the person that was obsessed with the scale, someone who walked at 5 each morning, in 20-30 degree temperatures for 6 straight years...because I HAD CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE FOREVER? EVER ...EVER? Once I found a surgeon to HELP me repair my hernia, give me a second chance to get my "grove back" I was humbled and grateful.. THE MORAL OF MY POST IS...NEVER THINK YOU GOT THIS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS....BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN COME AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU .... When the lap band is UNFILLED AFTER YEARS OF EATING HARDLY NOTHING...your metabolism gets SHOT...and if you EVER have to get unfilled....THE WEIGHT CAN COME BACK QUICKLY...I GAINED 20 pounds in ONE month.... And oh yea....after I had ..had my feel of Burgers and Cheese Steaks....it was too late to eat Broccoli and baked chicken....no matter what I'd done with a LOOSE band...I could NOT get the weight off UNTIL I got my lap band properly restricted again..... It took over 14 months JUST TO LOSE the 50 pound weight gain, I was FINALLY BACK to my old lap band fighting weight ...it sure was not easy like it was when I was first banded... So while my lap band (SuzieQ) is working NOW in full over load.....I still want to stuff my face and I can't, I just can't do it.....and you know what? I glad.... ... Please respect your band and cherish with love, because one day...you may find yourself IN FREEDOM with an unfilled band and that is a very SCARY place to be!

Well let me tell you this...I have my 6 out of 6 appointment coming and I want to tell anyone with Kaiser what to look out for...it's what I wanted to know... 1. you can possibly get more monthly visits added on but cannot do anything to reduce the time in the program. 2. you should start a diet to follow immediately and let that be what you track in your food journal...unlike me, who thought they wanted to just see what we were currently eating.. I was unaware that the diet begins at that first class you attend. 3. If it applies, don't stop smoking too soon...I gained about 6lbs immediately and never found out that losing any weight gained is you final goal in the program. 4. DO NOT GAIN WEIGHT!!! I never knew there would be any weight requirement, only the classes and appointments but at my 5th appointment, I found that I must get back to my lowest weight in the program before we can move on to submitting paperwork. Which only gives me 4 weeks but if you gained more than my 6, this could be a shocker! 6. Make sure you schedule all your appointments immediately after your visits because those appointments go fast and some time they may not even have a schedule up for the following month until the 2nd week of the current month. My 6/6 appointment is 1/31/14 and we will be submitting paperwork...feel free to hit me up and ask me any questions about the process... Good Luck neighbors!!

My doc wants me to go on some horrible daily drug and they cause all sorts of side effects. I don't need xanax daily... just a small dose, maybe right now a few times a week but I think once under control, just occasional. They hate you using it because of the addiction risk. Trust me, I have asked - she relented and gave me a tiny amount for the surgery. I will admit my friend P that went with me to Mexico had a more generous prescription and I did take it a few times when things were going to happen that stressed me - drain removal etc. Anyway, it is very frustrating. I am going to see another person next week that is a nurse who also does therapy so she can prescribe drugs. I will try to have an open mind but I am fairly adament I don't want to start on a daily anti depressant/anti anxiety. I don't want the side effects and the weight gain. There are alot of things that I have complex emotions about but the heart stopping anxiety is because I can't concentrate at work and I just get further and further behind. It's awful.

Yes, I have tried Melatonin. Sometimes it will help me fall asleep but I don't stay asleep. Sheryl Just tell your doctor you have anxiety attacts at times and you want the medicine as needed. All those SSRI's that they push cause weight gain!

Ok Ladies....... I am 6 weeks post op tomorrow and just started my first period since surgery and the scale shows I gained 3 pounds. While my brain tells me the gain is likely due to my period, I can't help but feel maybe it isn't. Anyone else experience this?

They denied me because 1.During the 6 month weight management I gained weight and 2.They said it wasn't a medical necessity. I have arthritis, degenerative disc, bulging disc and lumbago in my lower back. So I went to my pcp and told her I was denied. So she gave me a copy of my mri and all my records and she also wrote a letter. Then I had been to another dr and I got my records from them as well. Then I went to my ob/gyn and got my records. I also have PCOS and weight gain is associated with that. And with my back im not able to exercise or anything. I havent worked since August. So with all that and God, they reversed the denial and approved it.