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I had my band put in 9/19/12, so I'm only 3 weeks out. The first 2 weeks I lost 11 lbs, went for a check up last week and was told I was doing great, and my first fill will be nov 18. Since my appt last week I've gained 4 lbs, and feel hungry like before I had the surgery. Of course I feel the restriction of it all going down (like of not chewing fully) but I'm becoming discourage by the weight gain and length of time before my fill. Ive contemplated calling the dr and requesting an earlier fill but not sure if that's frowned upon! Any advice is welcome:) Thanks!!

I had the sleeve Nov 2014 and I am so happy with the decision I made. I decided on gastric sleeve vs. bypass because gastric sleeve patients don't have the malabsorption issues associated with bypass and my surgeon won't even do lap bands anymore due to the high failure rate. My pre-op weight gain was directly related to my over-eating. But not eating too much at meals, rather eating 2-3 candy bars along with a bag of chips and three scoops of ice cream every night after my family went to bed. Call it binge eating, grazing whatever, it was my way of feeling comfort. Now, post-op, I have control of my head and what I put in my mouth. I haven't felt real "hunger" since surgery, so I eat to live. I still get the late night cravings to eat junk because I'm bored, but I usually just eat a Protein bar while watching TV after the family goes to bed. Plus, eating really sweet foods before bed gives me terrible acid reflux during the night and that is a constant reminder that junk food and boredom eating should not mix. I see many pre-op patients at my monthly support group. They are either waiting for surgical approval or just getting feedback from those of us who have had WLS. It's a great forum for face-to-face conversations about options. I doubt you'll find one person who says they are sorry they made the decision to have surgery. Benefits clearly out weigh any pre-surgery food passions.

I will reiterate that two slices of pizza does not result in 5 pounds of fat gain. To gain 5 pounds of body fat, one would need to consume and store 17,500 calories as adipose tissue. Two fully loaded slices of pizza on a hand-tossed or deep dish crust contains 800 to 1,000 calories at the most, depending on the toppings. Your 5-pound pre-op weight gain was almost assuredly all water weight due to the high carbohydrate content of the pizza. And yes, it takes a while for some people to lose the bloat and water weight gain, especially if they do not engage in vigorous physical activity to use up those water-heavy glycogen stores.

That's what I was thinking as well. I think my best friend and I have discovered something that could cause this and that's the good old menopause! The weight gain as only been in the last month but scary I must admit! Back to the basics I go

Most are new on here... or at least what I have seen. I hit my year mark on Feb 21st but have no experienced and yoyo weight gain. Maybe going back to basics and writing everything down??? Good luck and welcome to the boards

Hello Kristi, My name is Carrie - and I am excited about having a buddy also. I know how important it is to have a support person with you as you go on this journey. I have seen the weight gain program myself, but overweight my entire life from 8th grade 220 pounds, 12th grade 300 pounds then lose 75 pounds before meeting my husband, the maintained for five years then each year it increased by 20 for the next five years. 2 1/2 months ago I reached my breaking point of 300 pounds and said this is enough for 1 1/2 year I could not fit my clothes in the closet so I didn't buy new ones because I didn't want to face that I could not fit my clothes (size 22) I went up to size 26/28 and said what am I doing with myself this is crazy. But kept on eating and eating! Just depressed at what I have become and look like its really said, but today is another day now. I am excited about me! Please don't forget to email me at c_monestime@yahoo.com

Hi Lee, I'm 49 and almost 4 years out. I love being this age an no more periods to worry about. Just a few options to think about or try. Menopause and women having their period struggle. Hormones, water weight and cravings. Uggg the joy's of being female. I took the same route as @jess9395 I workout. Let the hot flashes work for you by walking or elliptical. Menopause will give you double the sweat. Getting in physical activity pays off mentally and physically as you go through the change. It is a bit harder to lose weight/maintain with the sleeve years out. Just know it can be done. The vet's have been talking about the sleeve holding more food after a year. I miss the tighter restriction. I can easily get in more calories. Honestly, My weight gains have been from me being complacent, eating more calories, carbs and sugar. I have to monitor/log and get back into the discipline and motivation that I had in the beginning to get the weight back off. Revision is an option. Question to the bypass patients. Years out can you regain by eating carbs, sweets and extra calories? What ever you choose,I hope you find what will work long term

No personal experience but my surgeon performs duo switch to revise sleeve after weight gain or if loss is not enough.

Hi Lee! I had surgery June 2014. Started at 261 and lowest weight was 185. I have gained back up to 205. I'm miserable and I'm hungry ALL OF THE TIME! I am 48 and I think menopause is playing a factor with my weight gain. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Matt, Thank you for sharing your story! I'm so glad for all of the previous posts - Great reassurance and info! I struggle as well & will be having the sleeve in about a month. I was a healthy weight the first 2/3 of my life but had a lot of loss/trauma and used food as comfort and to eat my pain which led to a 125 lb weight gain. I've found myself getting nervous these past couple of weeks & am once again turning to food. In my opinion, two things are really key - 1) therapy and 2) to try to find other things to turn to. I just finished an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders (3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 2 months). We had 5 therapists and had group, skills, nutrition, medical, art and DBT therapy. The DBT therapy was probably the thing that affected me the most - because it is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and focuses on how to change behaviors. We also focused a lot on self-care, self-love and getting to the bottom of our problems / why we use food. I know that therapy will always be another tool in my toolbox, and I have an appointment this Friday to deal with my pre-op anxiety. My suggestion is to look up anything in your area that can help with those 2 things. This is also such a great place for support & info. I wish you only the Best!!

@@Jenny L I'm sorry to hear that you are having to be benched from doing your work outs. The impact on your joints with running and P90x is pretty rough. Did the Dr. tell you what was going on other then inflammation? Is it arthritis? Why steroids? There are other medications out there that can help you to reduce the inflammation and not cause the weight gain that steroids can cause. My husband was put on Celebrex for pain and inflammation after his hip surgery. Ask your Ortho more questions and if you can see a Sports medicine orthopedic they are very understanding of people who have joint and other arthritic issues wanting to be fit and healthy etc. I hope you are feeling better and on the med very soon!! Maybe as you mend you can reduce the intensity of the workouts for impact but not give them up all together.

Stalls suck, my last stall lasted between 10 - 15 days. But it finally broke. I'm in the gym daily so it's hard to separate the muscle mass weight gains with the fat losses. Some days the water retention from the workout counters the weight drop from the fat loss. It sucks, but as long as that muscle mass is growing, things do eventually pan out. The size drops are crazy though! I've gone from a 50 waist (below the gut line) to a 40 waist at my actual waist line. Such an amazing feeling!

Hey Liz, Please sit down... close your eyes.. put your head back.. and slowly count to ten!!! Take a few deep breaths and exhale!!! okay...? What is a medicine audit? I hope that you don't think I'm stupid, but I've never heard of this. As far as the family situation.. Sometimes shit happens. Try to let it slide off your back. Let your sister know that you are having a rough time right now and that you are stressed out. Don't forget to say that your sorry if this caused any problems with her "BF". That usually works and smooths things over with the relative. :biggrin1: Sometimes when you have issues with a particular person, we always seem to over analyze what they say or do. One time you may be right, the next time.. you may be off yoru rocker.. wrong. LOL this has been my experience. Sorry to hear about the BF. Don't take this the wrong way, I mean no harm in my statement. But.. It seems like maybe it could be a good time for this to happen to your relationship. You are starting to make big changes in your life, starting with the band.. and you have to make a commitment to yourself.. maybe you'll be so into having the band.. exercising or whatever it is.. and find out that you may not have had any time for him anyway. I'm sure as you lose weight, gain more confidence and become healthier and "Hotter".. You'll find another BF. As far as your teetering over the band... hun.. it's up to you!! How bad do you want this? Are you going to regret this if you don't go ahead with it? This is a HUGE life changing decision.. Please make sure that you are 100 percent sure this is what you want. Besides... Who will I have to chat with.. if you are gone? We're getting banded so close to each other!!. I'll miss you buddy... But seriously... it's totally up to you.. just make sure what ever you decide. is for the right reasons. I'll be here for you, no matter what you decide. If you need a phone buddy to chat with, let me know. I love ya, Sista!! I thought I'd throw some color in the post for you, to cheer you up.

:girl_hug: I 'm not banded yet and have many questions. Some people who have had gastric bypass do not change their eating. They strech out their pouch, and regain their weight. Is this possible with a lap band? I know that if it is removed there is danger of weight gain, but is it possible to gain weight with a band?

I am so confused about all the insurance stuff - and I know that this isn't the best place to get specific help, but I'm hoping that it can just be made clearer for me. I'm not American - I'm from the UK and we have universal healthcare, so the insurance thing has always confused the feck out of me! I live in upstate NY, my husband works for the State and therefore has very good insurance. It covered our IVF and my breast reduction surgery 100%, for example. It's United Healthcare - but is also apparently the NYS Empire Plan. But it is Blue Cross Blue Shield if there is a hospital stay involved?? Anyway - I went to my primary care doctor. She has the same problems as me (PCOS - an endocrine issue, one of the main symptoms of which is weight gain with the inability to lose, and ultra low metabolism). She has had weight loss surgery herself, and so was quick to recommend it. She gave me the name of a surgeon, but didn't give me referral letter. I signed up as a new patient on his website, completed the mandatory seminar, and set up an initial consult. I went for the consult last Thursday (06/07/18) and they weighed me and took a history. The nurse said my insurance requires 6 months of weigh ins, which have to be done every 28-30 days. This threw a spanner in the works, because I go home to the UK for the summer, leaving early July. Because I am not back until the middle of August, I was told that I would have to start in September - I wanted to come in August, but was told that it had to be in September because it goes in 4 weekly blocks. Maybe she meant from the date of the consult? So they said I would have to see the nutritionist, have an endoscopy, a psych eval, an EKG, a colonoscopy. I pretty much expected that as I had looked up our insurance plan's rules for surgery: https://www.empireblue.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm I am right at 36 BMI and the policy for BMI with co-morbidity (I have PCOS, diabetes, high cholesterol) is 35. I was not told to lose weight - but what will happen if I fall under 35 while doing the weigh ins? Also, they said that after the 6 weigh ins and other procedures, they forward it to the insurance. Does that mean that it could still be denied? Am I essentially doing this blind right now? I read about people hear calling their insurance - am I supposed to be doing that? Do I need to get prior authorisation for this, or is the weight loss centre supposed to deal with it? Again, I'm sorry if Im being really dumb - I just want to understand the process.

Hi everyone. I am 5 weeks out of sleeve surgery and have stopped losing weight. Total loss so far is 14 lbs. and the weight gained in past week is 1 lb. I am soo worried..what am I doing wrong. Can anyone spare me a few minutes please Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Well I will be banded monday and I have to say I have often wondered myself about the weight gain but my doc said as long as I listened to him and had my band in good working order I will be fine hope this helps

You are not alone in the weight gain Makemelean, lots of us gained over the holidays, do not beat yourself up over it. You will not have much restriction until you have your first fill. No you are not alone lots of us have gone through the same thing, and you will be okay, just hang in there, let us know what the surgeon has to say, and please do not think of yourself as a failure. :hug: Good luck Maria

and more............ http://mcgs.bcbsfl.com/ THIS MEDICAL COVERAGE GUIDELINE IS NOT AN AUTHORIZATION, CERTIFICATION, EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS, OR A GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT, NOR DOES IT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. ALL MEDICAL DECISIONS ARE SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN. BENEFITS ARE DETERMINED BY THE GROUP CONTRACT, MEMBER BENEFIT BOOKLET, AND/OR INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBER CERTIFICATE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME SERVICES WERE RENDERED. THIS MEDICAL COVERAGE GUIDELINE APPLIES TO ALL LINES OF BUSINESS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE PROGRAM EXCEPTIONS SECTION. Non-Covered Billing/Coding Reimbursement Program Exceptions Definitions Related Guidelines Other References Updates DESCRIPTION: In cases where a severe, potentially life threatening condition develops which is documented in the medical record, gastric bypass revision is considered medically necessary and may be eligible for coverage. WHEN SERVICES ARE COVERED: The following lists examples of conditions AND/OR diagnoses for which gastric bypass revisions may be covered: <LI class=bulletedList-1>Weight loss of 20% or more below the ideal body weight (based on the 1996 Metropolitan Life Height & Weight tables Men and Women) <LI class=bulletedList-1>Esophagitis (e.g., esophageal reflux) <LI class=bulletedList-1>Hemorrhage or hematoma complicating a procedure <LI class=bulletedList-1>Vomiting (bilious) following gastrointestinal surgery <LI class=bulletedList-1>Gastrointestinal complications, (i.e., complications of intestinal (internal) anastomosis and bypass) <LI class=bulletedList-1>Stomal dilatation, documented by endoscopy (not UGI) <LI class=bulletedList-1>Pouch dilation documented by upper gastrointestinal examination or endoscopy, producing weight gain of 20% or more <LI class=bulletedList-1>Stomal stenosis after vertical banding, documented by endoscopy, producing vomiting or weight loss of 20% or more <LI class=bulletedList-1>Other and unspecified post surgical nonabsorption (i.e., hypoglycemia and malnutrition following gastrointestinal surgery) <LI class=bulletedList-1>Other post-operative functional disorders (i.e., diarrhea following gastrointestinal surgery), <LI class=bulletedList-1>Severe dumping syndrome <LI class=bulletedList-1>Post-gastric surgery syndromes (i.e., post-gastrectomy syndrome, post-vagotomy syndrome) <LI class=bulletedList-1>Disruption of operation wound <LI class=bulletedList-1>Staple line failure, documented by upper gastrointestinal examination Disrupted staple line provided there has been prior weight loss. WHEN SERVICES ARE NOT COVERED: Gastric bypass revision services are not covered when coverage criteria are not met as described in the WHEN SERVICES ARE COVERED section or when the member's contract does not provide benefits for these services. BILLING/CODING INFORMATION: CPT Coding: 43848 Revision , open, of gastric restrictive procedure for morbid obesity, other than adjustable gastric band (separate procedure) 43850 Revision of gastroduodenal anastomosis (gastroduodenostomy) with reconstruction; without vagotomy 43855 Revision of gastroduodenal anastomosis (gastroduodenostomy) with reconstruction; with vagotomy 43860 Revision of gastrojejunal anastomosis (gastrojejunostomy) with reconstruction, with or without partial gastrectomy or intestine resection; without vagotomy 43865 Revision of gastrojejunal anastomosis (gastrojejunostomy) with reconstruction, with or without partial gastrectomy or intestine resection; with vagotomy 43886 Gastric restrictive procedure, open; revision of subcutaneous port component only 43887 Gastric restrictive procedure, open; removal of subcutaneous port component only 43888 Gastric restrictive procedure, open; removal and replacement of subcutaneous port component only ICD-9 Diagnoses Codes That Support Medical Necessity: 530.1 Esophagitis (esophageal reflux) 536.1 Acute dilatation of stomach (documented by endoscopy, not UGI) 536.1 Pouch dilation (documented by UGI or endoscopy; producing weight gain of 20% or more) 537.6 Stenosis of stomach (after vertical banding documented by endoscopy; producing vomiting or weight loss of 20% or more) 564.2 Postgastric surgery syndrome (i.e., post-gastrectomy syndrome, post-vagotomy syndrome, severe dumping syndrome) 564.3 Vomiting following gastrointestinal surgery 564.4 Other post-operative functional disorders (i.e., diarrhea following gastrointestinal surgery) 579.3 Other and unspecified postsurgical nonabsorption (i.e., hypoglycemia, malnutrition following gastrointestinal surgery) 783.2 Abnormal loss of weight (20% or more below the ideal body weight according to the 1996 Metropolitan Life Height & Weight tables for men and women) 997.4 Digestive system complications (i.e., complications of intestinal (internal) anastomosis and bypass) 998.11-998.13 Hemorrhage or hematoma complicating a procedure 998.3 Disruption of operation wound (i.e., dehiscence; rupture; staple line failure documented by upper gastrointestinal examination; disrupted staple line, provided there has been prior weight loss) REIMBURSEMENT INFORMATION: Refer to section entitled WHEN SERVICES ARE COVERED. PROGRAM EXCEPTIONS: Federal Employee Program (FEP): Follow FEP guidelines. State Account Organization (SAO): Follow SAO guidelines. DEFINITIONS: No guideline specific definitions apply. RELATED GUIDELINES: Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity (Bariatric Surgery; Gastric Bypass Surgery), 02-40000-10 OTHER: To view the Metropolitan Life Height & Weight tables Men and Women, see Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity (Gastric Bypass), 02-4000-10. REFERENCES: <LI value=1>American Medical Association CPT (current edition) <LI value=2>Florida Medicare Part B Local Medical Review Policy # 11920: Cosmetic/Reconstructive Surgery (01/01/02, retired 02/01/04) <LI value=3>Florida Medicare Part B Local Medical Review Policy # 40000: Digestive System (01/01/02) <LI value=4>Medical Practice and Coverage Committee (BCBSF) St. Anthony’s ICD-9-CM Code Book (current edition) COMMITTEE APPROVAL: This Medical Coverage Guideline (MCG) was approved by the BCBSF Medical Policy & Coverage Committee on 09/23/04. GUIDELINE UPDATE INFORMATION: 10/15/99 New Medical Coverage Guideline. 01/01/02 Coding changes. 12/15/02 Reviewed; typographical corrections. 10/15/04 Scheduled review; no change in coverage statement; added 43848. 01/01/06 Annual HCPCS coding update (revise 43848; add 43886, 43887, and 43888. Private Property of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. This medical coverage guideline is Copyright 2006, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF). All Rights Reserved. You may not copy or use this document or disclose its contents without the express written permission of BCBSF. The medical codes referenced in this document may be proprietary and owned by others. BCBSF makes no claim of ownership of such codes. Our use of such codes in this document is for explanation and guidance and should not be construed as a license for their use by you. Before utilizing the codes, please be sure that to the extent required, you have secured any appropriate licenses for such use. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is copyright 2006 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. No fee schedules, basic units, relative values, or related listings are included in CPT. The AMA assumes no liability for the data contained herein. Applicable FARS/DFARS restrictions apply to government use. CPT® is a trademark of the American Medical Association. Internet Privacy Statement | Terms of Use © 2006 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. Date Printed: January 5, 2007: 10:48 PM

No regrets. I've been dieting all my damn life. Lost the weight, gained it back...Ground Hog Day. As I got older it was harder to get it off, and when I crossed the 200lb threshold I developed sleep apnea and high blood pressure. I tried for another 5 yrs to get my weight under control. Sleep deprived and depressed, I weighed 220 when I finally made the decision for surgery. I'm down to 196lbs in since 1/8/13. I'm religious about following my doctors instructions and having good results. Not hungry AT ALL. It was the right choice me, you have to decide if it's the right thing for you. I did have a few fleeting moments of doubt, before the surgery - but not after.

Well, I don't have your medical thyroid issue. However, I have had a knee replacement - 8yrs ago. I have arthritis in a few joints. The joint stress has been greatly reduced since wlsurgery in October. I have had some work/family tragedies along your lines, add my brother's suicide/homicide, my best friend's son's suicide, outsourced job, and a house fire into mine but I don't consider those issues relevant to deciding on needing wl surgery. Ask yourself if your present conditions will ever improve without surgery? Or will your current path continue with even more weight gain and more joint misery? Only you can decide. I offer condolences for your losses. Your son very likely had cancer prior to surgery, and while malnutrition contributed to the his condition, it could also be said the obesity could have been a bigger factor as well. Good luck with your decisions.

Hey everyone! *waves* THE SHORT STORY I've been hypothyroid for fifteen years. Is bariatric surgery effective and worth the risk for hypothyroid patients? THE LONG STORY So, I'm considering WLS. I can't believe I'm actually thinking about it. My husband had WLS about three years ago and is doing fine. He's regained some weight but is still far ahead of where he was. My son had WLS around the same time. He did not do well. He had extreme absorption issues and had to have a feeding port installed just weeks after his surgery. We lost him in November 2015. The official cause of death was cancer, but we wonder if the malnutrition contributed to his developing cancer. For me, my thyroid died somewhere around 2002. I was on the Atkins program, had lost about 70 pounds, and was on my way to single digit clothing size! Then, bam - one week I gained four pounds. The next week six. And then eight. All while still working out daily and eating the Atkins way. DNA? Age? Splenda? Who knows the cause, but my thyroid was done ... completely. The weight gain, it turns out, wasn't the worst part of hypo for me. It was the depression. My doctor put me on synthetic thyroid that didn't help at all. Finally, in 2009 I found Nature-Throid and a doctor who would prescribe it. Nature-Throid eased the depression, but my weight slowly and steadily continued to climb. In 2015, my hair began falling out. My skin had always been dry. Now it peels off in sheets. And I put on an additional fifty pounds within months. I chalked a lot of those symptoms to stress. The last few years have just been awful. In January 2015, my husband had emergency surgery to place a stent in his heart and I blew out my knee. Mid 2015, I had to shop for a nursing home for my mom. If you've ever done that, you know there aren't any good nursing homes. Mom died on Christmas Day 2015 ... six weeks after losing my son. August 2016, my brother was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Next, I made a super poor career decision and lost my job in December 2016. My brother died January 30, 2017. Yet, I'm still standing ... just barely. Because both knees are now bone on bone. My blood pressure is fine. I'm not diabetic. No heart disease. Except for that damn thyroid, my blood work is all healthy. But I'm at an all-time high of 311 lbs. It hurts to move. It hurts to stand. I carry a lot of the weight in my hips and thighs which even makes it hurt to sit. I hurt and I don't want to hurt anymore. If you've read this far, thank you for letting me rant. I'd love to hear from other hypothyroid patients. What has been your experience with WLS? Pros? Cons?

I thought i would start this thread. For the past two weeks I have been having body 'issues'. Some good and some downright scary! As I said in a previous post, I am using my chin as a sign of my losing weight, my kirk douglas dimple is back. (It think its been nearly 5 years since I saw it!) So that gives me a reason to smile at my image in the mirror every morning. It's feeling as I am starting to fit into the slim image I had always seen in the mirror, even at my heaviest. It was the most frustrating thing, knowing my body was a blob and yet in the mirror i fooled myself into a morphic body change. Not healthy at all. So I get to smile morning and night. Another positive is that when I walk now, I feel lighter, I have extremely sensitve joints, and the concept of walking quickly was an impossibility, until now. I'm not super quick but my joints feel so much freer, no longewr weighed down with the weight. Sadly the pain is still there but it is far more bearable! Now for the downers. Every diet I ever did never took the fat off my breasts. I was fairly confident that I would keep the cup size c, which grew during my weight gain. Tragedy has happened! My breasts are disappearing! I only noticed that this week. I am starting to see my collar bone. But Ia m losing my breasts. It's stupid. I have never had huge bazoomers but I had loved my slightly more voluptious breasts. I shall have to get used to it I guess. But, seeing my breasts disappearing I am worried what else is going to happen to my body. Can I really cope with the concept of having a new body? It is all well and good taking the weight off for all the health reasons. The more I lose the weight be it inches on bust or lbs the better my body feels. But, my subconcious is not so comfortable with the changes happening. I am running a bit before I can walk but I have always seen myself as a size 14 but what if I go smaller? What would that be like? Could I cope? Part of me wants to go down into the little league, every woman does in someways. The reality though is a different matter! Does anyone else feel like this?

I live in the Richmond area. I am seriously considering the lapband. I am 5'7" and weigh 278. I've struggled my entire adult life with weight. almost two years ago my husband died after a two year battle with lung cancer (he was only 40!!) and my mother six months after him (colon cancer, after beating breast cancer!!), leaving me with a beautiful little girl who is now five years old, that we adopted from China (got her, and five mos. later he had cancer). I am trying to get my life back together but am frustrated with my weight and finding time for ME to get it off. My blood pressure, which was always excellent (even when I'm heavy) steadily rose during his illness and my weight gain. My GP said if I lose weight I can get off the meds for sure. I also take stuff for anxiety, depression, thyroid, and am wondering how much of that I can ditch once I'm in shape. I hesitate at doing any surgery because there is no one to help me take care of my daughter while I recover (much less take care of me :cry ) but it looks like the lap band has a really short recovery period. I am going to get a consult with one of the surgeons in town who do this, but was wondering if there was anyone out there in my area who can share their experience? I'm 48 now and all my docs keep telling me I need to take care of ME so I'll be around to raise my daughter. I'd like to have enough energy for her as well! Anyway, my clinical psychologist suggested lap-band to me last week and I started looking into it. I'm starting to think it makes sense for me. thanks for any input. I plan to read as much as I can in this forum. We belonged to a very similar styled forum for lung cancer and it was wonderful - really got us through a horrible thing. So I was tickled to stumble here.

For the first time in a very long time I am paying attention to my own needs and my own stress responses. It feels like I'm more sensitive to it than before. For years, I just buried it and keep pushing through. I'm working to find a balance....I can't bury / ignore the stress like I used to b/c I know that was a big contributing factor to my weight gain. I'm glad to hear that others are having similar experiences. Hope your situation improves.