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Hello everyone, I'm MIke. I'm 38 (or am I 39, I forget), from New Orleans and I wanted to formally introduce myself to the forums. I've been a little chubby but the bulk, 100 pounds, I gained in past two years. I'm in drug recovery since February 16, 2010. I've switched addictions from drugs to food. Most of my weight gain in the last two years is a result of being clean and off drugs as well as the medication and a lot of tres leches cake., now that I have successfully passed my two year goal of being totally clean and have graduated from the medication, here I am 100 pounds heavier! My insurance (Medicaid) has approved my lap-band surgery and I am soooo looking forward to this new life of not only sobriety but with a new healthy body. I was scheduled for this Wednesday the 29th. to finalize all my surgery paperwork, but with the hurricane Isaac but to hit New Orleans on tomorrow and Wednesday, my appointment had to be rescheduled for September 13th. Damn, It seemed like it took forever to finally get to the 29th, now these next 2 weeks are going feel like an eternity! The most peculiar thing is that I was scheduled for gastric bypass August 29, 2005, the very day that hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, as a result all the computer hard drives and patient records were lost, now on the anniversary of hurricane Katrina, seven years later, another hurricane is wrecking havoc and causing problems with my surgery. If I was a superstitious man, that would really give me something to think about. By the way, if anybody want to be friends and add me to Facebook here I am: https://www.facebook.com/mjuniordominguez Peace. One Love!

Hey girl you and I were sleeved on the same day. I'm 12 weeks pregnant. Congrats! I'm in a 3lb bounce no real significant weight gain. Had really bad morning sickness that lasted all day. But getting better everyday! How many weeks are you? Sent from my EVO using VST

Thank you! Okay now I feel a little better. I try not to worry about the weight gain (just want my baby to be healthy) but it is hard! Gonna quit being negative, focus on keeping me and baby healthy and look forward to the future!

First off CONGRATS! How exciting...second of all from what I understand after you have the baby 6wks later you can start getting fills again. If your worried about your pouch being streched you can do the 5 day pouch test to re-shrink it. I know your freaked about the weight gain but your pregnant! Cherish this and after your baby is born you can get back on track. Hugs!

Please know, diabetes being gone instantly does not happen for all RNY patients. In very well may go into remission over time but there is no guarantee. About 75% see the diabetes go into remission. Do not expect it to be gone instantly. If your doc is promising this, he is misleading you. Also, it is not cured. It will come back with weight gain. Regain is rather common so, a true diet change for life is needed. Below is a link to an article. It states only 30% of diabetic patients leave the hospital with no medication but, it could resolve within days to weeks. It does take months for some patients as well, however. My sister, for example took about 9 months to come off all meds. The time you have had it and the severity of it both are factors in determining when and if it will resolve. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00802.x/full

Wow @@Hiraeth you have gone through the wringer! Hoping your symptoms ease up after surgery. I went for a year without a period. 6 weeks post op It came back like it never left. It wasn't painful (never has been) just mild cramping streak of blood when I wipe. It usually would pick up overnight going into day 2 and 3 but again no pain. I used to pass heavy clots in the toilet years back but that didn't last for very long. Anyways day 4 it starts to ease up, day 5 and 6 light spotting then its done. Day 2 and 3 I wear 2 tampons an overnight pad and a pantyliner because I'm OCD like that and I can't have any accidents. I would imagine if they were really heavy like yours I don't know what I'd do!!! Maybe live in the tub? lol. Skin is clear, no excess hair. I have had some skin changes over the years. My face is duller, and dryer, as well as the rest of the skin on my body but I always attributed that to my lack of Water intake. I try to moisturize and exfoliate to compensate. I imagine now that my diet has changed and I'm more conscious about my water intake my skin will get it's healthy glow back. Other than that I'm sure I've had some symptoms especially with having high testosterone levels-- I've been moody, more irritable but that's been going on for years now so it's hard to say but I started noticing it shortly after my diagnosis I'm just used to It now. So mainly my symptoms included absence of periods dry, dull skin infertility (I have 2 but have not used any form of birth control since my 2nd and no pregnancy's) Mood changes due to high testosterone I was diagnosed after discussing symptoms with my OBGYN Rapid weight gain within 2 years, highly irregular cycles, blood work showed high testosterone levels and insulin resistance (6.2 hemoglobin a1c) ultrasound negative for ovarian cysts.

Your insurance will probably dictate what and how much you have to lose. My insurance (Aetna) required that I have no net weight gain for my 90 day program. I did better than that. My NUT helped guide me through and I put a nice dent in my weight pre op. I went from 429 down to 386 on surgery day and it didn't feel like I was dieting. It was more of a ok, this month I want you to leave 10% food on your plate and eat protein first and legs aim for 10 mins of exercise 3 days a week. Then the next month we worked on it and went to leave 20% and exercise for 20 mins 5x a week and so on. It really helped. For me, I can usually lose 5-10lbs dieting before it stalls out, so to lose as much as I did and not even have a liquid pre op diet is amazing! I'm now 1 month out and have lost over 70lbs since that first appt in late June. It's been wonderful!

Interesting way of thinking. But the flux will happen whether you want it to or not. It is the body's way of dealing with excess calories. Metabolism dictates how the calories are burned so if we are unlucky to have a metabolism that does not work like a freight train spiraling out of control. We will fluctuate in weight. Up and down. but it is up to us to keep it under control. that 10 lb goal to settle the fear of gaining it all back in the future. But our minds will continue to play tricks on us for the rest of our lives. There will always be a voice in our heads that tell us we will fail. And that even 10 lbs will be too much. I am trying so hard to come to terms with my 6 lbs I have gained back. I know it is because my muscles are starting to form again and that is adding weight. I think I look better with muscle definition again...lol. My sister called me yesterday. She feels that she will not lose the weight. She is just over a week out. This is and will always be our monkey on our backs. We will always worry about weight gain. And in a sense we should. But not to the point where it dominates our lives. That is the panic that envelopes many who travel this path. Skinny is a state of mind. Healthy is the the goal. Active in our lives and a new outlook on life. They are so important..... And looking amazing in a little black dress.....

You don't have much willpower because there is no such thing. We make a choice and we stick to it or we don't. We must focus on Protein and foods that will nurture our bodies, fuel our engines. There are no magic words or techniques that we can give you to make you decide to do it the right way. Get your protein in. Stay hydrated. Our sleeve only hold 4-6oz of anything....fill it with good things. Grazing = weight gain. Decide to stop doing it.

Wow, Lisa......I'm so sorry about your heart issues. And that you had an attack during childbirth! You are already coming into this with some serious potential issues, so you do need to make sure that you're not jumping from the pot into the fire. Though there are no guarantees either way, there is something reactive going on in your body, so you need to be SUPER careful. And I agree, no, I do not think that ALL issues are weight related. Weight does put a strain on so many things and causes other health issues, but it's not EVERYthing. I've done so much research on this; pre-surgery and now looking at a revision. With the bypass, the biggest (common) food issue is sugar. If you have a sweet tooth and eat a lot of it, you might get very sick (dumping). My next door neighbor had a bypass many years ago, and though she tolerates just about everything, certain things are hard for her to eat.......like popcorn. I guess everyone has to find their own balance once the surgery is done and we're back on regular food. As for the sleeve, if reflux is or has even been an issue, the sleeve isn't a good option. Reflux gets worse, and even those who never had it, get it. For me, there isn't enough long term data on that procedure, and I'm always afraid of the possible leakage from the staples. Though it doesn't happen often, if it does, you can be in the hospital for several weeks/months. I'm self employed, so that would pretty much put me right out of business. Since the bypass has been the gold standard for many years, I guess I'm just more comfortable with it. I've also heard that revisions don't lose weight as quickly/easily as "surgical virgins". I've heard this with both the bypass and sleeve. People lose, but it's a different experience over first timers. I think for you, given what you've said about your history, it might be a good idea for you to see your cardiologist to discuss. The heart issue is concerning and I'd want his/her take on putting your body through another bariatric surgery. This is serious stuff! But with that aside, you have to ask yourself the questions we always have to ask..... Will your weight continue to climb if you don't have surgical intervention? Though weight isn't the beginning and end all, I can tell you......as you get older, the health issues increase. From my 30 pound weight gain, I'm back on blood pressure meds. I had knee surgery in March and my knees are still painful. Ultimately, I will have knee replacement, but that is something I won't do unless my weight is down. The artificial joints have about a 15 year life, but with extra weight, even less. If I keep gaining weight, I'll probably end up with pre-diabetes/diabetes. When I was younger, all I cared about was how I looked. Now, it's all about the way I feel and staying healthy. No, I'm not thrilled seeing the extra weight come back on, but feel worse physically and have other health issues that are exacerbated by the extra stress on my body. You question about possible rejection to the sleeve is a good question. Honestly, because once the stomach is gone, what then? The bypass can be reversed, though I don't think it's as simple as removing a band. My doctor said he does about 4 reversals a year. He also said that band revisions are now about 20% of his practice. He rarely places them anymore; it's old technology. He seems to prefer the bypass over anything else. I will think of other questions, too. My doctor told me that I worry too much about things I don't need to worry about. Easy for him to say! Surgeons.....nothing is a big deal to them. But it is to me/us

I had gastric sleeve 3 and a half years ago. I lost 4 and a half stone but have put 4 back on. Has anyone got any advise what to do? I am going through the menopause and finding it impossible to lose weight 😔 I paid for my surgery £8.800 and regret it now it was a waste if money.

I am 9 months out (down 83lbs) and to my knowledge and based on my weight lost (which is slow but sure 2 lbs per week) I have never seen a stall or weight gain. The secret is simply and I will share this with you. ONLY weigh once a month (and I have since surgery) if you do this you will never know if you have stalled or not by the time you weigh your stall should be minimal or non exsist. Do your part keep up the protein, increase water, maintain low carb intake eat something every 3 hrs (small) to increase matablism and workout. This I believe has been successful for me oh my doctor concurs. Try it let me know what you think. Good luck to all

I'm so glad you posted, Denverlee! And I'm so very happy to hear your daughter is doing realively well!!! Please know you both continue to be in my thoughts and prayers! I have a picture of your daughter at my desk, from the fundraiser held in her honor. I send positive thoughts and prayers whenever I look at her smiling face. I was the caretaker for my Mom during her bout with breast cancer over an 18 month period, and as emotionally draining as that was, it doesn't compare with what you, as a Mother, are going through caring for and observing your young daughter. I hope you continue to post here when you need a safe place to vent your emotions. More than that, I pray you can find someone that you are comfortable talking to in person, that can provide you with the support and insight you need now and throughout the next several years. You are trying to be so strong for so many people right now, that you probably are giving little to no time for your own needs. While I'm sure it seems exhausting to make time to care for one more person - you are the most important person that needs to be cared for right now, so you can be the best you can be while continuing to care for your daughter. Holding in your emotions for too long may cause a meltdown, so please consider finding someone to work through your emotions with. As for your weight, there are a few of us who were banded in May '09 that are fighting with emotional eating - falling back into old habits - and dealing with unwanted weight gain of 10 or so pounds. My surgeon said years 2 thru 4 are the most difficult - dealing with real-life issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle after the initial glow and excitement of the Lap Band procedure has dimmed. So hang in there, Sister, and know that you are not alone in this journey. Take it a day (sometimes a minute) at a time. Love, {{{Hugs}}}, & Smiles Jennie

I'm glad you posted, LOM. I pray for you and your daughter, and hope that you will find strength and peace to help you through such a tough time. You may want to talk confidentially to a doctor about getting on an antidepressant. It sounds as if you have the classic symptoms of depression, which is normal when you are going through something like this. If nothing else, try to take some fish oil capsules. It's known to help with depression. You can Google it and find out more. But I also agree with Mamadot that it would be good if you could find someone to talk to during this time. You are going through so much! And to only gain 16 pounds with all of this stress *and* your band being unfilled is fantastic. I have been struggling with some weight gain from emotional eating, also. It's a lifelong issue that so many of us have. I gained about 8-10 lbs. and went in for a small fill. It's helped me lose some, but I still need a band for my brain! LOL Hang in there as best as you can, know that we are here for you, and you can vent any time! God bless you. xoxoxo Ann

I agree with you! My insurance covers it, according to my plan. Except, it has a 6 months waiting period and here are some interesting pieces of "qualifying" events: 1. MUST be 40+ BMI (no co-morbid conditions) 2. MUST be 35+ BMI (2 co-morbid conditions) All of the following apply to both above: MUST have followed a medically supervised diet program for 6 months (unsuccessfully), MUST have tried x-amount of other programs in the past x-amount of time and then there are a few other qualifying events. Even at that, there is no 100% approval rate. In other words, here I was, with a BMI of 34.4 (yes, .6 below the required 35) but I had no documented conditions that would be considered co-morbid. However, I was short of breath, feeling aches and pains in my body, sleeping poorly at night, and emotionally drained from my weight gain. So, I would have had to gain enough weight to have a BMI of 40+ and live like that for at least 6 months. I ended up paying myself because I hit the highest I had ever been, and I just needed a life style change asap. This losing 40-50 pounds at a time and then not being able to keep it off is not feasible, or even healthy in my opinion. I NEED a tool to help me sustain a life long change. It isn't about "looking my best" first and foremost. I want to live a healthy and energetic life - looking my best will be a wonderful reward from that. Do I believe that my insurance should have covered it without the 2 co-morbid conditions? Yes, because it makes me healthier period. On the other hand, being the devil's advocate - I never had a weight problem when I was younger and I do BLAME myself for being where I am at now (ate unhealthy and did not stick with my "new changes" - and, I believe that because of this, I programmed my brain and stomach that it needed more and more). So, maybe it is right I pay for it. I hope I am making sense. **Please note, that I do not think everyone is to blame for their weight - some people have true medical conditions that have caused them to get where they are and I think insurance should be there for them.

hi, I'm not expecting yet, but can i give you some advice? Listen to what your obgyn recomends as far as your weight gain, and also talk to your lapband surgon about how to safely eat while pregnant and banded. The obgyn is looking for your baby to get the proper nutrtion via what you eat diet wise and maybe with the help of a nutrtionist and your lapband team you can give your baby the healthy nutrtion it needs for growth, and you can avoid the massive weight gain that for some comes with pregnancy via the old school of thought that momma should gain 50 for her baby. Congrats on your baby and keep me posted on how you are doing, as I'm hoping to get pregnant after i hit my goal with the lapband.

(yesterday) I told my dad that i lost 18 pounds (b/c he is VERY displeased w/my weight gain) His reply: "hmpf! from where?!" so that let me know that i'm so fat, the 18 pounds isnt even noticable! I know that i should ignore him and i know his comment was mean but he's still an important person in my life. he is a big reason that i want to loose weight. he really doesnt like me fat. i think i even embarrass him around his friends and our family.....:frown:

What was the weight gain like for y'all in the days right before your period. I have gained four pounds. I was feeling so good about maybe being in the green zone with fill #3. In certainly feeling satisfied earlier and for way longer. But what the heck if I didn't gain 4 pound in 3 days!!!! Uggghhhh!!! Anyone else see this?? Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Medications do throw a curve into the post sleeve process. HRT does not cause weight gain according to NIH studies but Hypothyroid does so i would start there with a doctor visit and blood test to insure your med levels are correct. after meds the most normal cause of the 2 hr hunger monster is simply sugar spikes caused by sugar or simple carbs like bread. Fat is the Macro that provides satiety (feel full) so make sure you have a healthy fat in your first meal of the day and low carbs.

I would check with your doctor again. Tsh blood tests are backwards. When the number is low your level is high( hyperthyroid) you are getting to much thyroid they usually decrease your dose. When your level is high you are not getting enough thyroid( hypothyroid) and then they increase your dose. Hypothyroid can cause weight gain, hyperthyroid weight loss. Both can make you tired.

I agree. Start as if you had surgery yesterday with the liquid diet and follow the 5 day pouch reset. That will help get a lot of the sugar toxins out of your system and it will jump start you. Then, focus on the rules: 1. No drinking anything 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after you eat. 2. Limit your beverage calories. Try to stay on Water or sugar free non carbonated beverages. Stay away from alcohol. If you can, even limit caffeine as it really does cause you to feel hunger. 3. Mindful eating, remove distractions so you can pay attention to your pouch. Your tool is still there, you just need to retrain it. 4. Eat your meals slowly chewing well in between eat bite. Put the fork down in between but do not go over 30 minutes for your meal as your pouch begins emptying at that point. 5. Drink a minimum of 64oz of water or SF non carbonated liquids. 6. Ensure you get a minimum of 1 gram of Protein for every inch you are tall. Even a little more is better. Make sure that you get that protein mostly from dense Proteins like fish, seafood, beef, chicken and pork. These foods will keep your pouch fuller longer and provide you with much needed protein grams. 7. If you have not done this recently, you should have a full Bariatric blood panel drawn to ensure you are not lacking any nutritional elements that could cause you problems. 8. Are you still taking lifelong Vitamins like B12, Calcium Citrate or any other vitamins your Bariatric Doctor put you on? If not, you will want that nutritional panel to inform those decisions. 9. No grazing.....this is where most people start to have weight gain. Eat your 3 meals a day and try to avoid snacking. If you are one of those people like me who has reactive hypoglycemia, then have 5 smaller meals. 10. Avoid sugar, potatoes, Pasta, rice and bread. Same thing with any prepackaged processed foods. Get rid of the junk and stick to good quality proteins and veggies and fruits. Once you hit goal again, then you can introduce some whole grains back into your diet slowly until you get to a good maintenance schedule. 11. Try to get some exercise even if it is just walking daily. These are the things that I will do if I ever start to regain my weight. It really is getting back to the basics.

I has the sleeve in Sept 2015, its been 1 year 8 months and I was maintaining for a while. I noticed my weight at 155lbs last June to April this year 139.4lbs. I weighed my self today and I am 143.0lbs.. that is the 1st time I have seen a weight gain and it makes me nervous, I know its only 4lbs but just seeing the weight go up is freaking me out.... I need to get back down and I know I have been eating not all the healthy lately due to being busy. I have fell off track for the last year or so.. what I do : I eat anything I want or crave just not big amounts I eat protein 1st all the time carbs last I eat every 3 to 4 hours depending on what I eat, sometimes every 2hrs. I can only no matter how hard I try drink 36oz of water, during the week 16oz of coffee and here and there 20 oz of life water. I have been super tired I take vit d, b12 complex, b 12 sublingual, a hair and nail collagen pill and estroven. I drink socially( always with people I trust) I never have problems. I do not have a exercise routine nor a gym membership, just do squats and walk and punches. I do have a sweet tooth nibble here and there but not whole candy bars or anything. Please no rude comments this is for support and I know no one is perfect. I knew this day would come and it could be just because I am older and in menopause. But 4lbs to me is 100 Thanks

I haven't been on this site in forever, so it's nice to be posting again. A little back story: I was banded in Jan 2011; starting weight for this journey was 278 and my lowest weight so far has been 165 (my goal; lasted about a day...lol). I'm normally somewhere in the 170-175 range and I'm happy with that. At any rate, I'm currently 5 months pregnant with my first child and just wanted to reconnect with others having band babies. I have been very fortunate that I have had minimal morning sickness and though my appetite was voracious during the 1st trimester I didn't really gain any weight. I was about 172 when I got pregnant and am 176 as of this morning so weight gain has been minimal, though it fluctuates depending on my food/fluid intake. SOO...on to the questions: how much weight did your OB's tell you was okay to gain? Because of my weight history my OB said he would love it if I stayed within the 10lb range though 20-25 would be acceptable for someone my size. If things continue the way they are currently that shouldn't be a problem, but I have to confess I have a history of being a little scale obsessed so it worries me a bit. Other than my belly and a slightly bigger chest I look pretty much the same thank God, so like I said I feel very fortunate that things are going so well thus far. Port: *sigh* I have a love hate relationship with my port. Before I got pregnant I spoke to my surgeon concerning my port; it's not very noticeable when I'm standing but it protruded horribly when I would lie down, especially if I was a bit bloated. He told me my protruding was minimal and that it was something he would revisit after I had a baby but to leave it alone for now. Fast forward about 8 months and it now seems as though my port actually tries to flip when I lie down due to my growing belly; it's not horribly uncomfortable but it looks and feels awful to the touch. For those of you who are further along or have already have babies, should I just expect this to get worse? I know my port is stitched to my muscles, but I have this awful fear it's going to tear and I just moved to a new area so I don't even know where the nearest gastric surgeon is located. Finally: appetite. I have not had any Fluid removed or added to my band in probably about a year and a half; I think I have somewhere between 6-7cc's in a 10cc band. Like I mentioned earlier I ate like a cow first trimester but now there are days where I have to force myself to eat and after about 3 bites I already feel myself getting full. I'm having a hard time getting enough fluids as well . I'm not feeling sick or anything and baby seems to be doing okay, but has anyone experienced this and had issues arise later on down the road? I've never been at a place expect for right after a fill where I have been able to eat the suggest 1/2-1 c of food and feel full; I'm curious to try one of those pouch test diets to see if I stretched it or something but I know now is not a good time for that. Did any of you ladies have trouble eating while pregnant, and did you OB's express any concerns about your caloric intake? How will you know if you're not getting enough, or will that fact that most of us probably started a bit overweight be enough to buffer any possible nutritional concerns for the baby? Sorry for such a long post, but I look forward to hearing what others have to say. Thanks in advance!

I'm one month post op. I've lost about 11 inches... and 11.6 pounds since surgery 4 weeks ago. (It was a little higher last week, however, I ended up gaining 2 pounds between week 3-4, and gained about 2 inches with the 2 pound gain, which sucks!) First question... I was fully expecting stalls along the way but... weight gain!? I've read a few posts regarding that, what is usually the cause, Water? hormones? - I will mention I ended up in the emergency room last Friday for dehydration and apparently I had a bladder infection with no symptoms, I still don't believe the Dr. However... that's a whole other story! - Water intake has been much better since then, and completed anti-biotics yesterday. Second question... what do you see as being better... the loss in inches or the loss on the scale... and why?

Hello Everyone, For the past week I've kept losing and gaining the same 3lbs. So, far I've lost about 40lbs in 6 weeks. I had surgery on 1/29/13. I haven't had my first fill yet. My start weight was 340lbs, and last week I weighed 298lbs. I was super happy. But now it's the same stupid 3lbs up and down each day. It's hard to explain, but I can lose the 3lbs in one day, but it's back the next morning. My doctor prescribed Water retention pills because I gained 10lbs in a week...all water. I lost that 10lbs in a couple of days. I have to drink orange juice and water all day, so my kidneys don't start hurting. The pain is almost unbearable when I don't drink enough fluids. I exercise an hour a day, but I might boost it up to an hour and a half. I know I'm over doing it. I just really want to get as far away from 300lbs as possible. I'm not sure if this is still water weight or, I'm doing something wrong. I'm trying not to get discouraged, but I'm getting depressed because I can't lose these 3lbs and move on. Any advice from my fellow banders would help tremendously!