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I started my 6 month charting back in June. Tomorrow is my last weigh in and I am totally terrified to see what the scales say. I lost weight the first 4 months and last month had a 3lb gain. I was told not to worry about it to much because different clothing and different scales can make a world of difference when weight is involved. I have done nothing but freak out about this last weigh in. I was told if I had any weight gain they would see it as me not trying and not approve the surgery. I have busted my butt to loose weight but it's no longer coming off. Infact I am gaining weight now. It never fails I loose loose loose and then it all comes back.. It's very frustrating to know that I am putting in an hour a day at the gym and watching what I eat, but the weight is staying. Is this going to affect my approval? Please anyone tell me your experience with insurance and getting approved..

I have 4 of them but they were all pre-sleeve! I have a butterfly (ink and a needle at age 14) on my bottom, tribal art in a diamond shape on my lower back (tramp stamp - got it WAY before it was called that and before it was "cool" to have it there) I have tribal art on the back of my neck/top of my back that has a Gemini symbol in the middle of it for my daughter and then I have a teddybear holding a heart on my breast. I am very surprised that none of them have been distorted from weight gain or loss! I do want more but I haven't decided on what or where yet!

A couple thoughts about your post..... 1) if you have fundus deformity then your surgeon did not do your surgery correctly. A properly performed VSG Removes all of the fundus, which, as explained above us the stretchy part of your stomach. 2) sounds lime you were grossly misinformed about WLs and what is actually required for long term success. Any surgery (including bypass) is only one small part of what is required for long term weight loss. It was drilled into me over and over that it's the lifestyle changes we make that play a much more vital role. You can out eat any physical changes created by any surgery. Success is much more psychological than surgical. I'm truly sorry you weren't told the truth when making your decision to have surgery. 3). If you are having severe GERD, then yes, bypass is probably the answer for you. But again, your long term results as far as weightloss goes will be the same as your VSG without the often overlooked psychological tools. I suggest finding a good therapist if you find yourself going back to your old eating habits.....or developing new, just as destructive habits customized to eat around your bypass restriction. I saw this all the time in group. 1)The fundus deformity is a result of stretching my sleeve. I am over two years post op; my surgery was done correctly. All of my previous follow-ups indicated so. 2)I am not misinformed about WLS. 3)I do not need a therapist. I am aware of my role in my weight gain. I hear people say all the time the sleeve does not stretch, when in fact it does.

I am married and my husband has sleep apnea, so I knew what the symptoms were. I also had all of the symptoms, but was in denial. I knew in the back of my mind and in my gut that I had it. I woke up through the night, was tired all day, etc. I spoke with my pcp about it and he sent me to have a sleep study done and I was diagnosed a month ago. I know sleep with a cpap and I have had some of the symptoms go away slowly. Well especially the night time ones (don't wake up as often). I feel a little better each morning. I'm sure there are online questionaires that you can take (don't know of any sites but there are questionaires online for everything). Good luck and you really should get that taken care of, sleep apnea can lead to a lot of medical problems including weight gain.

Hi, My name is Nicole and I just joined this site. I was banded on May 26th and i've had only one fill..working on getting a 2nd scheduled because I have absolutely no restriction and am relying only on my will power, which Isn't perfect but I'd say im doing ok. I've lost 35lbs so far and i've had no complications. Basically, i'm considering getting pregnant soon and am concerned about possible weight gain. I've heard of many women managing to loose weight still during pregnancy and they have perfectly healthy little ones. Im 24 and I have a 16 month old son who is amazing =). My husband and I conceived him very easily and almost immediately. I also had zero health problems or complications during my pregnancy..not even any normal pregnancy symptoms ( morning sickness, back pain, heart burn, swollen feet..ect) however I did gain about 40lbs with him and so the thought of gaining all that back scares me. At my heaviest I was 315lbs and 9 months prego. i know the doctors recommend waiting at least a year before getting prego but its becoming more and more important to me to keep my children close in age. We are a military family and with all the moving around that comes with that Im realizing more and more that I want my son to have a sibling to bond with during hard times( first day at a new school, leaving friends behind, daddy going on deployments...ect) I'm a pretty healthy person..even at my heaviest I had no health problems. I would appreciate any similar stories or advice from women already pregnant or gone through a pregnancy while banded. =)

That's interesting. Sometimes I feel sorry for my body and all that I have put it through with the weight gain and surgery. We put ourselves through so much with our weight gain, and then even our tool to fix it makes us feel strange.

No. No weight gain after surgery. Thanks!

Hi All, My surgery date of 9/21/09 has been postponed. My initial consultation was in July and the surgeon told me to lose 40 pounds. Two weeks later my husband had a heart attack (hospitalized for 8 days) and I coped the only way I really knew how.... I gained 10 pounds. So, fast forward to 9/7/09, when I started Optifast in prep (2 wks) for surgery...I completed 10 days of the liquied diet and lost 14 #s...but only 4, according to the dr due to the 10 pound weight gain. So, I've been out off until 10/20/09 so I can lose 30 more pounds. I'm glad the surgeon is being firm but I also feel depressed about it. My husband is fine, btw, and I feel less stressed now. So, I guess I continue to diet and now I will also exercise. Please, say something nice to me. I haven't cried yet but I'm kinda close to it...

Here's my typical reply when people ask me about band vs. vsg Also, just because the band can be removed, you have no idea what or how severely it may damage your stomach or esophagus before you are able to get it removed. I've been there, and done that. My band only lasted 8 months, and I lost additional stomach tissue during my revision because of the scar tissue from the band. I've had the band, and over a 2 year period the band is more expensive than the sleeve due to follow up appointments, fills/unfills, and the other issues with the band. With the reoperation rate of the band, it's actually way more expensive than the sleeve. Some surgeons prefer the band because it's the real money maker of the bariatric surgeries. I've had both the band and the sleeve, and my personal opinion is that the sleeve is superior over the band for several reasons. The band has the lowest and slowest loss stats, highest rate of long term complications even outdoing RNY with the exception of Vitamin deficiencies. The food restrictions alone with the band are horrific. I couldn't eat meat, any type of breads, lettuce, raw veggies, and most fruits caused major issues. The less ghrelin thing is true. Just because you fill up your little pouch with the band doesn't mean you are satisfied. That hunger is still there, and once the food slips through, you'll be hungry again, and really aren't supposed to eat because you're on a forced diet. This is a post I share often when people ask about VSG vs. Band, or VSG vs. RNY, or VSG for a revision from band vs. band to band revision. At the very bottom, you'll find some research links that I enjoyed reading for research purposes. Hope this helps. This is directly from the band manufacturer so there is no skewing facts or stats here. This is their own study. Quote: Weight Loss Surgery Risk Information | LAP-BAND? Patients can experience complications after surgery. Most complications are not serious but some may require hospitalization and/or re-operation. In the United States clinical study, with 3-year follow-up reported, 88% of the 299 patients had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. Nausea and vomiting (51%), gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%), band slippage/pouch dilatation (24%) and stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage) (14%) were the most common post-operative complications. In the study, 25% of the patients had their band systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown. Constipation, diarrhea and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurred in 9% of the patients. In 9% of the patients, a second surgery was needed to fix a problem with the band or initial surgery. In 9% of the patients, there was an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port. The access port design has been improved. Four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. These bands needed to be removed in a second operation. Surgical techniques have evolved to reduce slippage. Surgeons with more laparoscopic experience and more experience with these procedures report fewer complications. Adverse events that were considered to be non-serious, and which occurred in less than 1% of the patients, included: esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), hiatal hernia (some stomach above the diaphragm), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), abdominal pain, hernia, incisional hernia, infection, redundant skin, dehydration, diarrhea (frequent semi-solid bowel movements), abnormal stools, constipation, flatulence (gas), dyspepsia (upset stomach), eructation (belching), cardiospasm (an obstruction of passage of food through the bottom of the esophagus), hematemsis (vomiting of blood), asthenia (fatigue), fever, chest pain, incision pain, contact dermatitis (rash), abnormal healing, edema (swelling), paresthesia (abnormal sensation of burning, prickly, or tingling), dysmenorrhea (difficult periods), hypochromic anemia (low oxygen carrying part of blood), band system leak, cholecystitis (gall stones), esophageal ulcer (sore), port displacement, port site pain, spleen injury, and wound infection. Be sure to ask your surgeon about these possible complications and any of these medical terms that you dont understand. Back to Top What are the specific risks and possible complications? Talk to your doctor about all of the following risks and complications: Ulceration Gastritis (irritated stomach tissue) Gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) Heartburn Gas bloat Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) Dehydration Constipation Weight regain Death Laparoscopic surgery has its own set of possible problems. They include: Spleen or liver damage (sometimes requiring spleen removal) Damage to major blood vessels Lung problems Thrombosis (blood clots) Rupture of the wound Perforation of the stomach or esophagus during surgery Laparoscopic surgery is not always possible. The surgeon may need to switch to an "open" method due to some of the reasons mentioned here. This happened in about 5% of the cases in the U.S. Clinical Study. There are also problems that can occur that are directly related to the LAP-BAND? System: The band can spontaneously deflate because of leakage. That leakage can come from the band, the reservoir, or the tubing that connects them. The band can slip There can be stomach slippage The stomach pouch can enlarge The stoma (stomach outlet) can be blocked The band can erode into the stomach Obstruction of the stomach can be caused by: Food Swelling Improper placement of the band The band being over-inflated Band or stomach slippage Stomach pouch twisting Stomach pouch enlargement There have been some reports that the esophagus has stretched or dilated in some patients. This could be caused by: Improper placement of the band The band being tightened too much Stoma obstruction Binge eating Excessive vomiting Patients with a weaker esophagus may be more likely to have this problem. A weaker esophagus is one that is not good at pushing food through to your stomach. Tell your surgeon if you have difficulty swallowing. Then your surgeon can evaluate this. Weight loss with the LAP-BAND? System is typically slower and more gradual than with some other weight loss surgeries. Tightening the band too fast or too much to try to speed up weight loss should be avoided. The stomach pouch and/or esophagus can become enlarged as a result. You need to learn how to use your band as a tool that can help you reduce the amount you eat. Infection is possible. Also, the band can erode into the stomach. This can happen right after surgery or years later, although this rarely happens. Complications can cause reduced weight loss. They can also cause weight gain. Other complications can result that require more surgery to remove, reposition, or replace the band. Some patients have more nausea and vomiting than others. You should see your physician at once if vomiting persists. Rapid weight loss may lead to symptoms of: Malnutrition Anemia Related complications It is possible you may not lose much weight or any weight at all. You could also have complications related to obesity. If any complications occur, you may need to stay in the hospital longer. You may also need to return to the hospital later. A number of less serious complications can also occur. These may have little effect on how long it takes you to recover from surgery. If you have existing problems, such as diabetes, a large hiatal hernia (part of the stomach in the chest cavity), Barretts esophagus (severe, chronic inflammation of the lower esophagus), or emotional or psychological problems, you may have more complications. Your surgeon will consider how bad your symptoms are, and if you are a good candidate for the LAP-BAND? System surgery. You also have more risk of complications if you've had a surgery before in the same area. If the procedure is not done laparoscopically by an experienced surgeon, you may have more risk of complications. Anti-inflammatory drugs that may irritate the stomach, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, should be used with caution. Some people need folate and vitamin B12 supplements to maintain normal homocycteine levels. Elevated homocycteine levels can increase risks to your heart and the risk of spinal birth defects. You can develop gallstones after a rapid weight loss. This can make it necessary to remove your gallbladder. There have been no reports of autoimmune disease with the use of the LAP-BAND? System. Autoimmune diseases and connective tissue disorders, though, have been reported after long-term implantation of other silicone devices. These problems can include systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. At this time, there is no conclusive clinical evidence that supports a relationship between connective-tissue disorders and silicone implants. Long-term studies to further evaluate this possibility are still being done. You should know, though, that if autoimmune symptoms develop after the band is in place, you may need treatment. The band may also need to be removed. Talk with your surgeon about this possibility. Also, if you have symptoms of autoimmune disease now, the LAP-BAND? System may not be right for you. Back to Top Removing the LAP-BAND? System If the LAP-BAND? System has been placed laparoscopically, it may be possible to remove it the same way. This is an advantage of the LAP-BAND? System. However, an "open" procedure may be necessary to remove a band. In the U.S. Clinical Study, 60% of the bands that were removed were done laparoscopically. Surgeons report that after the band is removed, the stomach returns to essentially a normal state. At this time, there are no known reasons to suggest that the band should be replaced or removed at some point unless a complication occurs or you do not lose weight. It is difficult, though, to say whether the band will stay in place for the rest of your life. It may need to be removed or replaced at some point. Removing the device requires a surgical procedure. That procedure will have all the related risks and possible complications that come with surgery. The risk of some complications, such as erosions and infection, increase with any added procedure. LapSf Study that I swiped from MacMadame's profile LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results LapSF Two Year Study LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play) Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately Sleeve best for over 50 crowd Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review LapBandTalk Click to visit the largest Lap-Band community online! __________________

I could have written this myself. Someone I knew with a band actually had the fill taken out so she could "gorge" on a cruise. I wanted something permanent that would not allow me to fall back into old habits and continue the yo-yo of weight loss/weight gain. None of my Band friends have made goal. AND - none have maintained to the level where they stopped losing. All have gained back. And, they have all had complications such as pb'ing, swollen esphogus, stretching of the upper pouch, etc. While I am only 5 months into this, I can definitely say it's been a life changer for me. I love the restriction and the ability to eat anything I want - just much smaller proportions. Good luck with your research. We are here to help if you have specific questions.

I gained 8 lbs. in two weeks and it was my last appointment yesterday. I have Anthem Blue Cross of CA so I hope they don't deny me because of that. I was also on steroids for 5 days for walking pneumonia. My NUT was not happy about the weight gain.

Unexplained weight gain as in.. You were just eating salads and the weight piled on ? Did they find a reason for this unexplained weight gain? After wls you eat about 800+ calories. If you are 100% only eating 800 calories and not losing a lb what do you feel weight loss surgery will help with? ...Unless....Your possibly eating more than 800 calories...Sometimes.. And admittedly need help with portion control like the rest of us. For Me the first step was being honest with myself. Yes I ate low calorie all day. Higher than I needed other times. It adds up. But only you know the truth. If you have a medical condition causing you to gain when you are eating in a deficit that needs to be addressed before WLS. No judgment just trying to help. Sent from my Swift 2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Long story short, I have been going to my doctors since November of last year when I was 255 with concerns about unexplained rapid weight gain. Now, its is August, I have been working with the weight and wellness center since March , but I have gone up to 284 and I am just getting zero support from any medical professional. They keep telling me to cut my calories, exercise, etc etc. I am already at 800-1000 calories a day, and swimming for an hour 6 days a week. I have met my insurance requirement of 6 months but the doctors at the weight and wellness center will not even see me until I've lost 10% of my weight. I have followed everything they wanted me to do, and done all the tests. Yet I leave every appointment crying because I am not meeting their weight loss expectations. Feeling completely discouraged and unsupported.

I understand that there are stalls but does anyone gain while stalled? Just a little worried.

Good for you. I know how much our weight can fluctuate daily, so once a week is a great idea. I go in for my info meeting on Tuesday and I'm anxious! I want to look as good as I feel! Although, die to my weight gain, I don't feel as good as I used to!

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 had gastric sleeve oct 29 2014 and still have about 50 pds to loose. I have an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and weakness in muscles. Anyway had a bad flare up and have been on 40 mg of prednisone for past month. I haven't gained any weight according to scale but I can tell in my clothes I have gained ... Very discouraged. I am praying that when I get off prednisone it will help. Has anyone experienced this ? Thanks Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello Stimpy, welcome back! You are a success story, believe that! Trust me we all fall for the sugar demon from time to time. What sets us apart from others though is that we have a tiny tummy that will help keep us from over eating and gaining significant weight back. It makes it a lot easier to get back to being right and not stressing over 10 lbs weight gains, etc. Let the Cookies go for now. The Holidays are approaching and you don't want to be caught up in a downward spiral with all the sugary treats staring you in the face. You are strong and I KNOW you can do it. You have already lost so much, and you are sooo close to the finish line. Let this time be for getting there instead of the latter. NOW GO GET EM!

Most of my weight gain was due to medical conditions/medication. Don't get me wrong, when I feel bored I still want to snack/graze but I now go for a walk and it seems to take away the boredom/hunger.

Hi, Was just wondering if we could have a pregnant mama check-in? How far along? How are you feeling? Any concerns? Weight gain? Boy or girl? Favorite thing about being pregnant?

On Monday I'll be 31 weeks pregnant with my first child a little boy :-) I'm feeling great just tired....It's been a great pregnancy I can't really complain at all. Aside from sore breast and feeling tired I had no other symptoms. My favorite thing about being pregnant is being able to feel my little man moving around in my belly. My only concern is when am I going to deliver...I'm high risk because of my blood pressure so they are talking about inducing me sometime between 37-39 weeks. As for weight gain I am up 21lbs but didn't really start putting it on until maybe 20 weeks.

Well the doctor submitted everything and the insurance company didn’t mention my weight gain...they did however say they needed more information before they will approve such as my A1Cs for the diabetes and my sleep study paperwork with my BIPAP settings. Please keep fingers crossed for me [emoji16]

Yes, I just had surgery a month ago. After reading many posts here on BariatricPal I discovered that many, many people hit a stall at three weeks. My sleeve journey started in April or May 2017; it was at that time I first spoke with a weight management center in my local area. I weighed 209 pounds at the time (my highest recorded previous weight was 240, but I was able to drop a lot of weight on a combination of a Belviq and phentermine, but then the meds stopped working). Of course there are prerequisites to having the sleeve performed and I spent months satisfying all of the requirements. Around September or October 2017, I was concerned that if I stayed on a low fat, low carb diet that I would lose too much and no longer qualify for the surgery because my BMI was going to dip below 35 (I have comorbidities including sleep apnea). When I called my weight management center and discussed my concerns with them, they said that I didn’t have to be really strict with my diet because I still did not have a surgery date. Well, very foolishly, my diet became a free for all and I gained 20 pounds in a few months. Finally, on December 14, 2017, I met with my team and when the dietician saw the weight gain she immediately had me go on the pre-op liquid diet. I had weighed in at 229 pounds. My surgery was scheduled for 1/2/18, so I was on that pre-op diet over the holidays and for longer than the usual 2 weeks. In retrospect, I am grateful that my team made that decision and I am glad that I stuck with it because by the day of surgery I was back down to 209. Today I weighed 193.4 - that’s a total weight loss of 35.6 pounds in about 7 weeks. I think that’s outstanding!

My clinic say no weight gain. I'm freaking out about it as I haven't been good in what I've been eating lately. I gotta get back on track and stop eating myself out of surgery.

Be honest. How can they help you if you’re not. The change to your meds & the strange way in which we’re living could have contributed to your weight gain. Your dietician is there to support & guide you so take advantage of their services. I’m sure you want to get back on track. Good luck.