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Well, frankly, I'm pretty desperate and have nothing to lose by trying - except 70 unwanted pounds! It is just heartbreaking, when I think of how close I got ... my lowest (albeit induced by gallbladder attack diarrhea, sorry) was 164 and how how good I felt about myself! I could say that I was only 14 pounds away from surgeon's goal and only 25 from personal, it all seemed so possible! Now ... I am genuinely afraid to step on the scale, the last time I did it said 194 ... I know most of it is my "fault", but I really do think that getting the Mirena had something to do with it - my body is in a constant state of PMS/"pregnant", swollen sore breasts, cravings, weight gain...

I was very thin as a kid. I can remember saying I weighed more than I did on my 1st drivers license so I wasn't smaller than my friends. my second year in college, i gained a bit, but was easily able to take it off by watching what i ate. I stayed stayed thin(under 125) with minimal effort until I divorced my first husband and began taking paxil - I was 30. I didn't gain much weight, but found it was suddenly much easier to gain. I remarried in my mid 30s and probably weighed 135, but didnt mind because i gained most of it in my boobs. After having two kids I never lost the weight and I kept getting heavier and heavier. I'm now sitting about 230. I believe paxil and having kids contributed to my weight gain, but know that my real problem is poor eating habits.

When was your last fill? Being too tight can lead to not only weight gain but slips. I can't tell you how many people I've seen on here who have bands too tight, don't want to have any removed despite the warnings, and end up back posting about a slip a couple months later. Tighter isn't always better, and if you're too tight, you're a ticking time bomb for complications.

Notes on saggy skin: 1. Both my children love my arms, they say they are so soft and squishy, and my youngest likes how they flap when she pats them! 2. Don't ever do a plank in a loose shirt that you can look down, you will be terrified! I plan on getting plastics the moment I have the funds. I would get plastics tomorrow if I could. I have been heavy since Kindergarten, my skin didn't have a chance. I have also had 2 children and one of them was a c-section, so I even have some weird areas because of that. I am working on not being my own worst critic. I am horrible and Skinniness, you talked about the lense. That is where I am struggling at the moment. I tend to pick out everything that is wrong without considering the good. This is what I am trying to tell myself. I have put this poor body through a lot of things, not just weight gain/loss, but accidents, and stress. And this body has also given me 2 beautiful children. Despite what I have done to it, I am still healthy (even healthier now!) and I wouldn't be me if I didn't have this body. I am really working on giving myself just a little more compassion, I think not only does my body deserve it, but my mind and my heart as well.

I have has my band for 5 years with great success (-140) and very little problems. I haven't been to my doc in 3 years! (Didn't realize it had been that long). I have been struggling with burning stomach, some reflux, being able to eat too much, and weight gain ( about 20 lbs since November) I let all these things go for way too long I know! (Don't wait like me). I finally went in on Monday and they completely unfilled my band. She thinks I have just stretched my pouch. But I'm going in the morning for an upper gi to be sure. I'm hoping there is no major prob and a few weeks of unfill will fix it! Now I have to try to be a very good girl in the eating department. Thanks for letting me vent to people that understand all of this!

So I am two months out and I'm down about 40 pounds. That's great and all but I've been the same weight for about two and a half weeks now with like a 2-4 weight gain then loss again like once a week. I feel like I hit a plateau. Is only 40 pounds in two months normal????

In my five years since vsg...I lost both my parents to heart disease and cancer. I am so so sorry for your loss. Stress = Weight Gain or Weight Stall for most of us. Yoga, therapy, friends, church, love. ..knowing your mother wanted you to be taken care of and happy. You need to continue where she left off. Love yourself like she loved and lived for you. You need to find it in you. I lost my way and am just now trying to find my own way back. I know it's possible.

Oh thank everyone for being so nice! It's nice to have people say your a good mom when you have 2 teenagers who disagree with everything that comes out of your mouth!! I can honestly say, without a doubt, this was the hardest decision I have ever made. My daughter got to help decide and she kept saying "why can't you just tell me what to do like everything else"!! She is used to making impulse decisions and this was very hard for her. She was very scared of doing surgery and there was a medical reason for her sudden weight gain and lack of loss and the surgery not working. She is scheduled for the beginning of Christmas break but if I see the diet and recovery is too much to deal with in such a short amount of time plus being the holidays then we will reschedule for the day after school gets out. Thanks again for being so nice and helpful. I had never thought of some of the things people brought up including how was I going to take care of her at the same time as me. I am a super fast healer and have a high threshold for pain so I just assumed I would be able to handle it but there's always a chance that won't happen.

I would like to ask a question on this thread that relates to balance of hormones and shifting the body into fat metabolism. It is related to this thread topic and response above, I promise. A lot of health stores sell a product pair called Dim and DHEA for shifting the balance of sex or anabolic hormones in men towards more optimal Protein synthesis. Dim is short for diindolylmethane and DHEA is short for dehydropiandrosterone. Long names, I know. Both hormone precursors are naturally produced by our bodies or can be extracted by the body from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage. Dim and DHEA supplementation works by freeing up the available "free" testosterone and reducing bad estrogen in the body in order to develop more "manly" characteristics and improved protein synthesis. Many elite athletes uses these supplements to get their body into optimal conditioned form. I have read that DHEA can be a precursor to either testosterone or estrogen metabolites and has a certain probability of metabolizing into either. There are good forms of estrogen and bad forms of estrogen. The good form of estrogen is needed by both men and women to support the shift of body composition to more muscle rather then more fat. Bad estrogen does the opposite which causes the body to store more fat and, in men, leads to other undesirable "womanly" Characteristics. It seems like a gamble as to which metabolite is going to form after the treatment of sex hormones with DHEA. Dim is used to reduce the bad estrogen levels in the body. A lot of weight gain can come from too much bad estrogen in the body. For men, 400-500 mg dim is recommended for increasing fat metabolism and promoting weight loss / lean muscle. Maintenance dose of dim is 100-200 mg. Recommended dose of DHEA is 100 mg. Given my short description on natural hormone therapy above using Dim and DHEA, why would DHEA be recommended at all in combination with dim if there is a chance of the outcome being good estrogen versus bad estrogen metabolites? Why not just use a recommended Dim dose alone to increase the availability of "free" testosterone in the body. Is there a clear advantage of using both Dim and DHEA together? From my initial understanding, the answer is no to the above questions. I would love to hear an opinion from someone else.

I am 5 1.5 but used to be 5 2 before all the weight gains my dr also rounds up. I was 270 pre-surgery on April 4th 2013. Today am 225. I am almost 4months out. Been a slow move down the scale this past month for sure. I try to stay positive and keep in mind that I packed this all on over the past 30 plus years so even tho I don't see bigger numbers dropping.....it's dropping I have not had any second thoughts about the choice to be sleeved! It's tough enough being short. Much less short AND round lol so I am looking gladly at just. Short. Best to all u other shorties.

That's great. I was banded on 6/17 and I've lost 20lb-had my 1st fill 2 woks ago and feel a little restriction but I so conscious about what goes in my mouth, I'm not really clearing 800 calories and I can get on the scale from morning to night and have 4 lb weight gain...how does that happen??? I'm going for a 2nd fill on 8/2. I workout like a mad woman. I don't know what else to do, I was losing weight more consistently before the band.

Ok my due date had been revised. Which is no surprise because ALL my children measured small in the beginning. So I'm due March 10th instead of February 28th. But it will be an automatic c section because both previous babies were, that means I shave one week off of the due date. My weight gain has been 0 in 7 weeks since conception. My restriction is that of it right after surgery. I don't want to eat but force feed myself. Popsicles have been my best friends. I'm sick from morning to night (which gives me comfort knowing I have symptoms lol), breasts are slowly getting sensitive, I have food aberrations to everything but then have cravings also but I don't know what I am craving. sleep comes and goes. I take my Vitamins and Calcium. I'm on Zofran for morning sickness. I'm hoping to avoid gestational diabetes. Doctor thinks its a good possibility I can avoid it He did list me as high risk pregnancy due to my Bariatric surgery, but I'm praying to the good Lord that's just a label and I have a healthy pregnancy. So my goal is to update weight gain/losses and any issues I might come upon that way all these questions most of us have can start being answered. I how that I can help others with this. Importantly we as sleevers need to remember that we will always have this tool its about choices, control, and loving ourselves enough to do the right things Sent from my EVO using VST

Really great points BTB! You always have such great insight! I especially agree with not all calories are equal and our bodies respond differently to different fuels. And I also want to add, and maybe not all will agree, but if you notice a lot of the people struggling with weight gain, or gain weight easily are women. It is true and it is just plain crappy. It is harder for us to lose weight and easier for us to gain weight. And our hormones have a role as well. Not only as we age, but from month to month. Hormonal cravings are very real and not just a "sweet tooth", and bloating and Water retention are common in almost all of us. I can gain weight very easily, within a week if I do not watch what I am eating. That being said, could I always gain so easily. Probably, but I just never paid as close attention and just quit weighing in the past if I started gaining (I actually did not even own a scale for a long time). And like Puja said, it is too easy to gain weight, and it is very scary. But it is reality. And Puja, you are beautiful, you really need an after gallery at least!! Congratulations!

Hello Peeps...I need some assistance please. Pardon the scene setting here, but i want to make sure that i project my situation correctly. I am married to a wonderful man, kind, romantic, loving and honest. We are very fortunate to have established a level of trust and communication that neither of us have experienced in prior relationships. We are blessed with each other, a beautiful child and relatively good health. We've been together for a long time and look forward to an active and fun filled retirement together. So, all sounds good, right? It is, except for the fact that over the past four years, I have been on a steady path of weight gain. I was banded in 2006, lost 60 lbs and then, over the ensuing years, vacillated between gaining/losing the same 20. In 2009, my band did the big slip and I had surgery for it to be replaced, both surgeries were good, free of complications. So, long story short (too late, right?) I continued down the path with my 2nd band and kept trying to find my sweet spot/holy grail that would allow me to eat w/out barfing, sticking, choking or gagging. This banding stage has been less than enjoyable. Fast forward to now..... I have been completely unfilled for approximately 3 years and as a consequence, weigh almost as much as I did when i was banded the first time. also, I still have issues with stuck food, port pains and general eating/digestive problems. So here's my deal....I must get this band out...MUST...MUST..MUST..before I do myself any more damage. Clearly, it is not helping me to lose weight, and it is definitely contributing to poor eating habits. However, prior to removal and revision, I have two obstacles. 1) my BMI is a sliver below 35 and my co-morbidities are depression, cholesterol, and general joint aches/pains...nothing that insurance considers that detrimental, and 2) my husband is 110% against the thought of me undergoing additional surgery (beyond band removal). He is worried about the risk, the mortality rate, complications from the surgery and the lifestyle changes that are required after someone is sleeved. I see all of these things as valid concerns, but concerns that each of us have to weigh prior to making any decision about wls. So, here is what I need help with. Has anyone had a really great spouse, someone who gets that this is an individual choice and is not their body, but is still very apprehensive about their partner getting sleeved? Surgery that is "irreversible" is scary, true, I get that, but life down a path of increasing pains and medical complications (not to mention the pure social inhibitions that go along with being overweight) is not a life I want, but is the path that I seem to be on. Any advice? Any similar situations? Anyone.....????

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I truly had no symptoms other than being able to eat a lot more and subsequent weight gain. I had a renewed effort and had three or four fills in a very short period and still didn't feel any restriction. My surgeon did a barium swallow and when he made me drink the barium three times I knew something was up. His staff scheduled me for endoscopy. When I woke from the endoscopy I knew there was a problem because they left some pictures on the table next to me. It really is shocking to see that stomach acid can turn that band from white to black. Ewwwww. So, we'll see how this goes. I'm guessing I won't be a candidate for ever getting another band because I've already had two. I just have to get my butt in gear and exercise. From 6/21 to now I've lost 9 pounds, so that's a great start. I don't know how the band eroded. It certainly was never too tight for me. On 12/24/12 I had oral surgery and had a lot of vomiting afterwards, but I never had pain. Would have been hard to tell if my band was different then because of the oral surgery I was eating only soft foods. So, I'm really guessing that it happened then. Again, thanks for the good wishes.

I am 22 weeks and my ob has been concerned with that I had lost 10 pounds. I had seen my surgeon last week and had 1cc taken out of my band. My concern now is that I had gained back all 10 pounds in 1 week. What experiences have you had with weight gain and taking fluid out? I do not feel as if I eat enough to gain 10 pounds in a week.

I am pretty chunky again at 9 months I have gained 60!!! Two more weeks to go!!! 39 weeks on Wednesday. I really hate this weight gain, but it seems like I have gained the most out of everyone!!! I can eat a lot more...but it doesn't justify 60!!! I will just have to see what happens after she comes out, but I am not stressing about the weight...I have a baby...my first on the way... Ummmmmm that is stressful enough!!!!

Eating some extras today, had carrot cake from whole foods, and some stuff from their salad bar... so yum! Luckily I went kayaking today for 2 hours, and then will have dance class this evening. That should cover the calories, but its strange sitting here eating cake! EDIT next day- no weight gain, but the cake made me feel so yuck! When will I learn!?

Yes we can! My first appointment with the surgeon is on Wednesday. He is very strict about weight gain after your first appointment so I will find my will power. I need this surgery.

Went to an amusement park for the first time since I gained all my weight (5'4 250lbs) and it was awful. My feet ached horribly from walking and standing. I had several rides I barely fit in. I wanted to have a full on meltdown. My four yr old daughter had a blast. I was miserable. I NEED to get this weight off. Just another experience to remind me, despite all my fears, that I need this surgery. I'm currently waiting on approval. We're supposed to go to Disney before I get my surgery and I am so stressed about it. I seriously don't want to go. My mom planned the vacation and I don't want to let my little girl down by not going. What if I don't fit on the rides? God how humiliating, I just want to cry. I got heavy quickly from pregnancy then post partum depression which turned out to be bipolar and the meds made me gain soooo much weight. I just don't want to wait any longer. It's been 5 years I've been struggling with illness and weight gain, I want it to be over or I don't want to go on.

I have had my band for a little over 5 years and I am very happy to say I have had success with very little problem. Went from 314-171. I have gained about 17 pounds since December and this is the first weight gain I've experienced since banded. I'm having a few issues. Weight gain because I can eat most anything and more of it, acid reflux, (which my reg doc recently put me on meds) and bloating and gas. I'm just wondering why I can eat greater amounts and bread and other no no foods I couldn't eat before? Can my band have lost Fluid or restriction on its own or could there be another prob? Thanks so much for any advice or words of wisdom!

Hello. I got pregnant after having the band for one year. I never had to have my fluid removed. This was based on careful watch of my and the baby's weight gain. As long as the OB-GYN is informed they will monitor your and your baby's weight gain. If insufficient, they may ask that the fluid be taken out (at least in part) to allow for better nutrition. Also, other considerations..if you end up being one of those mom's that vomit excessively, you may want to have all the fluid taken out as a precaution. Not for baby, but to prevent slips etc. Also, be realistic about your nutrition. If you find yourself not eating, not eating balanced and you know this may pose a risk...time for an unfill to allow for greater variety or portions. Hormones can be tricky on the band (for instance some woman find their bands tighter during their PM). If you find your band being more restrictive than normal, have a partial unfill to accomodate. Be in constant and honest communication with your ob-gyn to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy during your pregnancy. Congrats!

It's challenging, I was hospitalized for dehydration.... I can't get the liquid in but after a 4 pound weight gain and getting stuck 7 times because they couldn't find my veins... I'm drinking my water, if it kills me...

Chrissy, I'm sorry your husband is being a jerk but I'm worried I might be in the same situation... I just ended a 23 year relationship mostly do to my weight gain at least that's what he blamed his cheating on... But now I have the most awesome guy in my life who fell in live with me being fat... After dating a while I told him I was having wls ( I'm still Pre op) and he said he'd support me... I mostly believe him but there's this nagging voice that askes, will he really feel the same after I loose the weight... Some guys like bigger women, don't know why but they do and I'm hoping he loves me for what's inside not outside. Probably my insecurities talking but I still am worried... Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Lynda- interesting comment on the enhanced efficiency of the small intestine over long term post op timeline. I do suppose that would lead to more weight gain because the small intestine is the primary point of nutrient absorption in the GI tract. Never heard of this before, but it makes sense.