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I had to recheck my records -- it *wasn't* Welbutrin that caused weight gain for me, it was Lexapro. And weaning myself off of it was the hardest thing in the world. I took it for 2 months and it took me 4+ months to get off of it without having debilitating headaches and a complete and utter ability to cope. Welbutrin didn't have any ill side-effects for me that I noticed; it just didn't work for me. So, I may not have the insight that you're looking for. Sorry about that, but thanks for giving me a chance to set the record straight. Jonathan

Are you still on liquids, or are you eating/drinking alot of canned Soup? There was a post earlier today that I saw where the poster went back to liquids due to a fill, and was surprised at both her weight gain and how her face looked. Turns out, she was eating a lot of canned soup, which she realized was really high in sodium. So check out what you are eating/drinking - maybe it's high in sodium, and that, combined with the saline from surgery, are what's causing the high blood pressure. Just a thought!

hmm, my doctor told me small amounts are ok. Yes coffee is a diuretic and a stimulant, but usually it causes me to not be hungry after drinking, but I haven't had any since my surgery since I am only a couple weeks out. I was told skim latte's are fine too and to add only sugar free flavoring or add chocolate protein powder to it for a mocha type coffee. I will be giving it a try around the 2 month mark. I guess everyone's surgeon is different. I do think some may worry if you drink in excess due to empty calories and possible weight gain because of that?

Getting old sucks! I have had a radiotherapy induced menopause at age 43 2 years ago and started HRT a bit over 12 months ago due to horrible symptoms of hot flashes, insomnia and anxiety and depression. In the last year, whilst I've recovered well from rectal cancer I feel my health has steadily declined in a non specific way. The worst thing I've noticed though is my rear end and thighs have balooned and I'm certain its the HRT. A recent CT scan also picked up that a fibroid (we think) in my uterus has grown very quickly over the past 12 months. I've also had horrible heartburn and stomach pain and have been depressed to be on regular Nexium. As well, I dont think the HRT has done all that much for my mood (or libido). I had a tummy tuck back in march and it seems like this normal menopausal weight gain now cant go on the tummy and I'm really really unhappy with my shape now, I'm very very pearshaped, even though I'm still slim. All I can say is thank god I was virtually skeletal after cancer treatment since the 20lb that has come out of nowhere has just brought me back to a BMI of 22 or so but its ALL in my rear end! I really need to shift 5kgs, I'm a fine boned build and 154lb is just too heavy for my 5ft 10. I've also noticed my athletic ability decline sharply. I cant run as far as I want to or could and dont recover. I've taken up strength training due to bone density issues and it wipes me out completely. I'm not used to being this weak! It really sucks. I've not taken my HRT for the past few days and wonder of wonders, I've not needed Nexium either. I wonder if I stop will the fibroid shrink (thus avoiding a hysterectomy) and will my ass do likewise? Or will I just become an axe weilding homicidal maniac again?

With the holidays and a busy time at work I have not been up on my blog as I should so here's to catching up the past two weeks. I made it back home after traveling to see the grandbaby and with the bad food and poor food choices, I saw some weight gain but I have recovered nicely. I hit the 170's this week and I could not be happier...I think I said the same thing when I hit 199 but for real for real I am so happy. I think I am inching upon a weight I seen in 2002 when I thought I wanted to join the National Guard. I think I was 172lbs then. I still have more belly and back fat than I can appreciate so I am hoping 18 of those pounds come from those areas and 3 come from my legs and the rest from my arms...lol...I been talking to each body part telling them what I need to see from this over the next couple of months...lol...I hope to be at goal sometimes at the end of Februrary first part of March. I have already bought me a swimsuit for the occassion. It is actually a bikini but in truth I probably would be more like to wear a monokini..A friend of mine has a vacation rental in Winter Haven, just outside of Orlando and it has an open week in February so it would be nice to go down and hang out at the beach. I also have a trip planned to Myrtle Beach SC in July when I should most definitey be at goal and ready to take all kinds of pics. So back to what my past fews weeks have been like....Resisting the temptation to graze all the holiday treats has been more than a challenge. Thank goodness I have an entire year for these days to come back around again because it has been absolute torture. My carb intake has been crazy...yet my sleeve has worked overtime and still posted a loss. I had a few days where I went up but it leveled out and the scale has been going down consistently for the past week. I had a year end goal of 174lbs and it definitely will be a challenge hitting my goal but I even still I could not be happier that I am even this close to goal...Fingers crossed.... Another positive thing is I think my hair loss is slowing up. However, it is so thin now that I do not wear my own natural hair without wearing a wig piece. My head is already big and so the thin hair dont do it no favors. See pic below. My head looks so big...But I dont go out in public like that...Folk might think I was sick or something...losing weight and hair...lol... One of the big pieces of news is I met a new guy friend. He is so different then any guy I would have ever dated as he had dreads and facial hair and I usually go for the bald and maybe nice goatee guy...He is light skin and I go for the dark chocolate and he is my age and I have always dated older. But he for whatever reason caught my attention and had held it everyday since we met last Friday. We have hung out everyday and I have not felt so "teenager" giddy in such a long time. I was in a 12 year relationship up until about 6 months ago and I thought I could never see past my ex...I would see other attractive guys but I never had the desire to pursue them or allowed myself to be pursued because I was so caught up in my ex and "saving" our bad relationship. Until now....So I am not sure if I am happier I met a guy that I am having fun with or that I actually am open to to seeing other guys. It feel so good just to know I am moving or have moved past my ex. He was not a good mate to me and so I wanted him out of my system for so long and just didnt know how to shake him...Somewhere along the line I did figure out how to shake him and did not even realize it...I think it has a lot to do with gaining my self-confidence and finding my inner worth that has come with the weight loss...Did I say I love my sleeve? Well I do...I has given me so much more then weight loss. The sleeve is not a fix all but it sure does bring some things to the surface for you to deal with and I am so happy things around me are working themselves out so nicely. I am in such a happy place. I have no expectation of my new guy interests beyond him treating me with respect so if it works out we are just friends I am cool with that too because the starting of that friendship for me seal the deal that the bad relationship was no more. Happy Holidays to everyone... HW 232 & SW 227 (VSG 08/17/12 & 5'8) Week 16 182.0 Week 17 179.0 CW 177.6 [Total Weight Loss 54.4lbs] GW 155 [22.4lbs until Goal]

Hey, BariatricPal Members! Another month has gone by, and we’re deep into summer. We hope you have been taking advantage of the season to drink plenty of Water, try a few new fruits and vegetables, and enjoy some time outdoors with your family. We’ve been working hard over at BariatricPal, and we’ll give you a taste of what we’ve been up to in this newsletter. Here is what you will find in the newsletter. Member Poll: What Do You Do When a Craving Hits? Member Spotlight: Meet Carolinagirl! BariatricPal Updates: Stay in the Loop! Enjoy the newsletter, then head on over to the boards for some inspiration and fun. Thanks as always for your support! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Member Poll: What Do You Do When a Craving Hits? Everyone has a craving sometime. It might be for pizza, ice cream, tacos, Pasta, or any of the other foods that you used to eat – or overeat – before weight loss surgery. What do you do when a craving hits? Wait until it passes, even if it’s a few days. Wait a day, and then give in if the craving is still there. Make a healthy substitute, such as sugar-free hot chocolate instead of brownies or light popcorn as a salty, crunchy substitute for potato chips. Have a bit or two of the real thing, since that is the only thing that will satisfy you. Give in. Enjoy your treat, and worry about the consequences tomorrow. Choose your answer, and explain it in the conversation on BariatricPal. Share your tips for dealing with cravings, and include any recipe swaps that you use to deal with your cravings in a healthy way! Member Spotlight: Meet Carolinagirl! We are very glad to feature Carolinagirl in this month’s newsletter! She is from Raleigh, North Carolina. With a height of 5’2”, her highest weight was 335 pounds. At the time, she was classified as super morbid obese. She could barely walk and had trouble taking care of herself. Her wakeup call came when her son told her that she was going to be a grandmother and she realized that she couldn’t even push a baby stroller around the block. Her surgeon suggested the gastric bypass, but she chose the sleeve plication with the lap-band. She told him she would prove him wrong. Her surgeon made sure that she knew that it was up to her, not the surgery, to change her eating and exercise habits. She did. She has lost 170 pounds – more than half of her body weight! – and weighs 165 pounds now. She is almost at her goal weight of 155 pounds and a BMI of 30. So much of her life has changed since getting her surgery and losing the weight. She can keep herself clean, put on socks, and feel alive! Being able to walk has let her get her freedom back, and she loves it. One of her great moments, after hitting a high of size 30 pants, was fitting into a size 12. It hasn’t all been easy. Carolinagirl needed to face her inner doubts head on to find the strength to make the right choices. She points out that she needed to take responsibility for her choices and actions. Also, she knows that it is not about being thin, but about being healthy. She first came to BariatricPal to meet others like her. Few had as high of a starting BMI as Carolinagirl, whose highest BMI was 61.4. She now considers the members who welcomed her to be good friends. She tries to offer support on the boards, and is constantly receiving PMs (private messages) from other weight loss surgery patients with questions. Carolinagirl gives good advice and honest answers without sugar coating them. She says that the forum keeps her going forward in her own journey. Carolinagirl has some advice for members who are struggling with their weight loss. Be honest with yourself. You know if you are eating right and exercising. Measure inches lost in addition to weighing yourself. Don’t get on the scale too often. If you eat or drink more than you burn off, you will gain weight. Thank you, Carolinagirl, for being in the spotlight and for being a being a great community member. You are very much appreciated on the boards. Congratulations on your phenomenal and hard-earned weight loss! Do you want to be in the member spotlight? Is there a BariatricPal that you would like to see in the newsletter? Let us know in the Member Spotlight forum! We love getting nominations! BariatricPal Updates: Stay in the Loop! It has been a busy few months at BariatricPal. Here’s what’s been going on. The Big Book! In early July, we published The BIG Book on Bariatric Surgery: Living Your Best Life After Weight Loss Surgery. It’s a guidebook for losing weight and keeping it off in the months and years after weight loss surgery. You’re in this for the long haul! You can see chapter summaries and get more information here. If the title sounds familiar, it’s because this Big Book is the fourth in our series. The first three were on the different kinds of weight loss surgery. They are great for weight loss surgery beginners and anyone losing weight after weight loss surgery. The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy The Big Book on the Gastric Bypass: Everything You Need to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery The Big Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band BariatricPal Local Chapters We’ve been rolling out a new program called BariatricPal Local Chapters. It’s in-person support group meetings in your local area run by BariatricPal members for BariatricPal members. So far, we have seen a lot of interest, and are excited about continuing to grow the program. These local meetings are a great chance to meet BariatricPal members in person and to get tips for losing weight. Check the Local Chapters forum to see whether there is already a group in your area or to start a new group. Happy Surgiversary to Alex! On July 18, Alex Brecher officially celebrated his 11-year anniversary of the lap-band surgery. 11 years ago, Alex came home from the hospital after getting the lap-band. He started LapBandTalk.com to support other patients, and then VerticalSleeveTalk.com, SleevePlicationTalk.com, and RNYTalk.com. The rest is history. 11 years later, Alex is down 100 pounds. The four original boards joined together and are now BariatricPal, with hundreds of thousands of members. Congratulations, Alex, and thanks for giving us BariatricPal! Come on over to BariatricPal and join the action! Ask your own questions, browse the conversations that are already going on, or weigh in on the hot conversations on topics such as weight gain after sleeve surgery, finding a bypass buddy to motivate you, recipes for the liquid stage after surgery, or getting over a stall. See you on the boards!

I know we love to talk about man food, bar food, drinks and all the fun that comes with making food highly social. I am looking for ways that you have successfully reduced/removed soda and fried food intake. Or how you work to reduce your manly size meals to bandster size. My soda and fried food intake is increasing and so are portion sizes. I am back to about 1/2 of what I just to throw down and I am three months away from an adjustment. Still not weight gain or loss in the last month.

Hi, I had the menopause unexpectedly early and was finished by 38 so I can relate to you there. Are you able to take any HRT? I did till I was 50, it helped keep my sanity, the menopause made me very depressed and that contributed to more weight gain too. I am lucky that I have not had cancer though. This was over 5 years ago though for you so you should be able to be treated as normal now. I would recommend you do this op as I have got so much healthier without the weight. I am not taking any meds now and feel 100%. Good luck with whatever you decide. Jane x

I am 8 days out and becoming more and more incorporated with my family than before. I believe my problem was the fact that I avoided meals in order to avoid food, which made me miss dinner outings with my kids. The last two nights we have made sure to get out of the house for as long as I can stand it. Last night I thought I could make it through dinner at the food court with my family. Hubby and 5 year old get Chinese food. I admit it looked tasty for about 3 seconds then suddenly the idea of getting my eye brows done sounded like a much better and successful idea. Did I mention that the eye strings hurt? No where near as bad as last time when they burned me with wax but it's a bit sensitve especially a few days out in the wicked chair you have to sit in. I was cool as long as I didn't sneeze, cause sneezing = pain. So by the time I got done with my eye brows (which is something as a SAHM I NEVER HAVE TIME TO DO!) they were done eating. I stopped by GNC and grabbed my dinner of Muscle Milk. I had my first post-op with my surgeon yesterday. He is very concerned as to the rash from hell I have and wants a full investigation because the next person who is allergic to iodine may not walk away with just a rash. Plus he wants to give me the name of the prep so I can tell additonal surgeons NOT to use it. According to his scales I had lost 7 pounds. After walking miles around the mall last night I lost another pounds. So I am again in the 219. Plus I am no longer on broth that makes me want the meat that goes with it, but on Creamy Soups which I can live with. Next week I can have Wendy's Chili. So there is an end in sight. I appreciate all the support ya'll have given me over the past week or two and wanted to let folks know you will adapt. Our bodies adapt through pregnancy adapt through weight gain, weight loss. It's our brains that take a time to catch up and say it's not going to kill me.

My boobs are saggy from the weight gain over the years and I am only 26. When I lose all my weight I am planning on getting the girls fixed so they are nice and perky.

Kettle bells are pretty awesome at creating muscle. Keep it up! I would not be too concerned about weight gain after strength training. It always happens. I bet your clothes are fitting better and weight will begin to drop again soon.

I started my 1-week pre-op diet at 237 and I went into surgery at 228 on Sep 9, 2013. By Christmas of that year I was 195- 200 pounds...so I lost 28-33ish pounds between surgery and Christmas (4 months). I then dropped again from January to May, at which point I was stuck at 177 for WEEKS. I added more exercise, improved my diet, and by September 2014, I was at 158 pounds. I averaged about 6.5 pounds a month for the first year, of which some of that time I barely lost anything. I then had my first plastics procedure, after which I couldn't workout, so I lost some muscle and I went into my second plastics procedure in November at 143ish. By the second Christmas post-sleeve I was 134, where I then stayed until April of the next year, which means it took me exactly 18 months to get to goal of 129, which was 108 pounds and works out to 6 pounds a month. It was NOT a speedy process. I am now at 37 months post-op and I have been at goal (I fluctuate up and down about 3 pounds, so I hit 132.8 and I drop to 126 throughout the month) this entire time. Last Halloween I ate to much crap and I woke up November first at 137. It took almost 6 weeks to get back into my goal range again, so had I not been very cognizant of even a little weight gain, it would have taken forever to lose more than that. Since that time, November 2015, I have stayed within my 126-133 range, and I'm usually between 129-132. Once I get even a little over 132, that day I start making changes. I've been drinking a lot of coffee the last few weeks which involved milk and caramel and I noticed that my weight was getting very close to that 132.8. I cut out the coffee (and sugar and milk) and this morning I'm back at 130. Although this is a long post, from the perspective of being over 3 months out, losing weight was not easy and it was not fast. It required waking up every single day and focusing on an end goal that didn't seem like it would happen. That doesn't change when you hit goal. I still weigh myself every morning and when my weight starts to creep up a pound or three, I login to MyFitnessPal and I am very careful for a few days until I get back into my goal range. If you want to be thin the rest of your life will be about being aware of what you eat and what you weigh, because if it's hard to lose now, it is an absolute B to lose weight a year or two out from surgery. Once you lose it, keep it off! Slow and steady may not legitimately win the race, but it has worked well for me. Good luck!

Do NOT give up on yourself. You are not a failure!! You stated you have an anxiety disorder and with surgery approaching, the stress can cause lots of things to happen. Including weight gain. Try to keep your head up high and talk it over with your surgeon, pcp and therapist.

Precious Vsg and Miss Mac, Thank you so much. I have looked over my lab work and I know that my calorie intake needs to be increased especially in the protein area. I was not and currently am not able to tolerate protein drinks and powders, I do not eat protein bars like Quest bars etc because my tummy can't handle anything real sweet and heavy textured so I have to always eat my protein. I devised a plan to increase my caloric intake and increase my carbs to around 60 per day, I am also upping my protein to 80. I buy all high protein items in order for me to not feel as though I am missing out on anything by not being able to use protein supplements. This is a hard road, no amount of nutrition classes can prepare you for the real journey, I am a medical professional and I get lost in how our body works sometimes. I really was not as worried about weight loss but more worried about weight gain. I do believe it was because I was scared to take in a lot of calories and not realizing I need those calories. Looking at my labs I know that my protein definitely needed to be upped. I wish us all well. Peace to you all.

If you wern't trying but 'doing it alot' you'll have a girl, I'm guessing you want a boy cause you already have 2 beautiful girls! Shirina your husband is a doll (I've met him) he has such a low back, kind, caring personality, enjoy being with child. Last we talked, you have a snug fill, don't worry about weight gain at this point as long as you don't eat for 5 like I did. All I ever wanted to do while being preggy was eat and sleep, and that's hard with 2 kids under 5. Congratulations and Merry Christmas! Corinne congrats too My guess is July 11 (my birthday)!

The band is a "bad idea"... I had the band for 2.5 years... I lost a total of about 40-50 pounds, started having vomiting and heartburn... Turns out I had lots of scar tissue around the band and my esophagus... including a kink in my esophagus... thus, band to sleeve surgery done on 8/9/2012. Almost 4 weeks post op and still no regrets... As soon as my band was unfilled, I gained back about 20 of the pounds lost... food was good... weight gain was not... Strongly encourage others to re think the band....

Chickie -- I understand totally. Why then do you see the pronounced rebound weight gains in gastric bypass patients (group at large) but not in lap band patients over a 5 year span? My surgeon also explained to me (perhaps I misunderstood) that one option in some cases of pouch dilation for gastric bypass patients is to THEN apply a band. I'm not discounting your points at all and I don't want to appear to be a newcomer with all the answers. I've enjoyed reading your views on life with the band and think we are of similar mind. Particularly with regard to slow weight loss. My point to the original poster is that the studies clearly show a rebound weight gain long-term (3-5 years) that band patients don't show -- another plus in the band catagory. According to my surgeon one distinct reason for this is the adjustability of the band. Not that it will cure a dilated pouch from "abuse". With regard to slippage and erosion, I wonder how many folks out there have their band embricated to hold it in place and further reduce the chance for slippage and erosion? I'll post that as a seperate question.

Good point Chickie! I'm only a newbie (banded 5/29) here but I've read every study I could get my hands on and discussed them with my doctor. While your point is certainly valid, I'm referring to study outcomes that I've seen comparing the two methods over multiyear spans. You can clearly see a rebound weight gain in the bypass line graph vs lap band pts. And, although no infinite adjustments, one advantage of the band is that it can be adjusted long term vs the bypass. Just pointing out another reason to look favorably on the band vs bypass.

Hi everyone, i just wanted to update you all. I am so excited that I've been no good all day at work. i went in to my first monitoring appointment since starting stims and i have 12 folies. I was so excited. my one ovary is working hard. Thanks for lissening (reading) Cjlm10- Great! I am so excited for you. You get used to the injections.They aren't that bad. I have learned that patience is the key to all these treatments. So am taking it easy. If i feel stressed i get on my treadmill n walk n read a book. Mnjhowell- congratulations! I cant wait to hold my baby. Hoping for girl. I am trying not to look at the scale right now. I am just eating right n walking everyday. I am consious of the weight gain from stims and feel like the incredible hulk at times but am concentrating my on my goal n put the weight monster out of my mind. Keep me posted on how you've concoured your weight moster and enjoy your little angel.

I had RNY gastric bypass in 2002 with Dr. Callery in San Diego, ca. My insurance will not pay for a revision. In the last 3-4 years I have gained 45-50lbs. I want to have a revision, my pouch made smaller again and possibly more intestines removed. I had the surgery open and have a large scar. I had minimal to no issues with my first surgery. I have had a chronic back injury that now limits my exercise, hence the weight gain. (also, my poor choices at times). I will need to pay myself and need info, reviews on revisions any doctors in Tijuana have done. Thank you starting weight 9/2002 332lbs 9/2014 160lbs current 203lbs

The person who explained in detail what the sugars will do re: weight loss & weight gain is absolutely correct. Since my surgery from 1980 I went from 264# to 132# so very quickly. In all of these years i never gained an ounce. May of 2016 I put on my first summer outfit as I live in snow country so live in heavy clothes all winter; My clothes were loose on me. Somehow I had managed to lose another 12# over the winter. Wasn't eating or drinking anything any different. I was 120#. I was actually ecstatic. For some demented reason which I do not understand to this day I started drinking a 12oz bottle of Coca-Cola from Mexico over a 24 hour period daily. I am so addicted I can't believe it. But I wasn't worried as I was still my 120#'s. Well in June 2017 I put away my baggy heavy clothes & grabbed cutoffs & knit top. They were kinda tight??? It's now Sept 2017 & my stomach area (I didn't have plastic surgery as I didn't know the insurance would have covered it & really didn't need it after the weight loss) this has gotten back to being fat & saggy. I can barely fit into the 132# clothes but this stomach is making me sooo sad & depressed & i can't stop drinking these darned things. I'm praying that with walking & stopping this nonsense that it will go away but I have no idea. Listen to what has been said about the calories & calcium loss. I'm a living testament as to what a 12oz soda a day can do to a once upon a time extremely successful gastric bypass that's stayed in great shape for 36 years. DO NOT PICK UP OR CONTINUE TO DRINK CARBONATED BEVERAGES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH SUGAR.

there are virtually no dumping with the sleeve and its extremly rare, no malabsorb with the sleeve, no puking, no limit of size food to a point that one eats, or great restriction. Yer band is in there just as long as somone who started at 400 pounds. If you had to have it remove, and didnt want weight gain again you would still have to do a revision surgery. You still have the same odds of typical LB problems popping up as any of the others with more weight to lose. JMO, but I think you have subjected yourself to the same issues you didnt want t have, down the road. JMO, no offense intended. Sandy

Kind of a long story.....At the suggestion of my therapist, I went in to talk about getting a prescription for wellbutrin. My depression was only getting worse. About two years earlier, My PCP's wife had been struggling with emotional issues....they actually thought she was bipolar. At some point they discovered she had really low testosterone. After consulting with specialists at the mayo clinic, they started her on HRT and she is a different person. All of her symptoms of depression and fatigue are gone. She's kind of become an expert on HRT at this point. So hormone levels and their effects just happened to be something my PCP was familiar with. I basically lucked out, no one else would have thought to test. Like @ said, it's just not something they check in women. It's too bad because there may be a LOT of women out there struggling with depression, exhaustion, weight gain, and low libido that are misdiagnosed and put on an antidepressant and diet instead of checking hormone levels. Ironically, OB/Gyn's are the number one prescriber of antidepressants when they should actually be the most aware of the effects of wonky hormone levels on women. And, BTW, my estrogen and progesterone levels were perfect, so the "normal" tests they do on women would not have indicated a hormonal problem.

I'm so sorry about your family's challenges and about this frustration. Your body sounds very metabolically efficient like mine is. So many people say that increasing calories works for them, and I have tried it, but my body rebels with immediate and sustained weight gain if I go over 800 calories or so. I am hypothyroid, but I think it's also bc of years of very low calorie diets and also just how my body is made (my mom says if there were a famine, we would be stepping over the dead bodies). Your weight loss does give me hope. It sounds like you have done very well, though I know it must be incredibly frustrating to be in the home stretch and to be having so many issues with slow loss and easy regain. I am 12 weeks out and have lost about 50 pounds--30 lbs since surgery and about 20 lbs during a 6-month pre-op diet. Have a long way to go so it's helpful to see what others who are farther out are doing. I'm sorry that there don't seem to be any easy answers. Wishing you the best.

Yes, hypothyroidism could easily explain your weight gain. They discovered I had a goiter at age 6 and then hypothyroid in my 20's on. I have been on medication for it for many years. However, around my mid-twenties, with 2 small kids, being a stay-at-home mom and my current husband at the time, we did not have much money and no insurance. I quit going to my thyroid doctor and quit taking thyroid medicine. It wasn't long after that when I started gaining quite a bit of weight as well as having other symptoms of thyroid problems. Then I got back on my thyroid med and lost weight. Fast forward 15 years and I got off my thyroid med again and gained a bunch of weight. Now I am on thyroid med again (for 2 years now). But this time I couldn't lose the weight on my own. Had the sleeve surgery back in November '16 and I am still on thyroid meds. Since October, I have lost over 80 pounds. I think that if you are sticking to the plan with your sleeve (make sure low carbs, over 60 grams protein), that once your thyroid gets under control with medication, you should lose weight. Don't get discouraged, if you just started your thyroid med, it can take 6 weeks or so to notice a difference. Also, you will need to go back in for more bloodwork and see if you need to go up on your thyroid med dosage. It has to be a gradual increase. Getting your thyroid back to where it needs to be might take awhile.