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@OKCPirate- thanks for the insight and the website! I def think being back on my meds is the way to go, but I can definitely see that based on my "new" stomach, some doses may end up being too much as I continue to lose. But, at least I'm on the way (in both senses). And I trust my surgeon, so I think it'll be OK- I have tried a lot of meds over the years and Seroquel (even with the side effect of weight gain) worked best, and my surgeon thinks this combo is a good one for the VSG and my mental health in general. All of my doctor's can see the other's notes, so it's being monitored. Like you said, there's no one right answer, we all react differently! Thanks again for the advice!!

I currently have the Implanon, had it now for almost the 3 years. I can say that I thought it was perfect for a long time untill I started noticing that the little bit of stray facial hair that I did have started getting to be more and more. The next year when I went to my OB/GYN, I asked her about it because I thought it was suspicious that it happened after I got the implanon. She told me that it has nothing to do with that and I took her work for it because I thought that she wouldnt lie. Recently, I started researching it because I was having really irregular periods (none for 6 months- a year, then having one for over a month) and I saw alot about the irregular periods (of course) but I also saw that alot of people had difficulty losing weight or weight gain, FACIAL HAIR GROWTH, and also a sensitivity to viruses. I can tell you after reading that, I could really see that stuff being true after reviewing my life for the past 3 years. You don't really put two and two together because it seems like such an insignificant thing but I kind believe it has been a source of problems for me. Back when I had it put in I did read on the pamplet that it had not been tested on people over a certain weight so I don't know how much that had to do with my problems. I would definately do as much research as you can online and talk to your doctor before deciding. Hope this helps! Best wishes! Monica

Try to consider your new stomach as a new baby that has to be progressed SLOWLY. The food guidelines provided to us are to help our swollen and upset stomachs heal. Can you get down a few bites that aren't allowed? Probably. Will it cause damage or be a problem? Maybe. Should you talk to your Doctor? ABSOLUTELY! Try to stick to the diet so you heal properly and so that you don't being micro-stretching your stomach. The name of the game is to eat until full and not a drop more. That way you'll always fill up faster. If you stretch it out, you're going to run into plateaus and possible future weight gain. Stick to the program. It was designed this way for a VERY specific purpose. Just my 2 cents. J

A sudden weight gain might be pointing to an underlying new condition (hypothyroidism or the like). Be sure to explore/rule out a physical cause. If you've just let yourself go, then getting back to basics will help. Protein, nonstarchy veggies, limited carbs, vitamins, non-caloric beverages. Good luck!

Monday - I left Halifax early o'clock in the morning and flew to San Diego via Toronto. Flight was uneventful even if it was with Air Canada and strike threats. Arrived in San Diego and was met by driver by the Info Booth. Was driven to the Hospital where I was met by my coordinator Trish and escorted to my pre-op tests. I was early arriving and was given the option of having my surgery that afternoon instead of the next morning as originally scheduled. I decided to wait till the next morning as I was not mentally prepared at that point. Funny later that night as the nerves, second thoughts, what ifs, set in, I kinda wished I had just gotten it done and over with. Tuesday- I was up and waiting at 0700hrs. Anxious yes but feeling confident with my decision. Dr Kelly came by and talked with me and answered my questions. I gave Dr Kelly my camera for a picture of my stomach that was removed. I did not have a lot of questions, I am typical type A personality and control freak. I researched the hell out of this and knew what was going to happen. Went to the OR at about 0900hrs and was back in my room about 1030hrs. All done. Slept for most of the day. That afternoon tried to get out of bed to go pee and start my recovery process but I was in too much pain and was given pain/nausea meds and rested for a while again. Late that afternoon early evening got out of bed to pee and went back to bed. I was on pain meds thru night but was able to get out of bed to pee on my own. Vomited during the night and cleared blood? from stomach. Felt so much better. Wednesday- Felt great. Up in morning and started walking the hallways. I was given ice chips but I sipped water in tiny amounts. No real pain at all. Was still on IV fluids with nausea meds and antibiotics. Had a lovely shower. I felt so human again. I put on my PJ's and continued to walk and rest the remainder of the day. Dr Kelly checked on me multiple times during the day and was pleased with my progress. Had a good nights sleep. Thursday- Woke in the morning feeling even better than the day before. Dr Kelly came by and removed my drain. Wow what a difference. I felt even better. I showered and remained at the hopsital walking and sipping for a couple of hours. Then off to another hospital for my leak test. I had no problems with the barium drink stuff. Leak test was good so off to the hotel. At the Lucerna (very nice indeed) I rested walked about and ordered some chicken broth. My coordinator Trish left me a pack of goodies, gatorade, SF jello, water, and extra dressings for me incisions. Dr Kelly and the coordinator came by again that evening to check on me. I had an ache in shoulder and neck that was due to the gas from surgery, I knew to expect this and brought my heating pad, it helped alot. I had a wonderful sleep that night. Friday- Feeling really good. Haven't had any pain meds since night of surgery or needed any. I was feeling a bit cooped up. Dr Kelly came by to check on me in morning and again very pleased I was doing so well. Trish came by after lunch and brought me out to see a bit of Tijuana. It felt great to be out and about. Yes I did a little shopping. Back to the hotel for rest and some more yummy soup broth. Went to Starbucks across the street for green tea that evening with Trish. Saturday- Feeling superb. Dr Kelly came by to check on me again as I was leaving that evening for home. All is good. I left hotel with Trish my coordinator and went back to hospital to visit a lovely lady Stephanie(sorry if I misspelled your name). She had her surgery on the friday and looked great. Wasted loads of time until I was picked up by my driver and brought back to San Diego Airport. Going over the border to the States was a simple process. The van went in a special lane for buses and commercial vehicles. We stopped at the customs agent. I got out of van with my bags and went into special line and was processed and then bags were xrayed. Met the van and driver at the parking lot on just after exciting the customs building. Easy Peasy. At San Diego Airport checked in a waited for my overnight flight to Newark. Slept the whole flight. Met my next flight to Halifax. Slept the whole fligt again. Sunday- Got into Halifax Airport at about noon and hubby drove me home the 1.5 hrs to Kingston NS. I am now 2 weeks Post op and doing great. Getting in my protein drinks and liquids. Be vigilant at measuring how much liquid you ingest as I was feeling weak yesterday and realised too late that I hadn't drunk enough the day before. I have talked to Trish multiple times as she calls to check on my progress. I was 284lbs when I was weighed prior to surgery. I was 289lbs when discharged (water weight gain from IV fluids). I am now at 2 weeks post ov 272.6 lbs. So actual lose from preop weight is 12lbs so far. Lessons Learnt- I went on my own and that was a good thing for me. I didn`t have to worry about a companion. I didn`t have to keep answering questions like: how are you feeling, how are you doing, are you nervous, can I do anything for you. That would have driven me insane. My heating pad was a great thing for me to bring along. My Kindle was great, My Ipod was nice to have. My smart phone allowed me to send messages and updates back home with wirelss connection but I did not have any cellular service. I was happy with having a pair of PJs, they allowed for the checking of incisions without having to pull up a nightie or keep my hospital gown on. I had t shirts and yoga capris for day where in hotel. I wore same clothes home that I wore flying to Mexico. Gas X helped. If you have acid reflux issues they will give you meds to helpl I think that is all. I wasn`t scared at all in Mexico. I had faith in Dr Kelly. Trish was fantastic and really took care of me.

VQ this is probably a silly question but have you had your cortisol level checked yet? I think until you get your Cushing's properly treated that you are kinda beating your head against the wall. I mean that WEIGHT GAIN is a PRIMARY symptom of Cushing's. So I think if you have been able to lose ANY weight without the Cushing's being under proper treatment is a testament to you and your model bandster behavior. M

Hi All! My name is Jennifer. I am 44 years old. I am a wife and mother of 2 boys (24 and 16). I live outside of Houston, Texas and help run our family owned trucking company where I am a bookkeeper, sales manager, and A/R supervisor (we are that small LOL!). ​I had my VGS in October of 2011. I went from my highest weight of 308 (as far as I know - I don't know many who want to check the scale regularly at that weight ) to my lowest post surgery weight of 213 in 2012. I had hit a plateau in between and began training with a former college running back. I was doing well. Around 2013 I ran into a series of health setbacks. I was able to maintain my wait or close to it (didn't go over 217) for well over a year, perhaps 2. Within the past year I began gaining weight. I am currently struggling with this, and this is why I have come here. I am looking for advice, accountability, and to be a good WLS buddy to anyone who needs one. I am interested in what you guys are doing to meet your goals, what successes and what slip ups you may have dealt with, and how you are getting back on track now. Today is my first day here, and I can't wait to hear the journeys you have been on! I welcome any advice, shared experiences, or whatever you may have to offer! Thanks for having me! Jen

Getting stuck is not a sign of proper restriction it is a sign that you are not eating properly or eating something that disagrees with you. I was able to get stuck on some things before I ever had a fill. Signs of needing a fill are eating too much, not staying satisfied between meals and weight gain...sounds to me like you need a fill.

After 3 1/2 yrs with my band (which I lost 104 lbs with, btw), we're about to part ways. Good. Causes much reflux and stomach pain. Last year, I was at my all time lowest (144) when I got a minor slip. After much unfilling/filling/tweaking, it was shown to not have changed. So I was left with whatever fill was there that didn't cause major nightime reflux. My band worked at about 50%. Sometimes it didn't feel like I even had a band. I gained 18 lbs. 2 mths ago, after 4 days of increasing stomach pain, the ER diagnosed me with a herniated band from a CT. Not only had it slipped but my stomach was protruding up over the band. I was totally unfilled and told it needed to come out. Another 12 lbs. A total of 30 gained in 18 mths. Last month, after my appt with my surgeon about a sleeve revision, I was so excited I was getting this done. he showed me how he folds over the excess skin of the cut part of my stomach over itself reducing the chance of a leak.. Yeah. Then I went to talk to the insurance coordinator and schedule a surgery date. I found out that because I cancelled my Part B Medicare 2 yrs ago (I was paying $110 a mth for something I never used once in 12 yrs), I had to pay a $5400 drs charges in cash. Wow. I don't have $5400 lying around the house. By the time I can resign up for my Part B (July 2014) my stomach is likely to be so damaged by my band that I will have no choice but to just take it out and not revise. What to do, what to do... We have poor credit so no loans for us. We don't own a house so no mortgage for us. We make a decent income, but it would take YEARS to save that much. A friend offered us her 0% interest for 16 mths credit card. Making 450.00 a month payments are not something that sounded good to us (we luv to travel so we'd have nothing left to travel) and we couldn't ask a friend to do that, But it's nice to fall back on if we HAD to. The last 2 weeks, we've been in Ca vacationing with my inlaws and my mom (we're from OR). My inlaws are so concerned about my bad band causing me pain. Today they offered to pay for it. Wow. Couldn't believe it. They told us there was no need to pay them back, by hubby and I talked about it today and we will eventually pay them off, little by little. Goodbye good friend that allowed me to have more confidence in myself while losing 104 lbs. You allowed me to enjoy single digit clothing sizes, allowed me to cross my legs, polish my toe nails, and say no to seconds. I loved my band. However, it's hard to be perfect all the time and maintenance with the band is crucial. Did I follow all the rules? Nope. I ate whatever I wanted, just much less of it. So happy that my new tool will take little maintenance and will start working right away (not waiting for proper adjustment and keeping it there forever) so happy that they cut out the part of the stomach that has the ghrelin, so I won't be so hungry. Also, the part they removed is the least stretchy part keeping a stretch to a minimum. I've heard that it starts out at 2 oz and over a year can stretch to 4-8 oz, but nothing more than 8 oz. I've heard so many stories about RNY patients gaining all the weight they lost back. Anyway, I'm so relieved. I have the best in laws in the world. My mother in law loves me so much and is so happy I married her son (we've only been married 18 mths). I think they offered me the $$ cuz she doesn't want me to get too fat so he leaves me...hubby disagrees! They've noticed my weight gain but are the most concerned about the damage the band is doing right now. I have raging nightime reflux and occasional stomach pain. Now hopefully my stomach is good and unswollen now so they can do both surgeries at the same time.A whole new set of worries if they get in there and can only removed my band. Prayers that I wake up without most of my stomach. Can't wait to be satiated with 1/4 of a sandwich or 1/2 carton of yogurt (like I did with my new band). Please wish me luck!

It isn't kg. I thought about that too, but that would have been a big weight gain. I haven't gained, lol.

It could also be a stall - extremely common - except for the weight gain issue. Stalls usually start in week 3 but can start earlier or later & can last for 1 to 3 weeks. I liked to think of them as my body taking a breath to catch up with all the changes - the surgery, reduced caloric intake, change of diet, change of activity levels... You’ll experience these along your journey. Some say increasing or decreasing your caloric intake or activity level will kick start your weight loss again. I just stuck to my plan & the weight would start to drop again. If you’re keeping to your plan, weighing/measuring your food, logging what you’re eating & drinking, making healthy food choices you’ll lose weight. Good luck.

I was told it is wise to reprogram your eating habits during the honeymoon stage the first year of surgery, so that by the time you are healed totally you will not eat all these foods that got you to the sleeve in the first place. Weight gain is unavoidable if you keep your old habits and old favorite foods.

@@Barepigies3 I had the kind of depression that required 8 months of therapy and Paxil to correct a chemical imbalance. The therapy gave me the tools I needed to manage it and the Paxil helped reset my brain chemistry. I still have to be aware of my emotions, to this day. But for years, it was untreated and it contributed to my weight gain. But it was because I had come to use food as a coping mechanism that I gained weight, and I could have opted to make exercise my outlet instead. I just didn't. The fact of the matter is, it won't do any of us any good whatsoever to sit around absolving ourselves of responsibility and saying, "No it's my genetics, it's my depression, it's because I didn't get enough hugs as a child..." No...it's because we ate too much and moved too little, and we developed unhealthy relationships with food. That's it. I wasn't trying to attack you, I'm just pointing out the fallacy in your thinking. Nobody is helped by passing responsibility off onto someone or something else, we have to OWN this in order to fix it. I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me for where I got to and I don't feel sorry for myself. In fact I feel like I've finally taken control of the situation, and that's empowering.

I'm so saddened to hear your story. I am sobbing as I write this. I too lost a son. Tre would have been 18. I too turned to food for comfort and saw large weight gains in the years after he passed. I think our paths to this decision are similar. Each year you will have moments, it's ok to grieve as anniversaries of his passing, birthdays or other milestones occur. This past Spring was hard for me because he would have been 18 & graduating high school. Take the time to remember Jonny and celebrate the memories you have of him. You have one sweet angel walking along side of you and he is so proud pf you. Hugs...

I agree that everyone's journey is different! Before my weight gain, I did have a pretty fast metabolism, as far as what I am doing now is just prioritizing protein and trying to stay away from carbs.

Hi, my name is Tonya. I'm a 44 years old mother of five ages 16, 2, 3, 4 and 4. Number 2 and one of the 4's I have permanent custody of and I'm trying to adopt :-) I am going to try and not ramble but I do sometimes. I was never an overweight child, never gained more than maybe 20 pounds extra in high school. In college I was able to maintain 135 pounds with no weight gain. I'm 5'5. When I was 25 I got married. At 27 I got pregnant with my first child and gained 100 pounds. He weighed 11 pounds at birth. 10lb15oz exactly. From the year of his birth, 1998, until the present, I have not been under 200 pounds. My last weight was 300 at pre-op testing. Years of being abused emotionally and mentally by his father made me turn to food for comfort. I don't drink or smoke or do drugs but I had my food. He fussed about my weight so I defiantly ate more and more. He said he was ashamed of me, told me I was worthless for 9 of the 12 years we were together. So, I left him in 2006 and in 2009 reconnected with my best friend from high school. We married that year and now have 2 kids together :-) he never made an issue of my weight and loved me the way that I am. So I thought, he deserves a healthier wife than this because he's so good to me. I really thought I could diet and lose the weight because I was finally happy. Nope. I had learned what a powerful drug food was and I couldn't let go. Almost 5 years after I married this perfect man, I got my sleeve. I now 5 days post op and am feeling great. Feel free to ask me any questions if you have any. I'm an open book :-)

It has been soooo long since I posted here, probably not since I was a few months post op back in 2016. I am now 6 years post-op (July 26) and have found myself really really struggling. I have gained 15 lbs. I know that may not seem like a lot to some people but I feel like I have made it so far and damn, why is this starting. I mean I know why. I'm eating poorly, I am relying on my sleeve to trigger my full feelings but I am def eating whatever I want, dumping, and doing it again. I am going through a rough time emotionally and I have restarted therapy but man I am finding it hard to not to eat my feelings. And what I eat is what I call punishment or self hate food: anything fried, fettuccine Alfredo, pizza...etc. I'm just so in it right now and the weight gain is compounding it. I stopped working out because of the pandemic, my studio shut down...sorry feeling so sorry for myself but I am scared I will end up looking like I did 6 years ago and hating myself even more.

I have a Mirena (on 2nd one) and I love it! I didn't really notice any weight gain after having it put in.

ME TOO!! I think that is partially to blame for my weight gain. People who exercised or took the time to care for themselves were selfish and vain and i totaly took that and ran with it. I do for others and didnt take time for myself. It is still a struggle to not feel selfish for the time it takes for me to exercise In fact I haven't gone all week because I dont want to take away from 'family' time. Thanks for the reminder!

Amelie2016 - I have been researching this myself and today I found these questions and answers. Unfortunately, according to this, bariatric patients do not qualify for this procedure.I am only 3 weeks out and having the worse GERD of my entire life and it is not being controlled with medication. This is from Massachusetts General Hospital Frequently asked questions: LINX® system Q: What is the LINX® Reflux Management System? A: The LINX® Reflux Management System is an FDA-approved device implanted laparoscopically. The system relies upon a flexible bracelet of magnetic titanium beads that, when placed around the esophagus, supports a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that opens and closes to allow food to enter and stay in the stomach by restoring the body’s natural barrier to reflux. Q: What are the risks associated with the LINX® procedure? A: All surgical procedures have risks, such as the risks associated with anesthesia, risk of bleeding and risk of infection. These risks are small. The most common side effects of the LINX® system are difficulty swallowing, post-operative pain and temporary bloating of the stomach. In the long run, many surgeons have concern that the device might erode into the esophagus and need to be removed. This has not been observed in the clinical trials to date. : How soon after the procedure can I eat? A: You should be able to eat soft foods with 48 hours of surgery. Q: How soon after the procedure can I resume normal physical activities? A: Routine daily activities can begin within a few days of surgery when pain medicine is no longer required. Activities such as sit-ups or weight lifting, which require use of the abdominal muscles, should be deferred for three to six weeks. Q: Will I have to take acid suppression medication after the procedure? A: Based on the clinical trials performed prior to FDA approval of the device, only 10% of LINX® patients required daily medication at one- and two-year follow-up. Q: Is there any risk the device will be too tight and cause food to get stuck? A: Yes; about 3% of patients that have had the device implanted had this problem and required removal of the device. Q: After the device is placed, is there any risk of infection? A: There is always a small risk of infection whenever a foreign object is placed in the body, whether it is LINX®, a pacemaker or an artificial joint. There is not enough data at this time to calculate the percent risk of infection, but the early data suggests it is quite small. Q: Will the device ever have to be removed? A: The intent is for this device to be permanent. But, since there is no 10-year follow-up data available yet, we cannot be sure. : Is there any chance the LINX® system won’t work as well if I gain a lot of weight after the procedure? A: The LINX® system works by creating a pressure of approximately 25 mm at the gastroesophageal junction (the place where the esophagus and stomach meet). Weight gain increases the pressure inside the abdomen, so it is possible that significant weight gain can create more pressure than the LINX® valve can counteract, leading to the return of reflux symptoms. Q: Will my insurance company pay for LINX®? A: Nearly all insurance companies pay for antireflux surgery. Since the LINX® procedure is a new form of antireflux surgery, insurers are learning about the procedure. We are working closely with them to obtain pre-authorization for these procedures on a case-by-case basis. Q: If my insurance won't pay for it, how much would the procedure cost? A: Please contact the Mass General Billing Office at 617-726-4098 or at cs.mgh@partners.org for more information. Q: I have heard that because I had bariatric surgery, I am not a candidate for LINX®. Is it possible this will change and I could be eligible for the system in the future? A: The LINX® system is not approved for use in patients who have had prior bariatric or esophageal surgery. Q: If the LINX® device needs to be removed or isn't effective, can I have a standard Nissen fundoplication (NF)? A: Patients often mention that an NF was suggested to them in the past, or they were considering it when they found out about LINX®. As the screening tests are the same for both procedures, NF may still be considered, providing testing doesn't exclude you. If you cannot or choose not to have LINX®, NF may still be an option.

Thank you !! Amelie2016 - I have been researching this myself and today I found these questions and answers. Unfortunately, according to this, bariatric patients do not qualify for this procedure.I am only 3 weeks out and having the worse GERD of my entire life and it is not being controlled with medication. This is from Massachusetts General Hospital Frequently asked questions: LINX® system Q: What is the LINX® Reflux Management System? A: The LINX® Reflux Management System is an FDA-approved device implanted laparoscopically. The system relies upon a flexible bracelet of magnetic titanium beads that, when placed around the esophagus, supports a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that opens and closes to allow food to enter and stay in the stomach by restoring the body’s natural barrier to reflux. Q: What are the risks associated with the LINX® procedure? A: All surgical procedures have risks, such as the risks associated with anesthesia, risk of bleeding and risk of infection. These risks are small. The most common side effects of the LINX® system are difficulty swallowing, post-operative pain and temporary bloating of the stomach. In the long run, many surgeons have concern that the device might erode into the esophagus and need to be removed. This has not been observed in the clinical trials to date. : How soon after the procedure can I eat? A: You should be able to eat soft foods with 48 hours of surgery. Q: How soon after the procedure can I resume normal physical activities? A: Routine daily activities can begin within a few days of surgery when pain medicine is no longer required. Activities such as sit-ups or weight lifting, which require use of the abdominal muscles, should be deferred for three to six weeks. Q: Will I have to take acid suppression medication after the procedure? A: Based on the clinical trials performed prior to FDA approval of the device, only 10% of LINX® patients required daily medication at one- and two-year follow-up. Q: Is there any risk the device will be too tight and cause food to get stuck? A: Yes; about 3% of patients that have had the device implanted had this problem and required removal of the device. Q: After the device is placed, is there any risk of infection? A: There is always a small risk of infection whenever a foreign object is placed in the body, whether it is LINX®, a pacemaker or an artificial joint. There is not enough data at this time to calculate the percent risk of infection, but the early data suggests it is quite small. Q: Will the device ever have to be removed? A: The intent is for this device to be permanent. But, since there is no 10-year follow-up data available yet, we cannot be sure. : Is there any chance the LINX® system won’t work as well if I gain a lot of weight after the procedure? A: The LINX® system works by creating a pressure of approximately 25 mm at the gastroesophageal junction (the place where the esophagus and stomach meet). Weight gain increases the pressure inside the abdomen, so it is possible that significant weight gain can create more pressure than the LINX® valve can counteract, leading to the return of reflux symptoms. Q: Will my insurance company pay for LINX®? A: Nearly all insurance companies pay for antireflux surgery. Since the LINX® procedure is a new form of antireflux surgery, insurers are learning about the procedure. We are working closely with them to obtain pre-authorization for these procedures on a case-by-case basis. Q: If my insurance won't pay for it, how much would the procedure cost? A: Please contact the Mass General Billing Office at 617-726-4098 or at cs.mgh@partners.org for more information. Q: I have heard that because I had bariatric surgery, I am not a candidate for LINX®. Is it possible this will change and I could be eligible for the system in the future? A: The LINX® system is not approved for use in patients who have had prior bariatric or esophageal surgery. Q: If the LINX® device needs to be removed or isn't effective, can I have a standard Nissen fundoplication (NF)? A: Patients often mention that an NF was suggested to them in the past, or they were considering it when they found out about LINX®. As the screening tests are the same for both procedures, NF may still be considered, providing testing doesn't exclude you. If you cannot or choose not to have LINX®, NF may still be an option. Thank you for this. This is not good news, is it. =( I guess now I need to find out why, good to know because I will take this info to my next appt. too. So sorry you're having GERD right now! I do hope it resolves itself. I keep reading that as we lose weight, the loss of pressure helps. I do hope it goes away for you! =(

Amelie2016 - I have been researching this myself and today I found these questions and answers. Unfortunately, according to this, bariatric patients do not qualify for this procedure.I am only 3 weeks out and having the worse GERD of my entire life and it is not being controlled with medication. This is from Massachusetts General Hospital Frequently asked questions: LINX® system Q: What is the LINX® Reflux Management System? A: The LINX® Reflux Management System is an FDA-approved device implanted laparoscopically. The system relies upon a flexible bracelet of magnetic titanium beads that, when placed around the esophagus, supports a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that opens and closes to allow food to enter and stay in the stomach by restoring the body’s natural barrier to reflux. Q: What are the risks associated with the LINX® procedure? A: All surgical procedures have risks, such as the risks associated with anesthesia, risk of bleeding and risk of infection. These risks are small. The most common side effects of the LINX® system are difficulty swallowing, post-operative pain and temporary bloating of the stomach. In the long run, many surgeons have concern that the device might erode into the esophagus and need to be removed. This has not been observed in the clinical trials to date. : How soon after the procedure can I eat? A: You should be able to eat soft foods with 48 hours of surgery. Q: How soon after the procedure can I resume normal physical activities? A: Routine daily activities can begin within a few days of surgery when pain medicine is no longer required. Activities such as sit-ups or weight lifting, which require use of the abdominal muscles, should be deferred for three to six weeks. Q: Will I have to take acid suppression medication after the procedure? A: Based on the clinical trials performed prior to FDA approval of the device, only 10% of LINX® patients required daily medication at one- and two-year follow-up. Q: Is there any risk the device will be too tight and cause food to get stuck? A: Yes; about 3% of patients that have had the device implanted had this problem and required removal of the device. Q: After the device is placed, is there any risk of infection? A: There is always a small risk of infection whenever a foreign object is placed in the body, whether it is LINX®, a pacemaker or an artificial joint. There is not enough data at this time to calculate the percent risk of infection, but the early data suggests it is quite small. Q: Will the device ever have to be removed? A: The intent is for this device to be permanent. But, since there is no 10-year follow-up data available yet, we cannot be sure. : Is there any chance the LINX® system won’t work as well if I gain a lot of weight after the procedure? A: The LINX® system works by creating a pressure of approximately 25 mm at the gastroesophageal junction (the place where the esophagus and stomach meet). Weight gain increases the pressure inside the abdomen, so it is possible that significant weight gain can create more pressure than the LINX® valve can counteract, leading to the return of reflux symptoms. Q: Will my insurance company pay for LINX®? A: Nearly all insurance companies pay for antireflux surgery. Since the LINX® procedure is a new form of antireflux surgery, insurers are learning about the procedure. We are working closely with them to obtain pre-authorization for these procedures on a case-by-case basis. Q: If my insurance won't pay for it, how much would the procedure cost? A: Please contact the Mass General Billing Office at 617-726-4098 or at cs.mgh@partners.org for more information. Q: I have heard that because I had bariatric surgery, I am not a candidate for LINX®. Is it possible this will change and I could be eligible for the system in the future? A: The LINX® system is not approved for use in patients who have had prior bariatric or esophageal surgery. Q: If the LINX® device needs to be removed or isn't effective, can I have a standard Nissen fundoplication (NF)? A: Patients often mention that an NF was suggested to them in the past, or they were considering it when they found out about LINX®. As the screening tests are the same for both procedures, NF may still be considered, providing testing doesn't exclude you. If you cannot or choose not to have LINX®, NF may still be an option. Thank you for this. This is not good news, is it. =( I guess now I need to find out why, good to know because I will take this info to my next appt. too. Yes, that;s what I hear as well but preop and with the surgery I've lost 45 lbs and my GERD has not improved at all. Of course I still have a lot of weight to lose. I don't think I have ever been so miserable with pain. If I didn't know it was acid, I would swear I was having a heart attack. No its not good news so if you find out anything different let me know.

As always I love kathy's @proud grammy perspective The work does not end after goal. Many of us have experienced the emotions that come along with a weight gain. Shame, guilt, depression and feeling we have failed. Self-esteem can take a big hit. This is one of the many mental battles with weight loss surgery. Recovering can be counseling or reading books on manage stress/emotional eating and self-esteem. Topics on whatever issue you are working on...Would love to see a book club because most of us have these issues in common.

2 pounds up this morning on the 3 week anniversary of surgery. No change in diet of course... I heard about a dreaded stall, but weight gain? And how long did your stall last?

This pregnancy was absolutely not planned. I ovulated 5 days before I should have this past cycle. Prior to this cycle, my body was like clockwork. Anyway, that early ovulation resulted in me now being 5 weeks pregnant. I am scared. I still have about 40-50 lbs I want to lose and now I'm worried this pregnancy will derail everything. I was already having a hard enough time with slow weight loss. I am going to try my hardest to continue to eat well and stay active this pregnancy to minimize the weight gain as much as possible while still growing a healthy baby. Are there any ladies experienced with this? Were you able to keep weight gain down? Did you continue losing after you gave birth? I'm really looking for some encouragement here. This should be a happy time! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App