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Hi Skip, I hear your desperation & I can clearly remember feeling desperate, w/ no choices left yet scared to do the WLS. What if it does not work, what if I gain it back, what if I wreck a perfectly good body part...... Like I said I was at my wits end, I had tried & tried over the years to diet, I'd lose some weight, gain it back & more. I am now 9 months postop & 110 lbs less. I am light on my feet, I go up stairs and am not out of breath. I put my tennis shoes on w/out dreading it. I do not worry about fitting in a chair or walking in a room. I go to support groups, work on my mental addiction, talk honestly with others. I do water aerobics 4 times a week, lift some weights, walk my dog. Summer has arrived, I am now on my bike. The exercise caused me to have consistent weight loss of 10 lbs every month, more in the beginning. The surgery made it possible for me to not give up, I ABSOLUTLY could not eat more than the 1/4 c, them up to a 1/2 cup and I stayed at a 1/2c per meal for a long time and overall I was satisfied. Now I can eat 1c & a little more. I am much much happier but I still have the same personality, I can get depressed for no good reason, I overdo it & become exhausted (but I had a lot of fun before I got exhausted). I do real well w/ my liquid & protein most of the time. Vitamins too. This is my story of commitment so far with this surgery, without this my story would be my old story, I tried, I got too hungry, I ate, I gave up. My doctor told me I was not a loser, he says we just get too hungry & it takes too long without this surgery. God Speed to YOU, your doctor & your wife. Your life is going to change, follow ALL the rules!!!!!

I feel the same way! I have already had 2 fills and am going for my third one tomorrow. I am afraid that I actually gained weight since my last fill (I am not certain because my doctor's scale is substantially different than mine). In all honesty, this past month I have been nothing but bad when it comes to eating the right foods and exercising, but I just feel so frustrated with the whole thing. I mean, I was banded on July 9th and, up until like three weeks ago, was eating right, controlling my portions, going to the gym 4 times a week, and I only have a total of 22 pounds gone to show for it. I am almost regretting my decision to get this surgery. At least before, when I dieted I lost some weight, but now I feel that I am at such a plateau and have even gained some of the weight back. I am afraid that my doctor will not give me another fill because of my weight gain which really kind of stinks since I am out of state at school and can't just go to her whenever I want to (she is two hours away). I am also super concerned that I have stretched out my pouch. I don't know if there is a way to check for that or not, but I know that it is possible. Anways, I'm glad that I'm not alone.

Splenda is what I use. I hate Stevia/truvia, it makes an awful after taste in my mouth. Aspertame like in crystal light and Equal give me killer head aches. Plus Aspertame is linked to weight gain. Never liked saccarine/sweetnlow. I also use a tbsp of honey a day in tea since it has a low glycemic index and doesn't raise my blood sugars. Splenda is closest to regular sugar on a molecular level. So that is how I feel its best for me.

Mine does not require weight loss, but they do not want you to have any weight gain either. (They expressed that it might cause them to cancel surgery.) The focus is on lifestyle changes and exercise in the mean time. I will have to do a two week liquid diet before surgery.

Actually my insurance doesn't state weight gain part at all. I was just worried because I read many cases that have been denied.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Remember this is a mental change as well. Did you ever address the reason behind your weight gain, mind set, and eating habits? Like another poster said you acknowledged the situation but how are you going to cope in the future? Have a plan for holidays and get the crap out of your house. You got this!!!

As far as I am concerned, the numbers on the scale are pretty irrelevant until you can reliably get in your protein and fluids every day. Getting enough protein and fluids is critical for healing and for weight loss. That said, none of us lose at a constant or steady rate. We all experience stalls and slow downs and almost everyone has a stall about three weeks after surgery. Weight gain in the first week of surgery is usually because of the IV fluids and swelling (you did just have major surgery). Just follow your program. Focus on getting in at least 64 oz of Fluid and reaching your protein target. Take your Vitamins and supplements as instructed. Exercise when cleared. Stay off the scale. And, Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I think you are so right on this. I gained 5 lbs this last week and I had to look at why I gained that much. Part of it I knew was due to going off a heavy diaretic medication that I had been on but I also know a good part of it was the food choices I had made last week. For me this was the first weight gain I have had since I started my pre-op diet back in October and through my surgery etc etc. So it hit me hard like it does us all. But I know I made bad choices and rather then jumping to a liquid diet or doing twice the amount of exercise then what I normaly would do I simply looked at my actions and choices that I had made and decided that I couldn't continue down that path and identified what I need to do differently to get back on track and keep up the good work I have already done. Don't get discouraged. Know that you have the power within yourself to change what it was that you had been doing!

I was banded in April 08 and did well. Lost 48lbs. I have gained 12 back and I don't know what to do. Do I just go liquid for a week? Get another fill, although I am having touble with food getting stuck. Just frustrated and need support, suggestions.

I wish someone told me you could still gain weight with the band. I was always under the assumption that you wouldn't be able to eat enough to gain anything back. I gained 30 pounds!!! I have since lost 32 but, that was really through Nutrisystem. Band alone doesn't work for me. I need someone to tell me what to eat. Less food, less metabolism and weight gain for me.

It may be because my weight gain was mostly medication- induced and then due to lack of movement from the pain I was in?? There wasn't a weight issue prior to my getting sick. Who knows? I know most plastics guys want you stable for at least 6 months. Another surgeon I wanted to consult with won't even SEE me until I hit my target weight. Not even to consult for costs. Either way, I would not consider doing anything yet. First- the cost-need to save for it; Second- I DO want to be at goal. Fortunately, the weight continues to come off without stalls, albeit a little slower now. 2lbs drop since day before yesterday! Lol. LOVE this tool!! More? Love having gotten my life back and all of the opportunities and changes it has effected for me! Did you end up having the plastics yet? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My band has helped reduce hunger, and increase satiety. Those were MY major issues with weight-gain; Always hungry & a bottomless pit. I was already eating pretty healthy most of the time, except for binging on McD's 1/4 pounders once in awhile. Head-hunger. Had to learn to fill my emotional bottomless pit with other things. Still working on that.

@@kyleebean This is a reality for all of us. Weight gain can happen. Bad habits can come right back into our lives. When you see yourself slipping (holiday's are the worst) It's time to get back on the horse. You have been successful.... 105 pounds down freaking fantastic. Do what has worked for you. Beating yourself up is not doing you any good. Be gentle with yourself. Try some positive self talk. You are stronger than you are giving yourself credit for.

I was banded in 2012, had lost almost 75 lbs. at one point. I'm now at a total weight loss of 57 pounds. Ever since my surgery, I have never really done well with solids. I didn't wrooy about it at first cause I was losing but then, my weight plateaued and I gained a bit then plateaued again that I began to get concerned that about 90% of my diet is liquid. I got sick of Protein shakes so occasional ice cream shakes and sodas came into play (thus the weight gain). But, the main problem is...when I try to eat solids, even healthy solids, I am in the bathroom getting rid of it. Finally heard from the dr. that my body produces too much digestive mucous/juices too fast and attacks the food before it can get down to my stomach and be digested so the only option...my body tries to get rid of it. I miss healthy foods and am tired of not eating and having to leave the second half of meals in the bathroom. The second half of the issue is I eat/drink so very little...I cannot lose weight anymore. So I am stuck. My band has been filled and unfilled, filled and unfilled. So medically, I have a reason for insurance to pay for the band to come put but not necessarily to be converted to sleeve. My dr. is well known and he's affiliated with a center of excellence. They said that they have not had one insurance company pay for direct conversion. My dr's office says that in order to pay, all insurance require you to meet original parameters (bmi of 35 or more with problems or bmi of 40). Therefore, I will actually have to gain some weight (go backwards) in order to reach a bmi of 35 in order to have a sleeve. Plus then, I will need hope that they will think that my sleep apnea is bad enough that I can qualify. I have Blue Shield of California Ultimate PPO that we pay for ourselves(not through an employer). I haven't actually been turned down yet cause I have to submit for approval but before I can do that, I have to pay for and re-do my psych profile AGAIN. It is SOOO frustrating to think that the insurance company would make me meet ORIGINAL guidelines...including attending possible nutrition classes (I know what is involved and how to eat by now). I refuse to gain ALL my weight back to get back up to a BMI of 40. Ugh! Has anyone, who has this insurance, gone from lap band to sleeve as a direct conversion?? Has anyone had to meet the original guidelines. Any insight you have, I'd appreciate it. Thanks- Jen

How did you transition your pantry and fridge? What about those of you who have family members who need weight gain? Tomorrow I'm going to the grocery store for a few things to start out with but am not sure what to pick. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal

Topamax is an anti-seizure drug that is also used for migraines and drug-induced weight gain. One of the major side effects is the complete inability to taste carbonation. You can't even feel the bubbles in your mouth. The soda tastes very acidic and outright disgusting.

I went into gastric bypass surgery with chronic illness and many medical issues, I also had my gallbladder removed at the same time. It’s been a rough road and it took me a lot of trial and error to find things I could tolerate and I took it slow. Right of the bat I was sick and had a lot of problems with getting into purée foods. I found a protein powder that worked. It’s quite possible that you were consuming things that you were allergic or had sensitivity to. Not all protein shakes are equal either. For me I did best with PEScience protein powder. I stuck to very simple things , very low carb as well. And always protein first. I got protein soup mixes from BariatricPal. Protein shots for when I could barely tolerate anything. Instead of purée meat I started mixing protein powder with Greek yogurt. Even eggs at that point were a no go. Eventually I slowly added a soft boiled egg here and there. Until it’s become fairly regular. A Low calorie low carb protein bar for breakfast with tea. My lunches are simple even now I’m a year in. I started with some BariatricPal protein pasta, then slowly changed it over to adding veggie burger with an egg on top. Dinner well that’s almost always Greek yogurt with protein powder. And some sugar free topping. And a baby banana. It took things extremely slow. I still struggle and have issues. I always will that’s just me personally. But I think you shouldn’t be afraid. Things are probably different now, the surgery has improved, you can have a better nutrition guide. Maybe the dietary guidelines included something causing you to dump too often. Or you were not mindful of portions and eating slow. A lot of times surgeons don’t give proper nutrition guidance and that leads to problems. My nutritionist was very helpful. Although for me I’d already been following low carb for years I needed the added tool of bypass to help me. Learn to be mindful of your body and what your pouch doesn’t like. And take it slow and easy. As long as you get protein there’s no race to eating solid food or even purée. I find it helps to take daily note of weight, food intake, protein and calories. Protein should be based on weight starting at 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight. And also no more than 5 grams of sugar in a meal. Especially starting out. I guess to some it might seem obsessive but it’s helped me and yes I’m ocd and on the Autism spectrum. I use the notes section on my iPad and the same format each day and note if I see a doctor and any health issues that come up. For me it was fight to get the tool of gastric bypass surgery to help against weight gain from metabolic disorders and inability to exercise, a fight that’s exhausted me most of my life ... or just give up. it sounds Like this is very important to your wellbeing. There really is no choice here but to take that step forward. I wish you all the best in your journey.

It doesn't sound like it. I know that the amount sounds like a lot compared to the can-only-eat-three-spoons-of-pureed-food-and-even-less-when-solid crowd but the amounts is not what strikes me odd. If the foods you're listing are fairly typical for a day of eating you simply might be lagging nutrients. No fruits at all, only a little bit of vegetables. I'm not surprised. The sodium content of the foods you listed seems to be fairly high. Quick weight loss or weight gain usually almost includes some water retention. My weight can swing up to almost 1 kg within one day because of how much water I hold. You say you want to start tracking. Are you a person who likes to track food, a person who abhors it (raises both hands simultaneously here) or a person who is not a fan but in the end doesn't mind it? Tracking foods/calories/macros can help people - however, it could be that you can benefit from a different food selection without even having to write everything down you eat. How far out of surgery are you? Are the stats you're listing in your profile still correct?

I don't know why it works for some and not for others. All I know is that so far, it works great for me...no band complications and as long as I do my part, no serious weight gain since hitting goal. I'm hoping to one day get to the same marks as our founder Alex, who has his band for around ten years now. I'm not far from my four year anniversary so I've a ways to go yet.

I have been on psych meds off and on since I was a teen, been on more than I can count on fingers. About 4 years ago I started Effexor XR with no weight gain but when I started Seroquel I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. Nothing had changed in my exercise or eating habits so not sure why I gained. After 4th month on Seroquel I tried a new set of meds that had helped me lose in past, but did not work and had to back on Effexor/ Seroquel and just watched my weight increasing. After being off meds for 10 months for pregnancy, I had a hard time finding a right combo. Dr would not do seroquel again because of worry of more weight gain ( I was already too heavy and having back problems). Now I am on Lamictal/Pristiq and am doing okay with it. My PCP does not think that my meds have anything to do with my current weight gain. He also feels that if I lose weight will help with depression. Any thoughts on all this?

I have had Mirena for about 3 yrs I've lost about 50 lbs the only change i noticed. Was I started getting periods again with the weight loss, I've discussed it with my OB and she thinks its the weight loss over-riding the IUD in a little over a year and I have not had a problem.Once i het to a stopping point things should stop again. I have not had any weight gain from it either. I am not allowed high dose hormones due to my stroke history and at the time of placement the paragard was not an option. Don't worry because of someone else's complications. Discuss the concerns with ur doctor and let them help you make a decision you'll be happy with. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I have the Paraguard IUD and have had it for over 6 years. I love it. Set it and forget it. I don't have strings (they think they went up past my cervix right after I had it inserted) so I have no clue if anything has changed. You're supposed to check once a month to make sure all is well. Yes, it is possible for the IUD to shift with BOTH weight gain and loss. I get ultrasounds every once in a while to make sure mine is still in the correct position. So I would say, if you want another one, make sure to be responsible and check! I can't take bc cuz they make me extremely nauseous and I can never remember to take them so I always worried.

Well, for several reasons I need my parents approval when I do things. I've got that kind of personality. Sometimes I do things against their approval, but I have a lot less anxiety in life knowing they support me.. so it was important they were on board with me. I didn't know about lap-band. I wanted RNY.. 3 years ago or so. They said they were completely against it, just diet, etc. So I did.. I lost weight.. gained it back.. then this past December, after gaining another 60lbs on top of my highest weight.. I decided I was getting RNY with or without their support. I was doing research to get information put together to convince them this is what I needed to do. That's when I found lap-band. So instead, I presented them all the lap-band info.. before I could show them anything.. I had to take a deep breath and explain.. I was doing this.. and my mom had seen a Dateline on the lap-band the week before I came to her, so the 'fight' never happened. She said she thinks it's a great idea, they support me. I asked if I could get a loan from them to pay for it (my insurance won't cover it), and they said they would pay for it without it being a loan. So that was that. I'm sure if she hadn't seen Dateline, it would be a relapse of the RNY thing.. how I shouldn't do it, it's unhealthy, I'll get sickly, etc. Maybe your parents just need the educating! Get information on it, show them how it's reversible if it ever needed to be, it's adjustable to fit your lifestyle, etc. Show them the death rate, and complications statistics. It's a no brainer when you get to the nitty gritty. Compared to RNY, where the statistics are scary.. but being the overweight party you're willing to risk it.. even when family is not.

Surgeon: Dr. Patricia Choban Columbus, OH I can safely say I am a "Lap band Success Story" now. However, I had a very slow start. My wise surgeon told me the band was a "tool" and not a cure-all and that I would still have to diet. She was right, but I had a lot of other contributing factors which made me fat and kept me fat. Here is my story: I was always slim (size 8/10 135 lbs at 5' 7") until my second of 3 sons was born, 27 years ago, and I lost my father. 4 years later I had my 3rd son and lost my Mother. I went into a deep depression for which my family doctor put me on Zoloft. A year later I was up 150 lbs! Now I really WAS depressed!. I was also diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and was put on Synthroid. Each year my family doctor would test my blood and each year he would tell me my meds were fine. Yet, I had every classic hypothyroidism symptom in the medical books! I read him a list: hair loss, brittle nails, constipation, inability to lose weight, gain weight easily, lethargy, memory loss, inability to concentrate, etc.. He never dug deeper so for 20 years I stayed on Synthroid and felt lousy. I have since found out, General Practitioners get just a few days of training on Thyroid and glandular disorders. That's why they are all quick to write a script for the popular Synthroid. I joined a Medifast diet clinic and was on an 800 calorie ketogenic liquid diet yet could not lose a single lb. I was 5'7 and 318 lbs at my heaviest and wore a size 30 dress. My doctor decided to change my anti-depressant to Wellbutrin as he read Zoloft caused weight gain. I remember a different doctor saying, "When you are on the RIGHT dose of the RIGHT medication, you won't just feel better, you will feel WELL!" I wracked my brain to see if I could remember what "WELL" felt like. Well, after a week on Wellbutrin, I remember looking in the mirror as if I was Rumplestiltskin, waking up for the first time and I said, "What the hell have you let become of yourself?!" As the fog lifted, I effortlessly dropped 45 lbs, just changing meds. I tried many diets, still with very little success. I knew my surgeon through our sons and she suggested I get the Lap Band in 2006. I saved up $11,000 and had it done. I lost exactly 15 lbs the first week due to nausea and then never lost another lb for several years. It wasn't until the rest of the health puzzle fell into place that my Lap Band started to do its job. I went to a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) in my town for hormone replacement to help me through menopause. I began to feel less moody and depressed right away. I read him the same list of Thyroid symptoms I read my family doc and my D.O. immediately pegged my Thyroid as the culprit. He did not just perform one blood test, which my family doc did each year, measuring T-4, but he measured 4 or 5 things. He reported at my next visit that my body was not converting T-4 to T-3 so it was not being absorbed into my cells. He started me on a new med, Tyrosint, and within days I began to feel better. I complained to him I was on Atkins and eating nearly zero carbs, yet I could not get my ketose dipstick to turn pink. He told me I must be insulin resistant and put me on Metformin. I am not a diabetic but insulin resistance is a possible precurser to Diabetes, if I continued the way I was headed. Within 2 hours of taking my first tablet, my dipstick was dark purple and the weight began melting off. So Hormone imbalance, Thyroid deficiency and Insulin Resistance were my biggest obstacles to weight loss. I had some other issues which he uncovered. I was borderline wheat gluten intolerant, mildly lactose intolerant, and I had burned out my Adrenals by eating wheat as a carb addict for 50 years. I felt so much better on the Atkins diet, which made sense as no dairy or grains were permitted. I now could remember what "WELL" felt like. My energy was back, I was back selling houses, I had energy, I no longer had to shop in the Women's department, I had my Mo-Jo back. In addition to using the Atkins Diet, I also did the HCG shots and a 500 calorie diet. This was a grueling diet and one which cannot be entered into lightly. You need to look at your calendar and make sure you have 90 full days for the 30 day diet, 30 day transition and 30 day maintenance before even starting on it. Otherwise you will gain it all back again and more. So I lost my weight in sort of a stair-step fashion. 20 lbs or so at a time over a few years. Alternating between Atkins and HCG. Luckily I never gained more than a couple lbs. in between. As I lost weight, people began treating me differently. I was no longer "invisible". Men began holding doors for me and making eye contact when I walked by. I was getting compliments from my female co-workers and it was fun to buy clothes again. So my road was a very long one. It was almost 5 years before I had all of the puzzle pieces in place and the band started doing it's job.. I saved up for a Circumferential Tummy Tuck last summer which carved off another 20 lbs. Now, at 159 lbs, I wear a size 10 at Talbotts. And without the belly fat, my blood profile has normalized. I am no longer insulin resitant and my cholesterol and Tryglycerides are now normal. There is more skin I would like to have removed. The surgeon did liposuction of the thighs but now I need a thigh lift. I would like to have a breast lift, arm lift and maybe an eye lift. But just getting the tummy tuck made a HUGE difference in my wardrobe and how I feel about myself. I can wear Spanx for my thighs and a good support bra and long sleeves to hide the arms, but there was no good way to disguise my gut. Having it off, I no longer have to wear a long jacket over every outfit I own. For the first time in 27 years, I feel pretty again. At least as pretty as you can feel at 57. LOL So my advice, before you drop $11,000 or $12,000 on bariatric surgery, go to a good D.O. or better yet, an Endocrinologist, and have a full Thyroid panel done, Vitamin D, hormones and have them check for insulin resistance and gluten sensitivity. Once you have these items addressed, see if you can lose weight without the band. Try a low carb diet like Atkins. If you feel great on it and lose weight, you may well have been gluten intolerant. You might not even need the band. The band is not without risks. I have had to work very hard to handle vitamin and mineral deficiencies from both dieting and the band. Healthy salads and fruits and veggies are hard to eat with the band. I rarely got in all the Protein I required without a supplement. I also have much more GERD or indigestion at night with the band. This can be very serious and cause esophageal cancer if left untreated. Our bed is propped up 6 inches and I can't eat spicy foods. The band has been a God Send but don't get it if you can lose weight on your own. Just get these items "ticked" off the list before you go under the knife. If nothing else, it will make your lap band more successful and you wont take 6 years like I did. While the band, never really caused me to lose weight. It has been helpful keeping the weight I lost off. I can take a a few bites of a small piece of pizza and be stuffed, I can take a tablespoonful of Thanksgiving goodies and try a taste of each thing, but push away from the table with a plate still half full. In fact, I had my band tightened just before Thanksgiving to make sure I did not put any holiday weight on. My band in 2006 was one of the early ones. The port is very prominent now that I have lost 100 or more lbs. and the band is tight even when empty. The new bands are larger in circumference when empty. I am going back in to have a new, lower profile port put in. When my plastic surgeon did my tummy tuck, he repaired 3 hernias. This caused the port to move to the mid-line since it was attached to the muscle and fascia he was pulling together. I want it moved back to under my ribs and right breast, where it originally was. Dr. Choban explained this replacement is not without some risk. She has to carve out a pocket for the newly moved port and then hope the empty pocket does not get infected. It is definitely not something I want a doctor doing who is inexperienced in lap bands. If you do decide to get a lap band and later a tummy tuck, allow for your bariatric surgeon to be present to adjust your port and possibly put a lower profile port in place. I thought it was something the Plastic Surgeon could have done but it turns out to be much more complicated than I originally thought. So discuss it with your Bariatric Surgeon first. Make sure your Bariatric Surgeon and Plastic Surgeon have privileges at the same hospital. It turns out, mine did not. Feel free to message me if you want more info on the HCG diet or doctors.

I'm 4 years out, 110 lbs lost but struggling with recent weight gain. Can't seem to find the green zone! It sounds like you are both too tight and could use an unfill. Just a little out can make a world of difference. Acid reflux is no fun and cause some serious damage. Good luck! Anita