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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

I haven't had a fillin way over a year... no major weight gain, but plateau city

I must've not seen this - cause I wouldve responded :biggrin1: Im very open about my usage of diet pills. I prefer Tenuate (generic) taken with a little food or protien shake preferbally around noon time. The pills are oblong so I break them in half and take just 1/2 a day - when needed. I might take one everyday for 4 or 5 days, then not take another one for 3, 4 days or even a week later. PRN - as needed. When I was first banded and discouraged in weightloss, I remember using the diet pills more often, maybe every day? cant remember. But I DO remember thinking that I would do whatever it takes to get the weight off - even if it was taking the diet pills WITH the band. As for now, I stay around 180 and when I feel a weight gain OR see that my eating has increased (esp. around my period) I pop the Tenuate. ALSO - if I dont have a bm in 3 days I will take gen peri-colace tablets for a couple of days to get things flowing . Dont mean to steal the thread topic, but I did want to repond to you. Im also very interested in reading about the other forms of WLS. So now there's a mini-bypass?

A little over a year ago I took my hubby to his GP for a check up. While I waited.... in the waiting area (of all places, funny enough) I was looking over a board of pamplets... pamflets.... nope thats not it either.... info board:thumbup1: and saw some....info on banding. I had them in the top draw of my desk and would always look at them thinking 'there is no way I'm going to be able to afford this treatment' I would sigh and put them back. It wasn't till I was going through the info and found the part about being over 40 BMI (my BMI was up to 60 with only a 3 kg weight gain in late pregnancy, and is now at 50 7 and and a half mts later....swallows hard) that I booked an appt. with my GP to see if there was any way around it. I built a case of *yo yo proof* with photos at all stages of my life, none of which were "skinny", but you could see that this battle was going on for manyyyyy years (50kg here 30kg there) and never even come close to winning. My lovely GP looked at me and said that I was a perfect candidate and don't worry about the money as you should be able to access your superanuation to pay for it. I felt the biggest wash of releif/anxiety/fear/excitement/jelly legs/upside down belly like a child on xmas eve. ohhh did I mention anxiety??? I was then put on a public waiting list at catagory 2 waiting list which translates to, ohhhh about 3 to 6 months waiting list... adn thats only for an interview to be re catagorised again!!! (another 1 year waiting list so I'm told) *slumps in chair* Scratching around in all the sites I find a seminar for banding. gung ho on getting a band I went along and was amazed to learn of this sleeve. Instantly i was.....:thumbup1:. thank god I found this out before signing up for a band where I was prepared to take all the jackpots that come with it. Soooo back to the drawing board, and another mountain of hours looking into sleeve pros and cons. I haven't been able to find many long term sleevers but also haven't heard of many complaints for those who have had it. I am totally happy with my decision to have a sleeve. I was prepared to do a band with all the associated posibilities/disruptions, BUT now am all warm and fuzzy thinking that I beleive I saved myself a bucket load of heartache by choosing a little sleeve. I can't wait to see my doc next week and see what he has to say and what my next move is. Until then I will keep trying to loose weight on my own, wishing the days away.:001_rolleyes: roll on 19th!!! ****off with the fairies for the minute****

I have lost 72.5 lbs in 8 months and the first 6 months I ate pretty good healthy wise and followed the rules but now I am eating like I did before part oif the time but in much much smaller portions. I look at it like this..you get out of it what you put into it.If you want to lose much slower and are content with that, then Yes eating Mcdonaleds french fries are OK.. My weight loss has slowed very much ever since I have been making bad food choices..am I ok with that? Somedays I am and somedays I am not! The band is a toool we still have to do some of the work. I am ned of a fill so with that and making bad choices , Im seeing the results of it..no weight gain but very slow weight loss. The good thing about my band is I can still enjoy life and eat what I want but smaller protions without fear of gaining.

I usually asked to replace the 7oz for a 5oz and the vegetables for Mashed potatoes, since veggies are not friends of my band. I ask also for the Sauce to help food go down. I bet what happened to you was because of the veggies. Use a juicer to get your veggies in. The weight gain is gases ... I can easily get 5 pounds and loose it in hours because I get so bloated that I guess i retain liquids. I didn't start enjoying my green zone until I relaxed about what I ate and when I stop counting, for me counting calories and ozs was a trigger to my anxiety then I ate more.

One of my patients last week asked about gallbladder removal during her upcoming Lap Band so I offer some thoughts: Many people who have not had weight loss surgery end up with stones in their gallbladder, but not all of those stones are symptomatic and cause pain. Since rapid weight loss or weight gain can cause the formation of gallstones it is an area of interest to bariatric physicians and patients. There is a debate among physicians as to whether or not to perform a gallbladder removal at the time of weight-loss surgery. I recall that it was a topic of discussion at the American Society of Bariatric Surgery meeting I attended a couple of years ago, and there was no consensus as to whether or not remove the gallbladder. Some laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeons commented that the placement of the instruments for the bypass is not ideal for removal of the gallbladder, and hence that makes the surgery more difficult or makes it necessary to place more ports for instruments into the patient. I am not aware of many Lap Band surgeons that remove the gallbladder at the time of surgery for the following reasons: 1) By removing the gallbladder you introduce the possibility of having bacteria enter the bloodstream or abdominal cavity, since the bile in the gallbladder can harbor bacteria. You would prefer not to do this in the presence of a foreign body, the Lap Band. 2) The port placement for the Lap Band may not be ideal for removing the gallbladder and more ports may need to be added. 3) It is felt by some that the more gradual weight loss seen with the Lap Band compared to gastric bypass makes the likelihood of developing gallstones lower. 4) While generally a safe surgery, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) does entail its own specific risks that are unique to that surgery, therefore adding a cholecystectomy to the Lap Band, theoretically adds to the risk of surgery. To answer Amy's original question about the recovery from the surgery: The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is generally well tolerated and most patients return to regular activity within a few days. I remember a patient who was a high school football couch and went to run practice the afternoon after his cholecystectomy. As with any surgery, everyone has a unique recovery based upon how their body responds to the surgery. Good luck!

Yep I always keep my sodium under 2000 (I have high BP) and try to keep my potassium near 3000. I never take laxatives. There's nothing wrong with your muscles holding water. It's their response to stimulus. You just have to wait it out and not freak out over the temporary weight gain. It's not fat.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge. :lol I did get that whoosh this morning and have updated my ticker. I am now at 34.9 on BMI, which takes me out of the 'severely obese' category for the first time in nearly a decade. And I'm at 70 pounds gone. So today I am happy. And Chris, you are right - at the VERY least, I should avoid the scale for a few days after I return from a business trip. Because the reading I get is never right - it's not true weight gain. I suppose that I've gone without a scale all during the trip and I'm anxious to make sure I didn't screw up, so I climb on. But this is a case where it does cause me negative anxiety, so perhaps my rule should be that I get on the scale 2 days AFTER I get home.

Thank you for replying. Do u mind if I ask who did your VSG, was it in Mexico? I have schedule to go with Dr. Illan and I'm pretty nervous about it. I' definitely tight from the weight gain. Parially due to my thyroid bottoming out. Again thank u for sharing

Yeah, you are a complete light weight after banding. I can't remember how long I waited but it was probably at least a month, maybe longer. I used to LOVE beer - probably part of the reason for the weight gain. I can drink it a little now, but have to let it sit for a bit to settle carbonation otherwise it makes me feel horrible. Generally I stick with wine or mixers now but I rarerly drink anymore.

I'm a newbie, and my surgeon also recommends obstaining from alcohol for a year, mostly due to carb. intake=cravings and slows weight loss. (Same for complex carbs. like pasta, crackers Nut. said from MY HISTORY with weight gain and loss-carbs create overwhelming cravings for more. Although a lot of the stomach that produces the harmone is removed, the rest of the stomach could still, for SOME PEOPLE, create carb. cravings!) once I'm down in the 100's again, I may revisit this recommendation. (I could do a few sips if a good, ice cold vodka, if I HAD to-lol!)

I would have a problem with this too, though I'm not exactly sure why. I think Jachut and the others made some excellent points that make a great deal of sense to me, but...I don't know. I get a sense that you don't think your boss is a very nice person anyway; I probably wouldn't look as kindly on a situation like this if I didn't like the person, either. It does sound like HE may be a bit judgmental or at least insensitive, if he's acting like a bit of weight gain and stretch marks make his life less worthwhile. But...there could be things going on that he's not saying. Good luck dealing with this. I would be very conflicted too in your situation.

MRS. HUSKER CONGRAtS ON BEING NED!!!! This is wonderful news, and im so happy for you. Im glad that you are not letting the weight gain get to. You had to deal with kicking cancers butt!!! :eek: So i have been struggling majorly with my weight!!! :wink: I dont know what happened, i was doing so wonderfully and then i got lazy and things spun out of control... I havent been on here so long because i was embarrassed with myself... Also ive been kind of in denial with it as well... I realized part of the reason i was doing well was when i was weighing in every morning and coming on here and posting every day.. the support helps so much.... I have to create a schedule where i can fit in time to go to the gym and stick to it... its so hard working full time an going to school full time finding time to do homework and go to the gym plus sleep... So rather than miss out on too much sleep ive been skipping the gym, leading to poor food choices. Also ive been missing out on sleep and leading to more poor food choices.. So its a vicious cycle that must be broken!!!! so my goal for this week is to lose 1-2lbs this week. and to check in here at least every 3rd day... Anyone else with me?? -Jeni M.

Sultana, some antidepressants do cause weight gain. I sure you can check with your pharmacist or the web about particular ones that you're concerned about. The web will give you extensive info. and also what other meds. it is/or is not compatible with. Best of luck!

Sultana most anti depressants will cause weight gain. I was on Paxil for 1.5 years when my son and mother died andI gained 65 pounds. It is true once you stop taking prozac you will see some weight loss. Most of us overweight people take anti depressants becasue of depression due to being overwieght but I have found once I have started losing weight my issues with depression have diminished greatly. I no longer take paxil . I on occassion take an anxiety medication Xanax. Hope your fill works for you...

I don't say anything to others about their weight loss for all of the reasons Emlefe states. Also, for the same reason it is not acceptable to comment on weight gain, I don't comment on weight loss. Let's face it, people who lose weight are very likely to gain it again. Of course, we are in a different situation, but others don't know that.

I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 2001, along with type 1 diabetes...the weight gain, lack of menstrual cycles, hair growth, dark ring around my neck - the whole 9 yards. I was banded on 10-25 of this year, and I have had a total weight loss of 35 lbs. I have recently joined a gym and I work out 3 to 4 times a week. I am happy that the weight is coming off - I am also happy that once my target weight loss is met, that the chances of my husband and I conceiving are even greater than what they have been. It takes time - but I know that if you stick to it, the results will have been well worth all of the effort. I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to reading about how everything has been coming along for you I know it is hard - and I know many don't understand what us women with PCOS have to deal with - but if there is anytime you need help, or just someone to listen - I'm hear - I know you can do it...don't get discouraged...you've made it this far

Gastric Band- advice for week 5 onwards Weight loss You may lose some weight in the first 2 weeks post-surgery, but this is more due to the low calorie liquid diet and the fact that sometimes, appetite is reduced due to the area around the band swelling initially after surgery. Your weight is therefore likely to plateau or even go up slightly by 4 weeks post-surgery. By the time week 5 comes around, it is highly likely that you will be feeling hungry again; this is because the swelling will have most likely subsided, therefore the top of the stomach is no longer being compressed by the band to the same degree. The process of gastric band adjustments is required in order to ensure adequate compression of the stomach and hence adequate appetite reduction, reduced portion sizes and weight loss. However, the band needs very fine-tuning to provide optimal reduction in appetite and satisfaction on small portions (sometimes described as ‘restriction’), and you should expect to need 4-6 adjustments to the band in the first 6 months post-surgery before this is achieved, although everyone is different and a small minority of people can even feel the effects of the band with only 1 or 0 adjustments. Band adjustments One of the best features of the Gastric Band is its ability to be adjusted to ensure of a sensible and successful weight loss. The members of the multi disciplinary team will assess your need for the band to be adjusted during your follow up consultations. We do not perform adjustments unless they are genuinely needed. We will always carefully review your status before deciding on a ‘fill’ because the aim of the band is to reduce capacity, not completely restrict you. Problems related to the band are often associated with it being ‘over filled’. What is a gastric band adjustment? An adjustment is the process whereby Fluid is added to the silicone band, which then tightens the band itself and makes the stoma (opening) between the upper and lower parts of the stomach smaller. This results in food flowing through the stomach more slowly and therefore the band squeezes on the vagus nerve at the top of the stomach to a greater degree, thereby meaning you feel satisfied on less food. Fluid can also be withdrawn from the band at an adjustment – this may be needed if weight loss needs to slow down or if it is suspected that the band may be too tight. Everyone is individual and usually patients require several adjustments to gain and maintain optimum restriction. The members of the multi disciplinary team are trained to assess whether or not you require a band adjustment. You are likely to require a band tightening or ‘fill’ if one of the following is the case, usually in combination with lack of weight loss: 1) You are hungry sooner than 4-5 hours after meals. 2) You are able to comfortably consume a large quantity of textured food within a 20 minute period. You are likely to require a band loosening or ‘aspiration’ if one or more of the following is the case: 1) Symptoms of discomfort/pain on eating, regurgitation, night cough, acid reflux/heartburn (especially at night) 2) Difficulty tolerating solid foods despite appropriate eating behaviours, and reliance on soft/high calorie foods that are easy to eat, resulting in sub-optimal weight loss or even weight gain. If either of the above is the case, you MUST contact your local clinic without delay to arrange an appointment. A competent practitioner will add the amount that he/she feels is clinically required based on your weight changes, your appetite after eating and the volume of food that you can manage. There must be a minimum of 3 weeks between band fills in order to allow you to adjust to the altered level of restriction, and for the Dietitian to review your progress. What is involved? You will most likely be asked to lie on the couch, however sometimes it is easier to access the port whilst standing. The practitioner will ask you to expose the area where your port is sited. You may be asked to raise your legs or raise your head because this pushes the port closer to the surface, which can make it easier for the practitioner to feel it. The practitioner will wash their hands and then clean the port area with an antiseptic wipe. A needle will be used to puncture the skin and gain access to the port area and fluid will be added or removed using a syringe attached to the needle. You will be asked to drink some Water whilst the needle is in situ so that the practitioner can ensure there is adequate restriction or the band has been adjusted appropriately. Some patients may experience “burping” after the procedure. Will I be able to eat afterwards? It is essential you progress gradually with your diet during the initial 3 days after an adjustment. Phase 1: fluids for the first 24 hours • This minimises the risk of any complications associated with tightening the band. • The practitioner who performed your adjustment may advise you to extend this phase to 48 or 72 hours, especially if they checked how much fluid was in the band initially before replacing it and adding more fluid, as this can cause additional swelling to simply adding fluid. You will usually only require this ‘fluid check’ at your first adjustment to provide a baseline level. • Fluids are defined as anything liquid that can pass through a straw. • Fizzy drinks are not allowed during this period. • You should aim for about 2-3 litres of fluid per day, or enough to ensure your urine is pale straw-coloured from around 4 hours after waking onwards. • Follow the same regime as you did during the first 2 weeks after your operation. Phase 2: soft/pureed food for the next 24 hours • Follow the same regime as you did during the second 2 weeks after your operation. You should then start to notice a reduction in appetite and reduction in the quantity of food required to stop you feeling hungry when you first start to eat normal/textured foods again, although it should be stressed that an exact degree of appetite reduction and reduction in portion size can never be guaranteed following an adjustment, and if you are in the early stages of your weight loss journey, it’s important to remember that several adjustments are usually required to gain and maintain optimal restriction. Continue to take your Multivitamin and mineral supplement. The supplement and any medication will need to be crushed, soluble or chewable during the initial 2 days after a band adjustment. Are there any complications? There can be complications, which is why we ask that you do not eat normally for 3 days. There have been reports of band slippage or gastric erosion associated with over-tightening and hence we take the process of performing band adjustments very seriously and only arrange them when clinically indicated. If you do require fluid removal or a review of the band, you MUST contact your local clinic without delay to arrange an appointment. We do not advise that you fly within 2 weeks of having your band tightened - this will ensure you have enough time to check the band is not too tight and to give you time to arrange an aspiration if necessary. Furthermore, the change in air pressure may affect the tightness of the band, and so it is recommended that you do not have fluid put back into the band for at least one week after flying in case the band has tightened up during the flight. Increased stress/anxiety can sometimes make the band feel tighter than usual, and the nurse will not be able to tighten the band in this instance. Hot weather can also cause the band to feel tighter than usual – with this in mind, we do not recommend you travel to a hot climate within 2 weeks of having the band tightened. Some women find that the band feels tighter during menstruation, hence it may not be appropriate to tighten the band at this time of the month. What are the risks of this procedure? Immediate • Slight discomfort/pain. • Bruising • Punctured port tubing. • Inability to access the port – in this instance, you will be referred to an alternative practitioner in the first instance. If the second practitioner is unable to access the port, we may consider referral for an x-ray guided band adjustment; charges may apply. Soon after • Bruising. • Heartburn and/or reflux. • Infection. • Over-restriction, characterised by sickness/vomiting, inability to swallow fluids, nocturnal acid reflux & pain Over 48 hours • Infection. • Over-restriction – as above. • The band may become “unclipped” – this can usually be rectified by a surgical procedure. • Port may become detached – this can usually be rectified by a surgical procedure. • The following (commonly caused by an over-restricted band): o Erosion. o Slippage. o Oesophageal dilatation. o Pouch dilatation. o Achalasia/oesophageal dysmotility – these are pre-existing conditions, the symptoms of which the band can exacerbate. How can I tell if my band is too tight/I am over-restricted? There are a number of signs or symptoms that might indicate your band is too tight. They would usually become apparent within 24-48 hours of a band adjustment. They include: • You cannot swallow your own saliva • You cannot drink sufficient fluids (leading to a risk of dehydration) • You are unable to eat solid food • You are experiencing frequent heartburn, belching and regurgitation • You are having reflux more than one night a week (when food or fluid comes into your mouth or nose when you lie down) • You are experiencing difficulty swallowing even well-chewed food In any of these cases, you MUST contact your local clinic without delay to speak with a nurse or dietitian as you may need to have some fluid withdrawn from your band. Do NOT struggle with an over-restricted band – doing so puts you at unnecessary risk of complications. Call your clinic within 48 hours if symptoms of over-restriction become apparent following a band fill. Choosing the correct texture From 4 weeks post-surgery onwards, it is essential that you progress onto a diet of solid/textured foods. Solid food requires thorough chewing, meaning that not only are you less likely to rush your food, but you are more likely to feel satisfied and enjoy your meals. In addition, firm/crunchy foods tend to be more nutritious and lower in calories and fat than softer foods. Opt for wholemeal/wholegrain products where possible, as these are higher in fibre and other nutrients. Most importantly however, the number of times the oesophagus has to contract to get solid foods through the band is greater than with soft foods, so you will experience a reduction in appetite far sooner, hence eat less. However, it is important to remember that appetite and portion size reduction is unlikely to occur to any great degree until the band is adjusted appropriately. Things to be wary of: 1. Dishes where lots of sauce is used as this will make the dish less suitable and more likely to slip through the band too quickly, so you can eat more and not stay satisfied for long. Good examples would be sauce on Pasta and gravy on a roast dinner. You can overcome this by reducing the amount of sauce used and adding chunky vegetables, Beans and/or lentils to the sauce to improve its texture. 2. Soft ‘complete meals’ e.g. fish pie, shepherd’s pie, lasagne. Ideally avoid these meals, but if and when you do choose them, they should only fill ½ of the plate; fill the rest of the plate with crunchy steamed vegetables or salad. Use the list below to help guide you to choosing the correct texture. Avoid – too soft Rice Krispies, Frosties, Weetabix, Porridge, Readybrek Mashed potato Stewed fruit / fruit smoothies Liquidised Soups Curries with lots of sauce Drier consistency Overcooked/soft vegetables, Mushy peas Overcooked/soft pasta Better choice All Bran, Branflakes, Fruit & Fibre, No added sugar muesli, Minibix, Special K –ensure only a splash of milk is used to ensure they remain crunchy when eaten. New potatoes (with skin), jacket potato (with skin), oven-baked potato wedges (with skin; use spray oil) Whole fruit (with skin) Stew/casserole – with chunks of crunchy vegetables & potatoes with the skin on curries e.g. tandoori, served with crunchy vegetables/salad Crunchy steamed vegetables Wholemeal pasta cooked so it retains some ‘bite’ (al dente) Caution foods There are some caution foods, which are more likely to cause discomfort and/or regurgitation when eaten, particularly if introduced into your diet too early. Always take care when introducing foods back into your diet and take note of any discomfort. It is important to experiment with these foods to identify how your body will react. If a food causes problems, remove it from you diet and then re-trial it again after a few weeks. The caution foods listed below should be the last attempted when progressing onto solid foods – try other foods first. They should also be avoided for two weeks after each band fill, to give you time to attempt other foods first. The main caution foods are: 1. Bread & bread products Try none of these foods until week 5 post-op and follow the below staged approach when introducing these foods: • Try 1st: low fat crackers (e.g. Ryvita, Crackerbread, Finncrisp, Krisprolls) • Try 2nd: well toasted wholemeal pitta bread • Try 3rd: wholemeal wrap • Try 4th: Weight Watchers/Nimble bread, toasted to begin with • Try last: normal wholemeal/granary bread, toasted to begin with • Try to avoid: soft doughy white bread 2. Boiled or steamed rice Do not try until week 5 post-op and ensure you have tried other types of carbohydrate first e.g. potatoes with the skin on, pasta cooked so it retains some ‘bite’ (al dente), couscous, noodles. • Brown rice is better. • Ensure you wash it thoroughly before and after cooking to prevent it becoming “sticky”. 3. meat, particularly chicken breast, steak and pork chops You may have already tried lean (ideally less than 5% fat) minced beef/pork/lamb/chicken/turkey in the soft food stage post-operatively. If not, try this first before attempting anything more solid. Once you have started eating textured foods from week 5 onwards, start building in other meat products by following the below staged approach: • Try 1st: Lean (ideally less than 5% fat) minced beef/pork/lamb/chicken/turkey (N.B. as mince has a tendency to be soft and ‘easy to eat’ when cooked, aim to include chunky vegetables, beans and/or lentils when making meals from these foods) • Try 2nd: Stewing steak/casseroled/slow cooked meats • Try 3rd: “Wafer thin” sliced sandwich meats (ideally less than 5% fat) • Try 4th: Chicken or turkey leg meat (no skin) • Try 5th: Lean sausages (ideally less than 5% fat) • Try 6th: Lean bacon or turkey bacon (fat cut off) • Try 7th: Grilled/dry fried/barbequed chicken or turkey breast (no skin) • Try last: Grilled/dry fried/barbequed beef/pork/lamb Other caution foods • Stringy vegetables/fruit such as green beans, sweetcorn and pineapple. • Fruit with tough skin e.g. apples/pears or pith i.e. oranges/satsumas/tangerines. • Nuts. • Dried fruit. Discomfort/pain on eating and regurgitation These are common complications that can occur specifically in the first few months after gastric band surgery, but are not limited to this time period. They are usually triggered due to one or more of the following: 1. Taking too large a mouthful. 2. Not chewing enough. 3. Not leaving a gap between mouthfuls. 4. Leaving too long between meals – this can cause you to become very hungry, thereby increasing the chances of points 1 to 3 above. Furthermore, the oesophagus can become ‘lazy’ and sit heavily on the band if you leave too long between meals, meaning it can be difficult to eat. Alleviate this by ensuring you eat every 4-5 hours, and drink plenty of fluids between meals to keep the oesophagus active. Remember the 20, 20, 20 Rule: 1. Take a small volume of food onto your fork or teaspoon (no bigger than the size of your thumbnail/a 5p piece) 2. Chew the mouthful thoroughly (20 times) before swallowing. 3. Put your cutlery down and count to 20 before putting the next mouthful in. 4. Eat in this way for a period of 20 minutes. At this point, stop and walk away. Give yourself 5- 10 minutes and then consider whether you are still hungry; if not – stop eating. Discard any food that is left or save for another meal. Only go back to the meal if you genuinely still feel physically hungry - try 3-4 more mouthfuls eaten in the same way and then consider your hunger level again. If you are sure you are following the 20, 20, 20 rule, then discomfort on eating and regurgitation may be as a result of attempting caution foods (see above) too early. If a food causes problems, remove it from you diet and then re-trial it again after a few weeks. There are a number of other factors that can be associated with these symptoms that you need to be aware of: 1. Time of day – during the night, the oesophagus can become ‘lazy’ and sit heavily on the band, meaning it can be difficult to eat first thing in the morning. Alleviate this by having a few Hot Drinks throughout the morning and delay your Breakfast for a couple of hours – don’t eat immediately after waking. 2. Climate – some people find that the band feels tighter in hot weather. The best way to cope with this is ensure you are drinking plenty. 3. Menstrual cycle – some women have reported that the band feels tighter when they are menstruating. This can mean that only a soft diet is tolerated at this time of the month. 4. Stress/anxiety – some people find that the band feels tighter when they are particularly stressed or anxious. Relaxation techniques are useful in this respect, or the use of herbal teas such as camomile. 5. Illness – some people find that the band feels tighter when they have a cough/cold. This can mean that only a soft diet is tolerated, but if it lasts longer than a few days, it would be sensible to have the band loosened slightly to prevent complications. 6. Excessive vomiting – vomiting as a result of food poisoning/stomach bug or pregnancy can cause the band to tighten up. If vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, you should contact your local clinic without delay to arrange a band deflation (aspiration). 7. Flying – some people find that the band tightens up on flights, particularly long haul (>4 hours); there is a theory that this occurs as a result of the change in air pressure at high altitude causing any air trapped in the band to expand. There are a number of things to consider: 1) Band fills should take place at least 2 weeks before flying, as this will ensure you have enough time to check the band is not too tight and to give you time to arrange an aspiration if necessary. 2) You should eat at least 4 hours before flying. Don’t eat directly before boarding. 3) While flying, it is advisable to take fluids only; ensure you keep hydrated and consider purchasing nourishing milkshakes (e.g. Buildup, Slimfast) or soups at the airport if you are going on a long flight. 4) Any changes occurring with the band while flying usually go back to normal when back on the ground but take care when staying in high altitude areas. 5) If you do experience any discomfort whilst flying, consume liquids only for 1 day after the flight, soft foods for another day, and move back to normal challenging/textured foods on day 3. 6) Consider a small aspiration (deflation) of the band prior to a long haul flight if you are experiencing discomfort on eating and/or regurgitation more than once a week, as this may indicate that you are more likely to experience discomfort whilst flying. Finally, if you are experiencing these symptoms despite every effort to follow the 20, 20, 20 rule and you are sure it is not due to a specific food or any of the above situations, then your gastric band is probably too tight. You should contact your local clinic without delay to arrange a band deflation (aspiration). Balanced meals To make sure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs and to help you maximise the benefits of the band, try and make sure you have the following 3 food groups at every meal. 1. Carbohydrate-containing foods (¼ of your plate) • Breakfast Cereal Bran flakes Minibix No added sugar muesli Fruit and Fibre Special K All bran • Bread and bread products – N.B. caution food (see above) Low fat crackers (e.g. Ryvita, crackerbread, Finncrisp, Krisprolls, oatcakes)

You just need to find the right strain that works for you! Not all of them will make you hungry, and if it does just make good choices and eat healthy. There are tons of doctors prescribing meds every day. A lot of the side effects are increased hunger and weight gain. This thread (well, the ignorant comments) made me laugh! So thankful for my cannabis script;)

i agree with the last reply whats done is done.... but the weight gain i dont. anytime you have surgery you are going to swell and you are going to gain weight even if you didnt eat a lb because your body went through a surgery the weight will come off in about two weeks maybe less depending on the swelling. its normal to gain weight. i gained like 13 lbs after having a tt and a breast lift within two weeks or so i dropped back down to what i was pre op. so don't stress so much it will only make it worse. in the mean time heal and get some rest..

MintyMew, I'm one of those that have had some problems in the weight department, meaning I gained back what I lost prior to surgery, 25 lbs. It's been a very frustrating road for me trying to get things working right. I chose this surgery over RNY because I was afraid and have had issues eating around the band ever since because I had been too tight or not tight enough. I can't say I definitely would have been more successful with the RNY because I don't know for sure but my GP wanted me to have it and I kind of convinced all my docs that I could do the lap band even though I didn't know what I was in for. I thought the only difference was that I would lose weight at a slower pace and I was fine with that but what I didn't realize is that the foods that were considered "junk foods" went right through the band and the healthy ones were the ones you had to work on to chew and could only eat so much of like proteins and veg and fruit. So if I was frustrated from only being able to eat a tbs of protein I knew I could eat a cookie I would. It's not like the band kept me from changing any bad behaviors I had before I was banded. They tell you to avoid those foods but really only tell you that the high caloric drinks are the ones that will make you gain weight. My 19 year old daughter is having the RNY this coming Tuesday and I'm really proud of her because she's done so well so far and has lost about 35+ in the past 6 weeks on her liquid diet. I am nervous because because she is my baby and because I wish she didn't have to go through all of this in the first place but for her own happiness and sanity it's a choice she has made and I'm supporting her decision. At my age and with yo yo dieting for years and a bad sweet tooth anyway it probably wasn't the right choice for me. I may never get down to a healthy weight again, it's just something I may have to accept because of my struggles. There maybe some other contributing factors to this failure of mine but for now it's neither here nor there and I have to deal with what I've chosen and how I behave. Anyway take everything into consideration before you make such a life changing decision. I'm not very popular because I have somewhat regretted my banding and this is a place where people want to support each others success with the band and that's understandable. No one wants to hear something bad about something they really are passionate about and has changed their lives for the better! There could be problems with weight gains with any of the surgeries so don't think only one type has those issues, read as much as you can. There's a good book out there that I bought for my daughter called "Weight Loss For Dummies" and she read it and enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. It doesn't cover much on the lap band though so take that into consideration. Anyway good luck with your decision I know it's not an easy one but if someone could stopped me and told me I'd totally screw this up prior to surgery I may have thought twice. Take care brandyII:smile:

I'm about 6 weeks post now, losing nothing. Had 1 fill so far and going for another next week (although I'm really not sure I need one, I don't have any type of hunger that I can't deal with). I'm watching Protein (at least 60g) and carbs (around 50g) each day, not snacking and definitely finding it hard to get more than 600-700 calder unless I'm eating junk between meals. I know this could be a problem but.. I also take lithium for bipolar disorder (which I'm having a hard time with right now but that's a different story). Lithium's main side effect is weight gain. I don't have the option of not taking it (trust me). I was wondering if anyone else took it and if they find it affects their weight loss much? I'm scared that it's playing a huge role in mine but like I said there's not much I can do. Does anyone still lose while being on lithium? Do you lose like normal or slower?

Well today ( 11/11/09 ) I made it to the doctors office... I weighted in @ 345 so I had to reset my ticker.. It came out 5 lbs over so I will call my start date today. My blood pressure was good, no issues there. I took a look at my chart and my last visit was on 8/5/08 my weight then 287.7 lbs.. Man that hit me.. I could not believe I let myself go that way! I saw a New PA and she was cool. I told her my issue and she said thats ok, time to start over a new beginning. I thought that was nice of what she said with a 57 lbs weight gain.. After a brief discussion she began to feel for my port but could not find it. She went to get the other PA ( who I have seen before ) and after he saw my chart you would think he would say glad to see you here, instead he says" what happen " I said long story.. That was a turn off... anyway I think she will be my contact person there from now on....They found the port and recovered only 6 cc of fluid. My last visit he got it up to 9.cc, so it was a little concerning about the 3. 5 cc disappearance. He said hopefully it just demish, but was concern that just maybe I would have a leak. I now have 7cc in my lapband.. I have another appt on 12/2/09 and they will check to see how many CC I have then. I will also attend an aftercare/support class... On is Bariatric essentials ( basically a refresher on what to eat/ how much/etc) and the other is Emotional Eating.. This will be all done on the same day since the doctors office is 1.5 hrs from where I live.. Hope to lose 6 lbs bt next visit! __________________

A little primer on alcohol (I am in the industry) One of the things you might like to know is the quickest buzz is consumed with straight spirits, sipped slowly. Much of the alcohol will actually be absorbed right in your mouth, and it is a quick path to the brain. Unfortunately a lot of people drink too fast, and or mix spirits with various sodas, juices, etc so there is no immediate transfer of a good feeling. So then they drink more and more and eventually it is all absorbed into your blood stream through the stomach and intestine walls, where you end up having consumed twice as much, to get the feeling sipping straight or slightly altered spirits would have given an hour earlier. Extra money, extra calories from both the alcohol and the mixers. Think martinis , or bourbon or rum on the rocks. About the worst thing you can do, is drink shots. You might as well tip your head back and have someone pour 4 tablespoons of raw sugar in your throat 🍰🍪 For every shot. Actually worse than that (From a WLS stand) are liqueurs or cordials. By law they must contain a minimum of 2.5% raw sugar syrup back into the previously distilled spirits. Some add up to 15%.. Same with those creme based spirits, and that isn't just sugar they also add whole creme fat that keeps the alcohol in solution and prevent curdling. I have also read on many blogs people claiming they used to drink before WLS, but now get drunk easier. We'll of course you do. Because in most cases WLS patients end up with much less body mass to absorb and assimilate the same amount of alcohol. A breath anaylizer is a very good tool to have in your pocket or purse, to obtain optimal enjoyment, plus remain legal to drive (but it is always best to take an uber, or DD home. 0.04 is the ideal euphoric effect. there is also the fear of transference from food to alcohol and you must remain vigilant to not allow this to occur. the other item that seems to be misunderstood is that some believe sugar and alcohol react differently than each other in weight gain. It's simply not true. Alcohol is sugar/starch to begin with (from a variety of plants, or sugar cane, grapes, etc. Alcohol producers then add yeast to those various items , and said yeast "converts" note I sad "converts, not consumes" those plant sugars into alcohol and Carbon-dioxide these is no difference between raw sugar and alcohol. Except one can make you feel better if used appropriately. I am not writing this to push one guilty pleasure over the other, I am just pointing out that you should perhaps look up the caloric content of the alcohol you drink, with the same intensity as I beleive many do with the sugar/carb load of food. It's just calories, either way, and if you are going to drink in moderation,you shoul calculate those calories into you meal plan.