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I'm having a heck of a time figuring this out. I've never been on any form of birth control, DH is the only man I've been with that way and we've only gotten pregnant once, this past July and then I miscarried. Well, the social worker at my surgeon's office said I have to wait 18 months before TTC again after I get the band. :faint:I HATE that, but I'll do it just so everything turns out healthy. I can't figure out what to do. pills will NOT work for me - I'm terrible at remembering that stuff and I know I'll get pregnant if remembering everyday is up to me. I've been looking into the Nuvaring, but I'm really nervous to take any kind of birth control because of the weight-gain thing. Does anybody have the Nuva Ring and is still losing weight? I hate this kind of stuff. I haven't even seen a regular gyno since 2004 when I got fed up with all the infertility testing and quit going. I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum - I wasn't sure where to put it.

Hey everyone! I'm 9 months post op VSG and have lost about 105 pounds so far (including pre-op liquid diet). Everything in general has been good so far, except for the past two weeks I've been experiencing a lot of abdominal and side pain after eating, and also some really terrible bloating, gas, nausea, and constipation. Did an ultrasound a few days ago and it turns out I have a contracted gallbladder full of stones. I know that the only way to get rid of gallbladder problems is to do gallbladder removal surgery, but I've been doing a lot of research and I've been finding that A LOT of people have been complaining that they experience uncontrolled weight gain after gallbladder removal. Despite eating healthy, exercising, and limiting the consumption of fats, people seem to rapidly gain huge amounts of weight, especially in the abdomen, and find it impossible to lose it. As a bariatric patient this of course scares the heck out of me! I don't want to do this surgery and ruin what I've worked so hard to achieve with my weight loss, and I still have so much more weight I want to lose until I hit my goal. What should I do? Has anyone else had gallbladder removal after wls? Did it impact your weight loss or give you any unwanted side affects after surgery? I'm so scared of having to do this surgery. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

It would be helpful if you filled in our profile particularly your start and current weight along with your height, it gives context to questions and helps those replying to give a relevant response. Even with weight lost surgery scale weight can fluctuate on a daily basis due to a lot of factors: hormones, exercise, dehydration or rehydration, medication, sodium intake etc etc. Are you eating to your surgeon's and/or dietician's post op guidelines? If you are fairly tall or carrying a significant amount of weight, less than 500 calories may be too low for you and you won't be meeting nutritonal goals...you don't want to lose too much muscle weight you want to be losing body fat. The weight gain and loss may well be your weight loss pattern, keep track on a daily basis if you are going to weigh daily (but if you can't cope with the daily fluctuation of scale weight don't weigh daily) and you will be able to spot the trends. Its all good as long as the long term trend is going down.

Below is what you posted yesterday, when you go off plan and advance your diet to foods that aren't Protein dense and that are high in sodium weight gain should be expected. Evidently you felt bad enough, as you did say you wanted to confess what you did. Or maybe it's like you said it's just your period. Posted March 22, 2013 - 4:37 PM Im 10 days post op and I've been sneaking in soft foods..broccoli and fish oh and a pickle (no skin) I haven't eating a lot but I just had to confess. Im actually 19lbs down! But I haven't lost anything in the last 2days just wondering if I may have caused a stall ..remember I was losing 2 1/2 to 3 lbs a day!

Hi Cindy, I love chocolate too and although I hate sugar added to foods and drinks,chocolate is another matter...I have only been banded 11 days but today had to have chocolate and then felt quite sick! My breakfast was always cereal and toast but now I have a Swedish crispread(it is a large triangular shape)with a scrape of butter and marmalade as I used to have on my toast. I have yoghourt instead of cereal and have felt O.K. with that up to now. I have also been on anti-depressants most of my life and am also on hormones but HRT as I had a hysterectomy and opherectomy 8 years ago. I thought these medications may be responsible for my weight gain but it seems not. I also had repeated blood tests for hormonal imbalance but it didn't show anything major. I think with me it is all more emotional and just a love of chocolate like so many of the rest of the world! There has been loads of good advice like substituting with low calorie/low sugar bars and having a little of what you like rather than depriving yourself etc. I am sure you will continue and do well after all you have lost over 50 lbs! I can't imagine being that far on but am hoping I can. I hope you feel better about things soon and put your mind at rest by having all the blood tests etc.

I woke up this morning and I'm heavier than I was last month at weigh in like .5lb...I'm so mad at myself and on the verge of crying cause I think I just screwed myself!! Did anyone gain during the 6month weightloss period and if so did you end up getting approved or denied?

Ok so all the weight gain and loss is that from everyone's 1st "official" weigh in or month to month? I haven't gained from my 1st "official" weighing just from the month before weight Ok I wweigh 312.8 at the visit with my surgeon (1st weigh in) and now I'm 308 last month I was 309.5 but my scale was showing 310 so that was up from last month's weight not the "overall weight" does that make sense? I worry, that's what I do and o talked to my ins UMR and they said there is "no guidlines" whatever that means so I guess all is ok and we shall see in about 2 months. Thank you all @@CourtneyLouise @@perforce @JessicaEllison-Correa @@provenzee @@cindyw41

Could be, maybe you don't have the best thermoregulation or something? I'd suggest just wearing warmer clothes to bed and drinking most of your fluids hot. It gets pretty cold where I live and this time of year, I drink almost exclusively tea and hot water. You could also have an underactive thyroid, weight gain and being cold are 2 common symptoms. You can Google the others if you are concerned about that.

It is always good to lose some weight prior to surgery but I sometimes think that surgeons are a bit unrealistic when they require you to lose up to 20 pounds before WLS. Most of us are food addicts in the first place which is why we are seeking the surgery to begin with and I think that should be taken into consideration. We would never expect an alcoholic to go without a drink for 3 or 4 weeks before being allowed to go to rehab so why would a surgeon require so much weight to be lost? I understand that the liver needs to be shrunk just prior to surgery but that could easily be accomplished with the loss of 5 to 10 pounds in the last 2 weeks prior to surgery. Requiring so much to be lost causes those of us with food issues to go into panic mode and begin bingeing and results in weight gains not losses. In my opinion if you don't think this is something you will be able to handle in a healthy way I would advise searching out another surgeon who's requirements are a bit more reasonable and that will allow you to lose a minimal amount of weight without causing you so much stress that you end up gaining. Oh, and for the record I was only required to lose a few pounds the last week before surgery which I did and my surgeoun said my liver looked perfect because of it. I did a diet of liquids for breakfast and lunch with string cheese and cottage cheese for snacks and for dinner I had a low carb meal of a meat, veggie, and salad.

I'd research other surgeons, just to get a feel for the different approachs....then make your decision. There is emerging evidence that prolonged super low calorie diets before and after surgery could reset your metabolism to unrealistically low levels that set you up for weight gain later. (not saying this always happens, not saying this is gosple....bariatrics are an emerging science....just sharing that there are a lot of different ideas at play) My group did a very carb restricted diet for two weeks before surgery. We were allowed to drink 5 shakes a day plus one food item from a list.....but this was just to shrink the liver for an easier procedure. My group wanted 10% weight loss, but expected it to take months. We were required to work with a nutritionist, attend fitness classes, healthy cooking classes, support groups. Our whole process took 4-6 months...just to lay the nutrition groundwork and weight loss work before the surgery. After surgery, we were pushed to eat 1200 calories a day as soon as we could tolerate it...in hopes that this would give us a robust metabolic reset. (to be clear, we went through the gradual restoration of diet after surgery for safety....liquid, puree, soft, etc....but our caloric goals were advanced as tolerated) I lost weight slower than most people....but I made goal, and I'm doing really well maintaining. My preferences and nutrition choices are much healthier. I've got good support for the mental side of this process. I feel like I was better prepared by my group for the work of making the permenant changes necessary and dealing with the lifetime challenges. Be a little careful of clinics that push unrealistically brutal calorie restriction. Eating 600 calories a day will make you lose a crap-ton of weight and will make your clinic look like they offer "The Magic Cure"....but you don't need to be their walking bulletin board for a year and then be abandoned by them when you regain. You need a comprehensive program that supports your needs for a lifetime and teaches healthy nutrition and fitness and supports the mental challenges of breaking the addiction.

Haha, well I ate plenty the two weeks we were in Japan - lots of rice and bread - you only live once, right? And I did the same the whole month we were in Europe - no weight gain to mention. So, I think you're okay!! I do just fine on roughly 800-1000 per day when we aren't traveling, AND I work out a lot. I don't deny myself much, so...who knows?!

I will pray for you.Remember God has a plan for you. Maybe these obstacles are really an invite for you to decide if you really want this surgery and a time to reflect if you are willing to do the follow-up. Use this time constructively- read the posts on this website so you really know what you are in for. Go on a pre-op diet. Start slowly-maybe just cutting out all sugar- then cutting out all the useless carbs. I am sure your husband is just afraid. Spend this time educating yourself and him about the risks of this surgery. ALso go to other doctors' seminars and if you can, their support groups. This surgery is a change in lifestyle- you don't just get the surgery and viola, your different. See if you can figure out why you eat, besides hunger. I just got sleeved Tues 12/13, and even though I have been uncomfortable, I am confident I made the right decision for me and I honestly don't care about the negative people's opinions are . My husband has become very supportive and he also understands his part in my weight gain, and how those actions can't continue. (lack of wanting to exercise with me, junk food in the house, etc.) Try not to be overwhelmed and take things one day at a time. Good luck to you.

Having no hunger hormone (ghrelin) and a limited capacity for food have helped me tremendously. I generally want food when I need energy and if my head hunger is pushing me to overeat, I simply can't. However, for long-term success, I am still in charge of what goes into my body. I still make choices not to eat calorie-dense/innutritious foods. So I still have to deal with the head hunger and turning to food as a coping mechanism. I still have to make a choice to exercise. Just as it was before surgery...too many calories in/not enough out=weight gain. The sleeve is a wonderful tool, it truly is. Best of luck to you!

Synthroid typically can make you lose weight, if infact your weight gain is because of hypothyroidism. There is a margain of TSH levels that you should be between. If you fear losing weight you can always ask your Endocrinologist or PCP to make sure your TSH levels are on the high end of normal. That way they don't get on the low end and you go into hyperthyroidism, which can cause increase in weight loss on just about anybody. There are actually some doctors that prescribe thyroid stimulating medications to people with normal TSH (thyroid hormone) to cause them to go into Hyperthyroidism and loose weight. I don't agree with it, but it's not unheard of. Oh, and make sure you're getting your TSH checked every 3-5 months to check your levels and see if your meds need adjusting. Good luck!

Wow! I've never lost weight like this in my entire life. I stepped into my spinal specialists office March 1 and he put me on steroids for my excruiating back and hip pain and told me to stop working out. So paranoid me starts drinking lemon water because I knew it would flush out excess fluids and in my mind counteract the weight gain affects of steroids. I went back to my Dr. yesterday to get a steroid shot in my back. He said my face looked alot more relaxed, but I still had pain. Nothing like it was the week before but still a problem. Not sure I will ever be back to normal but I am feeling alot better. I've been trying not to jump on the scale every day but that hasn't happened because I am steadily losing a pound a day now! It's like it is just melting off my body. My doctor told me it is because of the pain I was in that held on to the weight, now that I am feeling better, my body is letting it go. I believe maybe part of that is true, but not to the extent of losing 7 lbs in 10 days! So as long as I'm on the these steroids and still losing weight, and even when I get off the steroids, I am still drinking lemon water. I've read about it online and it states that it cleanses the body of toxins and flushes them out. I believe it, I am feeling soooooo much better too. And I am only 3.5 lbs away from passing the dreaded 200 lbs mark! That day will be a celebration and you will hear from me on that day for sure!!!!! :tt1:

I can see both points of view here. Firstly, I thought ick, why? Because I agree with Jodie, that's not what the band is for. But then, if you're that tight (which is really too tight) and you'd rather do Medifast for a period of a few weeks and lose a bit and loosen up, rather than have an unfill, why on earth not? Why muck around with your band filling and unfilling. At least you will have some reasonable nourishment and a bit of fast weight loss. Believe me, I've thought of going REALLY tight and doing this just to get that last 10lb off but I suspect that when I finished, unfilled and began to eat again, I'd regain EVEN with a band. Because the trouble with Medifast and Optifast is that it's not healthy weight loss. Those super low carb diets cause a LOT of Water weight loss as your body depletes itself of glycogen and you DO lose muscle as well on them. When you eat again and rehydrate you're quite likely to see rebound weight gain on the scale. Its arguable that you'd lose just as much fat by doing a more moderate diet of solid food, but avoiding the huge water loss factor. Heck, this is even why people fail to lose in the first few weeks after surgery - they come off this diet. The fact that they're on a liquid post op diet is enough to prevent great regain, but for many people they think why arent I losing? Reason being, you've already depleted your body entirely by the pre op diet and once you start putting carbs back in - as you do with the varied liquids you can have post op, bang, weight loss stops or goes in the opposite direction. Fat loss is probably continuing but the fake readings the scale was giving you are evening out. And I think this ooh good I'm tight I'll starve myself and loose tons of weight attitude is best left in our old pre band lives. This is a lifestyle, for keeps now. But really, nothing is going to hurt you for a short period of time. And Im not bashing because I can understand exactly why you would think of it. I did to, what I've just said is more the reasons why I talked myself out of it, not that I dont think you should do it.

Hi, I'm in the middle of my 3-month approval process, and am very ready to have my band! I have a 5-year old son who's AWESOME, and I finally decided that I needed some help if I'm going to get healthy and be here for him!! I've also quit smoking (which I'm blaming for my weight gain at my last weigh-in!!). I'm in Dallas and will be banded by Dr. Louis Fox. Anyone have any experience with him? He was recommended by my regular doctor. And my small rant: I'm having an issue with all this pre-surgery testing. People (even overweight people) have surgery every day all over world without psych evaluations, stress tests, and sleep studies. I'm just starting to think that they're taking advantage of people who really want this surgery and are willing to do all these things. Makes me feel bad for people without insurance or good financial resources. Maybe I'm just feeling pissy because I have to go back for a second sleep study, which has just ruined my week. I hated the first one Anyway, I've gained so much information from this forum -- thanks to everyone! I have my last dietician appointment and weigh-in at the end of this month, and I hope to have my surgery by mid-March! Lori

Anyone out there having problems with fluid retention since being banded? I have always experienced water weight gain around that time of the month (usually results in about 5 pounds of water weight gain) but now it seems to be happening any time except for like the week after my period. This means that I usually have one good week out of the month were I have optimal weight loss and the other weeks I struggle to lose a pound. My feet sometimes hurt at night but they/ankles/legs are not swollen. I am trying to figure out what the problem is. I am in my range for calories and I have increased my exercise to four times a week at Curves, ride bike and do cardio at home at least four times a week also. I do not have high blood pressure and have never been on any meds for it or a diuretic but I was wondering if one would help. :help:

Well i got approved with some extra documentation. i ducked out of here because i had gone on the 2 shake diet, lost 14 lbs and then they told me I was going to have to do weight watchers for 6 months. So I compleatly wigged out because the surgery planner told me to just maintain that weight for six months. They said if; lost too much more, i wouldn't be covered. I have to be over 40 Bmi even with all my medical problems. I have never been a weight I needed to maintain...so no surprise, I now have 10 lbs to Lose again. Once my doc faxed over the proof of weigh once a month at his office, they approved it. Sooooo my pre-op class is Friday at 8 am. They are calling me back to schedule a surgery date. It could be this month, I will have to waiting and see....but I am approved. I am mad at myself for the weight gain...now I am back to shakes starting tonight since I already ate lunch. I am feeling very nervous now. I am worried I won't lose it in time...I am going to have to be close by Friday.....how am I going to lose 10 lbs by Friday? Any suggestions? I know it is my fault for reacting in this way and I know it is my responsibility to lose this weightl but I am seriouse about this...please help it you can.

Lots of people have had really good success with ESG, particularly in USA and other countries where it has been carried out for a while (as its a fairly new procedure). In Australia there seems to be a higher failure rate due to many reasons: some doctor technique is lacking, overeating, etc...some others lost restriction for no apparent reason. I think in time Australia success rate will improve as the doctors gain more experience in the technique and ongoing the technique is being improved. I am member of a few ESG fb groups where the posting is a little bit more frequent than this subforum. Message me if you would like the links. There is one good site with a lot of people from USA...it a fairly positive site. I had my ESG in Australia over a year ago. No real pain other than stomach cramps for the first few days and I did recover well. At first restriction felt good, and I had good weight loss (lost about half of what I wanted), over time the restriction lessened and I have none now. I have gained some weight back though I haven't reached my pre-procedure weight. An endoscopy showed I have about one suture intact. There is no one reason why my ESG failed and it is possible I contributed with a couple of bouts of overeating. I will be converting to a sleeve fairly soon. The surgeon has done a few conversions and he feels I should be able to convert to a sleeve, if not, he will do a mini bypass. The anchors can prevent conversion to a sleeve. I have been working hard (which help) on what causes me to overeat, it is an ongoing battle but I have made some great progress and feel quite confident going forward. I do regret my decision but only for the fact I wish I had waited until the Australian doctors had more experience with the procedure and ongoing the procedure is being refined to ensure better outcomes. My tips to get the best of your procedure would be to follow all post op guidelines particularly around volumes of food, exercise once you are able to, don't be tempted to test your restriction just because you can eat more than the guideline volumes...once you get past soft food stage, try and get as much protein from food as opposed to shakes (satisfaction and restriction will kick in quicker than with fluids), avoid slider foods and if your doctor/clinic as a post op management program make sure you commit to it and make all your appointments. Don't abandon the program with embarrassment if you have stalls or weight gains along the way...this will the time when you most need to reach out to the experts. One important thing is to work on what causes you to overeat, this won't change with the ESG, those battles will still be there, if you work on them now you will have better outcomes for your ESG. My outcome is but one of many of successes and failures, on the main ESG group on fb there have been some great successes particularly in USA.

Hi everyone, Is anyone out there struggling to maintain their weight loss? i was 86.5 kilos when I had my surgery in Feb 2008. I had reached 92 kilos prior to that. In 6 months I got down to 63 kilos and loved it. It was so easy as I never get hungry. However, I now am fighting "head hunger"more than ever before and am up to 78 Kilos which is very scary for me. I have had top ups as I need them and think I am about right. I am very restricted in ths first part of the day and once I start eating I find by night time I can eat quite a lot. I am starting to eat wrong foods and getting anxious. I suppose there are no magic answers other han making wise choices etc. Anyone else struggling like this?? gaylene

Tina, Congratulations to you! It's a tough decision, and it takes courage to decide to change. Change is the most frightening thing we go through in life. Many people stay fat and unhealthy because of this fear. I was afraid that the Band, or any WLS surgery for that matter, would change everything about my life. And so far it has. But the changes have been good. I no longer fear change, I welcome it. People in our lives have no idea how to be supportive, I'm convinced of that. I'm also convinced that many of the people who seem so unsupportive think they are being just the opposite. But remember, change is a frightening for them as it is for you. They too are afraid. After all, any change in you could result in a change in your relationships. They are afraid, and their fear has no reason behind it. They forget that you will still be YOU whether you band or not. They forget that your quality will shine through. You are afraid, and it's normal. Change is scary. Everyone you talk to knows someone who's best friend's aunt, had an acquaintance whose youngest daughter had the surgery and she only lost the weight on one side then her left leg blew up like a zeppelin and they went in and found the band broken into seventeen pieces and lodged near a perfectly preserved donut in her uterus. (preceding ludicrous story for illustration purposes only). So, if that kind of thing bothers you, by all means, keep it all on the down low. It's your life, and your business. But fear not. The beauty of the band is it's safety. Low complication rate. Non invasiveness, and ease of reversibility. Of all the courses out there it is the logical choice. I had to decide. I picked this, and now I'm one month out, it was easy, fast, and nearly painless. Well, a lot less painful than my overactive imagination had drawn it for me. Diet and exercise do not work. Lose the weight, gain it back, plus a little bonus. Will power is good for the next meal, and maybe for months, but sooner or later the will power fades, and we fall into our old ways. If the will power worked there would be no fat people, no alchoholics, no addicts of any kind. The way I saw it the only way to go was to choose between a short life and a longer one. Keeping my messed up relationship with food was the short life, the band was the longer one. Follow your own star. Make your own decision based on who you are. One thing about these people here, they know how to be supportive, visit often, read the old threads. Contemplate. But move yourself to action. As Red says in "Shawshank Redemption" it's time to get busy living, or get busy dying. I suggest living with the band, you'll smile more than you do now, you'll laugh daily. Good luck, and glad to see you here.

Hello I recently gained a few pounds. I am shocked! I am under 600 calories a day and I exercise pretty much EVERYDAY. I did the surgery last month. Did anyone experience this ? Thanks Dani B

Welcome! I'm only 3 months out and am still losing, so I can't sympathize with recent weight gain. But I am definitely upset that my apartment building closed the gym! So glad it's finally summer here in Canada so at least I can go for pleasant walks.

For a while I thought about how much more energy I have. I recently realized that I am returning to how I was meant to be. I used to have this much energy before my major weight gain, and I am returning to that level. As I got bigger, my energy decreased. Emotionally, I am returning to my previous levels of happiness, too. It is as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders (wait, that's exactly what happened!!!). Many people from different walks of life, friends and just acquaintances have all said that I glow. I just hope that it is not from the barium in my pre-op tests! @@Icantbelieveit said they just looked forward to things again, I have to agree, big time.