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I've always been overweight, I have also been on NuvaRing for 10 years, not once has a doc or wls doc said its a cause for my weight. They also say I should continue to use it after surgery! I had the lapband with it and with revision I will continue to use it! I love and swear by it! Almost every method has to list "weight gain" as a side effect because they have hormones which can effect a woman's weight. But check it out, keep an open mind and find a new supportive pcp! There are a lot out there!

Newgrandmother.. You're lookin awesome! I had to do a double take on your pic because I thought it was two different people! Hang in there and stay positive. My situation is a bit differnt because all my weight gain was in the last year since my band removal so I still have all my old jeans and just shop in my closet. If it wasn't for that I swear I'd go insane if I had to physically try to find pants that fit. I HATE shopping for pants! Clothing sizes makes no sense to me

I had to do 6 month diet and was told I had to show weight loss and no weight gain

I was lucky that I'd just been banded the previous holiday season. This season, however, ooh boy. I'm really rather disappointed with how easily I excused my poor choices with "it's the holidaaaays~!" The weight gain on the scale still makes me cringe, though thankfully I'm losing again. I'm certainly glad to be back on track though.

I had my sleeve a year and a half ago and was wondering about approximate weight gain 2 or more years after surgery when the stomach has had time to stretch a little? Just looking for several years post surgery experiences. It seems like most people are pre surgery or only a few months post surgery on here. I weighed 231 and at goal weight of 135 but was wondering how hard it is to maintain as time goes by.

I had hysterectomy in 1997 and that is when I gained all my weight. Since surgery I tried my hormone shot one time and I hit a stall when I did. So I havent took it anymore. So as far as weight loss around the time of monthly all I seen was weight gain after complete hysterectomy

What about the copper IUD? No hormones no weight gain ... stays up there for 5 years. Can be easily taken out if u decide you want babies beforehand .... it's the only BC that hasn't led me to gain weight. I got one when I was 22. No babies.

About the cancer fear, with the sleeve your dr can scope you... not so easy with the RNY. With RNY, a big piece of the stomach is left in the abdomen with no way in to take a look with a scope. There is an increased chance of GERD with the sleeve. Taking antacids all the time make it more difficult for the body to use calcium as well. This being said, what you eat has something to do with it, and the return of GERD to sleeve patients is correlated with weight gain... (perhaps food choices are at least part of the fault in this as well?) I did not have constant acid before surgery, but sometimes did.... used antacids for 6months after surgery, went off of them with no problem. If I eat junk, I may get a little acid... with chocolate mostly! I LOVE the sleeve.

I have an IUD - Mirena. However, I am 37 and have had my kids and am married. Talk to your OBGYN about what your options are. There are a lot of choices. But most do have a side effect of weight gain.

Hi all - Just checking in and I notice that I have had a lot of reading to catch up on! I am still on holiday and haven't weighed myself since before Christmas - I won't be back until the 19th so dreading the weigh in! My diet has been really un disaplined and I have been indulging in homemade shortbread, chocolate and lots of other goodies - seriously I am a bit concerned but as long as I am still in the healthy BMI I am not going to worry. I will be back on track when I get home. My main worry at the moment is that I seem to have some hormonal imbalance and I am a bit concerned I will end up with an Iron deficiency - so back to my GP! I have heard that weight loss can play havoc with your cycle so hoping it is that but could be my age too - sorry for the guys on here that have to listen to this - too much info I guess! Anyway, great to hear that everyone is progressing through their different stages pre-op. I wouldn't worry about weight gains with band removal - the pre op diet will get you back on track and then once you have the sleeve the weight will all be down from there! Puppuyphat - as long as you are within the healthy BMI and your bloods are ok and you are taking your supplements and you are feeling strong then I wouldn't worry. Exercise will make you feel even better! Lila - what can I say other than YIPPEE for you! 50 kg - you must be feeling pretty happy with yourself! Aussiegirl - hope you finding your recovery not too tiresome! I am sending my healing vibes your way! Sounds like the Brisbane crowd had a nice lunch - Dean - loved you comment about the two attractive girls you had lunch with! Sydney crowd - lets do that soon too! Sorry if I have missed anyone and welcome to all new posters on this thread!

Hey all I'm VERY new to this whole process and am still working on getting everything ready to see if the insurance will approve me. I went to my primary care Dr. the other day for one of the supervised weight loss visits and she wasn't very thrilled with the idea. (Even though she would write me scripts for Adipex with out blinking an eye...) Anyhow, we were talking about what medications I am on and she pointed out that my mental health medicines can cause weight gain. I told her that I knew that but I can't risk my mental health just so I can look pretty. She kind of nodded like I said something ridiculous and then asked about my birth control. I'm on Implanon and one of the side effects that most women complain about is the weight gain. I've been on the shot, and the pill before but what I really enjoy about the Implanon is that it is implanted for 3 years. I explained this, and that the last time I was on the pill I would forget it fairly regularly and that defeats the purpose. I would go back to the shot but I lack a car atm so getting to and from the health clinic in town became a nuisance with school and everything else. I ended up accidentally forgetting to make an appointment for the shot too, so I decided long term methods were probably my best bet. She told me that the Implanon and the shot were the worst forms of birth controls to be on because of weight gain, and that I really should take better care of myself, and that I was just making excuses about the pill. She said that because I'm 24 I should have my life together enough to take a pill. ( I do take other pills but they aren't time specific so if I forget to take my morning dose it isn't the end of the world and yes I forget those too from time to time) *beats head against the wall* Anyways, so I didn't say anything. I just nodded and then asked her what form of birth control she would recommend that I switch to in order to lessen the side effects of weight gain. She just looked at me. After a while she said "Well... any of them." *tears out hair* I did my own research and all of the birth control methods that I found have the side effect of weight gain. So with that long story done, any one have any advice? The doctor that I've spoken with about my surgery knows that I'm on Implanon and didn't say anything about it being a problem or a hinderance. I know that hormones affect each woman differently but if there is a birth control that I can switch to that might make this process easier I'm willing to look into it. Also, I don't have any kids right now so I can't get IUD's. The whole reason for the birth control is that I don't want to become pregnant now. I'm a week away from being 25 and still in college. I don't have boyfriend or anything but I would much rather be on it than not especially if, heaven forbid, something were to happen. If you made it this far you deserve a gold star! * Thanks so much!

Welcome!!!! I could not lose weight for many reasons including cancer treatment that made me susceptible to weight gain. I was 63 and had my sleeve gastronomy in Jan. 2012. I am down over 100 pounds since the pre-op diet started. I am 2 pounds from my goal and in very good physical shape. I would not go back and change my decision. My life has been so enriched by getting rid of this excess me. The sleeve is just a tool, the mind makes it work. Educate yourself, know what to expect, and understand that this is a permanent change, not a diet plan. It has risks but so does obesity. You must determine which is more detrimental to you and if the rewards are worth the risk.

Wow, Jean, I read your post from yesterday and then today's and wow! You've had quite the experience. I have "Bandwagon" and count it as one of my best resources for the band. I've loaned it to a few people who are considering the band based on my weight loss success. I've recommended it to others who have the band and have struggled. Thank you for your honesty. You're right, 5 months out may be too soon to say whether you love the sleeve or not. I love my band too and I haven't quite reconciled that I'm going to lose it. Knowing that I have to wait for a period of time before I can do anything else has motivated me to do what I can to prevent unnecessary weight gain. I've already gained 30 pounds over this last year so I can't let this go. I'm worried BUT proactive.

I was just thinking this morning that if some of the posters were so stupid to post the comment they did then they were just too much of an idiot to undertake major surgery. Basics such as how many calories it takes to actually gain/lose a pound of fat and the realization that if you're eating <1000 calories a day your 1 or 2 lb weight gain isn't fat. And, another of my favorite comment made prior to surgery "I know I can lose the weight with WLS because I don't make poor food choices today. It's just quantity." Yeah, right.

I'm a newbie but I will say that I do suffer from Bipolar 1 disorder. The meds are a partial cause of my weight gain. And I too was forced to take that little vacation a few years ago. I am not allowed to answer the phone at work,as I am told that I am rude to clients. I have very strong feelings about the things most important to me and I have only been banded two weeks now and someone is already trying to jeopardize my success out of pure jealousy.....I just have to keep in mind it's just jealousy.

I've been very open and honest in another thread about weight gain. I think it's called Weight Gained Since Surgery. There is also a Back on Track Thread. It's a battle for me for 2 reasons. One is that I can eat such bigger portions than I could when I was first sleeved. I try not to, but of course, it's hard to stop when it tastes good. Another is, I am a grazer, in the evenings. I want to have little Snacks all evening long. I am able to keep it to only 10 lbs gained back, but it's a battle. When I was fat, I didn't have a man in my life. Now I do, and he's one that can eat whatever he wants and does not gain any weight. It takes a lot more willpower and control than it did when I was early out and was so full all the time, I didn't even want to look at food. I'll be 4 years out in April and I have never stopped posting. It's comforting to me to come here and complain to people who understand, that I am still fighting this food battle . It's not because I am hungry. I am one of the people whose hunger has never returned. It's because food tastes so good and I still love to eat.

I've known a few people who had insurance cover their conversion to sleeve or GB after losing their band because the band failed. I think it really depends on the insurance company though, best thing is to call. I've heard the similar line about a former bandster destined to gain all their weight back. I would think that's likely but not because of the WLS. Isn't the statistic for anyone who has lost weight gaining it back pretty high, something like over 50% or higher? I guess my point is make the best decision for you but don't let someone tell you that you have to have another WLS. The decision should be based on your needs. Did you lose your weight and now you just have to maintain? What's different now than before your WLS surgery? Have you learned how to eat intuitively? Exercise regularly now? Write everything down that you eat? If you've developed all of the good habits that people who "lose weight and keep it off" do, maybe you don't need another WLS. I'm in the same boat. I'm having my band removed on 1/23 because of erosion and the surgeon has said that I'll have to wait anywhere from 2-6 months before I can even consider another surgery and I don't even know what my insurance would cover. I'm only 30 pounds over my goal though and he is encouraging my to try it without and see what I can do. He makes a good point that the band was a tool that helped me lose the weight but it didn't lose the weight, I did by eating my Protein, drinking my Water and exercising. I've learned the good habits over the last 5 years, maybe I can just keep doing that. I don't know the answer but I wish you all of the best as you make the best decision for yourself. Take care, Anita

I'm confused as to why your surgeon would lecture you. Some bariatric doctors are just downright mean... Hate that! You may want to try liquids for a couple of days and "restart" so to speak. I would not worry about the weight gain. That's to be expected with your unfills and stuck episode. Log your food, try to stick to low salt, natural foods, and keep up the exercise. Things will go back to normal soon. You're doing great!

How long did it take you to loose weight gain from hospital, and when did soreness go away, I'm 3 days out!

I am still very sore but can walk around and do things, I gained 11 pounds during hospital stay from saline Iv. I've lost 5 of them, does anyone know how soon I will lose all the bloated feelings and water weight gain? And when the soreness will go away?? I also walk every hour or two for 15-25 min. Thanks!!

Hi Outlaw, Well, it looks like you did a great job with research on both of these weight loss surgeries. However, when it comes right down to it, it becomes truly a 'personal' choice. No one can sway you from one or the other. Remembering there are risks with any surgeries. Now, since you have scheduled surgery date for lapband surgery in 3 weeks, my guess is you have readily thought this through and decided lapband is the right choice for you? Maybe you are just getting cold feet? It happens to all of us! Personally for myself, I wanted something less invasive and god forbid if anything went wrong or my body rejected the band, I could have it removed for my safety. I knew this wasn't an option with the other surgeries. I was also really nervous about malabsorption with gastric and the sleeve, let’s face it I am not a spring chicken and I need all the nutrients/vitamins I can store in my body. Also, no matter what surgery you choose, you will have to work out it, weight gain happens on all 3! The band gives you a little more of an edge because you can always work with it to lose/maintain the weight. Have you gone through the plan with your surgeon what you will be eating like from now on moving forward with the band? If you have, then my guess is you are ready to be a bandster! Best wishes,

Can you get too much protein? I read it causes weight gain or weight maintenance, not loss. Gen :-) 12/15/12

I was banded on March 9th (2012) and was doing awesome until October. I went into the red zone, had unfill due to not getting liquids down.. Beginning of Nov. I get another fill and do well until 2 days before Thanksgiving. I got stuck on turkey, spent 5 hours in the ER in extreme pain and ended up vomiting the food up. My Dr is 3 hours away so I thought the ER was quicker to get to since I was having very bad chest pain. Anyways, I went to see my surgeon and he was livid that I even went to the ER not to mention that I vomited. He gave me a very stern lecture and took out another full cc.. I was going on vacation at Christmas so I couldn't get another fill.. So I am far from the green zone but since my unfill, I have gained almost 15 pounds!! I am still watching what I eat (carbs under 80g a day), mainly protein and drinking water. I know when I go back to the Dr on the 21st of Jan, he is going to be upset about the weight gain. What's going on? Any good ideas on getting back on track? I am currently doing jazzercise several times a week so I am active.