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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.

1) I didn't eat sweets while I was in weight-loss mode, but I occasionally do now that I'm in maintenance. They don't bother me - but they cause about 30% of RNY'ers to "dump" (or at least if these folks eat enough of them, that is). It has to do with all the sugar hitting your small intestine at once - your system goes into overdrive to deal with it. If you're one who "dumps", the trick is to avoid or limit sweets (which we should be avoiding or limiting ANYWAY). But again, that first year or so, I didn't have any (except maybe a couple tablespoons of ice cream on my birthday). But yes - I do occasionally eat them now. 2) snacks depend on your surgeon's program. I was allowed snacks as long as they fit into my overall plan. I still eat snacks now that I'm in maintenance. I mostly just count calories now to keep my weight stable, so I just add the snack calories into my total for the day. If the calories work out, then the snacks are fine. What they DON'T want you doing (even those surgeons who allow snacks) are to "graze" - i.e., snack off & on all day. That can lead to weight gain. But some surgeons do allow a planned snack or two a day. 3) you'll be able to drink a ton of water after the first few weeks. I probably drink a gallon of it some days. You're just not supposed to drink while eating or from 30 minutes afterward (my surgeon says 60 minutes, but most say 30 minutes). It's hard to get all those fluids in the first few weeks after surgery, but after that no - it's really not.

I had a consultation in June 2011, was told I was a little under the guidline weight and only had one documented illness (high blood pressure), so my chances of Aetna covering the surgery was only 50%. I did not feel like wasting my time so I explored other options. I went to a medical weight loss center and was put on phentermine for 3 months. It worked by my body became immune to it and I had to stop taking it. Around that time I was also diagnosed with nodules on my thyroid that were making me gain weight. The Dr. opted out of surgery stating that surgery could make my situation worsed to permanent hypothyroidism Right now its back and forth, depending on stress. However, the weight continues to creep up on my because of it. I went from 190 to 220 since the phentermine. I am only 5"2. Should I be re-evaluated? Does hypothyroid count as one of the eligible medical condidtions? I am on blood pressure meds but it also went up some (140/90) since the weight gain thyroid stuff. I do not want to be disappointed again. Thanks!

Eating out a lot for me always causes weight gain or no loss even though I am careful with my selections. Restaurants add a lot of salt, butter, oils and who knows what else to make the food taste really good and there is a tendency to eat just a little more of it then I would if eating at home. You might try checking out menus online to you know in advance what you are going to order along with the calories and nutritional value. At least you will know how much you are really consuming. If you are having problems with portion control you can try eating no more than the size of your fist and see if you are satisfied for 3 to 4 hours. If you find you are hungry still or snacking in between you might need a little tweak of a fill. Good luck!

Yes it sure is and the first time you sit on an unpadded chair-- you will see what I mean, You will swear your pelvic bones are going to extrude out your skin, because it feels like you have lost the last bit of gluteal fat. I am amazed daily what bone I will feel just below my skin surface, Tomkitten says I like to stroke my clavicle, maybe so, it had been many years,. they went "undervover with either the1st or secobd Great Weight Gain. And I stroke. it just to say "Great to see and feel you once again!"

Your welcome. I know I had a lot of questions at the get-go too. I went to two seminars with different surgeons, and there was a clear choice in my mind, and I went with that doctor. My seminar was in June, and my consultation was scheduled for a few weeks later..so late June early July. I could have surgery in late August, but I had a scheduling conflict, so I moved it to the first week of Sep. I am absolutely thrilled with my results. I'm on a plateau now, but I *never* thought I'd be this close to goal weight after struggling with weight gain and then obesity for the last 15+ years. I've gone the Weight Watchers route more than once, I've gone to a weight loss doctor for phentermine twice, and, of course, I've tried to lose weight on my own several times. All these attempts were met with failure. With the band, I eat normal foods; just much smaller portions, and I don't drink with my meals. I go to the gym for rigorous workouts 3 - 4 times/week. I went into this, not merely to lose weight, but to improve my health. That's one of the reasons exercise is such an important component to me. I didn't add it just to help with weight/inches loss. I want a healthy heart and increase in stamina. I'm planning to hit 50 yrs old with a body that matches my mind and attitude, and I'm getting there.

I think a lot of people kind of go on a "binge" before they are banded. If you are worried though about the weight gain, I would follow the high protein/low carb diet. It will reduce your appetite and of course, you can eat extra protein if you are hungry. Sometimes it is difficult to get th insurance to approve it. They consider it an "elective" surgery but your doctor can write it up as medically necessary.

The weight gain is from IV fluids they gave you in the hospital. It'll go down over the first week or two. The "waves" are stomach spasms. Very common.

I'm Tammy (or Flutterby - the original name for a butterfly... ) I'm 45 yrs old, 5'8" tall. I weigh 295 lbs. My BMI is at 44.8. My first goal is 170 lbs. Ultimate goal is 137 lbs. I've struggled with my weight since my second child was born about 23 years ago. I tend to gain weight all over. Well, except my bust area (strange). However, in the last several years I have gained more in my belly. I look like I'm about eight months pregnant... Uggghh! Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved being pregnant and I adore being a mother, but I’m not having any more children and I’m ready to be able to lose all MY baby fat. The baby fat may have stayed with me, but I added a whole person’s weight to it. I need to lose half of my weight – a whole person’s worth. Only those who have been here understand how much that realization can hurt and disgust me. I have tried to lose weight by diet, exercise, supplements and programs just like so many others here. From Slim Fast, Cabbage Soup Diet, Herbal Life, fasting up to two weeks at a time,, Atkins, Low Calorie, Juicing Diets, Wheat Belly Diet, Gluten Free Diet, Gaps Diet, Hallelujah Diet, Mediterranean diet, Paleo Diet, HydroxiCut, Green Tea, many herbal supplements, OTC aids, a short span on prescription diet meds and thyroid medication and using vinegar as a diet aid. As I think about it, losing weight been a driving desire/force in my life since I turned 23. The endless weight loss/exercise and health-related books and internet ideas and “snake oil” type cures, well I’ve researched and attempted many of those as well. I've tried exercise alone, or in combination with diet plans. I've used 10 to 12 different exercise videos both aerobic and weight lifting combined with aerobics, walking, swimming, biking, stationary machines, free weights, machines like elliptical, treadmill, stationary bikes, etc. My results were sporadic and frustrating. I could stay with a weight loss or "get healthy" plan for months, sometimes even three years at a time but when I failed to lose weight at all or stalled with 10 or 15 pounds loss with hard work and high cost to sustain, I would slowly go back to eating my "normal diet". “Going back to my old ways” basically meant 70% healthy choices and still incorporating something new I learned, but I would stop resisting the dessert, the chips and dip, the popcorn with butter. I think the "extras" and "snacks" are one of my biggest weaknesses. I’ve also noticed in the last few months that I really do eat big portions especially when alone. I keep cooking for a big family and it’s only me and my teenage daughter at home to eat right now. No matter what, my weight has continued to climb the last 23 years. I get so sick of my failure to be able to control it or change it. Several times I have resigned myself to being fat. But as I got bigger and older, other things started happening to my health and I realized how much it affected my family and my ability to actually live life like I longed to. I kept thinking there had to be a "key" or a certain combination of things that would magically get my health back under control and I'd start losing weight. I had a sleep study done and found out I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. I was full of hope that using a CPAP would solve my problems because obviously I wasn't sleeping well with meant I wasn't getting proper rest. This in turn, I thought, surely meant it affected my metabolism and maybe perpetuated the problems with my weight. I considered that since I started gaining excess weight when my first marriage got emotionally and mentally and sexually abusive I might have been trying to be less desirable to protect myself from my husband at the time. I just wanted to be safe. I could write out that long story here, but suffice to say I got out of the marriage finally, after 16 years. What is frustrating is that even the strength and self esteem and “new lease on life” I gained by getting out of that marriage didn’t translate into the weight loss I should have or wanted to have and continued to try to have. So, was my weight gain or inability to lose it initially due to the stress of the bad marriage that involved sexual abuses? Maybe, maybe not. More likely it was also genetics and environmental (how I was raised nutritionally). Both my parents are obese and have struggled most of their adult lives trying to lose weight and now dealing with health problems related to being overweight. However I got here, I’m here. And I am so thankful and grateful that things have worked out for me to have this surgery. It’s such an answer to prayer and a dream come true. Honestly, I want this personally, but doing it for my family is a super-close second! One thing I am appreciative of is that I’ve probably learned enough about nutrition, vitamins, food, feeding a body, metabolism, weight gain concepts, healthy living and very interesting discoveries about foods like kefir, kombucha, barley green, apple cider vinegar, good water, food supplements, and the benefits of grass fed beef, range fed chickens & their eggs, and home grown vegetables to write my own book. However, since I’m having weight loss surgery – I doubt it would be deemed worthy of contributing to my health. It’s sad, but true. True because all these things didn’t “work” to help me lose weight. However, I do believe with all my heart that all I have learned will continue to be super valuable to feed my body right after I’m sleeved! My mantra has been, “If I don’t put myself first for once and lose the weight and get healthy, how can I be what my family needs me to be?” How can I truly give and serve and support and enjoy in my marriage and our children’s lives unless I first take care of me? Initially weight loss surgery can seem selfish and irresponsible. Only initially! In all truth, it is smart and right for me because it is what lines up with my vision of my future.

Nobody has been tracking the results of the sleeve as a WLS that long yet. Give it a bit more time. I'm not certain but when I was researching I think someone posted a five year study - you might do some searching and see if you can find anything on VST about it. Regain is possible with any surgery. The big benefit the sleeve has over bypass (what most people are probably thinking of when they talk about regain) is that there isn't a honeymoon phase or window where loss is easiest. Once you're sleeved and healed, your capacity only increases a small amount. Unlike a short window where malabsoption is guaranteed, or a pouch that is likely to stretch (or a band that requires fills and unfills, for that matter), your sleeve is going to restrict you immediately after surgery and for the rest of your life. I am two years out and maintaining beautifully. I'm currently pregnant and while I have hormone bloat and the start of a rounded tummy, I'm not having a problem with weight gain (nothing more than I'd expect at this point) despite the fact that my capacity is increased now that I'm pregnant. All surgeries come with the risk of regain. Using the sleeve like a diet that will someday end is the biggest cause of regain I've seen - people just stop being diligent at goal and fall into denial about bad habits, ones they didn't fix while losing in the first place. That said, I have seen very few regain posts in the three years I've been here. I've seen plenty of "I got out of control over the holidays and gained a few but took it off quickly" posts, though. If you weigh daily in maintenance and actually learn how to eat like a healthy, normal person during the first few months post surgery, there is no reason you can't reach goal and maintain for life. ~Cheri

HAD LAP BAND SURGERY 5 YEARS AGO. EVERTHING WENT GREAT UNTILL ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. FOUND THAT I COULD EAT ALL I WANTED AND GAINED ALL MY WEIGHT BACK. THE DOCTOR FELT IT WAS MY PORT AND REPLACED IT IN JUNE OF 2010. STILL HAD WEIGHT GAIN. THE DOCTOR DID A DYE TEST AND FOUND IT WAS MY BAND LEAKING. I'M DUE FOR BAND REPLAACEMENT ON 1/11/2011. HAS ANYONE HAD THERE BAND REPLACED?

Usually most insurance companies will accept wt loss histories from Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc. I know my plan accepts them. Just call and ask them. They'll tell you. Or sometimes you can access the actual policy online. I can w/Carefirst BC/BS. But again, if you call and ask them, they will tell you what the policy says. And I'm w/you regarding the weight gain from pregnancy. I can't wait to get my band back!! I wish you the best.

Friends - I am shocked. After a 3 day weekend away with no scale, I climbed on this morning. I have GAINED 3 terrible pounds. Unacceptable. What could have happened? All the healthy grilled fish! All the steamed vegetables and green salads! All the walking! All the vigorous anniversary sex! (I warned you) I suspect sodium. Seriously, in a fit of irritation, I went to the websites of the restaurants we visited over the weekend, intent on looking at the nutritional information. I was sure I would find hidden carbohydrates in their salmon fillets, or fat in their steamed broccoli. To my horror, none of the restaurants even HAD nutritional information posted (shame on them!). However, I did learn that you have to ask if you want them to NOT put butter and seasoned salt on the steamed veggies. I also learned that fish is often grilled in butter unless you request otherwise. Sneaky stuff. I have told myself that the weight gain is a result of Water weight from the increased sodium content of restaurant food. Not sure if this is true, but it makes me feel better. I shall not change my ticker. I shall not get depressed and eat a pint of ice cream I shall not try to do a whole Tae Bo DVD in order to burn off those lbs. I shall drink a lot of water today and hope for better thing during tomorrow's weigh-in.

I don't think you are snarky. I do not eat bread, pasta, crackers, cookies, cake etc....almost anything that contains flour. I don't tolerate gluten well. I basically eat meat and veggies and occasionally fruit. I do eat candy occasionally. I do not eat alot of slider foods, I guess potato chips would be my one downfall. Those won't be in the house after I have surgery! I wish I knew why I have gained to this weight...wouldn't we all! hahaha When I was a child I was chubby and by the time I graduated HS I weighed 205. I lost alot of weight with a Weight Watcher's type plan at age 19 and stayed in the 103-135 range for years. I had gained up to 230 and now weigh about 215 after cutting out the gluten foods. I have sleep apnea, and take 3 blood pressure meds. After my youngest son was born I gradually started to gain. When I started driving a school bus it increased. I'm sitting ALOT and I think that's part of the problem. I watch almost every new driver start puttin on the pounds after driving a while. It's a stressful tiring job, so in the evenings I'm too tired to exercise...thus the weight gain...which causes me to be more tired....etc, etc, etc. Three drivers had the DS surgery and about 5 have had RNY. I'm 58 years old and that is part of it too, I'm sure. My surgeon told me that he thinks the sleeve will work great for me and had (unknown to me) set my goal at 140....after my last appointment he changed it to 130. When I told him I was worried about not being a volume eater, he kind of snickered and smiled and looked at my husband and said, "she IS a worrier"! He said he was sure I would do fine as the volume I could consume after surgery would be very small. He did say that the surgery can be ruined by stretching the sleeve and with no malabsorbtion to fall back on, those who stretch the sleeve will probably not be successful.

Just a quick note for those who HAVE NOT had your surgery yet.....ask how much it will cost to remove it should the need arise. I know it is not something you like to talk about and figure "that will not happen to me" but I am now in the position just over a year after paying nearly $18,000 to have it put in! I have been having issues that never came up as a possible problem that will possibly require removal. Espophagitis/gastritis for the past 6 months. I had a good 6 months of the band then had to have my gallbladder removed. It has been problematic every since! I am not convinced it is my band and will see the doc tomorrow about it (his office called me to come in and discuss removal ~ that is not a fun call to get!) Here I sit feeling like I made a bad investment. I worry about weight gain (glad I did not get rid of all my clothes!) I will not opt for any other surgery. WE will see what he has to say tomorrow.

I was banded in August 09 and have so far lost about 48 pounds.... which I'm very pleased with But I haven't really lost any weight since the beginning of the year and I'm really getting worried because its April now. I eat loads less than I did pre-band. I try to make the best decisions when I eat and keeping track of what I eat 90% of the time. I know The scale isn't the best source for motivation, but I really should see it trending down over time, right? This week alone has showed a 10 pound weight gain. How is that even possible? I KNOW I didn't eat enough for that! -- And I know my scale isn't broken because my Wii fit says I weigh the same number (I checked :thumbup:) I'm going to try and cut out some higher sodium foods this next week and see if that was the culprit, but I'm at a loss as of what I should be doing different. :sad: Anyone else seem to hit a plateau that they can't seem to get past this early on in the game? And what did you do to get past it? FYI - I'm eating mostly solid foods so I'm not to tight and trying to 'work around' the band when I eat. I have little syptoms as far as getting stuck or throwing up. My 'test' meals are at about 3-4 ounces of solid food at a time.

Pre banding, I lost 24#s and after surgery in Nov. 2011, I lost 28#s but I have regained 15#s much to my dismay. I hit a plateau after July of last year (2012) and I have felt weight gain since the holidays. I must admit that I have not always followed the basics, including exercise. I know how important it is to get your adequate water and protein. I was told once that I may not be getting enough calories. I use to skip meals routinely and I am trying to do better. I rarely have hunger pains so I know that I am getting sufficient protein. Only one month did I feel that I was in the green zone when I lost 9#s of fat even though I had water gain. In my last visits for refills,I have been told that I gained water but not fat when I went for a refill. I am currently at 81/4 cc(s); my band is 10cc. Any way, I need a jump start, because I know it is in my best interest to do so! Exercise, I understand, is the way to go, but I need to be motivated. I am trying to follow the SUGAR BUSTERS DIET as close as possible. Although, I am not losing, I am trying to stay committed although it is frustrating when I think about it at times, especially when I consider how I have given up eating ice creme at night. Hopefully, being a member of lapbandtalk will help!

thinopia-I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis (the autoimmune hypothyroid), so I do have what my endocrinologist calls "the double whammy" with PCOS AND hypothyroidism. He never pushes WLS, but does say I need to lose weight. With PCOS, it's the chicken or the egg-does PCOS cause weight gain (which I believe it does, b/c I had no problems with weight growing up until I got in my early 20s), but then weight gain makes PCOS symptoms worse. If only it were easy to lose weight. I seem to put on 10-15 pounds in just a couple of months by doing nothing different. I will have to be private pay because DH's insurance does not cover WLS at all. I guess I just wonder that if I am going to get similar results with WLS as what I would with a physician supervised diet/exercise program, then I am not sure if I want to do surgery. Of course the surgeon is going to recommend surgery, b/c that's money in his pocket, so it's not like they don't have some kind of bias. I haven't gone to an informational seminar yet-I am supposed to go next week. The surgeon also has medically supervised diet program-either 6 weeks or 6 months where they do a program just for you, and even go to the grocery store with you. You also meet with someone who has a degree in exercise physiology to train 2 times per week. I am really torn, because I get so inspired by the weight loss that I have seen people talk about with VSG, but then I wonder with the PCOS and the hypothyroidism (which is only getting worse as I get older and my body destroys my thyroid and I have to go on higher doses of thyroid medicine as time goes on), if I will have all the wonderful results as what everyone else has had. I did print out the paperwork for the surgeon I am going to, and he does have a specific section for PCOS. I don't know if they cover that in the informational seminar, or if that part is covered during the consult with the surgeon ( I don't know if you have to commit to anything prior to meeting with the surgeon).

@@AvaFern, I'm glad you contacted your doctor as soon as you suspected something was wrong. And I agree that antibiotics are indeed a boon to humankind. But don't you think it's likely that the two parts of your post are related? The weight gain could be Fluid retention caused by the inflammation. If the weight gain persists for another week, then it will be time to react by cutting back on calories. Make sure you are drinking plenty of plain Water. Try not to panic. I know that's easy to say and hard to do, but it's counterproductive. Edited to add: If you are not currently tracking your food intake, you might want to start now. That information is very helpful for weight loss and for maintenance.