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thanks all for the responses and for understanding. Yes this is an issue for my psychiatrist but I'm an hour and half away from him, he's in Nashville and I'm Ky so it's not like I can jump in the car and make an appt and go see him on a whim. I have to do these things by phone. His assistant called today to ck on me and to see if the Depakote was helping and my response was :::"why in the world would he prescribe me something that causes major weight gain knowing I'm a wight loss surgery patient and on top of that due to my surgery I already am losing hair and this med causes that so no I'm taking it". she said oh, well, let me talk to him and call you back. Well, the day went on and never heard back from her. This is not like my dr, I've been with him for 7 yrs, love him to pcs, he's been there with me thru ups/downs and my separation/divorce but right now I am kinda peeved no one called me back today. On the otherhand my medical doc mentioned Lithium in a low dose...torn between doctors here. All I know is I cannot continue being short fused with everyone including the freakin dog of all things, she doesn't know any better. Zingy, like you I don't take criticism very well either or I take it to heart or wear my emotions on my shoulder so to speak. Thank you for sharing your story, it was brave of you. At least I'm not alone. Donna

I weighed in at 272.0 lbs. I showed a weight gain. I know it's not much, but a gain is just that - a gain. I have showed a weight loss then I show a weight gain. It is very frustrating.

I admit I did it... but I was also self-pay. The surgeon I went to see first wouldn't even consider doing the surgery (self pay or not) if you weren't 40 BMI or 35 with co-mortalities. He wouldn't even consider high cholesterol or high trygliserides or an immediate family history of diabetes and heart disease. My insurance had an exclusion so it didn't matter what my BMI was they weren't paying for it. I was desperate because I had struggled for so many years and all the diets and exercise and hard work just got me about 30 pounds more each year. I wanted and needed to stop the weight gain... for my health. I went to another doctor and he also said the same about the 40 or 35 BMI so I added clothes and rocks and heavy shoes... I was 5 pounds shy of the 40 BMI they needed. I later found out that my new doctor was way nicer and would have done it without the deception. He made exceptions for self-pay that the other center wouldn’t. I asked them but didn’t ask again because they told me it was the law. (it was a law I was willing to break – kind of like speeding) I'd do it again in a minute. I couldn't take another day of failing at diets, which really just felt like failing. It was a daily struggle not to let my weight balloon 100's of pounds out of control. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o> Since I was self-pay I don’t feel too bad about it.

Sounds exactly what I went through after my first year. Everything was going great then all of a sudden I started having acid reflux at night which could not have been the result of being too tight (no fill in the previous six months when the problem started). However I did have a slight unfill and the acid reflux stopped but the unfill naturally resulted in weight gain. I also started having occasional heartburn which I took a weekly Prevacid for. Fast forward to year 5, my band slipped. I just had it fixed last week along with a hiatal hernia that I did not know I had. I am convinced that the hiatal hernia caused the acid reflux, heartburn, and eventually the slip. Do not ignore acid reflux and heartburn it is a sign that something else is wrong other than simply being too tight.

You're off to a good start then! You're going for the VSG? Then you know that it removes a lot of the stomach that produces the "hunger hormone". But if I were you, I'd plan for tackling the Oreo attraction.... IF, and I say "IF", your surgery does the trick for hunger, you are still going to be in love with Oreo s. I wonder, if your hunger were satisfied, would you be able to turn down an Oreo or just have "one"? Nibbling it slowly, and savoring every morsel of taste? Hell, you don't have to have the whole box, and that's what behavior modification is all about. Sometimes it may be easier to say "no" instead of having to use restraint. But if you have the surgery, you have a darn powerful tool to help you to have restraint!! It's such a paradox..... that we enjoy such abundance, and that people around the world, and even in our OWN country, don't know where their next meal is coming from.... And we are grateful that we live in such a time of abundance! We pray that others may be as lucky as we are! Back to the subject; You know how hard it is to lose the 'baby fat' and as we age, the metabolism slows, naturally making weight gain easier. The VSG is rather radical as opposed to the lap band, but even if the VSG were to not be enough, as you already know, you could elect to go for the full duodenal switch and go the full magilla. But then, I don't know what your BMI is and how much you need to lose. Point is, Surgery, is just one tool in the tool box of options for us to choose from in order to cope with the plethora of food we have at our beck and call. Tonight in the Supermarket, I was marveling at what we have, so close and at our reach. Basic food, prepared food, frozen, even hot, ready to eat. And you'll drive past fast food franchises on the way there and back. Are we food obsessed??? Yep. So don't feel like you're lacking in any way because you are uncomfortable being overweight.... It's miraculous that everyone isn't 200 lbs overweight! We're not a food oriented society, say like France, where they savor food and look to their Chefs, like our people look up to sports stars! It's all dollar driven, and Big Bucks Food Industries box it, bag it, freeze it, and sell it to us on tv, in magazines, on billboards, in newspapers, heck, even on the internet! We are the first, biggest and best consumer society in history! An experiment in action! I'm rambling, but I think what I'm saying is that moderation is the key. Anything anyone can say about "DIET" is "Calories in, Calories out." that's it. Anything I, or anyone else could say is an elaboration of that. And surgery is just another tool to help YOU regulate those calories. I'll pray for you. But you are the one who'll carry the load.... And you can do it! You're making antother step helping yourself towards achieving the life you want to lead....

Different doctors and dietitians have their individual approaches to instructing their patients...and for my surgeon, avoidance of all foods which have any added sugars is necessary for success with your weight loss. Also, I was advised to never count calories, only to measure portions carefully, and make healthy food choices with unprocessed foods. This surgery requires developing healthier eating habits, and breaking the ones which contributed to our weight gain to be successful on the weight loss journey. Continuing to give in to your craving for sweets does not break the cycle of carb cravings, only sustains it. While our brains need carbs to function, there are naturally occurring carbs in many healthy and unprocessed foods. Your choices and mileage may vary... Best wishes to you as you continue your weight loss journey!

I have had my band for a little over 5 years and I am very happy to say I have had success with very little problem. Went from 314-171. I have gained about 17 pounds since December and this is the first weight gain I've experienced since banded. I'm having a few issues. Weight gain because I can eat most anything and more of it, acid reflux, (which my reg doc recently put me on meds) and bloating and gas. I'm just wondering why I can eat greater amounts and bread and other no no foods I couldn't eat before? Can my band have lost Fluid or restriction on its own or could there be another prob? Thanks so much for any advice or words of wisdom!

I am 7 years post VSG. I lost 145 pounds and kept it off 3-4 years, had plastics and looked and felt great, and then life happened. I cared for Sick parents, husband with early onset dementia and dearth subsequent death, a year of grieving....then one day I woke up and faced the truth of a 55 pound weight gain. September 2019 I began focusing on my health and goals again, and I’ve lost 22 pounds. I had a barium swallow which revealed I have a normal capacity stomach, so really, no restriction. I never had the restriction others describe. Anyway, as much as I hated to do it, I joined WW. I basically eat like a Bariatric patient, using WW as guardrails. I also have increased my exercise and am totally in the Peloton “cult”, which is great because I am loving exercise for the first time ever. I never thought I’d be here..yet here I am, living proof that stomachs DO stretch and even smart, determined people can end up with regain. I believe it will take me until June or July to get back to goal, but every pound lost is a great feeling of accomplishment.

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

weight gain is also a concern of mine after ridding the band.

After two failed lap bands, I am scheduled to have the band removed and revised to a sleeve. Despite my best efforts, my surgeon insists that I have the band removed, allow 3 months 'rest' time for my stomach then have the sleeve procedure. Has anyone had the same experience and how did you manage/control your weight over that time? I'm terrified I will gain back majority, if not all of the 60lbs I've lost this far in that 3 months. Any story's or tips from fellow banders/ex banders/current sleevers would be appreciated!

I haven't been eating the best foods for me which is how I got into the habit of eating less because I couldn't seem to stick with the good for me foods. I only want the surgery to loose the weight, its Hell having no appetite or desire for food and to continue to be this big for no reason. My weight gain is not from an overeating issue, emotional issues or binging. I have another debilitating condition and with weight loss, I will be able to workout minimally and eating less will be now good for me. Plus hoping to get pregnant and learning to eat better is another plus that had escaped me as a young adult. I'm learning more everyday from you all!!

Hope you are feeling a little better now wellbutrin is the only med I have stuck with it suppresses my appetite and gives me energy to exercise ..most importantly it eliminates my depression ...maybe it could work for you...all of the other AD i took caused crazy carb cravings and some actually raise your blood sugar and effect the way you process carbs ...most psych meds have weight gain as a side effect ..weight gain from psych meds is what actually made me feel that surgery might be a good option for me....Very sorry about your mom hope things get better for you ..nothing that i hate more than depression

You are right, you do need a serious wake up call. At least you see it. This surgery is just a tool. You can read that in almost every post of this group. If you are unable to make smarter choices about food it is all for nothing. The sleeve will not keep you from gaining weight if you are determined to do so. It will limit your intake at EACH meal but you can graze yourself into weight gain with it. If you go for fast food after seeing your therapist, you have to ask yourself "why are you making those choices?" It is after all a choice what you eat. Is this therapist really helping you? Have you told them you are going for fast food after your session? Why are you still choosing to eat unhealthy food? What is it that is causing you to sabotage yourself? Good luck and I hope you take a deep honest look at yourself and get answers to these questions!

Hi... i know this has possibly already been covered... but i suppose this is my story... I had lapband surgery in July 2007.... lost 20 kg... and my band erroded on 12 months resulting in m having it removed in July 2008.... Now 12 months on and having kept my weioght off for 9 months... and now having had a weight gain of 8 kg... approx 16 lb in the last three... it is time for me to rethink my surgical options... I alternate between rebanding or sleeve.... my against banding is that it may erode as quickly again... My against sleeve is that there is metal staples .... I would be interested in others thoughts and stories as to what decisions they made....and would appreciate the help My surgeon is open to doing both surgeries, and he wants me to make the decision to what is best for me.... Heather....

You have to realize the band doesn't cause weight loss. Taking Fluid out of your band has no more effect on weight gain than taking a bracelet off your wrist does. It can, however, create a drastic increase in you appetite. When we're hungrier we eat more and then we gain weight. With that said, in order for you to gain 10 pounds in 3 days you had to have increased your calorie intake by over 11,000 calories a day for all 3 days in a row. That is extremely unlikely if not impossible. You only need fluid back in your band if you can't go at least 4 hours between meals without hunger. Best wishes.

I don’t know if this will make sense to you but it worked for me. I was not eating enough to gain weight on 600 calories a day, that is impossible. There were times I would step on the scale and the number would be a few pounds higher. Logically I knew I had not gained weight. I changed my thinking and told myself, “I weigh more today for some unknown reason” I stopped thinking in terms of weight gain it was just fluctuations. I started weighing myself less frequently and only on mornings when I felt “lighter “. It really helped me and kept me sane. Best of luck to you!

Your weight loss journey will vary by the type of surgery that you have selected. I had RNY gastric bypass surgery. I lost a lot of weight very quickly and then the pace of the weight loss slowed down and leveled off and I transitioned from the weight loss phase to the maintenance phase at around 7 months. I am now over 5 years post-op. Sleeve patients lose weight much more slowly, encounter many stalls along the way but can achieve good weight loss eventually transitioning to maintenance at around the 2 year mark. During the weight loss phase, I completely lost my hunger. It was not difficult to lose weight when hunger was not constantly continually gnawing at my bones. But this loss of hunger does not last forever. About a year post-op it returned, just not as strong as before. One of the problems with this phase is that there is not a lot of medical guidance available at this point. You sort of have to figure it out for yourselves. Maintenance can be the hardest phase to survive. Some people will gain all their weight back, sometimes in quick order. In a sense some people figure they can go back to eating and drinking like before and then slowly the weight begins to pile back on. Other individual will experience some limited weight gain. It is generally called "a twenty pound bounce". That is where I am. Some will maintain their weight loss for years and years by exercising great concentration and control on what they eat and drink. But remember the tool is still there. Some people who have lost a lot of weight from surgery, then gained it all back, have buckled down and lost it all again. There are not many veterans on this board. Many times they are chased away by newbies with abusive attitudes. Some just decide to move on with their lives. So when you weigh responses take into account the length of time from surgery and their measure of success to guide you. And try not to flame the board. These are two links to articles documenting my surgery. The first covers the weight loss phase and the second covers the maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf (I did find that essential oil blend helped me lose a little more weight at the end of the weight loss phase. But then later it seemed to lose its effectiveness.)

CLOTHING! I have always been heavy but most of my weight gain is more recent. I really look forward to fitting into some of my old clothes. I have donated a lot of smaller things but there are quite a few pieces I kept. I also had to buy some bigger clothing throughout the year to hold me over. I can't wait to donate it all! And although it's always a struggle in the clothing stores, I can not wait for the day I no longer need to find the "plus size" section (or should I say the few racks shoved in the corner with no signage).

Mine isnt BCBS...it's BC CA PPO, but I wanted to point out that it changes fairly quickly. Here's from my BC site: Medical Policy Subject: Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity Policy #: SURG.00024 Current Effective Date: 11/13/2006 Status: Reviewed Last Review Date: 09/14/2006 Description/Scope Clinically severe obesity is a result of persistent and uncontrollable weight gain that constitutes a present or potential threat to life. There are a variety of surgical procedures intended for the treatment of clinically severe obesity. This policy addresses those procedures. Policy Statement Medically Necessary: Gastric bypass with a Roux Y procedure up to 150 cm, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (the Lap-Band® System), vertical banded gastroplasty, or biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch as a single surgery, is considered medically necessary for the treatment of clinically severe obesity for selected adults (18 years and older) who meet the following criteria: 1. BMI of 40 or greater, or BMI of 35 or greater with co-morbid conditions including, but not limited to, life threatening cardio-pulmonary problems (severe sleep apnea, Pickwickian syndrome and obesity related cardiomyopathy), severe diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease or hypertension. AND *Note: Individuals considering the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band®) procedure must meet the above minimum BMI requirement and, in addition, have a maximum BMI of less than 50.

Hi, has anyone had a problem with weight gain and staying on when getting on birth control? I took the birth control out in july. I had a baby, and after the baby continued my weightloss down to 216, then got on BC that has caused me to gain weight at 248, after I took it out up until now I have fluctuated between 245-250, but cannot get back on my weight loss journey. I wanted to get down to 180 and then go for my tummy tuck. Anyone have any suggestions? It has been 6 months and I just cannot get it off ???? Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

I suspect that some of the weight gain is due to Over eating a using the birth control as an excuse. No oral hormone tx can cause a 15 pound weight gain. That being said there are people who suddenly gain a great deal of weight with implants and chemical IUDs. This is not a normal side effect. The cause should be ruled out even if you change methods, a visit to an endocrinologist might be in order. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have Cigna and gained as well. My surgeon's office said that some insurances will deny you if you gain but that Cigna is not known to deny for weight gain. Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

@@Kindle, you ask a GREAT question! I am so much a "WHY?" person too. But as so many mental health professionals have suggested to me, sometimes there just are no answers some questions and we serve ourselves best by being at peace with "what is." Sorry for all the pain you are experiencing in your life, but hope you are being extra kind to yourself in acknowledging how awesome your are for your strength in the midst of all this adversity! For so many of WLSers who suffer major emotional life changing events (deaths, divorce, job loss, etc) that is a huge trigger for major weight gain. Having the knowledge that this DOES happen when we experience major life events, and being able to keep in the back of our minds that we will need a lot of support at these times helps so much. Somehow, you have been able to maintain your weight during all this and wow that is amazing. At four years out, I can relate to a lot of what you have said (except the therapist part--definitely working on head). I feel pleased with my WLS success. I attribute that to FINALLY in my life being READY TO CHANGE, and being totally HONEST with myself. No more excuses. That meant letting go of a lifetime of old unhealthy eating habits forever and working REALLY HARD that first year to figure out what new, healthy eating habits and lifestyle even were (I really didn't even know.). For me, without question, the difference from all the other times in my life that I tried to lose weight is that the sleeve provides the restriction that was never there before. Why can I keep the weight off when we see other WLSers regain? That's where the work that we do in that first year to change our habits is so important. Also, I often repeat to myself a mental affirmation: (Your disease of obesity was so severe that you had the majority of your stomach surgically removed--behave accordingly!) I know what healthy eating is now. I don't count calories any more. I know what 1200 quality calories a day is. Fake, processed junk foods do not live in my house. I eat whole, clean meals/snacks prepared at home. I really think it just all boils down to CHOOSING TO CHANGE, forever. It is not about willpower. It is about choosing to live your best life and restoring your body to health. Sure, the number on the scale, and the fun clothes etc are nice, but if those are made the priority in the WLS adventure, my opinion is that the long-term success might be in question. Give yourself an extra pat on the back today--because you deserve it!

I was banded March 2007. I have not only not lost any weight, I've gained 3lbs over the past 10 months. I have been filled to the max. I don't eat much, let's be honest, I can't. I can't even eat the 4 oz portions suggested. Yes, I'm eating the right foods. I work out 3 to 5 days a week at least 1 hour to 2 hours each time. I was considered a low BMI on the lapband scale but still enough of a BMI to get the surgery covered by insurance. I'm frustrated and disappointed. Isn't there anyone out there that has had this happen? What's wrong with me?