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Has anyone gained weight after a fill?

I am currently on my last month seeing my nutritionist for the 3 month program required by Aetna for WLS. So far all together I have gained 4lbs over the two months I have been seeing her and have yet to lose any.( I started at 391.6 my last WI was 395.6). I explained to my nutritionist that I was experiencing Water retention thus the reason for my weight gain. I struggle with PCOS which I've learned also makes it hard for me to lose weight. Last week I also found out that I may have ovarian cancer which my GYNO says is due to my size. I am currently 26 and on my parents medical plan which will end for me in 2015 so this is my last shot. If I don't get this surgery this year I will not have the opportunity again. I have seen different stories of people being denied due to gaining weight. Can anyone shed some light on this please? If I lose weight this month will I still be approved although I gained weight the first two months? TIA

Hey guys how is everyone. I haven't been on here in a while nor have I been to group. Things are not going great for me at all. : ( I got sick back in Oct. I caught the flu and had to go into the hospital which meant STEROIDS which is not good. I then got sick again in Nov and had to go on them again this time a larger dose and a longer time on. I had an asthma attack in Dec and once again was in the hospital on another round of STEROIDS through IV. So if u haven't guessed by now I gained back alot of my weight. I got frustrated and stopped trying b/c I felt like I was once again fighting a battle I could not win. I didn't get a fill for about 4mos. I cut myself off from group which was BAAAAAD. I really think I needed u guys but I just could not bring myself to come to any of the group meetings. I went in for a fill last week and am proud to say that I think I am back on track. I talked to Lisa and told her that I was on the verge of giving up and she told me NO that is what they are all there for, TO HELP. I will hopefully be at group this month. Please keep me in ur prayers b/c I really need the strength to make it through this. The steroids scare me b/c that is where alot of my weight gain came from and haveing to continue to be put on them to better my breathing scares me into thinking that I will never lose my weight and be able to keep it off.

I like that plan...lose weight, gain a refund. We should get tax credits for each pound we lose...wonder if DubYa could pass THAT through congress??!! Molly-we love hearing from you so yes, keep on checking in! Welcome to the new challenge members! Yep, our little thread is growing and I like it! What I don't like is Winter...when is Summer coming?????? I'm cold.

Yea Shawna!!! Can't wait for that day myself! Ballparks can wreck your eating habits can't it? My kids played ball and I think that's what contributed to my weight gain. Cheesy fries were my downfall. That and a lot of other things. :wink: Deb

I'm really going between having the surgery and not having the surgery. I mean, is it really going to benefit me? Do I want to go this route, or do I want to do it the way I always could before? I don't know. I have no clue what I really want to do. Do I need the surgery? No, I don't NEED it. I'm tired of the anxiety that this is creating - not the problems - that's not bothering me, just the anxiety that the thought of having this surgery is giving me. I don't know that its right for me, I really don't. If it bothers me to even tell my husband about it, can it really be right? I know that eventually, I will get my energy back. I know I'll be able to work very very hard and get the weight off. But do I want to wait for that? My big concern is that I don't want my family to see me like I am now. I'm embarrassed of what has happened to me. No, its not all my fault - but yeah, some of it is. I'm tired of the looks and stares - like when I go get a very very healthy smoothie - people look at me like "what's the fat lady doing getting something healthy???" - Someone actually said something once to the person they were with - and I retorted with "I'm sure it probably does make you feel better to pick on someone who's fatter than you, but how does it make you feel to pick on someone that has a dehabilitating disease that is treated with medications that make it nearly impossible to get out of bed because of the painful side effects and the enormous amount of weight gain caused by it - not to mention the chemo-like IV treatments - yeah. Are you on your way to the cancer ward now to laugh at the bald kids?" I thought the person was going to start to cry - GOOD - maybe next time they'll think twice.

I'm really going between having the surgery and not having the surgery. I mean, is it really going to benefit me? Do I want to go this route, or do I want to do it the way I always could before? I don't know. I have no clue what I really want to do. Do I need the surgery? No, I don't NEED it. I'm tired of the anxiety that this is creating - not the problems - that's not bothering me, just the anxiety that the thought of having this surgery is giving me. I don't know that its right for me, I really don't. If it bothers me to even tell my husband about it, can it really be right? I know that eventually, I will get my energy back. I know I'll be able to work very very hard and get the weight off. But do I want to wait for that? My big concern is that I don't want my family to see me like I am now. I'm embarrassed of what has happened to me. No, its not all my fault - but yeah, some of it is. I'm tired of the looks and stares - like when I go get a very very healthy smoothie - people look at me like "what's the fat lady doing getting something healthy???" - Someone actually said something once to the person they were with - and I retorted with "I'm sure it probably does make you feel better to pick on someone who's fatter than you, but how does it make you feel to pick on someone that has a dehabilitating disease that is treated with medications that make it nearly impossible to get out of bed because of the painful side effects and the enormous amount of weight gain caused by it - not to mention the chemo-like IV treatments - yeah. Are you on your way to the cancer ward now to laugh at the bald kids?" I thought the person was going to start to cry - GOOD - maybe next time they'll think twice.

Olive, Funny you mentioned the weight gain in the four years of being together. My husband and I did that. I gained 50 pounds in 2 years and he gained 45. I guess we were just comfortable... enabeling each other. :embarassed: He ate ice cream, So i ate it.. even though I wasn't hungry. I ate pizza, he ate it.. even though he wasn't hungry. The one thing I did do.. was try to exercise or take a walk. He never wanted to do this.. and this is part of the problem for me. I love to exercise.. but not alone. I've always wanted a buddy with me and every time I did.. I lost loads of weight and kept it off for a longer period of time. Also, I always lied about my weight to my husband until I had a melt down about a month ago. He was saying that my BMI seemed too low to have the band and maybe it might be dangerous for me to go ahead with the surgery.. LOL He thought my weight to be around 185.. I about kissed him and told him he was the best thing in the world! BUT.. I said... you are way off... and after him guessing 5 times.. I told him.. I thought he'd laugh or have a odd look on his face of disgust. BUT he just hugged me and said.. you look beautiful not matter how high your weight is. Yada Yada Yada... (LOL) I felt ashamed that I only weighed 18 pounds less than him. He, too, got into shape, has lost about 20 pounds and it melted off of him almost overnight. I was so jealous. I almost never get jealous! I'm alway happy and excited for people who are doing something good for their health and body or that they are motivated to lose weight, quit smoking.. or what ever the vice is. Any how.. I just wanted to say.. I hear you.. LOL it's hard at times.

Ahh, my surgeon is different on pre-op diet than others. It’s 4 weeks and 800-1200 cal/day, low fat, low carb and sugar free. I’m one week in and was dying the first several days :). I’m glad your a pro at this!! Sorry about the weight gain and GERD. That is hard! Hopefully this will be the answer to both problems. I too hope for our group to be a huge help and support. Keep me posted, I’m anxious to know how you’re doing. I think it makes me feel less scared of surgery. I’ve had multiple surgeries, as a result I am dreading this surgery. Probably more then I should. I should be an old pro by now, instead I’m a scaredy-cat 🤦🏼‍♀️ 😹 😸!

sanadramae - I am sorry for your loss and other issues, I know how hard these things can be.. But I am going to tell you right now STOP STOP EATING THAT CRAP.... It really doesn't make you feel any better - no it makes you feel guility... Quit eating right this very second..... Go back to eating healthy you can do it - you did it before In our lives we allow for a margin of error – which we should also do when trying to eat healthy – if you are eating 1000-1200 calories a day – allow for some of those calories to be used for a little bit of something you really want (chocolate - have a healthy choice fudgecicle - it's s/f & 80 calories)- you need wiggle room in your diet to make it work (I save my morning and afternoon snacks for night time which is my worst time) – the all or nothing practices has to be thrown our of your mind. You can learn to reprogram your mind to strip away the guilt that comes with dieting. You have to realize that it’s not that the first slice of cake that will doom your diet – it’s the second or third or whole thing that leads to weight gain. You have to listen to your body & respond smartly to your cravings and emotions but over time you will learn how to eat right and mange your craving and that’s when you’ll train your brain to stop obsessing about eating right and punishing yourself – If you stop over thinking you’ll stop over eating.. Good Luck to you...<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

About 8 1/2 years ago, I finally got to the point where I was tired of being fat and started looking into having bariatric surgery. I researched everything I could find, and I thought that the Lap-Band was the best fit for me. At the time, the only options available to me were Lap-Band and RNY bypass. VSG was not very common in the United States at the time, and was not covered by most insurance plans. As a comparative light-weight (I was in the high 30s BMI, and just barely had a BMI of 40 the day of surgery), I thought that the lap-band was the perfect solution. At the time, it was being heavily advertised as "the next big thing" in bariatrics, with a projected success rate that rivaled or exceeded the RNY bypass at 5 years out, and was "fully reversible." So, I got approved by insurance. Everything started out well. Even though I was a "light-weight," once I had decent restriction, I was losing weight at a steady pace. And the restriction? Well, the common practice then was to make the band so tight that you were physically limited in the amounts and types of foods you could eat. We were encouraged to only be able to eat 1/4-1/2 cup of food at a time. The downside to this restriction? Severe acid reflux. My surgeon didn't think anything of it, and gave me the option of taking proton pump inhibitors or coming in to reduce the amount of Fluid. But when you've been fat your entire life, and you FINALLY have the dream of being thin within reach, what's a little acid reflux? Obviously, I chose the proton pump inhibitor. Eventually, that didn't even control the acid. I couldn't eat or drink within 4-5 hours of bed. I was sleeping propped up on a steep foam wedge with another pillow or two on top of it. And I was still waking up choking on stomach acid. Eventually, what broke the camel's back was that my chest was constantly hurting throughout the day, I had a nagging cough, and my voice was noticeably hoarse. I drove the 7 hours to see the doctor to have an emergency unfill. My acid reflux improved, but I was still having severe shoulder pain periodically and athough I'd reached my goal weight and lost 100% of my excess weight, I slowly began to gain weight. A few months after being unfilled, I received a job offer and moved across the country. My new job was in a tiny town several hours from the closest bariatric surgeon. Of course, even though I was gaining weight, I was much smaller than I started out. The weight gain continued, though. Eventually, I decided to find a new surgeon and get back on track for fills. At the first appointment, he looked at the band under fluoroscopy and said that it needed to be removed or replaced/repositioned, as I'd apparently been living for quite some time with a MASSIVE slip. He was surprised that I hadn't needed emergency intervention, since he said that even with most of the fill gone, I only had a space the size of a pencil eraser for food to pass from the upper chamber to the lower. At that point, I was interested in revising to the sleeve, but unfortunately, I was told that my insurance at the time probably wouldn't cover it. So, I got a new band. And the only thing that improved was that I didn't have reflux or shoulder pain. I couldn't obtain good restriction, and I was afraid to even attempt it because I was 7 hours from my surgeon. My weight just kept climbing and climbing. At the beginning of this year, I had a major issue. I made the mistake of trying to eat a raw carrot. I'd eaten them regulary. I chewed well. It still got stuck, and I suffered through a severe episode of PBing and sliming while at work. After that, my reflux came back with a vengeance, to the point where I had to have all of the fluid removed from my band. The Upper GI Series showed no slippage, so apparently I just can't tolerate the restriction anymore (even though I didn't have much in the first place). Eight years after my original surgery and 4 years after my replacement surgery, here I am. I'm only 10 pounds from my original pre-surgery weight. I finally decided that I'd had enough. It was time for either revision to another surgery or just yanking the damned thing out entirely. What's the point of having it if it isn't doing me any good? Without restriction, it's useless, and my body simply won't tolerate restriction from the band anymore. So, after 7 months of jumping through hoops, insurance denials, appeals, and finally resorting to a peer-to-peer appeal, I am approved for a revision. I'm getting this damned thing removed! I don't have my surgery date yet, but the end is in sight! I'd originally been interested in the sleeve, but after consulting with my new surgeon and doing a lot of research, I decided the best route would be RNY bypass, due to my metabolism issues and lack of long-term data for the VSG as a stand-alone surgery. I am so sick of this journey and I want it to be over. I'm sick of trying to do things "the hard way." We're so conditioned to think that something has to be difficult in order for it to be worthwhile. I've tried doing it the difficult way, and sure, I lost weight temporarily. I also got tooth and vocal chord damage, issues with my vagus nerve, vigilance about knowing where all the bathrooms are in a building, and my metabolism got shot to hell (even more than it already was with PCOS). So here's to me finally getting back on the loser's bench and getting on with my life. All I can say is that this has been a long, hard, embarrassing journey, and I'm glad it's finally coming to an end. For those of you who've had long-term success with the band, my hat is off to you, and I hope that you never get put in my position. For those of you who are just looking into the band as an option, all I can ask is that you consider my story and really put some thought into what you are doing. As much as it's reversibility is advertised, this isn't a simple surgery where you can just have it removed if it doesn't work and everything is just like you never had it. If you're in a position where it has to be removed, you're likely to have lasting damage to your stomach, damage to your esophagus or vocal chords, adhesions, scar tissue around your stomach or where the port was located, etc. So please, research, talk to people, network, and KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. There is no "good as new" after this surgery.

I was banded October 29, 2012. Initially I had went from 342lbs to 188lbs. I felt incredible. Over the last year or so I have been having major issues due to the band slipping twice. After the first unfill the band adjusted and went back into place. After the second time they unfilled it they refused to fill it again. Since then I have went from 188lbs to 265lbs and it is devastating to me. I finally spoke up to my surgeon and am now in the process of trying to get approved for the sleeve. When I was trying to gain approval for the lapland surgery it was a pain because even though I was huge, I had little health issues as far as a co-morbidy would go. I finally (BARELY) got approved. This is why I didn't think I had any options due to not having any current health issues. I am just uncomfortable and down on myself for it. The very sweet lady that is helping me get it approved through my insurance thinks even though I don't have any major health issues that due to all my issues( two slips) with the lapland, GERD and weight gain that I may not have a problem getting approved. I know I shouldn't have a problem getting it revised and having it removed. Wondering how hard it would be to have the actual sleeve approved. Anyone have any experience with what I am going through?

I wasn't sure if this should go in the Ladies Gone Wild section, but then I really wanted input from men as well, so I figured I would put it here. I have often wondered if many of us put on weight as a defense mechanism, I think it has been proven time and again -especially with females- that massive weight gain happens after a sexual assault or abuse or something. I'm not saying this means every last fat person was abused, so please, those of you chomping at the bit for someone to flame - no. What I'm trying to say is ... I was invisible for a very long time. During the years when I should have been learning how to interact with men, get my heart broken, get tough, get wise, learn from romantic mistakes, learn to spot predators - I was cocooned in my obese isolation and never learned any of those things. I never learned what other women learn about other women, that there are so many out there that are so crippled by insecurity that they will attempt to destroy you just to secure their own positions. I never learned that if you appear to present any sort of "threat" to these kinds of women that they will stop at nothing - including destructive gossip and libel, to eradicate you as a threat. I also didn't learn how to interact with men or rather, I never learned that there are consequences to my behavior; as an obese invisible individual, I was, ironically, treated as a person not a "woman" with all the connotation and baggage therein. I was treated by men as an honorary dude and got to joke and be bawdy and opinionated and they were comfortable around me. Now, if I make eye contact with any man, they see it as an invitation. Now, men are aggressive in trying to mark their territory, and I'm the territory! Now I am viewed as physically weak and now for the first time in my life, I am afraid when I have to walk somewhere alone in the dark. I don't know how to deal with all of this, I don't know how to weild this power, I was never taught. Help?

I don't know which ones cause weight gain, but I'm on Lexapro and haven't gained any weight. In fact, I'm losing pretty fast.

I had to take a tricyclic antidepressant against pain, not depression, a number of years ago. I gained ***55 POUNDS*** in six months. The doctor claimed it was just my fault. Riiiigghhht. Anyhow, I would avoid those if possible, which shouldn't be an issue cos they're not used for depression all that much anymore -- they're called Nortriptyline, Amitriptyline, etc. I've heard people having problems with both Paxil and Zoloft as well. Wellbutrin is known as one that does NOT cause weight gain. Good luck and I really hope you feel better!! {{{Hugs}}}

I take 30 mg of paxil a day for years and I believe it contributed to my weight gain, to a degree. But I am a happier person on paxil and don't ever want to stop it.

I believe this is where the gut bugs come into play. The good gut bugs help with our digestion, immune system, and brain (including emotions and moods) function. It is essential to create a symbiosis with them. And they don't eat fat or protein. Only the evil ones eat sugar! The good ones need good starches and fibers. So we do need those fibrous veggies (impossible soon after bariatric surgery though) and the natural starches to keep them happy. They thrive (and then help US thrive) on resistant starches like cooked and cooled potatoes, sweet potatoes, oats not cooked in water, beans, peas, (not soft) plantains and many powders like banana "flour," potato starch, inulin, etc. (green bananas are also a good source but should be avoided for WLS as they have so much sugar). But I think what you found out through your own self experimentation should be true. Junk carbs are useless and cause weight gain. But healthy starchy carbs, after a period of being unable to eat them because of our small stomachs and urgent protein requirements, are going to be a huge part of our diets and we will crave these healthy carbs. Gut bugs give us our cravings. I was able, while fat, to get my craving for sweets traded for craving for roasted root veggies. I've seen it happen. And again we are talking about 100g or less of carbs, mostly veggies and good starches. So still not high carb but POWERFUL carbs.

This is the start to my journey back to a former life. Yesterday I complete the six month doctor visits that is required by my insurance company (BCBS). I am now waiting for the insurance companies OK stamp on my paperwork. I know how slow paperwork can creep through the system, so I am a month or more from surgery. I am starting off a 365lbs at 5'11" and BMI about 50. I am borderline with a few medical issues that haven't cropped up yet, so I better do something. Yes, I have tried the diet plans from A to Z and a few I have tried a few more than once. Part of my problem is a bad back problem I recieved for a car accident in May 1990. At that time I was a 210, six foot military man in good shape. Since, it has been a downward spiral of weight gain and pain... Now, is the time for me to turn this around before medical issues crop up or death replaces this life. If you care to read my journey, I plan on posting at each event while going through this change of life. Since, my goal is 210, I might be writing for awhile. If you care to comment I would love to hear from you. -Bill

I have had that issue as well. It is one of those deals that damned if you do and damned if you don't. I have just had to talk myself into which is the more temporary condition -- weight gain or pain.

I am curious if anyone out there have Health Net Insurance and have ran into difficulty with qualifying for the Lap Band Surgery. Whether you've had a good experience or not so good, please let me know. I'm deciding whether to stick with them or try another approach. I'm dealing with increased health problems due to recent weight gain while waiting through the long qualification process. -Prebander:help:

I am 51, 5'4" and weigh 220 lbs, most of my weight is right on my belly. I am a nurse and on my feet all day. I have controlled asthma, plantar fasciitis, arthritis in my ankles, yeast infections, abcesses and a bum left knee. I was skinny and athletic all my life even after 3 kids. However, at age 37, I left a bad marriage and was put on Paxil to help deal with anxiety and depression. In 6 months I ballooned to 170 lbs and then 4 years of university, while going through a 10 year expensive divorce battle, brought me up to 235 lbs. I have always been able to control my weight with diet and exercise prior to this weight gain, but nothing is working now. I have tried every type of diet and exercise program and yes, I might lose weight (one time up to 50 lbs) but immediately gain it back. Everybody in my family is obese. My mother has 12 siblings, my father 5 and everyone of them has metabolic syndrome so I know its just a matter of time. The writing is on the wall. After almost 15 years of yo-yo dieting, I have reached to point of giving up. I don't even see the point of watching what I eat and going to the gym anymore. Then after going to a surgeon who is connected to a weight loss practice, I started to get excited again. My BMI of 37 and lack of recognized comorbid conditions might not let me qualify for anything other than the band unless I am willing to pay out of pocket and even then I am not sure. I am tired of everyone telling me I look great, I carry my weight well, I could do it on my own and not have surgery etc. I attend a WLS presentation on Tuesday and can't wait.

The amount of requirements and perquisite's for insurance to cover can be C R A Z Y no matter what state or insurance company you have. I live and work in IL and I have Healthlink PPO. My insurance had no real perquisites per se other than I had to go to 2 seminars for the program. Now I cannot speak for everyone's journey but my own and this is what I came across. Although my insurance had no real requirements to be met, the Dr I chose sure did!! I started my first workshop on Oct 28, 21. Since I already knew my health insurance had little to know requirements I had it set in my head that the week after Christmas Id be scheduled for surgery WRONG lol. I met a nurse practitioner at my Drs office that was like hitting a brick wall LOL. She is awesome dont get me wrong but she set me straight real quick. Depending on the Dr there are loads of tests and other Drs you have to be cleared by first. I mistakenly thought it was my insurance that required alot of this and I couldnt understand why by Feb I still had not been cleared for surgery. This nurse politely informed me that my insurance is not the one that determines the surgery clearance but the DR, they are however the source of payment so a major point to but in my program I had to show I had no weight gain in 6 months/ April was my 6th month since the start. Once I weighed in and still had no weight gain they then sent for insurance approval and like Future Sleeve Diva above, I had approval very quickly and surgery was scheduled within days of that. It can be a long process for some but it will happen in due time. It can be frustrating to have to wait but it will come and when it does then you may start asking yourself if your ready for it lol. PS....I have not had any out of pocket yet except the initial consultation with the Dr ($35) I believe I had 1 other office visit charge of $35 but so far thats all

Got admitted to hospital tonight. They are running CT scans tomorrow. I just finally got off last 'water weight gain' from last week's IV treatments. I just really need to STAY off the scale when this happens

I got the band 3 years ago. It was great the first year. I lost 60lbs, had great restriction, and felt like myself for the first time in a long time! I started getting reflux at night, waking me up w/ bile or acid in my mouth, as well as asperating into my lungs. This caused a persistent cough. I saw the P.A. at my dr's office. An esophagram showed nothing unusual. They advised me to stop eating 3 hours before bed and take reflux meds. I got pg w/ 2nd baby, got a slight unfill, reflux systems subsided and pg was great (w/o the excessive weight gain from 1st pg w/o band). As soon as baby was born, my reflux symptoms intensified so that I could not sleep at all. Anyone w/ a newborn knows this is torture! Dr. Ren unfilled me and had me get an endoscopy. Turns out I have a hiatal hernia (stomach tissue coming up through the band). I wanted to avoid another surgery, as My Dr. was not sure the hernia was causing the reflux and surgery would not necessarily improve the reflux. I waited and now she says that the placement of my band is probably causing the reflux. She said people who have the band placed higher up on their stomachs tend not to have this symptom. So I am scheduled to have the hernia repaired and the band repositioned later this month. I am awaiting insurance approval. I have been struggling w/ eating all year and even went back on weight watchers for a couple of months. I am hopeful everything will work out after the surgery (and that the approval will go through!). Has anyone had experience w/ re-positioning of the band? Thank you!

I ,too, am having fill issues. I had my 6th fill last Wed, thought it was going to be good because when I ate soup it made all of the grumblings that I hadn't heard in months! However, two days later on solids.....NO restriction! I am a self pay and each fill is $200.......YOUCH! That can eat a paycheck quickly! So, I dunno....calling fill doc on Friday to make a fill. However, I think I will set it up after vacation! :cool2: Right now, I have been drinking Slim Fast twice a day to try and ward off any weight gain. Any helpful hints/comments would be greatly appreciated! Oh, I haven't had any good restriction in about 2-2.5 months...