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2/29/16 222 On new meds, I believe causing weight gain! Grrrrr!! Good luck everyone!!

Heya Annie, did you not get my pm to you??! lol How you doin? 44pnds that's awesome!! Well done! I haven't skipped a period but mine are irregular anywayz as I have the implanon in, but prior to being banded when I lost a lot of weight before, I didn't get a period for a while. I was told by my doc it was cause of the weight loss, it messes with your hormones. It could also be stress (that has happened to me before too!) I just googled it and found this list ... Why do some women's periods stop altogether (amenorrhoea)? Periods can stop for a number of reasons. The most common are: pregnancy. premature menopause (this can affect women in their early twenties). weight loss. weight gain. some forms of medication including the contraceptive pill or injections. drug abuse. stress. hormonal imbalances such as an underactive thyroid gland or the overproduction of a hormone called prolactin. a condition called polycystic ovaries is a very common cause of irregular or absent periods.

Also fogot to mention that since my first fill ofc3 cc I can only eat 2-3 bites then it comes up. But usually I can then eat the rest of my food. This happens at almost every meal. I am not as excited with this fill as I was before it. And I take a few weight gaining pills for my bipolar and even with the fill I am losing very slowly...almost too slow. I try to watch what I eat but when I get really hungry I eat whatever will go down the easiest. Bad choice? And my hair is falling out. It was thin bc of hypothyroidism but now have a few balding spots. I see my endocrinologist today so maybe get my thyroid in check and maybe with eating more protein my hair will start coming back. There's alot more but I'll leave it like this. Thx I am bipolar too. I had my Dr. switch as many as he could to liquids. Helps a lot since some of those pills are huge!

Thanks Ziahmama for your concern. I don't plan to exercise as hard as I was prior to the pregnancy but I do plan to keep walking a few miles a day. Hopefully that will delay any weight gain. The doctor said to try to gain a minimal amount of weight because I am still overweight and the baby will get what it needs. I am soooo tired right now. I had an ultrasound yesterday and I am 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant my baby is due Aug. 2nd, 2010. Good luck to all the pregnant ladies out there.:rolleyes2:

Marys - certainly sounds to me like u might have more going on than just being obese, sometime obesity can be a result of a medical condition. I hope you are able to get the answers you need. Maybe after you figure out why u cant loose weight with or without the band they can fix it and the band will then be the tool it was ment to be for you. My endocrinologist explained to me a few years back (see I told you I had a myriad of dr's) after a pcos dx that the relationship between fat and estrogeon, it can be a foundation for understanding obesity in women. estrogeon is stored in body fat, in abundance it can cause many health issues pcos, certain kinds of cancer, amenorreah(sp), migrains, blood sugar issues etc (oh yeah and more obesity) it is unknown (at least at that time) which came first, did the estrogeon cause weight gain or the weight gain cause estrogeon either way when they begin to fix the imbalances some weight will come off (they began to fix mine with metforman and birth control) without evan trying but certainly not all (according to the dr) it will require dedication and work from the patient as more weight is lost it should begin to clear up some of the problems. I hope u can figure out what is out of balance and get it fixed then tell us how your journey has ended with success! Good luck to u!

Well, if you go to OH which is a anti-lap band website you will hear nothing but negativity about the band. Anyone who post there nowadays are seeking revisions and are very bitter about their band experience. Also, you have to take into perspective the type of complications that occur with the band, most are simple things, like vomiting, reflux, heartburn, port leaks and tubing leaks, these are the majority of issues that occur with the band. Frequent reflux/vomiting is a symptom of lap band problems, such as slippage or dilation. Some people live with a slipped band for years, who don't have good aftercare, and end up needing emergency surgery to remove the band. Port and tubing leaks are not dangerous, but annoying and can get costly if someone is self pay and don't have money to fix or replace the band, this is why many people who are self pay should have a rainy day fund for any unforeseen lap band issues. However, these things can get severe if not treated promptly, like food obstruction can get life threatening and cause repeating vomiting and dehydration if someone does not seek medical attention by a lap band surgeon immediately. There are many people that do not have aftercare with their bands, many went to Mexico and don't have a surgeon to see them regularly in the US, some people have very poor aftercare with the surgeon that sees them in the US also, some lose their insurance, and no longer can afford the aftercare with their bands, so if you dig deep in how most people suffer complications, they are usually not really caused by the lap band. Also things like food obstruction which usually can be easily treated easily, can turn into a horrible complication if the patient does not see their lap band surgeon immediately to remove saline from the band. Also, everyone's body reacts differently with the band, some people have a weak or short esophagus and are not good candidates for the band, and they can't stand the pressure of a tight band and sometimes this will cause esophageal motility issues long term, but from all the studies I've read even people with a weak esophagus and motility issues return to normal after the band is removed. , Also I agree with the above poster Lellow, Australia have better lap band stats than the US because they have better aftercare surgeons, many surgeons in the US do not like offering aftercare and filling the lap band-- many surgeon view aftercare with the lap band to be annoying, many in the past have pushed them to Primary Care Physicians for fills, and other fill givers that do not fill the band properly, who know nothing about the band. Many of these surgeons were Bypass surgeons and only did the band as a "side project" because MOST people WANT the lap band and the bypass surgeons would do a bait and switch on patients, not fill the band properly and many people never get to the green zone, either too tight or not enough and patients would get so frustrated and remove the band, and the Bypass surgeon would gladly remove the band and revise them to the bypass, and that happens WAY too much in the US. I've had a lap band for almost 8 years and I would not change to any other procedure, I could have revised to the Bypass or Sleeve last year when I got my band replaced due to a hiatal hernia, but I see too many Bypassers and Sleevers struggling with weight gain long term, and dealing with other long term health issues such as reflux, Vitamin deficiency and hypoglycemia. I will risk lap band complications any day before I would risk Sleeve, or Bypass complications. Also check out the revision forum on OH, many people are desperate and seeking help from weight gain with the Sleeve and Bypass, many long term Bypassers are NOW seeking bands over their bypass, my surgeons also says many Sleevers are asking for bands too, but they can't because they don't have enough stomach left, but their small stomach has stretched too much to be effective without serious deiting, but some surgeons are putting some type of mesh bands over Sleeves, never let negative people fool you some have other motives for band bashing. Good luck.

Were you worried at all that your insurance would deny you because of weight gain? I'm a little worried if my clinic weights me in the will not do the surgery. I finished the 3 month trial and I'm tentatively scheduled for June 9th; just waiting on BCBS insurance approval.

You may be slipping up in minor ways that add up in the long run. Weigh and measure everything. Track your food on an app like Baritastic. It will keep you aware of what you are actually eating. You could also try resetting your set point by returning to all liquids, and build up again to solid foods over several weeks. If you have achieved your goal and stayed there for a while, a bit of weight gain is quite normal.

A little primer on alcohol (I am in the industry) One of the things you might like to know is the quickest buzz is consumed with straight spirits, sipped slowly. Much of the alcohol will actually be absorbed right in your mouth, and it is a quick path to the brain. Unfortunately a lot of people drink too fast, and or mix spirits with various sodas, juices, etc so there is no immediate transfer of a good feeling. So then they drink more and more and eventually it is all absorbed into your blood stream through the stomach and intestine walls, where you end up having consumed twice as much, to get the feeling sipping straight or slightly altered spirits would have given an hour earlier. Extra money, extra calories from both the alcohol and the mixers. Think martinis , or bourbon or rum on the rocks. About the worst thing you can do, is drink shots. You might as well tip your head back and have someone pour 4 tablespoons of raw sugar in your throat 🍰🍪 For every shot. Actually worse than that (From a WLS stand) are liqueurs or cordials. By law they must contain a minimum of 2.5% raw sugar syrup back into the previously distilled spirits. Some add up to 15%.. Same with those creme based spirits, and that isn't just sugar they also add whole creme fat that keeps the alcohol in solution and prevent curdling. I have also read on many blogs people claiming they used to drink before WLS, but now get drunk easier. We'll of course you do. Because in most cases WLS patients end up with much less body mass to absorb and assimilate the same amount of alcohol. A breath anaylizer is a very good tool to have in your pocket or purse, to obtain optimal enjoyment, plus remain legal to drive (but it is always best to take an uber, or DD home. 0.04 is the ideal euphoric effect. there is also the fear of transference from food to alcohol and you must remain vigilant to not allow this to occur. the other item that seems to be misunderstood is that some believe sugar and alcohol react differently than each other in weight gain. It's simply not true. Alcohol is sugar/starch to begin with (from a variety of plants, or sugar cane, grapes, etc. Alcohol producers then add yeast to those various items , and said yeast "converts" note I sad "converts, not consumes" those plant sugars into alcohol and Carbon-dioxide these is no difference between raw sugar and alcohol. Except one can make you feel better if used appropriately. I am not writing this to push one guilty pleasure over the other, I am just pointing out that you should perhaps look up the caloric content of the alcohol you drink, with the same intensity as I beleive many do with the sugar/carb load of food. It's just calories, either way, and if you are going to drink in moderation,you shoul calculate those calories into you meal plan.

I just want to stress that it didn't take over night to become overweight. We all had many years of practice. So it's not going to take overnight to be thin. It's also going to take many years of practice to break that cycle, even when you DO reach your goal weight. Weightloss is a never ending battle. Weight Gain is a battle worth fighting. As for the fear of gaining the weight back because of your personal experiences with mostly bypass patients. My doc told me that after 2 years the bypass stops working because you have already reached a certain amount of weight and it can't be adjusted. After that 2 years it's up to you. The lapband can be adjusted. But I'm not saying you don't have to continue your battle. What I will say is that YOU look amazing. And I know you have worked hard and will continue to work hard. Be proud of yourself that you got this far. Don't look to far in the future because it is very scary. Take things one day at a time.

It's like you were yelling out loud enough for me to get on line, and read your post. Today marks my 9th week of being banded. I see all the threads with so many people losing so much weight, and it makes me jealous... and oh so weary. I feel like I'm failing with this too. It's been a long crawl to today. My loss is about the same as it was after the first 10 days. I've gone thru 2 major infections, weight gain, and feelings of total frustration. I don't miss eating. I don't miss food. I don't miss hot meals. I don't miss bread, or cheesecake, or pasta. I miss feeling hopeful. I know this will take a year, and that at my age it's more difficult. I just wish I felt like it's really going to happen. To all of you with great loss, it's always good to let us know how you're doing it. If not for the forum, I wouldn't know much. When I spoke to my Dr this past week, about some of the things we all go thru - he acted like it was a news alert. Congrats to those of you doing well*

(*@%(&%^#@*$%$^#@&*$ *sigh* I read before that you 'sinc up' with your girlfriends on your monthly cycle if you hang out with them enough. I swear it seems to be true here too, I can't believe how many people are complaining about PMS, bloating, the monthly weight gain, etc, etc. I hate my scale with a deap dark passion. One day it will move and I wont hate it quite so much. And by move, I mean GO DOWN, of course.

(yesterday) I told my dad that i lost 18 pounds (b/c he is VERY displeased w/my weight gain) His reply: "hmpf! from where?!" so that let me know that i'm so fat, the 18 pounds isnt even noticable! I know that i should ignore him and i know his comment was mean but he's still an important person in my life. he is a big reason that i want to loose weight. he really doesnt like me fat. i think i even embarrass him around his friends and our family.....:frown:

Absolutely not if I dont eat right and workout the weight gain begins so no it was tool to help me start myjourney!

Fat2flat: Take a breath ... you are relatively new to band life and still need to adjust. You say you don't want to lose quick, then the band is the right "tool" for you. You also say that you want to lose faster than you are currently losing ... but you don't say how much you've lost. It is likely that you have not yet reached your sweet spot, so more fills are needed along with diet and exercise. Are you consistently exercising? Have you made "lifestyle" changes where your food is concerned? The band is (for most, for a few the weight falls off like GB) a tool that works only as hard a you work. Please note that "hard" is a relative term, it doesn't have to be hard -- if you are willing and ready to change your life. The good news is that if you are not quite ready to jump into the deep end, but need to walk from the shallow to the deep -- you HAVE the band and it will be there when you get to the deep end. I have always been a slow loser, but I am still very happy with my progress. I had been banded a little over a year before I started exercising consistently. I have a number of health problems that prevent me from doing strenuous exercise, but i do absolutely everything I can -- because I want to reach my goal and I am WILLING to do what it takes. I have been in physical therapy for months building muscle to strengthen my spine which is riddled with a degenerative disease. My ortho says that the only way around this issue is building muscle to take on the work that my spine can no longer do. This is a win, win because you lose more weight when you have more muscle. I would first recommend that you let go of the frustration ... it will only distract you from achieving your goal (i.e., losing weight). As you are working your way to your sweet spot do little things to change your diet, things you can live with; so that when you get to your sweet spot you will have many lifestyle changes already in place. Pay attention to how foods effect you. Some people are very sensitive to carbs and have to stay away from them; others require a more balanced diet to lose weight. Find what works for you ... let this be your focus and before you know it you will be at your sweet spot with a great new lifestyle AND you will lose weight. YOU CAN DO THIS. Be kind to yourself and ... patient. This journey is individual and very personal. What works for one person may not work for another. mamastwo; hate to say this, but fills are really necessary. It took 7 or 8 fills before I was got to my sweet spot. If you don't have time to get your fills, you can't really expect the band to do it's part. Again, the good news is that you have the band and when you have time to get enough fills to get to your sweet spot, your band will do it's part to assist you with weight loss. Don't give up. Try to make yourself a priority in your life so you can work this band. Find the time for fills, exercise and consciously making time to prepare your meals. Don't let frustration overtake you .... that will only put you on a cycle to nowhere ... we've already done that and all we got for our troubles was weight gain. Move as slowly as you need to, but KEEP MOVING FORWARD. Be kind to YOU! All the best to you both on your journey. This is a great website, with great support. Make it happen in 2012!!! ~Fran

Chickie -- I understand totally. Why then do you see the pronounced rebound weight gains in gastric bypass patients (group at large) but not in lap band patients over a 5 year span? My surgeon also explained to me (perhaps I misunderstood) that one option in some cases of pouch dilation for gastric bypass patients is to THEN apply a band. I'm not discounting your points at all and I don't want to appear to be a newcomer with all the answers. I've enjoyed reading your views on life with the band and think we are of similar mind. Particularly with regard to slow weight loss. My point to the original poster is that the studies clearly show a rebound weight gain long-term (3-5 years) that band patients don't show -- another plus in the band catagory. According to my surgeon one distinct reason for this is the adjustability of the band. Not that it will cure a dilated pouch from "abuse". With regard to slippage and erosion, I wonder how many folks out there have their band embricated to hold it in place and further reduce the chance for slippage and erosion? I'll post that as a seperate question.

Up here in Canada a lot of the advertising which is allowed south of border is simply not permitted. Much of this which is forbidden has to do with legal and medical services; we also have funny laws covering prescription pharmaceuticals. The way I heard about the lapband and the Toronto Lap Band Centre, the place were I went for my surgery, was through a girlfriend who had seen one of the surgeons interviewed on a local morning show. She had heard me whining about my weight gains for a long time and thought that I might be interested. Before I knew about the lapband I was thinking about extensive lipo but was terrified of the pain. The rest is happy history. :eek:

Well I've always been insecure. lol I went through really awkward years in my early teens(about 20lbs overweight, horrible acne:pizza face, braces, horrible dressing/hair) lol But when I started growing out of that I met alot of different guys and I was between 170-190, I'm sorry but I'm personally turned off by guys that find really skinny girls attractive. However then my thyroid went off and I was a shut-in for 3 years and gained 90lbs. I think it was the sleeping 15 hours a day that made me feel the most unattractive. It really has to do about personality and confidence sometimes though, I can say that I've had a LOT more attention recently now that I'm back to 167lbs. As I've gone down in weight you start to realize how sensitive an issue being fat is. It's sad that people look down on you for it, but I am so thankful that my family and awesome b/f stood by me through weight gain and weight loss and loved me the whole time. And unfortunately a lot of people don't have that. That's why this forum is amazing, because we all know what it's like. Sorry if that was really long-and somehow turned into a I-Love-Lapband-Talk! lol

Please don't let my weight gain of 20 lbs scare you. I was irresponsible and continued vomiting wthout talking to my dr until my band slipped last year. And when he took my fill out is when I gained. So it had nothing to do with my band and what it can do for you. It was all on me. I'm working right now with a barely slipped band (he said as long as I have no more symptoms - severe reflux - that I'll be ok the way it is). I have enuf restriction to do what I need to do, but not as much as before so I really have to watch it. I've recently started the Atkins Induction (and I've always been against Atkins, against diets in general) and lost 8 of those lbs so far! So please don't let my post scare you. The band DOES work and it WILL work for you (if you follow the rules). Good luck! Marci

i weigh myself before and after going to the bathroom, before and after I eat and dressed and undressed. I've bought more scales that most people own in a lifetime. Sometimes I even take the scale on vacation with me. No scale = eating out of control and big weight gain. This of course will change once I am banded in 8 DAYS. :hail: :funscale:

Good point Chickie! I'm only a newbie (banded 5/29) here but I've read every study I could get my hands on and discussed them with my doctor. While your point is certainly valid, I'm referring to study outcomes that I've seen comparing the two methods over multiyear spans. You can clearly see a rebound weight gain in the bypass line graph vs lap band pts. And, although no infinite adjustments, one advantage of the band is that it can be adjusted long term vs the bypass. Just pointing out another reason to look favorably on the band vs bypass.

I am so disappointed with myself. I started off great, then I had a blood clot and just was focus on not bruising myself or falling. Now, I have gained 10 lbs and still haven't reach my goal. I haven’t exercised, but now I am trying to do something each day. My two year surgerversary is 4/16/2016. Has anyone else come back and met goal after a long stall and weight gain? Thanks

Years before surgery I had only tried Depo. I really didn't care about the weight gain, now I do...lol. So I think I've pretty much ruled that one out. My doctor gave me the mini pill to try but she said she had little faith in it and really recommends that Mirena IUD. I'm just so scared of having something implanted. But it would be worse if the mini pill was ineffective...lol! I am such a baby when it comes to pain, but I have to ask......did the actual placement of the device hurt? Can you feel it everyday? Is it uncomfortable? What about the side effects? It says possible hair loss....lol....=0 .....more loss? Ugh! Did that happen to anyone?

My problem is why did you tell him the truth about the ladies. Why did you not just say that you were worried about Water weight gain yourself..... or say that the ladies were worried about water weight....not that the women were worried about not losing or having a difficult time losing.... that just makes it harder on the rest of us... I am lucky I have lots of support at home but some others might not be as fortunate as you and the weight might be coming off very slowly. Some women that have diabetes or other health issues might be having a difficult time.... BUT it just sucks for me.... to walk in with my period being 6lb heavier and when I told him I had my period he gave me a weird look and after reading your post.... it clicked. Has anyone ever had experience with the other surgeons at SSF and what are they like.... My experience with DR. Le was not good, he was rude, rushed and a bit unprofessional. Please post your thought if you have seen any of the other SSF surgeons. Thanks!

Hi April: Really glad to hear from you, the weight gain from taken Percocet was explained as a medication the could cause weight, I was at a pain management class in Roseville when I heard that and even questions the doctor about it and he conformed it would, so that is where that comes from. Today we had snow in Shingle Springs so it is very cold and very painful for those of us who have arthritis, so I stayed in all day. I will call on Monday to Richmond and see what I have to do next, I am sure the food intake is ok but the exercising is not what they are looking for, but I am hoping with time that will come, as you know that is why I am going through this is for knee replacements, and I have to be really careful went I walk even with the walker, my knee pops out on the left and locks up on the right because of bone spurs, but I still have high hopes. Have a great weekend, and stay well. Sincerely:redface: Judy