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OH my God! SaraMoss, That Pre-operative list is frightenning. Seriously bandster, YOU DO NOT NEED them at all. At the end of the day, it really is down to common sense and it really is NOT that difficult to follow. Just like anyohe going for any operations, you just have to take it easy for a couple of days. After the op, there WOULD NOT BE a great deal of restriction as yr doc wud hv just insert the ring band around yr stomach. U will need a few FILLS before you will feel any restriction, and that would be in the duration of a least 6months before you will feel your weight seriously going down. The doc did say it will be a duration of 1-2yrs before we will lose 80% of our overweight weights. Just be careful because you just had an operation. Stay off solid food as instructed, stock up on liquid low calory drinks, non-fat yogurts, light clear soup for the 1st couple of weeks. Stay off cabonated drinks. By week 2, I was already on pureed food and creamy soup. The hosp you going to should be giving you some chewable pain killers when you check out of the hosp anyway. Yr wound should heal in a week's time. It's more scarry than it is painful, truthfully. Good luck to those going for the op. And to answer yr question Sara Moss, I have lose 24pounds since Sept. I suffer from my underactive thyroid which means I should celebrate even if I lose 1 pound cos I have a non existence metabolism and weight gain are usually associated with this disfuntional thyroid problem. I went underactive 3yrs ago and put on 3stones, which wont buldge despite all my exercise & diets. Thats why I finally seek the banding option.

Hi Bella, welcome to LBT. Turtles, Turtles, Turtles... You have asked a very good question. But unfortunately, we don't have the answers. I don't know that anyone really knows if they are going to be a Turtle until they are one. I have been diagnosed with Cushing's, a condition where I produce way too much cortisol. Right now I'm in the middle of tests to verify the diagnosis. One of the symptoms of Cushing's is the inability to lose weight, and another is unexplained and rapid weight gain. I have to wonder how many other Turtles are also Cushing's folk. But the think is Bella, I have a very strong suspicion that Turtles will be Turtles even if they are converted to a malaborptive technique, like the DS or one of the other bypass flavors like RNY. But we make up a very small percentage of the banded population, if LBT is any indication.

If you have PCOS and most of your weight gain is from that then you may not need a band if you find a good PCOS Doc who will give you the metformin and hormone treatment you need. You do need to eat a Low GI diet though...that is an absolute must!! High quality, slow release carbs will stabilise your blood sugar and help you. I lost 20 kg with Metformin and hormone treatment and walking the dog. No band involved....then unfortunately my thyroid packed up and I put on 30kg in 12 months. That's when I gave in and had my lovely band. I was diagnosed PCOS at 42 and you are 11 years younger than me...I also had my first child at 32 so you have 12 months on me there too....Low GI...give it your best shot...it really is worth it. Oh and don't forget to push for that metformin...essential.

I'm so happy that your hubby's reservations have changed & am happy I could help with that Men are very visual creatures and it helps seeing another 'regular' person v's a model like we get bombarded with on TV weight loss commercials.... I think our failed attempts at those diets made our guys lose faith in the ability of things to work for us since we aren't models/actors.... and since the band is more scarey sounding than a normal diet (cause of surgery) as well as more expensive they get both scared and think we might be being 'conned' yet again... . plus they are our 'protectors', they love us and don't want us to feel like we have 'failed' again if it was just like one of those other diets. My BMI (i guess that's the only way we can compare being different heights) I think was 39 going into surgery, (sz.22 at millers, 20 at 16/26, medium at my size). I went to genesis for a month (where i seemed to be most peoples idea of their worst weight nightmare) and then switched to fernwood (heaps better!) and went religously once the doc cleared me for exercise and got the best runners for my feet (for me that was nike tn's at the time $249, now with current changed needs is nike shocks $199 but footlocker frequently have 30% off sales so you can get better prices - without the best shoes for your feet - and everybody is different - you wont be comfortable or have the same drive - i couldn't believe just how much difference the right shoes for my feet made).... it took ages for me to get restriction (literally - it was october 12th 2005 when I put my foot down and went to a different surgeon to get restriction to make sure I wouldn't gain my weight back because my motivation and will power was really stretched to the limit and I was sick of living on appetite supressants when I had a band - wasn't going to take t he 'waiting 8 weeks' between adjustments any longer, I had had this thing in me long enough it should be doing some of the work by now! - he gave me a huge fill (what i was suposed to have was not in there) and I finally knew what having a band was all about) but I persevered without much restriction those first 8 1/2 months and it took 10 months 13 days to get to 'healthy' bmi. With your attitude I know you will do it too!! I attribute my weight loss to my band because without my band I would not have had the motivation to actually lose all that weight - every other diet proved that - but every other diet didn't cost as much as the band (even if the band didn't do all or any of the work physically those first months just being in me brought out the tight ass in me that wasn't going to spend all that money and fail!). I did gain back nearly (shock!) 12kg when I lost that precious restriction and was hungry 24/7 like a rabid hyiena. A year had passed so it was to be expected; I saw my surgeon who didn't think it was a big deal since he still thought i was skinny and my bmi was still (barely) healthy and then I went back to that other surgeon again (i mean i didn't want to be gaining and crazy out of mind hungry) - he gave me an adjustment which took away my hunger - those 12kg melted back off once the hunger was gone. Therefore I know my band is the only reason I am still a normal weight - if that rabid hunger and weight gain continued i'd be obese again by now.... gut wrenching hunger regardless of how much you eat is the most awful thing.... the band squeezing the vargus nerve just right stops that which is a miracle. I eat a tonne more than most because I don't have a "tight" band like others describe..... I still get up in the middle of the night sometimes and have a piece of vegemite toast with my dog (now when I cook 2 pieces one is for me and one is for her.... before it was 2 each!) - other people hear that and I can see the pained look on their face as they imagine trying to swallow toast lol. The band is so individual, we all need it to work differently in terms of tightness for our lifestyle.

Wellbutrin is an anti-depressant that is not supposed to effect your weight (many anti-depressants cause weight gain) or your sex drive (I know fron experience that Zoloft results in ZERO interest in sex). I've been depressed before, but the 1/2 lb a week I was managing to lose after $16000 worth of surgery threw me back into the black pit of despair. It's better now (3 mo. and an increased dosage later) but I'm still not normal yet. <sigh>

Hi gals Well, there was so much real cheese in that pie, but everyone loved it... of course I knew i was not going to be able to eat it so it has real cheese in there, and way too much due to the little accident....lol We had a nice day, my sister is really starting to become the person she use to be. I went to PA today and we had a long talk, I told her about the big weight gain with the lexapro and then loosing it except the last 5lbs, because of course i'm super pms this morning ... she gave me a fill, my biggest one, i'm up to 1.5cc, she was going to put me to 1.75 but i told her i wanted to do baby steps, I then asked her for the post surgery pages of the diet so i could get back on track of what i should be eating. That was a bonus. So I am on Clear liquids for 2-5 days, the min is 2 days but left it up to me... but no more than 5, then mushie food for the same amount of time. I also have an appointment with the nutritionist on mondy, so I hope to get a swift kick in the butt to get this going again. I'm sipping chicken broth right now. Pamela, I think you still have my aol email address, I'm going to look there, but glad you are doing well already! Judy, you getting some nice weather to send my way? I'm tired of all the cool temps and rain. Well, today was a hit, so i'm happy. never walked this morning so going out in a bit.

Rude awakening this morning to the realization that at some point the power must have flickered in the night, and my battery back up on the alarm is shot as well! Rick and I were snoozing so good, the storm last night brought in some cooler weather, when all of a sudden he bolts upright and says a bad word. Brought me out of my warm and snuggly place quite quickly! He raced around and was out the door. It would have been normal time for me to get up pretty much, and we usually are chatting before the alarm goes off, but it was kinda darker than normal, and cool and just perfect sleeping in weather....just the wrong day unfortuately! Pamela, hope today is less painful than it is going to look. Just keep in mind how it is going to look soon! My Mom is having her arms done in a couple of weeks. It is a genetic thing, and we have HUGE arms, that the fat pad eventually drops over the elbow. She would never spend the $$$ on it, then when she got this unexpected inheritance, we convinced her to do something she wanted that she refused to use retirement $$$ on! The PS told her with the type of weight gain in her arms, she could get down to 89 pounds and not have body fat ANYWHERE else, and there would be a pad of fat there--he said there is no effective way to help a muscle in that area to make it "defined" fat, it is just there, and if you are genetically disposed to the type of thing WE have then it is the only way to get rid of it. So as soon as the rest of my debt is paid, I am starting to save for it. I have several errands to run before work, and all involve money flowing like water....sucks in a major way! I gotta go get my allergy drops in my eyes, I am miserable, wish the corn would finish tasselling everywhere and my eyes would be almost normal again.....grrrrrrr Sorry about your pie Jenn, I dumped a fresh baked one perfectly upside down in the floor one time. I so wanted to jump up and down in the middle of it, had to settle for saying bad words....

Hi everyone, i just wanted to update you all. I am so excited that I've been no good all day at work. i went in to my first monitoring appointment since starting stims and i have 12 folies. I was so excited. my one ovary is working hard. Thanks for lissening (reading) Cjlm10- Great! I am so excited for you. You get used to the injections.They aren't that bad. I have learned that patience is the key to all these treatments. So am taking it easy. If i feel stressed i get on my treadmill n walk n read a book. Mnjhowell- congratulations! I cant wait to hold my baby. Hoping for girl. I am trying not to look at the scale right now. I am just eating right n walking everyday. I am consious of the weight gain from stims and feel like the incredible hulk at times but am concentrating my on my goal n put the weight monster out of my mind. Keep me posted on how you've concoured your weight moster and enjoy your little angel.

Sorry just seen this now. Yes they were happy with the weight gain. Month 9 I did gain another 8 pounds (my appetite went crazy) so 15 pounds total. Baby was 7 pounds healthy and perfect! By 2 weeks post partum my weight went back to pre pregnancy weight. But then the holidays came and I did gain about 10 pounds, so I would just say be careful after you give birth and try to continue healthy eating habits.

This sounds just like me, when I met my husband I wasn't heavy either. I was 15 years old when we started dating and I weighed 118 pounds. I think the weight gain had to do with a few things, one I grew up poor and we lived off of pb&J, mac and cheese and ramen noodles. So when my husband (boyfriend at the time) would bring me McDonald 20 piece nuggets or take me out to eat it was like a huge luxury to me and I would just pig out. Around age 18 (literally like over night) I went from someone super active to not even being able to get out of bed because I was just so exhausted all the time and I was also never hungry. This went on for YEARS!! and during that time is when I gained about 100 pounds. I didn't have health insurance at the time so I never went to a doctor. Then we got married and I was on his health insurance policy. About a year into the marriage we decided to try for a baby and I ended up having miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies (one of which took my fallopian tube) so we set up an appointment with an RE and he ran a bunch of tests and that is when I discovered I had hypothyroidism. The doctor said most likely I had it for years and it was never diagnosed because I hadn't been to a doctor. My thyroid levels were through the roof he said. So I'm a little bit bitter and angry because I feel like the weight gain could have been prevented had I even known what hypothyroid was and had it diagnosed 9 years sooner. Anyways, what I meant about being in the same boat was that my husband is an enabler and spoils the crap out of me and gets me whatever I want but I really hope after this surgery he doesn't try and sabotage my weight loss efforts.

I know I'm super late with this (I just signed up to this forum) but have you thought about the Nuvaring? This was my birth control before my surgery and I loved it. Low dose of hormones and not any weight gain.

No low carb plans here, I dont believe low carb is a healthy way to eat. Its not really advised in Australia either, its more of an American thing. I think you need carbs as part of a healthy diet and you get good weight loss without them for sure, but you also get good rebound weight gain when you give in to the inevitable. Really low carb diets are not sustainable long term for many people. But I do try to stay away from processed carbs, white bread, cakes, muffins, doughnuts etc. Nobody needs those.

A lot of people who have never struggled with their weight (or people who have only had to lose, like, 20 pounds) want to think of weight as a personal or moral attribute. They want to believe that their ability to control their weight is indicative of their personal superiority, so they feel threatened by the thought of some of us -- whom they view as inferior based solely on weight -- can "cheat" our way into their category. Many people who haven't looked into weight loss surgery also have no idea how hard it is. I think back to the first time I read about gastric bypass and thought it sounded like absolute magic -- the answer to all my problems! You get your stomach stapled and the weight just falls right off. And then I found out about all the risks and potential complications, dumping syndrome, and the fact that some people still regain the weight, and that was enough to turn me off from weight loss surgery for 15+ years. And even then, it wasn't until I actually started the process that I found out about the pre-op diet and all the post-op phases, having to constantly sip water all day just to avoid dehydration and go for weeks without solid food. I'd be willing to bet that most people have no clue how hard it is to get through all the pre-op requirements and post-op phases. Ironically, it's those people who have never had to think about weight loss surgery who really have the easy way out in that they don't have the propensity for weight gain in the first place. They have no idea how hard some of us have to work to lose weight and/or keep it off.

I have not been in your position with the pain but I have been depressed in the past and I can feel your struggle in your words. I would for sure get a new therapist if they are not listening to you and realizing that you need help and not telling you to just deal with things. As far as the weight gain, the lack of exercise usually isn't the biggest cause. Some people can lose without any exercise at all. I totally understand your frustration to have your options so limited but you can only control so much. You are doing the best you can. I would look at your calories and you'll probably have to lower them to get the weight to come back off again. Alcohol is usually pretty high in calories, so it might be the main culprit. So for motivations sake, quitting the alcohol might make the weight gain stop and then when you feel better in control of your life you can make more diet changes and then lose the weight too. Sometimes just having something that you can control when everything else feels so out of control helps ground you and give you the mental stability to deal with things. So controlling your diet and calories could be a good start. I wish you the very best though and take care!

Hi guys, so I’m exactly 1 month post op today and my start weight was 125Kg and I went down to 115.9Kg but this was in the first two weeks maybe even week. Since then I haven’t lost anything which was stressing me out, but what is stressing me out even more is I decided to get on the scales today and it came up as 116.7 and I checked in different places just to be sure. I’ve literally not added anything major into my diet I haven’t gone astray. So I’m still on protein shakes and I’ve only just this Tuesday started soft foods so literally yesterday prior to that I was having lentil soup as a meal 200grams of it for dinner and two protein shakes and water . I haven’t even eaten any foods today I really don’t know what’s going on. I’m actually so upset . Did anyone else experience this?

Lets see.....My friend told me about it a year ago, but I didn't think about it for myself at the time. She then one day asked me, when I was crying about my dieting and recent weight gain, why I didn't look into banding. She told me to come on here. Nov. 22 was the date I joined and started asking my questions, made my decision about choosing Dr. Ortiz, bought his book, my financing that I had been trying to get for home improvements that had not gone through for 6 months was now "miraculously" coming through now, for such a time as this..... I scheduled surgery for Dec. 18 but had to reschudule since the money didn't come in in time, a few days too late. Resceduled for Jan. 5 and had it done!!! So, my time line from the date I even considered it for myself to the time I had it done, was only about 1 1/2 months!!!!! Had my money come through, when I was hoping, it would have gone to wood floors or granit countertops!!!! Audree

Thank you for this post. I am nearly 3 years post-op and have experienced weight gain (just posted myself about it!) and didn't really consider the menopause aspect. Funny enough, it turned out one of my last regular periods was the day of my sleeve surgery. I was told to expect irregular periods post-op, so I didn't really think much of it until I was over two years out and had only had a handful of periods. I haven't had the blood tests to confirm it, but I'm guessing that I am well into it at this point. I have noticed that the weight gain has not been in the areas that have histocially been my problem areas--thighs and butt. I have always been an hourglass, but the new weight seems to be all in the belly and love handles, never something I had before. Thank you nature!

My lil love, Jordan just turned 3 last mth and is potty trained too....that's awesome!......but, diapers, are hopefully, in our near future again.............. I hear ya on the tough years and weight gain. Clayton was born Oct 21, 2006... Got pg w/Jordan in Dec 2006...... Lots of nerve-wracking stuff going on. Am glad I have the band to help me stay on track thru the pregnancy, but even more excited to use it as planned next year!

Ok! LOL. I'm trying really hard to get it. TY for your comments, they are all really helping me reframe my stinkin thinkin brain and SOOOO sorry to take over this thread. I am gonna go work on it and quit posting so much here. Swearsies!!! And I can't take much credit. It all goes to the PS on the foobs. He did a great job on my 3 reconstructions from BC. Double mast, they stay that size regardless of weight gain or loss. But they do look pretty bodacious in a smaller body than they did at 287lbs. That's for sure! (maybe one of the only perks of it. LOL!! hahahaha)

Ok so I started the 5 day pouch test yesterday. Surprisingly it wasn't that hard in terms of hunger but have had a headache this morning which I think is a withdrawal symptom from all of the sugar. That's ok with me. I ate or more accurately drank 4 cups of Soup yesterday which added up to a lot of carbs for the day (I had tomato soup and split pea). Ironically I got a letter in the mail from my bariatric surgeon that its time to schedule an appointment. This I took as a sign that its time to conquer this weight gain. I would dread to go back a failure. Going for a nice long walk now. Will check back again soon.

I had a hysterectomy (uterus only) one year ago. Although I still have my ovaries, I think menopause has finally set in. Hot flashes every evening and at night. (Anyone else have a partner who is overly amorous when s/he wakes up and finds you nude and panting in bed? I don't have the heart to tell my husband he's not a rock star.) I am suddenly far less interested in that arena of late too. I am only 42, so I am hoping for a few more years before my hormones go completely out of whack, because I have heard that menopause does cause weight gain. Good luck!

It's been 3.5 weeks since I have had a diet coke, and I am frequently day dreaming about having an ice cold can of DC! I was drinking a super big gulp everyday before my VS. I plan to give them up for good, because it is so bad for your health and because research has shown it leads to weight gain. But truly, giving up diet coke is harder than all the other foods I am giving up. Yesterday I went into a 7-11 for my kids, and I felt like an alcoholic walking into a liquor store. And believe me, I am by no means making light of the struggle addicts go through on a daily basis. This is so hard for me!!

Honey, it's a journey and this is just part of it. Both the weight gain and having to deal with Mr. Wonderful. Try to get him out of your head. He's just taking up space there and doing you no favors. He obviously triggers alot of stuff for you so you have to minimize your interaction with him and minimize any damage he tries to inflict. Keep us in the loop...text if you need support and I know we'll try to be there if not physically, at least virtually.

The same thing is happening with me I lost around 15 lbs from my six month med. Diet now people tell oh you dont need the surgery but but the same thing always happens lose a little weight gain alot more back

What size band do u have cadence ? It wasnt until i got around 7.25 that i really felt some restriction, i got stuck still but woiuld get hungry in between meals and probably eat a little more than i thought i could. My surgeon at Nuffield Hospital says just be careful after a fill, they always do the water test fills then afterwards make u sit and eat a yoghurt before going home, but he doesnt really push for liquids only .. I eat 3 meals a day .. dinner in the evenings around 6 pm i try not to have any snacks at all of an evening just tea or coffee and use them as fillers during the day in between meals. I normally have some form of protein and 2 green veg, or a salad. I always start my dinner with a weight watchers tomato soup to stop me from eating too fast or too much as this makes me feel half full even before i start eating. The trick is to keep everything that you are supposed to do in your head and just tweak it to what works for you.. I know exactly what food i can and cant eat, what makes me heavier in the mornings when i weigh myself and u just have to keep plugging away at it. I do try and do as much exercise as i can as i would be a slow loser without it. I also eat food that supposidly helps speed up the metabolism like broccoli, green tea, asparagus, chilli etc i googled it .. I wouldnt lose much weight at all if i went over 1000 calories a day so i dont, i burn around 800 a day and include strength training which to me is a must to develop muscles enough to burn even more calories.. it works for me anyways, sounds like u still need your fills tweaking . My last fill was 0.3 and that works good for a while, i am back next monday for another small fill .. Good luck and dont give up .. i am sure if you wernet banded you would have put on weight maybe so the loss might not be much but in the grand scheme of things u have halted your weight gains