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Hi, it's been 3 years since I had the sleeve. I lost 124 lbs. , started at 287 and got to (my goal weight) 165. But now here I am 3 years later at 181 lbs. and struggling to loss that 16 pounds and get back to my goal weight of 165... I'm snacking to much and find I'm eating a little more at meals than I used to. Is anyone else having this problem? Dori

Alrighty! I jumped all the pre-surgery hoops, from psych profile and initial meeting with dietitian (who was great- went way beyond "food" to discussing behavior), got the cardio sign off after a chemical stress test and even though my primary was ambivalent, he talked directly to the bariatric surgeon- they know each other. It is a small medical community. Everything got submitted to Medicare for approval of insurance coverage. I use nicotine replacement therapy-- nasal spray- it helped me get off the ciggies 13 years ago and that apparently isn't a problem either. So I'm now waiting for the green light from Medicare. (I have a good supplemental program to back it up). I've got fingers crossed that it gets approved- I find my mobility worse than ever, breathing difficult given mild COPD and carrying this weight isn't just a cosmetic/ego thing- it is dragging me down. I have a hard time getting around, climbing stairs, walking any distance. Wish me luck. I'll let you know assuming I go in and get it done- I have Barrett's, GERD and atrial fib (which I attribute in part to the weight gain). I know I have work to do- this is not magic bullet, but I'm psyched! I've been on a modified FODMAP diet for a while. I'm getting close to 70 years old and want to have another ten or more years to travel and do things. I thank all of you for your support. I'm sure I'll have questions as this process continues. But, my continued thanks for this forum and its participants as a resource. regards to all, D6

Greetings, I am a newbie to the board & am in the process of recovery:girl_hug: from my lapbad removal:thumbdown: on 9.17. Year 1: 6 fills; 3 unfills; weight fluctuation range: 247-198 weight loss: 49 pounds; weight gain: 30 pounds Year 2: 4 fills; 3 unfills; 2 deflates; 1 band removal weight fluctuation range: 217-201 Max. weight loss: 16 pounds; Max. weight gain: 9pounds I have followed up with my insurance to ensure coverage--confirmed--and I have followed up with my PCP to ensure protocol--letter from referral doctor of medical necessity. I have followed up with my referral doctor/wls surgeon to advise that my PCP needs a letter of medical necessity to submit for approval for authorization. I am schedule for my one month post op follow up visit with my wls surgeon on 10.31. I have confirmed the co-pay for wls in-patient is $250/outpatient is $150. :laugh: I was selfpay $8500 plus travel for my lapband--Dr. Ortiz--Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico in November 2006. So the opportunity to get this wls covered by insurance is FANTASTIC! I can say that my insurance/PCP have been great b/c they covered all but 2 of my fills--and that was before I realized that I could petition for coverage. :huh2: I am hopeful/prayerful that there are not too many hoops to jump through and that the best case scenario renders that I can anticipate my wls to occur near the end of Thanksgiving--yes this year--like in a bit more than 30 days! I am wrapping up my last semester of coursework on my doctorate degree in higher education leadership and am working on chapters 1-3 for proposal defense & have comp exams coming up in 3 weeks...atop of returning to work on Monday.....so I already have a lot of hoop action already going on!:tt2: Wish me well!:cool2: Sheena

Yea, I would have to say the weight gain is from the "last meal syndrome." lol. I'm usually able to loose weight pretty quick so I'll just try to loose it before the surgery. Yea I had to get off of the birth control due to the higher risk of blood clots.

I completely understand what you mean! I think the difference for me is that I was so STRICT in the past that if I "messed-up" by eating anything that was unhealthy, I just threw it all away. This past weekend, with permission from my nutritionist, I had a half cheesesteak (no mayo, lite cheese and the bread gutted) and a piece of my birthday cake. It was my birthday and I was not going to jeopardize the surgery or outcome. I had that meal and 4 cocktails.....with no weight gain all weekend. I was so excited. I think I have actually learned to eat in moderation and for the first time in my 40yrs.....listen to my "full" button. Please let me know as you go through your appt how things go for you...how much do you have to lose?

With the myfitnesspal.com it asks some questions like your weight, height, even sex. It will determine what your calorie intake should then be. It's really a good idea to journal your food for calories, and Protein. You said you think there is something else wrong with you. Well, I have a hypothyroid, and that will cause sluggish weight loss or weight gain. If I were you,,, I would journal everything for a month, and get some exercise. If you have no luck, then see a Dr., and explain your situation. Good Health to you, Shirley.

Wheetsin, I think I had the same name on LBT. It's been a while. My update: I saw my surgeon again this morning. There was some confusion, as I thought they had rescheduled my surgery for 8/24 (instead of 8/31). But it was really scheduled for SEVEN/24. Um, that's next Tuesday, and for a variety of reasons, I just cannot make it work. The big one is I am out of town for work. The next available option he had was 8/17. which was 3.5 weeks later. Fortunately, my surgeon is awesome. He worked me in on 8/3, so I don't have to move heaven and earth, AND I can get it done sooner. The bad news is my band is EFFFED UP! For real. If you've seen your band on film, you know it should look like a slash, '/'. Mine is a perfectly round, big, open, 'O', Yep, it has not only turned, but it has flipped and twisted. Which means my poor tummy is being drug up and through the O and then back down. Not good. He said he's seen worse though. I am thankful for once that my overachieving ways didn't have me in first place. He can't believe I don't have any restriction based on the band's position, but I really don't. Oh, also, my band has ZERO Fluid in it, even though it should have 9cc. Yep, it is a mess. I wonder if he'll give it to me as a souvenir! Sooooo, it's bad enough that I have to wait at least FOUR MONTHS between surgeries for my poor tummy to heal. BUT because he is seriously the most awesome doctor ever, he reassured me that I am NOT to worry about weight gain. He wants me to focus solely on letting my tummy heal. He said he doesn't care if I lose 10 lbs or gain 50 lbs between now and my sleeve, he just wants to see me healed. He said I will get it all off and then some with the sleeve. In fact, he insisted I will be sitting in his office a year from now asking for plastic surgeon referrals because I'll have lost so much weight. It seems impossible, but I know it is true. Whether I have the surgery now or in a few months, a year from now, it won't really make a difference. A lower risk of complication is worth it in the end. There you have it - the latest and greatest from this battling bandster. I have finally stopped crying. I'm still not happy at the prospect of being restriction-free for an additional five months or so, but it is what it is. I didn't have restriction for about six months with the band, so I just need to get in that same head space and do what I need to do. Thanks for reading if you've made it this far!

Researchers generally determine Protein quality by using the protein efficiency ratio (PER) or the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). They determine the PER by evaluating the weight gain in growing rats fed a particular protein compared with a standard protein, egg whites being the gold standard. The higher the PER value, the greater the protein quality. The PDCAAS was introduced as a more accurate way to evaluate protein quality for humans, because it uses human, not rat, amino acid requirements to calculate the amino acid score. It compares the amino acid profile of a protein with the essential amino acid requirements for humans according to The food and Agriculture Organization. When a protein meets this requirement, it gets a score of 1.0. PDCAAS has now been adopted as the official method by the World Health Organisation, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture. Although the PDCAAS method is the internationally recognised standard for comparing Proteins for human consumption, it does not allow for differentiation among proteins with a PDCAAS of 1.0, so proteins can have different PERs while still having a PDCAAS of 1.0. This is significant, because researchers are now exploring how variances in specific essential and/or conditionally essential amino acids, as well as the availability of various peptides and micronutrients, affect human physiology. Claims of consumer-relevant superiority or inferiority, when performance of physique modificaitons are concerned, have yet to be supported by population-specific evidence in humans. Protein PCDAAS PER Gelatin/collagen 0.08. -- Beef/poultry/fish 0.80-0.92. 2.0-2.3 Soy 1.00. 1.8-2.3 Ovalbumin (egg) 1.00. 2.8 Milk protein 1.00. 2.8 Casein 1.00 2.9 whey 1.00. 3.0-3.2 Bovine colostrum. 1.00. 3.0-3.2 Table 1 Table 1 (above) lists the PER and/or PDCAAS for the major types of protein used in nutritional supplements. The following discusses the relative strengths and weaknesses of these basic types of proteins that are often used as starting materials for nutritional supplements. Of course, adding deficient amino acids and other nutrients to these proteins may increase the PDCAAS, nutrient value and/or functionality of the protein. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> As you can see above collagen/gelatin is nearly useless to the human body. This is what is in almost all protein shots. Always check the ingredients. Many makers of protien shots are giving them names that have Whey in their title but are still using collagen/gelatin as their primary protein source. Also keep in mind that ingredients on labels are listed in the order of amount used. So if collagen or Gelatin is listed first then it is the primary protein source for that product.

Your plan should mention something about weight gain. My plan required an exercise program with documentation. Sent from my SM-G530T using the BariatricPal App Guideline says "there should be no net weight gain". I hope that means over the entire 90 day process. It's not that specific so I am keeping my fingers crossed and was wondering if anyone else had experienced any issues. Sent from my SM-T230NU using the BariatricPal App

http://www.ohniww.org/effects-of-weight-gain-loss-voice-singing/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24954040 Some well-credited sources on this subject. :-)

Weight gain can be a side effect, but that goes along with any birth control. Most of the weight gain is water weight, because you have a higher rate of retaining it. I don't reccomend the depo shot, and mainly because the doctor I work for tells all our patients that Depo has been known to cause "depression and anxiety." Good luck!

Thx so much ladies. Well my story is not that far off from most. I gained most of my weight after I had my son in 2008. I am an asthmatic and have been put on steroids constantly which adds to my weight gain. I had lapband surgery done Feb 2010 and lost around 55lbs but gained most of it back. I have done tons of research on the sleeve and sleeve plication and now I am looking into having a revision.

Well, I started out at 284 pounds/BMI of 42.2, so I know about not doing much. However, I'm down 80 pounds and am looking at running as the next step in my exercise program. Me. Run? WTF? I now walk with running intervals and continue to increase that. I'll be 59 in two weeks and while training for a triathalon isn't totally out of the question, I think probably not....but I continue to increase my duration for exercise and what I can actually do comfortably so I can only say it is what you set out for yourself to do...and what you work to achieve. The band has given me something very precious. I've made it through the holidays without a significant weight gain FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE and in the past that would always throw me off and I'd start regaining lost weight.

I saw my OB yesterday and she said that of all her patients that has had weight loss surgery and the IUD, none of them had reported any weight gain. She doesn't think that the Mirena is affecting me adversely. And I'm not gaining weight, I'm just stalled. She told me to keep and eye on my progress and if it's an issue, she'll pull it. I have no other side effects from it otherwise so I would hate to have it removed, but if it's hindering my progress, it has to go.

None of the following is meant to sound mean or critical (please don't read it that way - just being honest and trying to hit points you may not have considered or might be in denial about). It's great that you're exercising because it's going to make you feel better overall, but weight gain/loss is 90% food and diet related. My doc said that all people will lose even eating absolute crap for the first year, but they will regain if they don't take the time to throw out all they know about food/eating and relearn how to properly eat healthy and figure out correct (small) portion sizing. Your problem seems to be that you're eating things you shouldn't (simple carbs/sugar) and possibly eating too many calories, and that is causing you to regain (simple carbs and sugar are usually high calorie, low nutrition slider foods that make it really easy to overeat). Are you tracking every bite and sip of food/drink? You probably should be measuring and tracking all of it, especially since you're regaining. You likely are overeating and eating foods low in nutrition as well. It would give you a much better idea of whether the failure is your sleeve or more likely - a disconnect with what and how much you you actually eat. I imagine even consulting another surgeon, they'd like to see how many calories you're consuming and what those calories are made up from to make a truly honest opinion about whether another surgery is a good step for you or not. Simple carbs and sugar are known to cause you to crave them all the more once you start eating them regularly, so that would explain the feelings of hunger. (you're not really hungry if you are eating good protein/complex carbs and getting enough calories - it's cravings or head hunger) I would think the answer is counseling with a therapist familiar with food addictions, and a serious mental reset regarding your relationship with food, not more surgery. I'd suggest you go back to the beginning of a sleeve diet - do a week of Protein liquids, then mushies, then onto solids. Get your Water and protein and eat good veggies and healthy complex carbs in moderation. You need to research healthy meals and throw out the crap foods and seriously dedicate yourself to resetting your whole food relationship. That's what we are supposed to do during the honeymoon phase of the sleeve (roughly the first year). If you didn't get your diet stuff down cold, then you won't do well over the long term. It's a sad fact, but most surgeons aren't really driving that point home. The weight loss effects won't last if you regularly eat crap foods. The surgeries allow you a measure of control for you to get back to basics without the gnawing hunger and drastically reduce the portion sizes in the beginning... so you can lose weight and relearn how to eat properly. Maybe once you've got that stuff down well, you can add back in some sugar treats for very special occasions, but they should never, ever be something you eat regularly again. But maybe, if you can't control yourself, it might come down to eliminating them completely if you want to stay healthy. I know it's sucky that you aren't doing so well right now, but you can get stuff figured out if you're willing to do the hard work. It might be worth it rather than going to another surgery and hoping that it does all the work; because it won't. You have to do it, the surgery(ies) are just a tool, but they won't work if you don't commit to using them properly. Good luck!!

I think a 3rd surgery for 6kg is a little drastic.... have you tried going back to basics? Are you tracking your food? Reaching Protein goals? Whats your diet like? In my opinion.... 6kg weight gain in 3 years is not bad at all... you can get rid of that with 2 weeks of following your original pre op diet...

I am going through that very thing right now. Insurance denied me because I had shown a weight gain during my weight management, but at my last weight management appt i had shown a weight loss of 20lbs. Insurance claims they did not receive my paperwork from May which is the month that shows the weight loss. My doctor is going to do a peer to peer phone call with my insurance to have the decision reversed. My doctor also told me that they were not giving the requirement that I could not gain weight. So, I am hoping to receive good news soon. IF your insurance denies your request then you should have the option to appeal their decision. I would talk with your surgeon to find out how to go about something like that. For now, stay positive! You never know, you could be approved! ????

It would be helpful if you filled in our profile particularly your start and current weight along with your height, it gives context to questions and helps those replying to give a relevant response. Even with weight lost surgery scale weight can fluctuate on a daily basis due to a lot of factors: hormones, exercise, dehydration or rehydration, medication, sodium intake etc etc. Are you eating to your surgeon's and/or dietician's post op guidelines? If you are fairly tall or carrying a significant amount of weight, less than 500 calories may be too low for you and you won't be meeting nutritonal goals...you don't want to lose too much muscle weight you want to be losing body fat. The weight gain and loss may well be your weight loss pattern, keep track on a daily basis if you are going to weigh daily (but if you can't cope with the daily fluctuation of scale weight don't weigh daily) and you will be able to spot the trends. Its all good as long as the long term trend is going down.

Greetings everyone, I am a smoker, and I'm thinking about quitting soon. I'm 9 weeks post-op, so I have a long way to go with my weight loss. I'm concerned that: A ) it will be too much of a shock to my already confused body, and B ) that it will halt any further weight loss (or even cause a gain). And while I know the benefits of quitting outweigh any perceived disadvantages, I'm wondering if I should wait until I'm closer to my goal, staying focused on one thing at a time and maximizing this honeymoon period with the sleeve. On the other hand, if the weight loss is easier in these earlier months, maybe that will minimize any potential weight gain from quitting? I have a follow-up with my surgeon on Thursday, so I'm going to ask him, but I'm curious if anyone here has quit smoking in the early (or any) stages of post-op, and what were your results? Be well… D

You will be alright. Although for future reference, remember to stop after you initially make a bad choice. That thinking of "I might as well eat all that I want, since I've already blown it" will get you into trouble. One bad food choice shouldn't have too much of an effect on your weight loss. It is the continuation of bad choices after the initial one that will lead to weight gain. Think about it, when you run a red light, do you decide to go ahead and run red lights for the rest of the day? No, that would be silly. It is the same for food choices. If you make a small slip up, own up to it and move on with your bariatric diet.

What kind of things are you eating, or were eating, when you were on liquids and then mushies. And then once you started real food what were you eating? I am worried I won't lose weight. I don't know why I am thinking like this. I am eating right now things like liquid yogurt, cream Soups strained, sugar free popsicles, and lots of Water. I have not lost anything since my surgery Wed. In fact, I've gained five pounds! ACK! Maybe it's water weight gain from the IV fluids?? Anyone else gain weight right after surgery? Help with ideas please!

I'm 3 days post op & trust me I struggled with the preop phase...I felt I had to get it all "in" before I had to change my life forever. I did give it my best the last pre-op week However, once you have the surgery, everything will fall into place very easily. Just slow down STOPP jumping the gun so to say. This is not an overnight process. If you fall Into the wrong habits post op, you will pay so it will only take u once to make that mistake. i dont mean weight gain, i mean pain, your body will reject anything it shouldn't have!!! One day at a time. Take this process all in and you will be fine. TRUST me, I been where you are but I'm here now and its GREAT. You are aware of it and not in denial which is s HUGE step!!

I had surgery eight years ago at age 55. No diabetes, though - just obesity. SUPER obesity. Also, borderline sleep apnea that I didn't know about until I did a sleep test for surgery. I lost 235 lbs and gained back about 20 lbs in year 3 post op (a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain after you hit your lowest weight is very common). Maintained ever since, but it's work. On the other hand, before I had surgery, the most I could lose was about 50-60 lbs, and every ounce of it would come back. Happened dozens of times. So yes - weight loss is sustainable after bariatric surgery as long as you monitor yourself. I had strictures at two months out and four months out. Very easy fix. The PA at our bariatric clinic told me it was the most common complication, and that they happen to 5% of gastric bypass patients (and if they're going to happen, it'll be during the first three months post-surgery - they're very rare after that). I personally wouldn't call something that happens to 5% of people "common", but that does give you an idea of how common complications are. Basically - they're not very common. about 30% of bypass patients have dumping syndrome. I've never had it and most of the people I know haven't had it, but some of us do. It's caused by eating too much sugar at one sitting (or for some, too much fat at one sitting seems to set it off). It's because food passes through to your small intestine much more quickly once you've had bypass, and your intestines go into overdrive trying to deal with the sugar (or...fat). It can be prevented by limiting the amount of sugar you eat at one sitting (which we should be doing regardless, even us non-dumpers). good luck in your decision. Honestly, I should have done it years ago. My only regret is that I waited that long to have it done. My life has changed dramatically for the good. I'd go back and have the surgery done every year if I had to - it's been terrific!

Welcome Saqueen! and Congrats on your new band! How did you feel post - op and how long after were you able to start walking? I am looking forward to becoming more active, I used to walk about 4 mi. per day before my illness and weight gain. Also, I too have sleep apnea and can't tolerate the machine. I looked into other alternative treatments and none were acceptable to me, so I'm looking to the weightloss to resolve this issue (hopefully). Thanks for the 'good luck' and right back at 'cha! Any less pain with fibro is GREAT!

Imaducky, What do you know of certain astrological signs and weight issues. I've read that Taurus and Cancer have issues with weight gain, do you know anything about that? brandyII, (:smile:not looking for another excuse)