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I have just begun the process of my 6 month weight loss visits. I was informed by the surgeons office that the insurance company will not want to see a weight gain and if they do they will probably deny me. I questioned this and they told me because it just proves to them that I cannot follow the recommendations from my doctor and therefore I may not be successful with the lap band. Honestly I made sure I gained 10 lbs. before my first weigh in. My first weigh in was the day after christmas. I felt like this assured me that I should be able to show a loss. I just wonder how much of a loss is ok. I also heard you have to be careful not to lose too much. I think it all depends on your ins. I have BCBS NJ.

I'm not a big juice drinker, I'm a believer in eating the fruit. I dont buy juice because its no better for the kids than soda, full of sugar, high calories, and they tend to guzzle it. so I'm raising them the same way i was raised - skim milk or Water to drink. I've also got ingrained in me the habit of not drinking calories. I would no more ingest a couple of glasses of juice a day than eat a family block of chocolate daily. Fast track to weight gain. I drink water. Its one of those healthy habits lots of fat people have. Calorie wise, you might as well be drinking Coke. Although if you truly dont eat any other fruit, then a glass of juice in the morning is probably a good idea. In case I sound too virtuous and perfect, I wake up and head straight for the coffee, before i can do ANYTHING else.

@@Band07 when I told my family I was going to The Dominican Republic for a tummy tuck in 2013 they thought I was crazy. However to this day with weight gain and all I still think it was one of the best decisions I ever made. You just have to keep remembering that this is for you! I'm having surgery on the 25th and couldn't be happier with this decision too!!!

2 years ago almost i found myself in a dv relationship in a new city with no friends i just moved there 3 weeks prior ive had weight/gain weight loss alot of bloating and alot of gas ive since a gastrointestinal doctor who wants to do the camera your stomach im sure weve all have had but i have no to drive me and covid had made it difficult on top of the huge co pay ugh so this doctor set me for this test where i drink some frizzy like alka and it made me burp uncontrollably when thw test came back i have small rolling hernia which confuses me still because 2013 i had thst was tied down during my bypass. Has anyone experienced this ir any idea Sent from my SM-G991U using BariatricPal mobile app

Because of my weight gain and my BMI i was approved for the revision. I am also having my hiatal hernia re-repaired and my gallbladder removed. Both of which have been causing my a lot of reflux, nausea, pain and at times vomiting.

Cross post OMG please help! I had a VSG 18 months ago and successfully lost about 80lbs. When the pandemic hit my anxiety went through the roof and I have gained back 30lbs. I still feel full after small servings but it’s SUGAR that is doing me in. Oddly I can easily eat a pint of ice cream in a sitting but cannot eat more than half a serving of “regular food”. Have I killed my sleeve? Do I need a second surgery. I’m so embarrassed to call my surgeon

I lost 90# and I'm 3 yrs. post op. 6 months ago I was put on an antidepressant [sNRI] and have gained 25# without changing my eating habits. I know weight gain can be a side effect of this class of meds and now am off of them, but still can't lose weight. Anyone have a similar experience and/or any advice? Thanks bunches!

Hi Folks new to the site. What I had prepared for post op was not what I expected. Physically everything was a ok. But emotionally a dam broke. And I'm finally feeling like I'm floating above water. No one told me about this. Not even the psychologist. I'm an abuse survivor and that relates directly to my weight gain and stuff. But I just was not prepared for what the last few days have brought. I'm grateful for everything that happened and I have a good therapist and good enough support system. Just wanted to put that out there and if anyone needs anything they can reach out. I am back my wedding weight of 11 years ago.

I have had a similar experience after seven years - after I had to totally unfill for another surgery. My belief is that small changes, slacking off every so slightly that its not even noticeable, add up to weight gain over time. I've not "gained" per se - in that I ended up at about 150lb until I got sick - and I'm still 145. But I dropped to 130 - really really thin for me at 5ft 10 and havent been able to hold that weight (why i wanted to is a whole nother story, it looked awful). Its been due to a reliance on slider foods, eating more overall, less restriction from my band. I had a tummy tuck 12 weeks ago - which I didnt unfill for - and the necessary reduction in exercise afer that was the final straw - I bounced up 8lb to 145. I have this lovely flat stomach but my love handles are hanging over the BACK of my jeans now, grrrrrr. The only answer is NOT to slack off. Get off those slider foods, get back in the gym, it takes work your whole life to maintain this new weight. We were discussing this in another thread but what seems to happen is that veteran bandsters get to the point where they cant "feel" tightness or restriction, think they need nore fill and end up with reflux and heartburn. It has certainly happened to me. I know I cant have more fill than I have - so I have to work with it. I was astounded yesterday - barely eat sandwiches coz I dont like bread much and particularly dont like sandwiches - but that was what was on offer yesterday for lunch, so I had a tuna sandwich. Down the hatch in minutes, easy as. I was full yes, I only wanted one, i didnt eat again all afternoon but I could never have done that 2 years ago! My doc said to me that I may have to accept being slightly heavier (My BMI is 20) - dont want to but that may be the way it is.

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I have type II diabetes and was banded on Oct. 7th. I was able to go off of all of my diabetes medicines about 1/2 week into the pre-op liquid diet and am now a little over two weeks post-op and my blood sugars are rising. 145 this morning and 215 about 2 hours after breakfast. I think I am going to have to go back on some medicines, but hate to do it cause they promote weight gain. I was hoping that I could stay off of the meds altogether, I see my physician next Tuesday 10/28 and am afraid she will put me back on all of them again! Anyone else have the same problem?

Sorry I'm going to warn you ahead of time, this will probably be a long post. So I was denied for surgery 2 years ago. I wasn't quite heavy enough to qualify. Fast forward 2 years and now I'm about 20-30 lbs heavier and I meet the weight requirement. BUT now insurance requires a 6 month physician supervised weight loss. I go next week and that will be my 5th visit. So far I've lost 8 lbs BUT due to hurricane Matthew we lost power so, not being able to cook, I fell off the wagon and gained back like 5-6 lbs. I have another weight recheck on the 21st and I'm paranoid! The dr doesn't have any record of me gaining the weight per say because I am in between appointments but what if I can't lose the excess weight that I gained back before my next appointment?! What's everyone's experience with this pre op weight loss stuff? I just have such anxiety about it because I was denied last time. Help :/ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am on the way to the pot of gold. I am so excited that I could sing, wait a minute I am singing. I am scheduled for my surgery on 12/8/09 at 5:00 am. I am told I should be on my way home by 2:00. I start my liquid diet on the 24th. I am working on getting us to that diet. I am finding it hard to eat only a dime size bite as well as chewing that piece 30 times. I have always drank something with every meal and now that too has been hard. I know I shouldn't complain after reading pages and pages of stuff on this site. I have nothing but to forge on. I will do that. I am not sure where to get protein drinks from. My son said that you can get it just about anywhere but that a lot of them are nasty tasting. If there is anyone out there that can fill me in on the do's and dont's of protein shakes. That would be wonderful. I am 48 years old and am about 180 lbs over weight. That is a terrifying weight gain when you think about how toxic fat cells can be to your body. I am so ashamed of myself for getting this size. I truly didn't think about the weight until I became diabetic then took a long look at myself (I think that was the scaryest of all so far) and here I am. After the blood pressure was going up and up. I began this process. I would be lying if I said that it is all overwhelming right now. I have information swimming around my head like a over crowded fish bowl. This to shall pass I have to doubt. :confused: So as the journey is underway. Lay back and enjoy the ride. TaTa For Now:smile2: . How can you beat that

Hi. I'm also relatively new to the forum. My insurance company does require a six month supervised diet, and I'm one month into it. I realize how discouraging it is. I want the band done and I want it done now, but that's just not going to happen so it's best to take advantage of the "pre-surgery" time I have to get my life in order. A six month supervised diet basically consists of going to your doctor or a nutritionist and getting weighed in once a month, or at least that's what my insurance (Blue cross blue shield) told me. During this time I'm also getting all of required pre-op testing done and out of the way. I've had labwork done which reveals not only do I have the beginnings of Diabetes type 2, but I also have hypothroidism. I've been started on medication for both. This is a good thing to have had done because had these things not been checked, it would have been a struggle to lose weight. Since starting on the meds (2 weeks), my carb cravings have been significantly reduced and I've lost 8 pounds without even trying. Of course all of my weight gain cannot be attributed to my imbalance, but the part that is, will be shedded pre-surgery. I also had my sleep study done last week which revealed obstructive sleep apnea. I was have >50 hyponeas within a 15 minute time span. Basically, I am not getting any restful sleep. I'm worn down. I'm tired. My body is exhausted. I expect this week I'll be starting on the CPAP machine which will hopefully restore my body and thus give me ENERGY. So look, in the first month I've already discovered things that I currently have working against me and I'm now working to reverse these things that can sabotage my progress. Quite simply put, had I not done these things and went straight for the band, I would have probably not lost much weight and would have been disappointed. Another thing I am doing in this time is getting my relationship (or addiction) with food under control. I am trying to understand why I eat when I eat, and I'm hoping this too will serve as another map for success. Anyway, dont give up. Let's support eachother through this time, because is six months really that long of a time to wait when the rest of your life is set out before you? Oh, I also want to add, that if you have a fear of complications, which I do, which is why I won't get bypass, think of this time as a way to prep yourself for anesthesia. Any weight you can lose prior to being put under is going to lessen the anxiety you have of surgery. It'll also be easier post-op! Okay. Sorry for the long ramble. :crying:

Yes, I'm told that insulin causes weight gain. that's why I'm so upset. I was not on insulin and my sugars were in control... now everything is out of wack and I'm on 2 types of insulin. How are you taking the metformin? My dosage was 1000 2 times a day... Can you cut them in half or quarters?

Hi again, Does anyone take risperidal or any other pysch meds that might cause weight gain. Ive been doing some reading and the psychotropics may cause weight gain. What is the general consensus on meds and weight gain.

I'm having portal pain, but it isn't real bad. I say on a scale of 1 to 10, it is either a 1 or 2. I only really notice it when I'm wearing a shirt. It hurts when I touch the skin around it. Otherwise, if nothing is touching it, I feel fine. Could weight gain be causing the problem? I've gained back about 15 pounds. How do you know if your port is flipped? If it doesn't need be filled or unfilled, does it matter if it is flipped?

Yes, Suzanne, it was divine intervention!!! :wink2: Anyway, I had a thought and was just wondering... do y'all think maybe, just maybe, or bodies are holding everything they get because it thinks we're trying to starve ourselves and our bodies need to adjust to this new way of life and realize we're ok... like protecting us? Sounds corny, I know, but with Weight Watchers you're told "Eat your points, even if you're full, eat your points" and kind of for this very reason. And, if we were doing WW, for most of us, we're in NO WAY eating our daily allowance of points and therefore our bodies are rebelling against us...? Holding what we're putting in? I'm doing a poor job of forming words around my thoughts, but if any of you can read my mind... do you see what I'm saying? Make sense to anyone but me? I guess I'm trying to rationalize this weight gain thing, if only temporary... because it seems common among most of us.

I've since been reading too about those with slips having issues with replacement bands - that they're at a higher risk of slips in the future too. I think if my complication had been a slip I would have been less inclined to get a band replacement as well. I so hear you though on the whole 'just remove it and do it yourself' thing. I gained weight when I sprung my leak but since managed to arrest the weight gain, and even take some off. So everyone I know can't understand why I would get another band. But I know why. It's because I seriously have to be obsessive with food to maintain. And if I can't exercise (like in the last 3 months due to broken bones) I struggle not to gain, because I'm hungry but can't exercise to burn anything off. So I say do whatever works for you. I have chosen band replacement for a variety of my own reasons but if I were to have complications in the future, I'd weigh up all my options again and decide which way to go at that point, depending on all the information I have in front of me. Good luck with the surgery. I hope the 6 weeks will go quickly for you.

Hey readytobehealthy! I am scheduled for 2/25 and I too feel alittle shamed that I could not lose and keep it off ......that I had to resort to surgery......but I know this is the way to a better life, for me. I have battled weight gain since high school and it has taken its toll on me.....lose 10, gain 15, lose 5, gain 8, etc etc....exercise, swim, walk.....this is the right decision for me now. I wish I had done this 10 years sooner, because I feel like I have l lost 10 years of living, sucumbing to existence only. Good luck!

@@Djmohr - my hair loss began about 10 years ago and it thinned a bit. it sucks but like you said I am so much happier being post WLS than I was before. @@LeslieT63 - the start of menopause I think did help with the weight gain

A similar situation happened to my husband just before the holidays. He had a fill that was either too much or it aggravated the esophogus so much that swelling would not allow even Water to pass though. He was unfilled and went through the holidays this way. He gained about 10 lbs but is now back on track with a good fill that is working for him. Try to remember that your doctor wants your body to heal from the trauma. It may mean a small weight gain but you'll get back on track too. Hopefully, your doctor uses flouroscope for fills. My husband has had fills with flouro and without. He is a fan of the flouro. I'm just beginning my lapband journey. Just had my surgery Jan. 8th. Good luck to you.

Hi! I'm 24, almost 25, and have had 3 kids. Mine aren't so close together but they've definitely contributed to my weight gain I weigh about 230 pounds and I'm a diabetic. My surgery is Feb 10th and it can't come soon enough! Good luck to you!

Being supportive will help for your daughter, but I wouldn't make too big a deal out of it so that she starts feeling more self conscious. It is getting to be springtime now and there are plenty of reasons to get out and be active. Perhaps you could make it a family thing. Also, cooking at home can make a huge difference. Convenience foods are rarely if ever the healthiest. Eliminate junk food as well and support healthy eating. I would never make it about weight gain/loss as much as just healthy living.

tnks2ph, wish I knew what to tell you. I don't. I don't have any clue about your mental health issues, so I sure as hell would not advise you to drop your meds. Frankly, I think anyone who would say that to a stranger on the internet after reading one post...really needs to do some thinking about how dangerously unwise that is. I know that SSRI meds are infamous for causing weight gain. Some of the other ones are even worse. And shockingly...none of them is anything like pred....which sucks, too....but can't be compared. Best advice I can see that you've been given: "do not stop your meds without medical supervision if you have to choose between mental stability and being thin choose metal stability. i dont think you have to choose but if it comes down to just those 2 options choose mental health. you will take longer to get there but you have the rest of your life to finish this race." For your safety, you need some professional medical expertise on this topic. You won't find it here. Maybe try to get a referral consult with a psychiatric group who works with eating disorders? They might have more advanced knowledge on how different psychiatric meds effect diet and weight outcomes...and have strategies for overcoming the difficulties you're experiencing. There are a lot of people in your shoes. Someone reputable has good answers. Just have to find them. Wishing you the best.