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Endoscopy revealed hiatus hernia around the band and band cant be filled because hernia causing really bad acid reflux at night. Has anyone solved this problem? Empty band causing weight gain...

I have taken anti depressant medication in the past and was warned about weight gain, however whilst there is a possibility of weight gain if you are sensible in your eating and exercise I have many friends who are taking psychotropic medication and have not gained . So I would suggest that you call your doctor and give yourself a break from the worry. You are very brave and deserve to be happy as well as slim !

Hey Sim78! Congrats on your pregnancy! I'm over 20 weeks now and haven't needed another unfil since that first one at 8 weeks. I've been really happy with my fill level. It's definitely looser than i used to keep my band, but it has been a good level and lets me get everything i need. And my weight gain has been really reasonable so it's still keeping me honest. I"m halfway through my pregnancy and so far i've gained about 7 lbs and the baby is growing great, so i'm happy!

I still have to disagree with you. There is a cure for obesity: lose weight. The basic definition of obesity or obese it being extremely overweight or having an extreme amount of excess body fat. How do you get rid of an extreme amount of excess body fat? You remove it. Once you remove it, you're cured of your excess body fat. Most of my family is overweight except my little sister. My little sister is 14 and in a size 4. I was probably in a size 20 at 14. My little sister doesn't eat a lot. I think she only eats when she's hungry. Yes, she does eat junk food, but she doesn't over eat it. For example, she she can have a cookie and be okay with it. However, if I eat a cookie I'll want another one and another one and another one. That is why I don't eat Cookies anymore. I think there is a lot of excuses that people make to justify their obesity. I use to weigh 327 pounds. I use to blame my family and my genes, but it was mostly my behavior. My genes didn't make me go to McDonalds and they certainly didn't make me eat 12 chocolate chip cookies. I believe I was already depressed before I ate those 12 cookies. Yes, depression does get worse with weight gain, but I do think it is a major cause of weight gain. (HOWEVER, depression can be a major cause of weight LOSS. Many people who become depress stop eating and lose weight. It's amazing...) It's all about attitude. If you think you won't ever get healthy or you aren't meant to be healthy (which is probably the stupidest thing I've ever herad) then you won't become healthy because you set yourself up for failure. Those "I can't" attitudes are what brings people to failure. Simply, people need to stop making excuses and do something like getting weight loss surgery, a therapist, a nutritionist, a doctor, etc. You CAN lose weight. It's about wanting to do it and realizing it's going to take awhile. You certainly didn't get this way overnight.

AL- I am already feeling some hesitation in responding to your comment, but I feel that there should be some clarification on a few things. So obviously if we are waiting for approval then we have seen our surgeons, done psych evals, etc. Those seem to be the most basic requirements for everyone that I have spoken with. With that said, we (or at least I) know that the lap band is not a magic wand that waves the fat away. Honestly, if it was I wouldn't have thought about and researched it for over 2 years before making a decision. Secondly, I feel like there will always be cravings and head hunger and all the triggers that caused the weight gain everyday. But you know what I have really found from all of the people on here is that the lap band is a tool to help you so that you are not running into battle without a weapon. While the throwing up and being uncomfortable may not seem to be a good reason for you to avoid cravings, it is for me. When I do have unbearable cravings I will vent here, just like we are now. Thank you for your input and response, but I guess I didn't appreciate the negativity you brought with it.

I'm so glad my surgeon doesn't cancel surgery dates due to a weight gain in the pre-op stage. The reason most of us are having or had WLS is because we struggle to lose in the first place.

Did you gained weight during your 6 months visit? If so did you still get approve ? I have amerigroup they don't require me to lose but I'm afraid I gained last months I was on my period, and I gained this month :/ and on my period too

I was 46 when I had my surgery in February. I needed to lose 100 pounds, so right as the cut-off point of your question. I have lost 72 pounds of that in 7 months. I would do it if I was a few years older, I would do it if I had only 65 pounds to lose. I had looked into WLS 6 years ago. I did not qualify since I did not weigh enough and didn't have the right co-morbities for insurance. 5 years later I was now heavy enough to not need the co-morbities but now had those too. I wished I could have had the WLS 6 years ago. I was taking diabetic meds off label for PCOS and was pre-diabetic. No more. I was taking meds for high blood pressure- one week after surgery and no more high blood pressure meds. I was taking Nexium for GERD for years prior to the sleeve. I stopped taking Nexium after my 3 month visit. I am down to Celebrex and I no longer take it daily, just as needed. Only you can make the decision but I would not cancel it 2 weeks out. If you are going to cancel wait until the last moment. Look back over your personal history of weight loss, weight gain, weight loss and decide whether you can take it off and keep it off. Many of us have proven we can take it off but we can't keep it off. Are there things you want to do and can't do because of your weight? Write up a list of pros and cons. Is transitioning to by-pass the worst thing? I don't know. But there are plenty of people on this board that their WLS of choice was by-pass and they are happy with the results. Does anybody want to go through the extra revision? No, of course not. GERD is a real concern. I had it before the surgery. My surgeon fixed my hiatal hernia during my sleever surgery. No more GERD. Losing the weight helped with that too.

That is the issue. When I did my last weigh out before going home they warned me of the weight gain. They said not to weigh myself for a week. I didn't listen. That water weight was dropping a pound to two pounds a day.

I'm about a month and a half out from my surgery, and I've lost 43 lbs. My scale number on Friday morning said 315 lbs. This morning, it was 317-318. Think this is just normal fluctuation? My diet hasn't changed, and I'm getting in my 60-80 grams of protein a day and all my water. I did try something this weekend that I ordered from the bariatric pal store, the guilt-free brownies that have 22 grams of protein in them per brownie. (Could only eat half a brownie at a time) I still ate under 700 calories per day. Weight gain makes little sense to me at this point unless it's just fluctuation or retaining a bit of water

I too suffer from asthma(since 9wks old) and pcos (diagnosed in 2010) I have been on steroids since a infant and i too gained weight as a result. I didn't feel that i ate a lot, as everyone would say that i ate like a bird when i would eat around them. Fact of the matter was that i was a boredom eater, did these underlying conditions contribute to my weight gain, yes...but it was also me who was snacking at night, eating the sweets over food, laying down and not doing any healthy alternatives to assist myself along the way. I had to deal with some serious realities and get honest with myself in order to have a success surgery with long term results. I WAS AN OVER EATER, i was in denial about that for years. I am not judging or saying that you are being dishonest, but the two go hand in hand...the steroids cause you to eat, the weight is VERY hard to get off after long term use. the PCOS does cause abdominal weight gain... the antecedent that still caused the obesity is food. (you can eat only 1 or 2x's per day, but what are you eating and what is the caloric intake at meal time) It would be sad to see you go through the surgery in hopes that it will assist you in an area that you allege not to have an issue in. You are still asthmatic, so how will the surgery be beneficial if you will still need to take steroids even afterwards? With your RA, how will you exercise now after the surgery? I pray that everything works out well for you on this journey...this forum has awesome support, advise and insight. BEST WISHES

BARIATRIC REALITIES: Causes of Obesity – What Factors can YOU Influence? (Part One of Three) I’m guessing most of us understand that the disease of obesity is a complicated one. There are a number of factors that contribute to obesity. Some of these factors you may be very aware of; others you may be surprised about. Some of the causes of obesity are things you cannot do anything about; other causes of obesity are things you can influence. It’s important to recognize the difference. Why? For starters, you can stop beating yourself up over the things you can’t do anything about. It’s also important that you focus on putting forth effort where it will get you the best results! It’s essential for both doctors and those suffering from obesity to have a mutual understanding of these causes of obesity and which people can influence, so that: 1) Doctors can develop or increase empathy for the struggles of those suffering with obesity. When doctors better understand that many people with obesity have struggles that go beyond fighting their biology which negatively impact their weight, the doctors can more compassionately and appropriately address these issues and refer patients to see other professionals, if need be. 2) People struggling with their weight can evaluate the numerous factors impacting obesity and work toward accepting those things they cannot influence. In addition, they can take responsibility for putting forth effort into those aspects of their struggles with weight that they can positively impact. All righty, then! Let’s look at three of the main contributing factors of obesity and then talk about each one, emphasizing what, if anything, each person can do to have a positive impact on their weight. Genetics Culture and Environment Metabolism Genetics Obesity definitely has some genetic determinants, as researchers have clearly discovered. If there are a lot of obese people in your extended family, you have a better chance of being obese than someone from a family without a history of weight problems. Although there are many more obese people in the current population than in previous generations, this cannot all be linked to genetics. The genetic composition of the population does not change rapidly. Therefore, the large increase in obesity reflects major changes in non-genetic factors. Listen to this… According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002): “Since 1960, adult Americans have increased in height an average of 1 inch but have increased in weight by 25 pounds.” So in 50 years, the human species has grown taller by only an inch but heavier by 25 pounds. That tells us there is more than genetics influencing weight gain in this country. PATIENTS: Even if you have a genetic predisposition for obesity, there are other factors involved, including the food choices you make and whether or not you exercise on a regular basis. Some of these behavioral factors are habits learned in your family, so what appears to be a genetic predisposition may be a familial pattern of unhealthy habits that can be broken. DOCTORS: Remind yourself that patients cannot “eat less/move more” and have any effect on their current genetic makeup. Acknowledge to patients their genetic predisposition for obesity in a compassionate manner. Help to gently educate them about the factors affecting their weight that they can influence. Do so in a “firm and fair” way, providing encouragement rather than admonishment. Culture And Environment In addition to one’s genes, a person’s culture and environment play a large role in causing people to be overweight and obese. The environment and culture in which you were raised impacts how and what you eat. Some people were taught to eat everything on their plate and couldn’t get up from the table until they did so. Others never sat at a table for a meal but watched television while they ate. Some kids are fed well-balanced meals while others exist on fast food or microwaved mac and cheese with hot dogs. In some cultures, simple carbs make up a substantial part of every meal. In other cultures, fruits and vegetables are consumed regularly. When you are a child, you’re not in charge of buying the groceries or providing the meals. You did learn, however, about what and how to eat from those with whom you lived. And guess what that means? How you feed your children is what they will think of as “normal” and will most likely be how they eat as adults. (I’m always concerned when weight loss surgery patients tell me their kids are “just fine” even though they eat the same unhealthy foods as the obese parent. It’s only a matter of time before the kids start to gain weight and have health problems as a result of their unhealthy diet and learned eating behaviors.) PATIENTS: Although your genetic composition cannot be changed, the eating behaviors you learned in your family, from your culture, or developed on your own can be changed. You alone now determine what kind, and how much exercise you do and what and when you eat. Your behavior is completely within your control. Work toward accepting the fact that you are in charge of, and responsible for, your behavior and every food choice you make. For every choice, there is a consequence, positive or negative. And NO EXCUSES! It doesn’t matter how busy you are, whether you get a lunch break at the office or whether you have to cook for a family. Even if you have five kids in different activities and spend your life taxi-ing them from one place to another, you are the adult and you are responsible for how you eat and how you feed your children. It takes a very responsible person to acknowledge, “Although I have a genetic predisposition for obesity, I am responsible for making healthy choices about my eating and exercise. For me and for my children.” Focusing on what you do have control over rather than that over which you are powerless, leads to believing in your capabilities. So take charge and make positive changes happen! DOCTORS: Engage your patient in a discussion about the cultural and environmental factors that helped shape their current food choices and exercise behaviors. Empathize with them, noting they are going to have to put forth consistent effort to change years of bad habit formation. Encourage them to get support, whether it is from friends with a healthy lifestyle, a health coach, a personal trainer, or the use of free online exercise videos. Help them set a short-term, reasonable goal and set an appointment with you to follow up. Remember, docs: That which is reinforced is repeated. Reinforce even small steps forward you see in your patients. This can go a long way in encouraging them to continue making healthier choices. A step forward is a step forward. Notice and praise every single step forward your patient makes! Resting Metabolic Rate Resting Metabolic Rate (or RMR) is simply the energy needed to keep the body functioning when it’s at rest. In other words, RMR describes how many calories it takes to live if you’re just relaxing. Resting Metabolic Rate can vary quite a bit from one person to another, which may help explain why some people gain weight more quickly than others. And why some people seem to find it more difficult to lose weight than others. There are some factors related to metabolism that you can’t change, but there are actually some that you can influence and change. Things you cannot change about metabolic rate: Metabolic rate decreases with each passing decade, which means the older you are, the slower your metabolism gets, making weight loss more difficult. Sorry ladies - Men generally have a higher metabolism, meaning they burn calories more quickly than women. You can inherit your metabolic rate from previous generations - which can be a benefit… or not. An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can slow down or speed up metabolism. Some things you can do to influence your metabolism and burn more calories include: Eat small, frequent meals. Drink ice water. You can boost metabolism temporarily with aerobic exercise. You can boost metabolism in the long run with weight training. PATIENTS: I’ll bet you didn’t there was much of anything you could do that would increase your metabolism. I’m hoping you choose to implement the ways you can help your body burn more calories. And what do you know? They are completely consistent with healthy post-op behaviors that you’re supposed to do anyway: 1) Eat small, frequent meals. CHECK. 2) Drink water (so add ice and boost that RMR). CHECK. 3) Engage in exercise, both aerobic and weight bearing. CHECK. There’s no reason NOT to anymore! (That’s a slogan from a really old commercial…) The point is, your specific RMR is both something that is unique to you, and that will slow down with age, is gender-influenced, and can be affected by thyroid issues. Accept the things you cannot change and DO the things you can to get the most out of your own, unique RMR. You DO have choices! Opt not to make excuses and JUST DO THE THINGS YOU CAN! DOCTORS: I’m pretty sure that educating patients is in your job description. Even though you have an allotted set of minutes during which to accomplish all your goals with a patient, point out the ways they can boost their metabolism while you’re looking into their ears, or hitting them on the knee with that little hammer. Present it as a, “Hey! Guess what I was reminded of today?” sort of thing. It’ll probably be absorbed better than a mini-lecture. Leave yourself a sticky note in the patient’s folder to bring it up in your next session… and then a new educational point for the next meeting, along with the small goal you set with them so you can be sure to praise them for their efforts! Patients and Doctors and all Allied Health Professionals: We need to work together to do the following: 1) End Fat Shaming 2) End Blaming 3) End Lecturing 4) Encourage reciprocal AWARENESS and ACCOUNTABILTIY 5) Encourage reciprocal EDUCATION and DISCUSSION 6) Encourage reciprocal GOAL-SETTING and FOLLOW-UP Stay tuned for Part Two of BARIATRIC REALITIES: Causes of Obesity – What Factors can YOU Influence?

Aw shucks you guys..... that's so nice of you to say. Yes, he is a good kid. He's 23 but I still think of him as a kid. He's going to University at Texas A&M in Corpus Christi and doing so well. I'm very proud of him. I also have a 20 year old son who's away at college and I don't see him as often. It's funny the relationship that boys have with their Mommas. I just love them both to death. My DH says I spoil them. To bad. It makes me happy. They're the light of my life. I have an old black and white picture of me that I modeled for back in college on my wall in the living room. Back in my heyday. LOL When their friends see it for the first time they always say WOW who is that? They always respond. That's my mom! Hot huh? When the youngest was a baby people would ask him how he got so cute. He would say: "Cause my momma's good lookin!" Little angels.... They never seemed to notice my weight gain over the years. It's not until now that they have ever mentioned it. I love that they're proud of my accomplishments. It means a lot coming from them. More than you know....

My name is Mel, I am 31 years old & I have just finished all my requirements prior to submitting my Prior Authorization request to Insurance. Before I do, I have to tell my patient advocate if I want the Rouxen-Y or the Sleeve. I am a little unsure. I am 270 lbs, 5'3", I am at my highest. I am lucky to have an insurance plan that covers WLS at 90%. I recently entered into a relationship with a great man and her is very supportive of my choice to do this. However, recently the topic of children came up. Now, I had my tubes tied 7 years ago and I have 2 boys ages 7 & 11. He, however, does not have any children. And he wants to have 1, just 1. Now I have read online how you should wait between 12-18 months post surgery before you try to have a baby. And I am currently researching TR & IVF options. I am doing all the research now so I know what I am getting into. I am wondering, has anyone else ever gone through this situation? If so, I am wondering, if I am planning to have a baby later is it best for me to.... 1. Rouxen-Y or the Sleeve? 2. Whats the weight gain like? will I regret it? 3. Will I be able to nourish an unborn baby adequately? 4. Will getting pregnant cause damage to my existing WLS? 5.... is there anything else I should consider? Any feed back is greatly appreciated. I really want to be able to make a good choice before I decide which surgery to go with.

Hello. I had my surgery on Tuesday. When they weighed me after surgery in the hospital I gained 5 pounds. I chalked it up to bloating and tried not to let it get to me. I weighed myself today and I still weigh the same amount. 5 lbs more than the morning of my surgery. Is that normal 5 days out??? Please be honest with me.

I received my first fill yesterday and I don't feel any difference what so ever. I am still very hungry, and I put back on 5lbs because of my lack of feeling full. I was at a 43lb weight loss after being banded April 27th, I don't want to continue to put on weight. I'm calling my doctor back today and let them know that I have no restriction what so ever. If your doing OK without the fill, then don't get... My weightloss has turned into weight gain and frustration has set in... Can you tell LOL!!!

Well....my day is here! As of this morning...I have hit my goal weight of 165lbs!:thumbup: I knew this day would come but until you actually see it, you just don't believe it!:drool: Funny, I thought I'd be jumping up and down and screaming over it, but I am pretty calm about it and happy as a lark. I had to go for a tad bit of unfill yesterday. I am down to 5.2cc's. My body is adjusting a bit and I may have to go in again for another tweak by getting more taken out so I can maintain. It's amazing to me that I don't need as much fill as others. I mean I just assumed we all were pretty much on the same with that but not needing much more than 5cc's is amazing to me. Anything too much over 5.4cc and I get stuck and throw up in my sleep. Which is NOT a pleasant feeling at all.:biggrin: It's scary because I think, what if I don't wake up and I choke?! So now, the major question is....do I need to lose more or should I be happy with what I am now? My initial goal was 170 but then I thought 165 would be better for BMI purposes. Now I am not really sure if I want to stop. What about 160? Plan for the monthly weight gain, blah, blah, blah. Am I turning into one of those skinny bitties who obsesses over the scale!:thumbup: There are some places I feel need to get a little thinner but I am not sure if it's because they are not quite as toned as I want them to be or if it's really just a tad bit flabby. Everyone knows from previous posts I am not exactly happy with where my tummy is but I want to give it a full year before considering anything else. I tried on a size 10 and danced all around the dressing room when they fit. I am thrilled with that....so what is it in me right now that wants more? I am going to have to meditate on that. I mean, I don't want to look sickly! Shape and curves are good.:thumbup: RIGHT???? I am feeling really silly right now...why am I not as happy as I thought I would be? On a different note...my doc left the office where he was. He is on an extended vacation right now and when he comes back he will decide where he will be. Not sure how I feel about that. I love him but I love my nurses too. I bet my main nurse will go with him and if that happens I will move my files with him. Didn't see that coming!:confused: As always....I AM BLESSED! Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?:cursing: Surgery Date: May 21, 2009 Starting Weight: 280lbs Dr. Michael Metz - St. Luke's Hospital Denver, CO:thumbup: Follow my progress thru photos: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/5...lbums3475.html

Surgery in May. Doing well. Lost 55 pounds so far!!! Been at a stall for a couple weeks- so I tried extra hard to get in my Protein and fluids and I've gained almost 3 pounds. I trying not to flip out. Curious if anyone can relate? Thank you Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You aren't thinking rationally. You yourself have said it could be water retention because it's that time of the month. That's not a true weight gain. You lost 3 stone(42lbs) in 3 weeks! When has that ever happened? You have to realize that there will stop, starts and times when it will appear that you are gaining as your body undergoes this transformation. If this upsets you, throw away your scale and only get weighed at the doctors.

Hello, I guess this is my introduction to the forum, please point me in the right way if I'm in the wrong place. I'm a 46 Y/O guy, about to go in for a revision to my RNY that was done a while back (exact date when I remember...) My new date is this coming Tuesday, May 30th, 2017. My first surgery was somewhat successful, but I guess I got tired of the restrictions and requirements after a while, and I started cheating more and more in my diet. I dropped down to around 300 lbs after starting at 618, my heaviest. A few years ago I had an accident, where I was left in a lot of pain, and since I didn't have insurance I left it go untreated, and that was the beginning of my weight gain, to where I'm now, 504 lbs as of last Monday. Well, here I am, not as excited as the first time, and not scared either, more of a feeling of "whatever". Now, don't get me wrong, I will make it work, it's not as fun being fat and 46, like it was being fat and 30. Anyway, I'm an open book, ask away if you have any Q's, and I'm looking fwd to learning from ya'lls successes and mistakes, especially now that I found a forum dedicated to guy's issues, because my first time around, it was mostly ladies, with very few guys, and most of those guys were young. Best Regards.

Could be, maybe you don't have the best thermoregulation or something? I'd suggest just wearing warmer clothes to bed and drinking most of your fluids hot. It gets pretty cold where I live and this time of year, I drink almost exclusively tea and hot water. You could also have an underactive thyroid, weight gain and being cold are 2 common symptoms. You can Google the others if you are concerned about that.

I worked in behavioral health for fifteen years and medications for bipolar often cause weight gain and difficulty losing weight. The fact that you lost 17 pounds is a victory. Remember the tale of the tortoise and the hare......it seemed like the tortoise wasn’t going to get to the finish line but he did.

Andy here. Me family knicked named me Beamish coz I love it so much. Tis probably me weight gain right there. I'm a farmer, which some people would think being on a farm would help keep the weight down but tis hard. Me wife thinks its the pints. My wife kept giving me rabbit food (salads) and soups for a while but i got sick of it. Didn know there were so many different options to weight loss surgery. Now now, its only a thought in the mind now but still, it is something I need to think about. My doctor said i've a BMI of 43.4 and I should be around 25. No chance o that happening naturally. I'm out of breath just bending down to tie my shoes. I'm going to have to give up my farm if I dont loose weight. i've diabetes II, blood pressure and recently been told ive sleep apnea. my health is getting worse unless sometihin is done.

Y'all know how much I HATE to feel feel down. This week, I have not been losing and this morning on my official weigh in day, I was up .6. (At first I thought I was up a whole pound, so I'm not going to get too upset about just over a half!) Anyway, when I think back to why... Exercise: I exercised for a total of 3 hours last week. One hour of Jazzercise, 2 - 30 minute treadmill sessions (couch to 5k), & 60 minutes with my trainer. Not bad, but far from my best. Food: If I am honest with myself, I know that I did not make good food choices this week. I don't think it is about stress or comfort. I think that I'm hungry and I have no will power. The doctor had said that he thought I was close to my sweet spot and might not need another fill for a while, but I think that might not be the case. Typically, I'm not hungry in the mornings. I will usually drink a protein shake in the morning (around 9:30-10:00), not because I'm hungry, but to make sure I'm getting good protein. Today, my stomach was growling (with hunger) by 7:30 AM. I don't want to be so tight that I can't eat, but I do need to be tight enough to curb my hunger more. Punishment: because I have gained weight this week, my punishment is to log my caloric intake. I HATE DOING THIS! I know some people are completely focused on this and I know that it is probably extremely helpful. But I HATE IT. So, it is an effective punishment and motivator to not have to do it again. Interestingly, I seem to do better when I'm away from home. Pre-band, vacations were weight gain guarantees! However, now, it seems to have the opposite effect. I don't snack much and I find time to work out. So...I will track my calories Mon-Wed. If I'm on the right track by end of Wednesday, I won't track my vacation (Thurs-Tues). When I get back, I will have one week until my fill. Now that week includes my birthday...so wish me luck!! Ha! Random question: do you all update your avatar pictures? I know that picture is how people here know me, but it isn't me anymore. Do you all leave them or update them??