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Has anyone gained weight post op duodenal switch? I hear it's near impossible and you have to try very hard to gain weight after surgery.

Debbie, thank you for the validation. I'm also off work for 6 weeks and I'm so glad too. It's good to know that you felt the exhaustion too. It makes sense with the "hibernation syndrome". I was so cold forever and just plain exhausted. No other word to describe it. But, honestly, over the last few days, I feel like I've turned the corner. I have more energy, I'm not nearly as cold and I feel like I'm living some again. I'm on the upswing!!! Jackie, the weight gain is very normal. I gained in the first week too. They flood you with IV fluids in the hospital and then your body goes in to a sort of shock and holds on to everything it has as a survival mode type thing. Then when you body realizes things are ok, it starts to let it go. As far as getting your fluids in, I took a water bottle to bed with me. I woke up already a lot because I was uncomfortable, so when I woke up, I would take a sip of water. It really helped get my fluids in. I constantly have some sort of beverage at my side. I'm even able to wait the time before and after meals to drink. Remember that your shakes count for fluid too. I will tell you that I use the app MyFitnessPal that keeps track of all my fluids, proteins, and everything. It has been such a helpful tool for me. Let me know if you need ANYTHING and I'd be happy to help! Stay strong, you made a very hard decision and you're through the hardest part. You can do this!!!!

I drink with my meals as well. Hasn't killed me any. But of course, the choice is yours and like you say if you start noticing a stall or weight gain, well drop the drinking. Good luck

It is a myth that medication causes weight gain and I know I will get flack from this but I do know what I am talking about. pills have no calories. Your eating habits make you gain weight not birth control. You have to stay in check. It's always easier to blame it on medication. But that one pill can not make you gain weight.

I hate hate the spare tire. I have a big one and it goes big to small. That is my weight gain spot. I struggle with skinny jeans and I can never wear thirts. There is this little pocket around my belly button that hangs and it looks gross. It makes me sooo self conscious when I am being intimate with someone that I rather lay flat in bed so it doesn't look weird. You can't tell if I am standing but if I move it wiggles. I hate it. Inner thighs.. well forget it. Nobody sees those anyways. hahaha Also, under the arm is challenging.

I'm having my band removed on December 6th. Though insurance approved a RNY revision at the same time, I've elected not to do it. My plan is to start seeing the nutritionist at my doctor's office, and work with her on a healthy eating plan. If my weight starts to climb higher than it is now (I have only 40 pounds to lose), I will consider the revision next year. So, I'm not in your shoes quite yet, but I will be, shortly. My band has been empty for a few months, so hopefully there won't be a huge difference in satiety once it's completely gone. And I totally share your fear about weight gain! I don't know that I trust myself to stick with a healthy eating plan 85% of the time. Hopefully I've learned a thing or two over the past (almost) 5 years since being banded. I wish you ALL the best on this next phase of the never ending journey

Hi! I'm in the process of deciding about surgery and just trying to collect as much information as I can. This forum is an amazing resource. :-) I realize VSG is a tool and that regain is possible if you aren't careful. On other WLS forums (RNY, Gastric bypass, band...) I hear some people talk about regaining a significant portion of their lost weight, even all of it. But I have yet to read about a "sleever" regaining more than 20-25 pounds. So my question is ... are there any sleevers out there who have experienced this higher level of regain that other WLS patients have? No judging - I know life gets in the way of the best intentions! I just wondered if I haven't read enough or if the VSG truly has lower regain stats. (And in case it comes up, I've already decided that it's the VSG or nothing for me! Love everything about the principles of it, and wouldn't risk anything else available out there right now.) Thanks! Heather

go to your doctor or plan parenthood.. for a real test then get on some sort of birth control. now that you have the band even if the birth control did cause weight gain which it does not this should ease your mind. life is all about thinking before doing and setting yourself up for success this is part of it. For now go to the store and get some off the shelf prevention until you get the advice of a doctor. Babies are forever and they come first this is the time to put yourself first and set yourself up for a good future for you and you children... good luck

I had my wisdom teeth, all four, removed Dec 23. I did this to eliminate the desire to over eat during the holiday weekend. It was wonderful, just a few bites and some pain in my teeth. I really got to enjoy the socializing. I also was able to squeeze in some exercise. I got on the scale today to see weight gain when I had been losing. I also have a a sore throat. I am on antibiotics, narcotic pain medications, and eating alot of cough drops. I wonder if this is just a blip from the pain and sickness and will see it disappear in the next few weeks. Looking in the mirror my face does look more round than it has lately. Happy New Year to all!

Hi this doesn't have to do with your weight gain but I am waiting for my approval. I am having my band removed as well and they are doing the sleeve. How are you feeling, compared to the band?

Don't worry about counting calories or carbs at this point. You just had 85% of your stomach removed. You are not going to get in too many calories. Least of your worries. Like Kimmy says, have more soup. Have another Protein shake. Grab a popsicle or two. Again, 85% of your stomach removed ... an excess of 3,500 calories make up 1 pound of weight gain ... do you really think you are at risk? The weight will come off ... trust me.

I was told years ago that when we make fat cells we never lose them. They grow with weight gain, and shrink with loss, but still there. If we have enough from being very heavy, we need to get out fat % down to lowest for our best, but if we have a lot, will never be stealth like those that never got heavy. This is why liposuction is used to remove the cells.

I have been on Wellbutrin for 3+ years. The first 6 weeks it caused nausea and I had problems eating. After I got used to it, I think it has caused weight gain. The only one that caused me to lose weight is Cymbalta. I am still pre-op though (surgery 4/17), I don't know what the effects will be after.

its been 2 1/2 years since my lb surgery and i have reached my fill limit. the problem i am having is that i have gained almost 15lbs. is there a way i can get another fill

Hello everyone, This is my first post. I have been peeking at your site for months reading your posts. I'm scheduled for LB on 6/21. That's probably the first time I've said that outloud. My story is the familiar one. Yo-yo dieting, comfort eating, no time for me. I am truly hopeful that the LB will be a tool to overcome the many pitfalls and vicious cycle I have subjected myself to over the past 10 years. It's odd--I'm not scared, it's almost as if I can't believe it is true that I'm actually going to go through with this. What I have noticed the most while reading the posts these few months is that most everyone on this board who have/had weight issues are never at a loss to accept responsibility for the weight gain. It's like we know exactly what we do wrong but have trouble fixing it. Well seeing all the success stories it really makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing! Please wish me luck, as I have secretly done for all you who have been recently banded. I think this forum is great.

My lifelong weight problems were due to several factors such as heredity, bad lifestyle choices, and an introduction to crappy processed food very early in life. From the time I was a toddler I ate canned Franco American macaroni & cheese, hot dogs, Rice-a-Roni, ramen noodles, and other cheap processed "foodlike" substances. Unfortunately, most of these foods are starchy and promote weight gain. My grandmother weighed more than 400 pounds when she died. She was obese many decades before the obesity epidemic took off. My mother was also morbidly obese at the time of her death. Although I think there's some genetics involved in my tendency toward fatness, some of my poor lifestyle choices were to blame. I am also hypothyroid and insulin-resistant. These two conditions are not good for weight control.

My weight issues did not start until I was 39-40. I was always the skinny girl who could eat anything and never had any problems maintaining a normal weight. My weight issues started when my thyroid went nuts. I have Hashimottos and my metabolism took a nose dive and I started gaining weight. It was several years before my GP finally tested my thyroid function and even now I am still under treated and had to switch doctors hoping for better treatment. When I gained weight I also became Insulin resistant and now have type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. I have been depressed over my weight gain and ensuing health issues. I have always been a very active person and the fatigue I feel now drives me insane. I can't wait to have my surgery!!!

I turn to food for comfort. Any major negative or stressful life event that's beyond my control causes me to binge "comfort foods". Over the past 9 years I've slowly gained 120 pounds, lost 75, and gained back 50. I can seriously narrow down the weight gain to 4 events. Of course now the damage is done, and hindsight is 20-20. I'm hoping with better coping mechanisms and self awareness I won't fall back into old habits.

I don't like the way that low fat and low sugar things add in other stuff. Low fat things often have artificial thickeners in them, which I just won't eat. And the low sugar things have artifical cancer-causing sweeteners, which I also won't eat. So I pretty much have everything that I eat full fat full sugar. I just stick to healthy options so that the few FF/FS things I have don't amount to any weight gain.

I am 57 years old and 5'5" and weighed about 245 over 3 years ago. I lost weight on my own and then last year with the 6 month diet, then the pre & post-op liquid only diet. Lost about 60 pounds. I was banded on 9/22 with one fill. Haven't lost any weight after the 2 weeks post op. So my weight has been the same since early October. My main reason for having this surgery was to see if weight loss would improve my severe and chronic back pain. It hasn't. I do have (or had) mild/moderate sleep apnea and GERD but those things do not affect my daily living like back pain does. I also have breast cancer that was diagnosed 7 years ago. I have no doubt my 100+ pound weight gain as an adult played a major role in my cancer. Hopefully losing weight will reduce the likelihood of a recurrence or a new cancer.

food allowance". The Latin word diaeta and Greek word diaita mean "a way of life, a regimen". According to Medilexicon`s medical dictionary, a diet means "1. Food and drink in general. 2. A prescribed course of eating and drinking in which the amount and kind of food, as well as the times at which it is to be taken, are regulated for therapeutic purposes. 3. Reduction of caloric intake so as to lose weight. 4. To follow any prescribed or specific diet." In this article "diet" refers to a food and drink consumption regime with the aim to either lose weight, to prevent weight gain, or a lifestyle and philosophy. We selected the most popular diets according to three criteria: 1. How many articles there are around about these diets/lifestyles. 2. How popular they seem to be generally. 3. How often we receive feedback on them. Below you can see a list of the seven diets, some information about each one, and links to more information. Atkins The Atkins Diet, or Atkins Nutritional Approach, focuses on controlling the levels of insulin in our bodies through diet. If we consume large amounts of refined carbohydrates our insulin levels will rise rapidly, and then fall rapidly. Rising insulin levels will trigger our bodies to store as much of the energy we eat as possible - it will also make it less likely that our bodies use stored fat as a source of energy. Most people on the Atkins Diet will consume a higher proportion of Proteins than they normally do. The Zone The Zone Diet aims for a nutritional balance of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fats, and 30% Protein each time we eat. The focus is also on controlling insulin levels, which result in more successful weight loss and body weight control. The Zone Diet encourages the consumption of good quality carbohydrates - unrefined carbohydrates, and fats, such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts. Vegetarian There are various types of vegetarian - Lacto vegetarian, Fruitarian vegetarian, Lacto-ovo-vegetarian, Living food diet vegetarian, Ovo-vegetarian, Pescovegetarian, and Semi-vegetarian. The majority of vegetarians are lacto-ovovegetarians, in other words, they do not eat animal-based foods, except for eggs, dairy, and honey. Several studies over the last few years have shown that vegetarians have a lower body weight, suffer less from diseases, and generally have a longer life expectancy than people who eat meat. Vegan Veganism is more of a way of life and a philosophy than a diet. A vegan does not eat anything that is animal based, including eggs, dairy, and honey. Vegans do not generally adopt veganism just for health reasons, but also for environmental and ethical/compassionate reasons. Vegans believe that modern intensive farming methods are bad for our environment and unsustainable in the long term. If all our food were plant based our environment would benefit, animals would suffer less, more food would be produced, and people would generally enjoy better physical and mental health, vegans say. Weight Watchers Weight Watchers focuses on losing weight through diet, exercise, and a support network. Weight Watchers Inc. was born in the 1960s when a homemaker (housewife) who had lost some weight and was concerned she might put it back on. So, she created a network of friends. Weight Watchers is a huge company, with branches all over the world. Dieters can join either physically, and attend regular meetings, or online. In both cases there is a great deal of support and education available for the dieter. South Beach The South Beach Diet was started by a cardiologist, Dr. Agatston, and a nutritionist, Marie Almon. It also focuses on the control of insulin levels, and the benefits of unrefined slow carbohydrates versus fast carbs. Dr. Agatston devised the South Beach Diet during the 1990s because he was disappointed with the low-fat, high-carb diet backed by the American Heart Association. He believed and found that low-fat regimes were not effective over the long term. Raw Food The Raw Food Diet, or Raw Foodism, involves consuming foods and drinks which are not processed, are completely plant-based, and ideally organic. Raw Foodists generally say that at least three-quarters of your food intake should consist of uncooked food. A significant number of raw foodists are also vegans - they do not eat or drink anything which is animal based. There are four main types of raw foodists: 1. Raw vegetarians. 2. Raw vegans. 3. Raw omnivores. 4. Raw carnivores. Mediterranean The Mediterranean Diet is Southern European, and more specifically focuses on the nutritional habits of the people of Crete, Greece, and southern Italy. Nowadays, Spain, southern France, and Portugal are also included; even though Portugal does not touch the Mediterranean Sea. The emphasis is on lots of plant foods, fresh fruits as dessert, Beans, nuts, cereals, seeds, olive oil as the main source of dietary fats, cheese and yogurts are the main dairy foods, moderate amounts of fish and poultry, up to about four eggs per week, small amounts of red meat, and low/moderate amounts of wine. 25% to 35% of the Mediterranean diet consists of fat, with saturated fats not exceeding 8% of calorie intake. News on Nutrition / Diet For the latest news and research on Nutrition / Diet, please visit our Nutrition / Diet news section. Written by Christian Nordqvist Original article date: 11 Feb 2004 Article updated: 12 May 2009

No Gerd, just weight gain. Scariest thing ever. I do also get a muscle cramp in my abdominal area which takes about 15-20 seconds to ease. I get it whenever I do anything strenuous with my stomach like crunches Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congrats! You've done a wonderful job losing and now maintaining. I also enjoy reading your posts and your rave reviews of Dr. Aceves really helped me when I was trying to gather information early in the game. Keep up the great work, and thanks for being honest about weight gain and control in maintenance. I think a lot of us view the tough part as getting to goal, but I think maintenance still requires a lot of work and willpower. Plus, it lasts FOREVER. ~Cheri

I spoke with both my doctor and my massage therapist about this. Our centre of gravity is changing. My question to my doc was well why didn't I feel like this when I gained the weight? Her answer? Because the weight gain was gradual. It took me a year to gain 40lbs and 2 months to lose it!

Yeah but the flip side of that is...they will pay more down the line due to a lot of serious health issues that comes along with being morbidly obese. That was one of the reasons Medicare started covering bariatric surgery. Yeah they mighy shell out (or more like the tax payers will shell out) a big chunk off the bat, but if that lowers BP, cholesterol, DM and so on, then its worth it for them. Its a win win for both parties. But I agree with them finding canidates who are serious about it. I was never denied, but I called Cigna and was active with them and my PCP and the bariatric doctors office. Plus I'd had them back when I was thinner, so they watched all the weight pile on and all the comorbidities that went with the weight gain so maybe that's why they immediately approved me...