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Oh he would definitely know I'm getting my thighs done but I'd rather tell him that it was one of the things that the doc noticed and said he could fix. Although, today I saw my sister in laws thighs up close and I feel much better with my own now. Hers look like mine and she's a normal weight. Hers was just from pregnancy weight gain.

Prior to surgery the doctor had me on a 2-wk partial liquid diet and I lost 10 pounds. Now 5 days post-surgery I am up 13 lbs. Is this normal? Has this happened to any one else?

Jennifer, Thanks for the heads up on the weight gaining. I am a scale geek...weigh myself daily. I know it's bad, but I can't help myself. I am getting banded at Highland Park Hospital by Dr. Denham. Where did you get banded?

I totally understand that feeling, as well. I would crop mine as well, if possible. but usually if it's a group pic that I would be in, i tried to get to the back so that my body (or at least most of it) was hidden behind others. My friend found a pic of me when I was at my highest weight of 289 and gave it to me (a year or two ago) because she knew I had come a ways from that. I am still down to 250 at this point, although I had gotten down to 215, so I have definitely been on that rollercoaster of just that part of weight gain for 2 or more years now. I refuse to ever get back to that weight. Pictures can be a wake up calll, for sure.

Get a slight unfill. Being too tight will cause weight gain (because you revert to sliders) will cause swelling and vomiting and many more unpleasant symptoms. I speak from experience.

I wish i could encourage you, because i wish i didnt have to have the band forever... However, i know a girl who had it for 5 years, she did great, she lost 150 pounds, she was working with her surgeon because he was so proud of her success. She did support group meetings, she motivated patients before and after the surgery. She is the one who convinced me. She thought she was now healed from Her bad habits and would always stay skinny. Before christmas, her port detached and they discovered her band had leaked(the doc said it is because they did fills and unfills too many times, scary). Half of her body got infected, she had to have the infection drained for 2 months. She lost her lap band and was risky to put another one in. She gained 35 pounds in 3 months. She said she was back to what she was, she couldnt believe it, she was dping so good for so long, she had never gained a pound. She had to get the sleeve to stop The weight gain. I wouldnt have it removed unless it is causing problems

This year I was diagnosed and treated (with surgery) for Cushing's Disease. I don't yet know for certain if I am in remission, but I am hopeful. Cushing's, for those of you that don't know, causes among other things weight gain. My BMI is now 57 thanks in part to Cushing's. My question for anyone that knows -- would a surgeon even be willing to take me on as a patient? I am very slowly losing weight right now after my pituitary surgery, but my weight is so high that I really need to get as much help in getting the weight off as possible. A BMI of 57 is obviously very dangerous. Anyone know? I don't want to waste much time persuing WLS if it isn't even a possibility for me. Thanks in advance!

I guess I didn't know what else to call this and I'm sure I might have posted a related post quite awhile ago. However, here I am again and I'd like some thoughts from people who understand where I'm coming from. I'm 21 years old. I had surgery almost 3 years ago. I went from 270 lbs to 125 lbs. I feel healthier than I have ever felt, but I'm miserable. I'm getting asked out all the time by guys and it would be great if I could get excited about it. But with each one I just get more depressed. Thing is I look normal...maybe even good...with my clothes on, but when they are off it's a whole different story. I can't afford surgery and have been trying to get my insurance to cover a tummy tuck but I feel that'll take a lot of appeals and maybe a doctor that doesn't have their head up their ass. It's especially depressing because most of my problems stemmed from extreme rapid weight gain that caused deep purple stretch marks all over my body. Thank you thyroid and PCOS. Now I just have to find a doctor who will stand by me when I say it was the thyroid. Anyway. So basically, I know that these guys would not be interested if they knew what I really looked like. It's really depressing me. To the point that I have been thinking about suicide. I would never, but I'm depressed by the fact that I will constantly have intimacy problems, and that physically I will never be good enough. And all that getting to goal has shown me is that I guess it's the physical side of me that matters, not at all my mind or personality. I'm just looking for others out there that feel that same as me or that can give me some advice or something.

Hi All, I am so happy that a friend told me about this site! I have been reading it lots but haven't posted yet. I am scheduled to be banded on July 12th. I only need to do one day of a liquid diet pre-op which seems very different than most. I am going to try to do one week though. I have already ordered sample packets from various sites that have been mentioned on here. Unfortunately, I haven't been eating well at all lately. I have put on 10 pounds since I started the process in April. I know its not healthy! My doctor is aware of the weight gain though. I guess I am having my last meals many times over. Ugh! Anyhow, I am very excited about the process and gaining control of myself. I know that the surgery won't cure my eating problems but I am hoping that it will help me put my mind in the right place to make better decisions. Looking forward to chatting with you all! How do I get one of those trackers on the bottom of my messages?

I had Gastric Sleeve 6/10 and did very well for the first six months. Down 62 pounds. I also have Rhuematoid Arthritis and was put on some medications with weight gain as side effects. Now I am 1 yr post op and I'm only down 45 pounds from my starting weight. Very depressed and feel like my stomach has stretched. I can eat way more that I should be able too. I have altered some of my meds and hoping that will help, but I feel hungry and crave things I never did! Help!!! What do I do if I am stretched, and how can I get back on track???

I'm 9wks out and just started cardio. I do step class and kickboxing 4 times a week and then weight training 1 day. I havent had any weight gain, I've actually lost this week and my weigh-in isnt until Monday! (Today's Friday). I'm excited to see what results I get. As for DVDs, I know a lot of people do Zumba, but I actually go to the gym during lunch and do the classes there. Good luck to you!

I was seriously ill in April and had no choce, my band was infected and had to be removed. I was devastated and very concerned about just what has happened, I have started gaining weight. I saw my doctor today and was told putting another band in could be very risky and lead to even worse complications. I am seeing a nutrtionist and having medobolic testing next month to see if we can figure out why the weight came back on so fast. I am very afraid that I will go back to how I was before the surgery. I went from 267 to 138. I am now 158 and am afraid to even get on the scale anymore for fear it will show more weight gain. Any ideas I will gladly listen too. All advice is welcome and it sure is nice to know I am not the only one this has happened to or that feels like every pound just makes you look terrible.

Hi: The last time I had a fill, I stayed nauseated for a while. I noticed it the most when I laid down. Then sinus drainage did not help that at all ! ! ! I thought maybe, a little to tight. Now almost 90 days later. I find myself getting hungrier through the day. I'm scheduled for the end of July to go back in for a fill, but I don't want to be to tight. (I HAVE BEEN IN THE RED ZONE BEFORE, AND IT'S NO FUN.) So I'm thinking of just trying to start to figure out all these different foods that I do eat for Protein, and Calorie Purposes, and somehow change things around to satisfy myself. Also still thinking about a slight tweaking. at the Surgeons Office. I have 2.75 in a 4cc Band. So trying to figure out how to make this work They would like tight , because they don't want to see weight gain. Well I don't want weight gain either, but don't care for this nausea. I'll see if he prescribes something or maybe some PEPCID COMPLETE will do it. PCP won't touch it ! Even if it is sinus drainage also....

Sorry to be so late in responding to this. IMO you did right to measure the chili in a measuring cup rather than weigh it. And you're right in the thought to weigh solid Proteins. And MOST of the time, I measure my veggies in a measuring cup (my doc says 1/2 cup lower carb veggies). I've started weighing them too, just out of curiosity, and different veggies weigh different amounts. I know some bariatric surgeons say it's really more important to go by volume than weight when managing food intake. Your doctor or nutritionist may have other ideas, but when it comes to weighing food, I don't worry if it's 2.7 or 3.2 oz.. as long as it's close to 3oz, that's fine. And if I've been working out extremely hard or if the Protein is a very low calorie one.. like fish, I will sometimes have 4oz. I try not to increase my protein very often though as it could be a slippery slope back to weight gain. It can be a very confusing thing to try to decide how to measure your food, but you, your doc and your nut or dietician should be able to come up with a method that works for you, the individual. Remember the band "rules" aren't really all that rigid.. they can be modified to work with the individual. That's why I much prefer to call them guidelines. All this is based on my experience.. others might have differing views and that's ok too.

All my life my weight has been a relationship issue because I feel fat or look fat or get fat. Kinda the biggest hurdle for me. Now I'm married and I was just slightly chubby when I met my hubby and then gained like 55 lbs over the years. I always thought he was disappointed about the weight gain, as I was. So now after losing my 70 lbs I lost a couple more lbs on vacay and he hugged me tonight was kind said "AGHHHH" and I was like "WHAT?" and he said "I just don't want you to get toooooo thin". Which I'm not, I'm 5'1" and still weight 146. But it was such a great thing to hear someone say. I'm like, can you say that like 200 times to me. Because my whole life men have been afraid of me GAINING too much weight and I've never had anyone worry I might get too thin. It was just kinda funny.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes six years ago. The oral meds I took for this time contributed to a 20 lb weight gain over those 6 years. In January 2011, my doctor broke the news that my A1C was too high at 8.4%. I was going to have to increase my meds again. After I balked at the idea of more meds, my doctor suggested that I consider lapband. My wife was banded 5 months earlier in Mexico, so we went off to Mexico again, this time to get me banded. In 5 months, I have lost 60lbs, A1C went from 8.4 to 5.8, BP from 120/75 to 95/60, triglycerides from 335 to 133, cholesterol from 180 to 135. I have much more energy now. I can't believe that I may have to figure out how not to loose more weight in the very near future. That will be a great problem to have. My doctor believes that I can go medication free at my next visit in September.

Thanks for responding Corize. Part of the policy for approval is that YOU MUST ADHERE TO BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATIONS AND ADHERE TO THE DOCTORS DIETARY PROGRAM. SO THEY WON'T ACCEPT MY DOCTORS RESPONSE. THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL ACCEPT THIS IS IF HE CLARIFIES WHAT HE WROTE AND HE WRITES THAT HE DID NOT MEAN TO SAY I DIDN'T ADHERE TO THE WHOLE DIETARY PROGRAM AND BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION PROGRAM. At least...this is what it seems...that the only way they will cover it now. I am getting my doctor records from 2005-2009 from my other doctor to show my weight then and how I was stressed ect...and my foot doctor records to show how this increase in weight gain even now effects the arches in my foot which causes even more pain and stress.

Well, I just have to say that while it's nice sometimes that our husbands (or mothers, aunts, brothers, fathers, cousins, etc.) would like to "chime" in on what they THINK you should weigh, honestly it is really up to you. Yes, our surgeon's can give us guidelines and there is the ever-important BMI chart and for us women there is the time of the month, Water weight gain, etc. Basically there is a LOT to think about when figuring out what you should weigh. But honestly it all comes down to you. What you are comfortable with, etc. I personally would hate to lose so much and then not be able to maintain that weight. I didn't have surgery to get to a number on the scale and then spend the rest of my life chasing that number again. So for me, I've picked something that I *hope* I will be able to maintain for life. And it puts me just barely inside the normal BMI category. Anything after that is gravy. And I agree with Tiff...just because you weigh the same as someone else doesn't mean that you wear the same size or even look like you have similar bodies, etc. Do what feels best for YOU!!!

Hi Skylily, What a journey you've had! I've had it fairly easy in comparison, but am still struggling to get to a "healthy" weight. I had a set back last year after an injury and spent the past year not exercising and eating what ever I wanted. Somehow I've managed to keep the weight gain to only 12lbs. I'm back on track now, doing medifast (that I get from my WL surgeon) to try to get under 200lbs. Even with the band we all have to work at this! Have you have an xray of your band? The reflux and choking sounds like your band might have slipped. My sister in law had that happen afer she had a baby. The band slipped and the reflux was terrible. She had her band totally unfilled and after 4 weeks the band is back where it's supposed to be. She's starting to have it refilled next week. Might be worth a visit to your surgeon to have that checked out. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

I got the Lapband in July 2009. Before I got the band I had a severe mental block with "calorie counting," making healthy choices, exercise, etc. Like many people who get weight loss surgery, I felt like I needed to take drastic measures to protect me from myself. No matter how much I wanted to be thin, no matter how depressed my fat made me feel, I could not stop eating. I thought the Lapband was the thing that was going to protect me from myself. And it did, for a while. From the time I got my band I lost about 10 pounds per month. I felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders because no matter what food I chose to eat, I could not over eat. I could eat cake if I wanted, but just a little. I could go out to a restaurant and order anything I wanted without feeling scrutiny from the crowd. And I did not have to worry about whether I was making a bad choice or not because I knew I was still going to lose weight. The band was my ever present friend, protecting me from myself. It was wonderful, and effortless. The world around me began to treat me differently. I had been thin before, so I knew what it felt like to get positive attention from others regarding my looks. It felt good. It also felt good for my boyfriend who was now the object of envy, whereas before he was the object of curiousity. "Why is he with her? He is so cute, she has gained so much weight," etc. I went from a 242 starting weight to 220, 210, 200, 190, 180, 170, 160, 150, 140, 135 ---- It was amazing. Every time I stepped on the scale I had lost weight. Then, in November 2010, I kept losing and couldn't stop. I went from 135 to 125 then 118....which is too thin for my height. I looked like a skeleton. I thought that my band was too tight and needed to be loosened. However, when I couldn't get an appointment with my band doctor soon enough, I went to the emergency room. They did some blood work and found that my potassium was dangerously low and I was at risk for a heart attack. The doctor also did an x-ray and told me that my band had slipped down and was strangling my stomach. They told me that they had to do emergency surgery that day to remove it. But first they had to get my potassium high enough so that I would survive the surgery. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!. Don't take away my security blanket! Don't take away my insurance policy and leave me to my own devices! Especially, don't take it away from me today without any warning. I cried. The doctor took out the lapband. He was NOT a fan of the lap band claiming that he had to take out about 4-6 per week that slipped. The moment they took out the lapband a sheet of anxiety hit me like a ton of bricks. I began to think that I was going to gain weight uncontrollably. The anxiety about about food and gaining weight caused me to eat. I felt anxious about eating, so I began to eat. I tried in vain to take some preventative measures, like join weight watchers. But my uncontrollable will to eat was stronger than my willpower to stop it. I immediately began gaining weight. Which was 'ok' at first because I was underweight to begin with.But then I began to gain more and more. I went from underweight, to normal weight, to overweight. Now I think I am on the brink of obese again, If I have not already reached that point. This all happened in a span of 7 months. I am now at 210 and don't know where I am going to go from here. The doctor told me that I had to wait for one full year for my stomach to heal enough to have any other kind of surgery. I can never have the band again because of what it did to my stomach. Now my option is the sleeve. At first I just wished they could put me in a coma and wake me when it was time to have the surgery. I did not feel that I could sustain the horrors of weight gain. At about 192 I started therapy for my disordered eating and began really learning a lot. I had been in therapy before, but never with someone who specialized in disordered eating. I am learning that I am not truly alone. Many, many people use food as the mechanism to deal with any emotion they may feel (or may try not to feel). I am learning that for myself, and for other people, food is a constant in my life. It is always there for me when I need it, It never lets me down. I eat when I feel happy, eat when I feel sad, eat when I feel anxious, eat as a response to almost any emotion. At this point I believe that when I am able to have the sleeve in October 2011, I will still want it as my back up plan to protect me from myself. But I hope at that point to have a different perspective and possibly the ability to show different responses to feelings and emotions other than eating.

hello all! I have a July 1 surgery date and am so looking forward to it! I've already started my 2 week liquid preop diet, and to allay any fears, I'm four days into it and I geel great!! This is coming from a guy who is over 50, 6'5" and 380 lbs. I'm drinking about 1200 calories a day, and I can tell you honestly that I am NOT hungry... the Protein must be doing the trick. I have about 110-120 grams a day. Protein powders: ones I use and like: Syntha -6 strawberry... two scoops mixed with milk is thick and like a strawberry shake, 400 calories and 44 grams of protein. Syntrax - roadside lemonade and fuzzy navel - these are the only protein powders I've ever had that actually taste good in Water. most make me gag. each has 100 calores and 22 grams of protein. costco carries Premier brand shakes... chocolate tastes great, and it's 160 calories and 30 grams protein. My doc says "drinkable" Soups are fine, as is no sugar added oatmeal with splenda. The oatmeal will sure fill you up, and help prevent some unpleasant side effects from an all liquid diet. Me, I'm glad my doc requires this. I look at it as getting mentally ready. Yes, the head games have begun, second guessing myself, etc... but if I want to put a quick stop to that I just imagine a picture of me naked, and taped along the bottom are the meds I have to take due to my weight gain. That gets em over it quick. Counting the days and excited!!!

Hi There! I'm back after at least a year away from Lap Band Talk. I had surgery on 10/28/08 and am back at working on getting to my goal weight by 10/28/11. I've spent the better part of the past year dealing with a foot injury that caused my exercise to go from 5 days a week to nada. Of course that lead to poor food choices and I'm now looking at a 10lb weight gain. I'm still down 74 lbs from surgery and 93 from my heaviest, but really want to get back on track. Looking forward to reading this forum for support and finding others who are restarting with the band!

I have decided to get the Lap Band after many years of weight gain and loss and now am looking for a place to do it. I have had a consultation at CIBO and they can do the procedure very quickly which kind of scares me...shouldnt there be a longer wait...regardless I am looking for positive stories from CIBO patients

I have spent the past hour or so reading blogs and catching up on the lap band community. As I was reading it came to me that we have all been given a wonderful opportunity to have the support of thousands of people. People like us, who can over advice from first hand experience and learn from all of our successes and failures. I never introduced myself when I started blogging, I just started pounding away spilling my thoughts and feelings on the page. So her goes, my name is Diane, I am 55 almost 56 this November. I am married, have two children, a boy and a girl and 3 grand children, a dog, Lexi ( She is posted with me in my picture) and a cat, Sassey. I love animals and if I lived in the country would have many more than I do, animals love us unconditionally and don't care if we are fat or thin. How and why did I chose lap band? I have been what you call the professional diet queen. I am 5'1" and have struggled with weight gain after the birth of my first child in the late 70's. I lost the weight and just gained it back with the birth of my second child. I lost that weight and did pretty good until I went to nursing school and packed it right back on. In those early years I could keep it around 180 or 190 but still thought I was fat, but I never realized what fat was until I hit my 40's. That is when I really started to plump up, I reached a high by the time I was 50 of 260's and believe me on a 5'1" frame that is a lot of weight and my knees began to tell the story a few years ago. Three years ago my right knee went out, swollen, painful, difficult to walk, etc. I went to the doctor, they x-rayed and MRI. I had some beginning stages of osteo, thinning of the cartilage on the inner part of my knee joint. The doctor injected with steroids, last about 48 hours and then I did the weekly injections to rebuild the cartilage. It puts the cushion back between the joints. That lasted about 8 weeks. Then the dreaded conversation came up, Diane you need to drop a few pounds. I knew this already, I had two bouts of pneumonia over the past two years, my BP was out of control, and I was having sleep apnea. Oh by the way I forgot to mention I have been a nurse for almost 30 years. You would think as a health care worker we would have better health habits. But no, we probably are one of the most unhealthy group of people because we are always taking care of others and not ourselves. I am very stubborn, duh so I refused to wear a CPAP for the sleep apnea, and when I saw the metal they would put in my body as a joint, I said no way. Off to Jenny Craig I marched, I joined for 500 dollars, bought my meals at 120 plus a week and lost down to 195 lbs. Then it became too expensive and I just knew I could do this on my own, portion control and 1200 calories, a piece of cake I thought. NOT!!!!!!!!!!! I plumped back up to 248 lbs within 2 years of stopping Jenny Craig. So that is how I got to lap band. Live a life of pain and not enjoy life or get off your butt and do something about it. As for the nursing, I am a critical care nurse, so you would think I would know better and make better choices. Oh well that is the past and this is the new me. I involved my family in my journey, I made my appointment for the information meeting and took my husband with me and told all of my family. I figured if I was going to make this a life style I better include the persons in my life so they could be supportive. I thought about not telling the people at work, because sadly I was one of those people who thought weight loss surgery was a cop out. Boy have I changed my mind. so once I scheduled my surgery I told all of my peers at work I was having Lap Band surgery on the 28th of October. Now a very good friend of mine at work, Ron, looked at me shocked and said" your not fat enough to have weight loss surgery." I could have kissed him but instead, I stopped and said, "Ron, I am morbidly obese. My BMI is 47.5. I have to lose weight or I am not going to get to enjoy watching my grandchildren grow up. He looked shocked and said, I had no idea you weighed that much. Thank god for the Ron's and the Paul's(my husband) who love us whether we are skinny or fat and see us for something more than how we look. I will tell you I was scared, I think my biggest fear has been that I will fail, fail to loss and keep it off. But that very fear is my driving force, I will not gain this weight back and I will be successful. The difference for me know compared to back in the dieting days is I am choosing to change my life style with a gentle nudge from my band. I always lost weight on the planned programs I paid for, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach etc. But when I stopped paying I gained the weight back. Lap Band is a permanent solution to me because as long as i listen to my band, make healthy choices and exercise I will be successful. I know a lot of people struggle with weight loss and the band but in my opinion we fail because we fail to change our behavior. When I don't lose weight now, i sit down and look back at what I am doing. If I am honest with myself, I am snacking between meals, eating past satisfied and not exercising. I chose not to eat sweets, potato chips(which I love), I stay way from carbohydrates, pasta, rice and potato's. Not because I can't have them but because I like them to much and they make me feel over stuffed. I love pizza, can I eat pizza yes, should I eat pizza no. It is full of carbohydrates, so I look for alternatives that satisfy that void. This truly is a journey and you learn about your body and your inner self along the way. For me this journey is not about being skinny it is about learning to make the right choices, developing a healthy life style and spending quality time with my family. So now you no my story. I was banded October 28, 2010. I weighed in at 248 on surgery day and as of today I weigh 180. ( I have been stuck here for several weeks) I started in a size 24 and now wear a size 14. I have lots of shrinkels but who cares, I consider those my battle scars.

Good Afternoon Peeps Had boot camp this morning then funeral - then did a little shopping got this great bbq sauce from World Mart - Stockyard BBQ - OMG to die for - I know there is a Stockyard Restaurant in Dallas that's really famous I assume it's from there - going back tomorrow to buy a whole bunch - cuz it's hard to find good bbq sauce and when I find one I love - they quit making it.. So gotta stock up Candice - I don't think I have had rubbard.. Bannana nut bread - omg - that can't be a N American thing - how werid Linda - How' Mindy doing are you home yet Phyl - Wine really doesnt help your bp - I think it makes it worse really This is from the Mayo Clinic - I just wanted to make sure that Dr Janet was giving correct info Question Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Does drinking alcohol affect your blood pressure? Answer from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily increases your blood pressure, but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases. Heavy drinkers who cut back to moderate drinking can lower their systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by 2 to 4 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) by 1 to 2 mm Hg. If you have high blood pressure, avoid alcohol or drink alcohol only in moderation. Moderate drinking is generally considered to be: Two drinks a day for men younger than age 65 One drink a day for men age 65 and older One drink a day for women of any age A drink is 12 ounces (355 milliliters) of beer, 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine or 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof distilled spirits. Keep in mind that alcohol contains calories and may contribute to unwanted weight gain — a risk factor for high blood pressure. Also, alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness and increase the side effects of some blood pressure medications. So gf sorry to say gf - you need to only have 1 period - they can give you meds for the bp - are they talking about changing it.. Exercise and getting some more weight off will help.. Hugs on that proceedure - you are in my prayer - but ya gotta limit salt too i think Well I am off to the couch for a while - cbl