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My answers will be in blue. Our new insurance is going to kick in as of June 1, 2007 and this is when I'm going to start my journey of trying to get approved for the surgery. I don't even know if our insurance covers any of it but I am hopeful and I still want to get as much research as possible within me. We are going to have UHC so my guess some of it could be covered but who knows, I will find out in June once we get our cards, info packets, etc. etc. Anywho, here are my questions.... If you are enrolled, and just don't have active coverage yet, you should still be able to get a copy of the SPD. You should not have to wait. (I could be wrong about this, but that's what I think, anyway) 1) It's been a little over a year since I've had a pap smear. I'm going to go once our insurance kicks in and I'm going to let my doctor know that I haven't had a period in 7 months and that I am interested in having a weight loss surgery. I'm very sure it's due to my recent weight gain, do you think she would be willing to write a letter of recommendation to the insurance company that the reason for surgery is a health issue? First, your doctor will have to verify that your cessation of periods is due to weightloss. Your doctor won't write a letter of recommendation on your assumption that it is. General guidelines for insurance approval include history of obesity (5+ years) and BMI over 40 or over 35 with two or more comorbidities (doesn't sound like you have this). IF the periods were a result of weight gain, this might be one comorbidity, but honestly - I'm not sure. 2) How will I know what other procedures I need to get done before being considered for the surgery? Does the insurance company tell me this or the surgeon? Usually no other procedures are needed unless you have something that has to be medically corrected before the surgery can physically take place. There are general criteria that (usually) need to be met for insurane coverage. Common criteria include 6 months of medically supervised weightloss (6 months of being weighed in doesn't normally count, they require an additional 6 months of going specifically for Morbid Obesity - 278.01), psychologist approval, standard pre-op admissions (xray, labs, etc.). These vary by surgeon and insurance company. Your surgeon will probably have a set of criteria, as will your provider. 3)After that, do I just call up my surgeon (I'm wanting to go to Dr. Spivak in Houston, TX) and say "Hey! I'm interested in getting the lap band surgery!" and do they just guide me from there? Determine if you're covered by your insurance, or if you will be self pay. Dr. Spivak may or may not be an in network provider. If he isn't, you can either pay the difference or find someone who is. Once that decision is made, contact the surgeon's office. Most require you to attend an information seminar during which you're given the paperwork you need to begin the process. 4)Is it possible to lose weight w/ out fills or are they necessary? You can lost weight without fills, but you shouldn't count on it. The point of the band is to be restricted. Sometimes enough restriction is given by the band itself that fills aren't needed. 95%+ of the time this isn't the case. It's safe to assume you will need at least a few fills. ...Grr, that's all I can think of as of right now. I took a shower earlier and I swear that I had questions coming out of my ears! Anyway, thanks in advance for all of your help! 5) I know that some insurance companies require you to have a 6 month weight loss documentation. This is no problem for me considering I have joined Weight Watchers numerous times in the past. How do I get my information from them? I have long thrown away all of my weigh-in cards but I assume they also keep them on file? Weight Watchers is not medically supervised in and of itself. If it was something you and your doctor agreed on, and you were going to follow-up sessions with your doctor to monitor your progress. Weight Watchers weigh in cards are pretty much worthless as far as "medically supervised" goes. See above information.

Hello is anyone out there? LOL! I understand it was Easter weekend. I'm sure everyone was out having a good time. Hopefully you were able to stay away from all the chocolate bunnies! :tongue: I am seriously angered right now! I have no clue what on Earth is going on with me! I have been almost perfect for a over a week now and I gained weight!! How is that even possible? I'm starting to suspect it might be the Symbicort inhaler my doctor prescribed me for my asthma. It apparently has cortico steroids in it. I don't have any other ideas... because I have been eating good, and have maintained my exercise routine. I'm even doing more than usual even!! I feel like I'm in a nightmare or something. I even went online and googled "Symbicort weight gain". To my surprise it does seem to be a side effect of this drug. My doctor must have known this when giving it to me. The thing is, all these people mentioned eating alot. I haven't though. I've really been exercising my better judgement and my will power has been above par. I haven't even so much as touched a chip in 9 days now. Why am I gaining weight??? :smile: It gets so frustrating! Anway, back to the Symbicort, apparently it can cause some water retention. I have been drinking massive amounts of water too, so maybe it is that. I have decided to stop taking the Symbicort. I do take Cingulair and for the most part it does help with my Asthma. I just had a rough patch after getting sick this time around and she gave me something more. I cannot deal with Steroids and I'll avoid them at all costs, unless I feel like I'm dying. LOL!! So, hopefully I can remain strong minded and vigilant - and not "give up". I really don't want to, but sometimes it doesn't even seem worth it. Don't worry about me saying that, I know it IS worth it, for my health, my looks, my self-esteem - all that. Ugh... I'll still keep on it. I'm just really feeling down right now. Plus, it seems the Symbicort results in mood swings too. This stuff just isn't for me. On a side note, I have decided to try the Slim Shots, and looks like little coffee creamers. It has helped me with the hunger I get. Maybe Lap-Band + Slim-Shots = Successful-Diva... hehe! I hope! The hunger has been my only issue. However, my choices to curb the hunger have been much better lately. How is everyone else doing out there???

It’s been almost two years since I got the sleeve and I’m not satisfied where I am. I feel like I could be doing more but I have no motivation in me. I still try to eat healthy but it’s kind of out of control now. I’m scared to be 300 lbs again or to gain any more weight. Lowest weight was 185 I’m at 194 right now. I feel kind of depressed to be honest like I let myself down.. I just need support I guess.

And Sheribear68 and the rest, apprehensive I will be joining you guys soon, I had an iron INFUSION last Monday ( March 11th) I am scheduled for a Reclast INFUSION on the 22nd, and guess what the med sheet says? Both medicines 1st side effect? Weight gain. Oh gee doctors, and I just was 23 pounds dropped since the middle of February! Was actually celebrating , doctors PLEASE don't ruin my HAPPY NSV, I have been working hard to do this for myself, a early springtime -📦 present for me!

Hi I am new to all of this! I have battled my weight my whole life. I have lost weight gained it lost it again i am just so tired of this!!! Through my years of dealing with my weight I decided to go back to school and get a degree in nutrition (it's so much fun to be a chubby dietitian) so as you can imagine I no what to do to lose weight I just have such a hard time doing it. If someone told me that there was a magic pill I would take it!! So what I want to know is this worth it! Does it work? I know the science behind it all, but does it really work! I work at one of the local hosptials and the surgeons are having an info meeting this week and I just wonder if I should go. I have not talked about this with anyone in my life (my husband, sisters, friends etc) I feel like my god if I can't lose the weight who can. Sorry to have rambled I just would really like some help thanks for you time. Angela

i have been struggling with my weight since puberty - it came on swiftly and somewhat without reason, based on my eating and activity level at that time. my ("normal" weight) mother was concerned, of course, but hoped i would "grow into it". i never did. as i grew up, i grew out. my thyroid was tested so many times, with nothing being wrong. when i got older, i resigned myself to being fat and then just let myself make poor choices. i'm fat already, why not? i put more weight on (naturally). a few years ago, i found out i have PCOS and that could explain my early weight gain. i've steadily put on over the years and it's really affected my life. i'm not married, i don't have kids (not sure if i am able, either, because of the PCOS) and i live in an area where being active and fit is really important (phoenix metro area in arizona). i've had some relationships but they were short-lasting and well, i'm lonely. not lonely enough to be with the jerk that's okay with me being fat so he can treat me like crap or the guy whose self esteem is so bad that he wants me to be fat so i don't leave him. and i'm okay with being alone if those are my alternatives. but i'm not okay with living the rest of my life alone. and at least here - girls that look like me have a very hard time meeting (let alone dating/having a relationship with) decent guys. and i'm SO TIRED of being told "you have a pretty face"! anyway, a few things motivated me to finally do it. i've been suffering from heal spurs and they limit my ability to just walk around with friends shopping, it's very hard to walk for exercise. my knees have also started hurting and i know it's weight related. the pain in my feet & knees has made me not want to go to concerts - something i've loved to do since i was a young teenager. and then there's just...i'm watching myself age. quickly. i tell my friends that i think i'm "hitting my wall." it's one thing to be very obese but still kind of cute and looking much younger, it's another to be very obese, physically limited and older, less attractive with thinning hair. a couple things happened that have allowed me to have the surgery - i have a job with insurance that covers a majority of the procedure. also, my parents received some extra money from a settlement and they offered to cover the costs that my insurance does not (to which i am so grateful). the very real possibility that i could lose my job (business is slow, economy related), motivated me to push to do this NOW. i had lap-band surgery because i'm ashamed i wasted my 20s being so damn fat and i do not want to be fat while i grow old. i want to have kids, and grandkids. i also did this hoping that if i lose enough weight, i will also lose most, if not all, of the symptoms of PCOS which have been messing with me for a couple decades now. i've felt i'm racing a clock that's all of a sudden sped up and i need to slow it down! i'm less than a week into this. i don't know what i've lost post-op, if anything, but the 20ish lbs i lost pre-op didn't even make a dent in how i look. so now is the time. i now have a wonderful tool to help me gain a body in which i can more easily move through this world in and hopefully be able to step out of the shadows to really enjoy life while i still can.

Hi -- just wanted to say I had the same symptoms (vomiting at night without realizing it), but it wasn't like vomit, it was food that hadn't cleared the band. I had a barium swallow and Dr. Bagnato removed everything from the band (2 ccs), and said I had to come back for a egd (where they put the camera down your throat), and he said that if what he suspected was the problem (slippage), he would remove the band at the same time. I am so freaked out at the thought of losing my band. I had lost 40 pounds (20 prior, so 60 total), but since the band was unfilled, I have been eating stuff that I have missed -- salads, fruit, bread, and fibrous meats like chicken breast and steak... oh steak! I've gained back almost 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!! I'm afraid if I get the band taken out, I'm going to be back to where I was (282) shortly. I am already suffering from the weight gain (joints killing me, clothes getting tight). I know I have to get my mind back around this, and get focused on not eating things I shouldn't be eating, but I've always been an emotional eater, and between the open band and working 80 hours a week, I'm stuffing it down, and of course, it is almost all junk (whatever I can eat and work at the same time). Please keep me in your prayers!

My surgical team told me to stop losing at my last appointment - since then I've lost another 6kg and plan to lose another 5kg on top of that. So I'm interested to see what they say at my 12 month checkup (I'm heading into my 8th month post op). I want to get down as low as I practically can, to minimise my bounce back weight gain so many people experience. I'm basing my final number on how I feel, and at the moment I feel pretty amazing. Still losing between 0.5-1.5kg per week, with a 3-4 small loss weeks in a row and then one big one. So every time I think I'm in maintenance, I'm actually not! Ultimately you are the one that has to live in your body, so if you are happy at 180, I reckon you should stay there.

I feel like I am hungery more often, but can't eat as much in one sitting as I used to. I think my first fill (April 18th) will help out with the hunger. I am going to try the protien drinks 2x a day, and I think that will help. I gained 1/2 lb over the weekend, but have lost it now. I really just want to loose weight. My doctor did say that there may be a little weight gain before the first fill. The only thing restricting our hunger is if you have swelling in your stomach from the surgery, as the swelling goes down (and before your first fill) we will have the erge to eat more.

i was on depo and have been for 7 years now. initally when i started the shot i had an intense nasty period which faded away as the months wore on to nothing now. the only negative side affects that i still suffer from are severe nightmares 2 weeks prior to the shot and also 2 weeks post shot. keep in mind that the hormones in depo are enough to make a woman batty and throw the mix of surgery into it, your hormones are off the chart. i think i would approach my surgeon and my gyno and see what their thoughts on the matter were though. as an aside, i have to say, i just went to see my gyno for my yearly, and she advised to get off the depo. she said she had a patient who had been on it for years and gained 100+ pounds, so now i'm switching to a non-hormone iud. i've heard this before but never had a doctor actually say it to me, and while i type this, i'm in no way trying to say my birth control was the sole reason for my weight gain. but i do have to say i honestly feel as if it helped to attribute to the whole thing. so the switch for me is just me doing everything i can possibly do to help keep this weight of as i fight the battle to loose more. :bored:

I secretly hoped that some of these users would answer in this thread, explaining why they chose to express it like this. You know, so far I've not seen something like "I'm getting a revision because of weight gain and NOT because of reflux". You know what the problem with assumptions is? However, you did notice that I used the expression "as if that would be" and not "because this is seen as"?

Welcome janae. I was an OHSU sleeve patient so I can't help you except to say I've heard really good stuff about the kaiser Bariatric people. What are you looking to get done? If you are getting a sleeve, gaining it all back is going to be difficult. It's just that I get full so easily that I don't think I'll ever be able to gain it back because weight gain would have to happen so slowly that I would have plenty of time to correct. Today I had by far, the toughest workout I've done in decades. On my vacation I biked up mount lemon, about 27miles each way with over 7000 feet of elevation. I haven't had dinner yet, but trying my best to eat extra because of my workout in the sun, I'm still only at 1000 calories because that's all I can handle. Gaining weight would be difficult for me now, and I've been a yo yo dieter all my life, but now I don't see that as a possibility. This really isn't like a diet, it's harder to start but easier to maintain. And the physical restrictions really make it so you just live life a little differently, in a way that results in a skinnier you.

:tongue_smilie:Hi there folks, it's Lynn from Darlington, UK. I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty in 2004. In my first year I dropped from 26 stone(364 lbs), to 17 1/2 stone(245 lbs). In that year I was still only on liquids and mush. In the following 4 years I managed to get back onto 'normal' food, but my weight has crept up. I now weigh 22 stone 5 lbs(315 lbs) again. It is still fluctuating, up more than down. I can still only eat approximately one small cupped hand of food. Most solids, like meat, are rejected by my stomach, so I am mostly vegetarian these days. I find it hard to reconcile the fact that I do not eat much in quantity to my old diet, but am still putting weight on. I have had no follow up from my surgeon for years, it only lasted the first year. I had no counselling before or after and i only saw the dietitian half a dozen times in the first year. That was almost pointless as they did not have any idea about post op diets for VBG patients. Has anyone else experienced this post op weight gain?

If you check my profile, you will see that I am a chocolate LADY ! I started out doing sugar free Chocolates for people with Diabetes, and was a success until the economy dumped quite a few years ago. So I sold my Business, and Retired.. Still kept some things for the kids & Holidays. Outside of that, Chocolate has the most FAT in it, compared to any other sweet that I worked with. If you look at your calorie intake for lunch. Then look at a Protein shake, and read your Protein, and Fat content.. Then look at a chocolate bar for the same reason. I made my own so I don't know what a bar says, but I do know that it is very High in Fat. So instead of getting your Protein Your getting FAT Which is not Healthy at all. It can contribute to the junk in the trunk, saddle bags, just plain weight gain. I know the numbers are the same, but you have to be careful. That's like drinking Diet Coke, and developing a BEER BELLY. Well it's sugar free right ! But yet it can and will happen if you drink enough. Chocolate is not true to you with the numbers. It's your band,, you do what you want. But myself,,, I don't dare touch the stuff. I got up to 356 by making, taste testing chocolates. I won't make the same mistake again.

yeah the reason my dr said to loose weight and git fitter as i have asthma and its only associated with weight and that can put me in as a high risk and that it is a longer waiting list also he wants me to be healthyer for the op. any how maybe he is just trying to get me off my ass and give me a good reason to start now, than to wait untill i get the band ..i have not been on a diet for about 4 years hence the big weight gain i have a BMI of 52. dr nottle asked me to come back after i have been to see the other doctor and diatisian... and to make it a few weeks after i see physician so all the test results will be back... i dont care when i get in to have band, as i think that taking the first step to a better health is more than doing nothing at all and if i have to wait 12 months or more that is fine. as id never be able to afford to go private. and as for duromine my dr put me on it. as a kick start and nothing else. he made that clear to me when he said to me about going back on it.. dr nottle knew i had been on it and never said anything about it. i guess he has seen alot of people that would try anything at all to loose weight. i guess i can ask him his thoughts on duromine on my next appointment.. i have msn if you want to add me for a chat bronnie if you would like to add me. i first saw dr nottle in december thanks kayene

You bet! At 7 years post op, it’s definitely harder. I’m up 35 pounds from my goal weight I maintained for quite a few years. But life happened, and I went back to old habits. As time goes on after surgery, the easier it is to overeat. I’m happy to say I’m back on track again! And let me tell you, eating less and eating protein and lots of fiber has really brought my sleeve restriction back! I’m down 5 pounds and am already feeling physically better. Guys, don’t ignore weight gain after maintenance. You’ll have some “bounce” weight where your body wants to be, and that’s completely normal. But any gain after that take seriously. I was doing the “It’s only 10 pounds” It’s only 15 pounds” until 35 pounds, and then was like “What the hell happened??” I don’t want to get tiny again like the pic on the left at my lowest. I was comfortable at 160, and that’s realistically what I’m shooting for. I can do this! And YOU can, too! Oh, pic on the right is me currently.

Hi! I was sleeved on 5/4/16 and am slightly over 2 months post-op. I've been losing steadily- down 20 lbs since surgery. I am also bipolar, but had not been on any psychiatric meds (other than Xanax for anxiety) for many years. I managed OK, but with this new, life-changing surgery and the mood swings I deal with, I decided it was best to go back on meds. I have a hard time finding a Psychiatrist with my insurance (though they approved the VSG surgery...?!). My family doctor prescribed me 10 mg of Prozac and 300 mg of Seroquel. I was on Seroquel years ago and I believe it contributed to my increasing weight gain back then. Not that it was the only cause, but I'm leery. I spoke with my surgeon who seems to think the Seroquel and Prozac is a good combo and I shouldn't worry about putting back on weight with the Seroquel. I am just curious if anyone else that had the VSG takes/has taken Seroquel post-op, and if you gained any weight back, or felt hungrier/ate more. Thanks in advance, Erin

Only at the doctor or once a week at home. Day to day weight gains and loss mean nothing. It wasn’t good for my brain to weigh every single day. Fortunately, I’m at the point where my BMI is healthy and I need to lose about 15 more lbs but now I’m only focused on appearance. If I look better after gaining muscle pounds, I’m good with it!

I had a 40 lb weight gain over 8 years. 10 years post sleeve. Life happens. too many personal losses and changes.... Back in control now. Lost 37 pounds in the past year. Back to basics. Protein, veggies, fruit , sprinkling of carbs, healthy oils and fats and a daily treat. Also back to the scale twice daily. Morning and Evening. Evening also lets me know if I have had enough water. I dehydrate too easily. And not good with my fluids... I will never be "normal" weight or BMI - but am back to my lowest BMI, and almost lowest sustained weight.

Jenpa, thank you as well. It's comforting to read the physicians are comfortable and successful. Abdominal compliance is definitely challenging. I am tight and with the weight gain I feel extremely tigh. Which of course makes me so nervous. I've decided to go with Dr. Illan in May. So if anyone has used him after TT. I would love their input as well.

In the loss phase I ate no more than 900 calories a day. In maintenance I aimed for 1,100-1,300 a day. While pregnant, I aimed for 1,400-1,600 calories a day. I'll be honest, there were times when that was a real challenge due to either restriction or morning sickness. And there were times when the hormones were flooding my body and I felt like I could eat all day long. But overall, that's the window I tried to stick with throughout. I gained 32 pounds, a perfectly normal weight gain that actually worried my OB. This is the same OB that saw me during my twin pregnancy and the fact that I gained so little this time had them worried. However, my daughter was born at a normal weight (for our family) - right in between the weights of my previous children at 6 pounds, 7 ounces. She was born perfectly healthy, at 39 weeks, 3 days so there were no problems with her size or health due to my surgery or my diet. A huge thing to consider is Vitamin supplements, though. I had very real issues with both lactose intolerance (it reared it's ugly head again with my pregnancy) and morning sickness every time I consumed meat. I had to find ways to make up the difference, and I turned to Protein shakes for a while. I also took a number of Vitamins to help ensure the baby was getting enough of what she needed, too. By one week postpartum I had already lost more than half the weight, so try to shelve any concerns about a normal pregnancy gain and focus on the baby. Good luck, and wishes for a healthy pregnancy! ~Cheri

II have depression/GAD. I can't take SSRIs due to side effects. I take Nefazodone and did take Xanax XR. I had to switch from Xanax XR to regular and I have trouble staying asleep all night. Overall the transition has been fine and has not affected my weight. This is why I picked Nefazodone over the many more modern options. "Unlike the SSRI antidepressants, nefazodone associated with minimal weight gain and minimal sexual side effects." @NikkiOwl Buspar just made me sleepy.

I was put on Cymbalta (duloxetine) following back surgery in early 2019, to help with nerve pain as well as anxiety/depression surrounding the ordeal. It apparently “worked” and got me through. Constipation and weight gain go hand in hand with it though😩, so I started weaning myself a few months ago. Just this week I decided to stop it, completely. As with anything, it’s totally individual as to the risk/reward of being on something like this. If you feel best on an SSRI, that reward seems like it would be greater than speed of weight loss. You will still lose, you may just need more patience with the scale. Only you and your Dr. can decide. In my case, Dr. said he was all for me going off. I just have to believe it messes with our metabolism, and I don’t trust the drug companies to admit it.🤦‍♀️ Good luck! And be sure to talk with your Dr. on this.💖

Again I had the same question about the exercise program. What my surgeons office did is when I went to my weight management (behavior modification ) class we had to fill out a sheet each time, Containing what are daily activity is like what we are doing for exercise and how long...we also made a food goal like cutting sweet tea , or reducing carbs.. I wouldn't count you out yet over those 3 lbs what is your current bmi? I ask cause even though I had to not gain weight I did not have much wiggle room to loose either . But if you are able to stay above the required bmi with no issue push as hard as you can to drop 5 before the next visit. and do not gain another lb if possible. I was so obsessed about this part cause i knew this was the one part of the approval process that was totally up to me. Aetna is strict about the weight gain but make sure its documented somewhere that either you are on a certain med that makes you gain , Water weight , cycle time etc.

Glad to see you back after five years. You are not alone. Many have experienced regain years out. Several are back on the site for support. Counseling and self help resources are a great place to start to find your willpower. Time to deal with emotional stress eating. doing the head work link below. Some things from my weight gain experience to try. (What works for me may not work for you) Clear out your home of temptation- go shopping for foods on your real food plan Extra carbs and real sugar cause cravings and hunger – Detox off them Satisfy sweet and salty cravings with healthy options: Example -Sweet: dannon light n fit yogurt – Salty: Jerky Hydrate and exercise/activity I’m a sleeve, I have less surgery restriction years out. Eat veggies with all the other item on your plan until full. The bulk and fiber will help fill the extra space, They keep your calories low and help with hunger. Log your food (myfitnesspal) the key is to stay within your weight loss calories and macros.(protein and carb goals) Start at 1200 calories. You can dial the numbers up or down to see where your body loses weight. People will mention Pouch reset. ( Its going back to liquids phase and progressing to real food stage) It does not shrink your pouch. Decide if this is too food restrictive. You can always start real food to reset. Years out, Find a diet that is sustainable for you long term – Vegan, paleo, intermittent fasting, whole 30, keto the list goes on. Whatever diet you chose. Log your food and stay within your calories/macros. People will mention Pouch reset. ( Its going back to liquids phase and progressing to real food stage) It does not shrink your pouch. It may help you feel restriction better. Decide if this is too food restrictive. You can always start real food to reset. Years out, Find a diet that is sustainable for you long term – Vegan, paleo, intermittent fasting, whole 30, keto the list goes on. Whatever diet you chose. Log your food and stay within your calories/macros