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I had revision from VSG to Bypass October 2020 due to severe gastritis, esophagitis and Reflux. I'd been on PPI medication for GERD since well before my sleeve surgery, but it only got worse after. Drugs no longer had any impact and I couldn't sleep unless I was in a recliner. I saw my surgeon in August of 2020, had all the testing done to verify the diagnosis and my insurance approved within a month. I have Aetna insurance, but when the surgery is "medically necessary", it moves pretty quick. I was "overweight", but not obese at the time of the bypass, so weight gain was not a factor in the insurance approval. But I don't think it would have changed the medical necessity of the surgery. Good news - the surgery was a success, acid reflux is gone, I now sleep in a bed and I've lost almost 60 pounds since surgery. Recovery was rough - I'm a "dumper", so I still have to be careful what I eat, but I am so very happy that I made the decision to have the revision. Good luck with your surgery!

Linda, Hello... I was browsing around and was so glad to see this post. I am not sure if I mentioned this before (when we have talked) I am a diabetic on insulin. In November 2012, I had been rushed to the hospital for DKA and was in diabetic shock... I was literally out of it for 3 days *which i am still unable to recall*. Doctors told my husband at that time that my sugars were so high they were literally off the charts and I was lucky to be alive. When the #s finally started to register it was 815. Long story short, I truly thank God I am here. Anyway, the reason I told that is to lead to the following. With that episode happening, my previous endocrinologist thought perhaps I was type 1 diabetic, (instead of type 2,as previously diagnosed in 2003) they ran the specific tests and I was told that I was not type 1, but definitely type 2. Time went on and I am no longer seeing that doctor and now have a new endocrinologist.... and well seeing my history on record and blood sugar issues, he also wanted to test me to see if I was type 1. Longer story short, at my last visit I was told that the blood tests confirm that I am type 2 but I also have traits of type 1 diabetes... which makes my case of diabetes different.... He further told me to inform Dr. Uchal that more than likely i have impairment going on with my pancreas (which of course is nothing new as diabetes effects the pancreas) but he then told me that with my upcoming bariatric surgery, not to expect to be off of my insulin completely... (which didn't shock me, as I know how the slightest intake can make my sugar go up). I say that full, long story for this reason... in finding out the recent info, I started to worry about the "what if's" again... thinking what if this surgery will not work because I am remaining on insulin (as insulin can cause weight gain). It truly started to upset me so much to where it prompted me to search for info on this site... (that is how I found the above post and your reply) May I ask, "has the insulin hindered any of your husband's progress/weight loss?" I am trying not to worry but I want to be prepared. I told my husband my fear would be that I do the surgery and that the insulin sabotaging my results, especially since I have a lot of weight to lose.... (my apologies for the lengthy story...lol... but any reply would be helpful..) Sincerely, Angi

Hi, I am new to this site.. I have been looking for an answer all over the internet and I hope you guys can help me. I am 4 weeks post op and for the last 1.5 weeks my weight has fluctuated up and down 2lbs. I didn't think weight gain was possible with this surgery. I called and talked with the medical assistant at the office and she said to keep and eye on it. Weight everyday and if it continues then I need to come in, that this is not normal. I am not having any pain or anything like that, my weight is just STUCK! Has anyone had this? I am sticking to my stage 3 diet not eating to much ect... ect.. Help!! Total loss so far has been 17.6 lbs

Hey KRussell, first of all, CONGRATS!!! That is fantastic what you've done. I have a feeling there are many out there who started where you are. In college, I had a girlfriend who kept claiming to be fat, but only needed to lose 10 lbs. it frustrated me when by comparison I knew I was 110 lbs overweight. I think I judged her feeling she had lost persective... Yet to her, it was a big deal because the weight gain was enough to make her clothes not fit. I couldn't relate because I wear a lot of elastic... But also realized she had an eating disorder and challenges I couldn't relate to. Everyone has their own battles and it's important and a big deal to them. Keep your head up and do TRY not to compare. Your journey is YOURS and it's important and valid and NOTHING should minimize your commitment and effort. You're awesome! Keep the faith! Be so proud of yourself!!!! You're rockin' it!

Hello I haven't had the surgery yet but since I started my journey 4 months ago I've lost 43 pounds. I'm a 52 yr old male 5 7 hw 297 cw 253 There has been times I've experienced stalls and weight gains Remember a pound of fat is around 3,500 calories so if you haven't consumed that much in a day or so it's Water weight. I hope that was helpful Sent from my SM-N915V using the BariatricPal App

Esophageal dilatation (I don't know why they couldn't just say "dilation," but they had to throw in an extra syllable) is, in my experience, pretty much as described above. But, be careful when you "interpret" the words "overeating" or "pouch packing," or the like. It is difficult to blame overeating when not much is bieng eaten and the weight keeps coming off, as it did early on in my case. I wasn't eating more than my doctor recommended or more than I needed to eat to lose weight, I was just eating more than my esophagus could process, once its function was hampered by the presence of the band. And that "more than my esophagus could process" amount might be as little as two spoons of Soup. So, we would go out to an early dinner (we do that on a VERY regular basis because I'm a lazy woman), order off the lunch menu, have two or three spoons of soup, and then decide to "save room" for the fish entree. When it arrived, I'd take one bite and get that deer-in-the-headlights look. More often than not, I was off to the restroom to bring UP what wouldn't go DOWN. Turns out, I wasn't "packing" food into the esophagus as a result of eating more than my stomach could handle...what I was doing was eating food that never made it to my stomach, but bounced around--down the esophagus and then back up--because the band was keeping the esophagus from doing its job. Finally, three weeks before my band was removed, this was captured on video with two MD's witnessing it, but that was LATER.) Then I'd get an unfill. And then a fill. And for two years this went on, until I decided I needed to do SOMETHING. And I had one band doctor who wanted me to join his support group so I could learn how life with the band was supposed to work. (I already knew...just like it HAD worked for me for eight months or so, until the band did its damage.) After over two years of HORRID restrictions--and the weight gain that went with an emptied band and the infamous "soup and ice cream diet"--with the band, I finally decided to have a revision to the Duodenal Switch (aka Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch) because I wanted a stomach, not a "pouch," and I didn't want Dumping Syndrome like some of my girlfriends have, and I wanted to eat a more normal diet. I had that revision surgery a year ago. The surgery--band out and DS performed took less than two hours--and I was in the hospital four days. It took TEN weeks before I lost all of those band-related symptoms, but once I did, my life began. (And during those ten weeks, I lost about 55 pounds, so it wasn't ALL misery.) For some people, the dilated esophagus (picture a funnel, upsidedown) goes away once they learn to eat smaller amounts and to eat slower. For others, it may be a signal that this is not going to be an easy ride. I hope you find the cause of your problem and are able to reverse it. It would not hurt, however, to have a Plan B in the back of your mind, because taking over two years to figure out what to do next was not my most brilliant move. Sue

It took me over three years to get over the embarassment of weight gain!! I haven't had a fill since January 2007. I am determined to get back on track. It's never too late!! Go back to your doctor!! You have this wonderful prosthetic device inside your body, use it! Call your doctor right away (he's heard and seen it all, trust me!) Give your weight loss the jump start it needs. P.S. I went back tail between my legs after a 30+ pound weight gain.

JennyBee...lol... youre funny. no .. i havent done that but im deeply appreciative just the same. im really impressed by the minimal weight gain you had on your cruise. can you give me some tips? im cruising with our young grand daughter...aged 15. she doesnt know im banded and i dont want to tell her either... so what did you do to keep the weight gain to a minimum? did you have a slight unfill before you went?

As a lot of people here my weight as ALWAYS been an issue for me. I am at a raw emotional state right now that I can't take on this weight anymore! I am going thru the approval process for the 2nd time (first time didn't fully qualify weight/co-morbidies so the Dr. office wouldn't file for the pre-approval.) My weight is spiraling out of control. I'm not happy, kids driving me nuts, they need to go back to school and I have a husband that says he understands and is just trying to support me in this but just keeps throwing it in my face that I can do it on my own and have before and that getting this band is not going to be a miracle! 1) I know this won't be a miracle it's a tool!! I said this now and before, its something to hold me to it, so when it comes off I can't say hand me the snickers and I pack it back on. 2) I've committed to exercises before and stuck to it....the difference I could never loose more than 30lbs so I would get discouraged, pissed and quit...it all comes back, then I'm pissed I have to start all over again. I am tired, tried of this cycle. I just turned 29---I'm done having kids, have 3 boys. I just want to live the rest of my life in peace knowing that this time when it comes off, I have no choice but to put the right stuff in my mouth or risk horrible things happening to me and my stomach, not just having to worry about the weight coming back. I know this. He wants to compare my life, mentally and physical challenges of this weight to his weight gain since high school! Sorry pal---this is just not weight gained like you from going super athletic to sit on your ass and still thinking you can eat whatever you want. You fully did that on your own! He doesn't get that!! Mine has always been there!! My dad use to make comments to me about my weight, like peer pressure wasn't enough, went almost an entire year only eating a sandwhich a day to loose the weight. That got me to 140 when I was 15---then meet my now husband and got pregnant with my son. Of course he would say you were small when I meet you I was freaking 15!!!! And what I did the year prior to just get to that weight was ridiculous!! Then after you add 3 pregnancies on top of that!! I'm done! I swear I should be on that damn slimquick commercial how it's comparing the woman and man! It's true! He said I should take a hot bath after workouts helps shed the extra pounds!! Really! I proved my point to him. He did that got in weighed himself when done lost 2lbs...I gained 2lbs!!! I am over this right now. I am doing everything again I can to get this band on!! I feel like running and hiding on a island on my own right now. I have 1 person that is truly supportive of this idea because she knows what is like, his aunt of all people. I want to be happy for once in my life! I'm tired of walking in the stores liking a shirt that would be more age appropriate and them not having my size. I want to be normal, whatever that is I don't know anymore. I just know that this is not! I'm almost at 240 an all time high when not pregnant and I don't like this! Thanks for listening, hope I got all of this out I feel like my veins are popping out of my head right now. (Maybe I should go to the Dr to have them record a high blood pressure for today :/ to add that to my list to help me get approved!!)

Sure, but it was ultimately his poor diet that caused the weight gain, not being hungry. He admitted to a poor diet. I don't often drink with meals because there just isn't room, but if I'm extremely thirsty, I will. I also have fountain diet coke sometimes now. It doesn't cause me to be hungry. IT just satisfies my desire.

I don't understand why drinking with meals and drinking diet soda caused your weight gain. It was more likely your poor diet, but gl with your journey.

I'm not going to get into an argument with someone on a message board. I simply stated that you shouldn't assume anything yet you're doing it again. Read up a bit on PCOS and you might learn something. PCOS is typically treated with diabetic medications, such as Glucophage. However, because one of the symptoms of PCOS is weight gain, many women (like myself) have failed to lose weight even with proper dieting and exercise. I'm not, nor have I ever been, obsessed with food. Prior to getting my band, I didn't over eat. I may not have always made the right food choices, but I was not one to over eat. Please read my post on the following thread about why I am fat. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5223&page=8&pp=15 Please refer to my answer above to seehawksimms.

I am considering having surgery done... I have alot of questions and I dont want to jump into this without knowing what I am doing to myself first. I have seen people lose weight without doing something as drastic as having surgery. I feel like I am just being lazy and not wanting to deal with the willpower it takes to stay on a diet. My weight gain began 2 yrs ago when I quit smoking. I was able to control my hunger when I smoked now I cant seem to get eating under control like I got rid of one bad habit and changed it for another. Then I read about people on here who have had the surgery and think it sounds ok. But then I read about the gas and the pre op diet. Now i am perplexed about the pre op diet some had to do it some didnt some for longer some for shorter. Why? I have alot of questions that need to be answered before I do this. I am going to a seminar in Feb. Thanks for listening to my rant

I agree with everyone else that has posted on this topic. I would be a real mess as big or bigger than I was almost three years ago and certainly no where near as healthy,. Sure, I have had issues. Band slippage, vomiting blood, emergency surgery to remove the band - yep- bad news..but I have lost 120+ pounds and that is an ENTIRE PERSON. Rene's said she couldn't lift the 50 pounds she lost - try 120 pounds LOL - not happening..Since my revision surgery (4/25/14) I have had issues..healing is slow, weight gain (up 12 pounds) and in general blah..but I would have WLS all over again in a minute. It has given me a new life. I can play with my grandchildren, I am running 5K's (at 63 yrs old) and I work 50+ hours per week. No more shortness of breath, pre-diabetes, HBP..Life is so much better. I need to now get my head, my heart and my stomach all on the same page and get back to being the WL queen again and move on with my bandless life. I love the person I have become and I know that because of this surgery I have added years to my life. Melinda in Florida

The dreaded stretched sleeve debate..lol I'm going to copy my response and keep posting it. What you are describing is normal for the sleeve. It's not "stretched" this is the progression out from surgery. The restriction is still there. After surgery your restriction is tight. The restriction will change. Surgery few oz Might get 600+ calories first few months 4 oz five months to a year 6 oz to 8 oz 1200+ calories One year out half a plate. five to ten years a full plate "Grazing" is usually the cause of weight gain. You have a new point of volume and sensation of full. If you eat high calories throughout each day . (calories can be combination of good and bad food choices) It's the same effect as if you didn't have surgery. An excess of 500 calories will cause you to gain weight. A tip that may help: Try eating every 2 to 3 hours. Protein first and eat vegetables until the point of full. The bulk and fiber of the veggies will help with hunger. I can eat 5 to 6 oz of protein with a cup and a half of chopped salad. takes a while to eat but, it keeps my weight down and I feel full. Medical professional explanation to back this up below: Dr. Matthew Weiner Published on Mar 16, 2015 "Stomach Stretching" is the term used by many weight loss (Bariatric) surgery patients to explain the changes in their appetite and food consumption after surgery. Dr. Weiner explains what's really happening and how to prevent it.

Anyone that hasn't asked themselves those questions or been scared over getting surgery is a damn fool. I have no problem losing lots of weight. I've lost over 100 pounds multiple times only to gain it back. I will have lost around 100 pounds by the time I get banded and the lapband is my best alternative to stop or slow the weight gain once I stop losing. I've researched plenty. I am not going into this without knowing every detail and doing plenty of soul searching. Take your time, the lapband isn't going anywhere and will be around if you make the decision to be cut open and have a foreign object wrapped around one of your internal organs. It is NOT a decision to be made lightly.

So terrible! I think everyone fears this a little.... I know it has crossed my mind . I also know that it feels like any change in my partners affection would bother me to some degree.. If he is suddenly all over me - smothering me will I feel like he wasn't accepting of me a little heavier so why should I care now? Or if he is uninterested in me thinner- is he selfish and unsupportive? I guess it is tough- damned if they do or don't. I think its natural to have more confidence and be excited after weight loss .. but you are still YOU! To me it just says that the relationship was more superficial than you thought-- maybe time to just move forward to someone new. If the love of your life cant handle a little weight gain or loss -- it is my belief that it wouldn't have lasted anyways.. it would eventually have run its course even if you were still fat.

You know what irratates me is how many people BLAME their weight gain on me.... I love to cook and all my friends know this... They will call up and say, "what's for Dinner/ I'm coming over"... Or when they come to visit they will raid the cookie jar I keep stocked for my BF and take baggies home with them.... I don't twist peoples arms or insist they eat the food I prepare... Yet, when we hang out with other friends or go places they say, "it's all Jennifers fault I'm fat.. Or It's all Jennifers fault I gained 15 pounds last year" My one GF who does know about the surgery is notorious for this and we had actually not even talked for months last year due to my busy work schedule and her divorce and move to the other side of town and she still tells people this... She's blaming her weight gain from 2 + years ago on me when I hardly even see her anymore... I probably saw her 5 or 6 times all of last year and most of that was Post op since I stayed at her house for 3 or 4 days to recover so my BF wouldn't know I had surgery... It really irks me that she does this... She is still thinner than me but won't be for long and I think she always wanted to be the thinnest/prettiest one of the group and is getting nervous about me getting close to her weight so she says it even more now that I am not super huger than her anymore and she feels the need to justify her own size which is more noticable with me getting smaller... I have to learn how to tactfully deal with these situations....

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.

Started to take Prozan 4 days ago I am almost 4 weeks post op. I am woried of weight gain

What sleevers need to know: After 6 months the tight restriction starts to fade. At about a year or more out you will definitely be able to hold more food. Understand your stomach is not back to full size. Only a small percentage of sleeves that need revision. The problem is when people confuse grazing with stomach capacity/stretching. If you eat several meals with excess calories. (Can be healthy or unhealthy food choices) you will start seeing weight gain. I can easily get in 3000 calories in a day if I graze. The sensation is as if I didn't have surgery at all. Surgery does not take away hunger for most of us. You will feel head and real hunger. Eating sugar and carbs will make you crave them more and increase your hunger level. . My disclaimer: low carb is not everyone's weight loss plan. (carbs may/will increase maintaining and higher fitness level. ( if you gain go back to low carb or your plan) If you are struggling with the extra space and hunger : Some tips to keep you full and satisfied within your calorie range. (I'm not a medical professional this is just my experience/opinion) increase your protein goal. Add veggies. The bulk and fiber will help fill the increased stomach volume Detox off carbs and sugar. Keep healthy sweet and salty snacks on hand for cravings night snacking or head hunger - Buy a veggie tray. If you are at the end of your daily calorie allotment for weight loss mode. Eat from your veggie tray. If you try to bargain with yourself for another option then you know its head hunger.

I am new here. I have been approved for the sleeve surgery and will be having it done pretty quick. My original surgery date was July 3rd at the hospital. The called last Friday with a cancellation and the surgery date has been moved up to May 22nd !! I am both excited and scared at the same time! My employer is quite okay with the change and my coworkers are quite supportive. Here is brief history about me. I have only been heavy since I was 25/26. I have a history of brittle asthma. I was exposed to field burning smoke after harvest while at school. I was constantly on prednisone and gained a lot of weight. as a result. I came home from school and lost a little weight. However, I was living in an apartment while sustained a crack in the ceiling and subsequent Water leak (winter 2003). I started having increased asthma trouble shortly afterwards. I suspected trouble with the apartment and a pulse oximeter confirmed them. January 2003 - A lab tested and confirmed that I was being exposed to toxic mold (Stachybotris chartrum). The improperly repaired apartment after major water damage (which I found out after I moved out – March 2005). I have gained over 100 pounds with the prednisone weight gain. Has anyone else experienced this? Anyways, my efforts to lose weight have been futile. I would lose the weight just to gain it all back and more. I tried diets, mild exercise, portion control, diabetes diets, Byetta. None of them had any long lasting positive results. I decided I have had enough dealing with the weight and pursue weight loss surgery Dec 2011. I originally pursued getting the lapband. However after further consultations and research I decided to go with the sleeve. I am doing okay right now despite the pain and the asthma has stabilized. I still have to be on prednisone bursts sometimes but have been off of them for several months. I am looking forward to changing my life for the better. I deal with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, chronic back/neck/shoulder pain(car accidents), hip pain, foot pain, bad knee, and asthma. I have hope that this will improve the weight loss. I have lost a little weight already from the pre-op diet. 3 out of my 4 meals are Protein shakes and I have one sensible meal a day the dr was okay with this). I work different hours (3am-11am) hence I need the 4th meal. I am quite used to the shift. I work as a telecomm tech that has the responsibility fixing and maintaining 3 room-sized dial tone computers so I have to work these hours. They are quite demanding but I do love my job. Sorry about the long introduction. I just wanted you to know where I was coming from and tell you my unique story. I am looking forward to taking my life back from morbid obesity and the adverse effects. I hope that everyone is doing well. Have a nice day.

Has anyone noticed slow weight loss or no weight loss at all due to these medications? I know they can cause significant weight gain which is compounded over the years. Just wondering how they affect us bandsters.

There's a difference between losing weight during your 3/6 month supervised diet and following your pre-op diet. It sounds like Melissa is talking about her 6 month diet, not the preop diet designed to shrink the liver. I didn't loose more than a few pounds during my 6 month supervised diet and by the end had actually gained a few pounds. (I'm sure my family doc thought I was crazy.:001_rolleyes:) Anyway, I knew this wasn't an issue for insurance approval (by my insurers guidelines), but it was a problem for my surgeon's guidelines. So, I started my preop diet early knowing that I needed to loose a few pounds or risk having my surgery cancelled. I did so well that I lost 15 pounds preop in 2 and a half weeks. So, Melissa you will probably be fine with insurance, but may have a problem with your surgeon if you've gained. If they suggest that they might have to cancel your surgery due to weight gain, ask them for a chance to start your preop diet early to loose a few pounds before surgery. Then you can come back in to weigh before the surgery. I think most doctors will work with you on this. And I don't think this is any indication of how successful you will be after surgery. You will just have to be aware of what you're doing and eating and you'll be fine.

Like this - after rapid weight gain when ill I never lost it. Looking back all my diets were carb heavy. Food fell into a treat - Who knew that many cookies had between two and 500 cal! At times I ate out of boredom and other times it was what my palls and I did. Now we may hike or paddle rather then meet for dinner, happy hour or coffee and a scone. The Why.. too many diets and a trashed metabolic situation plus carbs ignorance.