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You are doing Great... 30lbs is something to be proud of!!! Are you keeping track of what you actually put in your mouth? you might be surprised by your carb & fat intake if you are not keeping track. Make sure you are eating Protein first & you are getting all your Water in... & make sure you are walking or doing some kind of excersice every day. Try to do 3 days of just Protein shakes... it could jump start you back into losing weight... But dont beat your self up, everyone goes through these types of stalls. I did at 6 weeks - ugh it was awful... and gained 5lbs i wasnt even eating that much food. but it too passed... I dont get my period any more - but even though i dont, my body still goes through the cycle as in weight gain etc... and i never knew this till after surgery... so i know come the 20th to the 30th... I STAY OFF THE SCALE - Good luck to you!! Keep your chin up, you didnt gain the weight over night, its not going to come off that way either

My doctor has prescribed me Zoloft for anxiety. I had gastric sleeve surgery in May, and I am scared the medication will cause weight gain. Does this medication typically cause weight gain?

I was told they wanted me to lose 5% of my weight before surgery. They feel that those who lose weight before surgery have better overall success losing weight after. 10% might feel like a lot, but let's say you're 250lbs, that's only 25lbs. A lot of surgeons require a 2 week (or 1) liquid protein shake diet before surgery to reduce the liver. So many people drop weight like hotcakes when they do this. I started at 230 and lost 9lbs in my 2wk liquid diet. If you have one year to do this, I think you can do it without being drastic. OR if you wanted to do it fast, I'd suggest the liquid diet. The only other thing is that most surgeons don't want to see a weight gain before surgery, so you'd kind of have to plan that out...or if it's just for insurance approval, go liquid.

I'm 3.5 years out and about 10 pounds above my lowest weight which is fine. Still wearing smallest pant size so no complaints. I still weigh food and log all food and exercise and try very hard to stick with healthy food choices. Still exercising 6 days week. It's not easy but I'm committed to making this work permanently. I'm sad to know many people that have regained so much. The common denominator I've witnessed is their making poor food choices. The surgery can't control that part. While the restriction is helping them, eating many servings of the wrong foods will always lead to weight gains.

I agree with therapy. It has also happened to me and it resorted to a huge weight gain, this was prior to WLS. I had lost in on my own but gained it all back. I understand that you say you have no time, but if you do not have time for yourself … who else will? You have to always take care of #1 because that is how you are able to be there for others in the long run. Remember you did this for you, take the appropriate steps to take care of yourself precious one. You do not realize how much self damage you inflict when you are in pain.

Hi everyone. I have been following this forum since 2018 when I got sleeved but never had the courage to make an account and post. Well, I got the courage today because I feel like my life is spinning out of control. I will try and keep this as short as possible for brevity but I really need some support and encouragement. I am a male, early 40's who got VSG in 2018. I lost approximately 125 lbs. I was happy, my life changed. I was motivated, more social and felt like I was on top of the world. I got down to 170-175 and felt great. Then, the pandemic hit. Before it hit, my family left my state and moved. Then my father passed during the pandemic and I ended up moving out of state and trying to start my life over. My remaining family lives about 3 hours from me. I never really had a problem with alcohol until the pandemic and the loss of my dad. I put on about 40 lbs in a year between drinking and eating horribly. I don't think I stretched my sleeve because I can feel restrictions, but the carbs from beer are what's doing it. I just joined a gym, and I stopped drinking a few days ago. I also have an appointment with a therapist. People say that it's hardest to lose weight after initial weight gain from VSG. I don't really know anyone in my state or town where I moved, so I need to keep myself accountable. I got the courage to sign up. I also am going to do high protein low carb and see if I have results. I am about 215 right now and I dread seeing people, I am even avoiding seeing my family because of the weight gain.

I am 3 years out of surger, I have lost 240 lbs (started at 444 lbs). I recently gained 80 lbs back in the last 2 months. I had an endoscopy completed last week, now I am just curious as to what is next now that I found that my band has erroded into my stomach... I didn't even notice till I started to see the weight gain. I know this isn't normal but I want to know if it is correctable? does this mean that I will need the other surgery rather than the band? :confused2:

@lisacaron Your post brought a tear to my eye. Thank you! Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I am definitely a little defensive and one of those people who feels bad/guilty for my weight gain/size. It took the psychiatrist like 4 seconds to figure that out during my appointment. I'm definitely working on that.

I told my mom this past week. I started out by telling her I was researching something and I wanted to share it with her. I told her I care about her and her opinion, but I wanted her to understand that I was going to do this regardless. We sat and discussed it, discussed my history with diets and weight gain, and she told me she understood where I was coming from. I showed her a lot of before and after on Instagram and Facebook about people around my age and my height/weight. She’s still going to research it, she says, but she’s been helping me plan a good day for surgery that works for both me and my job, as well as hers and her job.

Here is the medical reasoning for the weight gain. Once you stop exercising for a few weeks or even days you have to get the muscles going again. When you do this, Fluid gathers around the muscles you are working. This is a protective mechanism to keep the stretches muscled lubricated and to keep the joints lubricated. As for the muscle weight compared to the fat weight ... Yes, a pound is a pound is a pound. However, it takes a LOT more muscle to fill the spaces than it does fat. It is denser than fat and it is tighter "wound" if you will than fat. So, ideally, muscle does weigh more than fat since it takes a lot more muscle fibers to fill a glass for instance than it takes loose-fibered blubber. Hope this helps!

Please don't set yourself up for failure. There is no average weight loss and 13 days post op might find you with a weight gain due to swelling, fluids, etc. Just take this journey to wherever it leads you and know that as long as you follow your doctor's guidelines, you should do well. Good luck!

I never had reflux until I had the sleeve. I never ate a lot at one time prior to the sleeve. Didnt eat a lot after. Lost weight, gained it back. Had the RNY. Things are so different this time around.

Um, seriously? I looked back through the responses, and only one person responded that they didn't have a food addiction prior to surgery (which, yes, is possible--there are a few people on these boards who had significant weight gain due to a medical issue and couldn't lose on their own). Everyone gave thoughtful, helpful advice to your questions. Here is the relevant part of my own response: I'm not sure what you were expecting us to say--yes, of course many of us were/are food addicts, and because of that, we gave you advice that came from each of our experiences dealing with that aspect post-surgery.

Hello Angie, I also have BCBS of Mass. I started with weight watchers and went for check up and my doctor referred me to dr. schneider at BI Hospital in Boston. Because I have been with my doctor for eight years and he had a history of my weight gain and loss on record I didn't have to show my weight trail for them. I did have to call BCBS and fill out a form for my doctor making sure they will accept the band and it took about 10 minutes over the phone and he explained everything to me about lapband and what they expect from me. The doctor's office submitted all the information to bcbs and was banded 3 1/2 months later. I wish you the best and it will be worth it in the end. I am excited with you!

I wonder if it's him who is actually wanting 'an easy way out', using the WLS as a means to force a break up? FutureSleevie read your own post back a couple of times, now what would you ask/tell or advise a close friend or family member after you've watched them struggle with weight gain and maintaining losses for a long time, struggling with obese related health issues, struggling with making what is one of their most important decisions in their life? I am guessing you wouldn't be telling them they are taking the easy way out and that you would be a hell of a lot more caring than that.

I'm not a big overeater either - but I do recognize now that when I do eat my portions are much bigger than they should be. And not eating regularly has caused serious weight gain as well. I can eat Breakfast and go hours and hours until I eat again - sometimes right until dinner. Then I'm starving of course, and eat too much for an evening meal. My choices aren't always good either. Over the years the pounds just came on and didn't leave! Good luck to you - I go to my first clinic appt Oct.3 but since I'm going through our provincial healthcare (free) that means I will wait awhile for surgery. If it's going to be too long, I won't do it. I'm 54; what would be the point if I can't get it for years from now?

I think Cleo's Mom is just being honest about her struggle with the lap band and trying to help others. Sometimes people put blinders on and see the band as their magic golden ticket or something and it doesn't always work that way no matter how they work the band. She just shows that even though she followed all the "rules" that she still didn't get the results promised to her by Lap Band! Also that there are some greedy doctors out there that will do almost anything for $$. I think that it can be very difficult to tell who the band will help and who it will not help, that is my honest opinion because I came to this site a long time ago when I got my band installed searching for answers as to why it wasn't working for me. I thought that maybe I'd get some answers here that would be the clue into what my problem with the band was and could turn it around from gaining on the band to losing like I bought it for! But after a few months here I still got no answers and did come across many of the smug people that said things like "it's only a tool" and when your band is not working and you hear that it's very frustrating to say the least! I then learned that it works for some and not for all and that's that and I wasted my time and body on the band and should have had a different WLS to begin with. I also went to see my surgeon or his PA for all my fills and checkups on a regular schedule and after a year of trying the band and it not working we decided it was time to discuss it's removal. I was very depressed after this "failure" of mine that I didn't even think of revising to another WLS after my surgeon removed my band. Physically I was having terrible GERD And was put in the ER for chest pains and because of that and my weight gain and not loss my insurance company covered it's removal. After the band was removed my normal size stomach once again appeared and I gained ever more weight so that I weighed more than I had prior to banding just like another failed diet, which is kind of my impression of the lap band although not everyones! It took a few months of soul searching and how I wanted to deal with this and also discussion with my surgeon that we would go ahead and revise to RNY. At that time I joined a support group which also helped me with my decision. I also have a daughter who had been successful with her RNY and two nieces now who have had it. So I went for it and even though RNY is not a magic golden ticket either I at least felt like I had some success and am at the point now where the weightloss stopped and so did the malabsorption of calories and I'm basically on my own now. I've put on about ten pounds since the fall and am honest to say it happens not with everyone but with many. I know that you go through stages with RNY and I'm just in that one now and am dealing with it. Anyway before we start knocking down CM with honest story of her experience with the lap band I think as others have said just because it works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone and trying to figure that out before you have surgery is probably the most difficult task a person has! I wish everyone well with whatever WLS they choose because it can be a very difficult road, Nanook!

my doctor explained to me that in the first six months there is still swelling and things are not back to normal, which is why your stomach can seem to stretch after the "honeymoon" period. the doctor told me they leave the least stretchy part of the stomach. I have no doubt that xray of stomach after surgery and after a year show a difference, but I do not think it is anything that someone has done "wrong" but rather a normal part of the process. I am pretty sure that weight gain would be due to eating around the sleeve, or drinking calories.

hi I'm in the mental health field so I know alot about this. 1. First, your PCP telling you that is not very responsible. Untreated depression is worse than possibly losing weight more slowly. Also, as said by many, there are many other options to try. 2. Prozac usually doesn't cause that much weight gain, so you may want to try it again, since it did work for you in the past. Antidepressants usually make you gain weight by making you want to eat more, which you are limited by the band. 3. People rarely (although there are exceptions) gain weight on Wellbutrin, Lexapro and zoloft. 4. Avoid Paxil which is notorious for making people gain weight. 5. Effexor sort of so-so : some gain weight, some don't. 6. Not alot of evidence completely out on Cymbalta, but most don't seem to gain weight on it. Hope this helps! the important thing is to get on something now, before it gets worse. We all know depression is most likely of all to make us gain weight!

During a weight management consultation (to create a paper trail in support of Lap-Band surgery) I was told the Remeron I've been taking for a few years is linked to binge eating. I don't know that I binge per say, but I do eat a lot ... I stay hungery! I was switched to Zoloft, which actually seemed to curb my appetite, but it made me very very dizzy. I stoped taking any anti-depressant about 6 weeks ago, and so far, so good. If it takes a while to get all anti-depressant medications out of your system, I may not be too far behind you in resuming medication. If that happens and Prozac isn't linked to weight gain, maybe I'll try it. Good luck & God Bless! Just know that you're not alone.

I posted this same set of questions, nearly identical, a month back and only got a few responses, most of which said it is no problem, but none of those people still had a lot to lose like me (and you) do, I still have about 40 lbs to lose. I have one non-VSG friend who had her GB removed and she blames everything on it, her weight gains, her getting sick more often, everything.

You are braver than me. I'm not telling my mom. She will be dead against it. She would be stressed for months about it. She would relate every ailment I ever get directly to WLS. She would read every article and swear it was the Gods honest truth. She was a nurse and doctors dont know anything. And, she would tell the world. As it is she will be greatly concerned with my weight loss even though she is greatly concerned with my weight gain. lol She has the best intentions but it's better for everyone within earshot not to tell her.

@@Babbs You are another great successful result! All that hard work paid off, and you lost half of you! Awesome! You look fantastic, and yes, lot, lot younger and very pretty. So, not only your appearance changed to gorgeous, you have great health benefits as well. Congratulations! So sorry to hear about your Mum. My late condolences to you. I myself at 3 months post op had normal labs, no more fatty liver and no more pre-diabetic stage. I too had high blood pressure, and mine was caused by my hyper-thyroid, and weight gain, plus racing resting heart rate. My highest blood pressure was 170/99 I had to take Beta Blockers for few months. Now my bp is back to normal. Both thyroid treatment and weight loss helped. I am only 6 months post op, and I love hearing Vets stories. Thank you for sharing your journey, Babbs

I have nexplanon and it's been wonderful! I have been consistently fat since I got it almost 2 years ago (read:no weight gain). I love that it's in my arm too, I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of anything being stuck inside my uterus especially since it can travel. With nexplanon, I'll always know if it's moved and it hasn't Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is very common. Most likely they gave you steroids while in the hospital which will cause you to retain water weight amoung other things. This type of weight gain should reverse itself very quickly. Congrats on the surgery, and don't spend too much time on the scale the first month post-op as your body will be recovering!