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well, I was divorced before my lapband, but will say it has given that boost of confidence to meet others.. In fact almost 1 year with my someone special.. I didn't tell him about my LB until August...felt the right time would present itself and it did. he has been supportive of my choice and there for me when I struggle. Have to something about my "holiday" weight gain.. but working on it..with the hrlp of my recent 1cc fill.

Long story short I had surgery in 2005 and was very successful for the first 2 years losing approx 85 lbs. About 3 years out my port was leaking slowly and fills were not working as well, some weight gain with that. I had surgery to change the port I thought this would solve the problem. It did not I have been getting fills every month and gaining approx 3-5 lbs a month. I am now 35lbs or so from my pre surgery weight and the rate I'm going I will be there again in a few months. I am an xray tech and brought in a film of me drinking barium and my doctor said I was too tight and took some out, why then am I gaining weight I asked? I went this last week and the PA refused to fill me prob because I stated I had a hard time with eggs that morning, although I ate a full turkey dinner on Thanksgiving leading me to believe, not tight enough, spontanious tightening I think. The PA then said "WOW I have never seen anyone gain like this, maybe you need to see a pyschologist, HEE HEE! Don't we all. Being totally honest I do not eat perfectly, by my count I am averaging 1000 cal a day, and not as much protien as I should get because it's harder to get down. I would have rather spent the 6 grand on credit card bills. I guess it's back to diet pills, trainers and weight watchers and another billion bucks!! Signed SUPER DISCOURAGED!!! :thumbup:

Im here vicki, just havent been getting the updates for when someone posts. I lost some of my water weight gain so Im happy for now. Just trying to gain as little weight as possible over here but the food esp ice cream is calling my name!

Its four years for me tomorrow. over time, the bands effect on your appetite and cravings does, I have found, diminish. I dont eat as faultlessly as I did and some habits have returned. I also find lately I can eat more again - I have found the need for teeny top up fills once a year or so - like 0.1 cc (have a 4cc band). However, my perspective has changed too so whem I think I eat "a lot" its nothign compared to normal people. this is good, my view on serving sizes etc is much much healthier than it was. However, I have not regained so much as a single gram. I continue to work hard at making good decisions and if I have a few bad days, I make up for it. I do not allow my weight to fluctuate by more than a pound - even whem I know its hormonal weight gain I get super strict for a few days. I also continue to challenge myself with my fitness, I continue to run, do boot camp and circuit training, keeping up a pretty gruelling fitness schedule, but I love it. I am under NO illusions that I can give this up, even where I to fall back to simply walking every day, I would gain weight. I exercise on holidays, I dont have a day off just coz its Christmas etc. Probably sounds depressing to some, but I love it and I crave it. It makes me feel good and you learn to enjoy the sensations of pushing your body. could I keep the weight off without the band? Not sure. Probably not all of it. But I do not believe I'd become obese again either, I think I'd probably return to the BMI of 27, 28 which used to frustrate me so much all through my teens and 20's, because my habits are so diffent now, particularly exercise wise.

I wanted to go through your list of symptoms to share what I have experienced, and see if anyone has anything else to add. infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding - check. I've gone ten months without a cycle. my dr has said that isn't good, and wants me to either take a ten day dose of hormones in order to cycle and shed the uterine lining, or to get on birth control pills, so I am shedding uterine lining. funny, I went to see her a few months before my surgery - she was very supportive, told me she thought it would greatly improve my fertility and chances of getting pregnant when I try - aiming for two years down the line. She did want me to cycle before the surgery, and prescribed ten days of progesterin. (sp?) Day I pick up the prescription? I start my period. Now I am having my period again, a month later. This hasn't happened to me without BCP for...ever? I have opted out of taking BCP because I want to observe how my body reacts to the surgery and weight loss. Will have to be super careful to use bc, though, as I want to get the full benefit of the surgery and initial weight loss, so want to give myself two years to loose and stabilize a bit. infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating - well right now, I'm not trying, but I am pretty sure I am not ovulating. Hopeful, though! increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes - OH YEAH - I've done laser on my lip, chin, and neck. Still need more, but it is much much much better. Have hairs between my breasts and around my nipples that I tweeze - I know other friends that have the same and don't have PCOS, so that could just be a getting a little older thing. acne, oily skin, or dandruff - I have terrible dandruff, and if I dont' use dandruff shampoo regularly, am in deep trouble. I also have dry skin/eczema around my nose, my eyebrows, and behind my ears. Also on my scalp-line. I didn't know this was a PCOS symptom, so there is something else to look forward to resolving., pelvic pain - nope. weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist. yeah. 280 right now. apple shaped, although my bones are hour glass. type 2 diabetes - not yet, but I am sure I would get there. high cholesterol - overall number is not high, but bad/good cholesterol ration is not good. high blood pressure - nope male-pattern baldness or thinning hair - the front of my hair is not as thick as as it used to be...not BAD, but it is really sad as it used to be gorgeous! patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs - yeah - I thought this was Tinea Versicolor Any insight? skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area - yep. had some cut off by the derm. have more tags, but don't want to pay...:w00t: sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep yeah. worries my bf. I am curious how other people experience these symptoms.

The band isnt designed to make you vomit lol so you sure aint missing out on that! Maybe you arent at decent restriction yet,it took me a few fills to get the full feeling. If you check up some of my early days posts,you will read that I was thinking the band was not going to work for me,and I felt like a failure;but a few fills later,I was on track,feeling full and losing weight! I will never say the band has been easy..it takes a lot of getting used to.Some days I would give anything to eat a fresh crusty chunk of bread and butter!:thumbup: I have tried every diet possible,with weight loss and then weight gain at the end of it. I really think the band is the best thing I ever spent my money on and will never regret it. Good luck to everyone on there journey. Its a bumpy ride at times,but well worth sticking to it!:w00t:

my surgery date is january 5th....one month!!!! i am having surgery with dr aceves. i'm really worried about losing weight before the procedure. it seems like all of you lost weight before your procedure....but my weight has been fluctuating a lot lately...mostly on the up swing :mad0: i asked monica and she said if i gained a little weight it shouldn't be a problem....but it still concerns me. i just started a new BC, and hormone fluctuations cause weight gain with me....and the holidays!!! did any of you gain a little weight before your surgery? complications? help? ps: I am 5'3 and 250lbs

DUDE!! i don't know if anyone will care about what i have to say but i'm so excited i have to say something about it. Since my last couple posts on this thread, I have been blessed with some kinda of fire that lit under my ass. I was so nervous that i would never be able to get into the work out spirit and stick to it, and then my weightloss will slow down and possibly stop;or even worse- WEIGHT GAIN!!! and then something hit me... I don't have a decent pair of sneaks to workout in! last time when i posted about doing my workout dvd i actually used to do it in my furry pink house slippers,lol. My theory was, 'why wear sneakers if you're in your own house.' but now i know why. SNEAKERS!!!When i got some basic women's reebok sneakers, i felt like popeye with his spinish. i felt ready to run a marathon. the dvd had 1- 2 -3 mile video levels when i tried it earlier i would do the 1 mile and i never would finish it. SOCIAL WORKOUTS!Another thing i started to do was i got a partner to do the dvd with me. And i would have been totally mortified if i stopped in the 1st 5-10mins the way i used to. my friend would come mon- friday afternoons and we would do the dvds together. How my workout habit have changed: NOW The days when my friend can't come over i do the dvd by myself! i do th 2 mile level ( but i usually end up stopping alittle past 1 1/2 miles but i get closer and closer to finishing the whole2 miles) with almost no stopping. Omg a good cardio workout before just used to get me frustrated and tired now it pumps me up when i start to feel a burn i catch myself yelling and grunting with adrenalin. it's so fun! and when my face is covered in sweat i swear i feel so accomplished. WEIGHT TRAINING now i catch myself challenging myself even more than the dvd does. i add in moves to increase the intensity of my work out. And then i just decided to add weights i work my arms with 5lb weights 30 reps of biceps triceps and armpit muscles ( cant remember scientific name) before and after my cardio and it feels so good when everything is done. I have definately gotten past the need to use my embarrassement of others watching me to work out. Now i have and i can workout with or without people being around. and sometime i feel the urge just to start working out out of nowhere i swear i think i'm starting to love working out. i read my last couple post about working out before and it's almost like a whole other person i swear EVERYDAY i just can't wait until i find some time to work out, and now when i do it i kill it. and it all started with a pair of sneakers, i love it... i think when i master the art of the walk away the lbs dvd i'm definately gonna try the p90x and see how that goes. i can't believe my lazy ass is actually turning into that "workout girl" i can't believe that's who i'm becoming and i'm stoked.

My surgery date is 12/9. I have been using Jenny Craig for my diet until surgery and probably afterwards also. We just took the 1200 calorie food sheets for different weeks and took out the Snacks between meals and it went to 1000 calories a day. It seemed to work for me. If you cannot afford Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers is a good one to use also. I am also excited and nervous about the diet. I have been so good on my Jenny diet and I get weighed on Monday morning. I think I am going to have a meal of something I want to before surgery. It will probably mean a weight gain at Jenny's but maybe not. We will see. I have lost around 40 pounds now. Thanks for listening, sometimes I wonder if anyone is really out there. I don't think I have had a reply from anyone. :wink2: Well good luck and God bless ya!!!! Pam92

Hi Lee! Glad to hear you are back and safely at that! I hear you about the weight gain!!!!! But I suppose who on this site doesn't. I'm excited that your appointment is coming so soon. I have been doing well on my diet during the day but I get caught up at night!!!! I really want to go into my appointment with a 5lb. weight loss...I can do that right? Hehehe!! I think that I am sold on the sleeve too. I just can't see getting the band and expecting problems within 5 years or less you know? And I can't have RYN so that leaves the sleeve huh! Well we can do this! Lets keep each other posted and accountable for our pre-op weight loss ok! Talk to you soon

I just have to chime on on this muscle gain thing. You just dont gain 10lb of muscle from what is a couple of weeks of pretty mild exercise - and only cardio at that. By the way, its a FANTASTIC effort to get started in this way, its goign to have great fat loss benefits and its what you need to be doing. But to gain 10lb in a short period of time, you'd have to be doing some pretty heavy duty lifting and as a woman, you probably STILL couldnt gain that much. 10lb in an entire YEAR would be good going! When we start working out, our damaged muscles can hold onto Water, leading to small weight gains. But cardio will only build muscular endurance, and tone you up, you will not gain a lot of muscle, although it will help to protect your muscle during weight loss. So it has to be a combo of other reasons - not realising what you're eating, carrying some extra Fluid, rehydrating, hormonal fluctuations. Hopefully it was just a blip and you've lost it again by now.

Conceivably weight gain could make your band tighter as weight loss certainly loosens it. But it wouldnt be an overnight thing like you mentioned. Somethiing has more likely irritated your stomach and caused swelling.

Hey Melissa. . . I'm new to this site too and am hoping for a mid-Jan. 2010 surgery date (see my doc next week). This site and postings have been very informative. I, too, am very sad and have been for so long . . . losing weight, gaining weight, then starting all over with this rollacoaster....this is not how I want to spend the rest of my life and it sounds like you don't either. Wishing you the best as you make your decision.barbara

LESSON LEARNED: Way too hard to stick to the diet without my big ass jug of water! I didn't have it yesterday and so I kept reaching for almonds (sorry Tam I sorta went off program) Didn't over do it - an almond here, and almond there but up 2lbs from that in just one day - my body sucks! Jes - lemme know when and where and I'm there - seems like the only time I get out to walk is when you call so hit me up! Donna - don't really know why I'm so cranky but I can just assume it's lack of money - I'm officially poor! I got Suave shampoo & St Ives face wash - WOW! Heather - can you sneak me into your luggage - I don't even care if I get lost and wind up someplace other than Hawaii - just want ANY type of vacation LOL Tina - I'm thinking about cancelling my appt with Doc Fisher on the 15th - I'm up 1lb since I last saw him and I already know that I won't get a fill so It will be a waste of time. Pammie & Riley - I have seriously left 10 messages with the psych dept in Vallejo - NOT ONE CALL BACK! How the heck do I get into these emotional eating classes - my PCP just says to keep trying! GGGRRRRRRRRRRR! John - good to hear from you - glad you had a nice vacation - don't worry about the weight gain - perfectly acceptable on vacation as you don't get to go often. Now your back and now it's time for the 1200 cal diet again! I sure wish that dang diet worked for me! I LOVE MY CARBS!! PAT - CONGRATU -FRIGGIN-LATIONS! Now THAT'S how you start out a new year! Still cranky ladies & gent but workin on it :w00t:

I never had the sleep study done. But I've noticed since my weight gain, I can feel how heavy my chest is and just rolling over in bed can make me breathe heavy. :tongue2: I'm hoping for approval but would do the sleep study if it would get me qualified. The arthritis in my knees wasn't bad enough, blood pressure not high enough and I'm not diabetic. So at 100lbs overweigh my co-morbids weren't severe enough. But now I'm closer to being 200% over, so hopefully I won't need the comorbids.

Thanks Beth. I have to remind myself so often. lately though I have been a little more relaxed when I go astray. I know if I eat bad foods that there will be a weight gain, and I know when I get back on track I will lose it plus some. Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and one step back...but at least I am still making progress!

I searched LBT for this left shoulder pain and thought I would put my "new info" in a post. I started with my left shoulder pain on my 3rd day after surgery. Everything I read said it was gas. It was not gas. This felt like a nerve kind of pain. It was down deep in the center of my left collar/shoulder area. After about the 2nd week of surgery it would come and go. I thought it was after I ate...but after reading the old posts on this subject I thought it was time for me to listen to my body. Well...this is what i found: If I have not eaten enough and I am still hungry the pain in my shoulder is so intense I can't even concentrate at work or to do anything else. If I haven't eaten in a while same thing. As soon as I eat it immediately goes away. How weird is this??? I happened to be talking to the Nutritionist yesterday on the subject of weight gain and caloric intake post surgery when i mentioned this shoulder pain....her response, "Oh yah, that is very normal. It will either kill you when you need to eat or when you have eaten to much! Just listen to your body" It would have been nice to know about this pre-surgery, just so those of us that like to be prepared can be. I have listened to my shoulder allday today and I have had little discomfort allday! Hope this helps those that have had the INFAMOUS shoulder pain!

I had lapband in January of 2007 and lost 50lbs over one year. I stayed about the same in 2008 and then in 2009 started having some issues, and at the same time moved from Texas to Arkansas. I couldn't find a Doctor in Arkansas that would take me (since I already had the surgery), so I had to see my Doctor back in Texas. When my problems began, it was after my last fill, and I couldn't eat ANYTHING, and was continuously stuck. I began to lose weight again, but also was having major spasms in my esophagus. When I was finally able to see my Dr. in Texas, he completely emptied my band and we left it that way for 4 months. Needless to say, I ate everything that I hadn't been able to eat for the last 18 months. In September, after X-rays and other tests confirmed that my band was fine, we started from the beginning and began filling again. Right now, I have some restriction (very minor), but my eating habits are horrible. I've completely forgotten how to eat as a bandster. My weight gain has stopped and I've held steady, but obviously I am not losing. It came to me early this morning that I hadn't utilized this website in a long time, and that I needed to get back here. I would love to have a mentor who can help me get back on track, and focus on the things that are important . . . my health!

About a year ago I went through the process and was denied because my comorbidities weren't severe enough. So I tried diet, excercise and to at least maintain. However I've gained about 15 pounds which puts me at the low end of being 200% over. Lack of energy, lack of self esteem, joint pain and GERD has of course gotten worse with the weight gain. I go in one week from today to reweigh and update H&P and resubmit. I'm currently on prednisolone for an allergic reaction, so hopefully that weight gain will come into play before my appt. Tuesday. Wish me luck!

I have not been on this site for a while... (bad bad me). I decided it was time to come back for a little moral support... and maybe a little advise on the current issues/problem I am experiencing. I really need to get back on track!!!! I just posted a thread about what is going on with me... any advice would be appreciated from my Nymph sisters http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f255/does-weight-gain-make-your-band-tighter-106228/#post1369941 Currently, I am at 74lbs lost... (gained 7 the past few months) :confused:

I, too, could have written this post :confused: I actually just posted a very similar post... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f255/does-weight-gain-make-your-band-tighter-106228/#post1369941

Two year blues... and possible problem here. I was banded in Nov 2007, and lost 82 lbs by July 2008. With only 30 lbs left to lose, I decided to move to California (from Texas). My LB doctor decided to remove my restriction during my relocation (I had issues with stress causing me to tighten too much)... and he was concerned that I might not be able to find a doctor in my new town if I had a complication. Good thing he chose to do this because I have still not been able to find a Dr in my vicinity that will treat "other" Drs patients (stupid, huh?). So, basically, I have had "no fill" for over a year now because I no longer have insurance, and cannot afford to fly back to Texas just for a fill. Up until a few months ago, I had managed to maintain the weight loss I had already achieved, but was not able to lose that last 30lbs :confused: Then, a few weeks ago... I noticed that I was feeling tight every time I eat anything. That got me to thinking about how my old bad habits have resurfaced (eating WAY past full... eating too fast... not chewing enough... making bad food choices... drinking too much liquid while eating... etc). This past week, I have been VERY conscience of my eating habits, and I am still getting "stuck" and sliming after only a few bites. I have gained back about 7lbs, and am wondering if that weight gain has made me feel tight? Or if I have a slipped band, or if I have stretched my pouch and it is now prolapsed. I know I need to get back on track, and get serious about losing these last "now" 37 lbs. I have not been on this site in a long time, I only decided to log on to see if anyone else has experienced what I have been feeling. Several people have suggested going on liquids for a few days (so I am starting that tomorrow). Any other ideas?

Hi Timmers, You sound just like I did a little bit ago. I actually just got my third fill, which has so far been the hardest for me. One biggest advice is please don't wait, go every six weeks to see your surgeon. I waited two months and it was a big mistake. I was pretty much able to eat most foods and was hungry again like you explained. When you do this you are risking stretching out your pouch and also gaining weight. I gained 8 pounds by waiting! My surgeon was so sweet to me luckily and explained the importance of coming in. (The reason I didn't was because I was ashamed of my weight gain and the longer you wait the harder it is to go). But I wasn't doing anything wrong except not get my fill. As for the sticking, it all has to do with your bites and how well you chew. Little bites, slow eating, and lots of chewing is key, especially when you get this next fill, which can be tuff. If you are nervous ask your surgeon to only bump you up a .5 CC but if you really want to see results get the full 1 CC. But I would be lying if I told you you won't get things stuck, it is part of the band. Remember though that if it gets to be too much they always can adjust the band to a comfortable tightness. The first few adjustments are all about finding your sweet spot. But since my last fill I have lost 12 pounds, if only I got it sooner! haha so good luck and let me know how it goes! Julia

Hey Mandy is that you? I haven't checked out this site for about a year. So much have changed. I'm single again. My total weight loss so far is 85 lbs. I just had a defil in Ottawa with Dr Bishop and now I can eat everything I want. I'm still being careful but I have had at least a 5lb weight gain. I am waiting for a Barium swallo to she if the band has slipped. They don't think that it's possible but they want to make sure. Are you married yet? Are you maintaining your weight loss. So much catching up to do Louise

Donna you are the best... Will you be there Saturday? Maria - hang in girlfriend - I recall the first time I ate mushies I had so very little and felt stuffed for about 7 hours! Oh, what I wouldn't give to have that back again LOL. So I got this crazy Body Magic girdle thingy for the wedding and was told that you have to wear it 6 hours the first time you put it on so that it can mold to your body - They stuck me in a size 32 inch - hooked it all the way on the tightest one so now they want me in a 30 inch - crazy cuz this thing is so snug I don't want to eat anything! I love it though - flattens out all my lumps & bumps - probably will never take it off and will have to buy a new one by the time the wedding rolls around - I hear they have red ones for the christmas season Hmmm... feelin daring enough to get sexy in red! Man, my tummy has NEVER looked FLAT like this before - think I'll wear it Saturday so you all can see! Jes, Don't you love yours! So, what's going on with everybody.... Who will be at group on Saturday - I'm so looking forward to it - no wight loss since last month - only weight gain but I did lose 1/2lb when I weight this morning - I hope to be heading back in the right direction. I got a handle on my snacking - at least for the last two days! Back to No Carbs - will have a very small amount tomorrow for T-Day - Turkey and stuffing will be no carbs - well a little from the celery & onions in the stuffing but good carbs - NO BREAD IN IT. Also will have cauliflower mash (my fave) & will make my own cranberry sauce with fresh berries - wont the rest of may family be jealous when they are eating all the high carb grub! LOL LOL