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Chezzychee - First of all, let me welcome you to our site - you've found a great place to be for answers and support. Now, as for your boyfriend, it's not his life - it's your's - and you have to do what you need to do for yourself. It sounds as though if you don't do the surgery and lose weight, he's going to lose you anyway - permanently - to death. I think when he says he's afraid of losing you, he's afraid when you lose your weight, that you're going to leave him and move on. He's apparently insecure. I would have been LIVID if my fiance had thrown away anything of mine that I wanted to do and to check out - that is NOT his right. Find another seminar to attend, keep the paperwork at work where he can't get to it - tell him about it and ask him to attend with you. Also, have him read the posts on this forum (maybe not this one since I'm trashing him) and he'll see that the complication risks are low - not non-existent, but low % wise. If your insurance doesn't pay for WLS, check out Dr. Aceves in Mexicali - many of us on this forum have used him and he is so totally awesome. There are other surgeons around as well. Keep us posted on your progress and don't be afraid - you can either live in your fear and continue to gain weight and suffer the consequences of the weight gain or take control of your life NOW and begin a path to a healther life. The choice is YOUR's and NO ONE ELSE!

Thank you so much for sharing your year with us! It really gives me hope that even if we aren't perfect 100% of the time, our bands will still help us reach our goals without ending back up in a worse position (increased weight gain) than we were when we started. Congratulations on your 80lbs. You were definitely missed while you were on your 2 week vacation with your sweetie!!! Glad you had a great time and glad to see you back here! Take Care,

Hi... I was banded in Oct 2010 and have gone from 275 to 140. I am 5 lbs away from my goal weight, so really really close. The problem? I started feeling unwell just before Christmas, and developed a sharp pain in my left side. Went to my family doctor who did a chest X-ray. The X-ray showed mild lingual pneumonia from a poorly emptying esophagus related to gastric banding. I then went to my lap band clinic and had an emergency defill. So here's my worry: they took out too much restriction and I will regain my weight. I have a 10cc band, which according to the clinic's records had 11.75 cc (lap band surgeon thought this was questionable, he thought the real number was in the 9's). I am now at 8.75 cc, so they took out 3 whole ccs. I'm really really worried about weight gain. I had no input into the amount of cc's removed, this was non-negotiable with the nurse who did the defill. Some history: the lapband clinic has been trying to get me to have a defill for some time and I've always resisted, because (a) the restriction didn't bother me, and ( it was working. Now they "won", and I'm very concerned that the weight I've lost will come back. I'm looking for any wisdom from the lapband "tribe". Please share your experiences. Many thanks

I have fibromyalgia and my doctor suggested Lyrica to me today. She also said it may cause weight gain. Oh, HELL NO! I'll try it, but the minute my weight loss slows, I'm off it. Has anyone here had any experience with Lyrica?

(Note: I was just reading a thread from someone asking about the consumption of Cookies and other sweets, when I realized my response was turning into quite the essay. I decided, since I was going to post a little hello/re-introduction message anyway, that I'd just move my response over here.) I absolutely agree that once you start eating the sweets, it's that much harder to stop. Vicious cycle. In fact, I'm just now coming off of a 3-4 MONTH stretch of eating sweets almost morning, noon and night. I was doing wonderfully for the first few months after being banded. I was eating healthier, diligently tracking almost everything that went into my mouth, drinking tons of Water, taking my Vitamins, doing more and more research, participating in forums, and watching the numbers of the scale steadily drop. Then came time for a family vacation. I told myself I'd allow a little "wiggle room" to enjoy myself and indulge, but that'd I'd still play it safe. The vacation didn't quite go as planned, for a handful of reasons, and I found myself falling back into old habits. I allowed myself candy, ice cream, cookies, baked goods, etc. When I got home, because I was still eating LESS, I continued to allow myself these things every once in awhile. Only problem is that when stress reared its ugly head, or PMS, or getting sick (when certain foods were harder to consume), I was far too permissive and actually justified it with "I deserve to..." and "Just one more, and then I'll get back on track after the weekend..." We've all been there, eh? And then I found that I had this almost insatiable craving for the sweets. I'm ashamed to admit there were more than a few shopping trips where I looked down into the cart and everything I'd tossed in was carb/sugar-filled, barely resembling real food. I completely slacked on vitamins, on drinking water (and when I did drink it was liquids with calories), on eating Protein, avoiding empty carbs, didn't follow-up with my surgeon's office, I stayed away from the forums because it was less painful to claim "blissful ignorance" rather than be forced to take a hard, realistic look at how far I'd backslid. I have two young children at home, and I'd been leaning on the fact that taking care of them was more important, rather than realizing I absolutely have to make the time to take care of myself as well. Thankfully, I didn't do much damage in the way of weight gain, and even managed to lose a couple of pounds in there. But I'm positive I could've lost a good 15-20 more by now had I snapped out of it sooner. It's taken some time, and I'm certainly aware that this is something I will struggle with the rest of my life. But I've re-evaluated, started taking more of an interest in whole foods and cooking again (hooray for the local library's cookbooks!), and am just getting back on track, in general. Sure, I'm disappointed and bummed that I'd allowed myself to behave in such a way. But it happened. And I'm ready to move onward and upward. I never thought this would be a miracle cure, that I'd get banded, never think about food again, and just watch the weight melt off as I happily went about business as usual. But I've come to realize that I'm someone who needs the advice, support, input and accountability of others. I'm grateful to have a couple of friends who were also banded, and are at different stages in things, that I've started to turn to for advice and support. Now I'm just trying to find a way to start attending the support groups for my WLS clinic, because I think that will also help. Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble and share a bit of where I'm at in my journey. Congratulations to those of you who are on the steady path to reaching your goal, to those of you at goal and maintaining, and to those of you taking the steps to living a longer and healthier life. And for those who are struggling, for one reason or another, hang in there!

you are not the only 1 chick, woke up this morning and boom 4lb weight gain!!! :biggrin: i could of cried and then thrown my scales out of the window! i was soo upset as im 2 weeks post op i thought that id be losin losin losin but apparently not, not a happy bunny but it made me wanna go to the gym and burn it off immediatly! lol dont like it but i guess that this is real life with the lap band x

I need your help please. I have just been given my date for my pre-op assessment but I have gained weight since the seminar I attended in August when they weighed me for my final weight. Has anyone else done this and what were the repercussions? Did they take you off the programme so you have to start from the very beginning again or did you just postpone your pre-op until you had lost the weight you gained? Any help would be appreciated as just received the information today and my appointment is on Monday 28th so really scared they will throw me off the programme as this is what I was told by someone in the Weight Management Team. Many thanks in advance

Ok, I'm totally confused by this.... I am doing most things right. I'm not perfect, but I log everything in my fitness pal and keep a good track on my diet and exercise. For example, I apparently did 9,100 steps yesterday on Fitbit. Which is weird because it was one of my lower activity days I felt. I ate ONLY about 849 calories yesterday. Totals 849 36 27 107 1,852 7 849 cals 36 carbs 27 fat 107 Protein 1852 sodium 7 sugar Besides sodium being higher than I would like, I did decent. Today is my second day on soft foods. Yesterday was my first. So this morning when I weighed myself, I gained .7 of a pound! Is this because of eating solid food and it weighing more? My bowel movements have been infrequent. Could that be in play as well? Like am I still on the right track? Is this just a minor setback? I am 3 weeks post op. So could it just be a plateau in combination with being blocked up inside? I feel bloated. Also, I've noticed I really don't get full. I stop willingly and am content, but never full. I wonder if I really have the sleeve sometimes. I'm usually hungry and I'm able to eat with no problems. I stop when I think I've eaten enough so that I keep on track. Is this normal? While I feel I have much more control over how much or little I eat post-op, I'm still usually hungry and really didn't get all the results that I thought I would have. I did lose about 50 pounds so far (30 day pre-op diet + 3 weeks post op). Thank you for your answers.

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

I am actually getting my first depo shot today, so I will let you know what happens on the scale. My gyneo said that since you work out so much you really should not gain any weight. Hope j can keep losing though. He said the weight gain is no different than any other birth control.

Ive been on the depo shot for over a year and been banded for over three months with an injection half way thru those three months and it hasnt made a difference to my weightloss or did i notice any weight gain originally.. best of luck in march.... you wont regret it...

This is a great question! There are a ton of studies that were done on line that can help you answer by googling it. I have done this multiple times and have learned that although your pouch capacity changes in the first two years allowing some additional room, it is really not about stretching as much as it is about your body and brain learning to tolerate more. In one study I read that the average pouch size after 2 years should hold about 6 ounces at one time but they had seen pouches as large as 9 to 10 ounces. The interesting thing is regardless of the pouch being 6 ounces or 10 ounces, when the appropriate food plan is following they did not see any difference in weight gain. This really is all about putting the right thing in your body and learning about when you are actually full. I suspect your friend from work is both not following the eating plan nor is he/she probably taking their supplements which are required for the rest of their life to remain healthy. I am only 9 months post op so I have not yet hit maintenance but I am definately able to eat more that I was able at 4 months. That is why it is so important to make sure what is on your plate is good quality Protein and good carbs on a regular basis. You would not find a 6 inch subway sub on my plate mostly because of the heavy bread. I simply could not tolerate it. However the insides of that sub might work for me. I have also been taught by my nut that when eating you have to think of your food capacity post chewing. In other words, you will be able to eat a lot more than 6 ounces of salad once that salad has been chewed up. niw if I was eating chicken or steak, I will be lucky to get 3 ounces in, because it is so dense. I use the 2 bites of protein for every 1 bite of good carbs until I feel full. It takes the brain 20 minutes to catch up with your stomach. This is why the requirement to eat so slowly yet not go past 30 minutes. Your pouch likely starts emptying at the 30 minute mark which would give you capacity to over eat. Google your question, there is a ton of info on this topic.

Question 1--people say ins goes off starting BMI to qualify.. However if you lose too much they think you can do it without surgery. Question 2...i would be careful putting off 3rd visit..dont let it go too far because you may have to start 3 months all over..and usually unless your ins specifically says you need to show weight loss i wouldnt worry..i would however worry about weight gain as many have been denied for even gaining 1lb.

can you feel it inside? I was looking into the depo shot but side effects include weight gain and hair loss. Not a good combination

This has been the hardest week so far. I was sleeved 6-26-14 am down 32 lbs and at a stall. I know stalls are to be expected. I am more afraid that now I am eating solid foods that I am causing the stall & possible weight gain in the future. I eat the right foods but the last 2 days I ate a bigger portion at dinner time. I a one who used to eat the majority of food/calories at right. I am terrified I will get back into that habit. I was so hopeful until ow that I could control my new way of eating but not so confident now. Help!

Finally I figured out how to post my own messages. They say I am computer handicapped lol. Having my surgery 8/3. Had my pre-op cass and met with surgeon this past Wednesday. It still does not seem real. Something I thought I would never do. I can lose the weight, but after 4-5 official diets, gained it back plus 10lbs usually this last time 20 for a total of 50 lb weight gain. Finally said that's it. Need 2 knee replacements too. Just wondering if anyone was told they have to get heparin injections while in hospital following gastric sleeve. I really enjoy reading everyone's posts, it has helped so much, pre and post op sleevers. Any other August sleevers lets keep in touch.

So my next weigh it just so happens to fall on my 3 nut visit so I'm dreading the scale and what my nut will say if I'm bloated and weigh more.? Sent from my SM-G530T using the BariatricPal App

I started my pre op diet ( shakes, 1 veg, 1 fruit and 1 starch) and lost 2 lbs per day until yesterday when I GAINED back 2 lbs very frustrating. I was really strict and careful. Anyone else have this experience?

It's killer. I know that my Pepsi addiction was a big part of my weight gain, but finding a go-to drink is proving impossible. I am fine with changing my eating habits, so drinks can't be my downfall! Suggestions please!

Has anyone heard of or tried Sclerotheraphy to help with the regain??

I clearly remember the first time I thought about my weight. I had spent all summer having slumber parties with one of my best friends the summer between 3rd and 4th grade. We would stay up late eating pizza and ice cream and soda and it never once dawned on me that maybe I shouldn't (and I was a kid, I'm glad it didn't). That year, her and I were on a new basketball team together, and unlike the year before where we ordered the same size, I had to get the size larger. A few years later, I remember my mom rewarding me with shopping trips if I could lose weight every week (although I think part of that was her pushing issues of her weight onto me). A few years later, I remember hating my friend for complaining that she had gone from a size 4 to a size 6 when I was a whooping size 12. By high school though, things leveled out for me, I only had a few more pounds on me than other girls (I was still a size 12, sometimes a 10) and I was totally okay with it. Once in college, I even lost weight instead of gaining that rumored "Freshmen 15." But by the time I was 20, things were beginning to go the wrong direction for me. This was the first time I looked into weight loss surgery (although at this time I doubt I would have been a candidate because I was only 30 overweight at this point). I never made an appointment, instead I did Weight Waters and lost 20 of the pounds. So began the True Battle of Weight Loss. You see, at this time, I was getting out of an emotionally, and towards the end physically, abusive relationship and my trust in everyone, including myself, was gone. This lead to me flunking out of college, befriending an equally emotionally unstable Marine with a sex addiction, going to cosmetology school and drinking my way through it, jumping from job to job, and eating my emotions because I was "totally okay with everything in my life." Four years later, I had gained 30 more pounds, dropped all of my toxic relationships, moved back in with my parents and decided that I needed real help because Weight Watchers and Adkins and working out and "just being happy" weren't cutting it anymore. I was done having to try on the next size up because I'd outgrown the size I'd worn for the last year. And I was done ordering clothes online because they have a better selection of "Plus Size" clothes. And I was tired of looking in the mirror and seeing that I had formed yet a new dimple in some unflattering location on my body. I couldn't take the looks I got when I went to an amusement park with my nieces and the ride operator telling me that I'm over the weight limit. I'm tired of not being able to run around the back yard with my nieces in general, I don't care where we are. In April, I saw my GP. I wanted him to run a blood panel to make sure that I had no thyroid issues, or any other health issues, that could be causing my weight gain. Nope! Aside from my weight, I'm a totally healthy 24 year old American girl. So he put in a referral to the same practice where my mom had her surgery. I swear it was only a week later when I got a call to make my appointment. It didn't seem possible. That Friday, I would be meeting my surgeon. When I went in, I took my mom. She's been there, she knows what questions to ask, she tell if the situation feels right, and she's great emotional support. Dr. Henke was great. He asked me routine questions, asked if I had any questions, and went over the different types of procedures. I told him that I need to lose maximum weight, and that I need the Bypass. So that's what's in my plan. I have done all of the insurance requirements (although I'm still waiting on my last dietitian appointment next week). And then it's waiting for their approval. That's what's killing me the most, waiting for them. I wish once I finished my appointment with the dietitian, I could just call the doctor and ask for the first surgery date available. Although, I'm sure that's all of us that go through insurance. My mom tells me not to worry about that, that it's out of my control, that they have no reason to say no, etc. But my brain goes into overdrive anytime I can't control the outcome. And this outcome is quite important for the rest of my life. Well, I guess I'll check in later, let you know how it goes with the dietitian next week.

I just had band surgery May 1st. I see my doctor tomorrow. It is important to write down what you eat each day! For me this is a new way of managing your food. instead of the food managing you!! It has been a challenge for me not to want to eat more than I should.. But at age 53 I DON'T want to weigh 280 lbs. Nobody said this was a miracle cure for obesity. I contributed to my weight gain so I need to contribute to my weight loss. "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Please hang in there it will be worth it. I know WE can do it!! Debbiedawl

I woke up this morning and I'm heavier than I was last month at weigh in like .5lb...I'm so mad at myself and on the verge of crying cause I think I just screwed myself!! Did anyone gain during the 6month weightloss period and if so did you end up getting approved or denied?

Today at around 7 I will be attending my seminar. I'm nervous not really sure what to expect of what will happen. I need this, I don't just want it I need it in order to survive. I had a nightmare last night and now I really don't know what effect the rest of my personal affairs will have on my surgery. I bring this up only because with the weight gain many things have changed in my life. I was athletic in high school, very active, and focus on the tasks that I had to complete. With the weight gain myself esteem seemed to evaporate. I allowed myself to do and engage in activities that I knew were more damaging to my mental and emotional well being. I guess one of the areas that have really been affected has been my love life. When I was what society thought was acceptable I never really had a trouble finding someone to love or be attracted to me. It seemed as if men were more interested in me as a person. Now it seems as if I live my life as a sex toy to be played with at the whim of men. I know that this might nit be true. And I also know that this has alot to do with me as a person but I can't help but wonder. I have come a far way in knowing who I am and what I want. I don't want to continue being the fat girl, the sex toy the person that gets used. I have fought hard to hang on and rebuild the sancitity of normalcy that is my mind. I guess this is turning into some kind of confusing rant so I'll try to wrap it up. My new life is being embarked upon.

https://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/antihistamines-weight-gain swearsies.