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I too had the tummy tuck first, 2005, and now the lap-band. They removed 16lbs of extra skin and fat in the area. I was wondering too about the flat tummy?? I had a beautiful baby girl in 2007, so some weight gain, but not much. I carry most on the sweet bottom of mine.....LOL:biggrin:. I am so looking forward to seeing what I look like after 30-40 lbs lost!!

I've been lurking here for over a month, this site has been really helpful to me in terms of what to expect and all the little details that aren't mentioned on webMD and the like. So my first order of business is to thank everyone! Second order of business: I got a PCP referral and was called later the same day to set up my first two appointments, I couldn't believe how fast it was and how nice the gentleman on the phone was. Well today I went to my nutritionist appt and it was jarring to say the least. The first thing I was told is that I'm not eligible for the surgery because my BMI hasn't been consistently high enough, and that I need to change what I eat. This is before I even had a chance to even tell her what I eat. I had written up an outline of my past weight loss efforts and she didn't even want to see it. She was very dismissive and offered to give me a diet plan, which I accepted. I was there, and need to lose weight, so why not. What she gave me was practically the exact same thing that I was given about 2 years ago by my old ob-gyn (the one who diagnosed me with PCOS and switched me to a different pill and I will <3 him forever for improving my life) and that wasn't too successful. She didn't even acknowledge me when I told her this, just handed me some paperwork. I have only been with kaiser about 3 years and my BMIs from previous physicals were under 40, which is why I do not qualify. According to her (and she's on the approval board) kaiser of VA requires you to be over 40 for a 3 solid 3 years OR you need 3 co-morbidities that cannot be controlled with medication. My most recent weight-gain has led to high blood pressure but they haven't started medication yet, I have to get it monitored for a bit first. She pointed out my lower BMIs, I explained that I have struggled with my weight since I was 15 (developed PCOS and blew up) and while I can lose some of it I've never been able to lose it all or maintain. I have only been successful in losing weight eating 1000 calories or less (and being hungry all the time), and hitting the gym at least 10 hours a week for running, elliptical, and bodypump classes. I have it all written up, the different caloric restrictions, weight watchers, atkins, etc etc. I was told to do it again. I am just blown away by the fact that I exercise being used against me, when in the next breath I'm told that the surgery won't do the work for me. So, I'm not qualified because I've worked really, really hard in the past, but they don't want to operate because you have to work really hard to make the surgery a success. WTF??! I cannot believe that if I had sat on my butt for the past few years instead of trying to improve my health it would have allowed me to have this procedure and thus improved my health in the long-term. I'm beyond frustrated. I was told that my name would be brought to the next approval team and would be denied for sure. Then I can appeal. Those of you who have been successful getting kaiser VA to approve, how did you do it? I really believe that the difficulty shedding weight is related to PCOS, should I emphasize that, or my past efforts, is there something else I should do? Help!

Yes, I'm told that insulin causes weight gain. that's why I'm so upset. I was not on insulin and my sugars were in control... now everything is out of wack and I'm on 2 types of insulin. How are you taking the metformin? My dosage was 1000 2 times a day... Can you cut them in half or quarters?

Skin texture changes and irregularity are the most common cosmetic complication of lipo, and weight loss patients will be at higher risk as their skin has been stretched and damaged by the obesity and weight gain-loss cycles. Plusa there is just a whole lot more of the skin ! Not to sound crass or disrespectful but just doesn't sound right. But if you have seen before and after photos of other patients who look like you do, and you like the results then go for it. My recommendation has always been to seek out a board-certified PS for a PS procedure as that is the only way you can be sure your doc has had formal training on the technique.

Getting stuck is not a sign of proper restriction it is a sign that you are not eating properly or eating something that disagrees with you. I was able to get stuck on some things before I ever had a fill. Signs of needing a fill are eating too much, not staying satisfied between meals and weight gain...sounds to me like you need a fill.

I HATE PMS lol. About a week before I start ,I typically gain about 4 pounds and don't lose it again until about a day after I start ,I hate it and on top of that I crave salty stuff. Ugh. Do any of you have suggestions on how you deal with the pms weight gain and cravings? Thank you !

I admit I weigh myself compulsively too. Normally I am 2-3 lbs heavier at night. I use my weight each morning to monitor my progress. I only log weight lost if I maintain it for 3 days straight, the same with weight gain. Otherwise, I contribute any change to water weight.

I have a question. How much weight gain in a day is normal? Im 4-5 pds different from the morning and night. Its obvious you would be heavier but what is a normal weight gain for a bandster if any? How many times should you weigh yourself..im a weighaholic.. i swear i weigh myself like 50 times a week...cant help it!!!:bored:

My surgeon said to expect a weight gain right away because off the iv. I stayed overnight so I had a constant iv and my weight jumped a couple of pounds. Don't worry it will be off before you know it.Congrats on entering band land.

Okay, I thought I was doing great! I was due for my 2nd fill at the end of December but because of the holidays all the appts. at my doctors were filled up. So, I go in next Monday, Feb. 2nd. I went on the scale this morning and thinking I might've lost an additional 6-10 pounds I gained 5. OMG! is this normal? My first fill was 2cc and obviously I might be on track if it wasn't for the holidays. Should I worry? go on a liquid diet for myself before the 2nd fill? or just make sure I do not wait too long for a fill. Please advise.

lovegrapes.. way to go! and have fun! AND everyone.. I found something and I wanted to share.. I have been trying different ways to get the water in and I am sick to death of crystal light.. I am not a good fake sugar person and after awhile it burns the back of my throat and taste nasty..plus the fact that its bad for you... and I dont want to drink things with extra calories I dont need.. so I found something that might be help if you are like me.. its a herbal tea that tastes sweet and has NO SUGAR.. it has nothing artificial in it and I got it at my grocery store.. it can be made hot or like ice tea and its very flavorful.. its sweet tasting and I have checked the box several times and there is no sweetner in it.. its by Good Earth and its the sweet and spicy herbal tea... here is a link if you want to get an idea of what it looks like.. I know the package has changed several times.. but it gives you an idea Good Earth Original Sweet & Spicy Tea & Herb Blend -- 18 Tea Bags - www.Vitacost.com anyways.. its a little spicy too.. its helping me get my liquids in. and it tastes really good. thought I would share.. still really discouraged at the moment.. dont really want to do anything.. i feel like if I have good restriction and its not helping.. what will.. I know I need to just keep going.. that weight gain is really messing with my head..:bored:

I am currently on Prednisone 15mg per day, Plaquinil 400mg per day, folic acid, nexium, and will start Methotrexate injections on Sunday. I am really leery of the Methotexate as the side effects are quite nasty, hair loss, stomach bleeding, almost total supression of your immune system so a common cold or flu can turn dangerous. Log term use of the Plaquinil can effect your eyesight as well. Prednisone has been a lifesaver lately, but it promotes weight gain and robs your body of potassium and other vital nutrients. I will start the meds as my Rheumatologist wants me to, but I am hoping if I go vegetarian and get the inflammation under control that I can slowly wean off of the meds and control it through diet. This is the worst sort of pain I have ever had in my life, it is constant and debilatating at times. So I will try anything. I hate being sidetracked from my lapband journey like this, I had come so far and was doing so well b4 this hit. I was walking everyday, now I can barely walk 10 feet at a time.

I have type 2 diabetes as well. I actually got the band as part of a diabetic study that McMaster University is doing. They're trying to associate some hormone that is eliminated with weight loss surgery (there were 3 random groups, RNY Bypass, Lap Band and Medical Management, that participants were slotted into after heaps of pre-screening tests. Guess what i got :cursing: ). I was taking 2000mg of metformin, 6g of gluconorm and 40 units of Lantus insulin daily. When I started my pre-op diet I cut out the insulin right away and then the gluconorm and finally was weaned off of the metformin. I am 2 weeks post op and was told by my specialist not to take anything until I see him at the end of Feb. He thinks that I might be back on metformin (although a smaller dose) for a bit until I get my weight down, but that it will actually assist with weight loss. I was told that insulin makes you gain weight (the fact that I gained 16lbs in 2 weeks when I started it leads me to believe that this is correct in my case) and that the gluconorm can also cause weight gain. I'm ok going back on my metformin for a while. Since I am part of this study that is specifically for diabetics, they have done a whole bunch of tests that I'm sure the average patient doesn't go through. That being said, my bariatric specialist has told me that my pancreas secretes enough natural insulin to support a person with a normal BMI, and the entire team of doctors is convinced that once I get down to that level that I will be off of all diabetes medication for good. Hopefully, the same is true with the rest of you. It's a stupid disease and it's nice to know that it can be "reversed", if you know what I mean.

Kathy---Happy Birthday About the hair loss--mine fell out really bad when i was losing rapidly but now my hair is great. thicker than before. maybe because i eat more protein and my health is better. i am playing hookie from work today. i dont do the whole drivin' in the snow thing. so i have time to sit in my window and look out at the winter wonderland! i had my band checked with the floroscopy yesterday. dr choban says all looks fine and no leaks. it was a relief because i have wondered at times if it hadnt slipped or if i hadnt stretched my stomach out. sometimes i can eat so much that it worries me. but if she looked and didnt see anything wrong then i am happy. she put a little more in, i was hoping to get that thing filled to capacity so i could start losing some more weight. but she is very conservative. i just love dr choban. her bedside manner works much better for me. she is like my own personal cheerleader. whereas that dr miller reminds me of my exhusband--nagging me about my weight gain and making me feel guilty. that doesnt work for me, it just makes me eat more. I need to feel like the "star pupil" and then i strive to keep that persons faith in me. Be safe out there in this weather!!

How long did you wait before trying to conceive after getting banded? Did your doctor recommend a waiting time? My doctor suggested 12 - 18 mths. because the majority of the weight loss is in the first year. I was banded in October 08 and just planning for down the road. I do plan to wait until the end of the year to start trying. I'm still on the pill and taking other precautions as well. I’m not in a huge hurry and am committed to my band and weight loss and have no issues with waiting. My doctor does have experience with banders and does work with your ObGyn. I feel confidant about that. I gained 50 pounds with my 1st pregnancy and had gestational diabetes and pre- eclampsia. Even with that much weight gain, I delivered early w/ preemie @ barely 5 lbs. I just hope to bypass that much weight gain and all the symptoms that go along with it and still have a healthy mommy and baby!!! Have any of you preggers had any recommendations by your band docs to wait a certain amount of time before getting pregnant? Have you experienced any pressure on your band or port from the baby or baby weight gain? Thanks in advance for your advise and suggestions! :cursing:

congratulations! i, too, suggest a slight unfill. regarding the weight gain, try to be careful, but just know that after delivery, you will still have your tool in place. good luck! :cursing:

Laurigee: As a matter of fact, I have thought about getting counseling about this and other body issues. I think that it is hard to know when to call it good. One way to tell is when it takes a super effort to lose anymore. That could be your body letting you know that it likes where it is. Another way to know, is to get feedback from your loved ones and doctor. Now, my band doctor and husband said that I was good 10 pounds ago, even though my BMI is 24.5. I didn't want to be on the cusp of having an overweight BMI, but as was explained to me, I am physically in excellant shape, my heart problems are a thing of the past and I look good. That being said, I have my own goal, which is 10 pounds less. As I said in the last post, I'm going for it. My reasoning, I had my fat, muscle and water tested and that showed that I could lose another 10 pounds. I'm on the verge of a size 6, sometimes I can fit that and sometimes I can't. It would personally mean a lot to me to make that goal. It would also give me a little leeway as I go into maintance. Are you burned out on dieting? If so, quit for a while and re-evaluate. You can always try for more. Sometime, I think that breaks (without weight gain) are good for you physically and mentally. I was looking around at church on Sunday and it occured to me that I am definetly in the normal realm for my size and peers. That is probably another measuring stick, so to speak. Are you comfortable in your own skin? Do you like MOST of what you see? I guess that these are other indications. I'm just ready to begin the next big adventure in life, along with maintaining my weight. It might help to think about new goals and things that you want to accomplish because there is a void when the big push is over. Just some thoughts. What do you think?

yuck fairy, i'm sorry about the heartburn, mine was so bad before banding that i have an esophagus that looks like chewed bubble gum, it's covered in scar tissue. banding MAJORLY got rid of it for me, but the doc said that it will return eventually with pregnancy, oh well... it's not beginning pre-eclampsia, actually my blood pressure is on the low end of normal, thank goodness. it has always been super low, which is odd as i consider myself a hyper, active, kinda high-strung lass. i was reading that Fluid retention settles in different places and i'm the only one who thinks my face looks fat, but it really feels different to me! the weight gain is hard LJM, my friend is in hospital right now for the same reason you are, and she's gaining like crazy..fluid tends to do that, even if you are "eliminating" it the normal way. my mother in law once gained about 19 lbs in 36 hours during a round of chemo treatments because of fluid retention.

We actually got a ride in not this last weekend but the one before....it was cold! We leathered up and went anyway. My stress levels were sky high, and nothing seems to help as much! Things here are going......not much change, the scale is still going up, up, up. The hives keep breaking out all over. Have had a couple of trips to the Dr. where even with the low dose daily steroids, they have been in my throat. He guarantees me the weight gain is issue with the steroids. But I know I am eating the food, I just cannot seem to stop myself. I have no control---and the more I worry about it the worse the hives get, and the longer I have the hives, the longer I keep on the steroids.....see the evil circle here???? I cannot get to my fill Dr. He is 6 hours away, over 3 mountain passes, all are snow packed, and one is totally closed due to an avalanche of snow. I would have to fly in. I pay $150.00 per fill, and to add an additional 2-3 hundred to fly....it just isn't in the budget. We are in serious cost saving mode. Ricks hours were cut back seriously, and lay offs are in the offing, so we are really trying not to spend much extra, and to cut back where we can. So to buy an airline ticket right now is not happening. I had arrangements between my Dr. and my former oncologist, she actually tried to hit my port, but I think her needle was too short. It was a huber non coring needle, but not long enough he thinks. So I got poked a few times, but no fill. So looks like I just keep getting fatter until Spring Thaw. Can you say depressed?????? It is upsetting to say the least. It is cold here, but just a skift of snow last night. It was finally drying up so I could get to the barn and ride without spending hours cleaning hooves.....and now it is pushing in another storm!! New grandson is ok I guess, we don't get to see him often.....the appointment thing is not happening! We also found out we have another grandbaby coming in August. Our son and his wife have a little boy,Connor who will be 3 in March, and they are having another. That one I will get to see without an appointment! Well sorry I have been MIA.....I have been a slug, and not exercising. Thinking seriously about doing the 5 day pouch test, just to maybe jump start my own enthusiasm again. Til then, guess I'll have another Diet Dr. Pepper! Sherry, hope you are healing from your fall. I fell in the wood shed not long ago. Just kinda hurt my wrist, and my ego! Y'all take care, and I will check back in. Kat

Hi Guys, So I just found out I am pregnant. Well I have been banded for about a year and a half now and lost 62 lbs. Guys, I am scared, nervous, happy and everything all into one. Is there any advice that bandsters that have had babies with the band can tell me like weight gain, how to cope with the HUNGER:crying:

My Dr told me that at this point they are not concerned with weightloss. Your job is just to follow their dietary orders and heal. Most people will lose weight in the first couple of weeks because they are only on fluids and mushies. Not to mention you are still swollen from the surgery (which is causing some restriction). When you start reintroducing solid food to your body, there may be weight gain. Dr Marsden said that generally there may be about a 6lb loss (anything over that is great) I am 4wks post op & have my 1st fill next Tuesday. I have lost approx 20lbs and it's been a struggle ...bcz I looooove food!! LOL!! Good Luck, Cheryl

I have been on paxil during menopause. I gained alot of weight, know it is not all the paxil but think it contributed to the very quick weight gain. I am concerned that my weight loss is slower being on it. Any suggestions or has anyone changed SSRI's since surgery? Carol

When was your last fill? Sometimes it can take days or even weeks to feel the effects. Have you had any stress lately? Stress can cause me to feel instantly tighter. It doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about, slippage usually causes things like reflux, pain, loss of restriction, weight gain. I would agree that you should just wait and see what happens.

Hi! I was banded on Dec. 18th! I was so excited and expected a lot at the beginning. I lost some weight the first couple of weeks. But not as much as many others in my group at the doctor's office. Around my 4th week, I began to be able to eat as much as I wanted; and now, I can't even tell I've been banded. My weight gain since the band has kind of discouraged me. I get my first adjustment today and am hoping that the weight loss starts again. Did anyone else have a slow start?

Ok so something reaallllly weird is going on.. I was 249 before my last fill and in 3 days I was down to 246 (which is typical because of not eating much after getting a fill) and now about a week and a half after my fill I am 252!!! I have weighed myself several times over the last 3 days so its actually what I am.. so I gained 6 lbs!! thats impossible! and what is so strange is the amount of food I have been eating since my last fill is totally cut in half or a third of what I was eating.. 1/2 cup definately fills me up! and I am not eating crap either.. I am so stumped.. not to mention ticked! it just makes no sense! the only possible explaination I could fathom is that I am pg.. but its way to early for weight gain.. I still have to wait about 2 weeks if that was even a possibility.. so its most likely not man this stinks!