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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!

Our American culture is so funny- we often avoid stating the most obvious things! This is not true in other cultures, I'm thinking specifically of America's Deaf culture (think of a culture whose many norms are based on what is seen with the eyes) where it would be considered extremely rude or worrisome if people didn't comment on a noticeable physical change! I'm thinking of the previous post that described the experience of direct comments at the Chinese restaurant, and wonder if that culture has a similar norm. I am being banded in just over a week, and everyone in my small office of 8 knows about it. They have been extremely supportive, and many of them are dealing with their own weight or dietary issues. My best friend is very engaged in this process, since she is overweight herself and curious about the LapBand. Her older sister, a very overweight bully who has never really liked me, knows about what I'm doing and has stated that she is going to do it 'the right way' by eating less and exercising. She views the band in a negative light, and I have to confess that I am really looking forward to showing her just how wrong she is! So many of us already know that losing it is one thing, but keeping it off is another thing altogether. Even my surgeon has confirmed that the physiological component of a body like mine (that makes very efficient use of every single calorie, eager to turn as many as possible to fat) is tough to beat without the additional support of a tool like the LapBand. I have already considered how to respond to the 'how much?' question- I do not plan to give an actual number. For me, that is the painful part, as I hate to acknowledge that I had so much to lose! I am tall enough to hide a fair amount of weight, so my number could elicit the sort of shocked response that I don't want to hear from just anyone. Breezy answers such as 'almost enough!', or 'enough to feel great/need new clothes!' are vague but affirmative enough, when delivered with the right attitude. For people who press, a simple 'why do you want to know/does it really matter to you?' may be required to end that line of questioning. As for folks who may declare that I have 'taken the easy way' (even though that we all know that the LapBand is not exactly that) my response is going to be, 'what is so wrong with that?'. Who wouldn't elect to go an easy route, instead of a hard one? Ever heard of the 'path of least resistance' theory? As far as I'm concerned, I've outgrown the need to suffer and will take whatever ease comes my way. It doesn't mean I'm lazy, it means I am practical! My guess is that I am bound to encounter a variety of caring and cruel remarks along this journey of mine. My in-laws know nothing of what I am doing, and I have no intention of telling them. My DH has promised to keep this secret with me. My FIL always calls me 'skinny', which is far from accurate, and my MIL is always talking about the tiny sizes that she can now fit into as she ages and shrinks. I find that exposure to these comments is toxic, so I avoid it. DH knows, and because they live several hours from us it is easy to keep our distance. I am already practicing my response to their comments when we see them this summer- I don't plan to mention the band at all, but will refer to doing 'lots more walking and careful eating', which will be true! Only those people who I consider truly supportive and considerate will be allowed access to pertinent details, and hopefully this will help alleviate my own embarrassment about my weight gain as I strive to make it a thing of the past. Sorry for the long post, but this thread topic is actually quite thought-provoking for me! thanks to all of you for your posts, and the support that reading them gives me.

It's common to be nervous. May I address a couple of your concerns? The band is NOT permanent. You will most likely want it to be, and it's built to be, but if for some reason you want or need it removed, it can be. While there MAY be some scarring around the outside of your stomach, 99% or some huge percentage have no side effects (except weight gain!) once the band is removed. SO if they come up with a miracle cure for obesity, we're good. And I've read (and believe it makes sense) that once the band is in, insurance will cover you if you have issues pertaining to it. You can ask your surgeon for clarification but it is my understanding that once you have it in there, say you DO need it removed due to medical necessity. Insurance will cover that. (a caveat...I am just repeating what I've heard; if you are concerned, besides asking your surgeon it might be prudent to call your insurance company and ask them) What will cost is fills and aftercare and that is mostly frontloaded during the first year, so make sure your surgeon offers you fills included in your package. In the long run, only you will know what it costs you. I personally had prepared to self pay (my insurance covered it) and figured it was cheaper than having the comorbidities and costs of obesity....heart trouble, diabetes, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, etc. The cost out of pocket, even at the more pricey surgery centers, runs about the cost of a car or small SUV. I figured I am worth a Kia or two.

In 1 week I have not gained 1 oz nor lost 1 oz, seriously. Not 1. What can I do? I was banded on 12/23 and had 1 fill on 1/14 of 4 cc. I feel really no restirction but eat much smaller portions because I know it's healthier for me. I see the dr the 17th so I know that will be my next fill. I am wondering if I am not taking in enough calories or if it's because work has been beyond busy (we have been buying out smaller dealers) and I havent left my desk in days (sometimes I forget that I have to even use the bathroom until lunch time)! So I am not up and moving like I am used to. I am also am just too exhausted to even get up to get to to the gym and play around with my 3 year old like I have been 2 weeks ago. I feel awful for that. I am just so fried with work. Anyways, here's my run down of my meals. Here's a run down of a "typical" day. Breakfast: 7:30 am - 8 oz skim milk/1 scoop protein powder (18g) Snack: 11:00 am - small handful peanuts (snack) or banana (whatever I grab in the morning) Lunch: 1:15 pm - Weight Watcher Meal (usualy dont finish it becasue I have to get back to work and I am full) & 1/2 Cucumber or 2 oz cheese cube Dinner: 5:30 Cucumber or Salad with Cheese & Turkey w/Low Fat Dressing (I def make large salads, just like if I did not have the band but I love salad and cant stop from eating it and without the restriction it's hard, at least it's not McDonalds, LOL)! Or Can of Chicken mixed with 2 tablespoons of low fat Mircale Whip ("fake" Chicken Salad") and some low fat Wheat Thins or 2 oz cheese cubes......

I had the original Lap-Band surgery just 01 month after it was approved by the FDA in 2001. My start weight was 240 and I was down to 162 at my lowest. I have been the unfortunate recipient of some unusual abdominal tumors that gave me an enormous weight gain. I was back up to 200 last year and I seem to hover around 190-195 currently. I was at a steady 190 for several years as I seem to have lost the first 50 in the first year. Now, in the middle of my tumor removal surgeries (yes, there were 2), I somehow managed to have the tube between my port and my band come "un-done" and it started "floating" around and poking my insides causing excruciating pain. I had the tube repaired in a quick outpatient procedure. I also managed to have a 4th surgery because my last tumor removal resulted in a hernia. Now that I am apparently healthy, which is been nearly 7 months now, I cannot seem to lose the weight. I never know when the band will work. Sometimes I can eat whatever I want and sometimes I can't. I was able to have my repair covered by insurance, but it doesn't normally cover WLS. My doc told me that I have severe scar tissue around my band because it is old and it doesn't want to stretch with the fills so it doesn't work properly. I desperately want to lose the weight, down to at least 150, but I am in a vicious cycle. I am too exhausted all of the time to go work out, which I need to do to lose the weight, but the extra weight makes me exhausted! Arghhh! Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone ever heard of Cigna covering revision surgery? I am thinking that although they don't normally cover WLS, since I am having health issues, they may actually cover it as a means of repair. Does this make any sense or am I just wishful thinking? The band and the port are starting to cause pain when I lay down in certain positions, too. Any thoughts? Thanks to any and all for any suggestions.