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I too have had a hysterectomy, and although I still have my ovaries, I have had menopausal symptoms. My dr. referred to them as post-surgical ovarian failure. My weight increased by 20 lbs. almost immediately after the hyster and has since been impossible to remove anything gained, resulting in even more weight gain. I am too young to safely take oral HRT until age 50 and HRT patches burned my skin. I really hope that a lack of hormones will not hinder my weight loss after lap-band!!! :bored:

Hello and Welcome. I'm 5'7 and weighed 221 lb when I decided to have plication. Personally, it truly is a decision you must make for yourself because only you will have the experience and outcome. But for me personally, it was the best decision I ever made. Going through not just the surgery, but the pre op diet, the post op liquid phase, to soft food phase, to regular food did something for me psychologically. It cleansed my palatte of all the junk I had been craving and it really allowed me the positive opportunity to be in control of what I eat. I lost 15 lbs with my surgery center's required pre op diet and weighed in at 206 the day of my procedure, last month, July 20th, and today, 1 month and 5 days later I have lost 17 lbs post plication. That is a total of 32 lbs that I no longer carry. I feel so much better, I am more limber, I can bend better and reach over and tie my shoe without turning blue in the face! All things I took for granted before my weight gain. I hope this helps. The main thing to do is research the facility you are thinking of having your procedure at. Research the Doctor. Make sure s/he is qualified and experienced. Best of luck and keep in touch.

Hello fellow sleevers, I was sleeved march 15th 2012 and it was the best decision i made in my life. I lost weight and felt great about myself. Most of all i got pregnant and now have an angelic baby girl. After my pregnancy i gained weight and its now a year in and it's proving to be rather difficult to lose the weight. Currently i'm at 78 kilo's. Pre pregnancy i was at 72 and my goal weight in life is 60. Will i ever get there. Is there any advice any one who has been in my position can give me?

What you're going through is completely normal. You had a major surgical procedure done, of course you're going to hurt! Some people don't seem to have much pain at all, but I really wondered what I'd done for several days after I had surgery. You'll feel better soon, though. I promise! Give it another week. As for the weight gain--you were pumped full of Fluid when you had surgery. Also remember that your body has gone through a major trauma. This is a time when you need to focus on healing, not on the scale. Your weight will go down, but your body needs to heal. And port pain? Again, normal. I still get port pain, unfortunately. *hugs* All normal normal normal. And it's also normal to be worried and wonder what's going on :blushing: Hang in there!

It really is unfortunate that marriage is a factor in our weight gain same here for me, I am still married and probably on the virge of my first divorce we have been married for ten years and I just can't believe that this is happening to me :0( Thanks for the positive post!

Feeling glum when you have been brave enough to put yourself through SURGERY in order to try and manage your weight and health better, and you have strived hard to follow your diet plan, and you have been admonished by your doctor (!!!! how dare s/he!!!!) for your pre-op weight loss, and you are being deprived of all the ways you soothed your moods with food previously, well feeling glum sounds absolutely normal and acceptable to me! And so you reached out and asked for support....well done. What all this says to me is that you are being human, normal, acting in your best interest, are persevering, are trying to cope with temporary disappointment, and are going to be ok, because you have the self-caring to ask for support. Well done, but not because of the seven pounds but because of your honesty and dedication. You now need to look at yourself and glow with pride at your courage and tenacity mixed with vulnerability and authenticity. Time.....healing.....getting there....and you will, I am sure. Thanks for sharing. I for one have felt glum, angry, despondent, wondered why on earth I submitted my otherwise healthy body to surgery, why I can't just get on with it without all this, felt helpless, bordering on hopeless....then elated, proud, happy, energised....and then bored, forced to look at my weight gaining behaviour, forced to be brutally honest with myself....and accepting that a body is a body and has its own means of rebelling, doing things its own way, being complex and difficult to comprehend...and still having faith that in the LONG TERM it is going to be ok and it will work. It has been 23 days since surgery and I have stagnated, but this WILL change because this is how I have previously given up on dieting, and with a lap band implanted in me, well it is drastic, and I can't give up....so I won't...and that is why I had it put in me, because KEEPING GOING is what has always defeated me. Thank you so much for your honesty. Lynda

The injectable BC (Depo) is the one I was on. It works very well, you don't have to worry about it, BUT weight gain is a very common side effect. I switched from it because I was having trouble losing. I couldn't tell you whether it helped, lol

You will be able to eat more and more as you progress through the first few months post-op. This isn't unusual and it's nothing to panic about. My nut says I can eat a cup of food at a time now that I'm 5 months out, and generally, she's right. I couldn't eat a cup of dense Protein like chicken, but I can eat a cup of Soup or yogurt, which pretty much go right through. With regard to stretching - personally (and based on what I've read/seen) I don't think it's stretching as much as it is eating around the sleeve. Imagine my surprise when I decided to have "a few" potato chips. I counted out a serving, tracked it, and was not even a little affected by the intake. I could have eaten the whole bag! You've heard of slider foods - well, believe me, they are a thing. Because sliders don't close the pyloric valve they slide right through and your capacity is much higher. Obviously this increases calorie intake and voila - weight gain ensues. One rule I don't break is drinking when I eat. This will also cause you to eat more than you should because it pushes food through the sleeve allowing you to accomodate more volume. I'm not perfect - I eat small pieces of chocolate here and there, I have popcorn and chips once in a great while, sometimes I'll have a small piece of bread with butter. 95% of the time, though, I follow my plan and I measure and track everything in My Fitness Pal (even the popcorn and chocolate!) That, to me, is the key - being aware of everything that I'm eating. Presurgery I ate with abandon, and that's never going to be the case again.

I have to take BC pills to regulate my period due to my PCOS, I've taken it for over 10 years, at the moment I take Marlissa. I don't contribute the BC to any weight gain, as long as I do what I'm supposed to I still lose weight.

marfar 7, I have noticed the same thing! I have been thinking that they have to be new pictures after wt loss or pictures before the weight gain. That's so funny, I have been wondering how so many "thin" people are having this surgery........... vertical sleeve talk has really opened my eyes to how many people are having this surgery done EVERY DAY! This is more profitable for the surgeons than even plastic surgery! Hugh industry!

Hi Trixie, I am 4 years out and not happy with my slow continuous weight gain. One of the active Lap Band support groups would be Dr. Fowler at Castle Hospital. His people used to post a lot on this website but have since petered out. I had my band done by Dr. Lapschies at Queens's, but I don't think they have a support group any more. If you ever want to walk, especially on Sunday's, give me a call. I am always looking for people and places to walk. My cell phone# is 383-3820 or my work phone is 971-7199. Aloha, Paula Aurio P.S. also try ObesityHelp.com, the Hawaii State forum. They get more input than this board lately.

Hello everyone and thank you from my heart for your warm welcoming and wisdom filled replies to my message. I am still navagativing this system so bear with me. The advice I am finding here is so exceptionally wise and wonderful that even if I am denied an operation as I am 35 BMI I will gratefully use all your wise advice. Honestly, I have not found better advice anywhere. I am learning that the banding procedure is more a preventative measure to avoid the gains, which to me is the most heartbreaking factor in being genetically obese. Age too...for me plays a part I lost 70 lbs. in my early 30s and kept it off for years, now no matter what I do I can't keep up with the weight gains of hormones (I'm 48) (which my male doctor is clueless about) slowed down matabolism and lack of time....I don't have 2 hours a day to devote to the gym wihch I used to before working and when my daughter was young. Two of my sibs died prematurely of obesity complications and I don't want to follow especially with a young child. I am finding there are mostly male doctors who specialize in this operation and wondered why? Sorry for the long ramble just had 3 cups of starbucks! Gratefully yours, Morgan

In my experience, most NUTS don't know what they are talking about. The stretchy part, or fundus, is cut out during the surgery, therefore making stretching VERY difficult. A few carbonation bubbles do not have enough force to stretch anything. We do not have "regular" stomachs anymore. Drinking non diet soda with all the empty calories was the cause of weight gain, not stretching. There are studies proving this, but believe what you want. For the record, I've drank carbonation for a couple of years in the form of selzer waters, and my capacity is exactly the same as it was from the year before. So your NUTS "theory" pretty much is disproven.

@Elcee.....how does being too tight lead to weight gain? Thank you.

re: "the weight gain is due to eating the wrong foods"; <br />disagree.....consider it's due to OVER eating the wrong AMOUNT of food.... re: 'ovulation'.....can't speak to this as my ovaries have been inactive for quite some time... The 'sweet spot' does exist IMHO, and requires awareness of the nuances to manage satisfactorily. I found if I make sure most of my weeks total meals fall below a certain calorie count, I have no weight gain concern. And if I do eat over that point for a few days, I begin to feel like the old habit of eating more than my body needs begins to stir again. I do have some kind of long and subtle cycle of slightly more and then slightly less restricted. Sometimes my Band seems even a bit fickle. Life with my Symbiant, my 'Little Angel of the Silicon Fist' is far better regardless of the occasional frustrations. Finding a way to coexist requires adaptability. cheers on your journey

I'm doing better today! I burned 200 calories on the treadmill and stocked up yesterday on low calorie foods! Today I had 4oz of steak and baked zuchini for supper. I was so excited to eat steak!!! (Granted the steak is not very diet friendly, but it's lots of Protein and I haven't eaten red meat in MONTHS!) TOmorrow grilled chicken with bell peppers and a slice of cheese is on the menu for supper. I think I just needed to get over not being able to eat for so long. JLDCHESTER, PLEASE go get a little unfill. I was EXACTLY like you! I would have a good day and then two weeks of bad days. I was absolutely miserable and didn't realize how bad it was until I got the unfill. My fiance was also too tight and went for a slight unfill on Monday and he is much happier as well. He has actually lost 7lbs since Monday WITH EATING because his metabolism isn't shut down! It's not worth living with a too tight band. I think some of my weight gain is due to drinking tons of Water and its water weight. It feels so good to drink lots of water and eat solid foods without PB'ing or vomiting. A week ago I would not have been so in favor of the unfill, but after going thru it, i honestly believe it is NOT worth living with a too tight band! Sue Magoo, I can't wait to try those green beans! Thanks for the suggestions! Manda, i realize i control what i stick in my mouth but if i had that much control, i wouldn't have gotten the band in the first place. It's very hard to go from being very tight and barely eating to being unfilled a great deal and being able to eat ANYTHING.

So I'm jogging along the creek this morning and I run into my ex. She used to be a ring girl back when I was fighting MMA and had always been (my wife isn't looking) HOT!!!! She was there when I tore my knee to shreds and we broke it off before I went from 205-337. Her father and I stayed great friends and fishing buddy's despite the breakup between his daughter and I so I'm sure she was aware of the weight gain. Fast forward to today.. She stopped me and I kept jogging in place so she didn't know my interest had peaked. Maaaaan she looked good!!! But... You guys would be proud. Gave her a shug (hand shake + hug) that we guys give each other) and kept pushing!! Man it feels good that she caught the vapors! (in my Biz Markee voice).

If you are having port pain, gallbladder pain, and a band too tight your first priority needs to be seeing your surgeon immediately. I'm not trying to scare you, but walking around with a band too tight for 4 years is just begging for a major slip. I guarantee the cost of having your band removed entirely because of neglect would be far more expensive than the cost of an office visit and a slight unfill. Bands too tight can also cause weight gain, btw. Yet another reason to get into your surgeon. Best wishes.

Did you have IV fluids in the hospital? This will definitely cause weight gain but it will come off.

Somedays the struggle seems so hard and others days I am at the top of the world and I think nothing can stop me now:smile2: When I reached a stand still at 250 lbs for 6 weeks I thought this was it, this is as low as I can go. I got over that and now I think 220 is as low as I can go. Our minds play such trips on us. At the end of June I ate non stop crap for three days and the end result was of course a large weight gain.(It has taken me untill today to loose that gain.) All the thoughts of failure, what have I done, I've spent all our money on this very expensive DIET and now it's not working what the hell am I going to do. My daughter told me in a loving way of course to "Suck it up Buttercup" and not to let the scale run my life or to dictate how I feel on a day to day basis. Such a smart girl. All I can do is live day to day and hope that one good day leads to another and when I do have a bad eating day (and I have had them and I will continue to do so sometimes) I can get back up and move forward. This band I have helps me get back up when I am down, but I too have to help it in any way I can in order for us to work effectively as a team. Sorry this is long and rambley but I just wanted you to know that I too fall off the wagon and overeat crap but it really is possible to get back on track. I have not weighed this little since 25 years ago. The head hunger is very hard to controll and remember even with proper restriction it is still possible to eat crap so take it one day at a time and you will get there:thumbup: cc

1) It depends on the insurance company, but generally you don't want to be gaining weight at any point during the process (different companies may have different thresholds, for example mine was no more than 2 pound weight gain). 2) Requests for approval is usually submitted when all of your requirements are completed, which is usually after your final weigh-in/nutrition class (because they take the most time). When you say pre-op testing I'm not sure what specifically you are referring too. If you are talking about like preop bloodwork then that could be before or after approval request. If you are talking about things like pulmonology, cardiology, sleep study, stress test, PFT, etc (obviously you may not have to do many of these) then approval isn't usually submitted until they are all complete. 4) Of course they can, but since you usually needed them to sign off on the referral for surgery it usually isn't an issue. If you foresee it being an issue then address it with them now, and if necessary change PCPs.

Remember any weight lost is better then weight gained. Im down right aroud 150lbs but its takin me over 4 years to get here so if you average that out ive lost around 35 pounds a yr which is less then id like but by far better then gaining 35 a yr.

It's very important to to cement healthy eating habits during the all important "honeymoon" period (6-18 months post surgery) while restriction is great and hunger is low. After time, the sleeve will lose its effectiveness, so if you haven't changed your eating habits, you are at a very high risk for weight gain. It's not magic. You've got to work the tool so it will work for you.

Sounds like you need new doctors. I was on depo for 10 years. I loved depo, but I believe that us where a lot of my weight gain came from. I asked my GYN several times for a better solution and he mentioned Mirena. I determined it was not for me and stayed in depo for 2 more years. I eventually got tired of him suggesting other forms or medications when I really wanted something permanent. He would not do surgery for sterilization. Although I was 30 and had no kids, I had also been married twice and could of had kids if I wanted kids. I understood that I wasn't motherly and would rather have Great Danes than children. I found another GYN. She was very understanding and listened to me and my reasons and what I wanted. She helped me find the method of birth control that worked for me and was willing to preform the Essure procedure. That and WLS have been the best decisions I have ever made. Having a doctor that will listen and help you makes all the difference.

Hi...I am having the Lap-Band surgery on March 27th at Magee. Dr. Carol McCloskey is the surgeon. On March 10th., I go to Magee for pre-op tests. I don't know what they will consist of since I had so many tests already. When I questioned the need for more testing, I was told that the tests can be no more than 30 days pre-op. In July of 08, I attended an informational meeting about bariatric surgery at Magee. On Aug. 4th was the Pre-Operative Lifestyle Classes first meeting. The fee was $395.00 which could be paid in three installments of $145.00 each------the last one at the end of the six month life style classes. Also, I was instructed to keep a food/activity log for one week prior to the initial class. A nutritionist ran the class which had about thirty people gathered in the waiting room area of Suite 5600. I noticed that most of the people interested in the surgery were accompanied by another person. I went alone. The Nutritionist passed out several informational booklets which were about nutrition, behavioral basics, lifestyle changes and physical activity. One has the choice of either attending monthly classes at Magee or going to one's Primary Care Physician monthly. I chose to go to my PCP. The monthly PCP visit consisted of me bringing in my food and activity logs for each month. My PCP is closer than Magee and the parking is free, plus there was not the hassle of the drive on the Parkway East. Also, Magee had a list of the dates for the monthly classes. I was unable to attend any of the meetings scheduled in Oct. Thus, I had to schedule with my PCP at my convienience. It is imperative to attend a meeting each and every month. It makes no difference if your PCP meeting is one month and the next time you could meet is the next month only two weeks after the previous meeting. This was important to me and something I did not understand at first. It happened that I did have to schedule an appt. for Jan. 21st and the next one for Feb. 2nd. I had little to add to the activity log due to the pain in my knees but I did attempt to take more steps each day. Of course, there was the dreaded weigh-in. My PCP filled out the required After Visit Summary and faxed it to Magee after each visit. My weight at Magee was 243. My first weigh-in with my PCP on Sept. 3rd was 237. My last weigh in with my PCP on Feb. 2,09 was 217. I had a twenty dollar co-pay at each PCP visit. I am in my 60's so I had a ton of tests.......EGK, stress test, echocardiogram, Chest x-ray, blood work, sleep study(which showed I have sleep apnea so I had to have a second study). I have a minor blood disorder so I was also required to see a hematolgist. He sent me for more tests. It was a lot of testing but I did it all in Feb., and got it done quickly. I see a therapist, so I only had to take in the form for him to fill out and fax to Magee. That was the easy part since he was the one who first suggested that I consider the Lap-Band surgery. Before I scheduled all my tests, I spent hours on the phone with my insurer making sure that all the tests and the doctors were covered by my insurance. At the first meeting with the surgeon, I got all the scripts for each test to be done. After the six month program ended with the appt. with the nutritionist, all my records were sent to the insurance company. About ten days later, I got a call from Magee that my insurer wanted my PCP to send in a two year record of my weights. Only a week later........Feb. 27th., I was called by Magee to tell me that my surgery was approved. I have a confession that after my last PCP visit, I did lose my focus and start to eat badly again. I went on a three week vacation and fell into the same bad habits of overeating. I knew that I was not going to get approved for the surgery if I had any weight gain during the six months. That fear keep my on the straight and narrow.....well, mostly. I also knew that if I really stuck to a 1500 calorie plan that I would lose too much and get denied. There is a fine line to be walked. I attended one Magee Bariatric support group meeting and the person running the meeting said that someone had just gotten rejected because she lost 50 pounds on her own. I gained 7 pounds. I feel badly, but if I did not have a history of losing and gaining, I would not be having the surgery in the first place. I know this is long, but I thought it just may answer some questions for one or two people. I have been in the health field for over 35 years, but I found this process to be a bit confusing and complicated at times. Wish me luck.......this is my last chance.