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Has anyone had a weight gain after starting Fish Oil? I started it back in October after my bad cholesterol started going up a bit, even though it was way below being an issue. Figured it might help. Stopped losing and even gained 4 lbs. I stopped taking it last weekend. Haven't changed anything else. I have lost 3 lbs since Sunday! This is the only time in 2 years that I have gained weight. I usually just "pause" for a few weeks but this went on for almost 4 months! I am glad I am losing again but wondering if it's just a fluke or if it's a known issue.

We have a lot in common! I was a normal, healthy weight until I began taking Effexor XR for depression right after high school. After a few years, I had gained 100lbs. Once I was diagnosed Bipolar (not just depression), I went off of Effexor XR and my weight stabalized. Last year, I participated in a medical trial at the National Institute of Mental Health, which lasted 4 months. In the last month and a half, I started the treatment phase and was put on 2 new medications whose first side effects were weight gain. I had no choice but to take the medicine because if my Bipolar isn't controlled, how can I ever hope to control my weight? In that month and a half, I gained 25lbs. In the 3 previous months in the trial, I gained 3lbs. So, quite obviously, it was the meds. It is so awful how we have to manage so many problems. But I think getting you Bipolar stabilized, as much as possible, and then working on your weight would be an excellent idea. Afterall, the better you feel and look, the less your Bipolar has to grab a hold of and "use" against you. KWIM? Good luck and contact me anytime. So few people understand our predicament, so sticking together is great! Be Blessed, Kelley

I "gained" 5 lbs from my weight the morning of the surgery to the day after. It certainly wasn't from eating anything. I was on clear liquid the evening of the surgery. Does the swelling, air/gas, blood cause a "gain"? Did anyone experience this? I'm 5 days post op and I'm just now back to my the weight before the surgery. I'm still on full liquids.

@@flip26 I am truly lucky to have had essentially 0 complications and bumps along the way. I never had food intolerance, vomiting, stricture, dumping, or any of the other common things you hear people talking about. I have had some mild hair loss but no one has noticed except me and it lead to the best haircut I've had in years! My main challenge has, and always will be, myself and my will power. I have had some hangups here and there where I allowed myself to have "a little of this" or "a little of that" and ended up in a month long stall -- for no good reason but my own lack of control! A few bites here and there adds up to no weight loss (and can add up to weight gain if you don't correct yourself)! I am back on track, counting my calories, carbs, and Protein meticulously and have finally broken through my stall! I have lost 8.4 pounds in 3 weeks just by getting myself focused.

all those things you mentioned are normal - weight gain due to IVs in the hospital, constipation, etc - normal. Just stick to the eating plan your clinic gave you and you WILL lose weight. The only way you'll fail is if you don't follow the plan.

The Doc: “What made you decide to have Weight Loss Surgery at this particular time in your life?” I ask every patient I see for a pre-surgical psychological evaluation. The responses to this question nearly always revolve around health. “I want to get off so many medications.” “I need to get rid of this diabetes.” “I want to be healthy enough to see my children/grandkids grow up.” “I want to be able to do things I can’t now because of my weight.” “I want to be healthy enough to walk/go places with my family/ride amusement park rides/not have to use a seat belt extender on an airplane.” The vast majority of the time, when people make the decision to have weight loss surgery, their health has become an issue that interferes in their quality of life. Sure, some people are interested in the benefits of being able to wear smaller clothing, many are interested in being less discriminated against, and most are enthusiastic about seeing the scale show a much lower number. It is safe, however, from my experience of having completed over 3000 pre-surgical evaluations, to summarize people’s reasons for wanting to have weight loss as being 1) seeking improved health and 2) seeking an improved quality of life. The Post Op: All I know is, by the time I dragged my size 30 behind into the doctor’s office to talk about getting the weight off, I was sick…and I was tired…and I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. It sounds trite, but it was true. My obesity was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting, and every day represented weight gained and battles lost. At 320 pounds, I was Alice, and I’d been stuck down the rabbit hole of obesity and poor health for so long, I was willing to do anything to get out – yes, even take a swig from that bottle on the table with the “drink me” tag. In my mind, weight loss surgery was a magic potion and I was about to get really small. I didn’t know how it would feel when I got there, but I knew I’d be set free. I believed my life would get better and I’d be healthier if I could just get…smaller. The Doc: Fast-forward two years after surgery. The weight has melted off! The scale, of, course, never seems to reflect a low enough number. No matter – people are taking many fewer medications than they had to prior to surgery. And they are riding roller coasters and Ferris wheels and they are going on airplanes and not needing seatbelt extenders. They are going bike riding and hiking and playing with their children and grandkids like they have dreamed of doing. In other words, the majority of post-ops at around the two-year mark, do have improved health and do have a better quality of life. The Post Op: Losing large amounts of weight in a short period of time really messes with your head. One day, you’re buying double-digit stretchy pants and tops in the plus-size section, and the next, you’re venturing into the foreign world of single-digit labels on non-spandex jeans and fitted suits. Yesterday, you couldn’t find a single “before” photo but today you’ve got a thousand “after selfies” and attention from people you aren’t even sure you like. It’s exciting and new… and confusing… Somewhere along the way, you lost the plot, stopped focusing on your health and started focusing on your image. Like so many post-ops, you’ve learned that losing weight doesn’t guarantee happiness, hopefulness or health. So, with that said, can you refocus your focus and choose to live in Recovery From Obesity? What do you think, Doc? The Doc: It’s been really interesting observing the journey of post-ops, two of whom are my closest friends. After the initial weight loss and the joys of experiencing many of the NSV’s (non-scale victories, on the off chance you don’t know what NSV stands for, many people start whingeing (pronounced win – jing), a term the Post Op and I learned on our trip to work with bariatric folks in New Zealand. It means whining! “I don’t want to exercise.” “I’m tired of restricting myself.” “But sometimes I just need chocolate.” And then there’s the gossiping. “Have you seen so-and-so? She’s regained so much weight.” “Do you think I look smaller that that woman?” And, of course, there’s a continued? new? renewed? obsession with numbers! ““If I could only fit into a size smaller.” “Just ten more pounds and I would be satisfied. Really.” And what I actually find the saddest is the addiction to food… “I watch all of the shows on the Food Network.” “Look at the ‘bad’ food I ate… I posted it on Facebook!” My, how the focus changes! No longer do people seem to remember the reasons they had surgery… they appear to overlook the fact that their health is improved and the quality of their lives is vastly improved. All of a sudden the numbers on the scale, the size of the clothing and how they compare in size to other people are the focus. And maybe the saddest part from my perspective is that no matter how much weight they’ve lost, so many people are dissatisfied. They either want to lose more weight, hate their body just as much as before weight loss, or find some other thing(s) to focus on that were never mentioned as being important prior to surgery. The Post Op: I’ve seen this play out a thousand times, Doc, and it makes me so sad to realize that many people who desperately want to be free from the prison of obesity actually imprison themselves by the tyranny of numbers, the scale and their clothing size! As you sagely point out, far from living a life in Recovery, many post-ops lose sight of what they said matters most and focus on the food, the food and the food! You call it an unhealthy obsession – I call it addiction, but either way, it’s not the goal of life after weight loss surgery…at least, not in my book. What’s missing from the equation? The Doc: Where’s the gratitude? Somehow, the life-saving, life-enhancing weight loss surgery that was done to improve one’s health and improve their quality of life, and that DID exactly those things, often morphs into what we believe are simply manifestations of that same disease of obesity. Because, as Cari often points out, “obesity is all about the food but not at all about the food.” And she’s right! Obesity includes a mindset, an attitude, an obsessiveness on food, size, and weight. Perhaps most tragically, there is a self-defeating component that lives on when one becomes obsessed with their eating, their weight, their sizes and/or what others are eating, what others weigh and what size others are wearing. Again, I ask, “Where’s the gratitude?” The Post Op: In my case, genuine gratitude was a mystery. I mean, I’d spent a lifetime focusing on my compromised health, physical limitations, poor quality of life, disappointments, shame and failures. Clearly, going to the doctor wasn’t a reason to celebrate, because I believed I’d be “blamed” for my condition, then blithely be told to “move more and eat less.” And I know I’m not alone – I talk to many post-ops who share my misunderstanding about the power of gratitude and the importance of practicing it in everyday recovery. Of course, when the focus is on the negative, it doesn’t even occur to you to consider something positive! Maybe that’s why I view gratitude as the unsung gift of Recovery and work hard to work on it every day. The Doc: Maintaining what is commonly referred to as “an attitude of gratitude” can have a positive overall affect on your life. By focusing on the ways your health has improved, you feel pleased and grateful for the changes in your life, regardless of the weight your body has settled at. Focusing on the ways the quality of your life has improved after weight loss results in being grateful for being able to participate more actively and fully in your own life! Take the time and literally make a list of the things your weight loss has resulted in regarding your health and quality of your life. The Post Op: I get it. Lists are usually filled with work you have to accomplish before the day ends (things to do today), or before you die (bucket list), but they aren’t usually things you look at to feel good. I say it’s time to change that paradigm and start making lists of things you’ve already done (or, get to look forward to!) Your gratitude list doesn’t have to be a thing of literary genius (which means it doesn’t have to rhyme, be written in haiku or iambic pentameter, and doesn’t even have to include complete sentences!) Your list can include positive words, pictures, names of people you love – whatever – but it has to be a real list…so why not start now by considering some of the things The Doc mentioned? In case you’re wondering my list starts like this: 1. I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to work with an amazing and compassionate friend to help others find the joy of Recovery From Obesity. How about you? ACTION STEP: Download a GRATITUDE APP (any one will do) for your smart phone and make a practice of typing in a minimum of three things each day that represent your improved health and/or the improvements in your quality of life. If you’re open to it, you will experience an overall improvement in your daily attitude.

I take the same medication. I had bypass on 11/14/16 and have lost 57 pounds so far. No problems with weight gain.

This is lateral femoral cutaneous nerve syndrome - it's a sensory nerve that gets affected by either rapid weight gain or loses. It's common, and harmless (but annoying)

I need your advice.... I got my lap band refilled about 2 weeks ago, although I have started to lose weight again, I am getting leg cramps at night, the shakes and I have had a bout of mastits. I am also starting to feel emotionally unstable. My husband thinks I am not eating enough and thats contributing to my state of mind and also to the fact my baby does not seem settled. Both my obgyn and band doctor think I am eating enough. I really want to maintain breast feeding. My husband wants me to get my fill removed and say "screw" it to weight gain during breast feeding and worry about it later. What do y'all reckon :smile:

I used to take the same med and gained 80 pds. Which put me in the position for surgery but i take risperdal now and havent had any issues. Now im not a doctor im only speaking from personal experience but i havent had weight gain issues because of it. Id talk to ur doctor and weigh that as an option.

Is anyone on NuvaRing or has used it? My PCP prescribed it and knows i have The sleeve. She said NuvaRing does not cause weight gain but im still worried about gaining. Anybody has experince with this BC?

I am on the six month supervised diet also and tomorrow have my fourth appointment with my NUT also see the PA and have my psych eval. I am nervous because I am sure I gained weight this month. I had some family issues, work issues and money issues and lost focus long enough to put back on some of my weight, hopefully not all of it. They have never told be I had to lose a certain amount but still I am so upset that I have to go in there and be a failure at losing weight again. But besides the weight gain issue I have so any questions, I first need to find out if they will do the sleeve surgery instead of the traditional bypass. Well it gave me some comfort that not everyone excels at losing on this supervised diet and still is able to have the surgery. Good Luck and I hope everything goes smoothly for you and we both are able to hae the surgery soon.

Wow. I haven't been on this forum since it was "Lapbandtalk.com" I've had my lapband since June 2008. Went from 265 to 175 and then gradually gained and settled in at 240 for the last couple of years. In 2010 I had reconstructive surgery to remove my panis (-16 lbs in that surgery alone). My lapband complications include Barrett's esophagus, infections, and finally it has slipped. All Fluid was removed last December. I'm having revision surgery to sleeve next month. A little nervous about it but am resigned to the the fact it has to happen. My skeletal structure cannot bear any weight gain. So this is going to happen. I'm trying to get excited about it and get in the pre-change-in-life mood. So far it's not happening.

I'm on prozac and latuda and have noticed a slight weight gain maybe 2# not much but its better then felling depressed

Let me just say this first: If I read this two years ago, I would have had second thoughts about having the surgery. Having had the surgery, I don't regret having it- at all. This story is mine, and I'm ok with it. When I had my surgery I was 336lbs. I am 5'6" and at the time I was 29 years old. That was 2012. Today, I weigh 260lbs. In October of 2013, I got to my lowest weight of 210lbs. Gaining weight was never a fear, not losing was a fear. Gaining back 50lbs has been a nightmare. I have a million reasons for how the weight gain happened. That feeling, that nagging hungry/craving feeling returned in August 2013, I got married, moved and started a new high stress job. I felt exposed at 210lbs, I was afraid to get smaller. I was not sure how to handle being "not fat". It's all crap. Here is the truth, I'm a food addict with a super dysfunctional relationship with my weight and my body. The sleeve, it didn't fix my head, and I didn't either. What this surgery taught me is what behaviors help me to lose weight. I have a powerful tool and I know how to lose. Today, I begin again. I worked out today, drank Water, ate high Protein & very low carb, and I planned my food and tracked my intake. I told on myself about my addiction (you all) and I held myself accountable. I know if I do this, I will lose. I'm a food addict. One day down. Tomorrow: Begin. Again.

The same thing happened to me. I was a month out and only lost 10 lbs. I was PISSED. I griped and moaned, "how can this happen? I'm not eating anything! Am I one of those special cases where the person has a weight loss surgery and doesn't lose not one pound?" For me, the issue was Water retention, and I wasn't having regular bowel movements. That can sort of disguise any weight loss as a stall, or even create a 'false' weight gain (meaning it's not fat weight) on the scale. As the weeks go by your body will have no choice but to let go of that fat. You've got two things working in your favor. 1) you can't physically take in anything to slow down weight loss 2) at some point your body has to give up the fight to hold on to the fat. It's inevitable, and I know as each week goes by it seems like nothing is happening but it is. By the end of next month you'll see a difference. Just focus on healing and getting in your Protein and fluids.

You're still doing good :smile: My doc expects some sort of weight gain in he first month or so while you heal. What motivates you? I made (and add to) a motivation board. I paste outfits I love with my head pasted on top lol. I have knee high boots I've always wanted but could never fit into. Pictures of snowboarding and horseback riding and bellydancing. All things I can't wait to start doing again. It might help you to work on something like that and keep it somewhere you can look at it and smile.

I had my surgery when I was 58, so I doubt that's it. Do you take any medications that cause weight gain?

ChereS, I showed up at my pre-op appt 5 lbs heavier than when I had seen my surgeon 2 months prior. He said to make sure I followed my pre-op surgery diet so my liver would shrink before my surgery (which was 6 days after). Like others have stated, just do the clear liquids. It's only before and after the surgery. For me, that's 6 weeks (which is over in 9 days!!!) but it is well worth it considering the trade-off. Hang in there. I was just as nervous about the weight gain as you are now but it really does depend on the surgeon. 5lbs shouldn't be a no-go but don't gain any more. Just think about how good you are gonna look when you start losing that weight! Let us know how it goes. Good luck and happy shrinking!!!

The answer to your question really depends on the guidelines implemented by your insurance company and/or bariatric surgeon. I'm embarrassed to admit I gained 25 pounds between the time of my consultation appointment (Oct '14) and the week prior to surgery (Apr '15). I engaged in daily food funerals where I ate multiple servings of my favorite foods 'one last time' before saying goodbye. I couldn't control my appetite. Luckily, my surgeon and insurance company made no comment about the massive weight gain. I underwent surgery 2.5 years ago and maintain my new, lower weight without many issues.

Ok had to ask because i dont want to drink a protein that is for weight gain or building mass/muscle. I need to lose like 30-50 more pounds and im 8months out

I apologize in advance for my long leadup to my question. I had an appointment with my PCP today concerning switching meds for my RLS and told him of my plans to pursue WLS with the LAP-BAND®®® - he was very supportive. I am attending a seminar tomorrow evening. My BMI has been over 35 for most of the past 20 years and I have tried repeatedly to lose weight only to gain it back plus more. My BMI is currently over 40, I have been on medication for HBP for at least 13 years, I have obstructive sleep apnea and have used a CPAP since January of 2006 and am having a test done to see whether the air pressure needs to be increased due to my weight gain and daytime sleepiness. In 2007-2008 I trained hard for and completed 2 sprint triathlons and 2 mini-sprint triathlons but only lost 15 lbs in over a year. I had gallbladder surgery in 2009. I had foot surgery earlier this year because of the repetitive stress of the weight during that triathlon training. I have gained 25 pounds back. I have had expensive (unsuccessful) procedures trying to manage my lower back pain and physical therapy for knee tendonitis and a torn meniscus ligament (which does not need surgery at this time). So my question is: I have Aetna NAP Choice POS II insurance which covers the procedure and am expecting to get the requirements in the email any day. Needless to say, it has been an expensive year, medically speaking. I am less than $300 away from my annual out-pocket-maximum and I really need to have this surgery before December 31st. Is this doable, even with a 3 month supervision requirement? I am 50 years old can't wait to be able to be more active again. I am not afraid of exercise but diet is my weakness and need this help to get to a healthy weight and stay there for the rest of my life!!!!!

Weight loss? Weight gain? Pain better? Exercising?

I had the sleeve done in June 5th. I am having major backpain specifically in my right lower side. Also my stomach feels so much more bloated now then even before and I know it can’t be weight gain since I haven’t eaten anything! Anyone else experience this?

I start my 2 week pre-op diet on July 2. I have my shakes ready, my freezer is full of chicken, fish and veggies. I started taking my multi-vitamin faithfully, post-op prescriptions are purchased. Phew, I am so ready for this. I went to the mall to buy my 10yr old new shoes. We spent less than hour and my knees and back are killing me. Some days I feel like I am carrying weights under my clothes, it's miserable and some days suffocating. I was not always a big girl. I was 130 lbs when i married 21 yrs ago. I never struggled with weight through high school or as a child. However, when i began having children my weight began to increase. I have blamed it on pregnancies for years and one day I noticed something very strange about my appearance. My face was swollen, my hair was falling out and my joints were becomeing increasingly painful. After many weeks of testing and different doctors, the end result came back as a form of Lupus. I had already had part of my throid removed, and just prior to getting my test results I had back surgery. This only impacted my weight gain...along with a lot of emotional eating. I am not completely innocent, I enjoy food and flavor. I enjoy trying new things to eat. I overindulged myself to 250 lbs. If I keep going, I will gain more weight. Somedays I would eat because it was the only thing to do. Somedays I would eat because I wanted to get the junk food out of my house and I felt guilty throwing it away. Somedays I would eat healthy and feel so good about not bloating and hurting...that didn't last long. So here I am...at the end of my rope grasping for life. I am so greatful to have this chance to find the old me again. I don't need a new me, I want that girl that used to walk with pride, cared about her appearance and new she could do anything I set my mind to. Look out world, she's coming back!