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Apparently heredity factors add to it. It looks like I may have a gene that predisopses me to being likely to have diabetes. Weight gain seems to trigger it. I'm not 100% I'm understanding it correct but it does look that way. If that's why some get it when overweight and other don't it clears up one reason and problem for me. My Doctor told me my body holds onto sugar and that's why I gain weight and have diabetes 2. It's all so confusing to me, hard for me to understand. I need diabetes education for dummies.

Hi Bindi2203 - Thanks for the encouragement! Do you know what size your band is? I would not get a fill if your feeling restriction and loosing - 25 lbs...that is great! It took me 9 months to loose 20 lbs before surgery. I was not planning on getting fills this early but with the weight gain I had to. I thought I would naturally feel full with the band but I don't, the only thing that feels different is some foods hurt going down (raw carrots- not going to do that again). However since my last fill I feel full a bit longer. I have another appointment on the 10/10 if I don't loose any weight I'm going for another fill.

Sounds like you are exactly on the right track to me. We have to learn not to be afraid of feeling a little hungry for a little while. The band is not supposed to mean that you don't feel hungry EVER. It is perfectly normal and perfectly ok to feel a little hungry as meal times approach. What the band is supposed to do is to stop you eating a meal sized for 3 people (as I used to do every night) and to stop you feeling like you're starving in between meals. By the time you tighten it up to the point that you feel no hunger at all, you are almost certain to be too tight and won't be able to eat properly, leading to dependence on generally high fat/high carb/high suger slider foods and weight gain. It's meant to be a tool, not a miracle cure, so it does require a little work on our part. I think you are doing exactly the right thing - controlling mild hunger before meals. When it starts to get to raging hunger or the meal sizes start getting large again, that's the time to tighten the band in another notch.

Yup sounds very normal. Most docs will say not to really count weight loss until you are off the liquids and onto regular food. My doctor said to count that as bonus weight. And the longer post op you will probably find yourself hungrier. It's the hardest part for most as you havent had a fill yet. As for the BM, your not eating anything solid so you will probably have much less in the way of BM's. I will sometimes, even six months out, go two weeks withough a BM and will have to do something to help things along :thumbup: The sodium in soups can defanitely be an explenation for weight gain. I will carry up to three pounds just in water retention if I have too much sodium. Up to five pounds during my period. Try some mom to move the bowels and lower your sodium and drink lots of water and see what happens.

I think one way to get an inkling of whether the band will suit you or not, is to look at your eating patterns. The band restricts you from eating large volumes of food. If your weight problem is more caused by over eating than by eating junk food and high fat/high sugar, then you are more likely to adjust well to it and be successful. If your weight gain is more from too much chocolate, the band will still help control your hunger pangs but you must supply the willpower to eat healthy food instead of indulging your sweet tooth. Unfortunately, the band doesn't stop you eating crisps and icecream :tongue2: Really take stock of what you eat and compare the meal sizes and frequency, including Snacks, with that of your skinniest friends. I've always known that my problem wasn't that I ate a lot of junk, I ate some sure, but not a lot. My problem was that I ate really huge meals and did absolutely no exercise. The point came home to me clearly after being banded when one night I was eating dinner with a couple of very slim girls from work. I was all proud of myself for my tiny portion and wondered if they'd say anything, when I realised that their portions were just as tiny - they ate like that all the time. What I had considered normal was the same portion that a large man doing heavy physical work would eat (and probably still gain weight on). The band works if you work with it. It has freed me from the hunger daemon and allowed me to make healthy choices because I am no longer compelled by a frenzied desire to wolf down everything in sight. Best thing I ever did for myself.

Hi from Sydney Australia, I am going to my first information night next month and I am scared after reading mixed responses to the band on the internet. Some failed, some weight gain and some think its wonderful.... So what do you think? :tongue2:

Hello fellow tokers! I was just banded last Wednesday. I'm not currently smoking right now because I'm trying to get a job but once that's done... :tongue2: However a lot of my weight gain throughout my life can probably be attributed to the munchies so if I find that is a problem post-banding I will not be partaking (at least not as frequently).

We Greens are a mix of fatties and skinnies. My kid brother and I were the blonde chunky ones (we took after an aunt) who had to watch ourselves while the middle brother took after both of my parents, brunette and naturally slender. In my 20s I lost the beef and did not gain weight again until menopause. My mum went into menopause at the age of 39 and I was 41. She and I gained weight in exactly the same way even though I have never had a kid and she had had three; our arms and legs, hands and feet remained slim but our torsos bloated up hugely. She used to joke that she looked like a pregnant spider. Before I got the band, I did, too. This was definitely an apple-type weight gain pattern. Long after I went into menopause people used to ask me if I was pregnant. I definitely do believe that genetics can play a role in one's weight issues. Some folks get more miles to the gallon and there once was a time (in prehistory) when this was an excellent survival mechanism. Along with genetics there are those issues of portion control, level of physical activity, and the type of foods that we are eating. All of these factors play their parts in this problem of weight control.

That is great a lil bit cheaper huh? Well good luck hope you are inpressed with the office the staff are great!!! I go today :crying: not that I am scared of the fill but of the weight gain I have no restriction

Sure you could do it on your own but have you ever heard the statistic that 90% of people that loose that weight gain it back over 5 years, alot of people will disagree with me but in fact it's actually the truth, I even saw a guy on oprah one time who came back 5 years later and had gained it back plus more, just think to your self, do you want to loose that 110lbs and be happy with yourself? Or loose it and gain it back plus an extra 50lbs or so? If not then just think of it that way, the band is obviously no easy way out especially when alot of people have to deal with the side affects of eating too quickly, not chewing enough and vomitting, so really it's not the easy way out at all.

I've been called fat since I was 145(in 6th grade at 5'1" tho) all the way up until my highest at 275. I had friends that told me this surgery was stupid and lazy, that I should do it with diet and exercise...DUR! gee I never thought of that...and this is coming from a person that is comparing her needed weight loss of 10 lbs to my 130 lbs. Also I had one person recently ask how my weight loss was going...I said fine, and she replied "I could never do that surgery...I think I'd just rather go run another 10 miles." My mom used to make comments every time I walked into the kitchen. She once said she'd rather have me be anorexic than fat, this coming from an overweight woman herself who has an anorexic and bulimic sister who has been struggling for 30 year. When I go to restaurants, they always assume my b/f and I are just friends...since he's normal sized and good looking. I have lost all my friends since I've gained weight. My teacher last year (during my worst months of weight gain) told me the biggest problem I had in writing my english papers was because I was lazy. The farthest from the truth, I was in multiple clubs, got damn-near straight A's, played violin for 9 years, took care of the house and bills from age 13-16 while my mom was on her deathbed, I helped take care of my nephew while my brother was in basic training and his ex-wife tried killing herself by jumping off a bridge, and I also was having a hard time with depression/bipolar-like mood swings and panic attacks. But I was lazy. I've been ignored everywhere. I once talked to a guy I met at a party, we were texting and he says "Oh yeah, you're the fat girl." I had a guy friend not go out with me, slept with me, but wouldn't go out with me unless I grew my hair out and lost weight. Now since I've lost 25 lbs, and my hair is longer, he's suddenly started talking to me again. It's hurtful to experience this....I'm only 19 for god's sake and I feel like I'm missing out on so much...I mean, should I really have to worry that when my b/f and I are..."together" and he closes his eyes, should I have to worry that he's digusted by me and wishing he was with someone else... I have to wonder if I'm insecure because I'm fat or insecure because I'm fat and I'm ashamed of that only because people discriminate me. Sorry this is so long, but I could go on for days, tons of stories...

Have you started your 3 month diet? I am 1 wk into mine, I must admit it's a total joke. I feel as if I am just jumping through hoops to please the insurance company. Plus it is rather strange that they aren't trying to get you to lose a lot of weight but rather notice your trends and the things you do that promote weight gain. For me my goals were things like drink more water, don't have tv on while eating or don't eat at my desk at work and look at the computer at the same time. St. Mary's has a program where they assist you with the process using their staff which has made it easier for me. Good Luck

How is your hunger? Is it maybe time for another fill? I agree you're weight gain is due to adding bulk/muscles. Check with your doctor to see what he has to say. Great job! You're an inspiration to all us newbies!

Thank you Vicki! Ya my BMI is 39.5 or something so I am definitely in the range, I have just read what seems to be horror stories with Kaiser doctors, because seriously, when I went through my PCOS diagnosis and they couldnt explain the pains I was having and it took them about 3 months to finally diagnose me with it. I just dont want to have to do a round about with this doctor! Hopefully he will agree with my decision to want this procedure! I am definitely willing and definitiely ready! I do have a great deal of depression since my weight gain, and have struggled with maintaining weight since Hs! So hopefully it will be an easy process for me! Thanks for replying I really appreciate it!

Admittedly I freak out everytime that this happens, and I guess its not an extreme amount or anything, but still I haven't been losing weight in a little while and now I'm starting to put it back on! I was down to 188, which was great considering I started at 277. This week I'm 196. I haven't changed my diet significantly, so its a bit confusing for me. I work out constantly, and recently I've started doing some more intense lifting. Mainly squats, which I can feel reaking havoc on my leg muscles this morning. My question is, could some of the weight gain be related to liquids being retained in the damaged muscles from lifting? Or am i just getting plain fatter and should schedule another adjustment. I've only had 2 so far. thanks, Brendan

The muscle tightening is almost always necessary. The muscle gets stretched after weight gain, and pregnancies. Simply removing the extra skin and fat, without tightening the muscle, does not give as good a result (ie flat belly!). Sometimes the muscle is in good condition and does not need to be tightened. This is more common in men. Standard TT should all include muscle tightening. If only the skin is removed, with no muscle tightening and no belly button moving, then it is called a panniculectomy.

I was diagnosed about 4 years ago in my second year of law school. Anxiety attacks, low energy, ridiculously slow metabolism and quite a bit of weight gain in a short time. My endocronologist believes I was probably always a bit hypo, but we never thought to check that ... Turns out in my family, too. My mom was hypo as well (diagnosed around the same age), and had a partial thyroidectomy about 3 years ago. I take 100 mcg/day, and I'm told that my dose may need to be reduced as I shrink, but I'm pretty good about going and getting checked every few months. Just be glad they caught it!

I just received my Tricare approval on September 17th. I was first denied because I didn't weigh enough and no co-morbids. After two plus months of medical records, weight gaining, etc., I am now qualified on my weight and have been able to show two co-morbids (Sleep apena and arthritis in knees). Plus I am pre-diabetic, have a heart valve issue, and hypothyroidism. I don't have my surgery date yet, I am hoping to find out today. Good luck to everyone and thank you for your support and a special thanks to Suzanne for her appeal letters.

Hi there, my name is Lesley, I am starting my journey in the hope that I may get lap band surgery on the NHS. I have just turned 44 and have been a large girl for as long as I can remember, more so in the last 11 years after being diaganosed with clinical depression, in that time, my weight zoomed from 13st to 21-22 stone and I cant do a thing about it. I have tried Orlistat medication through my g.p. I swim frequently, but the weight gain has left me with intollirible lower back pain and crippling leg aches, I have a history of diabetes and heart attacks in my family, so my concern is that I need to get the weight off before I fall victim to the same. In around four weeks I am to go and meet Mr Woodcock at North Tyneside General Hospital (Rake Lane) of whom I have been referred to, if ANYONE PLEASE HAS ANY INFORMATION ON THE PROCEEDURE AT THIS HOSPITAL, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I guess like everyone else, I just want to know if I will be funded and how long the wait will be, many thanks.

Sorry I didn't post last night. I got home handed my car keys to DH and told him to bring up the groceries and I went straight to bed. Yes...I did drive by myself but stopped once on the way up at a rest area to take a nap and stopped at a grocery store on the way home and took another nap. But the fill went well...though I am a little nervous that it is going to be too tight. I had 1.2 ccs in before the slming incident and when she filled me under fluoro watching the flow rate of the barium I was up to 3.6. She asked me how I felt about that and I said..."not so good". So she backed it down to 2.2. That is the level that I was at before I got unfilled in April. We still weren't certain if I was going to be too tight so she called the doc in and we discussed why I had been tight before surgery and now and am loose. He asked about medications or any life changes and I said that right before surgery they put me on anti-anxiety meds. He said that was probably the reason that I am looser. It is well documented that when your body is under stress (physical or emotional) that your band seems to tighten up. Well when I was freaking out about calories and food earlier in the year I was under constant stress...now the meds have reduced that for now so I am not under as much stress. I told him that I was off the meds now and he said to work with my PCP if I am too tight to put me back on a VERY low dose. He said it should help keep the edge off, loosen me up a bit and not cause the hunger side effects that they are known to produce. He was not as upset with my official 7 pound weight gain as I am. It was the first gain I had shown at the doctor ever! He just said ...now you are human like the rest of us! Ruby - I have to agree with Janet that 1) too many carbs can cause a false weight gain. It takes 2 pounds of Water to digest 1 pound of carbs. So if you are eating a lot of carbs the body thinks it needs to store the water and that could be the reason for the scale going up. Unfortunately the scale can't tell the difference between water and fat. 2) you may need to up your calories. Remember when I was working out so much when it training for the half? THe more calories I ate...the faster the weight came off. Now if I had eaten too many calories I would have gained (which is my situation now) but when I would rebel and eat fewer calories the weight loss would actually slow down. The body tries to maintain a balance...and if feels that it is being deprived of anything (food, water, exercise) it will rebel. Alright I have to go eat (drink) something. For the first time in months I did not waking up STARVING.

... I think! If my scale is correct, I have lost 15 pounds this week. I really wasn't expecting that - but I'll take it! I wanted to thank all of you for participating in this forum - I have read alot and learned much that has been really helpful. Like, I was still having pain, but it was intermittent and now I know it was just gas! Now I am walking more and watching the dairy I eat and that has helped alot. I gather there was alot my doctor didn't tell me about the post op symptoms, but I've learned a great deal here. My name is RoseAnne and I live in San Diego. I am, er... was 237 pounds. Now 222. I have 72 more pounds to lose. I had my surgery on Sept 12, 2 days before my 46th birthday. (Really ruined my husbands plans for dinner at Ruth's Chris!) The first few days I didnt drink much of anything except water and chicken broth. But since the 3rd day I have a little program. I have a protein shake for breakfast, sugar free popsicles for snacks, isopure for lunch that's 40 grams of protein plus a cup of broth (it just seems to feel better if it's warm) and a cup of soup for dinner with a tlbsp of whey powder mixed in (thicker and warmer is really better!) I love pureed hot and sour soup from the chinese restaurant nearby and it's very filling, very flavorful, full of good things and low on calories. I never thought I would like pureed tofu - but there ya go! I gather I am one of the 'lucky' ones in that I haven't really been 'hungry'. I feel hunger pains, but not the hunger urge. It's uncomfortable, but I don't feel ravenous like I did before the surgery. Weird. But I just keep telling myself I'm really not hungry. I am so happy because I don't have to eat at night! I used to eat all night long - hence the 90 pound weight gain - but I just couldnt stop. If I do feel hunger pains at night I have a cup of broth and a popsicle. That's it! I am amazed and praying that it lasts! I survived dinner out with my husband and visiting cousin tonight. I had albondigas soup and gave them the meatballs. THEY had fajitas. While I couldnt resist the guacamole (just that, on a spoon - two bites) I was ok with them ooohing over their food and obviously enjoying themselves. No problems with the guacamole it's very mushy and I mushed it some more The doctor said he filled 1cc during surgery; I go back in two weeks for a followup. I had quite a bit of pain after the surgery for a few days, then the gas... reading the forum helped me to know that it was all normal and not to panic. I was beginning to doubt my decision honestly... but now I am feeling very good about it again and thank you all for that. :thumbup:

wow Heidi thats so soon but now you dont have to fret for weeks on end. :thumbup: now is the time to kick it up into high gear. you can do it!!!! do you have an appt with her before the 25th for pre-op or are you all set? small confession I had a weight gain, due to TOM and salty foods.... not on the pre-op diet (before that) but she made me come back to show I could lose and I did. congrats!!

I did a 5 year diet history. Just list the types of diets you did, the dates, the amount of weight gained or lost.

I have TX Federal BCBS...I am trying to find out Exactly what I have to have to qualify through insurance. Doctor is NOT helping at all. Would like to know what you did. THanks! Forexample...regular BCBS requries 6 months diet history, when I called my federal plan, they said this was not a requirement, though the doctor tells me it is. It seems they don't want to call MY insurance plan and discuss it and treat me like a regular BCBS patient. Help! Oh...I have a BMI of 36...I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome), high cholesterol, undiagnosed arthritis, sever back pain, thyroid disease. When I called my plan they told me they defined a co-morbidity as "anything that causes weight gain". As opposed to things that are caused by weuight gain. Sounded backwards to me. Either way, I think I will qualify. PCOS and Thyroid cause weight gain. Others are a result of weight gain. Other than co-morbidities, trying to find out what others had to submit to be approved. Thanks!

We have 3 acres at Crooked River Ranch which is between Madras and Redmond. Have views of 10 mountains: from Jefferson to Bachelor. Love it there! A whole year, wow! Keep your eye on the prize, so to speak Glad to hear it wasn't slippage. Don't even worry about weight gain or loss right now. You and hubby are the focus...mental and physical health. Well, I can't seem to get anything going in the right direction, Mini; am up 1.2 pounds this week. :crying::thumbdown: