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I have had mirena 2 different times, once after my first son and then wanted to have a second child so had it removed after year & a half. then again after the 2nd child. It's been about 1 1/2 years now and i don't have periods. I don't even know it is there. I didn't have a weight gain (other than not eating right) from it. Mine is good for five years and then you go in and get it replaced with another. It is great birth control, my doctor only recommends it to married people usually, because of the threat of disease and such from people not being safe. But if I were you, I would definately opt for Mirena over the latter of your choices. It is at least worth a try. You will spot for almost 3 weeks or so at first but then your periods will get lighter and lighter untill they disappear. Good luck to you. Only you can make the right choice for you and your body but hope the above info helps.

I LOVE my Mirena. I got it for birth control, not bleeding problems, about two years ago, but I stopped having periods after about nine months and haven't had one since. It's fantastic. I know four other women with them and they all love them. It wasn't even painful to have it placed - more like, hmm, I don't think I'd much want to do that for fun, but it was OK. I would definitely give that a try before a hysterectomy! Much less invasive and can be done in ten minutes in your doc's office - not weeks and weeks of recovery from abdominal surgery. When this one "times out" in three years I will be getting another, and probably another until I don't need them anymore. Edit: Oops, I forgot to mention weight gain - I had none; in fact I was losing like crazy but I also had just given birth when I got mine. Mirena's hormonal activity is very localized; it releases progesterone only in the area of your uterus, not throughout your whole body like when you take the pill. Also, the pill contains estrogen - Mirena does not. I'm not aware of weight gain being a side effect but I bet their website would tell you more.

I have been advised due to bleeding that need to have the mirena (intrauterine levonorgestrel device inserted), or otherwise have a hysterectomy. I put on weight when i take the pill, get bad cellulite on my thighs. Has anyone got any feed back re weight gain - re mirena, also if you had a hysterectomy, many thanks.

I guess I didn't make myself clear enough the first time around. My dietician's (over the last three years) did not want me eating less than 1500 cals, as it was hard to keep my blood sugar on an even keel. I have a tendancy to be hypoglycemic, and get shaking and sweaty when my sugar is dropping. This has been happening on the 1500 max diet, which is what I tried to tell him today. I always eat my Protein first as to give it the max amount of time to work before the carbs are added, but it doesn't seem to help on this program. I was having much better luck controlling my diabetes when I was eating a min of 1500, with at least three meals and trying to get at least two Snacks in too. I don't think the 1500 max would be a problem for another patient, but that shipped sailed long ago. My metabolism was wrecked years ago, and have been trying to get it burning again for two years. Like I said, I was thrilled to see the scale going back down instead of up! Sometimes I think doctors forget each of us has our own unique body, and history that can't be made equal to another person. I am the ONLY large person in a large family of thin people (I'm the tallest female though) - mainly because my metabolism is burnt out. I started looking at Lapband as a way to keep small meals in my body consistently in order to get it burning correctly again. I don't want to ruin the progress I worked so hard to achieve. Quoting one of the thousands of studies on weight loss does not mean it will work for me - especially if its the program he uses for himself. Men and women are not the same creatures. I'm not looking for excuses, but solutions. I don't think this physician is looking to help a patient recovering from what is essentially anorexia (one meal a day) overcome their struggle, but to neatly fit me into their profile. He clearly stated that he doesn't have the time to read my reports from my endo, obgyn, dermatologis or neurologist, and thinks that my PCOS, migraines and diabetes were caused from my weight - not as a result of it. My endo and I have clearly marked the illness I had that resulted in 30 lbs lost in 30 days in my late teens, and weight gain/complications that resulted every year since. It clearly shows the progression of my diabetes, along with the increased symptoms of PCOS. This history will not be solved with a diet that isn't tailored to my individual needs - like the ones my dieticians have given me.

I did not have to do the six month diet before the surgery, so I can't give any advice for that or changing doctors midstream. But here is what I can advise you: CHANGE DOCTORS!! 1. Any doctor who "can't be bothered to read the reports from other specialists" is NOT someone that is focusing on your health and your best interests!!! A doctor should not only try to gather as much information about you and your health, but definitely should READ the information he does get! 2. He is your doctor - which means that the specialists are giving their reports to him with the idea that there is one person who is reviewing the info and able to create a complete picture of your health. There are many diseases, disorders, syndromes, etc that can cause weight gain. That can prevent weight loss. That can cause other irregularities in various way. So one specialist might only have 2 pieces of a ten piece puzzle. They will never know if there is a piece missing. Only the main doctor having all the pieces will know right away that there are only 9 pieces or there are 11! That is his job!! 3. Weight loss is a very complicated science and they are discovering more and more that there is so much more to weight gain/loss than simply calories in vs. calories burned. The idea that if you "simply eat only 1500 calories" it is guaranteed that you will lose weight is NOT true. And a good doctor should be working with you on that. Helping you, not berating you! The fact that you are seeing a nutritionist - someone whose only job is diet and nutrition - and the doctor is contradicting their advice should be a huge warning light in your head! 4. If the s**t hits the fan, you are going to have to rely on this man to help you and your family through an incredibly difficult time. Is this the man that you really want to hold your hand through the rough stuff? You don't have to be best friends or anything, but you sure as heck better feel that your health and welfare are of the upmost importance to him. He has already shown that isn't true with him by not reading those reports. 5. You and your doctor are supposed to be a team! He has extra knowledge and you are paying him for that expertise. He works for YOU!! Together, he and you are supposed to be trying to get you in the best health possible. He is no different than any other service industry employee. Would you buy a burger at BK and allow the guy behind the counter to belittle you? And when the order came over and it was wrong, would you just take it if he said, well I just couldn't be bothered to actually listen to your order! That would never fly! And you have to try and think that way. You have a right to be treated well. I'm not sure what the deal is with switching doctors now, and I do realize that the last thing you want to do is start from square one again, but I really have to say that you need to switch doctors. I just can't get over that he didn't read those reports. Keep looking until you find a doctor you are comfortable with. There are tons of doctors out there and at least a few must be covered by your insurance, right? Find a GOOD one!! :cursing:

Annie---I REALLY like your cut too! In fact – I noticed that you are looking good too (weight-wise). Fenton—I know exactly what you mean regarding the conferences. I always go with a plan of “being good.” It works for the first day or 2 and then I eat something that is off my plan. But - I also have found that I can at least try to make better off-plan choices so there isn’t any weight gain by the time I get back home. It’s important to be realistic about what we have to deal with. Last summer I was in a poor area of central Africa with nothing but potato potato, and more potato with a very small amount of meat everyday. There was just no way I could stick to low carb. I have found that it can help a lot to at least bring low carb bars with me on trips.

Oh please, I know that my friends and family talked about my weight gain behind my back. I used to be much thinner and gained some of the weight rapidly. I gained 50 pounds in 1 year during the year between losing my mom and then my dad 13 months later. That was 2 years ago. It was the most stressful and sad time of my life and I ate whatever was easiest to grab. I don't even remember eating that much. But I know that the family was buzzing about me. So-called friends too. When I confronted some of them, they didn't deny it. They said, "But its because we're so worried about you and want you to take care of yourself and be healthy!". Yeah, right. I know it was idle gossip. Nothing we can do about it but show them up by getting thin. Wish they would all stop asking me how much I lost. Some even ask me why I'm losing so slowly. I really don't find that supportive. I did lose 50 pounds after all.

This is why I love this website. I hadn't even thought of this. Of course, I've only lost a few pounds so far - getting banded on Wednesday. Actually, I never thought "fat girl" pubic areas were any different until my dear, considerate husband informed me of such. THEN, I didn't even think about loosing weight there. If I do need a tummy tuck, then yes, I think I'd probably get that area done as well. Being able to easily get to my clit is VERY important to me. I hadn't really thought of the weight gain as getting in the way of pleasurable sex, but looking back I think it has. Looking forward to "getting at it" with no trouble. BTW - My husband and I are in our 30's and we both trim/shave. It just makes oral sex so much easier. But I agreee with other posts that bald is itchy and uncomfortable - and requires a lot of maintenance, at least for me.

Hey Jenn! I have a quick question for ya; how did you find out that you were allergic to Splenda?? Did the Dr. just conclude that, or did they do some sort of test? I used to use Equal and was fine with it, then my sister kept pushing me to use Splenda instead, so I switched a few months ago. It could just be a coincidence, but now I am always bloated and swollen, although that may be from my weight gain too. What do you think? Thanks.

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

Rachel, Wow so close to your goal, but all that matters is how you feel now, if you are happy at this weight than this might be your new goal for now! As for me I am doing well, finally back on track. I have started losing slowly again after a 6 pound weight gain over a 2 month time period. I had the unfil in May and then almost a whole refill in June, now I am where I was when I was too tight and I still don't have the best of restriction. I did for the first week or so after my last fill on the 1st of July, but now I am getting more hungry more often. I am thinking I am going to need another small fill in August when I go for my follow up with my surgeon but we will see, he is really good aat listening to how I have been and comparing that with my weight loss to see if I need another fill. And he really does take into consideration what I say I think I need, so that helps too.

Hey Ezma! Girl you are looking great!! Haven't been on in a while and noticed the title of this..well you're not alone. I just finished commiserating with Lil Miss about our weight GAIN and loss and plateaus!!:cursing:I walk every day but now it's time to start with something a little more aggressive! I like the Wii idea..I've heard it's lots of fun from other folks here..but I have the old Richard Simmons tapes..dancin to the oldies! Believe it or not they are fun! :wink2: But I don't even do this in front of my DH! Don't think I will until I have more weight loss because I can see myself in the reflection and just have to laugh at how corny I am compared to the other guys and gals on the video!!:tt2:

Yes it is... because the scale wasent moving for me either, but once i did that I noticed that i was having movements like 3-4 times a day and i was eating the mushies also.. and i was really shocked... but i only weigh in once a month due to the pre menst.thing and the water weight gain and crap like that so monday will be my weigh n day and I know it has moved...lol.. I have more inches coming off and it really feels good... but things will move for u soon trust me.. and when u drink the fiber stuff do that for about a week and see if things get back to normal..

I have 2 kayaks and am always trying to get folks to go out with me. If you're ever on the East coast let me know. The proverbial 'straw that broke the camels back' in regards to my weight gain was that I was getting stuck entering/exiting the kayak and that would have really sucked if I had flipped. PS Im fitting fine now!!

Haha! Thats our girl! Don't claim it!!! Our weight gain is a mix of a lot of different things, but I really think for me its mostly a head game. Sure I can look at all of my morbidly obese relatives and think "Its all in genes, no wonder I am fat" but when I really think about all the food I ate that made me fat and the "all or nothing" attitude I have had for years, its all about making changes in my head and at 36 years old I am finally starting to realize that! SO...another temptation coming up...my husband has left town for the next 4 days in meetings. It will just be me and my kiddos. This USED to be the perfect time for me to cheat...no one I have to hide food from. I used to pig out on fast food and junk food when he would go away. This will be a real test. Already I am making plans with my bff (and my best eating buddy) to go out Sat night for dinner. I hope I continue to make good choices. Wish me luck!!!

What a great day Bonnie. What a great accomplishment. So much of this is about our thinking, not our eating. "As a man thinketh, so he is." I think my theory on my weight gain is right. I got up and peed a lot last night, and this morning I am down 3 pounds!!! That still puts me 2 pounds above my ticker weight, but man am I happy to see those scales going back down. I was beginning to freak out a little. When I gained a few pounds those fears of being obese forever crept back in. Suddenly I could see myself at 255 again, with little power to make good choices (the old me). Man the psychological realities of adjusting to not being obese.... I hope some day I don't fear "gaining it all back". Anyway, still working toward ketosis by morning!! Make it a great one everybody!!

I had a lot of problems with the band. It did get me to goal and then some. I worked really hard for my goal weight but after I hit goal I had complications and had to have it removed. I knew that removing my band meant weight gain so I revised to a sleeve for maintenance. I had esophageal spasms, esophageal motility issues, stoma spasms, reflux, periodic gastritis, port pain from rubbing against my jeans, etc. I finally threw in the towel and revised.

Way to go with moderate ketosis!! I am not doing ketone sicks yet, as I know I am not in ketosis yet. I had a much better day today. Not perfect, but I finally feel like I am getting my head back in this thing!! I am still up 5 pounds from what my ticker says, but I am a little encouraged tonight. You know this all started when I was sick and greatly increased my fluids. Well, I noticed tonight that I have pitting edema (swelling where when you push on your skin it leaves an indention) in my lower legs and ankles. So... my weight gain is most definately fluids. I am drinking lots of Water. Here my nursing diagnosis. I think when I had the virus I became a little dehydrated and then my body held on to fluids like crazy. Now that I am well I am expecting my body to figure it out anytime now and release the fluids that it has been holding on to. Sorry if that was too technical, but I am encouraged to think I have figured out what the deal it. (if I am even right??) Anyway, I am back in it!! You guys are the best. I agree with Mamato, it is sooo great to have a support system to go through this with!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

Hi to everyone tonight, Well Janet, today was weigh day and I am down exactly 2 lbs since last Wed. I'm HAPPY:thumbup:. Today I went to my sons house to have his cable installed. I had large cup of decaf coffee and then I had choc unjury drink for breakfast. Got home at lunch and had a half cup of cottage cheese and a small helping of applesauce. Went for a 1.2 mile walk, came home, did some laundry, soon it was time for supper, so I had 2 egg salad with a few crackers (soft ones.) Was full, so I went outside and worked in the garden for an hour. Plus I had about 3 bottles of water. I am like Jill and cathychatts. I am still on mushies for the rest of this week and next before solids and I am afraid to go to regular food, not for fear of weight gain but for fear of choking. I don't understand how everyone can eat salad but get stuck so easily on other things. I started to eat a half piece of bread today and I took two bites and got afraid so I threw it away. I just wanted to see if I really missed it or not. (NOT REALLY). Also I went to daily plate and tracked my meal yesterday, and I did very well except I had 49 grams of carbs, mostly coming from oatmeal. Now oatmeal is supposed to be good for you but what about the carbs. Next page for more Beckyo

Surely this must be the 9th circle of bandster hell!! I was banded a little over 3 months ago (13 weeks) and had my first SMALL fill 6 weeks ago. I have pretty much NO restriction and have 2 more weeks to go until my second fill. This day cannot come fast enough! I feel that overall, I am doing well. I've been working out 3-5 times a week, going to Weight Watchers religiously, and making good food choices, most of the time. But, inevitably, I have those days when I just want to eat everything. This week, I have had 3 of them, including today. Good times! I have had a ridiculous amount of food and am thinking about the next thing I am going to put in my mouth as we speak. Tomorrow, I will be disgusted with myself and go back to the gym and get on track, but it will probably take 2-3 days of working out just to offset today's munchfest. These are the days that have facilitated my colossal weight gain and these are the days I really need a working band!! I don't want to be able to eat this much and I don't want to feel hungry. I feel guilty because I know I am supposed to be eating small portions, and somedays, I'm just not. Deliberatley disobeying doctor's orders and maybe even putting my health at risk!! I assume that because everything goes down and I feel normal, I am okay. Could I be setting myself up for future problems by overeating?? I just want some restriction and I want this day to be over so I can start damage control tomorrow. Who still overeats after going through all the trouble of weight loss surgery?? Apparently, I do. :redface:

OMG yay you!!! Don't be sadden by the small weight gain you have done AMAZING!!!! I agree with maybe making some small goals so you don't feel stressed about the 30 pounds. I like to make my next goal hitting the next set of ten's as I go. If I get on the scale and It's 248 I say YES!! Now 239! Just get me to the next tens lol Also I know sometimes we get burned out on what we are eating. Get a great cook book or search out some recipes that are different and incorporate the foods you like to make something new. I find I cook more now that I am making better food choices and the family loves it too!!! (thumbs up) YOU ARE DOING AWESOME!!!

I felt the same way for about 5 weeks after surgery. Although my doctor gave very explicit instruction on food intake-clear liquids to full liquids to soft solids beginning the 6th week. Always eating proteins first. Crackers and peanut butter are big no no's even now. After week 5 I began to get my appetite back and made bad food choices resulting in a weight gain of 4lbs. I had a fill last week and feel restriction now. I have had some clear body signals if I eat too much too fast. I feel great this week and have started exercising everyday which was a real kickstart to serious weight loss. Good luck to you!

I just read on a pregnancy weight gain thread in the pregnancy forum that someone there had a failure of the iud and ended up preggers. I wouldn't think that being banded would have anything to do with the failure but I am curious. My TOM is a lot worse since being banded, even with control measures that usually made my period almost non-existant. It used to be a minuscule nuisance to being a huugggee problem now.

Gee I didn't have to give any pre-surgery weight history at all. I do think BCBS is a bit less strict. They want letters from your primary care doctor and from the surgeon stating why you need the surgery. I got my approval yesterday. I have gained weight since 1985. Up and down 50 lbs. here and there. I had early menopause and hypothyroidism that wasn't diagnosed for a few years. I gained a lot of weight then. Showing a weight gain shouldn't be that bad since your having the surgery because of that weight gain. A history and a letter from your doctors saying you have tried to lose weight and were unsuccessful over those 5 years should be all they need. Good luck everyone Having surgery August 7, 2008

I am sorry to hear what happened. I got my final insurance approval today. Surgery scheduled for August 7th. Spent most of yesterday having group sessions on what to expect before, during and after surgery including pre-surgery diet and what to eat after surgery. My hospital is very strict. It was explained that for this next month to lose as much weight as I can. No limit, just stick to good low carb low fat diet and before the surgery try the Protein drinks to see which one you like. The did stress NOT to gain any weight before surgery because it can effect whether you have surgery or not. They need room inside you to do the operation, they have to inflate your stomach cavity with air, to help move the various organs away from the stomach so they can put the band and port inside you. In particular the liver is in front of the stomach. They do NOT want a fatty liver or an over sized one due to weight gain. The first thing to gain weight is your liver. I never knew that. I am continuing on my low carb low fat diet now. Not easy but I will do it. I don't want to be on that operating table and them to say "opps, not now". I hope you can lose the 8 lbs. or even more before your surgery. It was mostly for the safety of YOU that he postponed the surgery. That's hard to understand. They should have stressed this pre operation. Did you have any meetings before the surgery that discussed just why you had to lose the pre-op weight?