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Post GS I went from 208 to 125lbs. I bounced between 125 to 128 was rarely hungry, could eat pretty much whatever I wanted. Three months ago I was diagnosed with pneumonia and prescribed prednisone and antibiotics. After 2 weeks was hospitalized for iv antibiotics and iv Solu-medrol followed by 3 more weeks of prednisone. I ballooned up to 147lbs and it’s been about 3 weeks since I stopped steroids. I am now hungry almost all of the time! I have cut down my caloric intake to a fraction of what I ate “pre-steroids.” Currently I weigh 139, it’s been a constant struggle, it’s like preGSV Did the steroids permanently screw up my system? Will I get my “system back” as it was before the steroids; if so how long will it take? Any suggestions? Or should I start saving $$$ for a revision? What scares and confuses me is I am actually eating LESS than I was before getting ill. The steroids slowed my metabolic rate.

I haven't had the sleeve yet, but I have gone from 330lbs. to 128 and kept it off for five years and regained it due to surgery, depression, sickness which caused me to quit working out, which caused more and more weight gain back to over 300 again. I now am waiting for the sleeve and have been working hard for over six months waiting for the day I get the sleeve. You gained 20 lbs. not 30, 40 or 50 or more. Just a mere 20. Try adding some Protein shakes in your day, one or two, then high protein dinner, low carb (don't drink for 30 minutes after eating). Go back to the beginning. Park your car a little further at the grocery store, take the stairs at work, instead of sitting and watching TV, stand and walk in place. We all know what it is like to gain 10-20 lbs back after dieting. If we can stop it then, we won't have to look back when it's 50 or 60 or 100 and it seems nearly impossible again. I wish you the best of luck and it's great to hear from someone that has been through it and what life is like down the road.

Hello. I have mercy care too and 35 bmi. I dont have comorbids, then I see they have depression. I probably have sleep apnea. What is the no weight rule? They have me on meds that cause weight gain (abilify then seroquel now geodon) If you gain weight, you get rejected?

Hi Amber: I've only been banded 2 1/2 years, but I can totally relate to some weight gain. I gained 20 pounds between April 2009 and November 2009. I got laid off and between the stress eating and the bored eating it all added up. The first ten pounds came on between April and September. I was really okay with those ten. The second ten came on in two months. I was not okay with the second ten pounds. I fessed up to my band surgeon. I didn't need a fill. I needed to be accountable to someone besides myself. I asked if I could go in for weekly weigh ins and that way I would have to face someone else. I usually go in and weigh in the day that the surgeons are in the o.r. so that I don't have to interfere with their patients' appointments. I just weigh in and they leave a note for my band doctor. He usually sends me an email later in the day. I've lost ten of those twenty pounds since November 19th. My biggest problem is night time grazing. I started going taking long baths with good books again. I also started going to bed earlier again. Between these three things I was able to lose ten pounds in just over a month. I'm giving myself the next month to lose ten more. I start a new job mid January. I hope that will help with my eating because I'll be alot busier. I knew that I didn't need a fill. I was grazing. If you don't need a fill, then you need to get back to the basics. Do you exercise? That will help to get you back on track too. Best wishes to you with your upcoming wedding. I'm sure you'll be a beautiful bride! By the way, I'm 5'7" too. I would be a wrinkly twig if I got down to the weight you are hoping to get down to. But, I'm also twice your age. I just want to be more comfortable in my clothes and get below 175 again. I'm very happy at a size 12. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Thanks for all of the replies. I am seeing a small weight gain. I think it might be that I am walking 2-3 miles per day and maybe i'm turning on some muscle growth. I am a big strong guy by nature and gain muscle weight real easy. I guess I just need to watch what I eat and keep walking.

My dr had a fit I went back on the pill right after surgery because it can cause blood clots and doesn't absorb right. The have a 3 month bc shot but it can cause weight gain ):

@@JamieLogical I believe none of us are exempt from weight gain. I have talked to my nurse from my surgeons office. Her opinion was patients that have gained weight may feel guilt or shame and don't report back on Dr's appointments or continue support. Being isolated most will have a substantial weight gain. I know my behaviors can slip back. Sometimes I need a reality check by the senior members. I also get inspiration from people that are currently dropping weight.

Hello everyone, I must admit, I've been evesdropping for weeks now, make that months....and finally a doctor in my area is starting to do Lap-Band. Guess who his first patient is.....that's right ME! The kicker is I get 2 doctors for the price of one, (a Lap-Band specialist is flying in from another city to assist), although, I think I'm PAYING for 10, LOL. Like I said I've been following all the band sites for a while, and I'm so excited. I won't even go into the I've been fighting weight all my life, bla bla bla. Thanks to everyone for all the insite, except for those few who scare me with their weight gain and pb's, lol....Wish me luck!

I have a question. I had surgery on Jan 21, 2008 in August I found out that I was pregnant and May 9, 2009 I delivered my beautiful baby girl. When I found out I was pregnant I got an unfill. My doctor wanted it all out. I did great the first couple of months with weight gain but I ended up gaining around 50lbs. I am going in for my first fill on June 24th and I am nervous about it. I am not sure what to expect. I haven't had any restriction in so long. How do I begin again? What should I eat? Any other advice? Thanks, Carrie

Just an update - in november i posted that my band got looser around the start of my pregnancy. Well not long after that - a few weeks - it got so tight i had to go for a partial unfill - i had a hard time getting small amounts of fluid down. I was more worried about staying hydrated than anything else. Anyway, it is now almost 7 months later, i havent been back for another unfill or fill, but I still have restriction, Just enough I think. However, some days are definately tighter than others, and mornings have always been tighter for me. One day I can manage to eat alot more than on other days. Very strange but it's been all good. My weight gain has been good, just enough, and baby is measuring normal and I feel good - havent had problems with blood pressure or gestational diabetes and I think chances are i would have if I had no restriction.

Hello everyone, My surgery is rearing it's head, coming up on March 24th so I thought I would give you some insight on my journey. Maybe you can relate, maybe not. If my story resonates with one person than I am glad I posted! I decided to look into weight loss surgery 2 1/2 years ago when I hit an all time high of 318lbs. After numerous failed attempts at weight watchers, hcg, medifast... you name it.. I knew something had to be done. I suffer from depression and PTSD. A huge part of my weight gain can be directly related to events in my childhood. I grew up in a well off family, I never starved or had to worry about not having food. It was one year after I was sexually abused by a family member (more than once) that I began noticing I was bigger than the other kids in my class. Prior to this I was modeling for ABC kids and teens and had a very supportive loving family who encouraged me to be who I wanted to be, my entire life my parents have supported me in every decision (lucky). I never said anything to my parents about being sexually abused because I thought it was my fault and I was embarrassed. I didn't want to hurt my parents or feel like I let them down. I struggled with this weight on my shoulders for about 15 years of my life until 2 years ago when I sought out therapy and someone to talk to. I didn't want to be on anti depressants any longer or anxiety medication because I didn't feel like I was living but merely existing. It was time I figured out a healthy way to cope. Through therapy I was able to come to a lot of realizations just by finally talking to someone about it and reflecting (as hard as that was). One of the realizations I had during therapy was that I was eating A] because I felt it was the only thing in my life I could control and B] because I was using my weight as a shield, as comfort, as protection. I thought if I was big people could not and would not want to abuse me. During my two years of therapy I got off of all of my medications, and gained more weight and hit an all time high of 343. Now I was eating for comfort because of all of these repressed memories I was dealing with and without medication. I was self-medicating with food. Once I had this realization I sought out to get educated on EVERYTHING I was putting into my body. All those words in the ingredients you cant pronounce, I looked them up and read how they affected my body and how my body breaks them down or doesn't. It is amazing how a little education and self discovery can shift your relationship with food! I have recently lost 45 lbs since I have changed my relationship with food. I can finally say I am at a place where I can now eat to live and not live to eat. I spent a lot of time working on me before I decided I was "ready" for WLS. Once I decided I was ready I attended several classes on mastering weight management. This is not something I have taken lightly as I really want to be a better person and live my life for me. This is my second chance at life, better yet the chance I felt was robbed from me. I wanted to be as emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared as I possibly could be before starting this new chapter in my journey, to ensure I would have nothing short of success on what I was about to set out to do. I know this was a long read so thank you to those of you who stuck with me here. P.S. I am so ready! :-D

Hi everyone, I'm not pregnant I'm on birth control. I'm being careful because they said wait 18 months. I'm worried about weight gained and post pregnancy weight loss. If you could educate me on your experiences (I'm a total planner). I am trying to swallow the thought of gaining weight. Both previous pregnancies were about 40lbs but I had gestational diabetes with both. And could not get pregnant because of fertility issues after my last, I have pcos, but I'm cycling every 28 days even without bc. Can you breast feed after? I did with my son and would love to do it again. Thanks for all your information and advice before hand. Sent from my EVO using VST

@meggie 111 You are not alone in having a gain. Your team is there to help. Give them a call. They will decide if a revision is right for you. A weight gain can be worked back down. I agree with @catwoman7 Get temptation food out of the house. Buy groceries that fit your eating plan, Log your food (stay within your weight loss calories, protein, carb, and fat goals) Find a way to manage stress/emotions without food. Keep healthy options for sweet and salty cravings on hand. Years out, I miss tight stomach restriction. Some things that help manage my hunger. I fill my extra sleeve space with low calories foods at each meal. I detox off real sugar and extra carbs. ( I'm not a carb aphobic) For my body to drop weight I stay in a carb range. low glycemic carbs work for me. Be consistent not perfect. Healthy is the goal, right? Many people on this site will help you get back on track.😀

Thank you for the support. I'd like to say I was only a size 2 for a few years, from childhood to age 25 I was always a big girl 180 lbs often called pork chop legs etc. It's devastating for me as I got a taste of what small feels like and losing it is crushing. I've done terrible things to my body such as the eca stack, topamax etc. I was on topamax for stress and I lost 60 lbs( I also ate low fat and exercised) but the medication I became stupid, i couldn't remember anything on topamax and couldn't function at work. I then had a ton of stress at work and of course food became I comfort. The hardest thing for me is knowing what it feels like to be small but being unable to get back there. I avoid seeing people I haven't seen since I was small as I feel so ashamed of my weight gain. Ive joined this board to learn a new way of life as my surgery is august 17th and regain my confidence. Lisa

OK, so I have this scale that likes to change its mind depending on which foot I use to step onto the scale. and I was thinking it's probably not that accurate anymore. So I ordered a nice new digital scale that was recommended for its accuracy, and it was just delivered today. Boo hoo! The new scale says I weigh nearly 3 lbs. more than my old scale! So now I am in the unenviable position of having to revise my weight upwards instead of downwards! I am SO bummed. Now let me ask, should I revise my starting weight upwards by the same amount I am increasing my current weight in order to be consistent or just leave the starting weight as-is and suck up the unexpected weight gain as a result of getting a new scale?

Well I am really bumbed. I was not going to share my problem I am having but decided I am bumbed enough about it I would go ahead. About a week and a half ago I started taking calcium because I was told to. Well, now I can't go to the bathroom, you know..... poop!!!!! And today I weighed in with a 1.2 lb weight gain. :frown: I am so depressed. It was my goal to never have a gainl. But they assured me that if I take the benifiber I will start going again. What a hassle. Well okay I was told in group today that for every negative I say about self I have to say a positive so, this week I am able to drop one of my blood pressure meds and my blood sugar is staying around 100-115. So there we go. Oh and I had a pair of shorts on for the first time in 2 years today. yeeha!!! Man are my legs white. I'll have to work on that.

I can always tell weight loss and weight gain in my pictures. You can really notice the loss in your pictures. WOW

So just got back from the Dr.'s office. Good news, 36# of weight loss since 09/19, start of my pre-op. #22 in two weeks. Bad news is, I don't have a hernia but I do have something called diastasis rect, or weakening and/or separation of the adominal muscles. It is not noticeable except for a small range of motion when getting out of bed, looks kind of like my belly is extended. Doc says it may go away with continued weight loss and was probably cause by rapid weight gain in the first place. Nothing serious, perhaps I shall give this thing living in my belly a name.....Alfred.

I agree with DL. About a month ago I started getting lax with logging my food intake. As I am a slave to the scale... yes I know you don't agree DL.. ha...I caught a 2 lb gain quickly. I vowed when I started this journey that it is much easier to lose under 5 lbs then 190 lbs. So, when I caught the weight gain.. I quickly got back to logging everything that goes in my mouth and upped my exercise. I was excited to see the weight come off with in 3 days. So am back to logging everything and exercising like a beast. We have come to far to see our efforts fail. Get back on the wagon and use any and every tool in your arsenal. Excuses are like butt holes ... everyones got one... only way to get it off is to be accountable!! You got this.

Hang in there, Shellyh You will be banded before you know it. A few months is a bummer, but a necessary wait. You want to be very healthy for the surgery! Don't put too much pressure on yourself about the weight gain, either...that's why we are all here :scared2:. If we could lose it (and keep it off!) on our own, we would not need the band. I have been bouncing around with a minimal loss before I start my pre-op next diet next week. I think mentally I know I'm going to be entering a new phase of life and I will enter it with a lot of help from the band, so I'm not beating myself up over not achieving a huge pre-surgery weightloss (like I imagined back in March). It's not a race, it's a journey. Best of luck to you!

Hello, everyone, I've been lurking on this board for a couple of years, now; going back and forth as to whether or not to have the lap band. After yet ANOTHER failed attempt at weight loss (60 lbs this last attempt...now on the weight gain upswing again), I've decided to bite the bullet. I need this surgery. Since I am now working as an independent contractor massage therapist, I no longer have health insurance. I won't have it until I get married to my fiancee next November. As it stands, I'll have to be self-pay. :drool: My question is this: I know this varies, but what are the surgeon's requirements when a patient is self-pay? Most of the frustrating requirements seem to be the doing of the health care providers. It seems that with the insurance companies out of the picture, the surgeons requirements are a bit more leanient. Those of you who are, or have been self-pay, what were the requirements of you respective surgeons? Also, as a self-pay patient, did you have to wait months for your surgery date? Thanks for any comments! -SL

Be careful with the weight gains my dr advised me the insurance can postpone surgery for weight gain. Idk how much or little so be careful.

@@woo woo Dr. Winslow is tightening me because I had some looseness. It is a revision. I have the incisions inside my ears and behind them. I don't know if I have a neck incision. We really destroy the quality of our skin with massive weight gain and loss. Plus I lost some weight after my face lift. All of it contributed to some loosening. It is wonderful of her to revise me for free. I know many doctors would say it is your own fault for losing weight, or would say that I look fine the way that I am.

Thanks ladies! Although i know my mirena has contributed to some of my weight gain (food started tasting really good after i got it--like REALLY good-lol), ive heard about the hormone issues. And even though its in a different location, you just never know. Plus i dont want any hinderances during my weight loss stage. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App