Search the Community

Hey has anyone ever heard about a link between coffee and weight gain or difficulty in weight loss? I'm gonna go google it right now but I heard from a friend of mine that there is a correlation. I think I'm going to stay away from coffee this week and see what that does to the scale. Gotta go get more water. I've got one liter down and two more to go...

Hi -- just wanted to say I had the same symptoms (vomiting at night without realizing it), but it wasn't like vomit, it was food that hadn't cleared the band. I had a barium swallow and Dr. Bagnato removed everything from the band (2 ccs), and said I had to come back for a egd (where they put the camera down your throat), and he said that if what he suspected was the problem (slippage), he would remove the band at the same time. I am so freaked out at the thought of losing my band. I had lost 40 pounds (20 prior, so 60 total), but since the band was unfilled, I have been eating stuff that I have missed -- salads, fruit, bread, and fibrous meats like chicken breast and steak... oh steak! I've gained back almost 20 pounds in 6 weeks!!! I'm afraid if I get the band taken out, I'm going to be back to where I was (282) shortly. I am already suffering from the weight gain (joints killing me, clothes getting tight). I know I have to get my mind back around this, and get focused on not eating things I shouldn't be eating, but I've always been an emotional eater, and between the open band and working 80 hours a week, I'm stuffing it down, and of course, it is almost all junk (whatever I can eat and work at the same time). Please keep me in your prayers!

I woke up this morning and noticed my face was so round. Well, I started reading the side effects of my medication that I'm taking and it turns out the big side effect if taken more than 14 days is weight gain! I'm on steroids, and have been on them since 1/17/08. So that explains the weight gain. Although I haven't made the right food choices, I was a little shocked that I had gained so much, because I never have in the past while not making the right food choices. So, I was a little depressed. Well this weekend I did really good with eating, and still gained another 3 lbs. Then I noticed my face looked distorted this morning. So I started researching the medication I'm on. Well, not only am I takig orally steroid, I'm also putting steroid drops in my eyes, so needless to say, its causing a weight gain. I should be off of it all by the end of this week. Scale this mornng was really ugly 186.2. I do think once I quit taking the steroids I will start losing. Okay menu today Bfast 1 egg 2 slices of turkey bacon Mid moring cup of coffee w/cream Lunch salad dressing on side Dinner ground hamburger salsa Exercise -

I woke up this morning and noticed my face was so round. Well, I started reading the side effects of my medication that I'm taking and it turns out the big side effect if taken more than 14 days is weight gain! I'm on steroids, and have been on them since 1/17/08. So that explains the weight gain. Although I haven't made the right food choices, I was a little shocked that I had gained so much, because I never have in the past while not making the right food choices. So, I was a little depressed. Well this weekend I did really good with eating, and still gained another 3 lbs. Then I noticed my face looked distorted this morning. So I started researching the medication I'm on. Well, not only am I takig orally steroid, I'm also putting steroid drops in my eyes, so needless to say, its causing a weight gain. I should be off of it all by the end of this week. Scale this mornng was really ugly 186.2. I do think once I quit taking the steroids I will start losing. Okay menu today Bfast 1 egg 2 slices of turkey bacon Mid moring cup of coffee w/cream Lunch salad dressing on side Dinner ground hamburger salsa Exercise -

I was reading my medicine I've been taking for my eyes - Most people only have to take it for 1 or 2 weeks, I've been having to take it for a month now. Anyhow, one of the side effects is WEIGHT GAIN! I noticed my face is very round this morning, and so I started reading the side effects and come to find out, I'm taking steroids. I didn't realize it was steroids, I thought I was just taking antiobotics. My eyes are healing, however, I am not at a crisp clear 20/20, and I'm just one of those slow healers, not sure if its because of my diabetes or what, but I always seem to take longer to heal. Anyhow, that helps to explain my dramatic weight gain I think. I am hoping to be off the steroids at the end of this week. I go see my eye doc on March 3rd, so I'm hoping she will take me off of them. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Have any of Doctors ruled out an ulcer? That would definitely cause you to be unable to eat, and if it is a bleeding ulcer, the blood loss would definitely make you weak and dizzy and if it is irritated, that could cause an infection (leading to the fever). If it happens after a fill, the irritation of having the band adjusted in a fill could trigger the ulcer to become inflamed. Vomiting would also irritate it. One other thing, when I was pregnant, I was highly anemic and got the "fade to black" thing when I stood up to fast or was too active. Have your Iron level checked. However, I don't think anemia can cause the other symtoms you are having, but you never know. If I were you I would march into my doctor's office and DEMAND that he find out what is wrong. At your age, there should be no reason why you have to feel like you do. Just to add, I read an article recently about sugar free gum and consumption of aspertame. Do you chew alot of sugar free gum, drink diet drinks or eat alot of food sweetened with aspertame? Apparently quite a few people have recently found to have a sort of allery of sensitivity to aspertame (which also goes by many other names). The sensitivity or reaction includes quite alot of the symptoms that you are having. You might want to look into it. There is also literature that aspartame sensitivity can be linked to depression. I found this on Diagnose-Me: Treatment: Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Avoidance - I noticed quite a few of the symptoms you mentioned here. Hope this helps. If you want to send me a PM, I will try to find that email that I had and send it to you as well. I apologize for the length of this. "Adverse effects reported from short-term and/or long-term use of Aspartame include: Seizures and convulsions, dizziness, tremors, migraines and severe headaches (triggered or caused by chronic intake), memory loss (common toxicity effect), slurring of speech, confusion, numbness or tingling of extremities, chronic fatigue, depression, insomnia, irritability, panic attacks (common aspartame toxicity reaction), marked personality changes, phobias, rapid heart beat (tachycardia - another frequent reaction), asthma, chest pains, hypertension (high blood pressure), nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, swallowing pain, itching, hives / urticaria, other allergic reactions, blood sugar control problems (e.g. hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia), menstrual cramps and other menstrual problems or changes, impotency and sexual problems, food cravings, weight gain, hair loss / baldness or thinning of hair, burning urination & other urination problems, excessive thirst or excessive hunger, bloating, edema (fluid retention), infection susceptibility, joint pain, brain cancer (in pre-approval studies on animals), death. Aspartame Disease may mimic symptoms of, or worsen: Fibromyalgia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, lupus, multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), diabetes and diabetic Complications, seizures, Alzheimer's disease, birth defects, chronic fatigue syndrome, lymphoma, Lyme's disease, attention deficit disorder (ADD and ADHD), panic disorder, depression and other psychological disorders."

TA: Several things come to mind from your posts. 1) Watch the sodium level in those power drinks. They can cause additional swelling which you really don't need right now. 2) I would suggest that you go back to your band surgeon for help if he is close by still, or the teaching hospital is a great idea. Even though the bariatric surgeon primarily does bands, he is still a surgeon and they are often the best ones to deal with your innards once you have the band because they know where they placed it and how to work around it if they have to go in. 3) I agree that you must be your own advocate. If you need help, take someone with you. Make a list of questions/statements that you have and make sure your friend has a copy to make sure you ask everything and get answers. They can also help record the answers that you get because sometimes we hear something that catches us off guard or gets our minds churning and we don't hear anything after that. 4) Flat out demand a complete GI series (upper and lower). You need to make sure that there are no ulcers, obstructions, etc. anywhere along the way. 5) Have your physician check your gall bladder, both for stones and for proper function. The heartburn, nausea, fever and resultant dehydration and weakness sounds very similar to what I had when I had stones and my gall bladder was extremely infected. Some people have pain in their back or stomach as well, but I never did. Things like cheese and milk made me really sick though. I still can't eat pizza and that was 15 years ago! Yo-yo weight gain/loss over many years or just weight loss is a major trigger for the creation of gall stones so it would make sense. Just my ten cents worth for the day. What ever you do, don't give up. Make the docs figure it out! I wish you luck!

I just recently told my mom, who thought it was a fantastic thing, and wants me to talk to my older brother about the Lapband for himself. I've not shared w/friends - only hubby (also banded w/me) and my younger brother know, and for as slow as the weight loss has been (which is fine w/me) I'm glad I've not shared just yet -... so not to get the "what did you loose so far" comments. I'm sure I'll evolve & let others know my process, but right now I'm kinda private (except here..LOL) about my WLS - as I was with my weight gain....Best to you~

My spouse is Army National Gaurd. We just got Tricare (the army health insurance) because we were told it covered Lap-Band. I went to my seminar today though and was told that they "cover" it but they pay "zero". I'm beyond stressed. I turn 29 this month and have been "obese" for the major part of the last 12 years. Yo-yoing up and down. My BMI is 38 so I was stressed enough about getting approved. Cause Tri-care says you have to be 100 pounds over and I'm 5'6 and 237 pounds.... I don't know if that's 100 over. It's 100 more than what I'd like to way but my healthy weight goes up to the 150's so that would mean I'd be in the 250, not the 230's. Weight gain has never been hard for me though and I can put on 15 pounds if I need to... I'm fighting to keep them off! But I must also have a health condition.... otherwise I must weight 350... which is goanna take longer! I do have on again off again hypertention. Usually it's just pre-hypertention... but I can stress myself and eat real bad and maybe shoot it up high enough to get approved.... though I could have a stroke too! I also have arthritis... but in my shoulder and they say it must be a "weight bearing joint" and at the time I don't walk on my hands... though if it means they pay the $17,400.00 for surgury and not me.... I could. I just have 3 kids and a spouse about to go to war. I want to stop this weight war and get control and get healthy. It just seems like the insurance company is out to kill me before they'll aprove me. I simply can't afford to finance this, it would break my family financially. That would be selfish of me. We only have one car and never get to go on vacations anywhere because we live so payday to payday.... now I'd have to ask my family to give up any and all fun we have money for (for several years) so I can get healthy and thinner. I just can't. Then today they say that they don't think Tricare will even cover it... ugh! Long story short, does anyone here have or know about Tricare. Do they pay zero on something they cover? Seriously? And do you know if I sound like I stand a chance of getting approved even if they do cover it?

Your EF is good so I don't think that would be an issue or contra-indication to getting approval for the surgery. Leg swelling and weight gain is not associated with colds but it is with CHF so you might want to check it out with your MD.

The program I am going through is pretty strict, but I was surprised the psych eval wasn't longer. The program coordinator sees you every 6 weeks and he is a psychologist. We already spent about an hour just talking about their program, what is expected of me, my medical history (uneventful), reasons for weight gain, history of weight loss, what my expectations are re: surgery, etc. I also did a quick fill in the circles thing. I've never had depression, bulimia, etc. (I can't make myself throwup if I try, which I told him). I don't drink or do drugs and never have. Food is my vice! Also, due to my profession, I am very good at "selling" myself. He gave me a list of everything I have to do before they schedule surgery, and other than "check in" meetings with him, there are no more psych eval. Maybe if they see certain things they dig deeper?

I found this interesting and thought I would share... Artificial Sweeteners Tied to Weight Gain AOL Posted: 2008-02-11 11:07:34 (Feb. 11) - If you're watching your weight, those no-calorie sweeteners could be doing more harm than good. A Purdue University study found that artificial sweeteners might actually foster weight gain by confusing the body in a way that makes it harder to burn calories. <!-- MOD: info_genericpromo - 312043 --> In the study, one group of rats were fed yogurt sweetened with glucose, a simple sugar with the same calories as table sugar. Another group received yogurt with saccharin. The saccharin group went on to consume more calories, gain more weight and put on more body fat. Other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K could have similar effects, the study said. The findings come on the heels of a separate study that linked diet soda consumption to an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome -- a combination of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes that include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and high blood pressure. When humans prepare to eat, their metabolism revs up and body temperature rises. The Purdue study found that the rats used to the saccharin had a smaller rise in body temperature after eating a sweet, high-calorie meal because their bodies were expecting fewer calories. Study authors Susan Swithers and Terry Davidson said they think this response both led to overeating and made it harder to burn off sweet-tasting calories. The research might explain why other studies about the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight have largely been inconclusive, Swithers said. It might also explain in part why obesity has risen in parallel with use of such sweeteners. People can still count calories to regulate intake and body weight, Swithers said, although she acknowledged that it requires more conscious effort than consuming inherently low-calorie foods. The findings were published the February issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association.

Welcome to my world as well ... 100% of my weight gain was caused by medications. I have been on almost every single medication in all classes - benzodiazepines, SSRI's, tricyclics, MAOI's, atypical antidepressants, antiepileptics. This is over a 12 year period. I have to take trazodone to sleep to keep my cycles in check (difficulty sleeping, I think too much and my brain gets really wired, that's why I was so great at my job in computer science, my brain would start whirring away). Anyways the trazodone causes me to eat when I'm half awake. Other meds caused massive sugar cravings. Thank god for the band as I would be gaining weight again. Other medications, like carbamazepine, caused me to completely lose all sensation of satiety and fullness. I ate, constantly, was obsessed with eating, could never get enough food, food felt SOOO GOOD. It was scary. I lasted a week on those and gained about 15 lbs. Have you purchased a SAD lamp? I bought mine from northerntechnologies.com (I think). They work great. Maybe we should have a section for those who suffer from these conditions...

Well, my name is Meggie. Im 21 years old, and I recently was banded on DEcember 10, 2007. My story isnt exceptional or sad, maybe it isnt even worthy, but its mine,and I have had quite a journey becoming the young woman I am today. I have had a weight problem since I was a child. My mom worked fulltime so frozen pizzas and processed french fries became a hot meal for me. I was very picky, and that was easy for her and tasteful to me. I grew up with the occasional teasing but nothing out of the ordinary. I always felt out of place;even with family. I was always the "fat" kid in my eyes. My family never saw me as that simply because they saw beyond my weight. They saw what I call the "internal me"--which is in fact a totally different person.-I was never pressured to lose weight or compared to my "model material" kid sister, and in fact, I have been my own worst critic all along. When I got to the seventh grade I decided to take control the only way I knew how; I became bulimic. Typically, bulimics are rail thin and look malnourished-but I never hit that point. The disease never got out of control-well I mean the idea is out of hand enough in itself-but it never got excessive.It was my last resort when food got the best of me.My mother sent me to counseling and there I was, 13 years old with "control" issues as the doctor would call them. I was always told how beautiful I was, and in fact, I was the popular kid in school; neverhteless, I still didnt like me. I went all through highschool with my weight issue and in my senior year my dream came true- I needed my tonsils out. I know, I know-silly dream huh? But, to me it was so much more than a painful surgery. It was a period of 2 weeks that I would lose weight. I did ofcourse-18 lbs to be exact, but it all came back on within a year. So, there I was 18- still struggling every day of my life with my worst enemy-my weight. I dropped some weight at almost 19 because I was going through a break up, and my "control issues" caught up with me yet again. That weight didnt stay off either. As you can see, I never succeeded in keeping it off. It haunted me and creeped up just when I thought I was winning. When I was 19 my 45 yr old father died of massive heartattack while watching the superbowl. A part of me slowly died that day simply because he was ultimately my biggest fan. I dont think my daddy ever saw my size. He didnt care-I was his baby girl no matter what anyone thought. He was the dad that yelled at other small-and I mean young and innocent--kids if they called me names. I wasnt fat, he said and he belived that. Its as if he saw my soul, and not the horrific body that held me hostage. I love him for that and I find myself still trying to see what he always did....Anyways so here I was almost 20 years old. I lost a few lbs after Daddy died because of a loss of appetite, but still nothing to brag about. In November of 2006 I found out I was pregnant. Ive never felt so overwhelmed in my life. While ofcourse I was scared and anxious to meet my beautiful baby boy, the sick part of me thought "hOw will I possibly deal with this weight gain." I know-that should have been the last thing I thought of, but I couldnt help it. The whole 40 weeks I ate like I was on a diet, with the occasional splurge of McDonalds, but for the most part I monitored. Thats insaine isnt it? Who wants to be pregnant and on a diet? The two words dont belong together. Well, needless to say thank god that I monitored considering that I still gained 60 pounds! After the baby I struggled with some deep depression about my weight. I was always crying, and it was the number one focus in my life aside from motherhood. I remember actually thinking" if I have to live like this, I dont want to live." Scary thought, I know-but it was real. In the meantime I had consulted with a plastic surgeon to give me a breast lift. I guess I was looking for anything on my body that I had the power to change when really I just wanted to be thin. I even cut 12 inches off of my hair thinking I was going to have a "new" me. Little did I know, I was far from being new and I was still overweight. By this point I was tired of fighting this battle. I couldnt win alone and that was definitly apparent to myself as well as my close family. So, on the day I was going to schedule my breast lift, I made a call to find out if I qualified for the lapband....well indeed I did-by the skin of my teeth, but it didnt matter. That day I think I found a hopeful part of me that I never knew existed. I connected with the little girl in me and let her know that we were finally going to be alright. I met with Dr Fritz Rau only a week later and immediatly felt a sense of protection and peace. He was wonderful, and assured me that I was in good hands. I soon went on my 2 week liquid diet and did very well. My mother wasnt completly supportive in the beginning but she knew that with or without an army of support, I was going to be banded on Dec 10, 2007. She came through for me, ofcourse, she always did. I got there early that morning and was prepped in no time. After a long wait of about 3 hours-it was my turn. Finally, the moment I had awaited since I was that little girl was actually happening. I almost couldnt bare all of the emotions because for the first time in my life, I felt like the real me was going to have a chance at shining. I came out only 35 minutes later, and everything had went fine. I had alot of pain from the trapped air, but otherwise I was okay. I was already a new woman mentally. I went home the next day, and within a week was taking care of my son. I have had 3 fills so far and am down 25 pounds. My loss has been gradual, but thats okay now because I know it will melt off soon. So, as you can see, I have had an interesting travel to get to where I am today, and to Dr Fritz I owe my happiness. The man has changed my life, and because of him I will be the girl that I was destined to be. Nothing, not even weight, can hold me back now. God Bless all of you- may you all find that inner self who screams to be heard.

Well, my name is Meggie. Im 21 years old, and I recently was banded on DEcember 10, 2007. My story isnt exceptional or sad, maybe it isnt even worthy, but its mine,and I have had quite a journey becoming the young woman I am today. I have had a weight problem since I was a child. My mom worked fulltime so frozen pizzas and processed french fries became a hot meal for me. I was very picky, and that was easy for her and tasteful to me. I grew up with the occasional teasing but nothing out of the ordinary. I always felt out of place;even with family. I was always the "fat" kid in my eyes. My family never saw me as that simply because they saw beyond my weight. They saw what I call the "internal me"--which is in fact a totally different person.-I was never pressured to lose weight or compared to my "model material" kid sister, and in fact, I have been my own worst critic all along. When I got to the seventh grade I decided to take control the only way I knew how; I became bulimic. Typically, bulimics are rail thin and look malnourished-but I never hit that point. The disease never got out of control-well I mean the idea is out of hand enough in itself-but it never got excessive.It was my last resort when food got the best of me.My mother sent me to counseling and there I was, 13 years old with "control" issues as the doctor would call them. I was always told how beautiful I was, and in fact, I was the popular kid in school; neverhteless, I still didnt like me. I went all through highschool with my weight issue and in my senior year my dream came true- I needed my tonsils out. I know, I know-silly dream huh? But, to me it was so much more than a painful surgery. It was a period of 2 weeks that I would lose weight. I did ofcourse-18 lbs to be exact, but it all came back on within a year. So, there I was 18- still struggling every day of my life with my worst enemy-my weight. I dropped some weight at almost 19 because I was going through a break up, and my "control issues" caught up with me yet again. That weight didnt stay off either. As you can see, I never succeeded in keeping it off. It haunted me and creeped up just when I thought I was winning. When I was 19 my 45 yr old father died of massive heartattack while watching the superbowl. A part of me slowly died that day simply because he was ultimately my biggest fan. I dont think my daddy ever saw my size. He didnt care-I was his baby girl no matter what anyone thought. He was the dad that yelled at other small-and I mean young and innocent--kids if they called me names. I wasnt fat, he said and he belived that. Its as if he saw my soul, and not the horrific body that held me hostage. I love him for that and I find myself still trying to see what he always did....Anyways so here I was almost 20 years old. I lost a few lbs after Daddy died because of a loss of appetite, but still nothing to brag about. In November of 2006 I found out I was pregnant. Ive never felt so overwhelmed in my life. While ofcourse I was scared and anxious to meet my beautiful baby boy, the sick part of me thought "hOw will I possibly deal with this weight gain." I know-that should have been the last thing I thought of, but I couldnt help it. The whole 40 weeks I ate like I was on a diet, with the occasional splurge of McDonalds, but for the most part I monitored. Thats insaine isnt it? Who wants to be pregnant and on a diet? The two words dont belong together. Well, needless to say thank god that I monitored considering that I still gained 60 pounds! After the baby I struggled with some deep depression about my weight. I was always crying, and it was the number one focus in my life aside from motherhood. I remember actually thinking" if I have to live like this, I dont want to live." Scary thought, I know-but it was real. In the meantime I had consulted with a plastic surgeon to give me a breast lift. I guess I was looking for anything on my body that I had the power to change when really I just wanted to be thin. I even cut 12 inches off of my hair thinking I was going to have a "new" me. Little did I know, I was far from being new and I was still overweight. By this point I was tired of fighting this battle. I couldnt win alone and that was definitly apparent to myself as well as my close family. So, on the day I was going to schedule my breast lift, I made a call to find out if I qualified for the lapband....well indeed I did-by the skin of my teeth, but it didnt matter. That day I think I found a hopeful part of me that I never knew existed. I connected with the little girl in me and let her know that we were finally going to be alright. I met with Dr Fritz Rau only a week later and immediatly felt a sense of protection and peace. He was wonderful, and assured me that I was in good hands. I soon went on my 2 week liquid diet and did very well. My mother wasnt completly supportive in the beginning but she knew that with or without an army of support, I was going to be banded on Dec 10, 2007. She came through for me, ofcourse, she always did. I got there early that morning and was prepped in no time. After a long wait of about 3 hours-it was my turn. Finally, the moment I had awaited since I was that little girl was actually happening. I almost couldnt bare all of the emotions because for the first time in my life, I felt like the real me was going to have a chance at shining. I came out only 35 minutes later, and everything had went fine. I had alot of pain from the trapped air, but otherwise I was okay. I was already a new woman mentally. I went home the next day, and within a week was taking care of my son. I have had 3 fills so far and am down 25 pounds. My loss has been gradual, but thats okay now because I know it will melt off soon. So, as you can see, I have had an interesting travel to get to where I am today, and to Dr Fritz I owe my happiness. The man has changed my life, and because of him I will be the girl that I was destined to be. Nothing, not even weight, can hold me back now. God Bless all of you- may you all find that inner self who screams to be heard.

Oh I hear you, I would definitely opt to have preventive surgery. I'm 46 now and I don't think I would do reconstruction, but at 25, I think I'd give it a shot.. I know what you mean about the weight.... prosthesis are easier to manage with the weight gain or loss for sure...

I'd like to add that on my 50th birthday October 8th I weighed 181 pounds bringing my total weight loss to 50 pounds. It was the next two months that brought me along the roller-coaster of weight gain. I had my band opened in November and filled in January. It was during the time my band was opened when the gas went away. January 12th I had the new fill and 4 weeks later I had all the Fluid taken out. It was this time I realized that I was not belching all those months. I just hadn't thought about it until the fluid was taken out this last time. Now i was belching and passing gas normally. My advice to anyone having problems, don't be afraid to have the fluid taken out of your band, even if it backs you up a few months. It's worth it to rule out any issues you may be having with the band. If your problems go away when the band is open and they come back when you are tight then it has to be the band....

Hey everyone! I haven't had internet access for a few days and it's been killing me! LOL! Everything here is going good. All is well with the pregnancy so far. I am starting to feel my band tighten up at times, so I'm sure another unfill is looming in the near future. I still haven't gained anything yet. I'm a little ashamed to admit I am absolutely terrified of gaining back everything I lost over the past year. I'm hoping to keep my pregnancy weight gain to under 20lbs, which should be fine since I still weight 235! I haven't really discussed it with my OB yet, so I'm curious to what she'll have to say. The good thing is, now that the tiredness is starting to wear off, I've actually been feeling like exercising. I got some Leslie Sansone tapes from my mom, and I'm going to try them out 3 days a week. I'm restricted to walking for exercise, so I figured the Leslie Sansone workouts would be sufficiently low-impact. It's too damn crappy to go walk outside, and it's too frigid to walk on my basement treadmill. I can't wait for spring! Tonya - yes I'm taking my vits! I even got my OB to give me chewable prenatals! BGB - good to see you back here! Lynn - can't wait to hear about surgery. Sending thoughts and prayers your way!

Thanks so much! Had a really rough night last night and just confirmed - Can't live like this. I am gonna call the doctor (sorta locally - 2 1/2 hours away) and see if he can't get me in soon. What really scares me is 1st: getting a complete unfill and possibly gaining weight and 2nd: having the band completely removed (even temporarily) until any slippage can be "fixed" and the weight gain. This has become my lifesaver and the thought of not having it leaves me insanely panicked!! I would rather give up an arm than gain my weight back. Does anyone know, if it is slippage, does that always need to be removed and replaced? This sounds dumb but can't it laproscopicly be repositioned? Scared - Jody:scared2:

Hey Amanda, My name is Lana and I am on my way to being banded, just waiting for auth. This board is a great forum for your questions, insecurities etc. I guess there is no 100 percent guarantee with anything, but as you read there has been a lot of success with the band and from what I understand it absolutly will not work if you don't work it. As long as you don't try to sabotage yourself then it will work. As far as getting into debt I would make sure it's a payment you can live with or now may just not be the time. Stress is a huge cause of weight gain... If the main person who is supposed to support you becomes resentful because your now in debt, then it really won't be worth it...I wish you so much love and luck. Always Lana

Awww...we all do it! I just think it is a bit of the "old me" popping up. The one that got me to my pre-op weight in the first place. Even though the band is a great tool to help us physically change our bodies, sometimes I think our minds lag behind. I know that in my case, my weight gain was very much psychological. I ate to soothe many negative feelings....anxiety, stress, sadness, crankiness, exhaustion, disappointment, etc. Now that we don't turn to food anymore, those thoughts just pop up sometimes. Hopefully, the positive changes in our minds will soon catch up to the positive changes in our bodies. In the meantime, keep busy with activities that make you feel good....exercise, a mani and pedi, a nice warm bath, or playing with your pets...whatever! Just find something to occupy your mind when those pesky negative thoughts pop in!

Just checking in after waaaay too long. I am so glad to hear about how most of you are doing really well and that the rest are getting in there are handling their problems! Speaking of problems, I've had some of my own. You might remember how I was having bleeding problems and got put on hormones that caused weight gain. Well, finally had surgery to correct that problem (yea!) but I am 14 pounds heavier and ready to get back on track. It's very hard to get my 'head wants to eat even if I am not hungry' under control. I've decided to return to the beginning...just doing Protein drinks for a couple days and then gradually add back the protein. I found it was too easy to let my hormone hell take control and I'd find myself buying ice cream or 'just eat a little'...all day long. Now that I have confessed :thumbup: I feel much better and will be checking in to keep myself in line. Janey

Have you seen your doctor lately? I would think heartburn that bad would require an unfill. I've been unfilled for nearly half of my journey due to being too tight, a slip, etc. I was still able to reach goal and have maintained(so far!) for 3 months. You may just want a slight unfill, not a total unfill, but I would definitely check with the doctor. You don't want to make things worse. Don't be afraid of weight gain. You may just need an unfill for a few weeks to heal/rest and then get some fill back to maintain. Congrats on the great weight loss and maintaining it for so long! That is what we all hope for and you've done it!

Julie: Thanks for letting us hear from you. I have been on antidepressants off and on through the years and when you need them you need. My internists actually recommend them at my last visit because I have so much anxiety right now. I think it's temporary due to my upcoming PS and DD's wedding in May. It really scares me to think about going back on anti-depressants because of weight gain. How has your experience been with this aspect of it? Take care!

I was scheduled for plastic surgery last week, but had to postpone. Now, I'm questioning my decision to have surgery, mainly because I'm worried about gaining weight during recuperation because of inactivity and boredom, and I'm worried about getting off track with exercise, which is a huge priority for me. Can those of you who've gone through this already please share your experiences regarding weight gain (or loss) following plastics? Thanks! The choices I'm listing in the poll are: **I lost weight following plastic surgery. **I temporarily gained weight due to swelling, but lost it within 2-3 months after surgery. **I gained weight after surgery, and I'm still struggling to get it back off, but it was still worth it. **If I had to do it over, I'd skip plastics because of the re-gain. **Other (please explain) Edit to add: forgot to allow for a "have not had plastics" option. Please select "Other", if you'd like to participate in the poll, but have not had plastics. Thanks for your help with this poll! Tami