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I had my first fill 4-16-10 and could be more happier with the process! I thought it would be a bit painful due to my port site still being a bit sore. But nope PAINLESS and that's always a plus and it was performed using xray (do think I'll have it done any other way). My friend said "No pain no gain (weight gain that is!)

I asked about DEPO when I had to stop the Estrogen based pill and my GYNO said it tends to cause weight gain and recommended against it since I was having WLS. She didn't want it to effect things. How did you do? Did it seem to effect you at all?

WOW! Congratulations Jaime!! Lose weight, gain a baby....should be interesting times for you! Mom - are you planning on a tummy tuck? I would love to have one, but as I am still paying off this surgery, another one isn't in the cards for me. It's a glorious Tuesday morning - sun is shining, weather is uncharacteristically balmy, and I'm just feeling pumped today...gotta enjoy it all!

My surgery date is Dec 6th. I am so very excited but nervous about only this... I had a radical full hysterectomy 10yrs ago at the age of 30. At that point I had lost 70lbs but gained it all back plus due to my hysterectomy and complications. Since that point I have struggled with my weight. Gaining and losing the same 15-20 but never getting bigger than that and not getting smaller. So my question is has anyone else had a similar struggle then had the sleeve and lost the weight? Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Good morning, I wanted to take time to update everyone on my progress thus far and to share a bit of my experience following my surgery. I attempted to post this a few days after my surgery and forgot to save as I went along and lost everything. This time, I've learned. I'll start with the day before surgery. My boyfriend had been off work for the past three weeks and had to return to work on the 3rd, so I knew in advance that he would not be able to take me to the hospital that morning. I thought I had secured a ride to the hospital with one of the members of the support group I'm in but after not hearing from him I had to be pissed and mess up my chi (smile) or make other arrangements. I secured a car service to drive me to the hospital. I woke up on the 3rd in a good place, mentally and spiritually. I was overly concerned with what I was about to do, because for almost a year I had been preparing and prayparing for this time. Upon arrival at the hospital, I went through the admittance procedures. I was informed that they needed a urine sample (code for pregnancy test) and to draw blood (I hate needles). Once I completed those procedures I went to the waiting room. Within 20 minutes I was called to the back. I have to tell you I had the nicest surgical prep nurse ever. Her name is Bella and she took time to explain things to me as she went along which helped calm my nerves. Bella even mentioned the fact that I was a "pleasant patient to work with". At weigh-in I was 232lbs. This showed a 5 pound weight gain since my last pre-op visit with my doctor. I asked Bella if I could remove my shoes and the other extra clothes I had on. She re-weighed me and just by removing those items I weighed 229 1/2. I know weight can fluctuate a few pounds given the time of day etc, so I didn't worry so much about the extra two pounds. Once I got changed into my hospital gown, the doctors and technicians entering my room seemed unending. When Dr. Forrester arrived he asked me, "What are we here for today"? to which I replied, "to change my life". IV intact, I was ready to be wheeled into the operating room. I remember praying for myself and for my surgical team. Once I was inside the operating room, all I remember hearing was "sweetie, take two deep breaths" and that's all she wrote. When I woke up I was in recovery and my boyfriend was standing beside my bed talking with the doctor. I had no concept of time. Later I learned I had been in recovery since approximately 12:15 P.M. because my fluid levels were low and they were trying to get them stabilized. Once this happened I was ready to go to my room, but then I had to wait until they got it together as other bariatric patients were discharged and they had to wait for a room to be cleaned. I finally made it to my room about 9:30 P.M. and I was exhausted. I went to sleep and around 12:30, the nurse came in and told me I needed to walk a bit. I didn't complain and although I would have much rather slept, I got up and walked with her as instructed. At this point, I still have in the catheter and loved it. Not having to get up to go the bathroom was wonderful. I cannot say this is the case the next day when they removed my portable potty. I could not stop going to the bathroom. I knew it was because of the amount of fluids I got in recovery. A few times I almost had an accident, but was able to make it. Just had to time it right. Day one following surgery is when they bought me chicken broth, an 8 oz bottle of water, jello, and crystal light. I managed to take a few sips of the chicken broth, a few bites of jello and maybe one sip of water. I did keep the water on my tray and promised myself I 'd get to it later in the day. Lunch came with the same foods with the exception of beef broth instead of chicken. Didn't even attempt to sip any of that (not a big eater of beef or pork anymore). My visit by the doctor went well. He looked at my incisions ad said things looked good and that I would be discharged on Wednesday. The next day I was excited to get up and go home. When the covering doctor came in to remove my port, he asked why I had so many bottles of water (3 1/2) on my stand. I told him the water hurts to drink. He said if I did not drink the water I might not be able to go home, so start to sip I did. I managed to drink 16 1/2 oz of the 24 I needed to drink. I put the last bottle in my bag and took it home promising myself I would drink it later. That was January 5, 2011. I can say that while setting here typing I just downed my first 16 oz of water this morning and I feel great. In a few days I will graduate to soft foods and will see how that goes. I am so happy with the way things have progressed. For anyone that has not had the surgery, I know you may be second guessing yourself about the decision to take such drastic measures to make a change, but for me, it's worth it. Since my surgery, I have not had any pain medication (thank you) and I learned the more I chew and sip the easier it is to get foods down. If you have not already done so buy some sugar free popsicles. They helped me greatly. As you embark up on this journey know that you are not alone. In loss and love Theresa

I’m looking for experiences of people who have needed to be on depression meds and have still been able to maintain weight loss. I feel best when I am on SSRI meds but the weight gain was always a side effect. I would like to believe that maybe after my surgery this will be a more manageable situation. Was anyone on meds before surgery and still had success? I imagine it would be slower weight loss? Thx for any input.

Hi I'm in the same situation. Weight gain Gerd. So I understand the why to some of my own questions, after I had Test done. Now I am looking into revision to. Not sure. Good luck Lisa

Is there anybody out there had a lapband fitted with a BMI under 35? Mine is just over 30 and I feel a bit of a fraud when everybody out there seems to be struggling with bigger weight loss issues. I DO have health problems exacerbated by weight gain and my mind is made up and surgery booked for next month. Anybody else out there in a similar position?

When you look in the mirror SAY hi to the NEW YOU and keep encouraging yourself to continue on the successful path you have chosen. It does take time for our brains to catch up with our bodies. You have to remember that your weight gain came over a long period of time and now you are losing it rather rapidly and getting our minds to wrap around that is a challenge. Just like you made the choice to take control of your life and live a better quality, you too can work on changing your mental state. I use positive affirmations to encourage myself. I use post it notes and put them where I will see them; the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator door, near where I sit. Right now I am struggling with drinking my Water. I use to drink close to a gallon of water a day and now I am lucky I get in a couple glasses. SO on in my kitchen by the sink faucet I put a note "DID YOU DRINK YOUR WATER TODAY??" You and I can do this and enjoy the NEW US. It is a NEW YEAR and I wish you the best of success! SMILE and keep positive!!

since my december 3 surgery. i was doing great. lost almost 30 lbs including the weightloss from the pre-op diet. then...the holidays hit. i was finally able to eat normal food but it had to be on the softer side. anyways, i have gained almost 6 lbs. i don't feel the full feeling like i did a few weeks ago after surgery. i know its because my stomach isn't swollen from surgery anymore and that i transitioned out of a liquid diet but i just need assurance that it will not be like this after i get my fills. it scares me that i can eat so much without feeling "like i just ate a thanksgiving dinner"..as my clinic told me how i would feel after eating. anyways, this small weight gain has really put a damper on my journey and i feel completely guilty for it. any input helps. thanks!

In addition to other posts above, you may also want to look for water retention as a cause for weight gain. If so, review the sodium levels in you food choices. You are eating a fair amount of food for your time out from surgery. I remember only eating shakes for a month after surgery (2-3 ounces every hour). Once I got solids, it was tough to get more than an ounce of protein like pork, chicken or beef. Salmon was easier. I ended up only having 300-600 calories a day until month 3.

Hazel...I totally AGREE, one can't expect to eat 3-4 oz of food FOREVER, it's just not doable nor is it healthy long term. Remember these posters that are DISAGREEING...are only 1-2 years post op and their metabolisms has not REALLY regulated at this point, so anyone who gets their bands emptied in the 1-2 year can easily "diet" and exercise to keep their weight off. A damaged metabolism really don't happen until a few years later, but again everyone is different and have different body makeups. However...like I said BEFORE...everyone that I've known -- and I've followed thousands lap banders over 8 years have regained weight when they got their bands emptied...some were able to keep weight off after band removal for a year...but MOST gained their weight back if they did not have a band or "restriction" longer than 1-2 years. Here is cited material on Weight gain, and Pouch dilatation with both RNY and the lap band after a few years post op. http://jcem.endojour...91/11/4223.full Mechanisms for Weight Regain One possible mechanism for weight regain seen after 1 yr is increase in energy intake. Sjostromet al. (11) reported daily intakes of about 2900, 1500, 1700, 1800, 1900, and 2000 kcal/d, respectively, at baseline and 6 months, 12 months, 2 yr, 3 yr, and 4–10 yr after surgery. The role of energy intake in weight regain may be greater than that observed because subjects tend to overadhere to their dietary recommendations on the day that the diet is assessed (25). Late pouch dilatation has been reported in patients who undergo laparoscopic Gastric Band surgery (28) and is the leading indication for conversion of GB to a RYGB (29) but is seen less frequently after RYGB surgery (30). Revision surgery to correct these changes leads to improved weight loss (28, 29). However, these complications have been described in only a handful of patients, implying that other factors may be involved in modulating weight regain after bariatric surgery. Regular physical activity is an important factor in weight loss maintenance (31). According to one survey in RYGB patients with a mean follow-up of 7 yr, successful patients (those who maintained at least 74% of their initial weight loss) exercised regularly (no details given) (32). In the prospective study by Sjostrom et al. (11), the approximate proportion of bariatric surgery patients who reported being active at work changed from 70% at baseline to 90% at yr 1 and 80% at yr 10. The proportion of patients who were active during leisure time was 55, 90, and 80%, respectively. The difference in the proportion active at work and during leisure time between the surgery patients and controls was narrower at 10 yr than at 1 yr. This may explain some of the observed weight regain seen in the surgery patients. Also physical activity may be overreported and thus needs to be assessed objectively. Whether increased physical activity in bariatric surgery patients is effective in weight loss maintenance remains to be proven by randomized trials.

Congratulations on your weight loss! I am so sorry you are unhappy with your weight gain and hope you find a workable solution. Are you still tracking your food, especially your Protein? Have you talked with your NUT lately? I hope the porch test works for you (even though you have a sleeve and not a pouch) but would think that going back to basics would help. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Best of luck.

1.5 pounds is not too shabby for a weeklong vacation. Just think of how much u would've gained had u not been sleeved. I have found that little weight gains come off quickly once I focus on eating right, getting my Water, and working out. It'll come off don't worry. Please don't let a 1.5 gain cloud over the greatness of a cruise. Sent from my iPhone using VST

i would call ur doctor u need to get unfilled alittle bit! PB is productive burp..slime is what comes up when u get stuck (saliva)..sweet spot is when ur fill is perfect and ur consistantly losing weight (usually takes 3 or more fills) depending on the person...usually when u get a fill ur supposed to give it a week or two to feel restriction u are 2 tight it can result in weight gain or not losing weight..call ur doctor he needs to take a little bit..good luck

Congratulations! I hope you have a very wonderful, low weight gain pregnancy. You're in my prayers...

You probably let those sneaky carbs back in. Give them the boot! You might want to redo a 2 week pre-op diet. I have been in a similar situation, no weight gain but louse eating.

Maybe you just need to change your frame of mind about the scale. I decided early on in this journey that once I hit a lower number than I'd seen before on the scale, then I would 'claim it'. By that, I mean I update my ticker, my blog, and that is the number I tell people when they ask me how much I lost. If I see a higher number come up later, I don't 'claim it'... don't update my ticker, my blog, etc. I just tell myself it is a fluctuation (because it is). I have no reason to believe that w/this band any weight gain is going to become a trend. Now, maybe if it kept going up, I'd have to change my way of thinking. But, so far, every little up has only stayed a little up for a short time. Hang in there! You are doing awesome!!! :->

My insurance required proof that my BMI was over 40 for 5 consecutive years. A short term weight gain would have done me no good...

@btlombardo68...I have not cried yet, just frustrated sometimes that I have done this to myself and need surgery to correct. Not that I think I did this purposely, but having babies, SSRI's (weight gain side affect noted and used), and menopause, have made me quite the plumpkin! I think it's normal to have emotional rollerecoaster feelings over this, but if you go to support group and listen to the stories from the veterans,...It's going to all be okay and you will more than likely be saying you wished you had done it sooner! I'm keeping busy and refuse to allow my head to take in any negative thoughts. If I have any doubts creep in (and they do) I look into the future and what I want for me going forward after surgery. I want to fit in regular clothes. I want to take better care of my health (55+ and don't like the idea of diabetes, stroke, and electric carts at walmart!) I want to feel like a human being and be treated that way. Try to focus on the outcome of the surgery and you will be on the other side with me counting the pounds we lost. Good luck to you!

so sorry you are dealing with this.. I always get my fills done under fluoroscope so they can see whats going on with my band.. I had been told the same thing in September and at that time I actually was going on a long trip and had signs that I was actually overfilled.. In September I opted to take out all of my liquid out of the band and had every intention of going back and having everything checked out and seeing the dr.. well things happened and I didnt.. then I started gaining a little weight.. since September I gained about 20 pounds or so and with the weight gain I was afraid of going back quite honestly.. I was afraid of what they would tell me and was afraid that I would have to go back in and have surgery.. Well I finally bit the bullet and went back last week... my band has gone back pretty much to where it needed to be and I dont need to have any corrections.. I was able to get 3 cc's in my band and Im excited to be back on track.. Ive had enough of a scare to do what they tell me to I cant imagine 30 days either, but you can do it!! Keep your chin up.. just think how you'll feel at the end of those 30 days when you get the thumbs up..

I hate posting this post, but I need some help. I had my last fill at the end of September. As a result of my fill I lost 12 pounds in two months! During December I cheated like crazy. Don't pound on me, as I have beaten myself up, and continue to do so. I was able to eat, eat, and eat. I didn't seem to get full. I thought what the hell-let's just have a great time. Well to make a long story short I gained 5 pounds. OUCH. I did earn those pounds honestly. (Tip: Do not bake 50 dozen cookies, and only give away 40 dozen. Enough said.) Sometimes I was able to eat eight at a time, but even then I didn't get full. I figured it was Christmas. (Not a good excuse!) I did keep exercising, which is the only thing that saved me from gaining a lot more weight. I was recently put on medication that causes cravings for carbs, and therefore causes weight gain. (No excuse.) I have also had a extremely stressful season. FAMILY- enough said. Also I was diagnosed with epilepsy- hence the medication. I called my doctor at the beginning of December, because I could feel that I was able to eat more; but because of the holidays the earliest I could get an appointment was January 15th. My issue I have now is that I feel really bad that I cheated over the holidays. I feel guilt that I have gained 5 pounds. I am wondering if I deserve a fill. I understand that we bandsters have to be responsible with our food, and the band is a tool, and just a tool. I feel that I wasted a whole month- I feel that I didn't respect myself or my band by chowing down during Christmas. I am trying to slim down and I am using my bodybugg. My calorie count is still high. I have cut sugar, and bad-for-me carbs. I am not eating out. Having said that it is 2 in the morning and I woke up starving. In one hour I was able to eat: (I did wait 15 minutes before I ate the next meal, but I was still hungry.) 2 servings of cheerio’s and 1/4 cup of milk 1 Quaker granola bar 1 sugar free hot chocolate 10 crackers with peanut butter (So much for bad-for-me carbs, and sugars.) I am finally full. (Please don't lecture me on my food choices. I just put them out there to show you the quantity I am able to eat.) My concern is that I feel that I don't deserve the fill. I fill like a failure. I have been banded since October, 2007, and I lost 75 pounds- well now 70 pounds. My question is should I go to my doctor's on Jan 15th for a fill? Or should I try and lose the weight on my own? Has this happened to anyone else? What did you do? Would you go for a fill if you were in my shoes? (This is the first time I have gained weight with my band.)

thank you guys. i haven't had my first doctor's appointment yet, but i did ask my band doc. they said they used to unfill for every pregnancy and the women would gain 100 lbs. being obese, my ideal weight gain is 15 lbs. so, i'm going to try to stick with thtat. i think i've been preg for at least the past month and i've lost 20 lbs. i've read that you need to eat 2200 calories when pregnant. i can't wait to meet with my ob/gyn to find out minimum calorie requirements and Protein requirement. i know that the baby takes it from the mother, but it still worries me. my first son is 7 now, but i didn't know that i was pregnant until i was 4 months (i didn't have periods then, and i didn't have them this time either..crazy huh?) well, i was struggling with anorexia again, so i wasn't eating then either. when i got pregnant i was fine with eating, but i only gained the recommended weight (i was not heavy then). my baby turned out healthy-ish too. he was jaundice really bad and got down to 3 lbs, but they never said that was due to early diet. my band doc called last night and told me to do what i can to avoid throwing up. so, i'm sticking with Protein drinks and solid Proteins in the evening for now. hopefully i'll be getting enough nutrients and Vitamins from my prenatal.

I agree. I have hypothroidism. Low thyroid hormones which makes your TSH levels high. Synthoid is a synthetic hormone to replace what your body isn't making. Weight gain is just one of the symptoms.

Living in fear of anything will keep you from enjoying this journey and life. You are not on a diet anymore. You are creating a new way of life that includes new eating, drinking, and the physical and mental changes that happen also. Follow your plan and don't hesitate to reach out to your team if you have questions about what and how much you can eat. I do think most of us have a hard time seeing our own changes. That goes for weightloss and weight gain. It takes time so don't be so hard on yourself!