Search the Community

Hi fellow N.C.ers! I've got so many questions my head is spinning. I'm trying to weigh all my options. I'm in process of getting a job as a state employee and hopefully it will be soon. I am currently being tested and having physicals required for the job process. So although it looks like the job is in the bag, I'm not on the payroll yet. Before all this came about, I was contemplating going to Mexico for the surgery.Now that this job is on the horizon, I may take the insurance route. The only thing about that is the anexiety of all I may have to go through with the ins. co. : diet documentation, testing etc. I've read so many post from people that have problems and delays from ins, so much so that it makes the Mexico deal seem more appealing. However, if I go with the Mexico, then theres the aftercare delimas. Bottom line is I'm as ready as I'll ever be physically and emotionally right now. I have been sorting all that out a long time. My biggest delima is that I want to do something within the next few months. I struggle with weight gain, it is hard just to maintain and not gain. I want to do something before they have to make my back door bigger so I can get out and go anywhere for surgery. Yes, that is an exaggeration of the situation, but that is how urgent it feels to me. Anyone with any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. thanks for reading and Happy New Year to all.....and God Bless

sogal congrats. A job well done. The realization that you are at goal will come in small ways. Don't worry about not feeling the big "wow". We are so proud of you!!!! and a little green!!!!! Melissa I think you should be so proud as well. I can't imagine how you have dealt with all the changes in your life and still managed to keep on track. Wear those tight jeans (or fitted jeans) with pride. Weight loss doesn't make us happy. That comes from how we decide to live our life. Happiness comes from our attitudes. I've learned a few things on this journey that have surprised me, but lessons I needed to learn. I now know since the unfill that I can't be trusted with food. I have not dealt with my issues with food. The lapband is just a tool that prevents us from being the gluttens we are. I would gain every ounce back if it were not for the lapband. My wanting to be thinner, my pride in my appearance, the smaller clothes, are not enough to keep me from the appeal of food. It is an addiction. And to be honest with all of you, it scares the heck out of me. I didn't realize what a pull food has on me. I have eaten all the foods I haven't in 18 months. Even when I didn't want it, I was eating. I don't know why that is, but I need to figure that out to move forward. I'm off to get my fill. Not sure what I will end up with,, but this is a start over for me. I'll update my ticker to reflect the new fill later today and the weight gain. As we enter the new year may we all find peace and contentment in our life. May we adjust to the new bodies and find happiness within ourselves. Love you my fellow junebies. I couldn't have made this journey without you.

I had a tummy tuck 4 years ago and just got the lapband 3 months ago. I had no problems...my scar from the TT is way low and the lapband scars are pretty high. The part that I was worried about it them going through my belly button to inflate the gas bc my "new" bb is almond shaped and deep. I thought they would have problems, but they didn't have any problems. My weight gain since my TT is all in my upper stomach now and my back and butt. I had lose over 100lbs when I got my TT in 2003 and I was like "I am never going back" and of course I gained 80 lbs back. I am on my way back down!

:help:I have been on here as a guest for about a year now and finally got banded on the 24th of Nov. here in Kuwait..it was much cheaper and I was fortunate that the doctor from Sweden who taught my doctor was here and did it! I got a new band, I even got to keep the box, lol! It was less healing time, I was on liquids a week and lost about 10lbs. Then went to mushies and I have been on solids a couple weeks..my first fill is this saturday. I have maintained at 10-12lbs loss, but get depressed when I see all of y'all at 26-30lbs loss..what are you doing different? I do notice some of you are working out with a trainer and at gyms..don't have that here since they are soo expensive here and I work and have a 3 yr old so not alot of time. I did start walking again. My back story is I gained 60lbs with my pregnancy, he is 3 1/2 and I have been losing/gaining the same 20lbs ever since never more than that! I did nutrisystem and would lose a lil then it stopped coming off..I am sooo scared that I will not lose with the band, I have been depressed and negative since the weight gain and feel like "it will never happen to me". The before and after thread has been very inspiring for sure! Just wondering if y'all can give me any tips/advice/encouragement that this WILL work for me! I was always a "thick" 12-14 girl skinny but big butted kinda gal, lol but never "fat" til after the pregnancy and I want to be healthy! I am excited about this and I know once I get the fills and finally hit my "sweet" spot it will start flowing..but is that true does it really "fall" off? What has been your experience as far as weight loss and I am not sure how to word this I have been reading countless threads and I know but when it is you personally it is soo different, make sense? I just really want to be successful at this and I am the type that needs step by steps. I am eating healthier and smaller portions. Hubby has even commented on the smaller portions..thanks everyone and congrats on making the change in your lives! I wish you all the best and success in the world! God bless catie

quote=Sherrirbgr - Wow!!! You've done great! You've lost 93 lbs! That is awesome! Thanks though it doesn't always feel like I've done well. Especially since I'm still sitting at a weight gain nearly 3 months after my tummy tuck, which should have made me 10 pounds lighter. UGHHH! I think the problem is that when you're 2 years out, and you see all these newbies who have met their goal in less than a year, you just get back in that mindset of "woe is me, I'll never lose this weight!" I know what you mean about beating yourself up. Still sometimes the newbies can also be a good motivator as well. ...which helps you eat that dang Publix chocolate covered brittle, which I swear is CRACK. My "CRACK" was cookie dough icecream but has moved to French Truffles. YUMMM.. the first time I ate one of those I swear I was moaning like I was in the "bedroom". These are nothing like those chocolate flavored wax balls sold by lindt or lindor, these are soft chocolate butter balls rolled in cocoa powder and taste like ambrosia. Lord help me! My only saving grace may be that I've only been able to find them at those temporary Hickory Farm Stores you see around Christmas. I just heard from Dr. Bagnato's office. They want me to come down for an x-ray. I'll call Monday and get it scheduled. What is the X-Ray for? Are you worried you have slipped? Keep us posted.

I made it through christmas week and being on vacation. No weight gain which excites me next fill Jan 2

I'm freaked too. I had a breast reduction before my lapband. (I'd already given up on ever losing weight) I was a 34C when I was thin, Now (after weight gain breast reduction) I'm a 42D. I hope I have something left when the weights gone.

Hi I am Cari. I live in Fletcher (near Asheville) and am going through the process of getting the lapband. I am on month four, lost 4 pounds (need to lose 15) and am getting more and more nervous about my next appointment. They said this is where I get pre apporval? I don't even know what that means. I know my insurance covers the procedure (state employee's BCBC plan) and I have a ton of co morbidities with a BMI of 49, so it would behoove them to approve it, but I am just so nervous. I am 31, been heavy since I was 12 and I really want this. I lose weight, gain it back double, and I just don't know how I am going to live a healthy life unless I do something drastic like this. As I read more and more insurance horror stories I get more and more nervous. I have a big week in 2 weeks. I am going to the support group on the 8th at Mission, have my sleep study on the 10th, and my 4th month appointment on the 11th. They told me once I get preapproval they will schedule my surgery. Oh I hope I get it. This waiting is killing me. I will be working with Dr. Alan Bradshaw I believe. I love the staff at Mission (well the nutritionist is kind of loopy) but every one else is great. Anyone here get it done at Mission, or in the process?? I would love to talk?

I have BC/BS AZ and I have a problem. Here it is: BC/BS of AZ: Current history and physical, psychological evaluation, nutritional consultation with licensed nutritionist, 5 years medical records, letter of recommendation from PCP, and continuous participation in a weight loss program for 6 months or longer within the past 12 months. Weight loss program includes: · A structured program that includes documentation of diet and dates of participation (a minimum of one face to face visit per week attendance for dietary counseling/education is required. And · A structured exercise program (unless medically contraindicated) designed and supervised by a certified or qualified professional with documentation of attendance (a minimum of three sessions per week of participation in an exercise program is required) and, · Demonstration of a commitment to results by documenting weight loss, maintenance, or no more than a 5 pound weight gain over a minimum six month period. I have everything except for the exercise program. Weight Watchers(2004-6months)Do I have a chance of getting this approved? Has anyone ever got approved with some of these requirements? I guess I am holding on to a little faith that I have left...at this point I have given up and just have to realize that I will be obese for the rest of my life.

Quick question: Have you noticed any type of weight gain since you take the pill? Is your pill pretty much band friendly. Only ask this because I need some type of b/c.

Hi all, I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1989, and have only taken birth control pills to control the cysts. I tried Glucophage, but it made me very sick so BC it was. I have all the typical symptoms of PCOS, excessive hair, weight gain, little if any menstrual cycles. BCP have really helps but I have steady packed on the pounds. I also have HBP, and was taking two different medications until last week when my blood pressure stabilized and am not not taking anything now. I had LapBand surgery 12/13/07 and am down 15lbs. I am elated. Now if I can just not over do it.

I can't help but notice how some posters are being somewhat righteous ... shunning those who are more obese than them. I have incredibly sympathy towards those who happen to be morbidly or super-obese. Due to medications, I have been there when I lost all feelings of satiety, where it didn't matter how much I ate, I never felt full, and it was non-stop, never-ending hunger, and getting food was all I thought about. Thankfully I was able to stop those medications before I gained even more weight, but some people don't have that luxury. Then the weight comes on, and the cycle of depression continues. Isolation from public humiliation causes depression, lack of movement, further contributing to the weight gain. I could go on and on.... Rather than sounding like you look at people with such disgust and disdain, how about being a bit sympathetic and understanding of their plight, rather than thinking to yourself "oh god I never want to get THAT fat", talking about the smell of yeast in fat rolls, them not being able to wipe themselves properly, etc. etc. I would sincerely hope that those, who work as health care professionals, would show some kindness towards that patient. It might be the first show of sympathy and care that that poor person has had in ages. He/she was humiliated enough being there.

Sounds like we are all going through the same thing. I am sitting here feeling really bloated... I am amazed at how much I have been able to fit in in the last 2 days. I went for a long walk today and will continue to do so in the next week just to keep the weight gain at bay. Good luck everyone with getting back on track.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We just got back from my folks. It was a nice time. I wasn't going to eat any of the food - just have some protein shakes, but I ended up having a small amount of a few things that only come around this time of year. Overall, I'm pleased with myself. At the end of the day, I want to be able to eat normal portions of foods that are good for me. On the other hand, I could totally see becoming anorexic or developing some type of bulemia (most likely exercise). I wonder what the stats are for people who have had bariatric surgery who become scared to eat real food due to potential weight gain... Hmmm... Something to research once I get my papers done for school. I felt bad, though - I had planned on getting up and taking a nice hour-long ride this morning around the golf course and lake, but I didn't sleep past 2:30 this morning. I know that my outlook on life is changing because I didn't just say "fuck it" and blow it off - I debated and decided that with that little sleep on a new route, it might not be too safe. I did ride in the trainer for about an hour and 15 minutes - not too shabby. I've named the bike. It will be henceforth known as Bulboso. Sounds way more impressive than the English translation - Buttercup... I wanted to name the bike Katherine Heigl, but the wife got a little pissy when I talked about riding Katherine Heigl hard in the afternoon . Before I started my ride, I put the Speedplays on Buttercup, and they were an exact match. Thanks for finding the right color for me Stephanie! The Speedplays feel so different from the SPDs that I had on the Trek. They will take a little getting used to. With all of the float, it feels kind of like not being clipped in, so I kept yanking my foot to make sure I was really in. I need to adjust the cleats on the shoes a little, and I'm not sure why, but it seems like the left one requires almost twice as much heel-out to unclip as the right. It may be because that when slack, my left foot turns (heel in) a little more than the right. Not sure - have to figure out a way to adjust it. J - Good for you with the new jeans! That has to make you feel wonderful to go from a 30 to an 18 in one year's time! You didn't mention it, but did you get to spend the holiday with Allison? Was Santa (and Mommy) good to Zoe? It's back to the grind in the morning. I'm so glad this will be a short week. Good night everyone! B

Merry Christmas everyone. I've gained 5 pounds since being banded on 12/21. Anyone experience this?

Wow I've been reading this posts for awhile now and I realized that alot of what other ppl are saying is my problem as well with food. I LOVE FOOD SO MUCH!! It's always been there to comfort me when I was down or like someone said on here when you grow up poor the pay days you remember because that's when you got to eat out some where or get an extra treat. :cry I have been fat most of my life and I do believe it has to do with my biological father and his second wife...I was only 4 yrs old and I remember that if I was eating too slow for them or not eating everything on my plate I would get punished and sent to my room. My father actually called my mama one day and said "if she isnt done by the time we're all done then she doesnt get anymore". My mother screamed at him saying "she is only 4 yrs old and you are a huge man, OF COURSE she isnt going to eat as quickly as you you a**hole!!" So I believe that is where most of my problems started, at a very very young age it was either shovel it all in or go without or get punished. :faint:Then when I hit teenager and I was still gaining weight a little here a little there...my younger brothers made sure to let me know I was a fat a**, and then I had almost everyone at school making fun of me because I was fat. I did have a boyfriend in junior high, but he wanted our relationship kept a secret :angry after that I didnt have any other boyfriends in high school. I was big chested and size 18 at 17 yrs old. Oh yeah forgot to mention my Ex-aunt also had no problems telling me that I had to lose weight. Well both her daughters were in size ZERO clothes so compared to them I was HUGE and she didnt "LIKE" that...so basically I guess you can say the only positive support I got growing up was from my mother and stepdad even though they did give me the nickname Pudgelet! Had to have a breast reduction at the age of 20 because the weight from my breasts was endangering my upper back and shoulders. I also blame my weight for jumping into a marriage with the first guy after high school that showed interest in me, he was emotionally, verbally, physically and sexually abusive to me and I put up with it because I believed that there was no one else that would want me and I was evidently BLIND AS A BAT FOR 2 1/2 FLIPPING YRS OF MY LIFE. :angry Anyway I finally woke up and kicked him out after he cheated on me with a woman from New York that he met online in a slingo chat! I still say to this day if it wasnt for that woman having sex with my ex that I would probably still be with him. So in a way it was a good thing he cheated it woke me up and I wasnt blind anymore. I met a wonderful man that I'm still with to this very day that actually loves me for me NO MATTER WHAT I LOOK LIKE!! 8 yrs on Thanksgiving day this yr and still going strong:whoo: Found out about 2 yrs ago that I have PCOS and INSULING RESISTANCE :angry and I'm infertile. Fertility pills also added to my weight gain also. To this day he still says that I'm hot and I dont need to change anything, he said he loves me for me..what's on the inside and the out. Sometimes I sit and think why in the hell is he with me. I mean I look in a mirror and I hate what I see and say to myself I wouldnt have sex with me, why would he want to....My hubby is a little reluctant for me to have this surgery, but I've had to explain to him several times that I'm not doing it to hurt him and that I'm doing it to get sick I'm doing it because I want to get HEALTHY and to be happy with the person I see in pictures and in the mirror instead of this huge blob in photos that makes me sick to my stomach that I LET MYSELF get this damn big. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the surgery, I know my hubby's insurance covers it. I'm just scared about the after...I've tried so many things and nothing has worked and I'm just wondering because I've seen all these posts of how long it takes to lose this weight and I'M EXTREMELY IMPATIENT!!! I want it gone like NOWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! :help: Well there is my story boys and girls!! Happy Holidays to all and to all a good morning!!! :ranger:

hey iluvcarbs! i've been one "the pill" since i was 16 after having an ovary removed because i had a big ol tumor on it and then having really bad periods after that. i was scared to go on the pill since i've only got the one ovary and didn't want to have any fertility problems in the future. i was on about 3 different brands before going on Yasmin. everything else was making me feel sick but i've had no side effects with Yasmin. some friends of mine also use it and they haven't had any weight gain from it or other side effects. i think the most important thing is to work with your md and just know that the first thing you try might not be right for you but you'll find one that is a good fit. :rose:

...just my dw and pastor. I have also told my older kids and plan to tell the younger ones soon. I have just had so many failures in the past. Major weight loss followed very quickly by even more major weight gain. It's so humiliating (and public). Beyond a small "inner circle" I'm going to play it by ear. One of the great things I have read about the band is that even when people are not strictly following the "rules" they are at least not gaining 5 pounds/week as I do when I am "off the wagon." They seem to maintain or gain/lose just a little.

hey lana, pcos is polly systic overian syndrom- basically the body cant break down sugars and there are many little systs on the ovaries which look very similar to fertilized eggs so the body thinks your preg. so you get cravings and weight gain like a preg person. some other common side effects are iregular period and exessive hair growth. its not fun. the doc give you a med (usually metformin or glucafoge) wich helps the body break down the glucose and then when you diet you should lose weight like a regular person but she told me thats not the case for me at all.....

Until you have a complete blood work up for Hypothyroidism, a complete work up for Adrenal function and a complete hormone level check. If your doctor fails to preform these not so basic tests, he or she could be selling you a surgery you do not need. Or a surgery that will not give you results like you expect. You need to be sure your labs include Free T4 and Free T3, Cortisol levels via saliva or urine, and hormone levels. Too much estrogen will keep weight on you as well. Look into Liver Detox, the best plan for weight loss will not work if your liver is not functioning properly. I found out I was hypothryoid. I dropped 18 lbs on medication in the first 2 months. I've slowed down to a hault. But that is the plight of hypo patients and no amount of intake restriction is going to resolve the weight gain issues of a hypothryoid person. I'm still reading, but thus far it's a no. I'm waiting for my 6 mo mark on meds to have my levels drawn, then I might get an increase in medication and drop more. At the same time I was going through my journey to dx. My bf went in for LB surgery. She lost some weight during the pre-op and 2 wk post-op and then stopped. She stopped while still on a liquid and soft diet! She has had another fill and still no more weight loss. She is in debt, depressed, and still just as fat as she was in September. She did not get the lab work ups she should have had IMO. She was sold up the river that a surgery was the answer to her problems. She still suffers from depression which is a major sign of hypothryoidism in additon to low energy and lack of weight loss. Just don't get sold up the river is all I'm saying. You have to be your own advocate for better health. Be sure you find out if you have underlying causes. Doctors usually only run the TSH thyroid test and for millions it will come back fine when in fact the main hormone tellers T3 and T4 are not fine and have not been checked. I spent almost a year finding a doctor to actually run the right tests and then he was so shocked I spent another 3 months going to another doctor who was a jack a$$ and back again to my doc. The JA would not run the thyroid antibody tests, the cortisol and adrenal tests, the hormone tests, nothing total waste of my time and money. All he saw was a fat woman w a normal TSH test, he ignorned my super low T4 and T3 levels. There is a stigma against fat -- I'm fat only b/c I over indulge or am lazy. I'm not lazy, I'm not an over indulger. And docs can't get their heads around it. I was told a doc automatically triples what a fat person tells them they eat and subtracts 3X what a fat person tells them they exercise. I'm shot down just by walking in the freakin door! Just don't get sold up the river like my bf. I feel for her, I really do. I so want her to go to a doctor and insist on the right tests.

No one loses 1 1/2 lbs per day in FAT but you can definately lose that much in Water weight. To actually lose 1 lb of fat would mean expending over 3000 calories more than what you consumed in a day. (I think it's more like 3500 calories equals one pound of fat or something.) So, that's not possible to actually be losing over a pound of fat a day unless you ate absolutely nothing and was burning about 2000 calories at the gym every day on top of that. Depressing I know, but that's the math. It's water weight. The water issue is very peculiar and can result in wacky weight gains/drops. So, that's most likely where the majority of the weight loss is coming from. I can easily drop/gain 10-15 lbs just from water weight in a few days. So, enjoy the ride but don't worry about it coming off too fast because it will slow down once your body stabilizes after it heals from surgery. Plus, you're on a liquid diet right now so your body is well hydrated and dropping old water it's been holding onto for some time. Once you get on to regular foods you'll be able to start seeing your true weight loss speed. Enjoy it though because it's darn exciting to see those huge number drops! You were banded on my B-Day!!!!!! Happy B-Day to me (birthday) and Happy B-day to you (band)!!!!

I have no idea why I am fat other than too many calories and not enough expenditure? That should be a DUH answer but it is not that easy is it? I don't have any history of family abuse, abnormal relationships...anything which could triger unhealthy relationship with food. I have always been just under 140 lbs at 5'4" and when I hit that 140 mark it would trigger a panicked and rushed attempt to lose 5 pounds. My comfort zone was anything below 140. THAT was more than a decade ago. I did have one breakup ten years ago that I know hurt me and made me sad for a few weeks(normal??). I did notice a weight gain. I crept up to 160 and just didn't care. This next part will sound unreal but it is the truth for me(and some others??)--- I realized a year later that I was over 200 pounds. In 98 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, my levels were within control after about six months. I had no significant weight loss while playing with my dose of Synthroid. A year or two later I was diagnosed with PCOS. Tried Glucophage and after six months of terrible bathroom visits I stopped taking that. The two diagnoses at forst gave me relief....therewas a REASON I was fat....a reason why it had become so friggin hard to lose weight. I know I eat well and do belong and actually go to a gym about 3 times a week. (I have to shake up my routine though because I only walk the tread and do some weights). In the last 9 years I have lost and gained the same 50+ pounds. I will not let either of the diagnoses be my reaons for failure. Do they make it harder to lose and keep weight off, YES. Do they make it impossible, NO! I have journaled(and been told I must be lying) my daily food intake. I have been away with friends and they see what I eat....and no loss. I think I eat too uch of the right things..I eat too fast. I'm thinking about LB I still don't know... Thanks for reading Susan

I thought this was good advice: Think you need a fill again by Nikki Johnson Do you remember that feeling you had when you first had your band placed? For a while, everything was great. You didn't experience hunger, you felt satisfied with a small portion of good food, you had more energy, and you were thrilled with your initial weight loss progress.[/color][/size][/font] If you are like most people, your experience changed over time, Some of those feelings of hunger returned, and you stopped losing weight. You knew you needed something, so you went to your surgeon's office and asked for a "fill" right? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it is your thinking about your band, and not the band itself, that needs adjusting. The LAP-BAND Bad Word Paul O'Brien, MD, FRACS, is a skillful, compassionate surgeon and a foremost expert on the LAP-BAND System. he was involved in its design in the early 1990's and placed the first band in Australia in 1994. Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and is recognized worldwide for his expertise. When his patients utter that worst of four-letter words, "fill," in his office, they are asked to throw a dollar in the Red Cross donation bucket--a reminder that, according to Dr. O'Brien, thinking about a "fill" is just wrong thinking. How can a concept that we hear about so constantly be so very wrong? Dr. O'Brien's answer is simple: "Any adjustment to the band is something that only takes place in the context of clinical consultation--part of a relationship of trust, honesty and communication between patient and surgeon--that is much more key to the success of the patient than the precise number of milliliters of Fluid in the band. This concept of partnership is the central theme of Dr. O'Brien's new book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership of Weight Loss. Patty's Note: Available on Amazon.com ISBN#9780522854121 Like many people, you might assume that weight gain or a sustained plateau means an incorrectly adjusted band; in fact, you may be right. But you may be surprised to learn that weight gain sometimes results from a band that is too tight. This is part of the reason why the "fill" concept is so misleading. If your surgeon determines that you are not losing weight as you should, then discovering why that is happening is crucial. Sometimes adding fluid to the band will only make matters worse. Life in the "GREEN ZONE" Most people who have the LAP-BAND operation will have an amazing feeling of disinterest in food for the first week after surgery, before any adjustments are even made to the fluid in the band. According to Dr. O'Brien, that lack of interest in food is referred to as satiety. A related but different feeling is satiation, or the feeling you get as you are eating, precisely at the point that you don't need any more food to eat but you do not have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. These two feelings--satiety and satiation--are what the properly adjusted band helps you achieve, allowing you to maintain your new healthier eating habits. Your careful observation and truthful sharing of your feelings and eating behaviors, combined with the expert care and training of your surgeon and his or her staff, can make the very individual determination of whether your band is properly adjusted much more accurate. In order to help create the most effective partnership between themselves and their patients, Dr. O'Brien and his colleagues at the Australian Centre for Obesity Research and Education have developed a concept they refer to as the "Green Zone". When patients are in the green zone, they experience satiety, satiation after properly-sized small meals, and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance. However, there are also yellow and red zones, both of which indicate that the band is not optimally adjusted. If your band is too loose, you will not have the benefits the band's hunger-controlling mechanism. If your band is too tight, you will have trouble eating properly and may actually gain weight because the foods you can eat more comfortable, that tend to be liquid and calorie-rich, like ice cream and chocolate, do not provide the proper nutrition. Learning to recognize when you have the feelings and eating behaviors that signal a problem can help you give your surgeon the information he or she needs to help you keep the band optimally adjusted. Thinking Adjustment Once you have eliminated the concpet of "fills" from you Lap-Band vocabulary, you will be able to let go of much of the conventional thinking connected to it. Perhaps you have heard talk about the "ideal" amount of fluid in the Lap-Band. While it may be helpful to have some idea of how much fluid is in your band, Dr. O'Brien says there is no magic number. No perfect amount of fluid will provide the best results for everyone. He says, rather, that "whatever volume of fluid is needed to achieve the [feeling of non-hunger] is the correct volume." When you notice that you are feeling hungry or are not losing weight, your body is telling you it is time to revisit your partner in weight loss -- your surgeon. your success absolutely depends on this relationship. So rather than thinking "adjustments," adjust your thinking, and, in partnership with your surgeon, find a lifetime of health! For more information about all of the themes discussed in this article, please see Dr. O'Brien's book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership for Weight Loss, which is available fro Amazon.com. We also invite you to visit LAP-BAND® System Forum - Home for more information and supportive resources.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

There are some antidepressants that are notorious for causing weight. My doctor refused to put me on anything except well butrin because of my family history and my weight. He didn't want to give me anything that could cause weight gain (gained 40 lbs once in 2 months on an antidepressant with another doctor). Well butrin is not shown to cause weight gain. I'm sure there may be a few others. I think it is really important to see your doctor, and get back on medication if he thinks it is warranted. And continue to take it! Just make sure to discuss with him if you want something that will not affect your weight - there are many medications doctors have to choose from. Be very careful with just stopping anti depressants because some can have a huge effect on you if stopped suddenly. Good luck.

OK, someone please tell me what a "positive burp" (aka PB) is! A burp itself is positive, as you are getting rid of gas(es) in your stomach, which might otherwise give you a tummy ache. Or is this another thing that can't be explained until I experience it myself? So far I have experienced only diarriea (sp?) and since that was a normal condition for me before I had the lapband, I am assuming it is never going away. Which has always amazed me. How can someone have diarriea after every time they eat and not lose weight? Ahhh, the unexplained mysteries of weight gain and loss. Thanks :)Laura