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Check with your Dr. to see if you need a "stretched sleeve" revision surgery. Its rare. 19 pounds in a week is a medical concern. Normal for the sleeve to expand with thime. It's not "stretched" this is the progression out from surgery. The restriction is still there. After surgery your restriction is tight. The restriction will change. How much you can hold years out will be different for each of us. Surgery few oz Might get 600+ calories first few months 4 oz five months to a year 6 oz to 8 oz 1200+ calories One year out half a plate. five to ten years a full plate "Grazing" is usually the cause of weight gain. You have a new point of volume and sensation of full. If you eat high calories throughout each day . (calories can be combination of good and bad food choices) It's the same effect as if you didn't have surgery. An excess of 500 calories will cause you to gain weight. Medical professional explanation on misuse of the term "stretched sleeve" to back this up below: Dr. Matthew Weiner Published on Mar 16, 2015 "Stomach Stretching" is the term used by many weight loss (Bariatric) surgery patients to explain the changes in their appetite and food consumption after surgery. Dr. Weiner explains what's really happening and how to prevent it.

You may find you can’t stand anything sweet after surgery as your taste buds temporarily change. This a good thing as it can help reduce your desire for sweet foods. I never really craved sugar but I enjoyed dessert & having something sweet after dinner every night & a sweet treat morning or afternoon snack on the weekend (I have 6 high end patisseries & bakeries in a 2km radius around my house 😱). Now, I rarely have desserts, cakes, biscuits, pastries, etc. (couple of times a year) & don’t eat chocolate or lollies at all. Don’t miss it either. Watch artificial sweeteners as they continue to feed your desire for sugar & they have lots of side effects including weight gain (makes your body hold on to calories), allergies, etc. About 1/2 my fluid intake comes from plain water. I was allowed green tea from surgery & I have a large mug (400ml) every day. I also let sparkling water go flat & I have 400-500mls a day. The mineral taste was a nice change to plain water. I was also allowed rolled oats from purée (instant to begin) & I used a lot of milk so I get extra fluid that way. I also found a good low calorie high protein yoghurt drink. (You can make your own by mixing yoghurt with milk.) Keep a glass of water beside you all the time even by your bed. It actually just becomes a habit.

Pre surgery I drank a 12 pack of Coke Zero a day. Now, 16 months out I have not had a single one. My team said I am medically cleared to have it but it is associated with weight gain. They still don’t know exactly why the zero calorie beverage causes it but study after study shows the association and that’s enough to have kept me off of it. I like the crystal light. I use two packets to mix it by the gallon at home and have a ziplock bag full of them at all times in my purse. I like that I can switch up the flavors. A newer option is cirkul. Its a drink bottle that they sell flavored cartridges for. My aunt swears the flavors are even better than crystal light. They have their own website or you can get the starter pack at bed bath and beyond. She likes that you can adjust the intensity of the flavor because she likes them with more water. I suppose you can play around with the amount of water you add to crystal light and achieve the same thing though. I also like to mix two flavors together when I mix a gallon to create new flavors.

While I’m not completely off the rails I see the writing on the wall, some old habits coming back and I’m trying to avoid weight gain and trying to lose the last bit of weight I have to lose. Thinking about seeing a therapist? Isogenix? No not weight watchers again. I can’t. Really. Haha. What have all you successful people done to keep the weight off? What have you done to lose the final 20 once the honeymoon period is over? Please help me figure this out!! So afraid I will never get there and go back to the old me. Le Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 177 GW: 160

I start my 2 week pre-op diet on July 2. I have my shakes ready, my freezer is full of chicken, fish and veggies. I started taking my multi-vitamin faithfully, post-op prescriptions are purchased. Phew, I am so ready for this. I went to the mall to buy my 10yr old new shoes. We spent less than hour and my knees and back are killing me. Some days I feel like I am carrying weights under my clothes, it's miserable and some days suffocating. I was not always a big girl. I was 130 lbs when i married 21 yrs ago. I never struggled with weight through high school or as a child. However, when i began having children my weight began to increase. I have blamed it on pregnancies for years and one day I noticed something very strange about my appearance. My face was swollen, my hair was falling out and my joints were becomeing increasingly painful. After many weeks of testing and different doctors, the end result came back as a form of Lupus. I had already had part of my throid removed, and just prior to getting my test results I had back surgery. This only impacted my weight gain...along with a lot of emotional eating. I am not completely innocent, I enjoy food and flavor. I enjoy trying new things to eat. I overindulged myself to 250 lbs. If I keep going, I will gain more weight. Somedays I would eat because it was the only thing to do. Somedays I would eat because I wanted to get the junk food out of my house and I felt guilty throwing it away. Somedays I would eat healthy and feel so good about not bloating and hurting...that didn't last long. So here I am...at the end of my rope grasping for life. I am so greatful to have this chance to find the old me again. I don't need a new me, I want that girl that used to walk with pride, cared about her appearance and new she could do anything I set my mind to. Look out world, she's coming back!

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!!

I have been moody, not depressed. However, I have been on anti-depressants, before the band was placed. I still take them. I have had no weight gain, no side effects and they help! Don't give up. You have come amazingly far!!!

Dear Shangefan- It sounds to me that you have had a lot of major life changes happening in a short amount of time which would overwhelm anyone.I think you should search online for some post op support group meetings in your area for local doctors,and attend some of those.That way you might be able to ask some patients how happy they are with the doctor they chose before you commit yourself to him/her for fills.As someone else here said,choose a Bariatric Center For Excellence if you can.You will get the best care possible at one of these. I think possibly joining Overeaters Anonymous (do a websearch to find a local chapter) may also help you as you will be able to get the help you need to conquer overeating with the help of others going through the same thing.Just because we have a brand new "magical" band in our bodies does not mean that our old ways of thinking and feeling about food eating and excersise have been removed/or replaced so we must face these issues too as Bandsters.You can also join a church group or other group where you share interests (do a websearch or look on your local craigslist).I believe you feel isolated due to the move and losing your job,and leaving the friends you had back home.Joining OA and support groups etc.will help you form a social support network of friends and possibly may help you ask around and network for a new job. You are not a failure,but just a human being who is going through a lot of changes.I know you feel overwhelmed but you just gotta take back control of your health and your life by finding that new doctor,getting those necessary fills and eating good,nutritious foods and excersicing again. Taking care of your body and health by loving yourself enough to put yourself first and getting support from others will help you turn this depression thing around. Before Thomas Edison actually invented the light bulb he tried many, many times.When people asked him how he felt about how many times he "failed" before he invented the light bulb he casually remarked: "I have not failed,I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."Don't beat yourself up for the weight gain or the things you think you did wrong,just make a commitment to a fresh start and forget about the ways that you found that won't work and start back using your band as a tool and the band eating skills that do work. Also as a sidebar,could you possibly have SAD>>>Seasonal Affective Disorder in which you also can feel depressed from lack of natural lightin the winter?I just recently purchased a blue lightbox last week to help the symptoms of this and I am already feeling better. I think this is an often overlooked source of fall/winter depression so I just wanted to mention that too. Goos luck to you in all you do.I am sending big hugs your way. ((((HUGS))))

Stop beating yourself up. The reason your getting the band is because of bad eating habits, and we all wouldn't be here if we ate small portions and stayed true on diets. My doctor gave me a 5 pound weight gain limit and I gained 3 pounds the week before my surgery and another 2 before the actual surgery. I also went out for a lobster feast the night before my surgery, and I had surgery at 8 in the morning. I just had to make sure I hadn't had anything to eat or drink for 12 hours prior to surgery. I really wouldn't worry about once the lap band is on and your eating habits because you can't and won't want to eat when it's over believe me. I was a huge pig before I got the band. I could eat sooooooo much and now I eat under 1500 calories a day, it's amazing. DON"T CANCEL! Just think how much it took to get you this far. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you on the 24th.

I had my bypass done back in 2014 and lost over 200 pounds. I had then entered a rather toxic relationship and became pregnant. I ended up leaving him but shortly after I had a miscarriage and fell into depression. I had gained some weight during the pregnancy as per normal... but after the miscarriage, I blew up like a balloon. Its been 5 years and I gained back 100 pounds in the time of 15 months (During the pregnancy and after the miscarriage). Have any of you had issues with gaining weight back years later? I would appreciate any advice you can give. I have had the hardest time trying to get it back off.

You are doing awesome and I admire your commitment and progress. What does a good day / bad day look like for me? I have more bad days than good. I am still trying to break out of my old habits of sitting around and pondering doing something. I must say that this sleeve has given me my life back. I was on all kinds of high blood pressure meds at least three, plus cholesterol med and taking the diabetic pill. I gained close to 20lbs in the time I signed up for the surgery and going through my meetings. I strongly believe my meds are to blame for most of my 20lb weight gain. but I digress. I also felt before surgery everyday as if I was about to have a heart attack, after surgery this pain went away. A good day: 7am- 8am Wake up drink my protein shale within 30min of waking 23 g protein. followed by a 20oz of water walk for 30 min followed by 20z of water wait 20 min 1 egg with spinach maybe low fat cheese/ turkey bacon (once a day multi Vitamin, Opurity, so gross) Snack hour later Protein Drink 23 g protein and a snack I love cucumbers and tomatoes in a sweet vinaigrette sauce with seasoning more 20oz water (when water gets boring I use a zero calorie sweeter) lunch grilled chicken breast (what I can eat of it) 20oz water ( 2 Calcium citrate pills) Snack boiled egg fancied up/ or chicken salad Dinner baked salmon (what I can eat) Broccoli/roasted sweet potato 20z water 45min to an hour later with 2 calcium citrate pills Snack diced apples/mixed nuts unsalted water I try to get in 120 oz of water which will hydrate me and flush out the fat. most days this isn't possible but I try also I try to get my longest walk in in the morning so anywhere from 30 min to an hour. 30 min is 1 1/2 mile and and an hour is about 3 miles my goal is 5 miles a day which most days do not happen. I usually get those in by doing 10 minutes at a time in-between doing other things. or late night on the treadmill catching a movie or video or something. Bad day they very from OMG bad to just barely bad wake up 9am and just lay there , Vitamins, protein shake 20oz of water no Breakfast no snack lunch is breakfast, no exercise fried egg or piece of chicken grilled (calcium citrate) usually no exercise on this day no snack/ no water / no protien dinner Grilled chicken water/ 2 calcium citrate snack protein drink I avoid carbs and usually look at the package if it has more than 5 g of carbs I usually avoid it there are some exceptions but very rare. I am losing slowly and I am okay with that because it is consistent. I know once my exercise picks up I will lose more. Right now I am averaging weight loss of maybe 2 or 3 pounds a week.

Hi again... I see Amlodipine, Seroquel and Lyrica all have weight gain as a side effect. I would definitely meet with Dr. to see if there are other weight friendly substitutions. I recall my surgeon warning against this for the rest of life—-to be sure to ask prescriber for something that won’t make the journey more difficult. Hugs and prayer that answers are right around the corner for you!

I realize this post was probably therapeutic for you more than anything else, but.... You have so much to be thankful for! Give yourself some credit! You've lost the weight before and you will lose it again. You have a new baby - congrats! You kicked cancer - congrats! Yes, the weight gain is a pain in the ass and I totally understand the defeated feelings... don't give up. You got this!

I hope you do not mind , but my daughter and myself were on effexor , I had horrible withdrawals,weight gain gave my daughter headache, and weight gain the Dr put her on fetzima she did very well on that drug with minimal wright gain

I know how you feel Yettia. I've also had 2 fills and feel no restriction. I have had to control my amount of eating on my own. According to my nutritionist I should be full after 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food. I can and do eat 2 cups with ease. Aside from my initial issues with weight gain I have steadily been losing. Have you found you are losing weight anyway?

I have been in prednisone for 6 years now. It is doubtful that a med pack will cause that much weight gain. You are only taking it a few days. Whatever you gain you will lose again. It would be like Water weight. If your doc thinks you need it then take it. Don't suffer with back pain. It will only be temporary if you gain weight. You might notice that you feel hungrier, but your stomach will not hold what it used to. Relax and take care of yourself!

Welcome back I'm newly banded, however I've been a mom for over 17 years, and one thing I know is weight gain during pregnancy is inevitable. I also know losing it after isn't easy. Have you considered approaching this like you're newly banded? Go back and meet the nutrionist again. Heck, maybe even go on a week's liquid diet just put yourself back in the mindset and "purge" your body of all the bad stuff? You did so well before, I really do believe you can again. I just think it's a matter of putting your mind to it. I think you also need to quit looking at it as though you failed. You most certainly did NOT fail. You had a beautiful baby and gained weight like almost every other mother does. You can only fail if you do nothing about the problem. You're here, you're trying, you're definitely doing something. ...think of this as just another new beginning

I'll go back to my "in a perfect world" state of mind…… I think it is healthier to lose a bit slower than weight virtually melting off from malabsorption. However (as I've been told), some people are in such a horrible state of health, which is more dangerous to them than the rapid loss. I agree with you……I don't think it's healthy, but some folks are at deaths door from diabetes, etc. The thing that I don't like about the RNY honeymoon period, is that the weight seems to come off effortlessly. Effortlessly isn't reality, and sooner or later that stops, and they end up where we were immediately post op. I almost had that surgery; was scheduled for it, but freaked out 10 days prior. I was deathly afraid of potential irreversible complications, so I went with the band plus plication. I sleep a lot better at night knowing that I can "undo" the whole thing, should problems arise. I had lunch with a woman yesterday, who has had her band since Allergan put them on the market. She did very well; lost lots of weight, looked great, etc. But over the years and various life events, she's put back all but 20 pounds. She's still got the band, but she's not working it. But she has had that band inside her body for many years, with zero issues. I hope to God that is me……not the weight gain part, but a happily settled in band :-) I know I keep saying this, but I feel strongly about it. No one surgery is better than the other. It just depends on the person, and what works best for them. I went to a general support group at my doctor's office, and there were several RNY patients. All of them felt that if they were going through surgery, that they wanted to go through with (as they put it) the BIG surgery. They've all done very well…….to date. With compulsive overeaters, it really is a day to day thing. I've heard people (one in particular) stand up in these forums, claiming to be cured of this affliction. I say…..the jury will always be out, until our dying day. I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist

Went in and saw my nut and doc Tuesday. I'm thinking I need a fill. Still eating more than I think I should. The nut took pictures because I'e lost 110lbs since I started this journey in May of 13. 71 since surgery in November. We discussed my dietary needs and off to the doc I went. He comes in with my 100lb pin and tells me he doesn't give those out too often. We discussed my weight loss since my last visit 6 weeks ago. I was down 12lbs. So I broach the subject of getting a small fill. He shuts me down and says I don't need one. He puls out my chart and said look at this column. I looked. It was the weight gain column. He tells me you haven't gain an once since starting this program. You're doing great and that I have ecceeded his expectations. We discussed my weight loss goals and where I am now and where I want to be. I'm at 180, my personal goal is 150. He said lets get you to the the 160s and go from there. That I don't want to look gaunt and I don't. I told him my main goal is to get into a size 12. He asked me what size I was wearing and I told him a 16. I'm almost there he says. Ok I can go with that. Next comes check out time. I'm not going back for 2 months!!! Scares me spitless. Im used to the support of the doc and his staff. Luckily there is a support group in 2 weeks and I have this forum plus a Briatric Friendly FB page. I know all these things are good and positive in my head, but heart isn't rational right now. I know what to do to keep on track. I've done everything that I am supposed to and I am a success story. Why am I so scared?

Wow, it all sounds so familiar. I'm really sorry you are going through this. The reflux is a serious issue, you *really* need to get a bit of an unfill. The reflux can cause damage if you don't get it resolved. Being too tight leads to soft food syndrome and that can lead to weight gain. Has you doctor put you on anything such as Prilosec or Nexium? Something to help with reflux? I get it about getting stuck on everything. I remember a business dinner once when I was banded and I was stuck on broth. I was mortified. What do you mean by concerns with Mexico? Are you referring to the gov't warnings out right now? The US, Mexican, and Canadian gov'ts are warning about specific cities in Mexico but Mexicali is not one of the cities they are specifically warning about. A leak is always a risk of surgery and since you are a revision like me, your risks are higher. All the more reason to go to an experienced revision surgeon. Hang in there and please get an unfill, you could cause even more problems than you have now if you stay too tight for much longer.

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?

Hello everyone, it has been a long time since I have been on here, I was banded in 2009 and haven't lost done to goal. The doctor I had went out of business a year after I got my band. I really haven't had any problems with the band but found the weight was not coming off. I found a new doctor last year and he did a fill under fluro and found my port is tilted as well as the band. I had a endoscopy yesterday in which he stated I had a non functional pouch. I am worried to death right now. My weight gain started about six months ago. I am right back where I started. I have searched and searched to see what a non functional pouch is, no information found, Is this something to worry about? We spoke about revision prior to this appointment but I am unclear as to what this is means. Please if anyone has any information I would appreciate some insight. My next appointment is not until the 17th. I am really worried about all of this.

If you are having doubts, then don't have the surgery! You should have been informed by now about the risks....and you must answer: If my doc said my band could slip....would I still have the surgery? If I ....your words......... PBing, sliming, vomiting, slippage, weight gain, slow process, have to be committed, severe incision pain, gas killing me, starving, hungry, port problems, taking forever to hit the sweet spont, nauseous, etc Do I still want the band? If you answer NO...then don't have the surgery. Risks are an unkown...may happen or may not happen. But if you absolutely cannot handle anything you said..then don't do it.

Thanks everyone for your support and suggestions. Mom's condition remains a mystery. We hoped that tests of the fluid around the lung and lung tissue samples would provide some clues. The good news is no cancer or other problems they could find. The bad news is we still don't know what is causing these problems with her heart rhythm (racing) and fluid building up on heart, lungs. She got a procedure which will keep the fluid from building up in lungs but where will it go now? The abdomen. I've warned Mom to watch for fast weight gain - if more than 2 lbs. a day, she should call her doctor. I will contact Dr C (whoever that is) and pose my questions to him. I posted this message in the Post Op Problems section of the Forum with the same message. MORAL OF MY STORY: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY AND CALL THE DOCTOR IF YOU START FEELING HEAVINESS IN YOUR CHEST OR YOUR HEART STARTS RACING. If Mom "toughed it out", she would be dead by now. (I apologize for being so morbid.)