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I just had band surgery May 1st. I see my doctor tomorrow. It is important to write down what you eat each day! For me this is a new way of managing your food. instead of the food managing you!! It has been a challenge for me not to want to eat more than I should.. But at age 53 I DON'T want to weigh 280 lbs. Nobody said this was a miracle cure for obesity. I contributed to my weight gain so I need to contribute to my weight loss. "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Please hang in there it will be worth it. I know WE can do it!! Debbiedawl

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

You can't really stretch your band. You could run over the band with a truck and it's probably not going to change it. It is your stomach and/or esophagus that dilates, not your band. If you are eating and drinking together yes, you can dilate your pouch and/or esophagus and the only way to know if you have or not is to have a fill under fluoroscopy. If you have dilated one or the other then usually the doc will unfill you and put you on liquids for several weeks. Most of the time this will fix the problem. If not, rarely surgical repositioning is in order. I know what you mean about weight gain. I weigh daily because I'll never let it get out of hand again.

No weight loss and no weight gain. I am stalled and I know a couple of reasons why....I need a fill (appt is in January), I have not exercised as much as I should and I have been so busy at work. I am looking forward to the holidays and making good choices. Have a good week everyone!

Hello <!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->mommakatx2<!-- google_ad_section_end --><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_547534", true); </SCRIPT> I have not been banded yet but plan to in Oct.07 or Nov at the latest. I have about 85-90 pounds to lose. I felt as if I were reading my own post when I read yours. My insurance will not pay one cent so I am going to have to get a loan to pay for it. I have already talked to my regular physician and was afraid he would be less than supportive but to my surprise, he was very supportive. I am anxious to start my journey. I have quite a few things that being obese is not helping. I have asthma, arthritis, high cholesterol &triglicerides. The arthritis has gotten much worse over the past 9 months or so and my rheumatologist told me I have to "lose weight, lose weight, lose weight". So I am planning on getting banded and hopefully put a stop to the weight gain and be healthier.Good luck to you. Hang in there, you will do great.

In December, there were some posts regarding "What I've Learned from my Band". Some of them were very humorous, but each and everyone of them was so true! So, I went back to the December chat and compiled a list of those "I've Learned"s and added the few posted on March chat, and here's what I have come up with (sorry for any typos)... I’ve Learned (from my Band)… Compiled from the members of the Lap-band Talk - 2006 ABC It's not the first bite that's a killer - It's the second or third If you can drink it for Breakfast, that's a good option In the morning I better drink something warm before I eat - Otherwise solid food, no matter how much I've chewed it, will go down like the Titanic Soup with lunch or dinner helps relax the esophagus and reduces PBs - A glass of wine does even better I will never be bored with my band Just when I think I know my band - I don't Sometimes I can eat breakfast - sometimes I can't - Ditto for the rest of my meals If I get really hungry - Forget it I'm getting stuck What "Oh crap, I'm about to burp up this food" feels like Random stuff like candy corn is impossible one day, and smooth and easy the next Losing weight feels SO GOOD NSVs (Non-scale victories) can feel even better than losing weight I never know from one day to the next what I can eat or how much Just when I think I need a fill, the darn thing feels tight again It really is a learning process - Learning the band - Learning how to eat to live - Learning how to lose weight I love my band but I'm also quite afraid of it I don't have to panic if I have a setback (ie: overfill, weight gain, etc.) - I can still succeed My defeatist attitude doesn't help I need to work with my band and pay attention to what it likes and doesn't like (ex. it doesn't like bread... so stop trying to eat it!) It's my friend and it's doing its job. Even though you now eat small amounts you still need to pay attention to what that small amount is I will ALWAYS subscribe to the "I wonder what band I'll wake up with today" syndrome I absolutely LOVE my band - I never want to go anywhere without it ever again - It was the best thing I have ever done for myself I still have to watch what I eat - If it's hard Protein my band tells me when enough is enough - Ice cream?...not so much Sometimes I still want to binge and stuff myself - The urge remains unfortunately, but the capacity just ain't there I never have golfball/PB issues with people who know I'm banded – It’s always with people who don't know - LapBandLaw? I've learned you can quickly say "I need to go grab a tissue/glass of water/tampon" and bolt, and nobody really cares - Unless you're gone a really long time in which case, go for the "female problems" defense My band has an attitude - If it doesn't want chicken it won't let me eat it, but if it wants chicken tomorrow it lets it through just fine My band isn't a miracle – It is still going to take time and a lot of work I have to get fills for it to work - It isn't giving in to admit I need one A size 16 at one store is NOT the same as a 16 at the next That blueberry NutriGrain bars are really good – They make a great breakfast and defend against fast food if they live in my purse. Never go shopping with my mother – I wind up spending too much money When my left shoulder joint starts hurting, I should stop eating The scale will continue moving in the right direction, as long as I don’t give up

We have a lot in common! I was a normal, healthy weight until I began taking Effexor XR for depression right after high school. After a few years, I had gained 100lbs. Once I was diagnosed Bipolar (not just depression), I went off of Effexor XR and my weight stabalized. Last year, I participated in a medical trial at the National Institute of Mental Health, which lasted 4 months. In the last month and a half, I started the treatment phase and was put on 2 new medications whose first side effects were weight gain. I had no choice but to take the medicine because if my Bipolar isn't controlled, how can I ever hope to control my weight? In that month and a half, I gained 25lbs. In the 3 previous months in the trial, I gained 3lbs. So, quite obviously, it was the meds. It is so awful how we have to manage so many problems. But I think getting you Bipolar stabilized, as much as possible, and then working on your weight would be an excellent idea. Afterall, the better you feel and look, the less your Bipolar has to grab a hold of and "use" against you. KWIM? Good luck and contact me anytime. So few people understand our predicament, so sticking together is great! Be Blessed, Kelley

Rubina, Oh goodness, what a horrible response the nurse gave you! Certainly didnt make you feel better. YES! weight gain is commen before the first fill. Basically just trying to maintain the original weight loss is a struggle during this time. Ive heard of patients asking the surgeon (or your pcp) for diet pills. Another thing that I did, was go for a walk! (if you can) Everytime the eating urge was stong, Id take the kids and we'd go for a stroll. Also, s/f popsicles seemed to aid and sooth me at this time. I think I ate a 1/2 a box a day, then wash 'em down with a big glass of Water. Good luck - this is really the hardest part of it all. I promise!

Im a stay at home mom, my boyfriend works monday through friday sometimes he will be gone the whole day so it's easy for me to stay on track eating good through those days but as soon as the weekend comes it goes down hill, we tend to go out to eat alot on the weekends or if were out for a while we'll stop at fast food resturants... i tend to alwasy end up over eating and also eatting the bad things, even when we dont go out on the weekends i alaways tend to cook up a storm also and not eat very good things =/ i just dont understand what snaps in my head on the weekends or when my boyfriend is around sometimes i even dread the weekends because when monday comes i see the difference on the scale and sometimes i wont get back on track for a week !! Does anyone else have these problems and is there any suggestions please?? i'm still battling with my self in july i will be 1 year post op with only about 40 lbs lost

Hi Tammy.. My surgery witht he Realize band is Monday, January 12th.. I have the realize band due to the fact that I have rhumetoid arthritis. If you have this, the lap band will require a waiver for responsibility for the silicone. some big law suit with breast implants resulting in this. The realize band does not have any such restriction. One of the major reasons that I have decided to get banded - and self paying- was for the health reason and the ability to move and walk and be able to do everyday life without the discomfort of arthritis along with the other over weight issues. I have been told that I should see a significant difference as the weight comes off. While the date is very close now, I am very excited for that time and very apprehensive as I hope that I can do all that I need to do to be successful. I will keep you posted on my success and affects on each of the ailments I have due to weight gain.. Before thinking wheel chair I would be thinking what you need to do band or no band to get you to a point of healthy living :tongue2:.. Good luck..

To take your questions one at a time: 1. Is gaining weight normal when you start to eat regular food again? Yes, when you've been on liquids for a while (pre-op + post+op), you empty out your alimentary canal and this accounts for probably 5-10lb of the "weight loss". You probably would have noticed a marked decrease in the amount of matter eliminated from your system. When you start to eat regular food again, you refill yourself and this will appear to be a 5lb weight gain. Don't worry about it - it's normal. 2. I'm worried about stretching my pouch. I haven't gotten a fill yet. Is it possible to stretch the pouch before the first fill? Stretching the pouch is something that happens through significant over-eating over a prolonged period of time, i.e. always eating the the point of absolute fullness (as far as the band allows) and doing it often. If you haven't had a fill yet, it is unlikely that you will have restriction, so you won't be filling your pouch much at all -the food will be going straight through into your main stomach. The likelihood of stretching at this time is very small. 3. How would I know if I did stretch my pouch? It's hard to tell but if you had a fill test (i.e. they take out the Fluid in your band, measure it, and replace it) and the test showed that the band was very full and you should have restriction, yet you were still eating large meals, that might be an indicator - not a definite, just an indicator. 4. Is there any way that it can be fixed or if I ever do/did will I have ruined my chances at this working for me? Yes, in the event that you stretch your pouch, there are several remedies that can be applied before you have to even start thinking you might have "ruined things". One simple remedy is to do the "5 Day Pouch Test". Search this site for threads on that - there are dozens. 5. Would someone know if their band slipped? If so how? One of the common symptoms is being able to eat a lot in the day but getting severe reflux at night, i.e. when lying down/sleeping. 6. Do weird things cause the band to slip or is it simply overeating or something like that? There are several causes but you'd be better off asking your doctor about that one.

From all that I've read about the lapband, your band could have slipped, I believe that can cause weight gain and vommitting. You should definately go back to the doctor, you will feel so much better:redface:

Hi, I am 1 yr post op and have 6 mls in my band. In August I started a new job and during my orientation I have been switching between day shift and night shift every few days. My eating habits are crazy trying to eat at night and then eat during the day. And now I'm just hungry all the time and I've gained 15 lbs. Does anyone have any advice on how to get back on track and to not feel hungry at all hours of night and day? I will be permanent night shift when my orientation ends.

Hi EJones2 I' probably quite late into coming into this conversation, have you had it removed already? How are you finding it? I had my band removed 2 years and 1month ago. I sustained a number of band problems prior to having it removed due to the fact that the surgeon over filled the band and I also got ill causing me to be sick a lot. This then meant I had a band slippage and it caused me ongoing esophageal damage and damage to my pouch including a pronounced area of my abdomen and inability, eventually, to eat without severe pain. When I went into A&E, they had to call my surgeon who came the next day. It was actually supposed to be corrective surgery but he decided to take it out. This was really hard for me as I'm sure you are anticipating for yourself. I very much needed the band and was not finished losing weight! After the procedure I was sore and was on liquids for about 8 days before moving to mushy foods, very small portions and eating regularly as you might when you had the band. Due to the soreness going back to the gym was not possible for about 6 weeks so I just went on really long walks each day, sometimes two or three hours a day so that weight gain would not happen to fast. Most of all i just want to reassure you that everything will be okay, and I hope you are able to get your health back after removal. It's a scary thought going without the crutch of the band to prop yourself up, and undoubtedly weight gain will happen over time (I think I've gained 25(ish) pounds since) but I've learned there is more to life than deprivation and being thin and in control. Try to do the things you enjoy, get outside and be in the company of others. It all helps, it's going to be okay. Best wishes and I hope all goes well, Bryony

I have a low BMI. I weigh 207 give or take. My doctor doesn't want me to lose too much beacuse I will go under the BMI. Like a lot of people I have lost weight before but then gained it back. Last year I lost 20lbs and was down to 186 and it felt so good. I even got to stop taking my blood pressure meds, and had energy to have fun, exercise and my self esteem was so high. I had surgery in fall 2007 and got a staph infection and had to go in for surgery again and then gained 25LBS!! This weight gain this time has taken a toll on my knees and I have little energy. I hate this 6 month diet and wish I had enough money to self-pay. When I am thinner I feel good, I exercise, get out and swim, etc. My insurance is bad too I have to pay HALF . I feel like I am doing okay at work, but I do have a hard time at home with the diet. I saw things on here about having to give up bread, what other things beside soda should I go ahead and give up and did anyone else have problems witht the diet. I am afraid of cutting everything out and exercising too much because of the low BMI. What do you all think, thanks and I have learned a lot on this.

Boy Tammy... that really is a golden question that I think the whole world would love to have the answer to. Wouldn't it be awesome if just saying no was the answer? It's a struggle but for me... I notice that the more carbs I eat... the hungrier I am and the more carbs I want. Now... to just figure out how to stop the carb eating cycle? The only thing that I have found to be somewhat helpful for me is to keep ZERO snack type sweets in my house. If I have a craving... I wait... and if the craving doesn't go away or gets worse... I go and get a single serving of whatever I'm wanting. Someday a brilliant scientist is going to come up with a magical pill that allows us to eat all of the carbs that we want without weight-gain... until then... I guess we'll all fight the good fight.

tabbymonroe, when i first had my surgery 3 years ago, I hit a stall that drove me crazy! I had been losing so great, then boom at exactly one year i stalled for 7 MONTHS. . . it was crazy! no weight loss, no weight gain. . .I had really thought this was it! then one day it just moved, I lost another 10 - 15 lbs and that was it, BUT i did reach my goal the doctor had put out for me plus 12 lbs more, so that is what I call success. . . now at 3+ years out I'm still the same weight and am maintaining beautifully. . .I don't worry about anything anymore. . .I finally love myself and accept myself for who I am. . . good luck, it'll happen for you too. .

yeah Ive wondered the same thing on sizes-Im 5'3 and at 214 I wore a 20/22 but I see others with basicly same stats wearing 18-I wished-if I wore an 18 id look squished in and itd define my rolls-lol.I am also top heavy-even before all my weight gain my chest is a 42dd now its a 46dd-ugh-but my doctor will finally sign off to have reduction once I lose the weight as its a health issue with my back and such.

I was on Depo for three years and gained 80 pounds. Nothing I did was able to stop it. And I didn't attribute the weight gain to it at the time otherwise I would have stopped sooner. Had I known then what I do now I never would have gotten that shot, I am not completely blaming it for my 318lb self but it certainly did not help. My nurse ended up telling me that people who have a tendency to gain weight, will gain weight with Depo. It just seems so counter productive if you are having this procedure.

Hi Everyone, My name is Eli and I am 21 years old. I just wanted to share my amazing journey with everyone and hopefully help anyone that needs it. Since I was a young boy I struggled with weight loss. I put weight on and I took weight off and it didn't seem like I could ever get it right. Growing up, all of my friends were thin so they never understood what it was really like to be overweight, nobody actually understands unless they actually walk a mile in your shoes. I was miserable, depressed, and felt like there was nothing in the world that could help me. As a lineman for my high school football team I justified my extreme weight gain with the fact that I needed to be bigger to play my position and this mindset caused my weight to spiral out of control. When I graduated high school in 2011 I weighed the most I ever did and it took a huge toll on me as I was about to go away to college and had literally no self-esteem. Jumping ahead to my sophomore year of college I had now put on even more weight and it was affecting me more then ever. My grades were slipping, it didn't seem like any girl would ever want to talk to me, and most of all it was hard to look at myself in the mirror. When I came home from school after my sophomore year I weighed about 320 pounds, which was by far the most I ever weighed. When I came home in May that year I just came to the realization of what I did to myself and I asked myself, "How did I let this happen?" Before I continue I want everyone to know that this is not a sob story and that there is a huge gleaming light at the end of that tunnel. When the conversation of weight loss surgery was brought up for the first time I honestly felt offended because I never thought that it would possibly come to that and after countless talks with family members and friends I finally agreed to schedule an appointment and the Center for Bariatric Surgery and Weight Loss in Ridgewood, New Jersey in June of 2013. Fast forward to September of that year I had completed all of my pre-surgery requirements and a date for surgery was scheduled. My surgery happened on November 4th at New York-Presbyterian in New York City. Let me tell you that November 4th, 2013 was the first day of the rest of my life. I'll save the details of pre-surgery, hospital stay, and post-surgery for another post. On the day of surgery I weighed 316 pounds having lost a little in the months prior to my surgery date. Now, in October of 2014 I am proud to say that I weigh 196 pounds putting my total weight loss at 120 pounds. My life has changed in the most extreme way, not just with how I physically look and feel, but mentally, I am a different person. I am the happiest I've been in my entire life. I understand that there are countless reservations people have before making probably the hardest decision of your entire life, because for me it was, but I can also proudly say that it was the best decision I have made in my entire life. I understand that you might feel that there is no way out of being overweight, but I'm here to tell you that there is. I am willing to talk to anyone who has questions and I am always available because I understand how hard it is to make this decision. PLEASE don't hesitate to ask me anything. Thank you for listening to my journey and my story and I hope this might help anyone who is on the fence or anyone who is scared or nervous. Lastly, I'd like to say how amazing the last year of my life has been and I hope everyone can share the same happiness I do. -Eli

I'm not so sure failing at the supervised diet is the plan. My surgeon made me sign an agreement that I would lose on this diet to show that I was ready for the lifestyle changes necessary to be successful and any weight gain could potentially delay surgery.

It has been over seven years since my surgery. I have gained a lot of weight back, what have you done to get back on track?

I'm going to have a revision soon and was wondering if with the sleeve do you get that food caught in the back of your throat feeling like with the band? I can eat and be fine and then never fails with my band after a few bites sometimes I feel like food is caught at the back of my mouth. Different feeling from a productive burp. Yes I get that too with this thingy in my stomach. The band was great my first 3 years andI lost 95lbs. Then about year 4 it all changed and constant band issues with weight gain of about 45lbs and tons of throwing up. I'M TIRED OF THIS LAP BAND GAME!!

Im not sure I think it just depends on Ur surgeon I go August 6 to meet with mine and they said she will start me then and I will be 4 months in so I'll have a month or so to get it all done then can submit it to insurance ) I just hope my weight gain doesn't set me back any I have gained 4lbs last month

Basically that was what I was told yesterday by the psychologist and it made sense. I would rather be safe than sorry, so I actually don't mind waiting. Although I really don't want to wait too long but I will, won't have a choicel. I just know it will be a fight to maintain my current weight, plus I'm not strong in the will power area. Just don't want to have to lose it all over again. That is my main concern, weight gain without the band. The "damn band" is now actually working now that it has slipped. I really know when to stop eating, as it tells me. Go figure.