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My family and a few others know I' had the lapband in 2007. Of course they noticed I lost weight (75lbs) but never got to goal. They never said anything negative and I was happy being 75 lbs down amd not really stressing about weight loss anymore....just coasting. 18 months ago starting to have problems...had upper GI and Endo 3 months ago and found....dilation of esophagus, prolasp of my stomach through the band. Port had flipped because of adhesions...my symptoms were extreme weight loss for 3 months then weight gain with nausea. And just feeling...not right. None of my family knew any of this except my husband. Now ..I'm telling some of my family since I'm having surgery to let them know....we're a close family. I'm really having a hard time explaining why I'm having the band out and going to a sleeve...since nothing really shows on the outside except I'm gaining weight because I can't keep solid Protein down and eat more slider foods. My siblings are asking why I don't just see if I can unfill and let it all go back like before...and they say surgery is dangerous. I'm just second guessing myself all over again. Maybe I want someone to tell me I can wait and everything will be fine....then I wonder how much damage waiting longer will do. I'm soooo feeakimg confused and scared of making the wrong decision like I did with the band..even though I thought amd was told it was the best thing out there for PERMANENT weight loss. My surgery date is Feb. 28th, 2013. Thanks for listening to my crazy ramblimgs.

OK friends, I decided a long time ago to be honest and forthcoming on this site to help myself and others partaking in the experience of WLS. You all know just about everything...from my bathroom habits to the fact that I see a therapist to help me with body image issues and all that go with it. So..the last big hurdle had to do with the opposite sex. I've been alone for a long time for many reasons...not just the weight gain. With help from my therapist, I decided to go on some of those dating websites even though I am still very uncomfortable with my body. I am still working out my issues and whether or not I'll get any plastic surgery. If I do it, it has to be for the right reasons and not to try to achieve some unrealistic idea of perfection. Part of this process is to admit I would like to have a man in my life. I don't need to have a man, but I would like to try dating again. Well...I've been chatting with a few different men and I am meeting one of them tomorrow night. It's not the first date I've been on actually...I went out with a lawyer I met online a few weeks ago. He never shut up so I figured I'd just eat and enjoy an evening out knowing there wouldn't be a second date. But this one I like. I've talked to him on the phone for a few weeks and we seem to be hitting it off. I'll let you all know how it goes. I have to keep telling myself that he would be a lucky guy to go out with me. Not an easy thing to do when one battles self esteem issues all the time, but you have to start somewhere right? I've adopted a little saying in my head that comes from an old proverb: 'A virtuous woman is worth a price above rubies'. I have to remind myself that I am worthy of a good man's intentions. Wish me luck ya'll and I'll keep you posted.

:cheeky Marsha, I have PCOS and was diagnosed as Insulin Resistant 5 years ago and I've been on Metformin - prescribed by a Repro- Endo/ they seem to have a better insight for women with either PCOS or IR. Mainly because both conditions are due to hormone inadequecies which cause irregular cycles, excessive weight gain, increased glucose levels, etc. Especially if you are pre-disposed to diabetes like me (my mother had type 1 diabetes and died from complications to long term diabetes 35 years). I want to be banded as the metformin hasn't helped me one bit with the weight loss, but it has helped in reducing the side-effects/symptoms of PCOS. I've tried a variety of daily dosages 500mg once daily, twice daily, and currently three x's daily. But nothing works on the weight loss. The higher the dosage the impact worsens - upset stomach, runny stool, cramping, etc. I agree that metformin works best when Carbs are significantly reduced and Proteins are the bulk of your meals. Exercise is key as well - but nothing will beat the positive impact the band has. I'm still awaiting approval from BCBS (insurance) as I cannot afford the procedure on my own. Try switching your Protein intake and make sure that you consume 60grams daily, exercise 60 min daily 6-7 days a week, and most importantly drink your Water and lay off the carbs and the weight should come off. Most folks that are on metformin for PCOS are usually taken off the meds after banding as they glucose levels normalize. The same holds true for type II diabetics, from what I've heard. Talk with your endo about it- if you don't have one you like - get another one by all means. It's your life we're talking about. Good luck and keep us posted.

Vines, I ditto the answer above! I think if you have to go down to 800 to lose you should try to lose, but also bringing the exersize level up can help (grimmace - exersize sucks!!! ot at least I think it does). Anyways, most likely you will have no problems with your band and have it forever so you won't have to worry about weight gain if you ever had the band out. I just worry b/c I am only 26 and I haven't had kids yet so I would rather eat the 1200 calories now, lose weight slowly, have healthy babies, and then at that point I can weigh weigh loss v. metabolic slow down. Also, about the exersize - the basic thing to remeber is that if you burn more calories than you eat you will lose. Simple as that (unless you have a medical metabolic problem). So if you eat 1200 but move around enough to burn 1300 you'll lose, or eat 800 and move around enought to burn 900 you'll lose. I wasn't trying to scare anyone w/ the 1200 comment - I am just being proactive b/c unlike some people who think thier band will last forever, I have 60-70 years left in this lifetime (hopefully) and I don't see my band lasting that long -- I wish it would but I don't think it's realistic to expect it to (I know alot of people would argue with me on this but it's just my opinion). Anyways, I'm totally rambling on here, but the metabolic study Melissa suggested is an interesting idea. I would like to have that done too b/c my metablolism seems awfully slow! Anyways, good luck and even though you are a turtle I think you are doing great and I think your NSV list is really inspiring!!

I got on today looking for weight gain info. I am 4 months out and lost 60 lbs but gained 2lbs in the last few days. Thanks for all the great advice. I haven't journaled so I'm going to work on that.

There is no reason for rebound weight gain if you have changed your lifestyle. In my 18+ months at goal weight, I have never gained more than normal monthly Water weight (a whopping 2 lbs most months that is gone within a couple of days) With a good lifestyle change, staying at goal weight without a rebound is realistic.

Pretty much the same here in the U.S. at my house on Christmas..LOL Luckily for me I had not weight gain because of it..however I only ate 1/4 of my weight in chocolate

Thank you MommaCEO for the 200 lb. issue. Maybe that is my problem. I'm at 202 right now and holding steady. Although for a fleeting moment, I was 200.9. That was such a great day......... Yes, the stall is still here. No weight loss in 12 days except for a 1 pound weight GAIN. Lots of others have experienced the same thing, from what I'm reading. And from what I see, the stall can last a week or two. Here is an article I found while obsessively looking for others who have stalled. I thought this was interesting... http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html#.U7FAqBYvvHj Okay ladies (any men following this? I dunno) it's Monday! Let's all get on here and tell everyone our progress! I would love to hear from you!

IMHO - is that there are several factors that come into play whe adjusting a band, especially a larger band. The first which is true for either band is that the doctor will want to be relatively cautious when giving fills. They would much rather give you too little than too much and risk needing an unfill (in a worst case senario at the ER). Even though they make you drink some water after a fill to make sure its still going down there are those that find they are more restricted a couple days after a fill than they were immediately afterwards. But what I feel to be the bigger factor in that ever-ellusive "sweet-spot" of fills whith the larger band. Is that most of us were given the larger band (myself included) because we had a larger fat pad around the stomach wall. This fat pad will also naturally shrink as you lose weight causing the band to feel looser again. Which is why with the larger band I feel you usually end up finding and losing that sweet spot more often than not needing more tweaks until that fat pad has stopped shrinking. Personally, I ended up with over 12 fills in my first year. But have only had 1 in the last 6 months. And to be honest it probably was a mistake as I think that last fill left me a little too tight for several months. :eek:BTW - Am I reading your ticker right. The last time you posted your ticker said you were down 29 pounds now it reads 37. WOW!!! One bit of advice if you feel you are continuing to lose right now more on good ol' will power rather than "band-power" Make sure to emphasize that with your doc or he's likely to suggest you don't need a fill with such drastic weight loss. My doc refused me on either my first or second fill as he thought the band must be fine considering how much I had lost. But I was starving all the time and only restricting my intake through sheer effort. :ban:But I was so new to the process I didn't think to explain that to him and went away with out a fill. Coming back for one a few weeks later and after an unecessary 2 pound weight gain.

I think what you are experiencing is normal. It took me about 6 months for my mentality to change about desiring food, even if I wasn't truly hungry. Desiring to chew, taste, swallow and feel full the old way. The lap band changes your relationship with food in my experience. That change does take some time and you will "challenge" the band and not be able to keep it down. Eventually, you will tire of this and learn to live with your band, physically and psychologically. I had my band put in March 2009. I lost 115lbs the first year and have since maintained that loss (I'm 145lbs, 5'7".) Currently, I can eat just about anything if I eat a bite or two and then wait 15 minutes to eat another bite. That's ok for the taste and act of eating, but I feel it's hard for me to get my nutrition that way. I bought a vitmix blender...IT'S GREAT!! For me, my strategy is to make sure I get my fluids, protien and vitamins in first, then I dabble with eating bites at a time. I feel so much better and more energetic since I've began using my vitmix blender. It will liquify ANYTHING. I really missed my veggies with the lapband. I can't tolerate the skins of veggies. In this blender I can put in any mixture of veggies, skin, stalk and all and always a bit of kale, to make a liquid veggie drink. I add a good quality chicken bullion for taste and my powdered protien and I have a vitamin, fiber, fluid, protien packed tasty drink. I've done yogurt and blueberries as a smoothie and can tolerate that too. I thank GOD for this machine. These drinks don't replace all other foods, but they are the base to my nutrition. Everything else is extra and for the act of eating, chewing, and enjoying a few bites of regular food. For me, this works and it quite satisfying and certainly health boosting. Of course, I still enjoy a dilly bar whenever I want one and haven't had any weight gain what so ever. I remember the dietitian saying you shouldn't have to puree foods to be able to eat, that you were too tight if you had to do that. But they tell you to stew, or slow cook things until they are mush....whats the difference? The difference is cooking out all the nutrients is not good. The vitamix blender liquifies raw veggies, retaining all vitamins and fiber. I don't have stock in this company, I am truly just very excited to have come across this. It's very expensive 350-400 bucks, so I thought about it for 6 months before I broke down and got one. Best investment I've made since I got the lap band. I love the lap band!! Us bandsters just have to figure out how to have optimal health with the restriction that has allowed us to achieve our healthier weights.

I've had insanely slow weight loss as well but there are so many behavioral, physiological, and environmental contributing factors that I can't just come out and say "the surgery wasn't worth it" without tweaking/ruling out all of those influences. Despite a low 20lb weight loss over 6 months, I can say that I am still 100% better off than I would be without the surgery. At the very least, my band has put the brakes on my consistent weight gain. Without it, I would invariably weigh much more than I do now. In the future, it's possible that I'll see that the band may not have been the best option for my optimal weight loss, but I maintain that I made the best, most logical decision I could at the time. Compared to others, some may consider me a current failure--but I'm not ready to give up on myself or the band just yet. My weight loss journey may be different than others, but perhaps no less successful years from now.

Congrats on your new baby! Thats is exciting! Also, don't stress of the weight gain, I know that if you are taking meds it can cause a slight water gain. So, take care of yourself and doctor your cold!

I cheated but then my surgery was cancelled anyway as there were cancer patients that required surgery - I was a backup and if they didnt have beds I would have got surgery and when they took me in to get changed and stuff I almost crapped myself because I had cheated - Thankfully they didn't do the surgery but it was then rescheduled for another 2 weeks after which meant I had to stay on the preop - which I didn't I ate as soon as I left the hospital and then the next day but went straight back on the shakes. Didn't cheat at all and then I rang the hospital to see what time I needed to be there the next time and I wasn't even on the list - So I ate dinner that night which I think I had every right to lol. Now my surgery is scheduled for the 12th (next tuesday) and they rang me on the 1st so I didn't start the diet until the 3rd, I've definitely cheated, I had a piece of bread with ham and cheese and then a cracker with vegemite and cheese and also an egg, I don't feel guilty at all because doctors are to blame for the cancellations and my weight gain and they've even admitted that. My surgeon's nurse also rang and basically I'll be having surgery on the 12th no matter what (thank god.) I know it's hard for people to keep on track but I don't see how doctors can expect you to be perfect when the shakes/preop diet they assign you is dishgusting, I've heard of a woman whose preop she could have fish and salad with dressing - I'm not allowed that but if I was it would have been way easier to stay on track

Meliwriter you make some really good points! Thank you! I'm not banded yet, but I AM starting to eat less, and already I've noticed that some people seem upset if I don't have seconds and thirds... they actually argue with me if I say "no thank you." and this really is all about a choice I've made for me and my health, and sticking up for that is something that folks that know me definitely are NOT used to. I can see already this will be an interesting ride, but I am positive that it's gonna be better than the slow suicide of weight gain I've put myself through. thanks for your comments! Stan

Denver - I too have "body dismorphic disorder" (well, that's what I call it)where I would see myself in a mirror and think "ah, not so bad, maybe even darn good", but then see a picture and think "holy crap, am I really that fat?" Well, it was the day that I actually SAW myself in the mirror that I decided to have the surgery. I have continued to see myself differently than pictures, but now the pictures are starting to match what I see....something to look forward for! You'll enjoy it! About afterwards...everyone is different with what they can and can't eat. I suck at being able to eat any kind of bread (even toasted) or any kind of pasta (although I managed some moose lasagna a few weeks ago). I AM able to drink soda though and that can be bad...it's expensive here so I don't partake as much as I want (which is a good thing). Lap Dancer sometimes posts things about Overeaters Anonomous (sp?) and it's helpful for me - even though I don't tell her all the time. Weight gain/loss can be from different issues for all of us and the Band isn't going to make the issues go away so you still have to be comitted to changing how/what you eat. That's awesome that you're doing so well with the pre-op diet. Just remember, if you can stick out this two weeks then you'll be just fine post-op! We are all here for you! Ador - I had my gallbladder out years ago and it was killer! I've had three c-sections since and those (and the Band) were cake compared. I have to say that I'm grateful for all those who complain about the surgery because I thought I might've just been a total wus back then...but now I know I wasn't, that surgery really is a killer! Take it easy and enjoy the Vicodin! :wink2: OK FOLKS - I'm back on and that makes 2 for 2...it's like it's the LapBandTalk Olympics for me! Too funny! I'm trying to get inspired by the athletes, but really, I'm enjoying sitting on the couch a little too much. My arms are killing me today from all the wood chopping...I'll hit the axe again tomorrow though...we still have quite a bit to split so it'll dry up before it starts snowing!! When we're all done I'll have to take a picture of our "stack" so you'll all be impressed.

We have 3 acres at Crooked River Ranch which is between Madras and Redmond. Have views of 10 mountains: from Jefferson to Bachelor. Love it there! A whole year, wow! Keep your eye on the prize, so to speak Glad to hear it wasn't slippage. Don't even worry about weight gain or loss right now. You and hubby are the focus...mental and physical health. Well, I can't seem to get anything going in the right direction, Mini; am up 1.2 pounds this week. :crying::thumbdown:

AHHHHHHH!!! I was reading an article in O magazine today and it was on medications and do they cause you to gain weight? I am currently on six medications ( two more for the back ) and guess how many of my six cause weight gain????? Of all the medications I take, half of them cause weight gain. Four of them cause sleep disturbance. My band is definately doing it's job. As I whittle away and rehab and recovery on the back I find more and more things popping up. Needless to say, I'm stopping two of the medications and switching to Tylenol. I have an appt. with the doctor to review the other four. I am going to begin going off of one of them. The one for panic disorder. I'm changing the Effexor I take for depression because there is a viable option with lesser side effects. Something tells me once the meds are squared away I will give Dee a run for her weight loss money!!! (grins)

Well, I ended up in the ER. The surgeon on call did not want to touch it, and neither did the ER doc. The following day, a surgeon was able to access my tricky port after about 20 sticks. Looks like the port has flipped some and will have to be replaced. Also, it may be that the band has formed a capsule around it, causing it to be tight. Now I have no restriction and have no sense of fullness. Ugh..This thing is coming out! Going to look into converting to the sleeve, as this yo-yo weight gain/loss is killing me!

Weight loss? Weight gain? Pain better? Exercising?

I cant seem to lose alot of weight. i have notice that i have gained 5 pounds this month and i need help i have only lost 40 pounds in nine months

hello bariatric buds I wrote the above phrase on the previous page on January 29th - fast forward 2+ months..................... new day, new world! funny/sad how things can change. 8 months ago, i started Peritoneal Dialysis- done at night while i sleep, no problems through the procedure, sleep like a log!! (DH says i still snore LOL) dialysis causes a water "situation" . i am now 13.3 lbs over my GOAL of 130. I know its just water weight, but it is gradually effecting my clothes. Life is good - dialysis keeps me going - don't like the water weight gain. It's a trade off. I'm still cute as a button!!🤣 good health is all that its cracked up to be. 7+ years sleeved, I'm still standing!!☺️ kathy

I’m 4 years As of September 26. I literally starting feeling so depressed about my weight gain. I’ve gained 36 pounds and never made my goal weight. I’m wondering if I can have a revision

Im thinking that so long as you keep on top of total calories consumed, it doesn’t really matter how it gets in? l mean, consuming 3000 calories in 3 dedicated meals vs 10 mini-meals will still result in weight gain. And consuming 800 cals in either manner will result in a loss. I think for a lot of peeps (myself included) grazing is a necessity. There is no way I could eat all the food I eat in a regular day in just 3 meals (unless of course my “meals” were like 3 hours long or something). But of course, do what works for you, as we all have different MO’s that work for each us. Its really trial and error: follow a plan and keep following until it is no longer giving u the results u want...then change as necessary ❤️

i am currently 17 years old and weigh about 180 lbs. Writing in this forum is especially hard for me because for first off im having to actually finally accept the fact that i am over weight. The weight gain all started about two years ago...and in 2005 i weighed in at 98 pounds exactly. I have been small my entire life untill now and it is extremly hard having to cope with the new way of life im forced to live with. Three years ago i was sexually, emotionally and pyshically abused, after living in that situation for 11 months i came out of it a wreck. I was diagnosed with post tramatic stress disorder and had to undergo extensive therapy,hyonotherapy and a wide variety of medications. All of which seemed to get me out of my depressed state. What i didnt notice was i began gaining weight like crazy and i had no clue why. My entire body is coverd with stretch marks from gaining around 90 pounds in two years. I feel and look completly disgusting. I was once a 98 pound, active healthy happy girl. Since the weight gain came on, ive found out that i have a auto immune disease called hashimoto thyroiditis which caused excessive weight gain. But once i found out i had it and began meds, nothing got any easier. I now have mild narcolepsy,chrons disease,major thyroid issues, and acid reflux. I also have back pains and joint pains. I continue to gain weight to this day and i am miserable. My mom was over weight and got the lap band surgery and it worked wonders on her...shes lost over 60 pounds and feels and looks amazing. I am really confused and afriad to even think about this surgery, or to even think that my weight is causing me to be unhealthy. Untill i found this forum i felt like no one would be there to listen or understand my situation. I have breifly mentioned it to my doctors and they said it would be really hard to get insurence to help out...did anyone else have that problem when trying to get the surgery? Do you think i would actually be a good candidate for the surgery?

I had sleeve because I was worried about medication absorption. Since then I have read about tons of bypasses who are on meds, even the psyc meds I worried about and they have had zero issues. I am a year and a half out and so far no gerd issues but I have not lost all I weight and I struggle with regain. In all fairness one of my meds does clearly state is causes weight gain and with the depression I don’t exercise like I should but I still can’t help but wonder if I would be in a different boat with bypass. Don’t get me wrong I don’t regret my choice. I am glad I chose something because they are both great surgeries that will get you down to a much more healthy weight. I just can’t help but wonder what if I had chosen bypass would I be sporting my skinny jeans right now.