I spent 14,000 3 months ago for this surgery and i've gained 33 pounds..can't stop crying

I'm so upset.  I don't understand why I have gained weight!?  Everyone around me is looking at me to be thin and gorgeous and thats just not going to ever happen...#defeated

How many fills have you had?  How much in what size band.  Our center didn't even give us a fill untill 8 weeks out.  The first 2/3 months are called banders hell.  You have gone thru the surgery but don't have any restriction except the swelling from being banded.

Have you been fallowing your eating plan?  How much after care have you been giving?

I personally don't recommend band to self pay ever as it is a high maintenance surgery.  Some centers offer up to 2 years after care with it but, most only 90 days if any.  So when you really need after care it is all out of pocket.

Please share more with us so we can try to help you with what you have.

Yep what Piney said, give us some more details as to what the issues are and we will sure try to help you make this a better experience for you. Being banded is the slowest weight loss surgery so patience is needed but maybe we can help speed you up some. Don't feel defeated we are here to help!

I agree- its too early to give up and more details may help.

Gaining 33lbs versus not losing- are you sure you aren't eating worse because you had a surgery? You won't lose until you have restriction and eat high quality foods (protein). Maybe you just don't have restriction yet and you need to look at food choices?

Ok, based on your surgery date you are only about 2 1/2 months post op. I am also assuming you got the AP band which are much larger and softer than the old bands. They also come in two size 10cc and 14cc. It takes much longer for the larger bands to be effective for weight loss.

Some people have big stomachs and feel restriction right away and don't need much saline added, but most do. I had the old 4cc band almost 8 years ago and it is a BIG difference with restriction, the older bands you felt tight quickly, but with the new bands it takes awhile for the band to help you.

With my old 4cc lap band my weight loss was rapid and I feared my new AP band would not work the same.

I will tell you if I was new to banding, I would have been VERY disappointed with my AP band too, I had a little restriction when I had my old band removed, hiatal hernia repaired and new AP band installed, and lost a little weight the first 6 weeks, but after the swelling went down, I was back to normal about 6 weeks later and I had NO restriction.

When I mean NO restriction, I felt nothing, it felt like my surgeon removed my band, I could eat freely, my hunger was intense and I could eat freely, I was REALLY SCARED that my new AP band would not work for me, I even gained back 10 pounds 3 months post op. I did not get upset because I only wanted to lose about 40-45 pounds and my insurance paid 100 percent for my revision surgery, so I was not totally pissed off.

Fast forward and almost 7 months later and 6 fill adjustments I have BETTER restriction than I ever had with my old 4cc band, with no side effects of vomiting or reflux and I have lost 30 pounds of my regain weight.

You MUST stick to the program and continue with your fill adjustments, also you must do your part too, start walking daily, and eating proteins first and drinking water, the lap band does not work for MOST people until 6-12 months post op, it's not like the Sleeve where you have restriction right out of surgery, it take multiple fills before your band can really help with weight loss.

Surgeons should have warnings for those who self pay because it can be very disappointing for someone to spend that kind of money and not feel restriction until months later. Hopefully your surgeon gave you a deal for aftercare and special on fill adjustments. Most surgeons offer newly banded patients DEALS on fills for at least 6 months because they KNOW it may take time for the band to work.

Edited to add: Also you have to be very careful with soft foods, they will still go down with a very restricted band, you can eat high calorie soft foods, like chips, cookies, candy, white carbs like mashed potatoes, pie, fried foods, taco bell, milkshakes, etc and NEVER LOSE 1 pound with the band, this goes for any restrictive surgery, Lap band or Sleeve they are both tools, you have to use them wisely and focus on proteins, protein drinks, yogurts, and healthy soft moist foods with your band in order to be successful.

Give it time your band will work, but in the meantime, start taking daily walks and changing your diet.

Good luck.