btrieger

My surgeon had no restrictions with alcohol but as mentioned, it is all empty calories and carbs. I'm a binge drinker (not proud nor ashamed) and have had no issues.

Thanks for the info! Phospho-soda is what I was given prior to my colonospcopies. I have moved 1,850 miles since. Sohopefully, it will be something else next time.

I drink plenty of Guinness every other week or so. I've tried drinking garbage like PBR, Coors, Bud and miller but they are very painful due to the high amount of carbonation. As mentioned above, it is all empty calories and a lot of them. Be prepared to work that much harder to lose the weight if you choose to drink. Knaroz, You're wrong on the mixer thing. The hard alcohol has more sugar and calories than anything you mix it with.

Patrice, please talk to your surgeon about this if you mean you find it physically hard to drink. I was guzzling down water and Protein Shakes a few hours out of surgery. I did have a fill that slowed my drinking down for a day or so but I don't think it is normal to last a long time.

I honestly don't think it makes a difference to me. I was 100% covered but am just as or a lot more dedicated to being successful as those that shelled out the cash. Then again, I would have spent the $12K plus if insurance didn't cover it.

I've had 3 colonoscopies but none since banding. I have never had to drink the gallon of Water mixed with the laxative. My dad has. So, I know what you are referring to. I had to drink a couple of small bottles of foul tasting phospho something or other. Talk to you doctor about an alternative laxative. I personally would not not get unfilled just to take a laxative but on the other hand, my surgeon suggests getting an unfill for any surgery you are being put under for.

I'm loving it!! This is what I moved to Texas for!

The band comes with 3cc in it. Some spills out during surgery. Some surgeons remove it all. Some surgeons leave it. Some surgeons add more. It all depends on the surgeon. The band and/or fills DO NOT make you lose weight at all. It is how much you eat; what you eat and how much you exercise that makes you lose weight. The band is simply a tool to limit how much you eat.

That's what you're doing wrong. "Getting it to pass" it isn't supposed to have help passing. Take smaller bites and chew the crap out of every bite. DO NOT drink with meals. This takes a little getting used to but you will get there.

I could've got my haircut 20 minutes after surgery. Of course, I'm a guy and only have to sit for 10 minutes.

She never offered me anything! I gonna git her!

My positive attitude is absolutely sickening. I gained 7# on Sunday and am still happy :cursing: Sunday morning 207# Monday morning 214# I barely ate on Sunday, I just drank a whole lot of Bloody Marys. I think all of the sodium caused me to retain a lot of fluid. I was at the bar for 7 hours and didn't pee once. The only thing that sucks is that Tuesday is my weigh in day of teh week and I have to document 212 which is 4# heavier than last Tuesday. I am drinking a case of water a day yesterday and today trying to flush my system.

The failure stories are good in a sense that they remind us that surgery is not a panacea. The stories about people dying also help us realize that all surgery is major, no matter how simple it may seem. On another note, you're in NYC, remind them of the people that get shot because they don't keep their big mouths shut. :cursing:

Congrats on making an informed decision and not rushing into things! The big picture is not about which surgery you have or if you have surgery at all. It is about taking steps to improve/save your life. Good luck and feel free to drop in and let us know how you make out.

Thanks and congrats!! You must have lost a "ton" of weight to require all of that work!!! I am asking this same question all over and getting the same kind of responses. It is very comforting to hear that surgery is more discomforting than painful.

I do 1,200 - 1,500 a day but am not very strict about counting. I aim to burn at least 2,800 a day.

In short, nothing happens to your stomach with any plastic surgery. Your stomach is an organ that lies withing your abdominal muscles. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) cuts the abdominal muscles and tightens them to present a firmer abdomen. A panniculectomy just cuts away the extra skin and fat from your abdomen without touching the muscles.

I use a $1.99 shaker cup. Pour in the powder, fill with Water and some crushed ice. Then shake like Hell.

I do understand that this forum is a great place to vent. Especially with those that are in the same boat and as everyone know; misery loves company. This is a lifestyle change and changing your attitude is a very important part of the over all lifestyle change. Negative attitudes are like a cancer and spread quickly as do positive attitudes. Instead of posting about how hungry you are during the pre-op and/or post-op diet: take that time to ask yourself if you are really hungry remind yourself that it is only for a short time find something to do to take your mind off of the hunger reassure yourself that it will all be worth it in the long run smile! I am a bit on the opinionated side but I don't think Bandster Hell exists outside of your own head. Talk to your surgeon if you aren't satisfied on the prescribed diet. If you are gaining weight; keep track of what you are eating and drinking. If you don't see the cause, bring this log to a nutritionist. If you are plateauing less than 2 weeks, shut up! If the plateau lasts longer than a few weeks, once again, log your intake and bring it to a nutritionist if you don't see the cause. More importantly, post your positive feelings as well! Yes, I do recognize the irony in my posting negatively to tell people to be positive. Oh well.

It's an armband you wear all of the time and it calculates how many calories you are burning. It's pretty damn accurate too.

Please call your surgeon ASAP. Even if it is nothing bad, he can prescribe some pain killers. I had no pain but from what I've read here, most have no pain after a week, 2 at the most.

I would find a nearby support group if possible. One that understood what I was going through and at the same time hold me accountable for where things go from here. I'd also take some time out to locate others that this "surgeon" may have screwed over and look for some comfort in filing a class-action suit against him or at least getting the word out to his perspective patients at how bad he is.

I can and did and am doing. I am losing the weight. The lapband is just a tool I use to keep me in check. It slaps me on the wrist when I overdo it. Sometimes it feels more like a sledge hammer than a slap but it does the trick. I lost 95 pounds between my initial consultation and surgery using an even stronger tool, a positive, can-do attitude.

Congrats!!!!!

The band will not force you to exercise; make the right food choices or even eat the right amounts. What the band will do is keep you from eating too much if you maintain it properly and you make the right food choices. They rest is all on you. For instance: with no fills, you can eat as much of anything that you desire. Even with fills, you could probably eat a whole, delicious chocolate cake and wash it down with a gallon of egg nog. As for exercise, the band has nothing to do with it.