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Well I had my first fill today. It wasn't bad like I thought it was going to be. He just had me lay down on the table poked around on the right side of my tummy. (by the way my dumbass thought my port was on the left haha) Then he rubbed alcohol on my tummy said your going to feel a small stick then some movement and pressure. I was prepared for the worse and it never came. The stick wasn't worse then a regular shot prick and when he put the fluid in I got kind of a head rush. You can't really explain the feeling. It's not bad just different. I sat up drank a few sips of water and was on my way. Pretty easy considering what I was expecting. I am down 40 pounds now so thats really exciting. I'm on liquids tonight then mushies then I can go back to normal foods. I'm really feeling the band tonight, but he said some people swell and that should go down in a few days. I'm enjoying it while it lasts because I'm not hungry at all and I have been starving for like a month. I go back in 2 weeks to see if I need another fill. Hopefully he will tell me I've lost another 2-4 pounds. I am really excited to have my first fill because it makes it seem just that much more real to me. Hope all is well with everyone.

I have completed all of my pre-approval testing as of last week (Mamo, pap, ultrasound on liver and gallbladder, echocardiogram, nutritional class 1, psych eval, visit with cardiologist) and got flying colors on all of them. I also have a statement from my orthopedic guy that I need to lose 100 pounds before I can have my knee replacement (we are all hoping losing the weight will mean I won't have to have the knee replacement for a much longer period of time). Now waiting for the insurance company to do their thing (Tricare Prime) and approve the RnY surgery (apparently the only bariatric surgery they cover). I was hoping for the surgery in mid to late October, but we may not have the insurance okay until then, then we have to schedule the surgery, so I'm hoping early November. I have a large and important event scheduled at work the week of Thanksgiving and must be back to work before then. Surgeon has me starting a pre-op diet now to get used to what the post-op diet will be like (primarily Protein with veggies). We live too far from a gym (and it's too expensive anyway), so hubby and I are going for a home fitness gym and I have nine acres property I can walk everyday (as well as miles of country road). I've been caffeine free for three weeks, sugar and alcohol free for two weeks, bubbly diet soda free for three weeks... working on learning to chew.... having time to practice the new habits and give up the bad ones is good, but not sure how long I can really hold out with out the help of the surgery. ​ I'm worried the insurance people are going to drag their feet or worse yet, deny me. I started out 120 pounds over my ideal weight of 128. I've lost a couple of pounds in the last week thanks to the Post-op diet (but feel like I'm starving and craving sugar something fierce). Surgeon tells me I have no worries about being approved even though I am healthy despite my weight. My weight alone should be enough she says. Any experience with Tricare Prime?

I love this and wanted to share it with everyone.... A Mediterranean Diet Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7-Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life, says there are certain foods you can eat that will help alleviate stress. One of the easiest ways to reduce stress and be mentally and physically healthy is to follow a low-fat, Mediterranean diet, she says. Staples of the diet include: A lot of fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods Little red meat Fish several times a week Healthy fats such as olive oil Wine in moderation Low-fat dairy products, primarily yogurt and cheese Complex Carbohydrates When you start to feel low, depleted or stressed, Debbie says you shouldn't turn to a pint of ice cream. Instead, indulge in some complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, for an immediate boost. "The complex carbs really generate serotonin [a neurotransmitter that affects chemical balance] for women," Debbie says. Some of her top picks include: oatmeal Whole wheat toast Brown rice Brown Pasta Lean Protein Debbie says the order in which you eat your food affects your mood. To get the most stress relief, she says you should first have some complex carbohydrates, then, about 20 minutes later, have some lean protein. Healthy lean Proteins include: chicken Fish eggs Low-fat cheese Omega-3s Known anti-inflammatories, omega-3s also have a positive impact on brain health. Debbie suggests eating these sources of omega-3s several times a week: · Salmon · Halibut Mackerel Trout Flaxseed oil Walnuts Dark chocolate A favorite of many women, Debbie says a little dark chocolate is the perfect treat when you are feeling stressed. "It really makes you more alert and releases stress," Debbie says. Between managing your career, spending time with your family and taking care of yourself, getting through your day can be extremely stressful. Luckily, your diet can help you control that stress, Bob says. He talks with Dr. Rovenia Brock about how to reduce stress and anxiety by eating the right foods. "Dr. Ro" says it's important to eat foods that will calm our nerves amid the chaos of our most stressful days. "I think a lot of people become overwhelmed with the notion of what it is to live healthy, to get a healthier lifestyle—including the foods you put in your kitchen," she says. "But it doesn't have to be a science project." Stress-Reducing Foods: Foods rich in Vitamin B: These include clams, lentils, chickpeas and quinoa. Foods high in vitamin B have a calming effect on the body, helping to melt away feelings of stress and anxiety and enhance your mood. Papayas: Fruits and vegetables with orange and yellow pigments are generally going to contribute Vitamins A and C, as well as folate, which helps enhance the mood, Dr. Ro says. Red bell peppers: These contain vitamins A and C and folate, which help give you more energy and repair cell damage caused by stress. Basil and arugula: These stress-reducing herbs are a great source of folate and add great flavor to healthy dishes. Sunflower seeds: These contain vitamin E and folate to enhance your mood. Foods to Avoid: Caffeinated beverages: Caffeine can cause anxiety and raise stress hormone levels, Dr. Ro says. Trans fatty acids: Found in sweets like cakes, pies and Cookies, trans fats compromise the immune system, which causes more stress on the body and also increases your risk for heart disease. Sugar: Sugar causes spikes in blood sugar levels, which robs your adrenal glands of their ability to control stress hormones and protect the body against stress. Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption adds more sugar to your diet and, again, is harmful to the adrenal glands, which protect you against stress. "You might want to put the cork back in the Burgundy [when you are under stress]," Dr. Ro says.

Everyone's plan is different, and I would recommend that you stick with whatever your plan states for you. If you are unaware, ask your surgeon or NUT and I'm sure they'll have an answer for you. For me, it was at about the 60-day mark when I had a few sips of wine. I didn't try to push it beyond that, and I don't drink very often at all. My nutritionist labels any alcohol the same as refined carbs -- "empty calories"...and they are just that. When you can't eat very much nutritious foods during the day, you learn very quickly to become stingy with the calories that you can consume, and so I try to opt for things that are nutritious and will actually feed my body. Alcohol just isn't one of those things, no matter how much I wished it was. I do believe that there are some very real antioxidant qualities in red wine though, so I will have a sip or two now and again, but only after I eat and only on special occasions...it's never really been a regular thing for me. But best advice would be to speak with your NUT/surgeon to your specific plan and be stingy with those calories! Make sure what you do consume is nutritious! Best of luck!

I copied and pasted from drugs.com What should I avoid? Avoid taking tryptophan while you are taking Lexapro. Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with escitalopram may cause you to bruise or bleed easily. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of Lexapro. Lexapro may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. So far, Premier has the lowest amount of tryptophan, about .36 for a chocolate shake that's probably fine.

This is going to gross some people out, I'm sure. But I'm a week post-op, still on Clear liquids, and I'm absolutely sick of sweet anything. My pain medication is even sweet--some disgusting pineapple analog, I think. I quit taking it just to get away from the ghastly syrupy taste and texture. The Gas-X chewable is faux-cherry. Gah. Multi-Vitamin chewable is sweet. I want some character in my clear liquid diet, drat it!!! So, I got my husband to buy a bottle of cocktail olive-thingies, all briny and stuff, and a bottle of pickled pearl onions, plus some Perrier, and a bag of Key limes (those little bitty ones). Poured some of the Perrier Water over ice, added some spoonfuls of the liquid around the olives and onions, squeezed in some lime juice, and took a sip. I started *DROOLING* it tasted so good to me. Sour, salty, a little bitter...and no carbs or sugar. I may try tonic water next. Also, I think I've hit on a winning combination for the next party I go to, so I have a drink to carry around without drinking anything alcoholic and that'll actually taste good (to me). My doc said to not drink carbonated stuff, and I think Perrier is close enough to not-carbonated (plus, I don't exactly drink it every day) that it won't be cheating. Those sour onions and the olives were delicious, though...How silly is that?

Ok, this is totally TMI but I need help. I had surgery on 3/19, and up to 10 days ago I was doing fine. I lost over 50 lbs and I feel great most of the time. I can eat almost everything by now (of course, no sugar, no fat, no carbonated drinks and no alcohol) but the past few days I've been really constipated. I never had problems like this before, on the contrary, if you know what I mean. I eat plenty of fruit (i admit I've been a little lazy with vegetables, eating only once a day), and every time I have to go is a struggle. I go days without having to go. Can anyone help? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Try doing a search for alcohol and then get ready to read all sorts of views. I waited until third month.

Generally most artificial sweeteners are O.K. unless you have an allergic reaction to them. So if you can tolerate sweet-n-low before surgery, you should be able to do so afterwards. Generally, I use Splenda and Stevia. I also use sugar alcohols, such as those found in Adkin's treats. But I am a 30 months post-op. I have diabetes type 2 that went into remission the day I left the hospital. And it has remained in remission the entire time. I periodically check my blood sugar levels to validate. This link may be of help. http://acsh.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sugar-Substitutes-and-Your-Health.pdf

Alcohol is discouraged because it is liquid calories. That said, I do drink alcohol, but mostly it is red wine which has some health and, purportedly, weight loss benefits in moderation. I wouldn't drink a whiskey with coke because of the carbonation in the coke, but I do occasionally have a margarita, vodka cranberry, or gimlet (none of which have carbonated mixers). That said, some bandsters do carbonated beverages sometimes and just take the risk with the band. I'll say this-- you certainly won't be able to drink as much as before.

I just tried the pure protein bars the other and they are very good. My concern now is how it says that it has sugar alcohol in them, but very low sugar. I'm just so confused with the whole sugar alcohol and what to think of that when it says (ie 15g) . So can someone please tell me if I should avoid the sugar alcohol all together or is it not as bad as I think?

Well, my first blog here at lapbandtalk.com and I feel nervous - I mean what if someone actually reads this? I named it "1 pound at a time" because I have to start remembering that just like the Alcoholic Anonymous saying " one day at a time" it really is one pound at a time. I cannot keep looking so far ahead a that I lose sight of the here and now, the little triumphs and the little victories. So today was that little victory, I lost one pound - and I am fine with this as I haven't lost for a month - now I am proud to say I am 193.5! My goal this month is to hit 190 and I believe not only will I do it but I will exceed.... but again, one pound at a time... stop looking so far ahead that you set yourself up, that you become lax in your food and your exercise... these are the things I need to remember.

I've had three of these episodes now, where I'm a freaker/tweaker for 2-4 hours, but it seems longer. I just need to know that someone else experiences something similar to this, to know that I'm not alone. I become frantic, frenetic, like every molicule in my body is vibrating at double what it should be. Can't think, can't make a coherent sentence, can only shake and pace and move and tweak. The first time I was a little euphoric, but the last two times I felt out of control in a bad way. I don't doubt that If Iwas in public when this happens that I'll be arrested for public intoxication use of meth, or speed or crack. And not in a good way either. This goes way beyond being "normally" Cushie energetic. There is no way I can get anything done, it's all I can do to not start screaming or yelling. I spent over an hour walking in a circle in my kitchen. I'd get dizzy, so I'd switch and walk the other way. I ended up leaving the house and walked around my block twice, at a speed-walker pace, crying all the while, tears streaming down my face. I'm sure the neighbors were alarmed at my erratic behaviour. *I* was alarmed. When I"m in the teeth of one of these episodes I cannot hold a rational conversation. I can't even follow a simple one, not really. I repeat myself. I'll say the same thing two or three times, usually the end of the sentence I'm trying to say. I also get TERRIBLY thursty, and end up drinking a couple quarts of water in one go. Last week when this happened, I was in the middle of my 32 hour blood draw, and ended up with an ACTH of 59 and 60. Chris at least got to see how bad I was, at my very worst. I called Chris, not sure how I managed to punch the buttons since my hands were shaking so bad. She told me to start yet another UFC, do a salivary, and get a blood draw at the end of the UFC. I dont' want to test anymore! I wanted it to STOP! I don't want to have another one of those episodes EVER. But all Chris could do was tell me to test. Of course, I wouldn't have ever thought to test while I was in the middle of that. Even though it's happened three times now, it would have never occured to me to test. When I had regained my brain, after I stopped tweaking, I told my son that he was going to have to make me a drink. He was going to have to feed me rum until I stopped tweaking. I know that alcohol and Cortisol "eat" each other. I just feel like I cannot go through another one of those episodes. I just cannot face it. I know it is a danger signal to think in "black and white" concepts, but I'm just so terrified of those episodes. But what also frightens me is the thought of the crash that is bound to follow, either this afternoon or tomorrow. Where I'll lose conciousness, where I'll have "extreme weakness" with the crushing pain of the headaches and the back pain will burn my very soul.

They have sugar alcohols and too many make me go to much.... Just an occasional treat for me.

Hello all! I am curious as to how those sugar free Chocolates go down? Do you experience dumping syndrome even with sugar alcohols? Is there an acceptable amount of carbs in these types of treats? I appreciate the advice! Thanks Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi everyone, I'm new the forums. I've updated my profile so you know my story. I'm been reading lots and lots on here as I've been looking for information and experiences from both the Optifast diet and WLS. I'm currenlty on the medically supervised weight loss program at Kaiser. Today marks two weeks. As I started this journey, I also wanted to know more about WLS because I thought I would rather eat real food than Optifast for 12 weeks. Well, after the introductory seminar I felt a bit defeated in my Quest as it seems to be more restrictive than I thought. I was hoping to ask my follow up questions here to help me better understand what happens after WLS, what can you eat/drink after WLS, etc so that I can make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed with the WLS orientation. I did receive a referral from my doctor. After WLS: Can you no longer have a glass of wine with a meal? They told us you can no longer consume liquids with your meal. How do you all handle this and how has it worked out? Only 3 meals a day can be eaten, no Snacks or small meals in-between. What do you do in social events, parties, picnics? You need to strictly monitor caloric intake and weigh and measure your food. Is there a standard typical caloric intake per meal and per day recommended? You need to avoid foods high in fat and sugar. Restrict alcohol. Restrict carbonated drinks. Any guidance, learnings and knowledge sharing from your experiences would be greatly appreciated. ~R

I can eat carbs with no issue.” Bad” carbs it depends on quantity , when they are eaten and the day of the week. If I want cake I try to choose one that has whole meal or almond flour and nuts or fruit rather than a big sugary confection. I have had a small ice cream ( whilst on holiday) with no issue but I was extremely nervous when I ate it. Small quantities of chocolate don’t seem to affect me but then there are days where I have a small quantity of something or eat a healthy food like oats and the body decides no. The result is palpitations, shakes, a funny taste in my mouth and generally feeling yuck. As for alcohol I am now a very cheap drunk. Had 1 glass of sparkling wine last night and had to go to bed as it went straight to my head. Being too scared to try these kind of foods is probably a good approach.

Been banded over 4 years, lost all my weight a while back...so I don't get NSV';s that often anymore.... But Saturday Night was a big one! First, I graduated HS in 1970....I weighed 165, played football, ran track, etc. There is a class mate, who has become a very popular comedian, tours all over the world, TV, Movies...etc. (I'm not going to mention his name) Well the word went out through face book, that he would be the headline act at "Catch a Rising Star" here in New Jersey....and people from the Class of 70 were being contacted to attend...sort of a mini reunion....which a good number of us did. To get to the point, people I have not seen in over 40 years were there....of course everyone was thrilled to see each other. Lots of Love going around!.....and everyone could not get over how I have not changed one bit...I am still the same weight, and I am still in tip-top shape as I was in High School! People said I have obviously done pretty good for myself. The joke was, where everyone is getting older...I am gong in the opposite direction! IF THEY ONLY KNEW!!!! It's been over 40 years and they do not know I was once morbidly obese, was once a diabetic, have cardiac issues, along with a long list of other things. And as a last resort, I had to undergo Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery...and only then did I turn my life around....but they don't know, and that's just fine with me....just let it ride. I was walking on air all night, and it was not just the alcohol we were consuming! (of course we partied!) Stuff like his makes it all worth it....best decision I ever made!

Fortunately today there are alternative to satisfying a sweet tooth such as low calorie natural sugars such as Stevia and synthetic sugars such as Splenda and sugar alcohols. And many of these are being integrated into products that you can buy in the supermarket.

Has anyone experienced a sweet alcohol from your breath? It also makes everything smell and taste funny

The first time I tried alcohol after GB was 2 years post op. I could have after 1 year but chose to hold off. Now, I love having wine when I go out. You must be very careful when you do because following bypass, just a few sips and you can feel it. A whole glass has me at the tipping point. My surgeon actually made me sign a contract that I would not touch the stuff for a minimum of 1 year post op. This is just me but I would be concerned that you are not fully healed yet and would abstain for now. Not sure what the alcohol could do to your new pouch. Most of the wait is because they do not want anyone transferring food addiction to alcohol and it is very very common after WLS. I can honestly say I never used to think about drinking and did it rarely, now I love a glass and sometimes two every time I go out for dinner. I could see how it could become a problem but am watching it closely.

Thank you, I needed to hear that. I felt really badly, not because a few bites of pizza are so terrible but because it is like an alcoholic just taking a sip, you know?

sooo yesterday afternoon i ventured out of the house to go catch up with some family,,, i was a little nervous as i hadnt really hung out with any one other then my house mates since the surgury and they are used to my little after drinking and eating dances and faces lol well it actually went really well,, of course there were lots of questions and humour and support as my family are great that way, but there was a little akwardness when it came to stuff like offering me tea and coffee and what not,, but i guess thats to be expected cuz most people dont really know much about banding or how it works or what we can eat and stuff , but once we got past that it was all pretty normal and awesome,, it was a great feeling a lifted alot of fear from me about feeling out of place because of my eating restrictions, but it as quite easy to adjust,,, they decided on fish and chips for dinner so i just got one peace of crumbed fish and ate it slowly like we bandits have to and in the time it took me to eat my peace of fish they were all finishing their meals,, so it as alot less akward and such a relief i dont think they really even noticed how little i ate,, or maybe my family are just that awesome they just took it on board either way SUCCESS ,,, i even actually had half a glass of rum and coke,, naughty naughty i know but it was a bit of a reward for me,, but as i havnt been eating anything sugarly or fatty latly the sugar in that half a glass sent me a little hyper LOL,,,, which my family ( who all quit enjoy there alcohol) thought was quit funny,, i also noticed last night that my attitude and confidence has changed a little bit already ,, usually im shy and timid around my family , but last night i didnt have the usual feeling of not fitting in,, ive only lost 5 kg but the knowledge in the back of my head that i am making these changes and that i am GOING to do this ,, just that knowledge alone and the confidence and energy i get from having my band is boosting me so much and my family are noticing already,, so hopefully that lasts through out my journey,, i know it probably will waver here and there but again a perk of my family know and my close friends know is they can spur me on so yea great start to my second bandit week,,, tata for now

My name is Morgan and I am 22 years old. I have been overweight all my life. I grew up where we would go to burger king about 4 nights a week and on the way to school we would get McDonalds for Breakfast. Once I hit 200 pounds at a very young age I kept telling myself I wouldn't gain anymore weight. Then I would get to 225 and tell myself I would never get to 250. Then I hit 250 and said I would never hit 300 pounds. The huge BUT (not pun intended lol) is I never did anything about the whole losing weight thing. I kept eating the way I did. I was so self conscious and had zero self esteem. I ended up turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, and self harm. I have come a very long way in this journey already. I met the most amazing, caring, honest, trustworthy man and I quite the drugs and alcohol and self harm. We got engaged and set our wedding date and then found out we were expecting We kept our wedding date though because I knew if we pushed it off until after our son was born, then who knows how long it would be before we could actually plan the wedding and get married. We got married May 14th, 2011 while I was 8 months pregnant and it was incredible. I loved being pregnant while I got married. The feeling is indescribable because yes it was a commitment day for myself and my now husband but also to our unborn child. The pregnancy was a rough one and I was on bed rest from 14 weeks until about 30 weeks. Normally during pregnancy you gain weight but I ended up losing 40 pounds which was ok because I went into the pregnancy at 370. After my son was born on June 10th, 2011 I weighed about 330. Over the last year I have gained all that weight back and am now up to 374 I am sick of being overweight! I have tried diet plan after diet plan and I get so frustrated when I know I am doing good on the diet and exercising but I would only lose a little bit of weight. I want to raise my son with him knowing how to eat healthy. I want to be healthy for my son and husband and obviously myself so I can live longer and be able to enjoy doing activities with them instead of losing my breath after walking up a small flight of stairs. My aunt had gastric bypass done in 200 and has lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off. After seeing my aunts success, my mother decided to get the surgery done in 2003. She has lost over 150 pounds and has maintained a healthy weight since then. I have been wanting to get this surgery done for a long time now there were just things holding me back. 1. I didnt have the insurance or out of pocket money to get it done. 2. I was mentally not ready to get it done. Now I know it is the right time and I am ready to jump in and make the commitment. I am ready to change my life for the better by starting fresh. Eating healthy. Exercising. Taking up softball and hip hop dance. I am determined!!! I finally have insurance that is going to cover my surgery and I could honestly not be happier! I have my first pre-op appointment September 5th to meet with the surgery center, psychologist and dietitian. I cannot explain how motivated I am and 110% ready! I will be starting weight watchers on September 1st so I can get in to the routine of things before surgery. I have an amazing support system that will help me through my life long journey. I also have been diagnosed with PCOS so it has been very hard to conceive. Our son was a miracle baby, due to having PCOS and not having a period or ovulating for more than a year. Having this surgery will hopefully improve my PCOS and eventually after my surgery and weight loss we will be able to try for baby number two. I also know that this surgery will improve my depression, self esteem, self confidence and make me enjoy and respect life life more. I am on here to look for advice, support, input, similar stories and make friends. I am looking forward to starting my new and healthy life Here is a recent family picture when we went to Yellowstone at my highest weight of 374. The second picture is of my mother at my sons 1st birthday in June. She used to weigh the same as me and got the gastric bypass done and is now in her target weight range, healthy and happier than ever. It is very inspiring!

1. Yes. Omeprazole was actually prescribed to me for 4 months after surgery to help protect my new sleeve. At first you just open the capsules and swallow the contents....later you can swallow the whole capsule. 2. Sleeve is associated with higher instances of GERD. 3. Carbonated beverages are generally frowned upon for life. 4. Alcohol is discouraged before 6 months post op and is generally cautioned against.....because it has empty calories, because it is metabolized differently after surgery, and because there is a risk of cross over addiction with WLS.