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Doctors' philosophy on this vary from a few weeks to never again depending upon their experiences. The basic issues are: Healing - alcohol is somewhat corrosive to the stomach lining so one needs to give things a chance to heal first, Alcohol tolerance - rapid stomach emptying means it tends to hit faster, and with less (i.e., a "cheap drunk") so care must be taken there, Transfer addiction - we can no longer satisfy whatever addictive tendencies we have with food, so it is easy for transfer that addiction to something else, like alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, etc. What was a casual habit of a glass of wine with dinner occasionally can easily turn into full blown alcoholism. Liver health - starting as morbidly obese, or worse, our livers are not usually in very good shape to begin with (hence the "liver shrinking" pre-op diets that are often prescribed) and the liver is further stressed from its role in metabolizing all that fat that we are rapidly losing. It doesn't need any more stress from ingesting a known liver toxin like alcohol (not a judgemental thing, just our physiology at work). My surgeon is also a biliopancreatic (livers and pancreas) transplant surgeon, so he is in the no alcohol as long as we are losing weight camp (and ideally forever) and indeed we sign a contract to that effect - he doesn't want any of his bariatric patients coming back onto his transplant table! Those are the issues in play, and some aspects bother different surgeons to different degrees, so they have different policies. Check with what your surgeon's policy is, and decide for yourself - we are all adults here.

I know this is all new to you and is extremely upsetting, and I am sorry you are having to go through this right now. However, I bet this is not your bariatric surgeon's first denial for one of his patients. His office will have a "plan B" ready to go for you. --like the one they suggested and is working on--the sleep study. Talk to the office Medical Secretary/co-ordinator. She/he will be the person "in the know" about this. It probably won't, but if "plan B" should fail, then a "Doctor to Doctor" direct phone call will get the approval. You have had another hoop to jump through, and I'm sorry about that. Just remember that the people who approve or deny procedures sometimes are not doctors or sometimes they are not even medical people. Sometimes their expertise is in finance. Sad but true. Try (I know that's a huge task right now) not to worry. Let this play out. Prayers going up for you!

Found this at the local bariatric specialty nutrition store. OMG it is absolutely delicious! Has a very gritty texture from the flax but it is so yummy. So much better than Peanut Butter.

You may be better placed to follow the more general post op guidelines...liquids, purees, soft foods then standard foods, with a focus on meeting some protein minimums (typically about 60gms of protein per day). This may help with the transition from liquids to standard foods. If you were not give any guidelines from your surgeon or dietician, if you google 'pureed food bariatic surgery' you will find lots of suggestions, here is one I found https://www.upmc.com/services/bariatrics/surgery-process/post-surgery/diet/pureed, foods lists as well as timeframes will likely vary from clinic to clinic. Your surgeon or dietician may also have some suggestions for you.

Hello! Thank you all for the words of encouragement and the the leg advise. I am taking Magnesium now. I see my bariatric doctor in 2 days for my one year check up and labs. I will talk with her about it. My daily intake: I have a premier Protein shake on the way to work. Morning snack is a fruit or nuts lunch is Chili or salad or tuna dinner is whatever we can find at home or when we go out (we carpool and my husband is not on any particular diet) So if we go to Taco Bell, I get a taco, toss the shell and eat the rest like a salad Otherwise - we grill steaks 2-3 nights a weak (emptynesters - we can have steak every night) Rib eye steaks make me dump so I have to get either a Filet Mignon or sirloin. End the day with a Protein Shake or sugar free pudding. That is a typical day - I don't have much of an appetite BUT some days - I can't get enough to eat and usually end up with a tummy ache by the time I go to bed. When will I learn not to eat so late? UGH! Today I'm sick with a cold/flu for the first time with my new tummy and I'm researching what I can take, cold medicine wise. I haven't been sick in 2 years. So I will be searching this lovely side for any advise. You have have a GREAT day! -Kim

THANKS, MERITERI I LIKED S&W BUT THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $25,000! I MAY HAVE TO LOOK UP DR VENINGA! DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO DALLAS FOR POST OP? THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. TEXAS BARIATRIC SPECIALIST CAN DO POST OP IN KILLEEN. DO YOU KNOW DR GANTA'S PRICE OR HOW WELL PATIENTS ARE DOING WITH THE SINGLE INCISION? THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING!

Hello fellow bandsters, ex-bandsters, and bandster wannabes. I am not posting this to beat anybody up or anything like that so please don't take it that way, but I'm just writing because I can't understand why so many people feel as though the band has fell them. So I'm ranting basically. I have been reading many posts in which people who have had surgery around the same time as myself and even after me are having or has had complications with their band and I can't understand that. Grant it, I do understand that many have had success and because of other issues with their body they had to have their fluids removed for either pregnancy or other surgeries and for whatever reason, the band is selfish. It doesn't apparently want us to have babies or other surgeries that we need for our continued overall good health. Okay, I get that and the band stops working and needs to be removed. Okay, cool. However, I have read other peoples stories and apparently funds were not available for aftercare to get the proper adjustments needed to stay restricted. I keep reading posts that state they never achieved the "sweet spot" and all I can say is I'm sorry. If you are self-pay, again, I'm sorry that you weren't able to keep getting your fills because proper fill capacity is the key. Yes, I realize many of you also have to drive miles and hours just to get that and believe me, I understand gas and money these days. But at the same time, you should have been given the guidelines to follow in order to successfully lose weight (types of food to eat and avoid and amounts) and if your bariatric team did not do that, then shame on them. The band can't say, however, "Don't put that ice cream in your mouth. Don't drink this or eat that." Only you have total control of what goes in your mouth. I have also read many people's journeys in which they didn't even need fills and have lost impressive amounts of weight. To you I applaud and congratulate you because I was not that fortunate. I had to get my fills and unfills when I was too tight. That's another problem I keep reading about over and over. If you are too tight, you will not lose weight you are in the red zone and are setting yourself up for failure. I hated that I had to get an unfill or two or three because I loved that tightness and I wanted to lose weight so bad, but I'm so glad that I listened to my professionals because it paid off in the end. So what am I saying, the band does not fail. YOU FAIL, I'm sorry. There are some unfortunate souls that well your body just doesn't want as you say something "foreign" in you. Well, God bless you and I hope you have found another way to lose weight. For you new people, IT IS NOT EASY!!!!!! Even in maintainence, it's not easy. Again, if you have the proper restriction YOU WILL NOT OVER EAT PERIOD. Can you eat anything you want? Yes for some of us but not everything. After being banded, some foods and drinks we just can't do and that is a plus for many of us because we don't need them in the first place. Why is it still hard in maintainence? Because you have to still be careful about not eating too fast and chewing your food really good so that you don't get stuck. For me and I'm sure for a few others, that is a daily struggle. So all in all, the band is a great tool to help you lose weight if YOU REALLY WANT TO, but YOU have to do the work. The band is just placed around your stomach and that's it. It doesn't think for you. Again, I'm not trying to disrespect anyone but just clarifying the fact that the band doesn't fail by itself. Best wishes to all of you.

Bariatric surgery support; Bariatric kitchen; Bariatric mind masters and Bariatric social. They are private fb groups that you ask to join.

I just ordered some Syntrax nectar in Cookies and cream, and unflavored GENEPRO off amazon. I saw some really awesome reviews on these. Of course I got them to stockpile, as I can't even enroll in the bariatric plan till 1/2/15, but you better believe, I'll be calling at 8am bright and early to get this party started!!

First of all, welcome to BariatricPal and welcome to the losers' bench! You are right that you have made a great decision for yourself and your future. I think most of us have those nagging voices in the first few days saying "what have I done?" and "will I ever feel normal again?" But hang in there. It does get better every single day in the beginning. You will not regret this decision in the long run and while you may never feel the same "normal" you did pre-op, you will find your new "normal". Are there any local bariatric support groups you can join? I haven't felt the need for any since I got SO MUCH support through this web site and the people I have met here. But having some real life interaction with fellow bariatric patients might also prove beneficial to you if you have access.

Has anyone ever moved quickly thru the phases of the post op diet? I have had no naseau or vomiting but only eat less.

Are you hitting your numbers in regards to nutrition using just the Tespo Bariatric Plus formula?

It took almost a year of adjusting the amount of Fluid into my Lap Band. At 1 point of getting almost maximum tighting, I got it too full that I would vomit almost anytime I would eat. So of course I had to get a 1/2 cc removed at a time until I could comfortably not get sick eating. Don't think being able to eat over a 1/2 c. is a bad thing. You want to have a normality to living. Just follow your bariatric diet correctly & u'll be fine. There is no magic pill or surgery to get or keep the weight off. Will power & determination is the only way u'll be successful. Just don't give up on yourself & never give up trying to be the person u want to become! Sent from my VK700 using the BariatricPal App

Hey Carbgirl. The consultation went great and I now have my surgery date of May 21, 2009. I start the Optifast shakes on May 7th. It will be a challenge, but I'm going to do this like I'm supposed to. I'm really looking foward to my surgery date - I get kind of mixed emotions - scared one minute then I can hardly wait the next. It's a real roller coaster ride. My dh and I are going to bariatric university on May 4 - Monday. Hope I learn a lot there, too. Thanks for responding. I'll be on the post op board in about 18 more days. Susan

I had issues drugs stopped working surgeon office sent me to physiatrist that works with Bariatric patients on med issues as all labs were normal. He ran a special genetic test and it showed the ones that my body would not process and that even tho my folic acid was normal my genetic makeup I no longer was using in my brain for the serotonin uptake. Changed my antidepressant added Delpin capsules take together big difference. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was taking three pills a day by a week out. Never had any problems. My bariatric center has an "as tolerated" sort of policy about pills after the first couples of days.

I have been in touch with the above group and find them very helpful if a bit pushy. Has anyone any experience of them please?they seem to be only using bariatric surgeons(rather than general surgeons)which can be only good. However they are a lot more expensive that my other choice Chris de Bruyne in Belgium.Either way as I am in Ireland I am going to have to get on a plane and travel so distance isn't really an issue. All experiences welcome!!thanks

We do it like @@JamieLogical described. I don't expect my husband to follow the same diet as me, nor do I think that would be fair if the tables were turned. There are literally thousands of bariatric friendly / low carb recipes available for free on the Internet and many many cookbooks as well. Do some research, you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of tasty foods that will be available to you, even after surgery.

They have a fabulous bariatric program. I hv Aetna and they cover it all. All my surgery cost was my copay of $125. Dr Hallowell is awesome and so is his whole staff. I asked him bout plicaton n he said he does it with every band because the band company recommends it for better results.

How about going to Amazon ? They have Bariatric cookbooks.

I would check the insurance forum here too. What I do know is very little but like the other person here said yes they do cover this surgery. They also require that you go to what they call "Centers of Excellence" in Bariatric Surgery. If you do not then they will not cover you at all. Here is a link to locate a Center of Excellence in your area: Surgical Review Corporation I would call Medicare to find out exactly what they require. But here's what I found for you. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdecisionmemo.asp?from2=viewdecisionmemo.asp&id=160&

As I mentioned on your other post, Dr Weiner is a very experienced bariatric surgeon. I have a lot of confidence in him and that hospital. I personally feel that while I received excellent medical follow up after my gastric band, i don't think I really had the opportunity for other follow up and support. That was pretty typical of lapband follow up 10 years ago everywhere i think, but i sought out a surgeon for sleeving who really emphasizes a 2 year follow up. i think I need it. If I were in your situation I would not hesitate to use Dr Weiner as a surgeon but I would ask very detailed questions about his sleeve patients (he keeps follow up info on his patients and can provide stats). I would also look for your own education/support closer to home. That might be a nutritionalist or support group or counselor, I am not sure which as i think I need all of the above.

Between Friday and Saturday I almost talked myself out of this but today I feel a lot better The bariatric Group that will be doing my surgery said that they are not members or providers under my insurance and well according to my insurace in black and white yes they are the letter I got from the bariatric Group said I woul;d be responsible for what the insurance will not pay but according to my insurance as long as they are in my HMO paln and they all are that I will never see a claim and I will not have to pay out anything other than my co payment for the hospital well after reading that letter i just got depressed for I don't have 3500.00 so I have to wait until tomorrow to clear this all up and all I have been doing is crying and not eating

My surgeon provided bariatric advantage as part of my program fee. I don't need them pre... only post for 2 weeks

Ok... Found out tonight in support group if you have any type of bariatric surgery you must never have a NG tube, unles a gastroenteritis does it. It was advised to get a medical alert bracelet or I'd tag ::: No NG Tube. Bariatric patient. (procedure and year). Also make sure in your wallet with your I'd and insurance info you have a card with your surgeons info incase of an emergency.