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That depends. When was your surgery? I was allowed alcohol in moderation about 4 months out. I usedto have 1-2 beers a month but the carbonation makes it less pleasant now so 1-2 x a month i have a glass of wine with absolutely no problems.

Drinking contributes to depression so you are making a bad situation much worse. It is called transfer addiction, trading one addiction (food) for another (alcohol) and adding ulcers to the mix. This has to stop! Please, get professional help now before you cause serious injury to your body! Be kind to yourself--you deserve much better than this.

When I explained that I am sensitive to sugar alcohols (all the SF crap), my peeps gave me the ok to consume sugar, so long as it was in responsible amounts. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv. But I'm going to guess that if you need it, a bit of apple juice will do you no harm. Though I'd suggest you stay away from oj, just from a comfort perspective.

Wow ok, Honestly you will be able to drink again but not for quite a while. Beer is one of the harder things to drink because of the carbonation... Now for the reality slap part. Food addiction and the way you drink now. I worry about the very real problem of "cross addiction" issues. Unfortunately a fair number of weight loss patients become alcoholics. If you are not one now becoming one is a very real possibility. I would say that a real deep look into this issue and perhaps counseling, before you take this step. Why trade one really bad thing for another.

Who on earth told you that flights should be 4 hours or less? Whoever it was that is utter nonsense. Flying with a properly filled band is not an issue. Saline does not expand in the air - on the other hand if your band is empty the air in it can expand and is more likely to cause problems. I have flown long distance a number of times since I have been banded and have not had any issues. And by long distance I mean trips that consist of 3 flights over 24hrs with a total of approx 16 hours flying time. If you are concerned the best things to remember are. Stay hydrated (drink Water not alcohol) Stick to softer foods - you don't want to start sliming on a plane as the toilets would not be the best place to have to bring it up and you would go through a lot of airsick bags. Take your own drinks/snacks if you prefer and the airline allows it. Order a special diet (e.g soup) before you fly. If your band does feel tighter than usual then it should resolve when you land. Relax the band is not going to explode. However I cannot guarantee the same for breast implants if you have those! I have heard horror stories where people have had a deflated implant after their flight! I would take out travel insurance that covers your band as you want to be safe rather than sorry if for some reason you get stuck and need an emergency unfill. Plus it is always good to have cover in case your cases go on holiday to a different destination to where you are going! Hope you have a wonderful holiday. Just relax and enjoy it.

Hello all. I am 52 and had my sleeve surgery on September 1. I am down 60 pounds from my first consultation appointment. I seem to be a bit stuck but really it's probably my fault. I am not working out as often and getting back in to some bad habits. I have 29 more pounds to go. I am drinking adult beverages again and having no adverse effects. I know it's empty calories but old habits die hard. Trying to stick to a vodka and crystal lite but sometimes wine sneaks in. Anyone know what the evils of alcohol are after this surgery besides slowed down weight loss? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Band is way less risky, reversible and leaves your bowels intact. Google "dumping syndrome." Band is adjustable or even reversible. Plus, you can drink alcohol with the band but not with the bypass. Truth be told, I would be interested in the sleeve but insurance won't pay for it and I'm not sure if the stomach would eventually grow back. For me, there is just no way I would do the full bypass - it's just too radical.

Hi everyone, I usually don't post on forums, but I have enjoyed reading everyones story so much, so I decided to post this to get some answers to some of my worries. I am currently in Dubai, but thinking about getting my sleeve done in Damascus Syria. It costs around ~$2,500 to get it done there, and over $10,000 to get it done in Dubai, plus the doctors are known to be much better in Damascus. They even sometimes fly out here to the Gulf region and do the surgeries for upwards of 10K. That being said, I have read everything about the sleeve, 2 of my relatives and another 3 people I know have done it, and everyone is saying that i should go for it. I am not super obese at the moment, I am around 86 KGS and 5'4, so it brings to be about a BMI of 32 or 33. I have always been over weight and I tried Atkins a few times and succeeded but it bounced back. I tried Dukan, and also same thing. I've given up !!! My highest was around 93 kgs... but I really really want to be skinny. I want to taste it, and I'm worried that if I don't do it now (i'm 30), i'll lose some of the best days of my life being insecure and unhappy. I don't even have any recent pictures because I hate looking at pictures of myself. Now my family's reaction is mixed. Some say that I should do it, without even thinking twice, and some say that I can lose this on my own. Why don't I just eat like a sleever without having surgery they say... as if it's that easy eh!!! I am ready to embark on this journey. I am just worried about a few things, although I know that risks are lower when the BMI is lower, and I am in perfect health right now: WORKING OUT: I am looking forward to working out after my sleeve, in order to tone and get my body to the image I have in my head. How long after the surgery will I be able to work out? Will i have energy to do cardio classes and weight training? HOW MUCH Water CAN I DRINK? I am in Dubai, it's hot as hell here in the summer... so if im super thirsty... i wont be able to quench my thirst? It kind of scares me!!! How does the thirst / quench thing work? Will I be able to drink alcohol again? I don't care much about food, but sometimes i like to go out for drinks with my friends. Will i get drunk faster? After how long can I drink again? and since i heard no carbonated beverages.. how about beer? Because i love beer. Can someone list out the foods that I cannot ever eat again? I tried to make a list from people's stories, so it includes stuff like spicy food, asparagus, carbonated beverages. I believe these things will be bad for the sleeve. How long after the surgery shall I stay in Syria to ensure that all is well? The doctor is saying 4 days. Is this realistic? Syria is in a civil war now, so it's not super safe to stay unnecessarily for a long time, so for those who had it done in Mexico... when is the best time to leave, ensuring that the sleeve didnt leak or anything? This is a personal question - I am currently uprooting my life, getting a new apartment, new car, starting a new job, is it a good idea (emotionally) to get this surgery now? Or shall i wait until I am more 'settled'. I just want to get it out of the way so I can start seeing changes soon, and incorporate my new body with my new life, and also because just incase I want to get pregnant in the future, I can distance the surgery as far away as possible. I am generally a very strong person so I just want to get some insight if people think this is a very emotionally exhausting experience, or if it could enhance my new life. These are all my questions so far I really could use some encouragement right now! For anyone interested this is the amazing doctor I will be doing my surgery at : badanasyria.com His name is Anaz Al Azmeh and he is very well known and respected in Syria and in the whole Middle East.

WORKING OUT: I am looking forward to working out after my sleeve, in order to tone and get my body to the image I have in my head. How long after the surgery will I be able to work out? Will i have energy to do cardio classes and weight training? Yes, you will be fine to workout fairly soon after surgery. I was jogging and doing kickboxing classes at 3-4 weeks out, and I am now about 16 months out and I just ran a 15K the other day. The important thing for me has been taking the B12 and Iron suppements, otherwise I really notice a drop in energy. HOW MUCH Water CAN I DRINK? I am in Dubai, it's hot as hell here in the summer... so if im super thirsty... i wont be able to quench my thirst? It kind of scares me!!! How does the thirst / quench thing work? I always drink with a straw because it was the only way after surgery I could get enough Fluid. You can't gulp water anymore, but you should be more than able to keep yourself hydrated. I'm in the southern part of the US and regularly workout outside and have never had an issue. Will I be able to drink alcohol again? I don't care much about food, but sometimes i like to go out for drinks with my friends. Will i get drunk faster? After how long can I drink again? and since i heard no carbonated beverages.. how about beer? Because i love beer. You can drink again and you can drink carbonated beverages. They tell you no soda and no beer so you don't drink all your calories in Coke. I drink Diet Pepsi every single day. I'm not a big alcohol drinker so I'm a lightweight as it is. You do probably get drunk faster. It's fine to go out and have a drink or two with friends, but the idea behind the surgery is to not be consuming the fattening stuff (like beer) that got us to the weight we were at to need surgery. Can someone list out the foods that I cannot ever eat again? I tried to make a list from people's stories, so it includes stuff like spicy food, asparagus, carbonated beverages. I believe these things will be bad for the sleeve. This list is different for everyone. There is nothing that medically prevents you from eating or drinking anything you want six weeks after surgery. Your sleeve on the other hand may not agree. I can't eat anything with fat or sugar or I barf, but it seems like I am really in the minority of people that have that issue. How long after the surgery shall I stay in Syria to ensure that all is well? The doctor is saying 4 days. Is this realistic? Syria is in a civil war now, so it's not super safe to stay unnecessarily for a long time, so for those who had it done in Mexico... when is the best time to leave, ensuring that the sleeve didnt leak or anything? I was in a US hospital for three days and entirely on my own at home after that. I would personally not get a surgery like this done in Syria, but four days is realistic. This is a personal question - I am currently uprooting my life, getting a new apartment, new car, starting a new job, is it a good idea (emotionally) to get this surgery now? Or shall i wait until I am more 'settled'. I just want to get it out of the way so I can start seeing changes soon, and incorporate my new body with my new life, and also because just incase I want to get pregnant in the future, I can distance the surgery as far away as possible. I am generally a very strong person so I just want to get some insight if people think this is a very emotionally exhausting experience, or if it could enhance my new life. You are as strong as you let yourself be. Only you can answer that question. I had surgery during a very emotionally difficult time in my life and then I quit my job to work for myself a month later. If you want something, you get it done, if not, you make excuses. For example, I should go running right now, but it's hot, so I'm going to take a nap instead, lol. Excuses.

I had the gastric sleeve done at Smart Shape and it was also done by Dr. Coburn. The staff at Centric Health Surgical Centre were absolutely amazing!! Dr. Coburn was equally amazing too. I didn't know about needles... they gave me 2 pre op and 1 post op. (This was a big deal because I'm terrified of needles, but I got through it) Small things that I wish I had know earlier: -Will need to consume 60-80g of protein per day (I am having a very hard time with this, because I try to avoid animal products as much as possible) -No drinking alcohol for 3 months post op -Take bites the size of your pinky nail They werent exaggerating the discomfort of the gas afterward. It is painful and it does go away after a few days. I walked as much as I could to get it out. All in all, I'm very happy. I started my pre op diet on Aug. 5 and had my surgery on Aug. 17 and to date, I've lost 40lb.

The time off from work will depend on what type of work/job you do/have. As for alcohol, I wasn't cleared until around 3-3.5 months post-op, and then was cautioned to take it slow, no carbonated drinks, and only light wines to begin with. Some people experience a much lower tolerance with alcohol post-op. I know that 2 glasses of wine is my limit. 3 glasses even over 5-6 hours is a bit much.

I've been banded 6 years. The only thing my doctor said was not carbonated beverages... beer or Pop (soda). There was no restriction on alcohol. I was never much of a drinker pre-band. If it was REALLY hot day I would sometimes like a beer in a chilled mug... but i don't miss it at all. Now every so often I'll have a Baileys and coffee. I find alcohol hits me much faster. While I was losing I didn't go off my menu plan... (no extra treats) for basically 6 months... I was self pay so I really wanted to stick to my menu plan. Do the best you can and take it one day at a time. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

My surgeon also said no alcohol, I did not have any for quite some time but it will not hurt the band by my understanding it is because of all the calories and carbs associated with alcohol. You will be fine. Just get back on track with your plan today and if you like to have a drink or go out just limit yourself to once a month or everyother month.I go out one time every other month, I do drink mixed drinks when I do and I have not had any problems. Just watch your intake for calories and it does seem the alcohol hits you faster with the band. It is just like anything else with the band it is the choices you make that help you lose the weight or not.

Superbowl Sunday breakfast- protein drink lunch- low carb tortilla with ham and skim mozerella rolled up Will be taking a crockpot of teriaki meatballs to the party later. I figure 3-4 meatballs and something off the veggie tray should do me for supper. The alcohol is a different story. Taking a bottle of Merlot with me, empty calories but oh-so-good. Yeah right~~~I ate so much crap today. chips and dip, brisket, beans, tortilla chips and guacamole, etc... Gotta getta grip tomorrow.

Hi Bandit, What everyone says is right on. People who lose their ports are the exception: the band and port are both part of a system designed to stay in place permanently. Infections and other complications can happen but they are rare. The vast majority of bandsters keep their ports and bands in place long-term. Regarding alcohol: You say it would be a shame if you couldn't drink anymore. Well, that's your decision. If you're in a place where you are seriously considering weight-loss surgery, then you must be coming to terms that MANY behaviors you now have are not working for you. Alcohol may be one of them. There are lots of reasons not to drink, banded or not, if you're trying to lose weight. But no, banding will not change your basic anatomy, and you will still be able to metabolize alcohol after banding the same way you do now.

S1M1, I think most of us have been in the same situation, with the fear of losing our friend, food. Personally, I didn't think I had a food addiction until after I was banded. Then I KNEW I had a food addiction. Having a food addiction while dieting is like telling an alcoholic they can only have a drink in moderation. That's what we're up against. But the band makes this process SO much easier. So many new bandsters get the idea that the band will do all the work. You HAVE TO WORK! I still have to watch what I eat on a daily basis. The band just makes that whole process so much simpler. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I have to give myself Heparin shots for 15 days after my surgery too.. Yes they leave little red dots..it is for blood clotting.. and to prevent DVT. I was told to take some flesh around the belly button.. pop in the needle. and push quickly.. I was told not to rub it or mess around with it.. no need for alcohol etc.. just grab, stick and push!.. done!.. It has to be done at the same time every day..

He had his surgery the second week of September? Wow...I was told no alcohol for a year..now every DR is different but I have never heard of a DR. saying you can drink as early as 4 weeks. That seems very dangerous to me. Alcohol could cause ulcers in the stomach, and Acid Reflux. It sounds like your friend has transfer addiction issues. When we have a surgery like this there is a period of time that goes by when you "mourn" food. You miss using food for comfort and sometimes you pick up another bad habbit like drinking, smoking or gambling to feel better since you can no longer use food to do that. It sounds like your friend needs to see a food addiction therapist or psychologist. Alcohol in that amount can be very dangerous. 10 drinks in a night with a tiny stomach=bad news.

If he's drinking that much already its a good bet he's already an alcoholic and is just continuing his addiction. It's not going to get any better.. Fact, without intervention he's going to fail in more than just wls.

Name your 3 all-time favorite movies Goodfella’s Planes trains and Automibiles Carlito’s way If you could pick a new career right now, what would it be? Artist How old were you when you fell in love for the 1st time? Not really sure..I had a lot of crushes before I actually realised what love means I’d safely say my husband is my first real love..so 27 If you could pick your “last meal” what would it be? Alcohol What’s the greatest thing about the town you live in? The scenery, my house, and the community Where were you born? Dublin, Ireland Have you ever read a book (or attended a lecture, took a class, etc.) that changed your life in some way? What was it? “Feel the fear and do it anyway” Opened my eyes big time! “Light a penny candle” by Maeve Binchy transported me into her story, I lived it! Going to Music College also changed my life. What is your favorite charity? Why? Children, homeless and the elderly Children, because they are innocent, homeless because they are often forgotten and blamed for their situation and the elderly because they are lonely and vunerable Name your 3 all-time favorite books: “Light a penny candle” by Maeve Binchy “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte “The colour Purple” by Alice ? Can’t remember her name What do you do when you are bored? Eat, smoke, watch TV Do you have any vices? Eating, smoking and watching TV Name one thing you’d like to do before you die. Have children, and be a good mother Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Full What is your bedtime? Midnight What is your idea of the perfect vacation? Anything Luxurious Ever have a dream that you were “with” a movie star? Who was it? I dreamt once that Charlie Sheen was knocking on my window in the rain (I don’t even fancy him!) If you knew your advice would be taken, what would you say to a high school graduate? Don’t sleep around. Don’t do drugs. Choose a good partner in life. Don’t hang around with or give of yourslef to loosers

Do you feel you NEED a fill? Check this out before deciding: Adjustments How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

I weaned myself off caffeine a couple months before surgery (took 2 months to do it.). I also stopped smoking cold turkey 3 months before surgery. Other than that I ate normal and drank alcohol right up until the day I started my preop. I figured why start torturing myself sooner than absolutely necessary?! Looking back now, the preop diet is barely a blip on my radar compared to postop life and maintenance. Really Just a small part of the process and a necessary "right of passage" that can often be empowering.

I agree with Chelly. I used to drink before surgery, but since I have sworn it off entirely. Though I know plenty of people drink after surgery, my doctor strictly says no, and after everything I went through to get my body back I am not going to risk it over alcohol. With that being said, to each his own. Here is just some thoughts to think about. Like Chelly said, the alcohol will accumulate faster in your blood stream due to the small size of your stomach. This may seem nice since it wont take some many drinks to get drunk, but it wont take so many drinks to get drunk. Some people don't realize that and can get themselves into trouble. Another thing to consider is that there is virtually no nutritional value to a cocktail or alcohol of any kind. Even for regular people nutritionists talk about it being empty calories, but with how few calories we are able to take in after surgery, do you really want to wastes 20% or more of them in a day on a drink that will do nothing to strengthen and energize your body? The last and most serious reason that alcohol should be avoided post surgery is the possibility of addiction. Most all of us wound up needing the surgery because to varying degrees we were all addicted to food. With that addition no longer a possibility, many surgery patients become alcoholics due to the the quick high and cheap nature of getting drunk with a smaller stomach. Weather you think you can handle the drinks without getting addicted over time is up to you, but why risk the possibility. In the end the choice to drink or not too is personal. It is the reasoning above that I do not. I worked too hard and went through too much, to throw it all away possibly with alcohol. Alcohol is not inherently bad and you could probably have a few cocktails without issue, I just don't want to open myself up to the possibility of losing everything I worked for. My line in the sand is to just not play with fire. I hope these facts were helpful in aiding you in a decision. No matter what you decide, keep up the amazing work. You are going through a time of discover you will never again have and the journey is absolutely amazing. You will find yourself able to do things you never thought you could or would be able to do again. For that, I am so excited for you . If you have any additional questions or I can help in any way, please let me know. My contact information is below.

Thanks!! I found a protein bar with 20 grams of protein, 0 sugars and 11 sugar alcohol. I wasn't sure if that was bad.

Hi there I was wondering if anyone has had to deal with having a band and finding out you have Barretts Esophogits. I have had continual trouble from time of banding. Everyday throwing up 1 to 5 times a day, depending on how many times I tried to eat or drink anything. Even Water on bad days made me throw up.I have had all saline removed from band for a long time. I had a scope and dr found out I have this problem in my esophogis. I have had band for almost 2 years now and am really close to making decision to have it removed as my quality of life is so bad. I am either throwing up or in pain most times I try to eat or drink anything.Has anyone been diagnosed with Barretts. Can you cope. Any suggestions. Also has anyone experienced following a couple of alcohol drinks you can eat easier and more variety than days when you have no alcohol. Wierd I know and not that I drink often but I have noticed this on occasions you have alcohol that I am able to eat finally. Would really like to hear from fellow bandsters and would appreciate input.....thanks deb