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My program allowed it only after 1 year. I even had to sign a contract. Yes, you do have to worry about the carb and calorie counts. I have been on meds that don't allow it so I still have not tried alcohol but I understand it won't take much for us to get drunk. Also it can become very addictive for us.

I was told 6 months post op alcohol was allowed. However, that came with a disclaimer. The alcohol will effect you more after surgery. A small amount may make you intoxicated. I never drank alcohol so it wasn't a big loss. I took some NyQuil the other night and I felt drugged so I will continue to stay away from alcohol. Anyway, discuss this with your surgeon.

i was told 1 year for alcohol soda and straws

Went to the Kansas Games yesterday KU and KSU and both won so today they will be playing each other. Yes I have a ticket for that as well. In the box seats you get fed as well as drinks. I was kinda scared of what I would be facing since this is week 3. I know I should not hit any beer because of the fizz. However, I did have a Jack over Ice and took very little sips and was amazed that it did not effect me at all. I also had some barbeque pork that did not effect me either. I did notice that it took a whole game (KU) to have approx 1 inch of Jack over ice. As the ice melted the drink seemed to keep refilling itself. So the 2nd game (KSU) I tried a Captain Morgan with a diet coke very little diet coke because of the fizz but I knew that alcohol would reduce the fizz. Again no issue and it took the whole game to get it down. But it was very enjoyable. I thought this would impact the weight loss but when I weighted this morning another 2 lbs down. I know this was probably wrong but I have not had a drink in 6 weeks kinda felt good. by the way you only need a few sips to start a buzz on.... seems it goes to the small intestine quickly and then well you know. Just thought I would share that with you. Later today I get to go to the big game here in Kansas both KU and KSU are a big deal fighting it out, The place will be a mad house. And the power and light district will be party zone central.

I've got an upcoming business trip that will "require" some time to be spent "networking" at the bar in the evenings. I will be about four weeks out from surgery at that point and don't want to drink alcohol. I also don't want to drink Club Soda since I've given up carbonated beverages. These types of trips come up a few times per year - any suggestions? Thanks

so first let me begin by explaining that I do not drink now that Im supposed to be dieting and stuff . I do believe though, that every once in a while a small low cal drink is not bad to treat yourself to. I had my first drink at a family get together where someone brought twisted tea coolers. one was offered to me and I decided 'what the heck? why not?' so I had sipped it slowly and it was when I was half done It hit. dizzy, loopy, lol, a rush ran through me. I laugh now, but then I felt like a complete idiot. I was buzzing off half a 5% alcohol cooler! I stopped right there and ate something to help me sober up and never have tried it since lolol. just wondering if any one else has had the same experience? This is funny to me, and I hope you can find some humour in it too

Every one is different. We are all unique. It is true that there are those that can pick themselves up from their bootstraps and resolve their issues on their own. It is also true that not all counseling is good. I have experienced that also. However, I will offer this. I would say that the large majority of us are considering WLS because we have NOT been able to do it on are own. If we could, what would we be doing here? I mean no offense, but is it reasonable for a psych to consider excessive alcohol a problem, one that could benefit from counseling? I think so. Can someone take care of it on their own? I guess so, but most do not. I have seen it time and time again. With respect to WLS, I saw first hand an acquaintance with a habit of drinking socially swap out his food addiction with drinking and become an alcoholic after surgery. If you are one of those that can deal with this on your own, more power to you. But is it reasonable for a pysch to be concerned for you and ask you to get counseling, knowing that you already have an issue with food that has caused you to seek the help of others to correct it? Absolutely!

@@shawneedragon it sounds as though you're at a place of real honesty about your addiction to alchol and the effect that has had on your life. That is a starting point to turn it all around. I hope you're able to find the resources you need -- whether that is therapy, a psychiatrist to help with the medication issues so you are not self-medicating, AA meetings -- whatever it takes. Know that you are worthy and deserving of all good things. You can do this. Recovery is hard work and it's something that has to be dealt with every single day, but, as they say, it's one day at a time. Here you are. That's a great first step. Good luck with all. Eating disorder is so dificult to address because, of course, one has to eat -- unlike drug addiction, smoking or alcohol. Take good care of yourself!

I drink red wine about 1-3 days a week (depending), without issue. I do however feel the alcohol much quicker, and on smaller amounts. Although, that doesn't necessarily stop me from drinking 2 glasses The biggest issue for me, is my lack of control around food when alcohol is involved. I can't eat what I did pre band, but I will eat too much of the wrong things.

allycat98, great to hear that you are setting aside 6 months specifically for this. Sorting out insurance options is very, very important to avoid problems later on with billing and stuff. I had to go through alcohol rehab in Calgary for my alcoholism, and it wasn't covered by insurance the first time. Relapsed, and then went to Canada Drug rehab ( http://canadadrugrehab.ca ), and yeah- I saw to it that it was covered the next time. In the US, I think RealSelf.com reviews cosmetic treatments. Why don’t you take a look there?

You were lucky that you were able to vomit. I drank too much a couple of months after being banded. Woke up in the middle of the night and tried to make myself vomit as usually that would help to make me feel better quicker. Needless to say i couldn't. It was the most horrible feeling. The positive part of that is I now try extra hard not to imbibe too much alcohol as I know how awful I will end up feeling. Hopefully your band is OK> I would baby it for a few days to give it a break and hopefully let it settle.

If the suboxone you take is the film (under the tongue or inside the cheek), then there won't be problems with absorption. Most of us only need pain meds the first day or two after surgery, so you can make a plan with your surgeon with regards to pain management. It is a good idea to explore your own food demons to figure out whether there is a food addiction going on. Not every bariatric patient is actually addicted to food. If it turns out that you are, then you can get a head start working through that issue before the surgery. Replacing food with quilting or painting is good....alcohol.. not so good. Congrats on making the decision to change your life! Good luck!

I'm going to be banded on June 5. I don't drink alcohol but am a diet soda junkie, which I know I have to give up for the band to work. I've stocked up on juices and other things to take the place of my diet drinks. You have to totally commit yourself to the fact there are some things you have to do in moderation if at all. I have heard an occasional drink won't hurt (not sure on that) and that I can have a flat soda pop if I choose but that sounds horrible. It's a very personal decision to get the band and it takes lots of work to get to the stage that you know it is what you want. You found us, so apparently you are quite interested. Where did you plan on being banded. In the US there are some tests required which vary state by state such as sleep studies for sleep apnea; a psych test to be sure you are ready; sometimes an upper GI. By the time you are through hassling with insurance (or perhaps you are self-pay or going to Mexico) you will be ready for your surgery. I've been preparing for the better part of a year now. Emotionally, I am more than ready. Physically I know I have to have this done in order to enjoy life to the fullest. I have aches in my feet and knees and am hoping that taking the weight off will help. I wish you the best of luck and welcome to LBT. It is a great source of support and strength and some very good friendships.

Hi Erynn, welcome to LBT!! 1: NOT THAT I 'M A BIG LUSH OR ANY THING BUT I'M ONLY 23 AND I DO LIKE TO GO OUT EVERY NOW AND THEN (MEANING EVERY WEEKEND OR SO ) BUT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN DRINK AND HOW IT EFFECTS YOUR STOMACH. Drinking is "allowed" post-banding, but anyone who is serious about weight loss will realize that alcohol is the worst kind of empty calories. Another downside is that it can relax inhibitions, making it too easy to eat too much, too fast, or not carefully, with negative consequences that night or the next day. (Or so I'm told, not being a drinker myself.) But there's no physiological reason to avoid alcohol after banding. 2: IS THE SCARING FROM THE SURGERY VERY VISIBLE???? NO! Of course, everyone heals differently, but most of the incisions from laparoscopic surgery are more like punctures than regular incisions. I have three of these that I can hardly find now, and one slightly larger scar that is also virtually invisible. 3: HOW DO YOU EMOTIONALLY PREPARE YOUR SELF FOR SURGERY AND FACING THE FACT THAT YOU CANT JUST EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT ANYMORE???? Well, this varies for everyone. For ME, it was a matter of being completely, totally ready to get healthier. There was nothing more important in my life than my children, and I was literally unable to be an effective or competent parent to them. So that was my "bottom" and once I hit it, food was easy to give up. I was emotionally ready the moment I heard about the band.

Hi Erynn123, welcome to LBT. I'm not a big lush either but I enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink! My doctor says it's not a problem that will bother my band but gave the fairly common - and completely accurate (DANG IT!) - caution about the super high calories in alcohol. The other thing you should know is that carbonation is a no-no with a lap band, which means if you enjoy beer, or Rum and Coke, or Scotch and Soda (blech! lol), or any mixed drink that involves carbonation you'll have to find a new favorite. Beer is my lost love, *sigh*, and I will always remember it fondly, but we had to split up!! Oh well, I'll just have to console my loss with a Margarita! Problem solved. You can see it, sure, but its not horrendous or anything. If you want to see some pictures, there is a thread called Scar Stages Show Yours - just use the search button and type in Scar Stages and it will come up. You'll see some people have more visible scars than others but none of them that I've seen are awful. Mine looks very much like a friends appendicitis scar. I'm only 11 weeks post-op and my scar is getting more and more faint. I'm using Maderma on it. Some people use Vitamin E. When you talk to a surgeon about getting a lap band, ask if he can use plastic surgery type sutures - it's called subdermal - and glue rather than using staples and you'll end up with less scarring. LOL before I went for surgery I attended more "Last Suppers" than Jesus on black velvet! Guess what? It was totally unnessesary. So far I can eat pretty much anything I like just in smaller portions. Granted, I haven't had a fill yet - I haven't needed one - so that's going to change as I lose more weight and have the band filled, but there are lots of people who eat the things they enjoy with their band, AND still lose weight. So far, the best benefit of the band for me is that I'm very aware of what I'm eating, I don't feel hungry all the time, and I eat less. There will almost certainly be things you can't eat - I recently discovered that scrambled eggs are off my menu because I got some stuck and had to bring it back up (it was unpleasant). But that's OK, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy eggs since I like them and they have a lot of Protein with low calories - over easy worked great, hard boiled with a little mayo was great, I haven't tried it but I'm betting coddled eggs will go down fine. Stuff like that. It's not the last time you'll get to eat. It's the last time you'll get to shovel it in with wild abandoned! But, in my case, that was a good thing! lol The lapband isn't magic. It does take work - read my signature line for a great analogy! - but for the first time in years I feel like I'm back in control of my weight. Good luck to you Erynn in whatever weight loss journey you choose. Keep posting on LapBandTalk, there are a lot of people here with a lot of good advise and insight.

I agree with the enjoy part CG. Both you ladies look pretty young to me and having a good time while out with friends is not a bad thing especially when your young and recovery is not so brutal Life is short, that said please be responsible with your enjoyment and take others and yourself and your body into consideration. Don't drink and drive or drive with someone else who has been drinking! You know friends don't let friends drive drunk...OK PSA over. Make sure that you are hydrating since alcohol can severely dehydrate you especially in the sun and cause you to feel sick and dizzy as well as causing some Water retention later that may make you heavier and bloated. Keep track of the calories, so you know if you are gaining where it is coming from and then you can always modify accordingly and have a GREAT summer!!!

Here's an article that claims alcohol calories don't put on weight... I think the doc has tipped a few too many, but it is interesting reading. LOL! http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/AlcoholCaloriesAndWeight.html#.U71pU5RdXLM

So, I am finding it super hard now that it is summer and everything revolves around sitting in the sun with a cocktail. I am 26 and I love to mingle..... If anyone cares to know what I have been drinking it usually consists of Firefly's sweet tea vodka with Water and lemons.... And today I found a new flavor fav which was stoli blueberry vodka with water and I used half a packet of propel's sugar free raspberry lemonade and seriously it was great. I don't drink beer or soda, but when I do drink with my friends I try to stick to sugar free drinks w/ whatever vodka... (What do you drink?!?) I do find that I am slowly loosing weight, and I don't want to blame it on the booze but I do mingle a few times a week & I count it in myfitnesspal! I probably sound like an alcoholic... Just had to share!

In the time I have had to wait to get surgery, I have lost weight and am now 210 pounds. After decades of trying different diets, starting this past January, I have finally found a sustainable way of eating where I lose weight. Now, I have waited 3 years in line for surgery, and I will get a date in the next few weeks. I don't want to give up my place in line, but I don't want to have surgery if I can lose weight on my own. I don't know what to do.. Why did I wait 3 years? Because of public health care, everyone takes a number. If I walk away? I will have to go to the back of the line again. Type of surgery - I am pursuing a gastric bypass. Starting weight - 250 lbs Satisfied after a meal? Yes. I'm on the line now where if I lose any more weight, I don't qualify for the surgery. I started this journey because my liver has NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. My last liver test came out within the normal scale. So I have changed my lifestyle enough for it to have a positive impact on my health. Now, I am questioning if continuing is me just wanting more, when I should be happy. Has anyone here been around 200lbs before surgery? What was your journey like?

LOL yeah there were times when I was like... OK Crap... start deep breathing to get some of the alcohol to process before you end up face down on the bar. It sneaks up quickly! It does seem like the "Drunk" doesn't stick around for as long though too, which I found interesting.

Hey sleevers I just took a dose of Musinex's new Multi symptom cold relief(no ibuprofen) and the second it went down and burnt and made me have hot flashes! I am now slightly shaky and unnerved by the incident! It's the day time formula and the night one went down ok the last two nights so I figured I'd try this. Do you think it was the alcohol in it? I won't be taking it again this I know! This is a two part post question and warning to proceed with caution, it's a horrible feeling!

I have surgery scheduled for March 6th and I have anxiety to but more about the long term changes in lifystle ( concern about overeating a little and then vomiting a lot.. still being able to enjoy wine every now and then just in general all the social stuff that happens that seems to most of the time involve food or alcohol.. I know that is a big part of the reason I am so heavy does anyone know what happens if I postpone do I have to get insurance reapproved Just not sure if I am mentally ready thanks

OH I ALMOST FORGOT, REGARDING THE 64 OZ OF WATER MENTIONED , ALL MY ADULT LIFE I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF DRINKING WATER, I DON,T DRINK TEA OR COFFE JUST WARM WATER, (OR ALCOHOL...LOL ) BUT SERIOUSLY I THINK IT IS SOOO GOOD FOR YOU IN MANY WAYS. YET WHEN I ASKED MY DOC ABOUT HOW MUCH I SHOULD BE DRINKING HE JUST SAID "DRINK WHEN YOU ARE THIRSTY" HE SAID "THE BODY IS A VERY COMPLEX AND CAPABLE MACHINE THAT WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO DRINK" WHAT,S THAT ABOUT? I THOUGHT ALL DOCS WERE KEEN FOR US TO DRINK MORE WATER?:rolleyes WHEN I WAS TRAINED FOR S/W WE WERE TOLD TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DRINK WATER AND THAT HOW SOMETIMES WHEN WE THINK WE ARE HUNGRY WE ARE ACTUALLY THIRSTY. I KNOW I GET HEADACHES IF I AM DEYHDRATED. SO I AM GONNA CARRY ON SIPPING LOTS OF WATER.

I still love all my old favorites, but I do find myself seeking out healthy foods I never really bothered with before. I do indulge in pizza, baked goods, chocolate, deserts and alcohol on occasion but I don't really crave any of them. The biggest addiction I've developed is for mixed nuts and Peanut Butter. Gotta have a bit everyday or I start "jonesin" I wouldn't worry about your tastes changing. If you don't like pizza postop then you won't miss it. I'm actually excited about all the new foods I've discovered and prefer to eat over the chips and candy and fried junk I used to eat (and love) everyday.

Tomorrow will be 12 weeks into my banded life and I still don't have a single regret to report! I've never been more sure of my decision, and it's been many years since I've felt healthier and better about who I am! I just spent 11 days on the best beach vacation ever! A girl's trip to Gulf Shores, AL was just what the proverbial doctor ordered, and I'm home tanned, relaxed, and more than a few inches smaller than I was when I left!! How's THAT for vacation? Perfect if you ask me. I lost a whopping total of one pound while I was gone haha! But towards the middle of last week I noticed that my bathing suit (which I spent a lot of time in) was fitting very strangely. It felt too big in the stomach for starters, but then I noticed that the bra cups in it were all deformed looking. I realized that the girls had shrunk! YEEE HAW!! There's hope on the horizon my friends! I admit I was a little concerned about vacation eating, especially since I didn't get a fill before I left, but I had decided that I wasn't going to stress about it. I ate very well.. I ate normal sized portions, and had no problems with wanting to snack between meals. I drank at least one frozen alcoholic concoction every single day while I was on that beach.. along with lots of water and lemonade. I felt a little restriction at times which was comforting, and let me know my band was doing its job, and had a couple of "stuck" episodes that were mild, and lasted only a few minutes. I ate LOTS of steamed shrimp! Mmmmm! I miss that yummy steamed shrimp.. the kind you can get on the Nebraska prairie just doesn't compare. One highlight of my trip that I must share ~~ I PARASAILED!! Oh yeah! I stepped right outside of my comfort zone and flew high above the Gulf of Mexico! I absolutely loved it and will do it again if I ever get the chance. I felt like super woman when I was done, and I kind of still do! I was without a scale for the entire vacation, and that freaked me out a little.. I figured that I'd have gained a pound or two by the time I got home, even though it was pretty obvious that I'd left a few inches down in Alabama somewhere! I was pretty happy when I stepped on that scale yesterday and realized that there was no gain, and I could still be friends with both the scale and the mirror! I'm happy to be home.. and while I didn't use a gym even once while I was gone, I did have the sand to walk in so I got a little added exercise I guess! It's back to the gym for me this week! I'm also looking forward to adding a daily fruit smoothie to my diet! Hey~ it's my healthy version of a daily frozen concoction that will remind me of the beach as I delve back into reality! Thanks Aunt Jan for introducing me to the wonderful smoothie! My other butt is getting closer.. I can feel it! I hope you all have had a safe and happy Independence Day if you're in the USA~ and mostly, that you spent it with the people you love! That's all for this week ~ thanks for stopping by! Follow me @ http://www.myotherbutt.blogspot.com