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Hi all, I have a question about lapband and alcohol. I had a few too many drinks on Saturday night with some girlfriends. Since then I've had some stuck issues and vomited a bit. I am hoping this is all part of my learning curve and learning my new limits. Maybe big nights need to be a thing of the past? Has anyone else experienced this??

I can't see why it would have made you feel any tighter. It is worth taking care though for several reasons. Empty calories Low food intake means it is like drinking on an empty stomach so it often has more effect Lowers inhibitions so we may eat more or carelessly Very high quantity of alcohol may cause vomiting which is to be avoided. I did have the occasional drink from about three or four months post-op and I am relaxed about it now. But at so far post-op, I really know how things work for me.

I didn't drink any alcohol for the first year. and than I allowed myself to drink my Christmas drink of bailey's and coffee. I would have been hesitate to drink to much with the fear of the nausea and perhaps vomiting that could have occurred. vomiting is a no no. we try hard not to do it. you can still go out with friends but do sip on one drink. you are only a few months from your surgery date.

I used to drink more when I was much younger, but now a beer here or there or a mix is all I ever do. I do notice though that since I eat less to absorb the alcohol I feel tipsy quicker than I did prebanding.

alcohol wipes.

That's why this board is so helpful...It's a great place to come for understanding from people going through the same thing as you...I think it is hard to put yourself in anothers position and truly understand until you've been there yourself...Like people who can't undertand Alcoholism or homosexuality or anything else that is personal and exclusive to certain individules. The important thing is that they stand by you and maintain a loving caring friendship...If they don't get it...You've got us!!!

Mistakes can happen. My doctor asked me to pledge to avoid all alcohol and marijuana for a year because he called them "dis-inhibitors." [Love that term]. Hard for me because I am an investor [small] in a few wineries and have been known to tip back a few. Good luck. And be careful. Don't want to hurt yourself just because of a little fun.

For some of us, a small amount of alcohol goes a long way. 2 drinks has become my personal limit. Often just one before dinner But I love that I get to change my attitude just a bit. Since being widowed last year, I rarely find myself out at night.. But it is a nice treat to be civilized and have a cocktail with a small dinner for me????

This confused me too because in Australia a no sugar added cordial is what you guys would probably call crystal lite. It is a no calorie flavour you add to Water. So I too was reading it wondering what all the talk about alcohol was for. To the OP I added a little sugar free lemon or lime juice to my water to keep my palate fresh and the nausea at bay. I still do add it sometimes ... depending on my mood. I haven't had any problems with losing weight even while still on insulin. I will say that my doctor took me off insulin last week .. and all of a sudden I dropped 3 kg in 5 days - which only goes to show insulin makes you retain Fluid and possibly fat as well.

My doctor has strict guidelines of no alcohol for eight months.

Oh poop I agree with being careful about not falling prey to no sugar added. It's a tricky thing to say the least. Once you're far enough out, if you want a cocktail then have one. Make sure it has low glycemic impact is all. It's fine to warn cautionary on addiction switches but not everyone is going down that road.... there are plenty, likely most, who will not fall victim to this. There are plenty of us here who can enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage without needing to concurrently enroll in detox and AA programs. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The problem is the carbonation in beer which puts it off limits for good. Carbonation puts you at risk of stretching your pouch among other stuff. You CAN still have alcohol after surgery, but it would have to be wine or something non-carbonated, and it will hit you MUCH quicker than before, so be careful! I've been slowly saying goodbye to beer these past few months. I am submitting to insurance next month, so I know I will need to say goodbye to that and diet soda very, very soon. It's not a sad goodbye though...I'm ready for a new life

Hey Ladies: Since I have not been banded yet, I am interested to know if there are any foods that people are struggling with? :wub: I have seen in other forums, people asking about eating pizza, not being able to eat scranbled eggs, but they can eat deviled eggs(which I would think those would be to fatten) and drinking alcohol (luckily I don't drink). Can you eat salads? or do they fill you up too fast? I have given up carbonated beverages already. What Proteins can you eat?

I have anxiety because of my weight I'm controlling it with meds can I still get phyciatric test pass I don't smoke use drugs or drink alcohol or been hospitalized BC of a mental disorder

I googled bariatric psych evaluation questions, and they were very similar to what I had with the Dr. Essentially, they want to make sure you understand what is going on, what the risks are, and if you have any tendencies to abuse substances (alcohol/drugs) after surgery. It took me abut 20 minutes to get through about 150 questions (many are the exact same question or a variation of the same topic). For me there were a couple religious questions to see if they should advise I seek council there if I need it. Basically, they want to know how much you drink/do drugs (It is my understanding that if you admit to drug use, you maybe disqualified), if you will follow the instructions from your providers (or someone in a position of authority), and how your weight has affected your life. While I didn't lie, 99% of the questions were obvious how one "should" answer them. I hope this helps.

Alcohol & sugary drinks cant stretch your sleeve, but they are empty calories. The stomach after sleeve cannot regrow to th esize it was before, but people who regain find ways to eat the junk that slides through easily and adds up the calories. People who stick to the Protein First rule continue to feel the restriction of the sleeve. It does relax abit after surgery and can hold more, but that is why changing habits of what is eaten is important. It may be cliche, but the sleeve is not a magic cure, it is a tool that when used properly can mean maintaining healthy weight loss. Ultimately each of us is responsible for the outcome.

If you are talking about just average day to day life and merely a functioning body, plant based protein is more than fine. If you are talking about efficacy of protein for tissue repair and bio-availability, you just cannot beat diary & animal protein. They all do the same thing (except collagen protein, it's crap), it's just how effective it is. Think of it as alcohol. You can have several 750 ml bottles of liquor. They will all will get you drunk, but the Bacardi 151 will get you drunk faster and more immediately than the DiSaronno. (In this example, whey would be the rum and soy the amaretto.)

I don't think anyone goes into surgery without the ol' pre-surgery nerves! We are permanently altering our digestive system, so it's a big life change and that really hits like bricks in the weeks leading up! Stay busy, and keep your eyes on the prize, and keep the "why you're doing this" in your mind. Look at clothes you'd love to buy when you're smaller. Play computer games. Read. Excercise listening to podcasts or audiobooks. The puree stage was fine, but I was definitely grateful to be able to move onto solid food, even if my portions are absurdly small. Being able to chew on something was a boon. Just remember - the puree stage is only about 4 weeks, you'll be done and dusted in no time. The hardest part is the pre-op liver shrinking diet! I won't be touching alcohol for at least a year, and I'm okay with that. I socialised with friends two weeks ago and was the only sober one (sat on still water with a twist of fresh lime all night), and I still had a lot of fun. I've yet to eat with people who aren't my partner, but honestly it's no-one's business, not even my nearest and dearest. I take a plastic food container with me to cafes and restaurants and I pop what I can't eat in it and take it home. I've embraced being the Takeaway Queen. 👑 That you have your partner's full support is wonderful - yay for them! As for everyone else, it's not their business unless you want to tell them. I've told my immediate family, in-laws, and closest friends. No-one else needs to know. Good luck!

The biggest adjustment to post band life is not physical, it is psychological. Once you reach your sweet spot, you will not be physically hungry, needing to eat, or craving food. You will miss 'eating' though ("head hunger"). You will need to figure out what over-eating was doing for you (mentally), and that is what will cause you doubts. Was it stress relief, did eating numb unpleasant emotions, etc? There is probably something going on that is causing you to overeat, otherwise, you would just eat less, and get to a healthy weight, without surgery. I cannot tell you how many times, since my surgery, that I have just wanted to sit down, and veg out on the couch to a huge plate of Pasta at the end of a long day. That was what I did at the end of a stressful day before surgery. Obviously, now I could NEVER do that, but I still want that calming experience. That is one of the hardest adjustments to post-band life. It is not that I am hungry for a pound of pasta. I miss sitting down, relaxing, and enjoying that plate of food. Getting the surgery is like an alcoholic going cold turkey (well..without the severe withdrawal symptoms). I quickly figured out that I was going to need a little therapy to deal with "head hunger". I found a great therapist, and I now can cope with the psychological changes needed to make the surgery successful. Keep that in mind. The mental changes, are much harder than the physical ones..so be prepared ahead of time.

When alcoholics get sober, they eat candy and goodies like it's going out of style. It's another form of sugar that helps feed their addiction. Can't that hold true for popcorn once giving up sugar, since it's a carb that converts to sugar in another form? Hahah, listen to me act as if I know what I'm talking about!

I was having lunch with another individual, who is currently having succes with changing the way she eats and exercise, and she was enjoying a slice of cheesecake and she says "everything in moderation". Now, she is not aware that I'm in the process of getting WLS, but I did respond to her by saying " maybe for you but not me", which led to a heated debate. I have a serious pet peeve. I hate, yes, I said hate, when someone tries to tell me what I'm able to do or not do. You can make assumptions, but we all know what happens when you ASS U ME! I don't do MODERATION! If I was capable of moderation, I wouldn't be more than 100 lbs overweight. I've heard the comments, opinions over the years, even I have fallen for it, "You have to have" or " you need to have", " a little can't hurt". Food is my addiction...no,that's not right, chocolate, baked goods, fast foods, etc are my addiction and it's killing me... Why should I have these things in moderation? ..... Let me put it this way... Someone suffering from alcoholism, his/hers addiction of choice is wine, would you say to her/him " a little wine in moderation?".... I'm betting you will think that person was cruel, well that's what's it's like for me. I don't do a slice of cheesecake, I eat the WHOLE cheesecake. I don't eat scoop of ice cream, I eat the WHOLE container. I don't do the combo meal, I do the combo meal with starter, supersize and dessert. Now do you get it!..... Silence.... Just have some control, willpower, you need food to live!.... ** Sigh** ... Yes, I need food to live, but do I need that time of food? .....nope....So you are going to cut out all that food for the rest of your life....gasp....yeah, it's not going to be easy and I will have some idiot,I mean well meaning individual, who will try to encourage me to "try" something....but I will have to refuse, why? The day I get over my addiction, it will be a struggle to maintain because unlike cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, people feel that it can't hurt you in moderation, so it's offered and offered, and feelings get hurt when you refuse, but I'm just one of those people where moderation does not work. Side note, I smoked cigarettes for 10 years, 2 packs a day and was a solid chain smoker. When I was given the ultimatum by partner to quit or he goes, I couldn't do it alone. I failed cold turkey, I failed the nicotine patch... What worked is a pill called Champix( in French)... I took it for 2 weeks out of the 12 weeks and I never look back. I've been a non-smoker going into 5 years. Some people can do it on their own, I need help.Words have power, I'm currently changing the way I eat for my goal is to eliminate those foods from my diet. I'm aware of the journey ahead of me. I'm aware that the lap band will not eliminate my demons. I'm aware that I will be seeing someone about my addictions and I'm aware that most society will see my use of " food addiction" an "insult" to "real" addictions but I couldn't given a rats @$&?, because moderation will kill me.

Well, I think I have the best doctor in the world and I had absolutely no alcohol restriction except that you should be avoiding getting calories from liquids. There is some statistical data that indicates a higher rate of alcoholism in WLS patients, but there is also a higher rate of sex addiction. The fact is that if you are a food addict and the surgery takes away, or impedes that addiction an addiction transfer can occur. Just take it easy and talk to your doctor if you can.

I had to agree to never drink alcohol again. Yup, for the rest of my life. Apparently there is a high rate of WLS patients becoming alcoholics/drinking in large quantities after surgery. My surgeon called it food transfer addiction. Instead of being addicted to food we become can become addicted to alcohol. I don't miss it. But two weeks post op? Yikes! Your pouch is still new and is not healed.

A common concern for weight loss surgery patients is that healthy foods have the reputation of being expensive. You might fear that the commitment to years of healthy eating will be outside of your budget, especially if you paid for weight loss surgery out of pocket. But, you can eat healthy on a budget. Junk Food May Seem Cheaper at First Your pre-surgery eating habits may seem cheap. For $1, you can order a burger, taco, burrito, sandwich or fries from at value menu at most fast food places. Candy bars, chips, crackers, snack cakes and sodas from vending machines also cost about $1 each. For $5, you can get an entire pizza, a fast food value meal with a burger, fries, and a drink, or the workplace cafeteria’s daily lunch special with a fried chicken sandwich, onion rings or fries and a drink. Almost everywhere, ordering larger portion sizes and extra side dishes gives you bigger discounts. These options seem inexpensive at first glance. For example, if you compare the cost of a pizza to an alternative of ordering grilled chicken and a salad for lunch at a sit-down restaurant, the pizza is cheaper. Similarly, a doughnut from a convenience store is far cheaper than a fresh fruit salad from the same convenience store. However, you can make better use of your food dollar. Convert Your Pre-WLS Food Dollar into Post-WLS Nutrition Most of the foods on your diet before weight loss surgery may have been relatively inexpensive, but the total cost may have been more than you think. Consider this sample day to see how your post-surgery diet can continue to fit within your budget. Breakfast: Before WLS ($5): coffee and a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. After WLS: 2 hard-boiled eggs, a cup of cantaloupe and a slice of turkey ham ($2). Save $3. Morning Snack: Before WLS ($3): a muffin and a coffee. After WLS ($1): string cheese and a half an apple. Save $2. Lunch: Before WLS ($7): a sub sandwich, chips, and a drink. After WLS: tuna, whole-wheat crackers and a cup of cooked cauliflower ($3). Save $4. Afternoon Snack: Before WLS ($2): a soda and a bag of cookies. After WLS: peanut butter and carrot sticks ($1). Save $1. Dinner: Before WLS ($4): steak, mashed potatoes, a dinner roll with butter, a green salad, and cheesecake. After WLS: ground turkey, green beans, almonds and a half a banana ($3). Save $1. Eat In More Often Save money by preparing more of your own food and eating less often at restaurants or fast food chains. Another benefit is that you have more control over what you eat when you prepare it yourself. You can keep your homemade food simple and still have a nourishing diet. Consider these restaurant meals and home-made alternatives to try. Each of the suggested alternatives is simple to make and it is more nourishing and less costly than the restaurant choice. A sugar-sweetened, flavored coffee beverage plus a cinnamon roll versus fat-free yogurt and fresh or frozen fruit. A burger, fries, and drink versus a salad with lettuce, grilled chicken breast and pecans. Breadsticks and a dip, soup, and fettuccine Alfredo versus broiled salmon with steamed spinach. Soda, an alcoholic beverage, or another beverage versus water. Shopping Strategies to Cut Costs and Improve Nutrition Without caution, you can spend a lot and leave the supermarket with plenty of unhealthy foods. On the other hand, a plan and some practice can help you stretch your food dollar while you stock up on healthy foods from the grocery store. Use a list. This helps you avoid impulse purchases of high-calorie, high-cost foods. It also ensures that you remember key ingredients so that you do not have to get them at the last minute from an expensive convenience store. Watch the sales. Staples in your kitchen might include tuna, peanut butter, whole-wheat pasta, beans, frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen chicken and lean beef and spices. Stock up on these non-perishables when they are on sale. Buy in bulk. Purchase larger packages, since they are usually cheaper than single-serving packages. Measure out single-portion servings when you are ready to use them. This is an especially good strategy for family-sized packs of chicken and fish, for snack products such as nuts and whole-grain crackers, and for yogurt. Buy store brands. They usually taste the same as the national brands and are far less costly. Dairy products, cereals and frozen and canned goods are good candidates. Check out your neighborhood. Discount stores and ethnic stores often have certain high-quality products for far cheaper than the chain supermarkets. Check for fresh produce, spices, and condiments at ethnic and discount stores. Buy in season. Out-of-season fruits and vegetables can be prohibitively expensive, but in-season ones can be on sale and higher quality. Some fruits and vegetables that are relatively consistent year-round are apples, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, lettuce, onions, and celery. Your new diet after weight loss surgery requires major adjustments to your eating habits. Practice and also planning are necessary so you can get the protein and other nutrients you need, avoid the foods that are bad for you, and lose the weight you want. With so much to worry about after WLS, you do not want to have to worry about the cost of the healthy foods you need. These tips can help put you on the path to healthy eating within a reasonable budget.

I think you should stick with the band..yes..the band requires tweaking. I have had my band for 14 years now..we love and hate each other..all the time..I lost 130lbs..stayed stable for years but when I decided 2 years ago "hmm..maybe I should just have a routine check since it has not had any followup for years..it has spiraled a bit..turns out my very last fill years before had been too tight and I learned to compensate by packing my esophagus..stretched it..complete unfill..50lbs quickly packed on me in a few months time...thousands of dollars in new wardrobes later.. I learned my lesson of going to local surgeons for follow up fills and they did me in. I should kept going back to Dr Kuri for follow ups. Doing fills under flouro instead of blind fills that started the spiral. I started getting refills..the last one 3 months ago from a local surgeon infected my port..I just went back to Mexico to have my port removed for now as my body heals from the infection. I have no band erosion thankfully..all goes well I will have port put back in. For now I am filled to where I have restriction but not back where I was too tight. Dr Kuri topped me off before he removed the port. Now...here is my take on the unfill/refill cycle. This is my own opinion based on having this band this long and my recent unfill and refill history. I think this band puts our bodies in an abnormal state of starvation mode. When we first get the band and start getting fills and that hunger gets satiated and you get used to only being able to eat a meal the size of a tennis ball..your body adjusts to this abnormal state. Once the band did its job of helping you get the weight off by basically a self imposed starvation diet..the band now needs to do the job of KEEPING IT OFF. Again..still in the state of abnormal starvation mode..my body is used to the limited calories in per meal..I can handle less calories because my hunger signals were less intensified..I could go all day without feeling hungry! Okay..so now..you take that abnormal state of being..for me it was almost 12 years..and then you unfill the band..wham..you just changed my abnormal state of being my body was used to for 12 years. The volume went back up on my hunger signals. I could get in more calories in each sitting. My body rebelled and I quickly gained 40+ lbsin 3 months. I STARVED myself..I was watching every calorie in and would still gain back 5 lbs overnight. It was brutal. My local surgeon's dietician swore that I must have started gorging on all the things I couldnt for years..eat a pizza..bread...etc..I actually craved salads because those have always been hard to eat for years..they didn't understand it was no longer a simple equation of calories in/calories out. That's for normal humans who were not put into an artificial state of being with a band. On what I was eating and GAINING..a mere mortal would have been dropping 2+ lbs per week. Thankfully I did watch my calorie intake closely and perhaps more of the 130lbs I had lost would have come back on. THANKFULLY only 50..uggh..hate to say that..but 50 is better than 130 back on. So now...I have to try and get my body back to this abnormal state of being with refills. I am also asking my body to get off the 50lbs I quickly gained after unfilled..at the same place I was when I was maintaining my weight for years. Won't be as easy the 2nd time around for sure. I will most likely have to really DIET to get off this last 40lbs and THEN my band will be back to doing what is doing now..maintaining me. While I was maintaining, I always stayed within a 5lb range up or down. I knew when it went up, I was having more liquid calories..more alcohol..more chocolate milk..not necesarily Meal Replacements but extra calories. When I laid off the extra liquid calories..my body adjusted back down a few lbs. This is not normal for unbanded humans who lose weight and then slowly eventually gain it back without a ton of diligence to keep it off. The diet cycle. The band helps stop this diet cycle of lose-gain-lose-gain. I don;t think any doctors can really truly understand what happens physically to your body when banded..being it is an adjustable surgery..we change mechanisms in our bodies and messing with the delicate balance changes how the band works for us.. This is my amateur opinion backed by no scientific research..just my gut and my personal experience. I will work hard if I have to to get this last 40lbs off and I am back to maintaining where I was happily maintaining for years and I can get rid of all these size 12-14-16 clothes and pull out my 6-8-10's again!! The band was totally worth it..130lbs off..gone for 12+ years?? yes!!! Just know you will have quirks along the way!! Rather deal with quirks than the burden of 130lbs!!