Search the Community

It's almost been 6 months since I had the lap band surgery. Still the best thing I've done for my body! I admit that I'd like to have lost more weight specially when I read about how much other people have lost. But I'm at 15 kg or 33 pounds. I had 1 month set back because of sickness and travel, I have to remember that. I also have to remember that this is not a competition, that I'm doing this for myself and nobody else. Also that I'm only 3 kg or 6.6 pounds away from a personal milestone. Can't wait. I also have to remember that for the first time in 20 years, I'm living a normal life. I chose to live normal and not diet. I eat like other people do. Ok I eat a LOT less than what other people do but I now can enjoy food like other people do. I allow myself to have a cake if there is a cake at the office, or ice cream if there is some at the office. Just a small amount for the taste and no seconds! Before the lap band, I NEVER had any sweets and it was mentally destroying me that I never allowed myself to do anything and still gain weight. Yes I did and by over eating normal food. But because I allow myself to have a cake, ice cream, candy.. (no not too often!! seriously) then I loose weight slower than I could. But I also always check if the cake (omg love cakes) are worth it, worth the calories. For example 2 days ago at work there was a store bought chocolate cake. I like home made more, so I decided it was not worth it. I mean it would have tasted ok but not worth it since it wasn't a fantastic cake! Also there was ice cream for desert at work and mmmmm I wanted some really badly. But nope, I decided not to have some since I was going out in the weekend and there is a birthday party I'm going to as well. So I do have self control I went partying yesterday for the first time. I was a bit nervous so I decided not to go to a club. Just stay at the party at a friends place. I had white wine. There was beer but nope no carbonated drinks. I had read that some people don't need a lot of drinks to get a little tipsy so I was kinda expecting that. But nope, it was the same as before the lap band. I had to drink the same amount to feel a little tipsy. I didn't want to get drunk and loose control and throw up. My doctor and reading about the lap band have all warned about that. But I never get that drunk anyway so I wasn't that worried. I always just get a little tipsy and happy But I don't like alcohol that much so I was hoping I only needed 2 or 3 glass of white wine. Maybe when I loose more weight, I will need less. Oh gosh this is such a luxurious problem haha. So this is the day after, slight hung over as in head ache and no binge eating or wanting really greasy unhealthy food so yay I've been a good girl. That's it for now

Do you think you are retaining water right now? Is it your TOM or have you eaten something salty or drank an alcohol drink in the past day or so. Any of these things could make you retain water and that can make the band feel tighter. In any case, I've heard its best to go on clear liquids only when you are experiencing trouble like this to see if you can get the swelling to go down. Every time you try to eat something solid right now or even the protein drink, you are making the swelling worse. If after being on clear liquids only for a couple days, if it doesn't get better, then you gotta go see your doctor. Or, if you are miserable right now, certainly go to your doctor right now. Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon.

I suppose LBT is one of the addictions we might have! I gave up drinking alcohol well before my band surgery, so that's not it... I've tried to become more involved in things outside myself...using food as comfort is, by it's nature, very self-centered...when I feel nervous or stressed, I try to do something that will make someone else feel better, then I feel better, too.

My addiction has always been books, and snacking while reading them. I've made a new rule; no eating and doing ANYTHING else. Books are still my favorite addiction, but I now enjoy them without food. I'm trying out other hobbies...photography, scuba, sailing lessons, and next.... kayaking (if I fit in one that is! LOL). I'm sure I'll find something because fortunately (or unfortunately?!) it take tons of alcohol to affect me in the least..always been like that. As for music and exercize...I've always worked out or walked with my music, until I discovered something new. My new iPod has video capability...I've downloaded 2 seasons of Monk and have suddenly found myself working out for an hour without even NOTICING! I now look forward to the treadmill so I can see the show, 'cause I don't allow myself to watch it any other time.

Hello I'm Vera, 44 year old Cancer crab Started working right out of high school in the electronic field, Silicon Valley and I'm currently an Antenna Test Engineer. When I was 21 a guy Billy 18 started working with me. We worked together for 11 years every day seeing each other. In that time he married a girl who also worked with us and I married Bob when I was 29. Bob was verbally abusive and an alcoholic, divorced him after 6 years. Meanwhile Both Billy and I started new jobs, 2 years later his company bought out the company where I was working, thus we're working together again. Actually he was my boss. This was about the time I was divorcing and he had divorced his wife also. We had become best friends and did allot of bowling, camping and outings to the beach. 6 years ago we had Roxanne and 3 years ago we had Hunter, and how have know each other 23 years have a beautiful house on Anderson Lake in Morgan Hill California. Yes we still work together and we've been engaged 3 years. Planning "the Wedding" maybe in Yosemite or on a cruise. Just thought I'd tell you my love story. Now for the Band stats: Banded 8/14/03 at 244lbs size 20 AMI Swedish band, 3 fills @ 5.7cc's Now 184lbs size 12/14 I'm so very blessed!

I thought any liquids apart from alcohol or caffeinated ones - although obviously the less calories in your liquids the better. What about decaffeinated coffee? Does that count?. I'm slowly cutting back again from my 7 or 8 cup of coffee a day habit, replacing all but 2 or 3 with decaf instead.

I can't believe anyone has the stomach for even one more little word from me in the emotional advice category. lol I wish I did have some good advice, but I think you said it all. And when you're dealing with alcoholism, it is totally out of your hands, just like our dealing with our weight was totally out of anybody else's hands. I have an Aunt who chose to go to Al-Anon, and stayed with her husband. She said that she learned that she was not responsible for his behaviour. I admire that, but at the same time, I don't really understand why someone would choose to stay in that situation (he could be very mean when drunk). But it worked for her, and after the kids grew up and moved away he got sober. That's a really long time to wait for improvement, in my opinion. I realize I wasn't the one in love with him, but... I don't think I would have done it. There are other things I'd put up with that others wouldn't, but I've had my fill of mean people. But again, it wasn't me - who knows what I would have done in the same situation. I personally think I'd do what you're doing instead, as painful as that must be. We all have our limits, and our requirements for happiness. I think it's good to be open to other possibilities, but at the same time we have the right to live our lives, and make of our lives what we choose. Taking responsible steps towards personal happiness requires no excuses or apologies. ***hugs***

I was getting nervous yesterday about the lack of contact from my surgeons office, so I gave a call to the Insurance coordinator there and she said things were going fine. I should have my approval any day now. I trust her assessment because she does this for her job. It makes me a bit less apprehensive about the timing. I now have appointments at the hospital and with the surgeon for pre op stuff first thing next week. Surgery is still planned for the 29th. I spent a lot of the rest of the day thinking about how vulnerable I am to addictions. My wife has been at her wits end with me and I really don't blame her. I have been difficult. I called the psychologist that did my bariatric evaluation. It was really strange when I talked to her in my evaluation. I have talked with so many different "shrinks" at the Veterans Administration that could not believe that I was not a smoking alcoholic. Many times they kept trying to get me to admit I drank or smoked so they could get an "easy fix" for a veteran. When I sat down with the new, non VA person, it felt like a watershed moment for me. I was able to actually discuss myself rather than what I considered a confrontation with all the VA whacks. I will still have to see the VA but I called the new person back and scheduled another session. I am really introverted today, so perhaps that is why I am having such a struggle writing today. I think I will close for now. Thanks for reading, I will be back.

SeattleSue - you are so right! I am a carb addict. They were my comfort food - big time. It is best if I just don't indulge in white carbs (bread, Pasta, potatoes, rice, most crackers) and absolutely no junk carbs (chips of any kind). It is like asking an alcoholic to drink reasonably. I am still recording every thing I eat. It took a long time before I was ready to take the training wheels off the bicycle when I was a little girl, it's going to take a long time before I feel in control enough to quit writing down everything that goes into my mouth. Good luck to you ASBGirl - both with your sleeve and your horse endeavors!

Me either but I have read some things people have eaten or drank alcohol soon after and such ... I needed to know some people didn't gonthrough a major surgery like we did just do have the same behaviors ....Faith on people thank you [emoji16] progress starts in the mind

Saw this on Yahoo and I have to say, it's true for me. I can drink WAAAYYY more than before my surgery and I tend to find myself drinking daily, instead of socially. Need to change that asap, which I will. "Weight-Loss Surgery Increases Risk of Alcohol Addiction" Andrew Kahn was only a social drinker before his weight-loss surgery. He never imagined he would develop problems with alcohol because he had bariatric surgery. But he did. The 61-year-old from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who had his gastric bypass surgery in 2003, eventually developed alcoholism and was treated at a rehabilitation facility for his addiction. "I never had any guidance or education about that," said Kahn. "If I was given the choice between being obese and becoming an alcoholic, I would have thought about [my decision] more." The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric surgery estimates that approximately 72 million people are obese in the United States and 200,000 people have bariatric surgery each year. Kahn's alcohol addiction may not be a unique result of gastric bypass surgery. New research suggests that having Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, where the size of the stomach is reduced and the intestine is shortened, thus limiting how much a person can eat, can increase the risk of alcohol-use disorders. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, adds to mounting evidence of a link between have the popular gastric bypass surgery and the symptoms of alcohol-use disorders. Before the surgery, the nearly 2000 study participants completed a survey developed by the World Health Organization that is used to identify symptoms of alcohol abuse. The patients then completed the survey one and two years after their weight-loss surgery. The study found 7 percent of patients who had gastric bypass reported symptoms of alcohol use disorders prior to surgery. The second year after surgery, 10.7 percent of patients were reporting symptoms. The findings were published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "There have been previous studies that show there is a change in alcohol sensitivity in gastric bypass," Wendy King, a research assistant professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the study's lead author. King's study is the first to show that with this increased sensitivity there is also an increased risk of alcohol use disorders (AUD), the term used to describe alcohol abuse and dependence. Dr. Mitchell Roslin, a bariatric surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said the link between gastric bypass surgery and increased alcohol use has been attributed before to the shifting addiction theory and that this is false. The shifting addiction theory is that if a person has an impulsive drive to eat and the ability to eat large amounts of food is taken away, then he will shift his addiction to another addictive substance, like drugs or alcohol. "A gastric bypass patient has a small pouch [for a stomach] so alcohol goes straight into the intestine and is absorbed rapidly," said Roslin. "When it is absorbed rapidly, there is a high peak and rapid fall." The higher absorption rate makes alcohol more addictive, he added. Indeed, before his surgery, Kahn would have two drinks, then feel sleepy and go to bed. After the surgery, he said he felt the alcohol would go through his system faster, which allowed him to drink more. "It wears off so quickly so you can keep going and going," said Kahn. Gastric bypass is the most commonly performed bariatric surgery in the United States and represents 70 percent of all surgeries performed during the study. Laparoscopic gastric banding, where an adjustable band in placed around a patient's stomach and limits how much food the stomach can hold, did not have an associated risk with increases in alcohol problems. King said this is to be expected as gastric banding does not change the anatomy and thus the metabolism of alcohol like gastric bypass does. The study also found that the increase in alcohol-use disorders was not seen until the second post-operative year as opposed to the first year after surgery. "This emphasizes that continuing education about alcohol use is needed until the second year after surgery. With follow up [patients] need to hear about consumption and what is appropriate," said King. Dr. Leslie Heinberg, the Director of Behavioral Services for the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, thinks these increases are causes for caution more so than concern. Patients should be educated before their surgery about the changes that will occur in how they will absorb and metabolize alcohol. "Given that the increased rates of alcohol use disorders post-operatively are equivalent to what is seen in the general population, it shouldn't be a reason to avoid a life-saving procedure," said Heinberg. "Rather, it points to the importance of education, informed consent and continued monitoring." King said her study highlights one of the risks of the surgery but it is important for patients to take in context all of benefits and risks and work with doctors to determine what is the best option for them. "Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment we have for obesity. It would be shame if people walked away thinking gastric bypass was a bad procedure based on this [study]," said King. Andrew Kahn said that he did not have the opportunity to know that alcohol addiction may occur after his surgery and he wants other patients to be informed about these risks. He initially lost over 70 pounds after his surgery, but in the six months he was heavily drinking, he gained 35 of those pounds back and became depressed. He eventually attended a detoxification program and has been sober since 2010. Kahn said he would not have had an alcohol problem if he did not have gastric bypass. Still, he wouldn't have traded in the surgery if given a second chance. "Gastric bypass saved my life," he said. http://news.yahoo.com/weight-loss-surgery-increases-risk-alcohol-addiction-003820087--abc-news-health.html

I do, but it's not because I'm replacing a food addiction with an alcohol addiction (food addiction is definitely still there!). It's because of a few reasons - now I live alone & a couple of nights a week I like to have some wine; sometimes if I've been having a stuck day I find it helps ease my band a bit. Those are the main ones. I do think I feel the effects a bit sooner than before, but probably only because I've probably been stuck most of the day so haven't eaten much & want to be able to eat at dinner (granted, it can lead to over-eating sadly).

You can totally drink beer again after the surgery. There is nothing that you actually cannot physically have after about the 2 month mark. They frown on caffeine, soda, and booze, purely because they don't want you drinking your calories. I drink diet Pepsi everyday and while I'm not a big alcohol drinker, I haven't had an issue the few times that I've had a beverage (or five).

No problems with alcohol here. Been drinking since I've been banded per doctor's orders. I drink both wine and liquor. Good luck!

I do not drink often. I had my surgery and since then I have had a few drinks...It takes me a while to get them down and I really don't crave them. I will have a drink here and there, but honestly I don't drink much anymore not sure if it was the band or just the realization that I am trying to lose weight and don't need to knock back empty calories all the time...This whole carbonation thing is crazy. Having a drink won't kill ya. The carbonation is mostly a gas thing. It makes you uncomfortable is all. I can take gas-x and have no problem drinking those lovely carbonated beverages on occasion. Hope this helps. Remember they have no benefit to you other than being tasty and a social thing. Losing weight and getting healthy is way more important....save the alcohol for important occasions. Good luck!!

My program requires lifelong abstinence from alcohol (risk oftransfer addiction, empty calories, and higher intoxication with less to drink after surgery). Coffee is dehydrates you and is highly acidic. Why not work on finding a better way of becoming more alert? Drink more water, take 20 min nap, walk in the sunlight, do morning yoga, earlier bed time, smell vibrant essential oil, play upbeat music. I totally understand that some people and programs are A-okay with coffee. I'm just wanted to put another perspective out there. Best wishes to you! Sent from my SM-J320R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi, I am getting ready for my Plication next Wednesday with Doctor Corvala in Tijuana and I am very excited. I read through all these posts to get ideas and help and I have noticed several people mention drinking wine or cocktails. I would have thought with your stomach being so much smaller that you'd be unable to drink much? Is this correct? I am just wondering if it's even worthwhile having a drink once you've had this done since you have such a small capacity. Anyway any comments would be appreciated.

I hear ya. My alcohol consumption had increased dramatically since March, which also happened to coincide with my early-covid weight gain.

I know that it's bad for you, but I will turn 21 about 5months after surgery. I'm not saying that I will go super overboard, but I can't see not being able to drink a little. As of right now, I'm not really that big of a drinker. I have 1 alcoholic beverage every 6months, and I'm not a big partyer. So I would just like to know what have your experiences been with alcohol? How often do you drink? How much can you drink? I would just like to be able to go out every now and then and get a decent buzz lol. But it really wouldn't be that big of a sacrifice to give it up completely seeing as I almost never drink the stuff anyway. So let me know what's up :biggrin:

Hello I'm Louisana too...Shreveport..Alcohol is ok..It's just has a lot of sugar but since you don't drink as much you will be fine..I get tipsy faster maybe becuz I don't eat as much..I find myself drinking alot since I don't eat as much but you will be fine..Enjoy yourself

Loose as a goose. I did not drink any alcohol. This started the 3rd day postop

Ok, I first need to admit I did something really stupid Sunday night.:paranoid I drank a few too many glasses of wine. I know I didn't throw up though...just sorta passed out and woke up with a killer hangover.:cry Anyway, I have been contemplating another fill because at times I seemed to be able to eat too much. However, I usually experience the tight feeling at least once per day especially when eating starchy carbs (which I try to avoid). I am worried because I am loose as a goose. Since Monday morning I can eat anything and have NO restriction. I was also thinking maybe my band is leaking because the restriction seems to be less and less since my last fill. Maybe the wine on Sunday night is just a coincidence. It was also my TOM when I got my last fill. So, I guess there are several factors to consider. I am going to get a fill tomorrow and they do it with barium so I guess I will find out if I slipped it. Needless to say, I have sworn off alcohol. I just can't handle it the same way anymore.:Banane45:

Sorry for the late update but I am now at 145.5 and officially only 15 pounds away from goal. I've started dating again this past week which has been interesting. Definitely need to watch my alcohol intake and make sure I'm getting enough Water. Protein is good, but I also started to see some hair shedding for the first time this week which has freaked me out more than I can even say. Hoping it doesn't get any more dramatic and goes away soon!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks guys, this is definitely a change for me considering how I handled my brother's death. I spent over a year in a drunken stupor and gained 50 pounds. I figured I need a plan B this time around since none of the food or alcohol made me feel better anyways. I guess I've just resigned myself to the fact that I am going to feel this way no matter what. it takes all my willpower to just get up, go to work, and try to function when all I want to do is curl up and cry. (Actually had an anxiety attack, couldn't breathe and nearly passed out in the shower this morning). Continuing to visit and post on BP is one of my many attempts to try and be "normal". His wife has arranged for counseling for their son and both of us are looking at grief counseling for ourselves. I thought losing my brother was hard, but a suicide takes all this shit to a whole other level. For the first time in my life I've encountered a state of mental anguish that I just don't know how to begin to deal with. (Other than to keep cleaning....it's my new obsession!) Sorry for the hijack but Thanks for letting me rant.

Well thank you mis73, that means a lot coming from you. I really look up to you! Food addiction is a very serious issue that needs to be accepted as an Addiction, just like alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc. Well, they're different, but they're an addiction none the less. If we could only get the professionals to recognize food addiction, then maybe people would come out of the woodwork, and maybe be less ashamed. It's nothing to be ashamed about! I can't wait to see me lose weight too! And it WILL happen. I am in control.