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Hello all, So I have heard a lot of conflicting things about alcohol after surgery. I am almost two years out now and doing great, but I've alwasy had the lingering question about drinking... I am not a drinker at all. I never drink in my day to day live. I am on vacation right now though in europe and am supposed to go to Brussels in a few days. Naturally I want to try the beer there (I have never had beer) BUT it's carbonated so is it a no no? I used to drink soda all the time and was told after surgery we cant deal with the bubbles so I gave it up and haven't touched it since. Please let me know if I should just stay away or if it would be ok... Random, but what drinks are good in general? that you can handle after surgery? It might be kindof hard to order specialized drinks here....ideas? Thanks.

The reason why you can subtract those from the net carb count is because sugar alcohols are low glycemic, much like fiber can also be subtracted. Quest bars are good and have 20 g of Protein. They are high in fiber and low in carbs. Some people say they can trigger them to want candy/cookies etc though because they totally taste like Cookies and apple pie and the like. I like to use bars as a protein boost post workout. Sometimes I have half a bar before my workout since I go to the gym during dinner hour, then the other half after.

I've got around 10-12 close friends, all retired like me (who have all known me since 1985/1990) and who have seen me live through slight overweight all the way to morbid obesity. Two of them know I have had the surgery. About seven or eight of them tell me to my face AND on near daily Facebook posts that I am losing too much weight and that my two to five hours daily exercise 27 days per month will kill me. They implore me to stop. I'm not sure what it is they worry about: (1) that I am now no more obese than two or three of them? (2) that I exist on about a third the food in public that I used to? (3) that I exist on water or only one alcoholic drink per evening when I am out with them? (4) that my priorities have shifted since six months ago? (5) that their wives tell them how much better I am looking? (6) that a few of them are dealing with health issues other than obesity and I am winding my obesity and medications back? I dunno!

Well said @The Greater Fool. One of the reasons, we’re encouraged to avoid alcohol (besides the high calories of course) is to avoid the risk of swapping your food addiction to another addiction like alcohol. I watched my friend’s drinking increase very noticeably after her surgery. She did eventually realise but we were concerned for her. Not saying that’s you but it is something to be conscious of. Honestly, I had my first drink at 2 months for my cousin’s 40th. I nursed that gin & tonic for hours. I wasn’t really enjoying it as I did before surgery., plus my taste buds had changed & I was conscious of the gas in the tonic upsetting me. I only have a glass of alcohol about once a month now & I still take ages to drink it. My friends like a glass or several but my not drinking or drinking very little doesn’t affect how we socialise or celebrate together at all. Remember if you’re drinking you’re not eating & eating is way more important & even more so especially at a month post surgery. Alcohol is empty calories & you should be concentrating on nutritionally dense calories while you are losing. Because of your low calorie intake, any alcohol you do consume will have a greater impact on you. But, ultimately it is your choice.

I used rubbing alcohol when that happened. Then followed by benedryl HW 242, SW 236- Bypass 12/20/17 GW#1- 199 [emoji736]. GW#2- 175 CW 192 5’6”

For those of you now fully in maintenance mode and doing well at maintaining your weight, would you please answer these questions? 0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? Sleeve 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? 3 months 2. What's your current height and weight? 5'6" and 145 lbs 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? Don't count them at the moment. 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? Same as during weight loss phase, only with the occasional healthy carb like quinoa, barley, or brown rice. Not as careful to avoid corn as before, but still no "white stuff" or sugary sweets. 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? Very limited! 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? Still eating lots of nuts, cheese and Jerky. Probably too many nuts. 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? White stuff, sugars, alcohol. 8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? Walking 3-4 times a week and gym once a week. 9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? Active on Bariatric Pal and my local monthly surgery support group. Use sharing my experience with others as my "therapy". 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? See my story for lots of advice and tips.

I am by no means a big drinker....I drink a few times a year at best.....I have family coming home and would like to enjoy a few socialables....I am worried about how it will hit me and what to have.....does it hit you faster now that your stomach is smaller? Please let me know what to expect.

I am scheduled for surgery 10/20. Saturday I found out that my husband has been cheating on me with my own f..ing sister that we let move in for a few weeks at the beginning of the summer because she had no place else to go and she is an alcoholic. We were trying to help her out right.. So she moved out a few months ago and has been drinking again and kept calling us over and over and over all hours of the day and night. I started getting suspicious and finally after multiple fights he finally admitted to cheating for the past couple of months.... What do I do now... I know stress is not good for the band and I don't want to let her get the satisfaction knowing that i didn't go through with surgery. On top of all of this I have 2 kids under 3 that I have to protect. I am filing for divorce as soon as I can save up the money. But what do you think, should I go through with the surgery and hope that the band doesn't bother me being under so much stress?? Or should I postpone it and risk having to pay even more money for it if it's in the new year?? I've already lost 5 pounds in less than a week because every time i eat i feel like it's going to come right back up. any advice would be appreciated... thanks

Im thinking about it too.indid see he had license taken away because of alcohol issue.but thats a long time ago and he did rehab etc. I just want to know if he is goid at mini sleeve procedure. ..seems like a newer procedure...lets us all know what happens good luck!!

It is possible to gain weight even with the band. You will need to be diligent about getting fills when you know you need them in order to keep proper restriction and limit the amount of food you can eat. Also, there are many high calorie foods that have no problem slipping right through a properly restricted band. chocolate, ice cream, alcohol - basically anything that is a liquid and is high in sugars and/or fats. So it does require some dedication on your part to avoid these types of foods. I believe that with the band it would be far too uncomfortable to stuff yourself until your pouch was "stretched". I haven't experienced this but I've read that overeating can result in a Productive Burp (PB) which is the food coming back up when it wont go through the band or there is too much in the small pouch. Also, if for any reason you need to have a fill removed and you are left with no restriction while a medical problem is resolved, it is likely that you would experience more hunger and require more volume of food to keep you saited. However, if you are making good healthy food choices this would not be detrimental to your progress. So, yes it is very possible to gain weight with the band. It is only a tool that has to be used properly in order to work at its maximum effectiveness. The good news is, this tool empowers those who do use it correctly to stay the course and keep going forward where in the past they would have stopped progressing and gained it all back.

Dionna, I frequent buffets a lot and I don't have a problem anymore. I have learned how much I am able to eat and I stick with that guideline. I hope you will be able to learn how to eat more easily. I don't even have to grab small plates anymore because I can only eat the amount that I am able to eat. It may help you to rethink why you eat. I eat to live and not live to eat............ Please don't think that I am a sassy pants but I get it now. I know what it takes to be of a normal healthy weight. I have a certain food type that is my enemy and like an alcoholic I will never eat it again and I am okay with that also it isn't healthy food. It is unfortunate that we see ourselves having to pay the full price on food but think of the people who eat like us and never had a weight problem. They have always paid the price without question so why should we be any different. I know this is very touchy but why should we be any different than others? Josephine

Had my visit with my PCP today.....first a little background. I see my PCP every 4 months...used to be every 3 months, preceded by complete lab workup 1 week prior to each visit, for the last 5-6 years!!! ...reason was, we were desperately trying to get all my medical issues under control...everything was completely out of whack...and each visit he would adjust or change all my medications trying to get thing in balance...when one thing was brought under control, another thing would go off the scale...all the while my Diabetes was getting worse and worse....while all this was going on, Cardiac issues were discovered and I had to undergo cardiac surgery... Seemed like there was no hope, and I could read the frustration in my Dr....knowing that other complications were to develop..... Fast Forward.....as a LAST RESORT...I had Lap Band surgery 3 yrears ago...I did not like the idea, but I wanted a "Cure All" to my many medical problems... Today...all my blood work is right down the middle NORMAL !!!....and that is without the help of any drugs...I am no longer taking any meds, other than Cardiac Meds which I will for life because of Heart Attack.... My weight has not changed in 2 years, and fluctuates within the same 5 lbs...today was the lower end of the 5 lbs making it that much more sweet! My weight is the same as it was in High School, over 40 years ago! My Dr. said when he saw my name on the chart, it drew an image of who I was...but when he walked in the exam room, he thought either I was the wrong person, or he was in the wrong room...took him a minute, and he said it "Blew his mind" after he put 2 and 2 together... THE ONLY Blip on the radar, was my Fasting Glucose was HIGH, and my A1C was at the top of normal...he laughed it off, said after the holidays with all the partying and alcohol, whose blood sugar isn't going to be high? He would think differently of me if it wasn't (a Joke) Now everyday I can pat myself on the back, after getting on the scale or putting on normal fitting clothes, etc... BUT THIS....This makes it official....I have been examined and tested medically, and have passed the test!!! I am Bonifide!! I have my annual Nuclear Stress test in March...I CAN'T WAIT!!! I had them talking around the office last year...This year I'm gonna show them what this 62 year old man can do....I have been running my butt off - LITERALLY...5 days a week......my PCP says considering the strides I have made, I should ask to be taken off the Cardiac Meds...I'm not your usual cardiac patient.... My visits to the Bariatric Center are pretty much the same....they ask me one question.."Any Complaints?" I say "No", they weigh me in, then it becomes a 1 hour social visit with the staff talking shop.....I go back in May, and I think as an inside Joke, I'm going to bring them a couple dozen do-nuts for the break room.... Days like today...it just cannot get any better than this...what can happen that would be better??? It is a confirmation that everything I have gone through, and everything I am currently doing has been "Spot On"..at least for me...I would not, and will not change a thing....this type of affirmation will carry me for quite a while.... I am also on firm footing not to let the Negative Naysayers get to me....no possible way am I going to get sucked down.... I will NEVER make excuses or back down from what this surgery has done for me...never rationalize it away, never make it more difficult then it actually is, only confusing and clouding the issues..... I'm happy right where I am at....and I have no intention of ever changing that no matter what others may say....they have their success stories, I have mine, and that's all there is to it....Happy happy, Happy....Everybody's Happy. i HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBTS.......I'M WALKING ON AIR.... PS; I realize that many, the majority, of people here are just starting out, so I know I have to be careful of what I may say so as not to mis lead anyone....all I can say is follow your Dr.'s advice, and learn to THINK about what is happening.....and ask WHY....

I would like to be the first to tell you this is going to be an awsome ride for you. There will be rough days. Food is not like other addictions. When you are an alcoholic or addicted to drugs the first thing you do is to stay away from those areas of influence, you know, bars the people you used to "party" with etc. you surround yourself in a safer enviroment so there is no temptation. Food is every where. We have to eat, we have to eat to live. I was scared to death I would fail at this like I had hundreds of diets before. I am a little over 8 months banded and am 73 pounds down. It is the smartest thing (other than accepting Christ in my life) I have ever done. Some times I get down and I really miss my old friend (food) but I try to always remember my favorite quote that I have repeated over and over since my start "NOTHING I MEAN NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS SKINNY WILL FEEL" I was borderline diabetic, my bloodpressure was sky high, I was 5"3 and 258 pounds. I was killing myself I am so thankful for this band and this new lease on life I just cant tell you how blessed I feel. I can promise you it wont always be easy but it WILL be worth it. YOU are worth it, your family is worth it. You (like myself) will finally get to meet that skinny person inside of you that is dying to get out. Yes the way you look and feel is so important but more than anything, it is about your health, that is so important. I dont have to tell you you are absolutely breathtaking. Remember to enjoy the journey and God bless you as you go. Mechelle

You'd be a fool to do that for a gazillion reasons. The biggest is risk of infection. Sterile technique does NOT mean alcohol and a sterile needle. You are risking losing your band for doing your own fills. See the link I posted and read ALL of it. Not just the last few posts.

I'm only 2 months out, but I have a few things to contribute that I feel are appropriate. I stressed a lot over which surgery to have. BMI 40 at the highest. I wanted something reversible. I was scared. My mother had early bypass in the 90's and she suffers terribly now from mal-absorption, cant swallow important meds, can't eat. I got lucky with a rep for a travel surgery company over the phone who spent time with me discussing sleeve. Thank goodness she was insistent. I'm having an experience that seems not typical, but I am believing one thing from research and limited experience. Gastric sleeve makes the most logical sense as a concept when you break it down. Individuals vary but logically . . . It does not actually change the flow of the human body, or digestive system, it just keeps the natural flow, but reduces the pouch of your stomach size. It does not leave foreign objects like the band, port, etc in the body. Scarring is minimal, invasion is lower, recovery is faster. For me the recovery has been so fast it's almost unbelievable. It simply restricts you from overeating and presents you with a nauseous reminder to STOP, or SLOW DOWN constantly. Recovery seems to be the fastest for a general observation, Side effects for me have been nearly non-existent. I had a home made seltzer yesterday as an experiment (I do NOT call that "soda") and surprise, I did not die, explode, tear out my staples. Like all things in life, be smart, listen to your body. Seltzer provides an oral stimulation I enjoy within reason, and a squirt of some taste also can happen. Vitamin effectiveness is too early to gauge at 8 weeks, but at least taking those larger pill presents no problem like the eternal suffering my mother's radical bypass endures for 25 years, causing non adherence to vitamins, which then causes more problems. My anecdotal research tells me men have a vastly different easier experience when compared to women overall. ANECDOTAL. I'm just 2 months out, and of course years of a journey lie ahead. Oh by the way, I'm also HIV positive, 35 years healthy, never needed meds until proactive treatments started recently, and even those I have no problems with post surgery. Negatives I'm becoming aware of . . . you can find unhealthy high calorie foods that can slow or stop weight loss and slip by the restriction process. My personal example is Low Sugar Fudgesicles. I'm craving chocolate, I did not used to. I used to binge eat popsicles in general, now regular popsicles taste weird, but the sugar free chocolate products like Peppermint Patties, dark chocolate, in general also help because they have a laxative effect. I ate too many "Outshine' fruit low sugar popsicles last night watching Netflix (with no chill unfortunately) - and I vomited in my sleep, which strikes me as a bit potentially dangerous. I hope the negative reinforcement works. Tastes seem to change a bit. Cravings change. Whiskey/Scotch/Vodka tastes gross now unless it's an expensive super high quality bourbon. That may seem minor to you, but taste and craving changes can seem bizarre. I can sense a long term danger that mentally, I will "figure out" how to outsmart the surgery when I'm stressed and resorting to old eating behaviors and patterns. Last week I went to support a friend who is a cabaret theater singer, and there was pressure to order food and drink to keep the prime seating location we were in. I felt guilty for the waiter with me milking an appetizer and one drink for an hour and I pushed it ordering more food, and more alcohol, ill advised. I gained 2 pounds just from that stupid exercise. Thankfully avoided vomiting, but perhaps that would have been better mentally. My weight loss was so slow at first I was genuinely scared then angry. Then I resumed cardio exercises and teaching Zumba, which is twice as much exercise as just taking Zumba. Then the weight started falling off. Muscle tone is weird. I need to lift weights as I did when very overweight. It feels different. Hope this contributes and helps.

I ended up getting the subscription shortly after surgery. I was all about macros during weight loss phase and the Premium version shows macro breakdown goals in grams while the free does not. There are a bunch of other features, but this was the main reason I got it (and to a lesser extent, I also appreciated the timestamp functionality in the paid version). I'm in maintenance now and can probably go back to the free version as I don't watch my macros as diligently anymore. When my subscription year is up, I will likely cancel. Aside: The one thing that I don't like about My Fitness Pal is that it doesn't immediately show NET carbs (i.e., Total Carbs minus Fibre and Sugar Alcohols), though simple math on my part can figure this out. But Still. Would've be nice to have it displayed automatically.

Mine was basically a shortened post-op diet in reverse for 10 days total: 5 days mushy foods 3 days full liquids 2 days clear liquids No specific foods, no calorie limit, no alcohol. Not terribly difficult. Surgeon said my liver was flat as a pancake

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 don't do well with dairy so I can't do the milk diet. My pre op diet is high protein and no carbs. Breakfast is 2 eggs with mushrooms or tomato, lunch a chicken or tuna salad, evening meal chicken / fish and veggies. No cheese, no carbs, no alcohol, no chocolate no crisps etc. Oh I can have 3 pieces of fruit a day. Sent from my E5823 using BariatricPal mobile app

I messaged him but he hasnt responded. I'm assuming hes already on his way to wherever hes going and possibly left hos work phone behind? Im hoping hes just on a flight and thats why he hasn't responded. Im just trying to calm down haha I wiped it with some alcohol and I'm just letting it dry by not covering it up.

Hi, I was just banded on June 28th. I have a baby, almost one year old who I still breast feed. I spoke with one of the anestesiologists. He said that the anesthesia is not in your milk once you no longer feel the effects of it. The same is with alchohol. If you have a drink and feel tipsy you should not breastfeed because the alcohol is in your milk at that time, but once you feel normal, then your milk is ok. He said to be really safe, wait for 24 hrs to feed your baby. That is what I did. I had Csections with both my babies and breastfed them immediately after I came out of the OR and while on pain meds in the hospital with no problems, and that was when they were newborns, so I would think if it was not safe, they would not have encouraged it. Because I paid cash for the Lap Band, I was able to go first at 0730, and home by 1400. So I fed my little guy before I left for the hospital and then I started again the next morning. He is older than your little one, so only feeds in the morning and before bed, but I had some frozen milk just in case he seemed to need it. He was fine about it all though. In regards to supply, I think everyone is different and you won't know until you have the surgery yourself. I would recommend you talk to your surgeon and research for yourself and then decide on what makes you comfortable. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

O.O NO beer? I didn't realize that. I knew we had to do alcohol in extreme moderation but no beer at all that will be tough.

Hey guys, Atkins is still giving away their Quick Start Kit, which includes 3 Atkins bars - completely free. I did an Unboxing and review video of the contents, it's posted below. The link to the Atkins free offer is below the video. Meal Replacement bar. All 3 were delicious, it was hard not to eat all three of them. Just a word of caution, the bars are sweetened with sugar alcohols, so those of you that can't tolerate sugar alcohols might not want to eat the bars. The kit also includes some literature: 2 coupons for $1 discounts on Atkins bars, Snacks, and meals. An Atkins approved food booklet and the Atkins Quick Start guide that explains the Atkins diet and the phases. As well, there are links to the Atkins support community and where you can download the Atkins app. The Atkins app will help you: *search for nutritional info, *keep track of your carb intake, your weight and how close you are to reaching your goal, *provides a daily meal plan or help you design your own, *has a database of the foods considered acceptable for each phase, *and has a restaurant guide to help you make Atkins friendly food choices when dining out.

I am very angry. I discovered that yesterday when my husband came back from getting his hair cut (we use the same person), and said "We were talking about you getting the LapBand, and she (the hair stylist) said she sure wished you could see a nutritionist before doing this". Something snapped inside my head . . . I actually heard it. It took me a moment to realize that it was inside my head and not something that my husband heard. The anger came out . . . not literally, but all the anger that I have kept inside of me for years and years. I've never been good at expressing anger because I have always been "the nice one". Whenever my family or friends want to do something I do it (whether I really want to or not), because I'm "the nice one". My Mother taught me that we always put others first (that's what Christ did), and everyone's feelings come first. So, whenever I have gotten angry in the past, I felt guilty and so I hid it. Well, not anymore. I told my husband that I did not appreciate him discussing my LBand with anyone else. It wasn't his to discuss. It was my decision, and I will choose who I tell and who I don't. I left to go get ready for this award supper for his 15 years at the company, which I cannot tell you how much I did NOT want to go. I cried the entire time I was getting ready. He came in about 20 minutes later, and that's when I let him have it. I told him that he needed to take a couple of days and decide whether or not he was really going to support my decision. He's either on board with it or not. And it doesn't really matter to me at this point. His decision doesn't affect mine. For the 1st time, I told him this was ALL ABOUT ME!!! I am tired of being fat, and fearful that each time I step on the scales I will tip the 300lb mark. I watched "The Half Ton Man" on the Discovery Health Channel yesterday, and my husband said, "I don't have any idea how people can get to that point". I told him I understood completely, and that I could get to that point so very easily. He said he didn't believe me, so I got up and left. People with addictions get that way. I have an addictive personality. Smoking and eating are my addictions. The truth about a food addict is that it's the one addiction you can never get away from. Smokers, alcoholics and people who use drugs . . . . once they get sober, they don't ever use cigarettes, alcohol or drugs again. When you're a food addict, you can't not ever eat again. It's the one addiction that you have to keep using. Who am I angry with? Everyone and no one. I'm angry at my family and friends, the strangers I see at the store. I'm angry at me. Last night was torture. I smiled, made polite conversation and laughed in all the appropriate places, because socially that's what they expect you to do. Today, my husband asked me what was wrong, and I told him that I was angry. Not the yelling, spitting kind, but the kind that comes from way down deep. He asked if I was angry at him, and I told him that this wasn't about him, but me. I will talk with him about it when the time comes, but it's not now. Tomorrow I go for my first appt with the Doc about getting the LBand. I told my husband I didn't want him there.

Does the vicadon even help with sciatica pain? Nothing helped mine because I had an injury in that joint and the pain came from a spot with poor blood flow so pain pills didn't really help much. I would seriously consider alternative treatments. I think it's very admirable you can admit this. I want to give you a big warning. Post sleeve, your body will metabolize alcohol differently making it very easy to turn to problem drinking. It would be really great if you could find a therapist that understands WLS and addictions to help you ward off problems down the road. Hope you get to feeling better soon.