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I noticed as I lost weight I had wild shifting hormones! When I have a hormonal upset going on my deoderant quits working. I have to start washing with antibacterial soap, then before my I apply deoderant I apply rubbing alcohol to my underarms and let it dry. Then I apply clinical strenght deoderant. It seems these boughts lasted about 2 weeks and settled down. Now that most of my weight is gone my hormones are settling into a regular routine.

No alcohol? Really? I was well-versed on the no-carbonation thing (I miss you, Dr. Pepper), but didn't know alcohol was a no-no. I found a sugar-free margarita mix (Baha Bob's) and was looking forward to trying it, but now I guess I better ask first.

I told my mom (she went with me for the surgery), my sister, and my closest friend... only because I knew she would be very suspicious about my eating/drinking changes. I don't plan on telling anyone else. As far as what do I tell other people? I tell them I am doing high protein/low carb, and exercising. Also, if I am at a BBQ or something (which has happened recently) and there's nothing for me to eat, I tell them I'm on a diet and I had a protein shake right before I got there. It's usually true. As far as alcohol, I have used migraines as my excuse for not drinking lately. My feeling is that it is nobody's business but mine, and I don't want to be known from here on out as the "girl who had weight loss surgery" in my extended group of friends. I believe it's a totally personal decision if you want to tell people or not. I decided not to tell, and although it's only been a month, it's working out fine so far.

Hi I'm getting panic attacks and I'm wondering if anyone else is too? I think it might be vitamin related. Here is my story, so far. I had one panic attack when I was heavy in 2005 or so. I had surgery in 2007, I was a model patient and got below my goal weight. I went through a divorce and by 2010 I was alone. I started going out with friends and not eating right, not taking vitamins, drinking alcohol, etc. I had my second panic attach in 2012. I felt my heart racing and was convinced I was having a heart attack and that just spiraled into a full blown panic attack. I went to the ER, nothing was the matter with my heart, in fact it wasn't racing at all, it was normal. They diagnosed panic attack and recommended psychologist. Since then I have had panic attacks on a regular basis with one big one sending me to the ER annually. It all starts with a vibration in my chest, a flutter I feel in my heart, tightness in my chest, restlessness and the feeling I'm going to have a heart attack. When I go to the ER they always calm me down and show me my heart is just fine. Last night I had a panic attack that should have sent me to the ER, but I took my pulse and it was 53. Earlier at the doctor office it was 58. So I did some breathing and after an hour and a half was able to go back to sleep. My doctor referred me to a cardiologist and a full lab panel. I've been slacking on my vitamins since September and eating wrong food, so that's why I'm thinking its a vitamin deficiency. Anyone else have this happen? Thanks for any kind of insight.

GrassMom- It is sort of like AA. Recovering Alcoholics get comfort in meeting together and telling their stories. I guess we are mostly all food addicts in recovery.

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.

Mines with a licensed social worker (like myself) at the Bariatric Center. I might look into this as a career move some day. I do assessments now for drug and alcohol related problems at a Rehab.

Ok, I admit it... I’ve been slack. For the past six weeks, I’ve not been concentrating on ANYTHING related to my post-sleeving care. I’ve not been making sure I’m having enough protein… I’ve not been getting all my Water in… I’ve not been thinking about what I eat.. Yes, I’ve still been going to the gym… Yes, I’ve still been losing weight… But what if I’d stuck to my plan all along and kept up the water/protein/good food thing? How much further along would I have been? Relatively speaking, six weeks is a long time. It’s 17(ish)% of my sleeved life. 17%. It doesn’t sound like much. It’s not even a fifth of something. But think about this… What if I was 17% ahead of where I am with my weight loss… What if, instead of being thrilled that I’ve lost 150lb, I was celebrating losing 175.5 lb. That’s nearly 80kg in my terms. And it’s 17% more… But fear not… I know what the reality is… The reality is that I’ve nobody to blame but myself. I chose to not get my Protein in… I chose to not keep check on my water… I chose to not watch my calories… (And I also chose to drink alcohol a few times in there too… Shhhhhh) Well you know what… I’m choosing again. Actually, I chose it last week. That’s when I started a countdown in my profile feed. To those who noticed it, it would have been random and quite possibly, nonsensical. But to me, it was making a choice. Re-making a choice. Call it a do-over.. A re-launch.. Call it whatever you like As of 0445 this morning (when I woke up), I’ve taken responsibility for myself again. No more coasting thru this sleeved life.. No more taking losing weight for granted.. No more forgetting where I came from.. What I came from… How far I’ve come… This sleeve shit is NOT easy!! This sleeve shit is NOT cheating!! I have lost this weight… Me.. Nobody else… And you know what? I’m about to lose a whole lot fu***ng more!!!

Besides the calorie problem with alcohol is the affect it can have on those with acid reflux problems. A year after surgery and down almost sixty pounds I started drinking Tequila and Crystal light lemonade more frequently. About the the same time I started having more problems with reflux. Finally I remembered pre-surgery advice from a doctor that alcohol relaxes the sphincter (sp?) and contributes to acid reflux. I quit drinking - no more reflux problems. And now the weight is starting to drop again - who'd a thunk it.

I'm about 2 weeks banded now and had a drink for the first time the other night. A beer was a bit too filling so a friend made me a fruity drink with tequila and the low sugar V8 tropical fruit juice and some triple sec. Let me tell you after 2 drinks I was FLYING! I'm talking a 12 beer buzz flying. I was never a big drinker to begin with, but I'm going to save a lot of money on booze. :cry_smile: Any ideas why a band makes you so much more susceptible to alcohol?

Do yourself this favor and stick to your pre op diet until surgery day anyways so you can really think this through. I think you are just having last minute jitters. I had sleeve so I can’t really speak to dumping other than only about 30% of bypass patients dump to any degree and many of them who do can still have sweets and fat just in much smaller portions. Once you are back to regular food, traveling and eating out shouldn’t be an issue (it is also doable during the staged return to eating it will just take some planning). You will eat smaller portions, but you will be able to eat most of the same foods you eat now (I can tolerate everything I ate before). You will of course make healthier choices the majority of the time and eat smaller portions but I eat at restaurants all the time. In terms of catching up with friends over dinner I think you will be an even better dining companion because you will be less focused on the food and more on the conversation. I go out with my best friend now and I have noticed that our conversations tend to go deeper and our lunches run longer but I actually think that’s kinda cool. As for the glass of wine, teams seem to be all over the map about when or if they allow alcohol again. My team was fine with it after 3 months but of course it’s empty calories so everything in moderation. I honestly think you are starting to morn the loss of food a little and that’s not uncommon. If you find that you really have a hard time with all this you may want to consider a bariatric therapist. As I’m sure you have heard, the surgery will fix your stomach but it takes some work on our part to fix our brains and that’s a very important part to being successful with all this. And if you really aren’t ready, there is no shame in rescheduling. This is a major surgery and only you know if you are ready.

Just like everything... Is a life time change... Once you do your surgery everything is different, I not that you wouldn't have a beer or two, is about making a step that will stop you from losing weight... That doesn't mean you can't have beer or alcohol ever again... It just mean, you may be able to have it every now and then but after surety nothing is the same... Let me give you an example before surgery I was a "sodas" person... So I did good my 1st 5month... But since November oh lord... I just been having sodas every now n then n guess what?!? It hurts the weight process... So!! I'm not the best to give advise, but if you can't stop n let go... Is better... Good luck

Yeah some people don't get that for a lot of us going through this (not all but still quite a few) there is an addiction aspect. Why should you HAVE to learn to eat just one cookie? There is no reason why you have to eat a cookie at all. So if you choose not to have any, that should be fine. Just like it should be fine for someone to eat just one cookie. I applaud you for knowing yourself and your triggers well enough to know what to avoid so you don't fall prey to the addiction side of it. Seriously - would she tell an alcoholic they have to learn to drink just one beer? or a heroin addict that they have to learn to just shoot up once?

One last suggestion-get yourself some baby wipes non-alcohol. It may not be so bad because you've been on liquids but it is good decision not to do that late shift. Keep us posted and Good Luck!!!

take a walk in the woods, go to a movie, work out together, go to a library or bookstore, visit a local museum or art gallery. google "date night ideas." i am really trying to get away from the food = socializing idea. for my birthday i invited my girls to a yoga class and then we all used the hot tub and sauna at the local JCC. then we had tea and coffee and hung out and talked. it was great and normally we all would have gone out for dinner, sat on our asses for 3 hours and eaten way to much food and consumed too much alcohol and spent far too much money.

Dear Tinalpn - couldn't agree with you more ! Had my band in 14 yrs ago and regained most of weight 4-5 Years later. Over two years ago decided enough was enough and just started eating sensibly, no alcohol. The weight fell off. It's been a life style change NOT a diet.. I don't believe the band had been helping for several years and recently discovered it has eroded. Had the band out 4 days ao. Feeling a bit rough but determined NOT to regain any weight.

Great guys room thread! Foodie here in the sense I can cook and spend an ungodly amount of cash on dining out in restaurants. Still do. There's amazing lower-fat options (needed for my surgery), and suddenly I'm pretty happy the veggie wave is rolling over us. For me, dining out isn't about how much food I can eat. It's the total experience of sharing a meal and a glass or two of wine with friends or family. And that hasn't changed one bit. I can drink less, but I make room for alcohol in my calorie count. It all works out.

I'm 13 months, almost, out. I'm down 102 pounds. I don't want my old life back. That was the life where I had to be sitting and could only walk short distances because of the knee pain. Where I couldn't help my daughter do college tours (or now move into her college) because I was tired and winded. The old me couldn't go ziplining in Jamaica, and horseback riding and tubing. The old me couldn't fit into size 8 pants. The old me couldn't be a competitive fencer in my age group. What the new me can do is all that and enjoy dinner and a drink, provided I've made an allocation in my calories for that alcohol, and enjoy the company of people. Went to a big picnic/party for my husband's running club last weekend - was able to eat a few things, have a glass of wine or two and enjoy the conversation. Give yourself some time - you are mourning the loss of a person you were and a time in your life to which you will never go back. You're doing great. Keep up with your plan and another six months from now, you'll look at that pre-op photo you did and go - crap - did I really look like that and feel that awful all the time. You've got this.

I was told no alcohol for a year. Our livers are working overtime to clear toxins that are released with quick weight loss. Alcohol on top of that can cause liver failure. So I was told by my team... I would caution you to talk to your doctor first. If your doctor has no problem with it, then by all means, celebrate. If they say no, listen. They have reasons for the restrictions they give. Personally, I think it's not worth the risk...

I think I would say WAIT, because I am a food addict, and I would want to get in one last free for all. But....... what would you tell an alcoholic considering rehab before the holidays? The big issue is that when you do it, you have to commit, and if you know that committment isn't possible for you until after the holidays, then WAIT. I think the band works the best for those who are desperate for change, but I can't honestly say that I would have done it during the holidays :lie:. ("They're tryin' to make me go to rehab, but I say no,no,no...")

The surgery has been great for my marriage. My husband was always the healthy, active one. He and the kids would go skiing, hiking, fishing together on weekends, and I simply couldn't keep up. Now, though, we can do even more together. I'm even taking the kids out (we did a scavenger hunt this weekend, and a trampoline park last one) without him when he is working weekends. We are all much happier. He'll also been great about food. If he is craving junk food, he'll eat it for lunch at work. He doesn't bring it home. He also has been great at restaurants. We'll scour the menu for food I can eat, and then order one or two items and eat family- style with the kids. There is more than enough food on two plates to feed the four of us most of the time. I'm not saying we have the perfect marriage. He is an alcoholic and I have been very hormonal. But we're pretty much together forever. Weight loss did not add to the stressors already present. It has, though, changed a lot of our dynamics. As a bonus, sex is much better....... Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I think it is caused by being in ketosis which is a great news for your weight loss. I think they have some mouth washes that help with dry mouth (nothing with alcohol in it) and you could try some sugar free breath mints to suck on and just keep sipping on the water.

Dr. Billy had a long conversation with Lisa on the day of her Surgery and in that discussion was a little something called "Consumption of FOOD". Hmmm, sounds like a good thing HUH? Not the way Billy wants us to start looking at it. SIGH!! There are several things he discussed with both of us that day. I am sure Lisa will add her two cents when she gets home. Which as I look at my watch I see her plane should have landed safely in Vegas as I type this. Miss her already. SNIFF SNIFF!!! 1. All of us out there that compare our fill to someone elses or compare our weight loss or whatever we all need to STOP that. Everyone is different. Case in point, Lisa and I were a little shocked to see that we have 1 lb difference in our weight. I wear a size 14/16 now and I think she said she wears a size 18. She is also 5'10" and I am 5'7". We are all individuals and each of us are different in more ways than one. So stop comparing yourself to someone elses weight loss journey. That will set you up for failure and I WON'T HAVE IT! GOT IT!! 2. Consuming of food stuff is another biggie we talked about at length. He made lots of sense on his outlook of dealing with this struggle. If we stop to think about it we all eat about 50 different types of foods. If you start trying to name them all you will be able to name about 10 and then get stuck. I did this and it worked. LOL!!! So he suggests to pick one of the 50 and learn it. What is a serving? (he means to actually cut the meat and weigh it and SEE what it looks like) What calories, protein, carbs, and fat are in this item? If you use Tuna, then look at the can and see that one can is not a single serving it is more than one. What does it look like to have that serving. If you add Mayo, how much would that add to the calories. He wants us to really learn the foods we bring into our bodies so we are empowered over the food instead of it controlling us. WE decide what is best for our bodies. The Band can't do that for us. The Band is only a tool to keep us from eating too fast and too much. As Lisa said we have to "work the band". We have to do the work. It isn't a quick fix or even an easy fix for our weight loss. 3. We all have reasons and idiosyncrasies that keep us obese. Lisa discovered that her issues are eating at night. Mine are I graze all day and I eat the wrong things and sometimes eat after 8p. You have to find your crutch and work to break it down one rung at a time until it is gone. 4. To me support is the key in any successful journey, whether it be weight loss, drug addiction, alcoholism, etc. The more we share what we have learned with each other the better it will be for the new ones coming along. They will learn from Lisa to be your own advocate and not just blindly accept what you are told if it just doesn't seem right. There is no harm in asking a question to verify what you were told. Some docs have the attitude that they are "GOD" and know everything. As a nurse I have seen this many times. It sickens me to see it and I have called several docs on it. You HAVE to play an active role in your own bodies health. I am sure Lisa will add to this post when she can. This was my input for now.

Mine said not until I hit my goal weight but I started having a drink here and there at about 3 to 4 weeks out. I love margaritas and can't drink them anymore because they make me nauseous as well as any sweet drinks. I can drink wine with diet 7 up and I drink bud chiladas or bloody mary's a lot. I've always had a high tolerance for alcohol and find that I still do just not as high as before. It probably wasn't smart to drink that close to surgery but I am 3 months out and am fine.

I was cleared at 4ish months out, I think. My surgeon warned me to avoid red wines (there's actually a member here that explained the tannic acid/pH in red wine can irritate a newer sleeve), and to drink at home first to see how it would affect me. The first time I drank I was passed goal, and I had one glass of a light Riesling. It hit me hard and fast, then I sobered up pretty fast. Now that I'm almost 17 months out, I drink on a more than social occasion, I have a few drinks a month, one to two a week sometimes, in my social circle I'm known as the "afternoon cocktail girl". I lost my taste for red wine completely, drink rum/cokes when I go out to the bars, and for my afternoon cocktails, I prefer strawberry or raspberry mojitos or bellinis. Some people choose to drink sooner, but try to remember, it's just wasted calories for the day. If you're calorie/protein/carb focused, then make sure you track those calories and drink plenty of Water to avoid dehydration. One thing I can say is that my alcohol tolerance has returned to what it was pre-op. I'm not sure that's a great thing, but alcohol no longer hits me hard and fast, I'm able to catch and maintain a decent buzz, and have tied a few one on special occasions. Plus, I haven't had a real hangover since surgery which is a HUGE plus ! ! !