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My incisions are good. One is a little sore, the only place I bruised was on my left side. I went through a lot before my R&Y was done. I went to my primary care she referred me to a wonderful surgeon. She found I had cancer in my stomach. Then she found I have NASH. Non alcohol related cirrhosis if my liver. I had numerous minor surgeries before this. Once I was under she decided to remove the stomach. It was pretty rough the first few days. But I have lost 27 pounds since the surgery. Sent from my Nexus 6 using the BariatricPal App

I'm 52 and just had the surgery in August, glad I did even though the weight is coming off pretty slow (my fault for not exercising). My reason for the surgery was health, which is a thread with those of us who are older it seems. After 50 I was so tired I almost couldn't function, years of a highly compeditive stressful job, combined with packing around 100 lbs made me feel like I had a couple of years left (at the most). It was just one health problem after another including sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, asthma, back pain, knee pain, and mobility problems (1/2 block I was out of breath). I hope to loose 100 lbs but will be happy with 80, and I plan to take early retirement in 2 years (as soon as I am eligible). Can really afford to start over with something new, but can't take the pressure of the corporate environment either. I'm just sorry I didn't wake up years ago, but grateful I did wake up. Even though the weight is coming off slowly, my life is improving. I can walk almost a mile (slowly), I eat primarily healthly (white bread, white rice, white flour and white sugar, has become a thing of the past), mostly vegetarian, some fish. I don't feel bloated all of the time, and I don't feel like a glutton when I eat. I feel better when I take my vitamins, but I forget alot. Drink alcohol alot less, 1/2 glass of wine is the most I have. Before surgery 2 dark beers followed by a large glass of wine with dinner was the norm. I guess what I'm trying to say is the surgery won't cure everything, I do have to work with good healthy choices too, but the band helps to make me think everytime I eat and drink. I too think it's the best thing I've done for me so far, retirement just might top it however in a few years.

Amazing! I was thinking this very thing the other day after eating a pitiful amount of food. I was full, of course, because I have a little tummy. Then the guilt set in like it always did when I had the same feeling with my big, stretchy belly. Somehow, a deeper level of consciousness came over me and I realized that the guilt was a ghost from the past. "I have eaten within guidelines", I told myself, "Wake up!" I have other ghosts from addictions past: drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, promiscuity, that come to haunt me from time to time either with guilt or invitations to return to prison. I realize and rejoice that I am not that man anymore. I turn on the lights, they vanish.

thank you so much for the information! I haven't had any alcohol for a month or so, so I I should be good there. My insurance has already been approved, but my doctor requires the nicotine blood test. I'm sure it will be fine. I'm a big worry wart! Thanks again!:thumbup:

I drink wine regularly, no differences . I'm sure you will be fine just go slow because you won't have much food in your stomach to absorb any alcohol. I usually have a glass or two at the most and I'm at home so I haven't had to drive..! Cheers !!

I've tried plenty of alcohol, lol. It's no problem.

I drink very rarely, always have. I have not changed my habits with alcohol because of the band. Every few months I have cocktails with girlfriends or the occasional glass of wine with hubby. No difference for me. Congrats on the new job. Have your drink to celebrate!! Enjoy your life.

I think lots of times we use alcohol as a way to escape, and relax when we are uptight about things etc.... You just might find that you don't need it as much when you feel confident and sexy! Good luck! ????

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Look for the Smilemarkers A sliver of moon was showing in the sky the other day while I was playing outside with my grandson, David (4yrs). As usual he wanted to know why. I told him the moon wanted to play with him. Later he was drinking chocolate milk on the front porch and said, "The moon is drinking chocolate milk. He has a chocolate milk mustache." I love it when a four year old can use his imagination and make a joke. I love it when a four year old accidentally amuses me. David was riding in the van with his dad when he announced, "I want my crocs (sandals)." His dad stopped the car and asked him what he was wearing on his feet. David replied in all seriousness, "Dad, I'm wearing my toes." Children and laughter go hand in hand. I love being a grandmother and not having to do much of anything when I babysit but enjoy the kids. My two year old granddaughter loves to play hide and seek in her house. She always hides in her closet and she always tells me she's going to hide in her closet. When I try to go home she frequently tells me I'm hungry and I need to eat in order to keep me there. LOL. She already knows my weakness. There's a lot of evidence that laughter is good medicine. The Reader's Digest knew that before there were studies proving it. I use a lot of silly humor when I teach. To teach the ang sound I have a picture-card of a vampire with fangs showing. I'll put on my best Transylvanian accent, make my hands into claws, and say," I vant to bite your neck; I vish to suck your blood." The kids all shriek and laugh and are more likely to remember that ang makes the sound you hear in fang. I have a game that involves tossing a soft ball back and forth between me and a group of kids while saying math facts. I love to watch for the kid who stops paying attention and I'll look at another child while throwing the ball at the daydreamer who frequently gets hit by the ball which cracks everyone up and serves notice to pay attention. Today I was on Lapbandtalk, which has become my on-line support group and one of the women told a hysterically funny dream she'd had about another member of the group. Can't repeat it here because it involved partial nudity and showing off a well-shaped body part. Jokes were still flying hours later when I checked back in. Some of the best and funniest speakers I ever heard were recovering alcoholics telling their stories at open AA meetings. Some of the things they did and the situations they got themselves into were, in retrospect, hysterically funny. Without the humor, they'd have been too painful to tell. The funniest stories I tell on myself involve my ADHD and some of the things I've done as a result. Humor makes pain palatable. I'm not talking about sarcasm or angry ranting expletive deleted humor. Frankly, I don't consider that humor because it tends to be at other's expense. I'm talking about self-deprecating humor. Humor that gently pokes fun at the human condition but doesn't denigrate others. One of the funniest stories my deceased mother-in-law told involved driving off to work with her teeth on top of the car. One of the funniest stories my son tells is what happened when he tied our 6 month old 75 lb. Chesapeake Bay Retriever to a lightweight charcoal grill in my parent's driveway. Thank God for the passing motorist who chased down the dog and stopped him before the grill chasing the dog down the street caused the dog to drop dead of a heart attack. These stories and jokes we tell each other can only happen in community. We weren't created to live in isolation. And I firmly believe that God laughs with us. We're created in his image and he loves us with all our foibles so he must have quite a sense of humor. Humor is his gift to us, a gracelet that allows us to be refreshed, renewed, re-created and ready for the next thing life throws at us. So, even though food addiction is a serious disease, I try not to take myself too seriously. Life is a journey. Look for the smilemarkers along the way.

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 haven't blog in few weeks or months, but wanted to let everyone know I am still out here, reading the blogs and forums to keep up with everyone. I spend more time on MFP these days. I started working out with a personal trainer 5 weeks ago and that is really working out good for me. I had really hit a slump in my program and was pretty much dead in the water again. My band was working, but I just wasn't eating very well. I had hit a spot again when food just wasn't my focus and was eating way to few calories. My trainer told me I was pretty much starving my muscles and my body was holding on to those fat cells for dear life. Sad I had to pay someone to teach me how to eat, but it is working. At first I thought there is no way I can do this. I am suppose to eat 3 meals a day and that is it. But guess what 5 weeks later, I am eating my 3 meals a day but I am supplementing a protein shake twice a day for snacks and most days take in 100 plus grams of protein. I still have my days I struggle but they are fewer and further between. My first month I lost 5lbs and 9 inches. I am hoping to lose 4 lbs this month and I will finally be out of the 150's.. While what a mile stone, I have not been this petite since high school. I used to think a goal of 132 was unreachable but I am finding out if you have the right attitude you can make anything work. Now don't get me wrong I have my ups and downs with the band but for the most part this is the best thing I every did for me. And seriously it really is all about me at this time. This is my chance, my time and my journey. Lap band is not an easy journey, it is paved with trials and tribulations. It will test your passion, it will test your commitment, you will have to fight temptation on a daily basis. There will always be food and lots of it, you have to realize that food to you is no different than alcohol is to an alcoholic or drugs are to a drug addict. My journey has consisted of distancing myself from temptations, I do not allow certain foods in my house or more specifically in my cabinets or fridge. I have no control of what others do but I do have control over what I put in my mouth. I find my self more aware of what others eat and I often think, man I used to eat like that and look where it got me. I think now my goal has become an obsession, I work my butt off, 3 days with a trainer, 6 days a week of cardio and logging religiously every morsel I eat. I have a new set of fears now, I used to fear not losing weight, my new fear is how will I maintain? I am trying to make exercise routine and part of my life. To all you newbies and those weighting to have surgery and lose of you who are struggling, stay positive, stay focused and if you detour, forgive yourself, pick you up and move forward. We can all get caught up in the soulda, coulda, woulda! Look at everyday as a new beginning. Good luck to all of you and if you know a nurse be extra special to them this week, this is our week to celebrate. It is national nurse week, so hug your favorite nurse this week and tell her how much you appreciate what she does.

It might be the erythritol or sugar alcohol in them that has that effect on some. I don't have any of those issues with Quest Bars.. I like them and use them for extra Protein on days I am in a hurry.

Of course carbohydrates aren't evil. They're one of the fundamental sources of energy available in food. We're just not equipped to withstand the rediculous amount that our culture (with no small help from industry lobbyists) believes we should injest. We're humans, not hummingbirds, and didn't develop eating sugar or cultivated foods: agriculture is only a couple thousand years old. The "gatherer" side of "hunter-gatherer" meant opportunistic berries and herbs, not corn and rice, and even hunter-gatherer was a later invention to replace nomadic scavenger. External carbohydrates are necessary? Even Karo syrup was lobbied as "healthy" for inclusion in every child's meal, and I'm sure some of you remember the Nutella-at-schools debacle of recent memory. Both are wonderfully dense sources of easy-to-metabolize carbohydrates. But perhaps that isn't what you had in mind. So while we're at it, let's distinguish between carbohydrates (the biochemical construct by which life on this planet stores energy, as well as the primary constituent of the cellulose that forms dietary Fiber, both of which are called out on the nutrition information label), and the food products in which we find them (vegetable matter, including among other things grains, starchy roots, and saps/juices), which happen to also contain other things which actually have some value (carrots and carotene, broccoli and broccolene.. err.. Vitamin C). Now most people don't understand Atkins or low-carb in general, which was developed for diabetics, and later refined for overweight patients. Such people often focus on the "zero carb == zero veggies" myth, never realizing that Atkins, and most other low carb diets, encourage (nigh require) a good sized salad each day, so long as non-fiber carbohydrate intake is generally only around 1/5 or less of the total calorie intake. The books are available for people to read, but people almost never bother, trusting instead in the rumor mill. I suggest borrowing copies of the various different diet manuals out there and reading them. I'm late for lunch and distracted, and I'm sure you'll thank me for deleting the brief chemistry lecture I'd started to type :smile2: But, if you understand (at least conceptually) the biochemistry involved, then it becomes fairly straightforward why many WLS patients are in fact told to switch to a low-carb lifestyles regardless of whether it's labelled "Atkins" or "South Beach" or "Zone" or "The Frobnoz Special" or simply "eat all your Protein first, then consider your vegetables" (and note the word "vegetables", not "carbs" was used): priorities. - We require sleep. 8-10 hours, no matter what your grandfather said about "four's plenty for me, so it's plenty for you". - We must consume a large quantity of Water *at minimum* to maintain healthy levels of hydration. This is the first thing, consumption-wise, that could kill us for any number of reasons. - That, in conjuction with the pouch-centric admonition against mixing food and water, limits how much time each day we can spend eating solid food. - We must get protein from food (at least, I know of no other available source). At least about 60-70g of it. We require this to maintain cellular structures among other things. - Pretty much everything else we can (as noted before) get from a non-food source if we have to. It is notable that many of us entered into this with at least some severe vitamin or mineral deficiency despite eating large quantities of varied, supposedly "healthy" foods. - Our ultimate priority: consume the existing fat on our bodies and, when done, don't store new fat. If you want the biochemistry involved, read the literature. It's fairly well documented by this point, and it is those metabolic pathways which low carb diets in particular to target. Now, if you want more "extreme" low-carb diets without the "Atkins" label, you can try variations of Paleo, where the qualification for vegetable matter is indeed what was available to our pre-agriculture era ancestors, that does get more exclusionary than most people have patience for. I have to admit, the food is quite good, if a bit repetitive compared to contemporary cuisine. But bison steak and roasted nuts is a good combination. Now, given that the band, and indeed all weight loss surgeries, give us a lot of seperate targets to meet: - water intake (required for life) - rate of solid food intake (mandated individually by the surgery itself) - protein intake (since this isn't easily supplemented) - nutritional profile (often made up by supplementation) - calorie reduction (otherwise what's the point) .. it seems foolish to pack in raw, non-fiber carbs, which is what starch is, when there are more nutrient- (and fiber-) rich food sources, often with fewer calories. You could do worse, of course -- adding sugar in its myriad forms when sugar supplies nothing but a chance for the body to use that source *immediately* (raising insulin levels sharply, eventually causing the storage of everything else from the food for a later use which never arrives). Don't get me wrong: I'm addicted to mashed potatoes, and have been known to put them on lefse. But I also have spent a couple years on various different types of diets, except for raw food and things in Oprah and the Star. I know how my body reacted, and I *know* my brain didn't need rice to run. It actually did run better after I cut most of that stuff out and stuck to meat and greens, and I didn't gain weight during that time, either. Now, I know that we would *love* to eat like a "normal person", but that presumes "normal people" eat properly. In the United States, "normal" is increasingly overweight. So, given the decades over which this has happenned (let's call it the past 4-5), and noting the rise in conjuction with the "OMG eat all rice no fat!" reaction that started in recent (and increasingly obese) history, and noting the variety of people who actually do respond well when they go contrary to what the anti-low-carb groups state, why again would I trust "normal people" and agriculturalists on this matter? They certainly didn't help me when I *was* at a healthy adult weight and, looking back, eating many fewer carbs, and probably as much protein and more fat and alcohol, than I was going into pre-op. [Note to self: Feline chemistry and human chemistry are at odds in a very particular and potentially fatal way with regard to weight loss. If a cat starts feeding off its fat stores at any significant pace, it will *cause* fatty liver disease. In a human, it would cure it. Don't let a cat get away with not eating for a couple days. There is cruel irony in having to force-feed a cat with more calories than I'm suppose to have to treat the same liver disease.]

Hi Vets, I checked with Alex and he gave me the go-ahead to collect information that would go into a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section that is easy to find on the Website (actually he asked if I could help coordinate it when I asked if we could do it)! That may help alleviate some of the concerns I've seen lately about re-answering questions over and over and give a resource to those that need it. I believe it would be easier than searching the forum because it is hard to figure out an exact topic to search at times and as a newbie, searching may not be the first thought of how to find information. The vets have been answering (or at least viewing) the questions over and over so I am posting this in the vets section because I feel you are the experts for this but am eager to also hear from people that are not vets as well. So three things I am asking for to collect the information for Alex to post: a) Topics for FAQs (see beginner list below) Information to put into the FAQs c) Helpful hints on how best to provide the information and set it up (any web experts out there that can help advise?) Do we need to separate out for sections for each type of procedure or is the information universal for all procedures? How best to collect the topics and information to go into the topics? (I know SharePoint would be good but I don't think we have that with this site.) I'm sure you long timers have a list of what should be there, but here is few to start: - Hormone changes after surgery and impact on mood - Alcohol when if at all? - What to bring to the hospital for surgery (I saw someone has started a list already so this one may be close to being done for content!) - Surgery in Mexico - Pre-Op diet - Post-op diet - Maintenance diet - How often should I weigh and pros and cons of different frequencies - Stalls and what to do - Plastic surgery - Surgery regret - Challenges pre-op - Challenges post-op - Challenges in maintenance - Insurance approval and what to do if not accepted - Helpful hints for each stage - What to drink to keep Water amounts to where they should be each day - What to eat to get in the Protein - What not to eat and why - What to expect day of surgery. - What exercise works best at each phase? - Thing I should definitely call my doctor right away about I know that we have many different inputs from our own doctors and NUTs and would need to preface the FAQs with the information that your doctor's and NUT's advice should be followed over what is posted here, but it is to give folks an idea of what we have been told by outs for our WLS. Any other ideas are welcome and appreciated! Thank you!

Hi everyone. My op was nearly 4 weeks ago, and I've had no problems whatsoever. I've noticed that the rate of weight loss has started to stall a bit, but have been told this is normal. I'm comfortably eating softs and have just started on some more substantial vegetarian Proteins and solids. My question however, is in regards to the restriction on no liquids before, during, or after meals. Now, I'll start by saying I don't drink alcohol at all. I've also no had a single carbonated drink since my pre-op diet, and to be honest I'm not missing them. My Fluid of choice is usually an ice cold, slightly weak diet-cordial. I have noticed however, just how much I enjoyed having a cordial with my meals. Before my op, I'd neck a glass before sitting at the table and then consume another glass whilst eating. Obviously, I'm not doing either now, but I find post op that I'm getting quite a dry mouth and would love nothing more than 1/2 sips of fluid before attempting to eat. I'm aware that the risks of drinking is that it encourages the stomach to stretch - but is this still an issue with all fluids (aka. 1/2 sips of cordial/water)? Or does it apply to excess drinking/eating/drinking/eating with the aim of getting more in? Thanks for your time and replies

This is where eating in a cafeteria with limited choices comes in handy I guess!! Indulging won't be a problem at Halloween and Thanksgiving, though they do a big spread here for Thanksgiving, I will just eat the turkey first and then be so stuffed after 3 ounces that I won't have room for more than a lick of mashies & gravy.=) If I get to go home for Christmas there will be delightful treats and delicacies available but again, I'll eat protein first. As for New Year, General Order #1 forbids alcohol, even for civilians!=( I don't care for champagne anyway.

Congrats on 9 years! I lost my brother to drug addiction and my boyfriend is a recovering addict/alcoholic with 2 years under his belt. I just wanted to give you mad props!!

I haven't had a drop of alcohol since right before I was banded. I will partake once I reach goal though.

So you have a cross addiction correct? One to Food, and the other to Alcohol. I met a Man at a WL meeting. and he was banded, and was in Tip Top Shape. When we introduced ourselves, he said he lost over 400 LBS with the Band, and the Band saved his LIFE. My mouth hit the floor, I couldn't believe it. Then he said He swap 1 addiction for the other "this can be common." He worked out at the Gym while banded, but his calories were all liquid Calories. Next he tried pain killers for his knees, and the booze and the pills formed a real good relationship. Until he almost died of a over dose. So he belonged to Lap Band Meetings, AA Meetings, and NA Meetings. I will never forget him, because it was the first time I ever heard about swapping out Food, for another addiction, and his addictions were consumed all through the mouth.

Yep, ad nauseum. (I was |-| close to being a psychologist, decided against, but went ahead with the schooling anyway). A good psychologist will definitely be looking for addictive tendencies and will likely start to recommend alternatives or ways to try and supress the behaviors. It's also called "addiction hopping." One if the biggest problems is that the new addiction is either more damaging than the eating addiction (rugs, alcohol, etc.) or cannot be sustained for long periods of time, which can end you up right back where you started. Unfortunately this happens a lot in people who lose the weight on their own. They swap their food addiction for, say, an addiction to exercise and instead of eating 6000 calories a day, they're working out for 3 and 4 hours. Think about it. Who could really sustain that long term, that wasn't otherwise motivated to do so? Not many!

I have 5 incisions and 1 drain. They ran 1 IV in my left arm before I went to sleep, and I woke up with another IV in my right arm and a foley catheter. They pulled the catheter the day after surgery (one of THE most uncomfortable things for a man) and they never did use the second IV spot once I woke up. One time before I was discharged, they had to draw blood for a final test, and wouldn't get it from either IV site, so they stuck me 3 times (the nurse blew it twice on the back of my right hand) and finally went in and got it in that big vein on my right inside elbow. A week after surgery, I went back and they pulled the drain. Sorry to make it sound like a needlefest, but you may as well know the truth. I have a full blow PHOBIA when it comes to needles (totally irrational fear, even to the point where I get antsy when I smell rubbing alcohol) , but I the needles weren't all that bad. I kept telling myself that just a little bit of pain for a brief time will make a world of difference ... and it does. Oh, I forgot, when they discharged me, they have me taking 2 shots a day (small bore needles, almost no pain at all) in the stomach for a blood thinner. I'll be on this for 30 days.

alcohol?@@Whitney1968

After reading her story, how can society not consider food an addiction? All you have to do is substitute drugs or alcohol for her issues with eating and you have an addict same as an alcoholic or drug addict.

A lot of SF products use sugar alcohols to sweeten them. They have 2 cals/gram instead of 4. They all end in OL, i.e.: mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, etc. It is what is in ex-lax. It causes you to retain a lot of water in the gut and can cause terrible gas and diarrhea. SF jello is usually OK as are popsicles. Discuss this with your dietician or MD.

I got the band out the first time because I was thin for a long time and my port stuck out pretty far. I was dating and did not know how to tell my man about the band surgery. Once I got it out I quickly gained all my weight back again. This band I got on May 15 comes with new respect. This surgery was hard. Now when I date I will be proud of my band because I am very brave to do this again. I feel if an alcoholic or diabetic had a chance for surgery to cure their ills they would. My compulsive overeating is cured because of the band. I only want a man in my life who would understand how brave and courageous I am to get rebounded. I am succeeding even though I am not in the green zone yet. I am so thankful for this band. We are all so lucky to live in a country where we can get the band and the support from our surgeons and their staff. I go to monthly support groups which helps a lot.