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I met with nut and psych Thursday (still pre op) and the topic of alcohol was discussed both places. Nut said after 1year, red wine in small amounts occasionally was okay. I told her I wasn't much of a drinker now, just an occasional glass of wine, so that was great and totally doable. Psych asked again how I felt about it and I repeated my unconcern for it. She proceeded to say not only is it high calorie, and can affect weight loss, but due to the size of our new stomach 4 oz. will put us over the legal limit, plus the starling statistic that followed. 30% of WLS PATIENTS BECOME ALCOHOLICS. I was stunned. It becomes the new coping mechanism, instead of our beloved food. Those who never drank before are at risk, and those that did, even more so. So please be careful!

I am a few days away from a month after my gastric bypass surgery , I have been doing everything my surgeon told me to do . I can't believe i lost 65 lbs in 27 days !!! I'm finally feeling happy , lighter, and healthier today. If you are not extremely strong, physically but mostly mentally . This journey is not for you. In my first month I overcame 2 major issues, on top of and including my surgery recovery. Alcohol free " reversing a large fatty liver" and testosterone infections free too I'm proud of myself . natural test levels are not back yet but feeling better everyday. my energy level is increasing everyday. i do 2, 20 minute walks per day. I really have no appetite, but i get my vitamins and protein shakes in everyday. and water . my next diet stage is real soft food again, but i hate the full feeling so i rather just drink fluids. thanks for all the advice on my previous posts i took them with a grain of salt. But everyone helped me find light at the end of the depression tunnel. I will not try anything without dr. approval. Anyone interested in healthy living and fatty liver issues, look up Dr. Berg on youtube and subscribe !!!! he's extremely helpful !!!

I’ve never heard that drinking water at night causes reflux & I’ve had it for decades. Never advised that at any time either. We’re you told this by your doctor? I managed my reflux successfully by making dietary changes. Avoiding alcohol & carbonated drinks before going to bed I can understand but not water which actually supports digestion & flushing food & acids through your tummy. I wonder if drinking large amounts of water before bed so you’re bloated may not be the best but then most of us can’t do that anyway.

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.

I seem to remember glucagon somewhere in the equation. Not 5hinking on a cylinders mys3lf this morning or I would have deduced it all for myself. If Christmas was a Hard-Candy Christmas , today I feel like I have a non- alcoholic hangover, at least what others have said a hangover feels like, nauseated, headache from Hades and don't give a flying flip about much of anything.Is that describing it? Seems like just drinking something light in the Bad Old Days worked, but what works on a remodeled body like we now have? Not even weak warm decaf tea sounds good.

I'd agree. I was banded at a higher bmi, but my weight loss has been fairly steady all along. I am now bmi of 24 and am not in any way, shape, or form actively trying to lose weight, but it still comes off. Even as I have settled into this lifestyle and am not nearly as strict about food or alcohol intake (i do love some mixed drinks myself , I still continue to lose at a decent pace. Heck, at this point I am the ones my friends point to when complaining about skinny people, which completely blows my mind.

This was the topic of coversation with my lunch group today (who knows nothing about me being banded by the way). We all know of 4 people within our work system who have the lapband. They ( the lunch group) ranted and raved about what addictions our co-workers were going to have now. About how we're going to see alcoholics coming in now instead of fat people. Thye were all laughing hysterically. :cool: This is EXACTLY the reason they don't know about my banding.

I celebrated national tequila day in true form. I never had an issues with alcohol. I just watch for carbonation and I know that it is going to affect me more.

I'll just give what guidelines I was given by my surgeon before I even had the procedure. -no carbonated beverages- as I recall, not only will it cause discomfort, you run the risk of stretching your pouch, and increase the possibility of your band slipping. Some people still choose to risk it, but I personally choose my health over the fizzy stuff. I've been without soda or anything carbonated for a year, I feel better, and don't feel that deprived. - no alcohol for a year. Alcoholic drinks can be LOADED with sugars, which makes it easy to gain weight if you drink them on a regular basis. On rare occasion, I've had one drink, but not until about 6 moths post-op, and even then, in the past 6 months, I've had maybe 5-6 drinks. Just remember to do things in moderation, since drinks can be so high in sugar, and because liquids go down easily, it's easy to overdo it.

How long did anyone wait to have an alcoholic drink? My dr said to drink on special occasions but never now long I should wait.

I feel dumb just asking this...I am a lurker and was sleeved on Monday (7/13) I am getting horrible gas every time I sip anything. I feel like an idiot Hi, I have a drinking problem Oh, you're an alcoholic? No, I can't sip fluids without taking in 3 times the amount of air from Fluid. I basically get horrible gas pain behind my sternum and spend 5 minutes belching (mmmm, attractive) I spoke to the nutritionist and she said in some people the swallowing mechanism is different if their tongue is too far forward. The easiest way to tell this is if they needed speech language pathology Well guess what I spent years in Speech as a child. All three of my kids have been in it. My gene pool (and tongue apparently) are defective Does anyone have tricks for how to get this liquid down without so much gas? My wife is getting me Popsicles on her way home, but that's not going to solve the shake issues Thanks in advance

its real hard to nibble, you can tast a little bite, you are supposedly not allowed carbonated drinks,alcohol,and rice bread or pasta for a year.you do not drink with your meal girl that was the hardest for me ,you drink15 min before ,and not till 30-45min after .woooo at first youll be gatorade ,water ,jello,sf puddings and soup broth,and then protien drinks .if i can paint you alittle picture im 2 months out and still can only eat 4 -5 bites .i went to mexican rest.last night chips go down easy,dip, i got nachos only 4 bites.you have to figure eat off their plates or bring home .i also had a little margarita didnt hurt.i myself have a hard time with chicken going down.buy you a tiny measuring cup,thats what your gonna drink out of ,a small strainer to strain soup cause i hate broth it sucked,and some small glad or whatever those little small cups are to put what you cant eat,youll have all kinds in fridge.get a gummmy vitamin ,im taking flinstone completes

Personally I would send a meeting request and reserve a conference room so this meeting will be private. I would tell him that you are very uncomfortable with him policing your eating habits. That you do your very best to eat healthy and if you end up having to eat a unhealthy meal on RARE occation; it is not his place to comment. Also that he does not know how you will eat when you get home to make up for a higher calorie lunch. If after you have this meeting he continues to comment on your eating habits go to HR. What he is doing is bullying you. Tell them you've spoken to him privately and he is continuing to harrass you. It is their job to deal with work place bullying. Trust me an HR generalist/manager does not want you going to their boss (HR Director/or VP) because they've failed to deal with work place bullying. I had a boss that would comment about everyones lunch. She was a vegetarian and no matter how healthy your lunch was she would say gross/disgusting there's meat in there! She would have vegan soup for lunch that had 35 calories and make sure EVERYONE knew about it. She also however would talk endlessly about her alcohol fueled orgies on the weekend! NOT kidding. I had several thin coworkers comment to me how annoyed they were about the way she commented about everyones food habits, yet she was a high functioning alcoholic. Oh and by the way she would go to the company store at the other end of the building and buy cookies and eat them when she thought no one could see her. Priceless. This is why I don't tell coworkers that I've had WLS. You can be guarenteed that every though I have skinless chicken breast and raw veggies (no dips/dressings) everyday for lunch; the day I have a 1 inch square piece of birthday cake someone will comment about it. For other readers esp. if you work in an enviroment with HR you boss does not need to know what surgery you are having. That is the beauty of HIPPA. A manager does not have the right to determine what medical proceders, ordered by a doctor are neccesary. The notes my doctor gives just say the gastro/intestinal dept; says nothing about WLS. I had a coworker have breast reduction surgery and was out on disability for 6 weeks. Some might argue the company should not have paid her to be off 6 weeks after breast reduction. Clearly WLS is more health oriented that that.

I'd say you are a likely candidate for another revision to RNY bypass. To have uncontrolled GERD is concerning, because it can lead to increased risk of esophageal cancer. You'd be looking at going to Mexico again, most likely, if you did choose to have a revision. (Many times RNY fixes acid issues.. it isn't guaranteed, however). A concern is your lack of aftercare in where you live. RNY requires more maintenance than the sleeve, and of course, what would you do if you had complications? Man, you are in a tough spot. While you are trying to figure things out, maybe list which medicines you've tried.. maybe there is something else... Food and drinks that commonly trigger heartburn include: Alcohol, particularly red wine. Black pepper, garlic, raw onions and other spicy foods. Chocolate. Citrus fruits and products, such as oranges and orange juice. Coffee and caffeinated drinks including tea and cola. Peppermint. Tomatoes. Also, if you really don't want a bypass, you could see if you just need a hiatial hernia repair. That might help without the long term issues of a bypass.

I drank coffee pre-op, I drunk coffee straight post op, drink a big jug every day, and never had any issues with it. My surgeon advised me not to give up coffee. My first drink in the hospital was with a straw, again no issues with straws. I chew gum at times, and this has been fine also. I gave up all alcohol 9 years ago, and I will not give up my enjoyment of coffee. So, for me no issues with the "controversial" drinks, straws etc. The only thing I haven't tried are carbonated drinks post op. I was never a big soda drinker, so I don't need it and I don't miss it.

I am back from the cruise!!! Thank you all for your advice and support before my departure. This cruise was scheduled 5 months ago, and we thought my surgery was going to happen in June, and once delayed we thought it would happen in August. Due to insurance denials and doc's schedule, I had surgery on Nov 8th. Ten days later I boarded this cruise. Overall, I was so relieved to see how *easy* it was to be on a cruise just 10 days post-op! Ok, here's some of the highlights! 1. Prior to the trip I called Royal Caribbean and discussed my special diet. They allowed me to bring on Protein powers, SF yogurt and Jello packets, FF cottage cheese packets, and drinkable yogurt packets. We stopped off at a grocery store near the dock and picked up these items. We walked right on the ship with them (in grocery bags and clearly visable.) Never once did they ask us about the food. Makes me think I could have brought Snacks and alcohol on previous cruises! They cleared out our mini-bar fridge so we could store these items. 2. Once on the cruise, we requested to me moved to a 2-person table for our dinner meals, and they made it happen. I did not want to have to explain to strangers why I was on a special diet. 3. The head maitre'd took charge and said the wait staff would puree anything on the menu. I just needed to make the selection at meal time. 4. Each night at dinner I was able to always find a clear broth Soup so I ordered that. In addition, I picked an item and they pureed it for me. Typically I selected a salmon or other fish and they pureed it with mashed potatoes. They brought me a large portion, and I was only able to eat maybe 1 cup of it. 5. For Breakfast, oatmeal or soft scrambled eggs were great. lunch was a Protein shake. Between meals I would have a drinkable yogurt or jello packet. 6. Spa treatments were heavenly. I selected a package that was 4 treatments -- mini-facial, scalp massage, foot massage, and back massage. I told the technician that I was unable to lie on my stomach and would she mind skipping the back massage and instead doing a longer foot massage -- no problem! 7. I was unable to enjoy some of the highlights of the ship -- climbing the rock wall, riding the wave machine, playing dodge ball, etc. I encouraged by hubby to do all of these, and he was thrilled! 8. Doc's orders said no hot tubs, pools, or swimming for at least 2 weeks. I stuck to that. I did swim in the cold pool for a few min on Thursday which was at the 2-week mark. I put a water-proof bandage on the port-scar to ensure it would be protected. 9. Doc said no sun on the scars for at least 1 year. I don't look good in a bikini (at least not yet), so there was no worry of that! I wore a one-piece suit, and while out in the sun put a small towel draped over my belly just to make sure the sun wouldn't reach the scars! 10. I ended up leaving the Magic Bullet at home, and glad I did. I did not need it. Anyone else thinking of a cruise so soon after their surgery will likely be fine (check with your surgeon), but just be prepared, take it easy, sleep alot, and have a great time!

It took me a long time to realize that eating was an addictive behavior. Ever since I was a kid I knew that I would need to be careful around alcohol because my grandparents were alcoholics, along with a number of my other relatives, so I knew that it ran in my family... what I didn't realize was that it's 'addictive behavior' that runs in the family, not alcoholism... I was talking to my fiance, who is an alcoholic (not the raging drunk kind, the few beers a night to relax kind), and he was talking about how he needed to stop drinking and not bring alcohol into the house at all in order to quit (that moderation wouldn't work for him), and I said something to the effect that I wish my addiction was that easy. He said "well, I just drink a couple of beers to wind down and relax at the end of the day" and I said "Yes. I understand" and he said (rather sarcastically) "well, does eating calm you down?" and I said "YES". I think that was the first time he kind of 'got it'. He still doesn't 'understand' not REALLY, but it gave him a better idea. I still have to be careful of my drinking, if I find myself drinking every day, I stop for like at least a month, just to be sure I don't get 'sucked in' so to speak. I think I could easily become a shopping addict too. My house is already full of trinkets and crap I don't need. Something else that I think helps me is that I am in counseling. I know that I'll probably always have an addictive personality, but I feel like if I feel more in control of the things in my life, this will be one of those things.

I do both. I use the Baritastic app, and I set my calorie and carb goals and try not to exceed them. I think some people take issue with carb counting because there's good carbs and really, really bad carbs. For me, carbs are really important to monitor because I really don't like vegetables. I can eat a bit of fresh salad, but that's about it because I have texture issues. I can't stand cooked veggies, to me it's inedible slime. Lol! Obviously, good carbs are necessary for vitamins and minerals and proper digestion, but carbs with no nutritional value (junk food) only "nurture" us emotionally. Ironically, after we eat crap that makes us feel good momentarily, we start to feel like crap, emotionally (guilt, mood swings) and physically (joint/muscle pain). I stand by my carb detoxes. I never realized how mood-altering crap food can be. I was starting to use junk food like I was using alcohol, just for instant gratification and distraction, alcohol and carb hangovers be damned. However, I was extremely frustrated, and easily irritated all.the.time. My joints hurt when I eat crap. My sleep suffers too. Once I went below 50 carbs a day, my whole attitude changed. I felt better physically and emotionally. Very healthy proteins are moderately high in calories (beef, chicken, seafood), but protein is very necessary with our bariatric surgeries. This is why I give myself more leeway with calories than carbs.Bad carbs, on the other hand, offer nothing but momentary satisfaction. Momentary satisfaction is good once in a while, but the problem with loading up on bad carbs again is that, like a drug, the more we ingest it, the more we crave it. The less we have it in our system, the less it calls our attention. People think I'm being dramatic, but I know how I feel when I detox from carbs and when I start eating crap again. It just snowballs, and eating junk becomes more and more "important" as the day progresses. Using the app really helps me keep a realistic awareness of my nutritional goals. Because I'm only 3 months out, my goal settings right now are 750-800 cal, 70-80g protein, and <50 carbs. I have good days when I hit only 600 cals, 30 carbs, but 85+g protein. I also have my bad days when I consume 875 cals, 60 carbs, but only 65g protein. I think they really go hand in hand because the more carbs I eat, the more calories I'm consuming (and the less protein I get). I worry more about my carb intake because when I go over on my carbs, I know it's because I had bites here and there of junk food (not good carbs). At the end of the day, it really all comes down to what kind of carb intake you have. If your carbs are coming from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, then it's great! But if not, then maybe take stock of them. Either way, I wish you the best always on your continued weight loss journey! P.S. Prior to my surgery, my doc wanted me to lose weight (so he could help me lose weight) so I did a semi-liquid, hyper-low carb diet and lost 32 lbs in 38 days. Didn't count or give a flip about calories. I only drank 3 shakes a day, they wanted me to drink 5. Tan locos! I couldn't drink 5. I did 3 shakes and a hearty all protein dinner.

There are many ways to answer that question. For one thing, to some people sugar really is an addiction in the exact same way drugs or alcohol is. I am one of those people. I couldnt go a day without sugar and pretty much after every meal I would crave sugar like crazy. I remember one terrible Christmas we made dozens of cookies and I ate those damn cookies like they were crack for the next 3 weeks. I just kept thinking "this has to stop". So at that point I was definitely not able to moderate it. Now, 9 months post surgery I have completely changed my life. I have changed my coping mechanisms, I havent had any deserts and I work out regularly. I am debating the idea of having tiny amounts of sweets. Have I changed enough? Have I come far enough to be able to moderate? I honestly dont know.

First I know alcohol isn't the best for weight loss cause of all the sugars and calories. So let's not make the discussion about that part. I have read you can get buzzed pretty quick but goes away just as fast. I've had that with like a glass of wine or similar. My recent issue is this - twice I have drank too much whether a few margaritas or a few shots, I go from feeling fine or that happy feeling and at some point both times I instantly go to barely being able to function like the worst drunk ever. I can't even stand really and it doesn't go away quickly. Better by next morning but with bad hangover. Pre surgery if I drank too much, I could feel it and switch to water as I felt myself getting too tipsy, in these 2 instances it wasn't gradual, it was fine, then crap faced non functioning in an instant. Both times was like a couple 3 hours in when it hit me. Kind of scary. So I know I can't drink that much in the future as no warning signs like pre surgery, it just at some point crosses over without notice. Even pre surgery I never have felt that way drunk, meaning that far gone lol. Anyone else have a similar experience?

True, however they should maybe tone it down a little. Just like if I drank and the were an alcoholic I would go easy on them and not just drink everything that I can. Sent from my XT1585 using the BariatricPal App

I think you misunderstood the letter. Band erosion isn't literally the band, it's the stomach. Here is the clinical definition: Erosion is a long-term complication of lap band surgery, and occurs when the Gastric Band is fastened around the upper stomach gradually erodes into the stomach wall and extends into the gastric lumen. Intragastric Lap Band Erosions have been reported at rates that vary from 0.6% to 10% depending of the operative technique, the doctor’s experience, the device used and the most important factor: the patient's followup. The use of NSAIDS, alcohol and smoking have been proposed as three of the main factors contributing to hyperacidity and irritation of the mucosal layer of the stomach. This important layer prevents us from acquiring ulcers in normal conditions. When the irritation is persistent, it can cause erosion of the wall layers of the stomach, which may allow the lap band to migrate into the stomach (“inside out” erosion theory). Repeated vomiting has also been suggested as a possible accelerant, especially when a high degree of obstruction is present (For example, an over-filling of the lap band). Due to the erosion, saliva or food leaks through the hole or ulcer in the stomach and flows along the Lap Band tubing, causing the tissue under the skin of the Lap Band Port to become infected.

Hi all, check your sugar free items I had trouble at the beginning with sugar alcohol. Also had trouble with splenda items. I am doing much better now 6 weeks out. But I too ate Popsicle and fudge pops. When I would do one after another I figured out it was too much "fake" sugar at once. Also my doctor suggested the lactose pills before my Protein. Again my body has changed enough 6 weeks out that I don't need them. i had to keep changing my Protein powder until i found one that wasn't so hard on my system. Good luck it is a trial time period. I promise it does get easier.

I really like the shakes (come dry in packets that you mix with water in a shaker) I ordered through my surgeon's office. They are called Nutrimed 420 (yeah I know, "420") and are available in Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, and are really rich tasting. I got them from bettermd.net Here's the nutrition breakdown on them: Nutrition Facts Amount Per 1 serving Calories 80 Calories from Fat 0 % Daily Value * Total Fat 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Polyunsaturated Fat 0g Monounsaturated Fat 0g Cholesterol 5mg 2% Sodium 200mg 8% Potassium 400mg 11% Total Carbohydrate 7g 2% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Protein 14g 28% Alcohol 0g Vitamin A20 % Vitamin C30 %Calcium35 % Iron20 %Vitamin D20 % Vitamin E20 %Thiamin30 % Riboflavin30 %Niacin20 % Folate20 %Vitamin B-630 % Vitamin B-1220 %Phosphorus20 % Magnesium20 %Zinc20 % Copper20 %*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

My surgeon has all of his patients (regardless of start weight) on the Optifast diet for 2 weeks pre-op. It does shrink the liver and make the stomach easier to get to. Speaking of liver... I am an Ultrasound Tech and I have seen my liver prior to surgery. I was eating and drinking alcohol (both in excess). I am 2 months post-op today and looked at my liver and it looks do much healthier. It does not have the fatty infiltration it did before, and it has shrunk significantly. I was so excited to see how healthy I am getting inside and out!!!