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Alcohol gets metabolized in your liver, and drinking booze can cause a fatty liver the next day. Plus a margarita is full of sugar, and that also enlarges your liver. I would not chance it. In a few months you can indulge more safely! ONE... SMALL... SIP... well, it's your call. I wouldn't even do that. But I am a chicken!

I doubt very much that the alcohol has had any effect on your band. But drinking with a highly reduced food intake does cause the alcohol to effect you sooner than it would have done previously. Alcohol does irritate the stomach anyway so you may just be suffering the normal effects of over indulgence(have no idea how much you drank). I would just treat yourself gently for the next day or 2 and I am sure that you will be fine.

A relative of mine experienced problems with dental anesthesia resistance as a result of marijuana. Not sure if this issue is documented in literature. My recommendation is to not use marijuana (unless medically necessary), tobacco or alcohol. Pre op I drank alcohol. Post op no more. Several o my relatives died on a ventilator from lung cancer due to smoking. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life and never intend to, though I was forced to be a passive smoker in my childhood (grew up in a smoking home). My suggestion is that, if possible, get rid of all substances. By if you cannot, then go for moderation. I want optimal health and am of the opinion that marijuana, alcohol and tobacco do not optimize health.

i've been smoking since I was 15 and im 23 now and when I found out I was going to have surgery 2 months ago I stopped. its nothing bad like people think. I don't drink alcohol, I think it should be illegal Fred Montana JR

Boy do I totally get you , I am also in the marketing field and being social there is going out for drinks or having a bite to eat. Also when meeting with clients it is allot of lunch dates. Well I am here to tell you things changed but I really am doing the same thing I did before just in a lot smaller quantity It took a few months before I trusted my self to go out to have lunch/dinner with the gang from work but now its not an issue, usually someone will cut a 1/4 of thier burger for me or I order a cup of Soup or chili, most restaruants are so amazing when you ask for accommodations from them. Now as far as the drinking part most places don't serve any SF items other than soda, so I try to bring a Crystal lite pack for my Water , I carry them in my purse at all times I am 3.5 months out and at new years I had some orange juice and 1/2 shot of alcohol in it, other than that I haven't wanted to drink , which is kinda of strange but I think my attention has been on trying to not have sagging skin and working out to help that issue Also I cooked for Christmas for my family (20 people) I had one bite of all the things I like and didn't feel deprived in any way . You can still socialize and have fun , just think instead of eating you can actually have a conversation with someone.... ha ha ha You will do great !! actually this feels like how I always was , except no buffet lines. just remember that this is just a tool for us to help with our weight loss. When you start by asking questions you are already half way there.... stay positive and any questions ask someone we are all here to support each other and feeling scared is all part of the process !!! Good luck to you

Hey, Welcome!! Its a big decision to make isnt it? but it sounds like you have made the right one. for you and your family. I know because I had to make the decision aswell. I was sleeved last wedesday and although still gurgling a little I am feeling great. Ive lost nearly 12 pounds since my surgery and its still falling off everyday. I dont know how hard it must be to live with someone with a dependency like alcohol but If you ever need to chat, ive found here to be a good sounding board, especially on the topic of husbands!! Best of luck though. Holly from Oz

After rny your system can not break down the alcohol as it used to. You are drunker faster and it lasts longer taking as little as one drink.

Ok, not going to lie, it sucks giving up habits that we have enjoyed for many years. I weaned off Diet Mt Dew, coffee, alcohol,and then deliberately starved myself to shrink my liver so my surgery would be successful. AND IT WAS WORTH IT This isn't the easy way. It is a tool. BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT. Just saying.

Wow, I have never heard of the drinkng wine with dinner thingy, but heh, its your surgeon rules to follow! My only thing is that alcohol hits me quicker! I am one cheap date,now, 1/2 a meal and 1 drink! Best wishes!!

i think the addiction problem is with gastric bypass. ppl drink and it goes straight to the small intestine. it takes very little alcohol to get drunk. but with the lapband, we still have our stomachs and absorb things normally.

I also have not had any fills and it is as you say, a double-edged sword because we can eat anything and it will go down. For me, that means I have to be even more diligent because I can eat unhealthy and in larger volumes. My experience is that it takes at times, a little longer to feel satiety so I have to be listening closely or I'll miss the signs and go right to uncomflortable. Plus it doesn't take much to get there. Just the other day, I was out to lunch with a friend and we ordered a chicken quesedilla. I ate one quarter of it...which is typical but then I decided to take another small piece from another quarter. It wasn't much, but after I ate it, I knew I shouldn't have. I was too full the rest of the day and by dinnertime, I was still uncomfortable. Since I was out again for dinner, I took very small...and I mean really small portions of the meal and called it a day. I'm glad you are doing so well so soon out...I'm just going to caution you on the beer...just make sure the carbonation is OK with the doctor, and remember...alcohol is empty calories. I drink too...but in moderation. Best wishes on your continued success!

Like you, I crave sweets. I could care less about soda pop, alcohol, fried foods etc. I only occasionlly have a few bites of fast food. But sweets ? Oh yeah, they've got my number, especially if its crunchy sweet. Anything chocolate/pb/nuts = kryptonite ! I find that if im full of healthy protein, I crave sweets way less. Right now im having Belvita Breakfast biscuts and a little turkey jerky, this is my usual breakfast, helps keep me from most sweets. Hope your 2 week liquid goes smoothly for you, you CAN and WILL succeed with your WLS ! Being banded was the BEST thing I did for myself, I just came back from a 2 mile run a few minutes ago . Two and a half years ago I could only walk the same course, now im ( sloooowly) running it ! How cool is that ? Good luck ! You got this !!!!

I too was worried about the same things. I started in March and when I found out my BCBS required 6 months of omnipresent diet before surgery I was really bummed. Now I will be done with everything on August 19 th and will then schedule surgery. I think I needed all these months to mentally prepare. I immediately went off soda, caffeine and alcohol..... I've lost 36 pounds so far and am hoping to have 50 gone before surgery. This forum is a great way to stay focused. I'm not sure I would be doing as well as I am without it. This is a great supportive group. Everyone has been in the same place so there is no judgement. Just support

I suffered with gout prior to having surgery. I was on Indomethecin for arthritis and it never really helped with the gout. I had to go off of it in July of last year (one month prior to 8/5 surgery) and haven't taken it since. Luckily, I haven't had a bout of gout in over 2 years now, but it is probably the most painful thing I went through. I had it at the same time that I had a stress fracture in the same foot. needless to say, the boot I had to wear for the fracture was hell on the gout pain! I have been cautious about red meat. I still eat too much, but I was told that played into the gout a lot. Also, if you drink alcohol, that will increase your chances of a gout attack. My podiatrist calls it "vacation gout", as many peopel drink on vacation and come back with it. Good luck and hopefully we won't experience it again !!!!

I needed to take a break for a moment from the band discussions to reflect on the loss we as a whole have just suffered. When I say "we" I'm referring to those who have been fans of Robin Williams since Mork and Mindy. He was a genius. He was an alcoholic. He was HILARIOUS. He was severely depressed. He was incredibly talented, and our world is a sadder place without him. RIP, Robin Williams. You inspired me in so many ways.

At 4 weeks I don't see the harm. Just try one and see how it goes. I had to be careful with sugar alcohols at first (like in some SF candy). It had me running to the bathroom.

The other aspect, beyond the basic sleeve healing and caloric intake issues, is liver health. Being obese, our livers usually aren't in the best of shape to begin with, and the rapid weight loss further taxes it by it's role in metabolizing all the fat that we're losing, so it doesn't need any more work by having to metabolize the alcohol. My doc is a liver specialist outside of his bariatrics practice, so you better believe that we are on the no alcohol program for the 12-18 months of rapid weight loss - he doesn't like seeing his WLS patients coming back as transplant patients!

My doctor says no alcohol for a year. You are healing and still swelled up. Most leaks happen at 3 or 4 weeks out. I would not chance it for wine. You can have a fruit drink with no alcohol and still have fun with the girls! Dont chance it!

ME TOO! I had mine Jan. 21st. I'm at a stall the past month. I'm going back to shakes and gonna not induldge in alcohol =) I feel your pain!

I use the myoplex lite. I don't like the taste of most others, 190 cal., 15 g protein, 28 g carb ( 4 g fiber, 15 g sugar). I also liked the Costco bars, but the alcohol sugars gave me a low blood sugar rebound affect. Sweating, shaky, nauseous, light-headed.

My Dr made me promise that I would not drink any alcohol for a minimum of a year. My understanding is that with your new metabolism alcohol hits you different than it did in the past. i am always amazed though at how different Drs have different requirements.

So havent been on in a while but im hoping to get some advice from anyone that might have some. It seems like lately iv found that im eating less and less.... about 2months ago i was up to around 600 cals a day, Since then Iv found that iv been eating less and less now im down to under 200cals a day. Its not because I am trying not to eat,(or i dont think thats what it is) its because I am not hungry, and when I am hungry, such a small amount fills me that im full after eating very little. I rarely feel hungry and when I do I usually eat something very small (100 cals or under) and then im pretty much full for the rest of the day. I think maybe some of it could be phycological, I guess part of me is terrified to ever get where I was before, and I feel like I might hold some resentment towards food now.I cry when I think about how I let MY body... the only body that I will ever have get so out of control...I understand that food isnt the enemy and its the food choices you make that matter, but I feel like the more weight i lose the more i dislike food. I feel like im almost scared of food and the power it had over me in the past...Its weird because when your addicted to drugs, alcohol, or gambeling, the only way to break the addiction is to eliminate the addiction completely from your life and be "sober" but you cant completely eliminate food... so its a bit trickier i guess. Has anyone else felt so scared of food that you hate to eat now? oh ya....I am just over 8 months out and am down 80lbs from my day of surgery. I did this surgery not just to look and feel better about myself but also to be healthy... Does anyone have any help/advice? Maybe someone else has felt this way at some point...? Is this normal?

I'm so glad this thread was made. My family and I are huge backpackers and hikers/mountain biking folks. On a weekend we usually ride 25-30 miles of singletrack trails, and take frequent biking/camping trips. We're planning a 3 day hiking trip in September when its not 1000 degrees in Texas. We did the same trip last year in July, hot as hell and wasn't as fun because of the heat. In May we're celebrating our 4 year anniversary and my wife has planned a camping trip for the two of us. No hike in, but a primitive site with plenty of hiking opportunities throughout the area for day hikes. When I was carb cycling in the past to get ready for meets, I loved the carb conscious Supreme Protein bars. 30g protein per bar, 6g NET carbs, and 4g sugar. the do have sugar alcohols so depending on how your body handles them, be forewarned. They never knocked me out of keto in the past, and never gave me the runs unless I ate 4 of them. Like Fiddleman said, Water water water, moreso than ever before. We bought a filtration system so we can collect water from any source. They really do work nicely unless the water is just way too muddy, you'd need a good filter then. It makes it a little more challenging with water sources in places, but I think it's more rugged living off the land. We take camping pans with us, cook up eggs and sausage/bacon by campfire when we go on 2-3 day hikes, no carbs, good source of protein to get the day started. Also carry cheese and pepperoni with me, love it. Also, electrolyte water like Vitamin water, Gatorade G2, or just electrolyte tabs to put in to your water. You can find a lot of low carb electrolyte supplements on runners websites since they're huge on that stuff. As for the when, my doc told me 6 weeks at first, then released me at 4.5 weeks. But after he saw a video of a few trails we maintain and ride frequently, he told me no crazy off road biking until 6 weeks just to be safe.

Hello: I have my first appointment with my surgeon and dietitian on June 2nd. I am self-pay but they are going to submit it to insurance too I think. I have documented high cholesterol and had gestational diabetes with a BMI of 40. I am nervous, but happy, and trying not to listen to all the naysayers! They are every where! I feel like let's get the show on the road! I am scared about giving up beer though, not like I drink all the time but it is the only alcohol I like. So I guess I can't drink anymore when we go camping, or out with friends, ect.. : (

Hello and Good Luck on your up coming surgery!!! We have a lot in common. Our surgery dates are the same, we read a lot, and of course we have the same fears!!! I asked questions of my psychologist and dietician at Temple, but realize after reading these boards not everyone gets all their questions answered. Regarding pre-op diet. I have followed mine to the "T", the previous post is exactly right about the liver etc. That being said, your mind and body plays tricks on you, so I journal, blog and I play my own version of Survivor. I keep telling my self this is getting my body ready for my "new life". The people I have chosen to tell are supportive, if someone says something negative or says something that sways my motivation "like, how can you only drink shakes?, or how can you only live on bites of food after your surgery?", I explain it to them, but I almost start to feel superior!!!!! I explained this to the psychologist and he said it is normal and that is a tool that would help in my success! I am not going to let people make me feel bad about my choices in life anymore!!!!! I'm done, so I think everyone should surround themselves with a great support system first and foremost and educate themselves and the motivation to succeed will come also! Regarding the post-op. My team has me following a two day clear liquid then two weeks shakes then progression to full, then slowly to healthy eating (I am speeding it up here!!!), it's explained to me simply but when I was stressed out about reading some of the failure rates. If you don't follow the plan EXACTLY, the likely hood of failure greatly increases (that includes, slippage, hernias, increase reflux, ulcerations, pouch expanding, etc). So it is important to learn healthy eating habits with this tool. The first thing they said is to avoid eating and drinking at the same time (your banding will act as a funnel, and flush the food out), drink 1/2 hour prior to and 45 min. after a meal to stay full longer. Eat Protein first, ALWAYS. You will always fill up faster and less bloating. Our neurotransmitters that tell our stomachs that we are full lay at the top of our stomachs so if the band fit in that area food hits those transmitters sends a signal to your brain saying you are full. Of course the trick is getting to the reason of why we have to stuff ourselves! Tips that Temple has gives me to help overcome this are: Like previously posted, chew your food (over chew actually) When we actually chew are food we start sending those signals to the brain that trigger those transmitters telling us that we are starting to get satisifed and in 15 min. we should be full. (that's why it helps to have a small stomach because it takes us longer to eat!!!! pretty cool huh!!! So don't over stuff never ever!!! The no no on eating and drinking together! Keep a food journal, this is a must!!!! I use one on my phone. Myfitnesspal.com It also has a forum great tool!!!! Exercise, we all know why this is important! Small bites, no carbination, preferred no alcohol for at least first 18 mths. No sweet drinks that slide through or ice cream!!! Call MD for anything out of ordinary and keep all appointments. I think these are the important ones that stood out for me, but I know this board can add to this!!!! They are great support. Peace, Joleen