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I hoping someone can help me out. I just got banded on May 18th and although i feel perfectly normal.. i drank way to much alcohol this past saturday. I know its ok to drink wine and non carbonated drinks. I was drinking vodka and pineapple juice. Besides the cal intake, which i can handle.. is my band already affected by it? Someone calm me down because i keep on thinking i did something bad to my band. Thanks!! Mio

I just hit my 7th week post op and with the holidays coming up I was thinking about when I would be able to have a drink? I should just call my doc but does anyone know if there is any timeline restrictions for a drink? (I know it will hit me harder now than before)

I always hated water too. But I was early in on DNA testing (15+ years ago) and have run it through several scientific data bases. I was not surprised to find out I am what they sometimes call a “super taster” - someone who has a gene that results in tasting bitter tastes far more strongly than others. I would bet you have the same gene. So alcohol? Bleck! Black coffee? Not happening. And I never liked water, it has a slight bitterness. Explained a lot I thought since what covers bitter coffee taste? Sugar and cream and lots of it. I cannot drink water plain so I was delighted she the water enhances (SF) came out. They make all the difference for me!

You’re likely having a bad bout because of the uric acid stored in your fat being released as you lose weight. Worse is that you can’t take nsaids post surgery to reduce the inflammation. Do you take the gout medication, which reduces the amount of uric acid your body produces, everyday (can’t remember its name) ? it takes a couple of months to really work but by then you may have lost enough weight that you may not experience gout again. There’s still plenty of protein sources you can eat. You likely will be starting or about to start soft foods so look to beans, eggs, slow cook lean meats, continue with your protein shakes, yoghurt, make rolled oats on milk, etc. but check your plan to be sure. You will already doing a lot to help reduce uric acid production because of your low fat, low sugar, no alcohol diet. Contact your medical team for help to manage the pain. Hope you feel better soon.

Yep, doing that too! More fluids, more salt, no alcohol (not that I was drinking any anyway), regular exercise to promote blood flow, smaller more frequent meals... etc etc etc

Did u have pre op nutritionist classes? Each program has their own guidelines unfortunately. I start my 14 day preop diet on Monday. I will have 5 EAS myoplex lite protein shakes a day, one serving of veggies, one serving of fruit and one serving of starch a day plus all the clear liquids I want (ff broth, sf Popsicles, sf jello, decafe coffee/tea w/out milk, creamer, sweetener etc and no carbonated beverages or alcohol). I plan on taking my one serving of fruit a day and adding it to one of my shakes with ice and making a smoothie in the blender. As far as your post op eating, that is very specific to what your nutritionist outlined for u. I will have clears only on day one and then clears and protein shakes from day 2 through 7. Day 8 I advance to soft foods ie: sf pudding, sf applesauce. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!!!

Definitely ask Dr. Fielding. He's my surgeon as well and I know that he's actually a proponent of alcohol (not sure when we get to start though). When is your post op appointment? I had my post-op a week after surgery and was able to move onto mushies two days early, but only because they said I could after seeing me. I know it's hard to get down the Protein shakes especially when you're not hungry. I used a spoon and it helped to get them down easier. My surgery was on 8/7 and I felt horrible until Thursday. Today I feel GREAT! It will get better! Good luck!! Jen

Soda is a weird one. For some doctors it's permanently forbidden, while other doctors don't mention it at all. I didn't know it was off-limits, and I tried one not too long after banding. The feeling it gave me was so very odd I've never been tempted again. If you think you have a Diet Coke habit that you won't be able to kick, you're probably wrong. There are lots of other things that deliver the punch of DC, and you may very well find that you don't like carbonation after you're banded. It creates a feeling high up in my chest that I find extremely uncomfortable. Oh, and Rica, sure, lots of people drink alcohol occasionally. There are good reasons not to, but they're pretty much the same good reasons as for everyone else--empty calories, etc. The only really negative band-related thing I've heard about alcohol was an episode where someone overate while drinking and was in lots of pain the next day. All of one's inhibitions are relaxed while drinking, including that famous "soft stop."

My take is..... If you bend the rules on the pre op diet.... Then you are setting yourself up to fail after you are banded. It's just my humble opinion but if you are in the mindset of doing whatever it takes to be successful.... I would skip the wine for now. Have fun at the wedding.... It's possible even tho you will be alcohol free.

hi everyone- i'm jennifer- alcoholic/addict with 20 years sobriety looking to start the oa program- will be sleeved 7/20/11! i've heard there may be some prejudice in oa meetings when it comes to us wls folks. any wisdom/experience with this?

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukah to our Jewish friends! Season’s Greetings for those of you who are not celebrating a holiday now – it’s still a festive time when everyone can enjoy the uplifting spirit around town. As we near the end of a long season of tempting food, you may need a little help getting back on track or staying on track. Here are our offerings. Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery Hopefully this newsletter can help you keep your weight loss goals in mind and give you a little push to inch closer to hitting them. After reading the newsletter and spending some quality time with your loved ones, don’t forget to head on over to the BariatricPal Forums so you can share your tips and ideas with all of the BariatricPal members! Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge The weight loss surgery journey itself is a bumpy road, and recent weeks may have been even tougher as the holiday spirit has taken over. High-calorie, fatty, sugary foods have been everywhere, and gift shopping, family obligations, and holiday parties may have been eating into the time you might otherwise have spent exercising or planning healthy meals. So, what do you say to a challenge to lose weight this Christmas? The idea may sound crazy, but it is actually possible if you try hard. Here are our suggestions for a weight loss Christmas Day. Christmas dinner the WLS Way The totals for a full-blown Christmas dinner can be somewhere between staggering and horrifying. You yourself may have indulged in a few such dinners in the past. Between the ham or turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, and Desserts, plus some alcohol and a bit of nibbling on appetizers and nuts, you can have 5,000 or more calories on this single day. Yuck – that’s 1.5 pounds of fat! Here is a more reasonable Christmas Day scenario to consider. Breakfast: Festive Protein pancakes with 1 cup sliced strawberries (150 calories) Meet ‘n’ Greet Appetizers 1 cup fresh cut vegetables with yogurt-based dip (100 calories) Red, white, and green Christmas skewers with cherries, peeled apples or pears, and green grapes. (100 calories) chocolate Coated Protein Puffs Soy Snacks (150 calories) Christmas Dinner 3 ounces of ham or skinless turkey or duck breast with mustard (150 calories) Green bean frittata – a high-protein, low-calorie substitute for green bean casserole (100 calories) Green salad with Light Dressing ½ cup pureed sweet potatoes sprinkled lightly with crushed pecans and sugar (or honey or low-calorie sugar substitute) (200 calories) 1 medium baked apple with cinnamon, served with light or sugar-free whipped topping (150 calories) Later Snacks Protein Cocoa or Mocha (100 calories) 1/2 ounce mixed nuts (100 calories) (Don’t forget to use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 for a 10% discount of your first order!) Savor Your Treat Don’t forget to leave room for a treat. That’s right, even WLS patients deserve a treat. Just make sure: It’s one that you really, really want. You can tolerate it (some treats are too sugary or fatty for your post-op digestive system, and even a small serving can make you feel sick). You take only a small amount and count the calories. In the sample Christmas Day menu shown above, there is room for another 200 to 400 calories from your treat while still staying under 1,500 to 1,800 for the day. Those calories can get you any two of the following: A half-cup of mashed potatoes with gravy. A half-cup of bread or rice-based stuffing. A 1-inch sliver of pecan, pumpkin, or another kind of pie. A small square of fudge. A small dinner roll with a pat of butter. A half-cup of eggnog. Get Moving, for So Many Reasons It’s a busy day, but surely you can find a few minutes to get in a short walk or workout. There are so many reasons to get moving in the morning or during the day. Burn calories and boost metabolism. Keep yourself motivated as you notice how good it feels to get moving rather than eat. Take time away from the food because when you are walking, you are not eating. Bond with your children, nieces, or nephews; with your out of town relatives; or with your significant other. Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! One bad day of eating does not make a habit, but a six-week period does. A skipped workout or two doesn’t get you out of shape, but a month of inactivity makes you sluggish. A single bad weigh-in is no cause for alarm, but a few weeks of climbing numbers is reason to take heed. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas can put you in a weight loss slump. Over time, your can get weaker and those poor decisions can get easier. While a bite of a cookie might have made you feel guilty in early November, the whole cookie and a second one may be par for the course now. Snap out of it! It is time to get out your slump. If the thought of reversing all those bad habits at once is too much, take heart. You can put yourself on the right path with a single decision. One good decision can increase your confidence and lead to more good decisions. You could: Make your own 200-calorie Breakfast sandwich with Protein Pancakes, a fat-free slice of cheese, and egg whites instead of hitting the drive-through for a 500-calorie breakfast biscuit. Schedule a short walk with a neighbor – no backing out! Log your food for a day, no matter how bad you know the numbers will be. Step on the scale if you’ve been avoiding it. How will you break your slump? The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery As hard as the food and lifestyle around the holidays may be for you as a weight loss surgery patient, your family can make things even harder. You can prevent them from knocking you off your game by being prepared for what to expect and how to handle it. Problem: Pressure to Go Off Your Diet Saying no is just one of those things you have to learn how to do in life. Refusing your relatives’ offer of freshly baked Christmas bread or Christmas Cookies made “just for you” is difficult. They may feel that you are rejecting them. Practicing ahead of time can help. A simple, “No, thanks” can do wonders, and it leaves no room for argument. You could elaborate with variations such as “No, thanks, I’m not hungry,” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that anymore,” or, “Not right now, thanks. It’s already great to get to see you!” Problem: Unwanted Comments on Your Weight or Weight Loss If you got your WLS in the past year, you may have dropped several pounds since relatives from out of town saw you. They may be overly reactive to your weight loss. Or, they could have the opposite reaction and say something discouraging about how they expected you to lose more weight by now. Whatever they say, do not let them throw you off your game. Problem: Lack of Acceptance of Your WLS They are not living your life, and they do not know exactly what you have gone through. A lack of understanding about what WLS is and how a WLS lives can inspire negative comments. You can choose to ignore them, or try to explain your WLS to them. You can also try to include them in your routine, such as inviting them on a walk or asking for their help in your kitchen while they’re in town. You can grow closer and develop a better understanding. Again, Happy Holidays! Enjoy this special time with family and friends, and make it a safe and healthy time for yourself and your loved ones. Thanks for spending some time with the newsletter, and we look forward to seeing you on the forums! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

I am sure my relationship with beer will change as I won’t quite have the space to put away much of the substance and that is okay. I already cut my consumption way back the last time I started packing on more pounds. I just couldn’t afford the calories. I wonder though, since beer feels so giant in your stomach will I be able to have it once I am in the groove with my band? One beer? Two beers? I figured a glass of wine would still be safe, but beer had me perplexed? Anyone out there have experience here? Thanks!

I Just filled out questionnaire and was approved for self pay sleeve in Mexico with Dr. Illian sometime this summer. Would like some valuable input from those who can help me decide to pull the trigger or not. 1- I'm a 67 year old male who is 5 ft 7 in and weighs 240. I now live full time in an rv and enjoy the travel lifestyle very much. I'm not overly obese but enough to make me think about it way too much with both the way I perceive myself and somewhat how others perceive me. I put most of the lbs on in the last 20 years. According to what I've read about seniors having the surgery is that they will not shed as many lbs as a younger patient. For those seniors reading this please let me know how it worked out for you. Also, did it take you longer to recuperate? I can continue to live my life as is but would certainly like to live out the rest of it feeling better both physically and mentally. 2- I have borderline high BP and slightly elevated levels of cholesterol for which I take daily medications. For any of you in a similar situation were you able to eventually stop the meds due to the weight loss? 3- when fully recuperated from surgery did you find yourselves with an increased energy and activity level or the opposite effect? 4-As far as the mental aspect did you adjust to the severely diminished food intake? Do you still enjoy food in the limited diet or do you now perceive eating as simply fuel intake? I would think one of the reasons for surgery is that we overly enjoyed food to begin with so this must be one of the hardest obstacles to deal with post surgery. How much do you get cravings and are they hard or easily dealt with? Please give examples. 5-For those who enjoy an alcoholic beverage once in a while (3-4 times per week) how has this affected you? Thank you for those who have read this entry and I look forward to hearing from any and all who can help me in this serious decision making process......................

I have just lost my first 50lbs and I am starting to get a lot more confident in myself. I have started using the dating apps and now that the possibility of dating is more real I am starting to get really freaked out. Has anyone starting dating soon after surgery? These are the things I am nervous about: - they will think my minimal eating is weird (I am not 100% open about having the surgery and don’t want to have to explain my situation to every tinder date.) - most people want to meet up for a drink but I’m still not drinking alcohol - even though I am much more confident I still have a ton of insecurities about my body so I’m not sure I will be ready for an intimate relationship if the time comes and I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. Anyways any thoughts and advice are appreciated. I’m just excited to start dating but also scared.

I am waiting for my insurance to OK my lap-band surgery. But in the mean time i am eating like i always have,its like i know i will never be able to have these foods again. And i guess maybe i will feel deprived and have mad cravings? why do i do this knowing i need to change? I feel like i want to eat everything ,i guess like a alcoholic having his last drink before going in to rehab. I just hope that i can get over these feelings and have better control of my eating. Maybe i will have to change or die. ...feeling out of control pre op surgery in November 2014

Hello everybody, my name is Nicole. I had surgery on 2-24-14. My doctor uses out patient hospital services so I got to come home @ 10pm. This is most definitely one of the most important choices I've ever made. And I don't mind sounding quite selfish because in fact I did it all for ME! My stats: 5'6 S/W 272 C/W 254 G/W 140ish I lost 12lbs in the 2 week preop diet, which was basically the Atkins diet, I was only aloud 40 grams of carbs a day, and had to achieve at least grams of Protein a day. I cut out all caffeine, alcohol and carbonated bevs when I started even though I didn't have, I just made it a lot easier now that I really can't have that stuff. I'm so excited to finally start this journey. I have been heavy ALL my life. Even looking back at childhood pictures showed me over weight, not just big boned, as some like to say lol. I love this forum, it's helped me so much. Thank you to everybody :-)

Do you mean "alcohol issues" in terms of addiction? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

yea sugar alcohols are no joke. i never liked dark chocolate but because it has fewer calories and its good for you i can now enjoy it.

Ultimately, I think it's like an alcoholic with drinking buddies. You need to find other ways to spend time together that don't involve eating....or the relationship will get toxic. Or you have to 100% cool with each other's eating habits....which is also harder than it seems. Weirdly...my mom and I really struggle with this one. So many of our visits revolved around getting a meal out together, or cooking together. It's been sort of awkward to find different ways to enjoy time together. We're getting there....this week be bought and planted flowers. We've been playing cards and drinking tea, instead of soda, chips and dip. But yeah....a HUGE part of my relationship with my mom has a ton of eating activities attached that are really tough for me cause she doesn't struggle with her weight like I do. Mom activies of the past: Let's go get a donut. Let's make cookies. Let's make bread. Let's go grocery shopping and get fast food. Let's go to a new restaurant. Let's got get ice cream. Can you detect a pattern? LOLOLOL When I was a kid, every Friday was "Celebration junk food night". We'd get KFC (or pizza, or burgers), tabloid magazines, rent videos, and buy ice cream or candy to have with the movie. And scratchable lotto tickets. Two liters of cola. LOL. It was a celebration of God-awful choices....and You know what's messed up? I remember it really fondly. And if there's a day I'm gonna cheat....you can bet it will be on Friday. I remember about two months post-surgery...we went to a movie with my mom and she ducked out and came back with sodas and candy and popcorn! I'm like...Mom...I can't have this stuff......and the look on her face was so sad. It's like I'm taking away her enjoyment by not sharing her habits. I am rejecting her traditions!!!! Ultimately...she was totally on board with me not eating the snacks and she was sort of horrified she got them for me..... but I think she genuinely forgot, and it just felt disappointing to her not to "give me a treat" or revisit that tradition that reminds of of happy memories. My mother expresses love in fat, salt and sugar. LOL. Seriously. So yeah...it's been hard. Relationship changes are tough. Changing your activities so you're not always eating together....can be disarmingly tough.

I would question what they're using to clean skin with when operating and filling you? Is it something like scrub care or hibiclense that have germ killing properties for up to 24 hours after used? Or are they using something not as strong. The same would go for fills. I know alcohol swabs are used in fills, but some drs use stronger germ killing agents. You might want to ask about these. Are you seeing a wound specialist now. I know in my area they have wound care centers- mostly used by diabetics and others having problems healing. I had a friend with cancer with a wound specialist as she was getting vacuumed shut after a surgery. She also had type 1 diabetes so it was really hard on her body and took constant vigilance of keeping everything clean. To the extent that she had to get rid of her small dogs and cats. And had someone come in to declutter her house and deep clean it.

I found that sugar free Water ice from Rita's made me go within 10 minutes of eating it. my surgeon said that the sugar alcohol in it is high and makes you go. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Jumpseat, Memory loss or "black outs" are a sign of a problem. Sometimes we trade addictions, food for alcohol or another substance, when our lives change so dramatically. Big congratulations on your huge weight loss. You're much more of a "light weight" when it comes to blood alcohol level than in the past. Speaking from experience I suggest you see your doctor or a therapist to evaluate where you are and maybe where you are headed. Best of luck

My clinic guidance just says that if you choose to drink alcohol, make sure that you are aware that it will likely stall your weightloss and to be sure that you are willing to make the trade. Personally, I'm planning to wait until I'm well into maintenance before I throw that into the mix, but I've never once craved an alcoholic drink. I almost never have a drink unless I'm out with friends and we're all having drinks. Even then, it's not uncommon for me to order a "mocktail".

Hi Everyone! I'm at the very beginning of my journey, so please bear with me. I am 37, single, female, and I live in Doha, Qatar. Currently weigh 259 pounds. I have many reasons for wanting to have the surgery - mainly to improve my overall health, but a big reason for doing it is to improve my confidence. I've always been overweight and always been shy around strangers, but with the right people around me I was happy and outgoing and being overweight wasn't such a big deal. But - I had a major knock to my confidence about 18 months ago and since then things haven't been so good. I'm in a vicious cycle of desperately needing to meet new people, but being too embarassed about my size to have the confidence to join any new groups. So aswell as improving my physical health, which drastically needs an overhaul the psychological benefits will be equally, if not more important. I'm having my surgery done at the local hospital here in Qatar and I'd be really interested to hear from anyone else who's had their surgery done anywhere in the Middle East. So far, I've just had the initial consultation with the surgeon. The hospital adminstration and communication here is very bad, so even finding out how to get the appointment was a traumatic process! But - eventually I got to see a surgeon to discuss my options. The consultation was brief... I was weighed, told I was eligible for surgery, and given the option of Gastric Bypass or Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. He told me to go away and talk to people who've had the surgery.... unfortunately there are no support groups for VSG in Qatar, so if you don't mind, guys - will you be my support group? But finally - I'm on the waiting list! The waiting list is 6-8 months, which suits me just fine. Time to mentally and physically prepare. In preparation, I'm trying to exercise every day - my reward for exercising every day is to treat myself to a massage at the weekend. If I skip a day I'm not allowed that massage, so it's a good incentive! I'm cutting down on the carbs, cutting down on smoking with the aim of giving up completely before surgery, and I'm trying to cut out diet pepsi! I hardly drink alcohol so that's not an issue. Is there anything else I should be doing? Any tips would be gratefully received! Next week I'm seeing the anaesthetist for pre-op assessment, then later abdominal ultrasound and then endoscopy, which I'm not looking forward to at all! I'd love to hear from any of you and share experiences x

That's how I received mine too. Well except the syringes were in those bubble packs like when they put individual pills on a sheet with a bubble around each. Never would have occurred to me that they should provide the alcohol wipes or whatever. I figured that was my job to provide. Theirs is just to provide the medicine.