Search the Community

What is everyone's views on drinking? Both pre and post surgery. I don't drink alot it would only have to be about once every few months. I was just wondering what people's experience were with alcohol...

I am going to Jamaica next week to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends. I'm nervous about the trip. Should I take protein? Can I have a small Drink of alcohol... I'll be 8 weeks out... Please share your thoughts or experience!

Sweetie I just had surgery with Dr. Alvarez May 12. I totally understand the freak out thing. I cancelled my surgery once, lost $$$ in airfare, then rescheduled 2 months later! I was a nervous mess. I mean nightmares, couldn't eat, freaking out mess!!! I promise you he is an awesome surgeon. I'm a Registered Nurse so I know what can happen, and yes it's terrifying. But the benefits outweigh the risks IF you follow his instructions. You will read horror stories about people with major complications and it will mess up your head believe me. When a person walks out of that hospital, the decision is theirs as to how compliant they want to be. You would be surprised at the stupid people who do not comply with post op instructions. They try to eat a pizza week one, they drink alcohol, take harmful medications, smoke...IF you follow his instructions you will live a healthier happy life, many sizes smaller than you are. The choice is yours really. The outcome is in your control, not Dr. Alvarez's control. I think you should do it. I also think you should stop researching it and stop looking for the bad things. You looked into this for a reason. If you believe in God, then pray about it, make your decision, and have peace. I am so glad I did this surgery with Dr. Alvarez. He is the very best doctor you could choose.

I was told no alcohol starting 3 months before and for at least a year after. Empty calories

@@More than this hi welcome I see your in Canada the pre op testing your facing is pretty much the same as in the USA I had to do all that as well your cash price is good tho compared to here for sure lol I just want to say that a lot of Drs and regular ppl too are against WLS especially those who don't and never had a weight issue some think it's just mind over matter eat less move more etc and that's true to a point but the is an addiction in my opinion no diff than drugs or alcohol when u say to those they use substances just stop well yeah if we're that simple no one would be on drugs or alcoholics or eating too much I'm not suggesting your dr isn't a good dr but Drs are human beings with opinions feelings and judgements etc you must be able to decide for yourself and not be treated as if your a child or like your not allowed to help yourself in the way u see fit these procedures have been around for a long while now yes some have complications but most don't don't put off doing what u feel u must do to help yourself a dr advice is to guide you and be sure u have all the facts which u can do by researching as you obviously are doing and I have to say I do feel as if this dr is trying to scare you out of this based on their disapproval however it's your life your decision and you must live with the effects and limits being overweight not the dr so do what u need to do for your life and do not allow ppl or Drs to back u down its your life you get to run it hey if you can come to the states to get it done try that where ever you live see where the nearest big hospital is and see if they have bariatric programs u can probly email someone at that hospital and ask questions etc I'm about 5.5 months post op sleeve I'm in ny

I would stay away from carbonation especially that soon out. It will probably hurt. I had a couple sips of alcohol 4 weeks out and it burned. It was very uncomfortable. Your stomach is still healing so be careful! I would personally stick to nonalcoholic for now and no carbonation.

Sorry, I wouldn't do it, it is too soon. My doc recommends a full year before having alcohol. Plus, at three weeks out, I wasn't feeling even close to normal. I would pass.

My surgeon says 2-3 months before alcohol but that it's never really recommended because it does slow your weight loss. Some surgeons say longer or never, but I think they are not giving a medical answer but a value judgement. Plus, you'll be a lightweight, if you weren't already. So do the first drink in a controlled environment. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

It was a breeze. I filled out a questionare, then we pretty much just talked about my life and why I wanted Lap Band. In mine I got the idea they wanted to be sure you were not an alcoholic/drug abuser or suicidal, and that you wereready to commit. Don't worry about it, you will do fine.

Contraindications: The LAP-BAND® System is not recommended for non-adult patients, patients with conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates or increase the risk of poor results (e.g., inflammatory or cardiopulmonary diseases, GI conditions, symptoms or family history of autoimmune disease, cirrhosis), who are unwilling or unable to comply with the required dietary restrictions, who have alcohol or drug addictions, or who currently are or may be pregnant. This is from lapbands site http://www.lapband.com/en/learn_about_lapband/safety_information/ I don't know if FM is inflammatory or auto immune, but I know that many have developed FM post-banding. Ask a lot of questions.

Hi everyone my surgery is scheduled for sept 20th. I haven't started the pre op diet yet but i see my surgeon on sept 4th. Per my insurance empire bc/bs i have to be one pound less than the weight i was in march. In March i was 240 now im 243. Is it possible that the insurance or surgeon will deny me. Covid has been rough stopped alcohol and marijuana and have been low carb for the last 5 weeks.

Alcohol? Yes, they're OK in moderation. Some (most?) surgeons advise you to avoid carbonated drinks though. And alcohol may hit you a lot harder/faster post-surgery.

Last time I posted a lot of bad stuff was going on with me health wise..here is the link to my last post to catch you up with what i'm talking about. http://verticalsleevetalk.com/post-operation-vertical-sleeve-gastric-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/7593-help-has-happened-anyone.html Now the good news! This is day 4 of me really trying to get in Protein as well as Fluid since I have been feeling better. I have not thrown up during these 4 days. The only thing I do notice is first thing in the morning when I wake up I feel really sick. But once I drink/eat something, about 30 mins after I feel better. I've never had this before so I don't know if the sick feeling is my body telling me I need to eat or what. I have been doing really well with the eating protein part. I am now getting anywhere between 60-100g a day! I have 6-7 small high protein meals a day. I think my tummy is stretching a little bit (which the doctor said is good) because I can be comfortable after eating half of a turkey sandwich. For dinner I had a turkey burger patty and was able to finish all by two bites of it. But everything seems to be going well I am not dizzy/ light-headed like I was before and I am still loosing. My Questions: 1. When do you think I will be able to have sushi? I AM DYING HERE! HAHA 2. They doctors told me to stop drinking 30 mins before my meals, not to drink during my meals, and to wait 30 mins after my meals before drinking. I have been doing this, but i find it annoying and hard to do at time. Is this something that I will always have to do? Or is it mostly in the first X amount of months that I have to do this? 3. Will I ever be able to have Sprite or 7up ever in the future. I am not much of a soda drinker at all, and I realize it does stretch your sleeve. I'm talking a soda every once in a while. The only time I had soda was when I would go out to resturaunts or something. Lately I have been craving sprite (it's wierd), but do any of you down the road (6+ months post op) have soda at all? Also wondering for New Years about the soda thing cause I usually mix alcohol with soda, by then i will be almost 7 months post op. My surgery date was June 11th,2010, I am down 80 pounds. Thanks everyone

they should fall off on their own in about 2weeks, if they have not gently remove them, by that time they should be lifting a lot so it wont be hard. As long as they are bleeding or puss coming out of them, it would be okay to remove them yourself. I was just like you. I called my doctors office twice because i was so anxious. Also, when you take them off there will be alot of sticky tape around the incisions. soap and water wont get it off. i used a cotton ball dipped in alittle of alcohol and went around my incisions carefully. it came right off.

Soft Foods Diet: Beverages: Water, tea, coffee, sugar or fat free coca, Crystal Light, sugar-free Kool-aid, sugar-free Tang, sugar-free lemonade, Diet-Snapple, Diet V-8 slash, skim milk, lactose free milk, light soy milk AVOID: sugar sweetened drinks, coca, carbonation, caffeine or alcohol others: sugar-free popsicles, fruit n juice popsicles, sugar free Jello, sugar free pudding soup: low fat cream Soups, soups of any kind AVOID: full fat cream soups, full sodium soups starches: cooked Cereal, cream of rice, cream of wheat, malt-o-meal, thinned grits or oatmeal, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, crispy toasted bread AVOID: sugar-sweetened cereals, cold cereals, bread (unless toasted), Pasta, ritz crackers or soda crackers unless light and all other starches meats/protein: low fat cottage cheese or ricotta, low fat yogurt, low fat cheese, egg, tuna, canned chicken (with light mayo only), shaved deli meats, ground beef, ground turkey (Cooking methods: baking, broiling, slow cooker, foil wrapped) AVOID: Dry meat or poultry, mixed dishes (ie lasagna), beef (other than ground because it's hard to digest) vegetables: cooked, canned or pureed (soft-able to be mashed with fork) AVOID: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, snow peas, asparagus, celery, raw vegetables fruits: cooked, canned or pureed, unsweetened applesauce, and bananas (fruits only occasionally) AVOID: Cherries, berries, citrus fruits, grapes, plums, most raw fruits fats: margarine and I can't believe it's not butter spray Hope this helps!

Remember, with a sleeve they are removing Ghrelin, that is a hormone produced mostly by your stomach that signals your brain that you are hungry. That's not the only way your body tells you that you are hungry, there are also insulin/blood sugar issues too. But Ghrelin is the big one. The first week you do not WANT anything. You struggle just to get your fluids down. You should be drinking 64oz daily and I haven't met anyone yet that has managed to get all the fluids down. Not in the beginning. In the hospital you'd almost pay someone to drink fluids for you so that you don't have to hear the harping from everyone telling you to drink fluids. ;o) By the end of clears you are bored with it, head hunger DOES kick in, but not stomach hunger. I will be honest, I had a band and then revision surgery so I have done the post op diet twice. The 2nd time was a breeze, I don't know how much of it was that I had been dealing with food issues and head hunger was not kicking in full force and how much was the lack of Ghrelin. But I will tell you that I didn't have any problems with it. But again, I had already dealt with many food issues, I revised at 125# and a BMI of 20.8. After banding it was hard but doable. You won't want alcohol at first, it will burn along your staple line but I have it every now and again. I will tell you that when I was losing weight alcohol would stall my weight loss every single time. Without fail. It will slow down your weight loss. Artificial sweetners are fine, I live on them. ;o) Coffee... only problem with coffee is that it changes the cells in the lining of your stomach and it does tend to make your stomach empty faster thus defeating the purpose of any WLS. It's the caffeine. But if coffee did not bother you before surgery it probably won't bother you afterwards. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Fireworks were scattered, broken so profusely. The sky is clear to many, haven't bathed in warm light.Nothing's changed.Or when the understanding of things, or had experienced.Just, heart failure and, without relying on a blank.Should clearly know the past has been imprinted in the heart, stranded in a twilight.The silence of the rainy season, for a field have no voice to weep.Occasionally, to carry the old letterhead turned out, always with tears.Could not bear to throw away, nostalgia is always so, Jane erst, carrying on the past lingering bitter degree light.Like the time by corrosion, unable to go to the pursuit of happiness.When young watched fireworks, so little scattered in the heart, mottled memories.The loss of green, gradually took long step, smell the aroma of the earth, crossing into another degree.Perhaps, then, Nike Free Run so I started slowly aging.Aging to looking at herself in the mirror long suddenly blurred eyes.Then began to recall, recall a young man always melancholy, refused to pass by, refuse happiness.Sometimes, think green road too long, long enough to swallow my weary soul, long to can easily kill my only beliefs and self-esteem.Have heart, with full of pure and pride, and now, even myself can't see clearly what is inside.In the end, rushed to set in, feel the life of overload weight.Don't stop the lonely, always inadvertently stepped on the lonely journey, then is it.The most ridiculous, also pleased with oneself, think oneself and be sad, but sad cold breeding seedlings.So sonorous and forceful, rupture in the atrium of the pure land, then more crazy long.Annihilation fragile mind.Winter is cold, so embarrassed, has strong supporting weak self.Numerous times, I feel the reality more and more ethereal, time is more and more difficult.Cumbersome things too busy to attend to all.Exhausted, distress, suffering...The world is flourishing, I, only easy.Diffuse tunes, it does not belong to me.Exchange solemn vows and pledges, ashes to ashes. So soon.I can only continue to drift.Flounder in blank earth, looking for a quiet moment.Rest stop.Relaxed himself drunk.Star light, and never alone.Perhaps from the beginning will not have to worry about in the quiet, countless times of waking, just look at the empty twilight, left hand pain holding his right hand alone, tell yourself day quick bright, then sleep, wake up and it's a brand new start.This life, I feel stifled flavor.That night, have dizzy spells.And I still have a dull, muddle along without any aim flowing evanescent thin green time.Back reflection, those said to have been holding my hand go whereComplex complex twittering, once crazy night, is himself with their green do note or holding their own green * buriedHave I not sad, have told me, be happy, be happy.I was really touched, moved to tears, moved to silence.Some, is truly to hate, after all.Some, what also not.For a time, almost no sense of defects, effective care any more.I want to find a deserted place to hide, forget the bustling street once who said so me.Forget the happy bike.The lonely fireworks, it is me a watch, flying from the pieces of a tear.Broken, all broken irreparable.Now, just looking forward to the future of a grand party, who said, must cancel my tail to refer, see a long.Make a clear flower , relationresultMake a sober flowers since ancient times ,the courage in adversity and finally have the matter ,will always be people indulge in elaborating on ,generations of heart model .However ,in modern society, favorable conditions ,the conditions and does not see more .Many in the soft village to find direction ,demoralize ,flagging the strenuous spirit .We admired the adversity ,because they have a kind of incentive effect, showing the role of .Will we have to associate ,in that environment will make ,have excellent conditions ,is it right Can do better Be realistic condition is advantageous conditions to make it .Not the monstrous absurdity Good condition ,everything is so excellent .We found we side more and more mediocre ,year after year answer a muddle along without any aim .Over forty years, will feel old ,pillow years waiting off the sun .The young are more to worry about ,learn to read ,the reluctant to bear hardship .Not a full end not give serious thought to anything ;home without the sense of responsibility, lack the courage to bear .No food ,no money ,no house ,no car can straighten Zhuang toward father hand ,solidly without guilty heart .As the father side .Feel helpless sigh ,while another quivering to their life savings to pull out his money ,but not under the pain killer ,cut off their funding, watching the children more and more mediocre even reduced to idle about and .This is our problem .Now the society ,the school ,the family provided the environment is not conducive to Wholesale Nike Free Running training and long .Social environment not only is too cold too cruel ,did not really care to the cultivation and use of .Bureaucracy and served as the only pro nepotism ,almost suffocated before long way ,have ability truly cannot obtain a long space .The school education is almost in the work diligently and conscientiously to kill only seed .No systematic training target ,no clear principles of education .Like a drilling with blind ,constantly rebuffed Nike Free 7.0 V2 Men ,kept back ,and constantly rebuffed .Traditional to modern ,and learning not to wander ,could not find the right direction ,make students do not want to learn ,the teacher can tube .Students have no modern sense of competition ,also faint diligence ,diligence ,hard work ,discipline and other traditional virtue .Parents or care only about children performance ,or to the child interest .Baby ,you are the parents treat their children theme .As a result, their culture did not improve ,moral quasi decreased gradually ,especially fragile psychological bearing capacity .We are in pursuit of vested interest ,almost no attention consciousness education ,not to worry This is the Mencius in several years ago, Ceng Fu expressed the opinion be born at hardship ,died of happiness .A home or a good ,if not ,when Chang Xing himself ,will be in the pleasure of losing self ,sinking .From the ordinary gradually reduced to mediocrity ,eventually nothing .Mencius in thousands of years ago is aware of the problem ,it repeats itself, and are not attached ,problem go after all where We have enough to be proud of thousands of years of outstanding culture ,has its own very valuable traditional virtue ,there are many Kai pattern material for us to study ,draw lessons from .However ,these traditional things seem to be getting away from our line of sight ,is increasingly being most especially the young are abandoned .Now things seem to be inopportune or inappropriate ,but the reality is indeed a lot in our earth in the mad chase the Western lifestyle and value orientation .If the essence of learning it ,to learn is just something negative ,or trash .Luxury ,decadent ,put the uninhibited ,wine ,this is the most terrible ,makes us uncomfortable .We are in this earth ,there have been many great things ,enough to the upward ;played scenes make ileum epic ,enough for generations we face up .Because our Chinese nation that the one and only national spirit to support us, we will continue in the ruins of Renaissance ,the rise of .We have strong ,have faded .The rise and fall of a good interpretation of be born at hardship ,died of happiness ,enough to make the world wake up .But ,we just walk in the way of national revival ,those who abandon the decadent ideas have been picked up again ,and grow in intensity .Why don think of these act ,why not think of pride all descendants of the eight banners Favorable conditions not spend money like water ,does not think enterprising .Our nation has many advantages and give up be enthusiastic and press on examples ,such as science master Tsien Hsueshen ,Yuan Longping the father of hybrid rice ,there are those who give up superior life into remote areas such education general .Unfortunately these not as the mainstream of society ,not by society to advocate ,also not be many youth worship .If we are common ,especially in young eyes only those dazzling star ,only the Zhizui gold life and the tendency of thought ,our house and the future of the nation not worrying The ancient idea of providing for the elderly ,strong use somewhat ,the young have director will not exist .Zhuang can not be used ,providing for the elderly ,the young have director by what can be achieved This is our deep concern ,especially the young can now sober look the situation before us ,cannot truly compare us and those developed a real difference, especially the people level gap ,the pursuit of pleasure ,blindly vie for more serious decay ,social extravagant wind .If things go on like this we will why can The breeze gently blowing, twilight gallantly cage a quiet garden ,the flowers are immersed in the beautiful in life .Everything looked calm ,mellow .Who would have thought that tomorrow will be cold dew ,may have a frost ,there will be wind and rain hit Maybe tomorrow there will be flowers withered ,withered .In this warm this evening City I can not see the moonlight The city sign still allow me into hot sub dim down I picked a day to see the wind and the stars of the garden, and I dream of sleeping like heart found, carry a huge star appeared in top Oh the moonlight a skirt.Two conjoined high-rise handcuffs her plump posture prison huge project car foot loading I bent down, looking like moonlight one ugly peel a few flies open more ugly teeth in the dazzling light pierced my pupil I listen, tire tread on tympanic membrane roared with alcohol singing in the tired under neon spiral, like those who have lost the way noisy sigh but no sound, no sound, no plant jointing sound -- now I cannot hear the moonlight to between the Xixi soso, picking flowers ringing sound in the moonlight, bright city already dead.

Are you eating foods with sugar alcohol? Because if I have any excess of sugar alcohol I get really bad gas. All day. No matter what I eat after the fact. You might just have something in your diet that has an excess of sugar alcohol or something else that your stomach doesn't handle well.

I just finished a 2 month plateau and it was frustrating. The basic problem, was me. Too many empty calories (ie: alcohol, sweets, carbs) and I also needed a fill. I was travelling a lot and eating too much and too often. I didn't gain weight, but I didn't lose any either. You've gone to get the fills/unfills, so it must be the calories. Seriously look at what you eating daily and add up the calories. That one glass of wine a day or that chocolate bar can mean the difference between losing weight or not losing weight. If all else fails, I've seen some members go back to the post-operative diet for a week (the dreaded protein shakes!) to get things moving again (and remind themselves of the rules). Good luck and keep us updated.

You need to go to the doctor to get properly diagnosed. Ulcers may be a result of: 1. Smoking 2. Alcohol 3. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs 4. H. Pylori infection 5. Diabetes

50 Shaded is definitely a distraction lol. I started reading it when I first came home from the hospital. I just finished book 2. I didn't even think to look for sugar alcohols but when I ran to the bathroom I knew they had to be in there. I bought them because there was a Protein bar thread and people seemed to like those. I'll go back and try to find another. I always plan ahead, but looking for things to stash in my drawer that can keep.

I'm a teacher too! I've been trying out different bars for Breakfast because I can't seem to get up early enough to get dressed much less make breakfast. Anyway, I tried one that contained those sugar alcohols...ugh....never again! My insides did not appreciate it at all. I had a Zone bar this morning-chocolate Peanut Butter. It was really good. No badness for the tummy. It was 200 calories with 14 grams of Protein. It did have 25 carbs which I know a lot of people on here are low carbers. I'm not.

What kind did you try? Had you eaten anything else with sugar alcohol in it today? My stomach has been very sensitive to SF candy but during my 4 month pre-op diet I sometimes had 2-3 Atkins bars a day and never had problems. I'm not sure which varieties have more SA but I would recommend the ones without chocolate. I got sick of the fake chocolate and towards the end I was only buying the oatmeal squares (so good in microwave), apple cinnamon bars and peanut nougat one (not sure of exact name). Unfortunately, I've never seen these ones sold individually but I will tell you WalMart carries Atkins products for MUCH cheaper than anywhere else!

Thank you for your reply Dawn I just wanted to know if it was just me. I had the same exact experience and was so blown away by it. I used to be able to drink alcohol like it was Water. Lol. My life has definitely changed in so many ways but I do enjoy it more now. I was just wondering if others have had similar experiences. Thank you

It's encouraging to hear this. Did you have any problem tolerating it? Did one glass of wine have more of an effect on you banded as compared to pre-banding? I'm guessing you used the "small sip" method of drinking and did not have it with food. But, considering the much smaller amounts of food we are intaking, one glass is probably the most we can drink. In the summer and early Fall, I prefer whites. But, in the colder months, I choose deeper reds. I wonder if there is any difference in which ones we choose after we are banded. Not even sure if that's a silly question or not!!! Thankfully, I am not a beer drinker.....one bad experience with it as a freshman in college at a nasty basement frat party and I haven't touched it since. Even though our son is a master brewer (not as an occupation at the moment), I can't even stomach the thought of drinking his concoctions. Guess I'll have a good excuse once I'm banded!! But, in the summers I do crave a Tanqueray Gin & Soda with double lime every so often. I guess those are out.......:think:think:think DH drinks gin martinis. But, I never quite acquired a taste for them. Plus, they can be potent. I sure do like martini glasses though! Maybe I should start drinking my Protein shakes out of them.....that might help me through the next few days of my pre-op liquids!!! :paranoid:paranoid Although I would give up all forms of alcohol if that's what was necessary, it's *NOT* my preference. DH takes wine to an art form....both in making it and in selecting it. Wine is a big part of our life and is definitely a staple in our home. It's often the center of our entertaining and our travels. Sorry for all the rambling about alcohol! I think this pre-op diet is making me more loopy than any glass of wine ever did!!!! Tell me a few more wine stories everyone!!!! :paranoid