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:sad0: Pennie; I am having a hard time too. Sometimes I am ok and other times....wow! I want to go to a cognitive behavioral therapist. Since I don't do drugs or alcohol the food was my DOC (drug of choice) and now my stomach is dictating to me what and how much I can eat. Since I have had this done (VSG 6/9/10) I feel like it is something I had to do because I was killing myself. Boy did it feel like I was dying...slowly. I feel like the Matthew 5:30; "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell." I want to eat so much of the gooooooooooooooooooooooood food that is out there. Oh man. Now my addiction is controlling me. It won't let me eat certain things or I get a stomach ache or if I want to take more than 3 bites.....AHHHHHH!!!!:drool5: It's terrible. I know how you feel. I know it is necessary. I know I will feel better. But boy, can your mind make you crave. Now I have to do mental work on that! I know the boat you are in and you are not alone. Feel free to contact me anytime or even e-mail me if you need to talk. I need support too. This is tough. I knew it would be....but mannnnnnnnn! Tlynnles tlynnles4@yahoo.com VSG on 6/9/10 Dr. Aceves

I had surgery in July in Mexico with Dr. Corvala.....I actually had surgery the day before Julie....I am down almost 60lbs....I eat everything and do everything...as a matter of fact I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas, tried out new restaurants and (ok not the best choices, but it's Vegas) had a few too many adult bevy's....I am still down 1/2 lb.... I have learned that I need to order what I really want from a menu...yes there will be left overs, and yes, sometimes it is easier and better to order one meal for me and my husband and eat "family" style..... other than that...it has been great.... Read my blog, go back to July, and you can see what I was doing, eating and feeling...I write about 1 a week now, but will get back into the swing of writing with the new year... I started at over 300 and am now in the lower 240's!!!! so yes, would I do it again...in a minute....would I go to Mexico...No doubt! Just think of your stomach at a wayyyyy smaller size....I can eat about 4-6 oz of food, if it is soft and mushy I can eat maybe 8-10oz...but still think about a 1 cup measure, that is 8 oz.....so if you are full (and for the first time in my life I knew what full felt like....).....I have now made it through the Holidays and am down 4 lbs in December...it is a slower month than any other month, but also I indulged in alcohol, Cookies, etc...so all in all it beats my usual 10+lbs gain...... good luck and keep us posted...

I am always tight when I am retaining water- especially during my period- and I know alcohol commonly causes water retention. That would be my assumption if it happened to me anyway. It should resolve itself in a day or two.

When I see posts online about weight regain -- and when posters describe what has happened -- they use language that describes some of these behaviors and emotions: * snacking * grazing * no longer tracking their intake * "falling into old habits" * their exercise programs got sidetracked * "not paying attention" * feeling much less restriction from their sleeve after, typically, a year post-op * experiencing life stress and soothing themselves with food * feeling disappointed that weight loss didn't make them sufficiently happy or resolve their problems * being angry with themselves * depression * lack of support from family members * overt antagonism from family members about their weight loss * deaths of close family members * social isolation * inability to manage successfully psychiatric drugs * WLS complications they've not fully recovered from or resolved * medical problems unrelated to WLS, e.g., cancer * alcoholism or drinking too much It's a jungle out there. That's why I'm now in therapy (for the first time in my life) and will remain in therapy throughout my first year post-op and probably for the two years thereafter. I think the easy part of WLS is losing the weight. I've done that at least 40 times. This time, I hope / plan to keep it off.

I call total bullshit on that one. Alcohol can be irritating, it can be too harsh on the stomach depending on what you choose to drink and how far out from surgery you are. BUT I have never, ever heard of anyone getting a leak mystically, magically after drinking alcohol. Afer 6-8 weeks, scar tissue has healed over the staples, and the risk for a leak decrease significantly. NOW, if there was pinhole leak that went undetected by medical professionals, then the patient continued to eat/drink I could see how that could happen. Most leaks are detected within 2 weeks, if not sooner of the original surgery. I've been on WLS boards for nearly 4 years, and every type of WLS patient from band to RNY talk about drinking vodka/cranberry juice or other non-carbonated alcoholic beverages. The skinny girl margaritas are pretty phenomenal. I waited until I was over 6 months out only because I wasn't willing to take in the extra calories during my losing stage.

Without a doubt, obesity is stigmatized. The unfair bias that you face may be a major factor in your decision to consider or get weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, you will probably find that the obesity discrimination continues even as you try to use weight loss surgery to get healthy. Obese patients are blamed for their conditions, healthcare providers are not always sympathetic, and coverage for weight loss surgery is not guaranteed. Why Do Obese Patients Get So Much Blame? People are increasingly sympathetic to diseases that used to be stigmatized. Examples include cancer, many mental health conditions, and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and syphilis. Now, treatment for these and other conditions, such as diabetes, is widely accepted as normal and an entitlement. Each of these conditions is largely the result of lifestyle choices, such as diet, use of tobacco and/or alcohol, sexual behavior, and physical activity levels. More than 80% of cancers are likely the result of lifestyle choices. Ironically, though, many people in our society remain unsympathetic to obese people. They are quick to blame obese people for having no self-control, for refusing to follow a diet, and for not wanting to be healthy. You know, though, that those accusations are far from the truth. If you are considering weight loss surgery, you are confident that you have the self-control for the weight loss surgery diet, that you have tried to follow numerous diets but none have worked for you, and that you desperately want to be healthy! You Did Not Ask to Be Obese: Some Factors are Outside of Your Control More than one-third of American adults are obese, and another third are overweight. That in itself should remind you – and the people who judge you harshly – that fighting obesity is hard! The food environment includes fast food, vending machines, restaurants, food-focused social gatherings, and inexpensive snack foods. There are also biological and family factors that you cannot control. Skinny people have no idea that you may be feeling extreme hunger all day, every day, or that your metabolism may be slower. Your family might have raised to choose high-calorie, high-fat foods, or even driven you into unhealthy emotional eating. Research shows that some obese patients’ brains even respond differently to food compared to lower-weight individuals. Obese individuals, for example, tend to get less pleasure out of food, meaning they need to eat more to get satisfied. Furthermore, high-calorie foods like sugar can be addicting, leading to the same brain responses as cocaine does. But nobody blames cocaine addicts for their situations! Instead, they encourage counseling and intensive program to help them overcome their addictions, not punish them. Discrimination in Obesity Treatment: A Look at Weight Loss Surgery Versus Dialysis Just as unfair is the fact that the healthcare system continues the discrimination against obesity. Compare weight loss surgery as an obesity treatment with dialysis as a treatment for kidney failure (end-stage renal failure). Far from being blamed for their conditions, kidney failure patients who need dialysis are provided the respect that all people deserve and the medical care that they need. Dialysis patients of all ages in the United States are able to apply for Medicare, the government’s health insurance program normally reserved for older adults. Dialysis treatments can cost about $40,000 per year, not including This is not to mention human factors such as reduced quality of life (the vast majority of dialysis patients are too sick to work) and early death (the life expectancy of dialysis patients is about 5 years). In comparison, a typical weight loss surgery procedure in the United States can cost $20,000 to $40,000, although it can be less, and successful patients are healthier and have more energy than before surgery. The irony increases. The fact is that kidney failure usually results as a complication of type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension). Both of these conditions are often caused by obesity; losing weight after weight loss surgery can prevent, eliminate, or reduce these conditions. In addition, it takes years for kidney failure to develop once you have high blood pressure or diabetes – years during which patients are likely to be on costly medications and inconvenient treatments. Targeting obesity through weight loss surgery could prevent cases of diabetes and high blood pressure, reduce their effects in people who already have them, and prevent kidney failure, the need for dialysis, and early death. Searching for Fairness in the Medical Treatment of Obesity Your first barrier in your path to weight loss surgery may be your primary care physican (PCP). Some PCPs do not know much about weight loss surgery, or may be against it because they think obesity is your fault. Some PCPs take a narrow view of obesity, and feel that the only way to lose weight is for patients to “decide they want it badly enough” and “just eat less.” You already know that doesn’t work, so don’t let your PCP discourage you from learning more weight loss surgery if you think it might be the solution to your obesity struggles. Insurance coverage has improved for obesity treatments, especially for weight loss surgery. Medicare and many private healthcare coverage plans cover weight loss surgery if you meet their predetermined weight and/or health criteria. Some private insurance companies, though, take a short-term view because they want to make profits within 3 years. Since most weight loss surgeries do not pay for themselves within 3 years, some private insurers do not cover weight loss surgery despite the likelihood that they would pay for themselves within 5 or 10 years, and in addition improve your health and quality of life. Chance of Reduced Discrimination in the Future? The majority of Americans believe that health insurance should cover weight loss surgery, in addition to other obesity treatments such as dietetic and mental health counseling. The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), though, is not the ultimate solution. In nearly half of states, obesity treatments are not required to be covered by plans sold on the health exchanges. This determination is based on the available competitive services in the region. Since the most obese states are the ones least likely to have competitive anti-obesity care, these states are also least likely to have obesity treatments covered under the Affordable Care Act. Overcome the Discrimination Discrimination is an unfair fact of life as an obese individual, and it unfortunately does not end when you decide to get healthy using weight loss surgery as a tool. These are some of the ways that you can keep going strong and overcome the barriers you encounter as you work to get healthy. You have the right to a second opinion if your primary care physician recommends against weight loss surgery but you would like to find out more. Do not take “no” for an answer from your insurance company if you know you are entitled to reimbursement for surgery. Do not listen to negative family members or friends who do not understand your obesity or interest in weight loss surgery. It is your life and health. Educate others as much as you can to try to reduce the discrimination. Chances are that they are only being discriminatory out of ignorance, not out of true mean-spiritedness. Like it or not, some discrimination remains as you go through your weight loss journey. You cannot prevent it, but you can change how you react to it. Expect it and respond as positively as you can, keeping your own health and goals in mind. Over time, as you and others prove that weight loss surgery can be a worthwhile treatment for obesity, discrimination by insurance companies, healthcare providers, and the public will decrease.

How long before your doctor ok'd you to have alcohol? Mine is very strict, no booze what so ever for the first year. I had to sign a contract.

My surgeon also recommends no alcohol at all after surgery.

one of the reasons i got the band is that my weight made me really uncomfortable and i stopped dating years ago and never got married. so i have only lost 15 lbs so far and am not ready to dive in yet but was dabbling on an online dating site and started talking to this adorable guy. so we're supposed to meet in an hour for a drink. TERRIFIED!! first of all, i'm uncomfortable because i still feel overweight. secondly, i can't freaking get rid of this ketotis breath! also, i can't really drink alcohol so i'm probably going to get totally wasted off half a drink! oy. i want to cancel.

I have posted a few times today. I understand how people can lose their cool when someone is so cock sure of them self. I am not perfect either, in fact quite far from it. I am not an alcoholic, but I have gone to "12 step" meetings and all I can say is to try to do right one day at a time. If you are having trouble being good one day, then try to be good for one hour. If that is too difficult, then try one minute. If all else fails, walk away for a while. "Time out" works good for adults, too. Another "12 step" lesson is that when you do fail, get right back on the wagon. This process is important whether we are talking about alcohol, drugs, eating, codependency, brutality (verbal or physical) or anything else that they have programs for (or even for things we need to control that they have no programs for). You are a good person. Most of us here at LBT are good people (even the Republicans:faint:) and we all make mistakes, except God, Allah, Jesus, etc.:faint:

Alcohol in and of itself should be tolerated as it was pre-op. Some surgeons will outlaw carbonation, some discourage drinking due to the caloric content, etc. But there is nothing inherent to the band procedure that would prevent alcohol (some of the other procedures do).

I think your post really spoke to me. I had WLS at the hospital I work and and a lot of co-workers know I had it. So I know when I go back to work after taking a month off, I'd better show a loss. I feel that pressure. Here is the plan I'm following : -800 to 1200 calories a day -60 grams of Protein a day minimum -64 oz. of Water a day minimum -no non-natural sugar -no more than 20 grams of fat -no more than 100 grams of carbs -no white carbs (sugar, flour, rice, bread and potatoes) -no sugar alcohols (aka, sugar free candy) -no use of straws -no chewing gum -no caffeine (at least for the 1st 6 months) -no carbonated drinks Well, I am loosing consistently. But now I find I feel like a failure if I'm not 800 calories a day or less. I never go under 700. I log everything that passes my lips on thedailyplate.com, and measure everything.

You're doing great ! ! ! 1. When do you think I will be able to have sushi? I AM DYING HERE! HAHA - We already talked about this one LOL. See how your body tolerates it, go slow, and I hear the sashimi works great. The rice might be uncomfy just eat slow, and see how your body reacts. First signal of discomfort, stop. 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? I have never had to stop drinking before my meals. With my band, I had to because liquid fills up your pouch, but we have stomachs so I was instructed to just not drink with my meals and to wait 30 minutes after my meal. 90% digestion occurs in the intestine. Drinking while eating will push the food through, and you may experience some hunger sooner if you flush the food through. I sip with a meal on occasion. I can fit more in. I still DO NOT experience hunger, but if I drink when I eat, I can fit more food in at this point. Early out, there really isn't room for liquids. It might be uncomfortable to drink. A couple of sips to wet my whistle after spicy/salty food never hurt. I took a big drink on accident once, and it hurt and caused some cramping. Lesson learned, sips are okay, big drinks not so much. 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. - I drink soda. I've drank soda on occasion since being at goal. They're empty calories, it hasn't caused my sleeve to stretch at all, and I enjoy a soda here and there. My surgeon doesn't believe it'll stretch the sleeve anymore than eating bread, Pasta and rice will stretch it. I can eat the same amount of food right now that I could at 7-8 months post-op. There hasn't been any change or negativity from me drinking soda. I'm not an advocate to go against doctor's orders so check with them. For my program, nothing is off limits for life. Moderation is the key. I drink rum/cokes regularly without issue. Well regularly, on the rare occasion that I go out drinking, that is my preference. I drink socially without any ill effects. My suggestion on drinking post sleeve is to drink at home first. It might hit you hard and fast the first time. At this stage for me, my alcohol tolerance is back to pre-op.

I never thought I'd let myself get to goal (120) and then regain. But like so many others before me I know what I have to do to get back on track. As of now I am 170. 2 years out last month. January last year I was 125lbs and loving life. It has been an incredibly rough year, but I can't let that be an excuse. I'm no expert, but that's pretty significant regain I had the surgery for my health and now I'm getting back to where I was at the beginning at an astonishing rate. My food choices are terrible, I put alcohol and soda back in my "diet" and I went back to snacking. Ugh! Anyone else in a similar boat? What has helped you besides getting back to the basics? Is there anything in particular that has helped you the most with losing the regain? Any support and encouragement is welcome--I've been pretty down on myself lately. But I know I can get back to at least a healthy weight. This time I'll probably aim for 130-135. I came back here since this community was so incredibly supportive to me early post op. And for that I thank you all!

TARPHR - I usually eat around 800 calories a day. I follow the rules and eat high protein (about 3 ounces at a time always measured!) avoiding sugar and carbs. I try do drink alcohol only once a week. Also, I track everything I eat on My Fitness Pal. I'm TinaATL on there and my diary is public if you want to exactly what type of foods I eat. I still have a piece of dark chocolate almost every day but it's just one 42 calorie Dove dark promise instead of a king size Snickers like in the "old days".

Gayle - are you really my mom lurking on the lbt board? ;o Thanks for the advice - I will behave - keeping mind I was a beer drinker too and diet coke drinker and have had neither since surgery. I have definately changed 180 degrees when it comes to what I am putting in my body. I am in no way an alcoholic but wondered now, with the band, if my alcohol tolerance would be lower (I assume that it is) and if that is the case what will be my reaction to more alcohol in my system. I am celebrating my 40th birthday in Cabo and plan to really Celebrate - for the first time in a long time I feel fabulous. Thanks again - I will give an update when I return.

Hah just had to post, today we officially started making the plans for our wedding, and I'm already stressed out! It's in December, so we're going tomorrow to check out this place I thought might work.. everywhere I wanted (had a previous list), has something wrong with it that I wouldn't want it there (i.e. 2 of them don't allow alcohol). The one we're leaning toward is the only one that doesn't provide anything. They set up the chairs/tables but you have to bring everything else.. and they have a kitchen but it is not for set up, just storage.. so caterers have to come 100% ready. I wanted to elope on 7/7/07 in vegas, come home and do a fancy reception.. fiance said no cause he thinks I want a big wedding, but after all the researching I did today, I'm wishing he'd just let us elope.

So my mom told my sister that having the sleeve will be such a drastic change that I won't be able to handle it and she doesn't understand why diet isn't working for me. I'm just frustrated. I thought my mom was supportive but I guess she's not. She lost 100 lbs a few years ago, BUT she gave up food and transferred her addiction to alcohol. She still eats lots of sugary foods and counts fat content, which doesn't work for me...I'm happy she lost weight, but sad that she doesn't support me and that she continues to drink.

SpecialK, I have the band and I am having it removed due to complications. I seen my dietician and asked her what the differece was with feeling full with the band and feeling full with the sleeve. She explained to me that once the hunger hormone (Ghrelin) is removed then I will feel less hungery all the time and I won't have those dramatic peaks of starvation. I will also not get that chest pain anymore. The sleeve has no device to make things get stuck to feel that pain. You will just feel "normal" with the sleeve since it operates like a regular stomach. The best thing I like is I won't be able to eat more and drink with my meals (you are NOT supposed to do this with the band anyway) bad me..., so with the sleeve if you try to eat too much or drink with it you will end up in pain and throwing up..I do not want that. There is no other part of your stomach to force food into with the sleeve like it is with the band. I do not drink with my meals anymore now, so that is a wonderful thing for me and it was hard for me to train myself to do. I don't even allow a drink on the table when I am eating. I make sure my hubby keeps his close to him and not near my side where I could just pick it up unconsciously and drink it. If you are having problems with head hunger...don't beat yourself up about it. You need to work hard with your counselor and try getting a book called "The Food & Feelings workbook" It is very good and I used it and am using it to help battle my addiction. Also joining groups for food addicts can be very helpful for some. The reason we are all obese or morbidly obese is because we didn't or couldn't control how much we ate. I have never seen a obese person eat 2-3 oz at each meal, exercise 4-5 days a week and say I don't know why I am not thin. If we could control how much we ate we wouldn't need surgery as a tool to help us out. Head hunger won't go away overnight and you will have to work on this addiction for life, as well as any alcoholic or drug addict works on their addiction and staying clean life long. You can still get surgery, but don't expect the surgical TOOL to work if you are not doing your part. I just feel you can keep working on this one day at a time, but you must be committed. That is also why they have surgical support groups. People don't cure their head hunger and get surgery, though that would always be best. But in reality, it isn't like that 95% of the time. We need a tool to help us along. You can make the band work for you if you want to. But it will mean working hard with getting counseling, exercise, going to support groups, and taking it one day at a time. If your band is causing you pain in your chest, first try and eat smaller bites and chew very well. If this doesn't work then maybe you need a slight unfill. Sometimes just .2 cc's is enough to help. Good luck with your weight loss journey whether you keep your band or get another surgery.

Im sorry to hear that hope all gets better. Thats exactly why I dont understand people when they say my doctor said not to drink soda but can I. He said to not drink alcohol can I? He said not to do this or that can I? If he said not to do it then dont test your band. Its for a reason people. No one realizes also when you over eat you are forcing the band into the wall of the stomach which equals erosion. If he tells you drink decaf then do it. I dont miss coffee, alcohol, or soda. You have to learn its not about what you want but what is best for you. We all need to take a lesson from this and do what the doctor says to do and not ask everyone if its okay to do this or that when your doctor told you not tooooooooooooooo

Sorry for you. Hard lesson to learn. I hear that alcohol absorbs faster through the smaller stomach. Which also means closer to alcohol posioning (non doctor opinion). Drink plenty of water to help fllush your system. Try eating some low sodium crackers. Hope it helps. Time is the great healer. Best Wishes!

I waited a few months to have alcohol, and the first time it did hit me fast and hard then I was sobered up quickly. As the months have progressed, I can easily drink, catch and maintain a good buzz. I was advised to stick with white wine first, or vodka and some sort of juice. I drank wine, and still stick with wine for the most part. An occasional mojito, and my fave is rum/cokes when I'm out on the town. My tolerance is now back to how it was pre-op. I can't remember when I had coffee, but it was around 2-3 months out. Today, I drink 20-24oz of coffee sweetened with Splenda, and full fat creamer every morning. I recommend testing the waters with alcohol at home first to avoid an embarrassing situation out in public. Sip, sip, sip is my advice for the first time. I have found that creamy, rich drinks like white russians/mudslides kind of make me queasy, and not feel so great. So, I'm sticking to the light liquors, and wines.

I was given coffee in the hospital on day 2. I have had my usual mug of coffee every day since, with no problem. I did wait a couple months for alcohol.

I was sleeved one week ago today on Sept 1st and have had coffee every single day since - although I switched to Decaf coffee. In fact I was given decaf coffee in the hospital even. My nutrionist counts it as part of my daily Fluid intake so long as it is decaf and anything added to it is either sugar free or fat free and limit it to 2 cups per day. But really I prefer mine black anyways. In fact when I went for my first appt with the nutrionist and we were going over my list of can and can't haves coffee was not listed and I specifically asked her about it. Truthfully there was nothing on the can't have list I couldn't live without but I was upfront and told her there was no way I would give up coffee. Over the last two years prior to surgery I had given up white carbs, Desserts, cigarettes, candy, soda, alcohol (except for special occassions) and fried foods. There was simply no way I was giving up my coffee because I was having surgery to be healthy, not be deprived of every single thing I enjoyed and she agreed. She even pointed out studies that show regular coffee drinkers, regardless of whether it regular or decaf have lower rates of colon cancer. My stomach tolerates it no differently than before surgery - thank god! Cause I LOVE the stuff! However she told me no alcohol until 4 months after surgery

White carbs are to an overweight person as alcohol is to an alcoholic. We all struggle to stay away from them but try or you may open Pandora's Box. Lose the weight first and get into good habits before you start eating pasta and bread.