Search the Community

I just had my surgery on 7/25. My brother is getting married in Colorado (in the mountains about 5 hours away from Denver and civilization) on 8/10. I'm supposed to fly up there on the 8th and I've got this horrible internal battle going on over whether or not I should go. My whole family says it's ok if I don't feel up to it, but I'd feel guilty and sad if I didn't go. At the same time, I'm still dealing with pain in my incisions, some pretty foul smelling gas, and I'm an emotional wreck. I don't want to get up there and ruin everything because I can't hardly do anything for myself and I get very irritable very easily. Just the thought of traveling and airports stresses me out right now, which sucks because I usually love flying and traveling. Not to mention the struggles of still being on a liquid/puréed diet at a wedding. No dinner, no cake, no alcohol. Sounds pretty miserable. I'm just so torn. It feels like a bad idea to go, like everything added together equals disaster. But, it is my brother's wedding. I don't want to miss it. I've made it to all my other brothers' weddings (five weddings total, including this brother's first wedding and my baby bro's who had it in Hawaii) and I would just feel sooo guilty if I didn't make it. Anybody have any advice? Sorry about the rambling of this post, it kinda reflects my brain right now.

Well, it's not just the beer but the carbonation from the beer. If you read through these threads you'll see where people no longer drink carbonated beverages. I believe it is because your pouch can become displayed. An occasional beer I guess could be OK but ask your doctor for sure. I have an occasional alcoholic beverage myself. I don't do it often however but I'm not a beer drinker.

I just had my band surgery on Tuesday and according to my doctor you don't want a lot of alcohol in your system. It could make your band become erosion and slip. The occasional drink I don't think will hurt but its not something if your out with friends u don't want to drink one after another. Bc it could cause u to throw up and therefore if that happens your stoma is swollen above your band and you won't get anything down for at least 12 hours so then you will be stuck on a liquid diet for 12 hours until ur stoma shrinks back down below the band. If you can have a good time without the alcohol then I say to avoid it. But on a special occasion I don't think one would hurt you.

I think a better question than can I get the band is should you get the band. Things to think about... 1) Alcoholic drinks are empty liquid calories. You have to be cautious in deducting these calories from your overall daily allotment. However, remember, with the demands of getting high Protein in each day, this can quickly become a problem is a large portion of calories is coming from alchohol 2) Some alcohol may cause increase gas, beer is the #1 culprit. It's like other carbonated beverage (sodas etc) that can result in discomfort and if not exercised with caution can result in band slips 3) Also, some people experience GERD/reflux issues with band. Alcohol is a culprit for increasing stomach acidity. This can result in increased symptoms/ulcers etc I think most bansters would say that yes you can have an occasional glass. But if you are planning on frequent drinks or back to back nights out etc than the band may not be as effective as you would like it to be.

I was wondering if anyone out there knew if that affects if you can get the Lap Band, I like to drink, by all means I'm not an alcoholic. I do enjoy drinking beer. I'm just concerned about not being able to get the lap band because of drinking.... thanks everyone

Believe it or not all of these have one thing in common! I was banded 7/11 so 23 days ago.. since day 5 post surgery I have been able to burp (thank goodness because when my stomach is empty, I burp, a lot..) I am really not a big fan of hard alcohol or wine. I enjoy a beer or two every once in a blue moon, have read several previous threads with mixed responses and a lot of them warn against beer due to carbonation, but if I am able to burp without any problem does that make it different? Oh only have 5 oz in my band if that makes any difference... dr said ok but expect swelling but surgeons heavily warn against any alcohol due to erosion potential

I was banded 10/25/10 & while it hasn't been a totally straight down the scale journey & having lost 107lbs I still need to lose about 25lbs more I am the type to tell everyone. The way I see it is they have seen me fail a million times at weight loss & if I failed even after surgery no one would be surprised LOL!! Also I personally feel if I treat it like a secret it makes me feel shameful about it. I come from a long line of addicts (alcohol or smoking) & even though no one really struggles with their weight I didn't want this process to be a secret. I wanted to take ownership & pride in my decision to try a bold step in my efforts to lose weight.

Yeah alcohol lol...

One shot of what? Alcohol? Not wise on any diet but no worse for sleeve, I'd have thought. I had wine pre 7 weeks without hassle. Heroin? Yes, of course it would be wrong. That stuff can kill you, not to mention the hazards of needle sharing. A semi automatic rifle? Would depend on what you're shooting at. Does it shoot back?

Quick update - After my third fill (October 2012) I got stuck with everything I ate (7.2 cc in 14 cc band). I toughed it out for a while but then had 0.3 cc removed in December and 0.5 cc removed in March. I gained about 8 pounds back during this time. I was eating a lot of potato chips since they did not get stuck. Last week I got filled back up to 7.2, stopped buying and eating the chips and the scale shows 3 pounds lower this morning! I'm hoping my time in the wilderness is over. At the first information session the doctor talked about the addictive nature of food and how some bandsters end up substituting one addiction for another, mentioning alcohol. I never thought I'd have a potato chip addiction! Cold turkey got me off it and now I don't go near them at the store for fear they will jump into my basket. Thanks for all your posts - they're very encouraging.

I hate to burst your bubble, but soda and carbonation are not allowed ever again. It can stretch your pouch. I feel for you, I really do. The #1 thing I find hardest to even think of giving up is soda. However, after all I've gone through to get to this point, I cannot for a second consider doing something that might undermine my surgery. So no soda for me. I've already incorporated a new drink into my daily regimen, and cut back my soda from 3-4 a day to 1. But what I'm going to do is continue to drink my favorite diet soda, after it's sat long enough for most of the fizz to be gone. I mean, come on ... first, I had to give up alcohol, then I had to give up cigarettes, now I have to give up candy and most/all desserts. It's sadistic to add soda to the list. But ... c'est la vie ... what will be, will be. Good luck to you.

Some of you know my story and others of you may be reading my blog for the first time. So I will summarize my pre-surgery eating habits so that you may understand the title for my entry. Before Hernia Repair and Lap Band surgery, I had a VERY limited diet. I was in pain when I was hungry and in pain when I ate. I also had a habit of regurgitating food in my sleep. Nausea, cramps, burning/stabbing pain all symptoms I was used to on a regular basis. Food getting stuck....yea that is an understatement. You name it I had it. Most foods agitated my condition, the list looking something like the following: carbonated/ caffeinated/alcoholic beverages, fruit, fruit juices (not even orange juice), products with tomato paste (spaghetti, lasagna, pizza, etc), raw vegetables, soup of the non creamy variety, cakes, pies, brownies, cookies, candy bars, and so forth. You are probably asking yourself the following: WHAT ON EARTH COULD YOU EAT? Well that's simple: starch mostly. Rice, pasta, bread, potato, oatmeal, ice cream, pudding, jello, mushy veggies, and most meats. My life was a daily chore of figuring out what food to eat that would cause me the lease amount of pain. Yes, I had meds but it was like taking sugar pills: no effect. Well, Life has changed for me in more ways than one since then. I sleep better, I experience no pain outside of hunger and the occasional gas/air dilemma (burping hiccupping etc). MOST IMPORTANTLY: I EAT WITH NO PAIN. For the first time in THREE years, I had a few bites of lasagna and a few bites of salad. Everything stayed down and hours later I was still pain free. My mom and I almost cried. These two food items alone would have caused me several hours of pain in my pre surgery days. It took this experience to show me just how SICK I've been for many years. What you EAT and DO NOT (OR IN MY CASE CAN NOT) EAT greatly effects how well your body operates. I feel better, I sleep better, and hopefully I will experience fewer illnesses in the future. I have a new lease on life because I am now able to eat a healthier diet. BUT it is still a struggle. I not only have to learn how to eat, I also have to retrain my mind not to fear pain when I eat. In many ways, It makes me feel like an outcast in most lap band groups. While many are fighting their way to portion control and healthy eating, I am fighting my way through fear and years of a non healthy but very restrictive diet. This is the true reason, I share all of my experiences. I know I cannot be the only one with this journey. It also the reason, why it is painful to me when others beat themselves up about eating food (healthy or junk wise). If you only knew what it was like to go so many years without being able to eat. It is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. Anyways, I am on my way to a better/ healthier life and I can't wait to see where it takes me. I wish the best to all of you. May your journey be one full of success and happiness.

Hi everyone I am 4 days in to the 2 week liver prep diet. My surgery is Aug 12th. My surgeon has me on 2or3 bars plus 2 bariatric advantage shakes plus 1 ba soy crisp then one small meal each day. It isn't hard at all to stick to for me. However....the gas and bloating is not fun. Is it just me or have any others had this problem too? I am using Quest bars with no sugar alcohols and then the Bariatric Advantage shakes and soy crisps. (The shakes are the worst.) I know I am ingesting a ton more protein and perhaps more fiber but this is ridiculous! At the end of the day I feel like the snoopy blimp! Anyone else have/had this problem? What did you do to help?

I was a huge diet soda and all types of carbonation fan. Honestly the only time I miss not being able to drink it is if I have a hankering for an alcoholic drink that has Persecco in it or a carbonated mixer. All I drink now is water and coffee and never imagined I'd be OK with that, but I am.

My date is 8/16 and I have been out of control. Not just eating but also drinking. I am hoping that I will be able to eat whatever I want in smaller quantities but I dont feel so optimistic. I have seen a ton of people saying that they cant eat pasta, bread, rice (all the things I love). I have also heard nothing good about alcohol consumption post surgery. I know that I am digging a bigger hole for myself to climb out of, but I will be climbing for the rest of my life since my stomach wont tolerate much food and I dont want to sabotage myself by feeling deprived. I know someone else that was recently sleeved and even though they are on the liquid only stage they are eating fried chicken, burgers and fries, and just chewing them well. She dieted to the day of surgery and said she is feeling super deprived. I dont want to be tempted to blow my new stomach out eating something crazy so Im just counting down and wishing the 16th would hurry up before I get any bigger.

I was able to get an appointment earlier. It was yesterday. Glad I was able to get in, I'm at stage 3 of 4 of non alcoholic liver cirrhosis. 80-90% of my liver is nonfunctional scar tissue. Nothing they can do but watch it till it falls all they way then transplant list. I'm in the hospital all day today for more tests.

I tell them I'm eating healthier, smaller portions, gave up drinking beer & all alcohol except wine. I also tell them that I'm in the gym at 5 am 4 days a week & have a personal trainer. All true, I just don't mention the surgery part because its personal.

Dear Sleevers, At this time I am faced with the huge decision of which surgery I should have, and I am about to loose my mind with all the research, advise and conflicting information from every doctor, nurse and medical professional that I talk to. I would love to hear from those of you who have already been thru this as to what you think I should do. This is my situation: I am a 45 yrs. old woman, I currently weigh 244 lbs, I have been a type 2 diabetic since I was 17, which I completely ignored most of my life while talking care of my Mom, who also had diabetes very bad and ultimately lost her life to complications from it 2 years ago, and my father , whom I lost last year was a double amputee and complete alcoholic, and my ex-husband, whom I took back in when he had a massive heart attack, then suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen before they could get CPR started on him. I changed his diapers, bathed him, fed him, comforted him and fought with him until I got almost completely down myself, then had to let him go to a home when I couldn't take care of him any longer. In the meantime, my health was paying the price of my neglecting it for so long. I currently have neuropathy in my feet so bad that I have no feeling in them at all and I have to wear braces because I can't lift up my toes to take a step, I have blood vessels bursting in my eyes all the time, requiring laser surgery, etc. just so I can see, and lastly, but most importantly, I have damage to my kidneys which will probably result in a transplant sometime in the future. This is the whole, entire reason for the bariatric surgery.. It is a last-ditch effort for my to save my kidneys. From what I have read and researched, these surgeries can halt, and sometimes reverse diabetes and kidney disease. What a miracle that would be! My questions is, which surgery would be best for my specific needs? My kidney doctor initially said unequivocally - the sleeve. He said if I had RNY, that they couldn't give me dialysis in my stomach and the transplant team preferred the sleeve, should I have to have a new kidney. Plus, I only needed to loose 80 lbs. or so. My goal is 160lbs. I was overjoyed with this news, because that is what I've wanted from the beginning. However, my diabetes doctor, and my entire weight loss center, including the surgeon, nurses, psychologist - say definitely RNY because it instantly "cures" the diabetes, therefor stopping any more damage instantly and they don't think I can loose enough weight with the sleeve to stop the diabetes. So then, I began calling my kidney doctor to get him to speak with my surgeon and ultimately decide which surgery they thought was best for me. (You see, I am sooo very afraid of the RNY due to the higher risks and complications). My kidney doctor finally told me that after further research, he thought either surgery would work if I had to have dialysis or a transplant in the future. So it is back to me to decide my fate. In your experienced opinions, do you think I can loose enough weight with the sleeve to stop my diabetes and save my kidneys? I have a very bad back (I've had 5 back surgeries from a wreck I had in 2000), but still, I am going to the gym and doing weight training 2 - 3 times per week, and I've finally got able to walk 1/2 mile on the treadmill the other 2 - 3 days per week. I am giving this my best shot. Any advise you have for me will be greatly appreciated! skcross

I've heard that about the sugar alcohols.

I asked my dr that and he said yes. The contradiction comes in on sweet things. Atkins markets those with net carbs as well but they count sugar alcohols or something similar. Those don't count. It's always carbs minus fiber.

Today I had my head shrunk. First I had to answer 150 t/f questions. They ask a lot of questions several times in different phrasing. Afterward I had to talk to the Dr. He went over my test results. There were several traits they were looking for in wls patients. Some of them were expected like support available, drug/alcohol abuse, depression. One kinda surprised me but they asked things like I accurately report my symptoms, I often blow things out of proportion, etc. The Dr explained that it was looking for is the patient a good fiancial risk. Was the pt going to go to Dr for every little thing, making mountains out of molehills etc. I guess it shouldn't surprise me that this all comes down to money.. I passed. In 2 wks I see the NUT and then submit for approval.

I am 2 months post op. I am sad to say I was craving coffee so bad yesterday and stopped to get me an iced latte at McDonalds with fat free milk and sugar free vanilla syrup. I felt so guilty for drinking caffeine (they didn't offer it in decaf). I don't smoke anymore (smoked for 17 years) don't drink pop or alcohol. Needed something to unwind from a stressful day at work. Now worried I will make that a bad habit!!

JanelB hi there i am a 2 fisted "water" drinker only!!! check w/your doc before you have anything you have alcohol as in many other things, all doctors have different opinions on when you should be allowed that first drink as you lose more and more weight, your tolerance should decrease you might get "drunk" or tipsy sooner than later good luck CHEERS kathy

Just remember everyone is different. Would you say this to an alcoholic??.. relax, Don't worry, you'll mess up one day...you'll binge again. To me a candy bar isn't just a candy bar. A drink isn't just a drink. A line of coke isn't just a line. It's ok that you are "lmao" at my trouble. I know we are all different. I was just asking how ppl prefer to eat their Protein bars.

I agree. I prefer the quest bars because they are low sugar and high Fiber. I am sure these are delicious but I ca't eat stuff with sugar alcohols in them.