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I've had pancreatitis (in 1995) and it was PAINFUL. Whenever a nurse asks me to rate my pain from 1-10, I never use a 10 cuz that ones saved for pancreatitis! Hang in there. I think I got a popsicle on day 4. I was out and feeling great day 6. Dr gave me 6 weeks off work but was feeling fine and went back after 2 weeks (nurse) Pancreatitis is so rare for non-alcoholics. I'd had a procedure the day before to retrieve stones from my bile duct and the dye irriatated my pancreas causing it. ugh. it's so painful. I remember lying on the gurney in the ER literally hanging out the side of it crying/begging for pain meds. They couldn't give me anything till my labs came back. Ass oon as it was confirmed, you betcha I got some meds in my IV!! Good luck!

I gotta second Quest Protein bars They have 20 grams of protein 170-200 calories 17-19 grams of Fiber and around 4-6 non-fiber, non-sugar alcohol carbs. Some flavors have a few sugar alcohols and some don't.. I am VERY sensitive to sugar alcohols in sugar free candy (like a few werther's originals send me to the bathroom for an hour) but the sugar alcohols in the quest bars don't affect me.. I think they're from a different source. And they're wheat/gluten free. The power Crunch bars look GOOD and are fairly low in sugar but I stick with Quest because I can't have wheat

My nutritionalist says alcohol, carbonated or surgary beverages, and caffeinated beverages are a forever no no....

I am 6 months out and still don't drink alcohol. I first wanted to wait till my stomach was really healed. I still take carafate every day and will for a couple more weeks. Alcohol can cause damage/ulcers to the new stomach. The sleeve is very fragile. Just wait till you are all done with most of your post-op meds. In my case, for 6 months. Looking forward to that first glass of wine.

I enjoy a glass of cold white wine a few times a week, it´s heavenly! I do stick to the low alcohol kind otherwise I get tipsy, and I also just have one glass. Before surgery I could easely drink 2 or 3 glasses.

Sorry I also forgot to add that many people who are postop are on narcotics and drinking alcohol is a major contradiction.

Thanks everyone! I ended up telling my two friends tonight that my sister was making me dinner and I would come meet them afterwards. I got there when they were done eating, I ordered a virgin, frozen, strawberry margarita and only had 1 or 2 sips. I really ordered it so they wouldn't think something was up and I told them I wasn't drinking alcohol tonight because I still wasn't feeling great (I had told people I was sick with a GI bug/flu during surgery and recovery). I hate all the lies, but I don't think it is really anyone's business either. They, of course, had chips and guac at the table and kept asking me if I wanted any. It was surprisingly easy to say no. When I got home I had some sugar free jell-o

Karen, I would advise against consuming alcohol for a couple reasons (at this stage). 1) right now your stomach is on the high acidic side. Making you prone to things like acid reflux and ulcers. Alcohol and caffeine alike increase acidity in the stomach and can predispose you to these complications. 2) I know you may feel like you don't have to watch calories, but these mindless liquid calories are not what your body needs right now. Protein is essential for recovery. Alcohol is a blood thinner and thus slows healing. It offers no nutritional value. and 3) Right now is the prime time to follow the rules, being diligent with healthful choices etc. You are establishing new habits and a foundation for the remainder of your banded life. Yes, alcohol can be consumed when you are banded. I would just advise against it until you are well established on solids for now.

I had surgery 4/9/13 and experienced gout attacks a few times since. I'm currently on cholchicine and it clears it up in a couple of days. Its very frustrating because im not ingesting anything i did before to bring on flare ups i.e. Fatty foods,alcohol,seafood. I did not realize that weight loss would have gout as a byproduct . Im going to go on allopurinol in a couple of weeks after the attacks subside and stay on it for about 6 months until my weight has stabilized. I'm down 80 lbs. Since February and life as a sleever has been uneventful aside from this gout issue. Currently dealing with this problem has disrupted my exercise program (c25k) otherwise I feel great!

I try really hard to see me at goal. Before surgery, when people who have already undergone weight loss surgery told me this is just as much mental as it is physical - I didn't not believe them, but I blew it off. Now that I'm a few days over four months out & 85.5 pounds down - I see myself as gross, probably now so even more than ever. I feel guilty eating things like low fat, low cal, low carb dressings because I feel like that was one of my issues before surgery (except that nothing before surgery was low fat, low cal, low carb). I'm 5'9" - I still have 70 pounds to go to get to my* goal weight of 170, my MD wants me at 152. I have a hard time seeing me at either of these goals. I think daily, is it really possible for me to get to either of these? I think for this reason, stalls trip me out because I want to continue losing. I still go to the store & buy clothes at pre-surgery size (3-4x) because my mind hasn't come to grips with my physical changes yet. I fit comfortably into L-XL shirts now. Hope goal is possible for me. Working hard everyday, and haven't cheated no bread, pasta, rice, fattening condiments, soft drinks, alcohol, fast food, nothing. I don't miss it really (except for alcohol lol) I am happy I'm seeing results, but am not yet where I want to be.

FWIW, you can also have great success even if you don't follow the guidelines that well! I'm rebellious and emotional and I make lousy food choices at least 40% of the time... But I can't binge. And I can't drink cold OJ in the AM. And alcohol now gives me heartburn. So I'm kinda forced into submission. And it's awesome!!!

Hi! I'm a food addict and trying to control that. Before, if I hadn't eaten, I probably would have been an alcoholic.....Chose food over booze. Now I'm trying to deal with that as I've added back more foods, but....have to be really careful. Luckily, I can't eat alot. Good luck everyone!!!

I was worried about cross-over addictions while I was researching as well. I do know a few people that had WLS and ended up dealing with alcohol problems. However, I quit drinking 5 years ago because I was uncomfortable with my drinking habits. When I made the decision to get the sleeve last Fall, I decided that I wasn't likely to have a crossover problem with alcohol, since I don't drink (and didn't plan to start). I was sleeved March 18th of this year, and I am very thankful that drinking is not on my option list these days. Can't go cold-turkey like that on food, unfortunately. Instead, you just really have to re-frame how you think about food - I try to look at it only as fuel, not as a pleasure thing.

Alcohol, carbonation, and caffeine are always hot button issues and surgeons are all over the map with patients instructions. Mine is a "consume what you can tolerate" guy. I consume all without any real issues, although carbonated beverages require sipping not drinking. I still take issue with the alcohol absorption theory because alcohol effects me no different now than before. With bypass patients I understand the argument but band patients don't have any rerouted plumbing and liquids or other sliders, consumed alone, should not have any change in digestion. I think a lot of people's indications regarding alcohol are anecdotal and perceived. I've seen a lot of non banded friends "think" or "feel" intoxicated just because they know something contains alcohol. If you believe alcohol will affect you differently your predisposed for it to. The real issue for alcohol is it is clearly counterproductive to fat loss... At 7 calories per gram it is the second most dense calorie you can consume. Add sugars in some mixers and byproducts and it can be a bomb... If fat loss is the goal, keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Brad

There really is no way to avoid the stalls. Your body will have to adjust at times. As for getting all of your water in...I had a reusable water bottle, I would take a sharpie and every time I would refill I would make a tally mark on it until I had filled and drank 8 of them. You can take an alcohol wipe and the tally marks come off and you are ready for the next day. As for getting enough protein...it is really hard to get at least 60 grams in one day in the beginning by just eating....so I would buy protein shots at Walmart. They have some that has as many as 28 grams of protein in one shot. Get them really really cold, cause they don't taste the greatest...fruit punch was the least yucky to me. Now for counting calories and carbs and protein.....really the only thing I ever counted was protein. I got a free booklet from Atkins on line that told me the carbs and protein in everything. Once I got to 60 grams of protein for the day I would stop counting anything. I have never worried about how many carbs I ate or how many calories. As long as the scale kept moving down I didn't change anything. It worked for me! good luck to you!

Most in here have answered your questions very well. From my personal experience I love the weight loss my band has provided but at the same time it can be a pain in the ass. The constant tweaking to get to a good restriction almost always tempts people to get too tight with disastrous results. Let me list some things that annoy me about the band. 1) I can't drink liquids quickly. I can't tell you how much I would love to down a bottle of Water in a couple of gulps right now! Lol. 2) Can't go straight to bed after eating or it's very uncomfortable. 3) Veggies can go down slow and hurt sometimes. 4) Daily heartburn if I don't take Prilosec. 5) TIGHT DAYS...out of nowhere my band can tighten up like crazy...causes can be drinking alcohol, stress, exercise, dehydration, early in the morning. 6) LOOSE DAYS...sometimes I'm just loose and can eat more than normal and then I'm hungry. 7) Hunger. Yes. I get hungry. No I don't need a fill. If I get a fill I will be too tight and bad things will happen. 8) Fills can be annoying...I had to get over 20 adjustments to get good restriction. I currently have over 14cc in a 14cc band. 9) I can't sleep on my stomach. If I sleep on my stomach I get reflux. No I do not have a dilated pouch. 10) Sinus drainage wakes me up at night because the nasty Fluid pools in the back of my throat. Gross! This can wake me up choking and is quite disgusting. I'm sure operations like the sleeve has its own bag of nasty tricks but those are some that annoy me about this particular surgery and applies to me. Your mileage may vary. If I had the choice to make over again I would SERIOUSLY consider the sleeve. Would I get the band again? Yes. If I didn't think the sleeve was all people make it out to be after research then I'd get banded again. Getting lapband surgery because you think it is a 'gentle' surgery is a mistake. To anyone that thinks they don't want to get the sleeve or bypass because it's too invasive and they want a gentle surgery then you need to diet and exercise and stay away from a doctor with a knife completley. Surgery is surgery and there's no 'easy' way about it even with the lap band. Look at what a band does to a stomach after 5 years and it's not all daises and sunshine. Don't even get me started on erosion or a slip. Lapband surgery is SURGERY and alters your body. Don't choose it because you're scared of something else. That's not a good reason to make a decision in my opinion. Good reasons to choose lap band are that it's adjustable and you can control, to a point, the speed at which you lose weight. You can usually opt for sleeve or bypass if your band fails which is a plus. Anyway, I've listed reasons why it's a pain in the ass above, but you can still lose weight with it and that's what matters. Is it better than the sleeve? I don't know. All I can tell you is what I do know. Good luck with your choice.

Eh. Nothing has hurt my sleeve but diet coke. (A sip at that). Alcohol has not affected me any stronger.

when i was training i was so surprised about the number of relationship breakups when an alcoholic began recovery. not implying you are that, but that long term relationships are in balance and when a big perturbation happens sometimes the balance is irrevocably disturbed. nevertheless it does not mean that anyone needs to remain in their disease to keep the relationship. Guilt doesnt enter into it. you did what you had to do. I have been married for 35 years and my wife has never seen me at a good weight. I have no choice but to move forward, if it disrupts our relationship we will deal with that when it happens, but guilt is not an option. If I have to remain unhealthy to keep her, then that is a problem in itself. IMHO Alex

I was one of those, disgustingly, well built in shape women that I now have come to loathe. I would have a baby, and within months be back into a size 5. I also, abused my metabolism for years, living off of cigarettes, diet cokes and very little food. My ex-husband, even though he did drugs and was an abusive alcoholic, lifted weights and was very concious and picky about his physique (and mine). Anyway, fast forward past the divorce.. being broke with three kids and trying to conserve food so they would have enough.. and, basically 16 years of pain and tragedy, I got remarried.. got happy.. entered my 40's.. quit smoking and gained a TON of weight that I have, continually, been unsuccessful at getting rid of. I love to work out.. but, I also love food. I love to work out.. but, since I've gained this weight, working out is painful and disappointing... Anyway, my current husband had lap band surgery done a year and a half ago. He has lost 75 pounds, and although he struggles with getting stuck sometimes.. and missing his former enjoyment of food.. he wouldn't trade it. I thought if he had the surgery, then my eating habits would follow suit.. and I'd lose the weight as a by product of HIS surgery. It didn't work out that way. My surgery is scheduled for July 16! I'm pretty nervous.. but, I'm willing to make some sacrifices and do the work. I guess we'll see how it goes!

I'm done with alcohol. After surgery doc found a ulcer. I don't want any issues. I went to a bar/grill last weekend. I had a crystal light drink enhancer in my purse ordered water in a glass gave it a shot of enhancer for color. Lol. I had fun, felt great the weird part was when the guys wanted to buy me a drink... I had to say I want a water. Lol

Hello my BFF's, I've missed you all. I just got done catching up on everyone. So much has happened, it seems like I've been gone forever. I had a very good time. The weather was iffy, but did have sometime around pool and the beach. The food was excellent. Dave was very good at making sure I was comfortable and happy (not really like him), lol. Iactually got him to wear a wedding band after 40+yrs. We went into the Harley store in Pensacola and they had a gold mens band with a Harley logo etch in the center, with a small diamond on each side. It was on sale and he really liked it, so I bought it for him. I quess we're officially a couple now, lmao. The airports killed my knee's, especially when we practically had to run to catch connecting flight in Atlanta. I know it was a good mile between planes. We just made it. ATLANTA AIRPORT IS A ZOO!!!! Got home to a flood garden, again. Had to wade threw the ick and rescue plants, again. The Water was up to my ass. Rained all day yesterday and I had to go out and rescue the rest of the plants I thought were safe. All this did not help my knee's either. The weather called for more rain today, but so far, so good. The tide in garden has gone down almost a foot. Calling for rain until July4th and I keep praying for mercy. Today is Maddy's Independence Day, she left the NICU 12 yrs ago today after spending her first 10mths there. She laughed all the way out the door and the drive home. Terri, I hope you have a nice time on the coast. Carole, Glad the foot is ok. The granite sounds amazing. Yeah for the scale. Continuing good thoughts on the barium test. Dawn, Have a good time with Brad and kids. Prayers for safe travel. Mini, So sorry about your pain. I was wondering about Shingles???? Hope they get tothe bottom of it and find you relief. Also hoping for relief from the unbearable heatwave you and Nicole are facing. Dee, So proud of who you are!!!!! Next time you take that test, please ask for prayers.... Glad you are having a wonderful time with the kids. Hugs, angel! Diane, Hang in there GF. One day you will be on the beach with your hub. Anyone who is as dedicated as you, will be blessed. Nicole, I hope things are going well.I'm sure you are exhausted returning back to the work force, after a major life change. Oh, I forgot, congratulations Mini on the 6 lbs down. You rock! Dawn, you do not take after your c mom when it comes to drinking. The only alcohol that can knock my socks off, is Vodka and I stay way far away from it. Jagermeister- I can drink anyone under the table on, no effect at all. I did have a couple Long Island Ice Tea's this trip, thought it was made with ice tea, NOT. Vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, sweet and sour mix and a splash of coke (what, coke?????), very, very little coke. No effect. Stomach made of steel, that only stress can get to, go figure.lol

Happy Independence Day to all my American followers! Ah, another holiday brimming with awesome BBQs, cold beer and delectable desserts. A regular fat ass nightmare. And it's on a Thursday. Which means 4 days of ducking and dodging hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and ice cream. Not to mention Al. C. Hall. (That's alcohol for you new readers.) He's always the first to be invited to every party. After all, a party without Al is really more of a church meeting. I will have to be extra cautious this week. We can't have Johnny taking a dive off the food truck. (That's the fat ass version of the wagon.) Today's rant answers the "when did you know" question. I have touched on this in the past, but maybe you're ready for a clearer understanding. For years now, I have been asked "when did you first notice you were over weight"? It's on every medical history you fill out for any doctor and always asked by the over-active metabolism crowd. Here's my best answer. Had I the capacity of cognitive thinking, I would have noticed at age 6 months or so when mom had to move me in to the "chubby baby" size diapers. Unfortunately I was too distracted at the time by the creepy stuffed bear that kept staring at me and that horrendous mobile thing constantly twirling above my head playing the same song over and over again. I was too traumatized to realize I was busting out of my skinny diapers. If only I could have read the "New Chubby Baby Size" blurb on the diaper box. Who knows? Maybe I would have started on low cal Gerber's. In blissful denial, I moved into my early childhood. We all know I had to wear man size cub scout pants with three feet cut off the legs. And yes, we know I was further traumatized when my ass knocked over the stacked milk cartons in grammar school. I talked about those incidents in earlier posts. But there were other signs that my blissful denial refused to let me see. As I grew older (and wider), I used to try on shirts with the "HUSKY" tag on the sleeve. I always got mad when they took the that tag off. I thought it was a cool logo. Like the alligator or the swoosh. I could never fit in the shirts with the little penguin. I should have known then I had an issue. Another sign I should have picked up on was my inability to comfortably fit in the normal child desk provided to me by my school. Remember the desk with the attached chair with the top that hinged open forward? Every other kid had no problem lifting that lid and getting to their books and supplies. My expanding ass and belly prevented me from using this desk as designed. I had to carefully slide off the chair, open the lid and then carefully slide back in. In hindsight, I think I should have took the hint. There were other signs that I ignored along my pudgy path. One of the last glowing signs I remember came when I went to join the pee wee football league. I showed up at the designated time with all the proper paperwork and was ready to start my football career. Unfortunately, there was a weigh in and I failed. I was rejected by the pee wee football team because I was too "husky". WTF? How can a guy be too fat to play football? Bottom line is they were afraid I would smush the little kids when I jumped on the tackle pile. I ended up playing for a fat ass kid's league three towns over. Another hint missed. I didn't just wake up one day and discover I had an elephant size ass and a hippo's stomach. I've know since my bottle sucking days that I was well above average in the girth department. Obviously I should have started getting serious about weight loss then. I may have been able to avoid going to Uncle Vito's Big & Tall for my prom tuxedo. See ya soon. P.S My official Fitbit scale says I have dropped 35 pounds of blubber since April 9th. 50 more to go. Reprinted from my blog. Stop on by for a chuckle. http://thedeconstruc...y.blogspot.com/

It's so weird the differences in doctors. I'm not sure about alcohol as I haven't asked- not a big drinker anyway. My NUT says no sodas ever again and yet my surgeon told me when I'm 2-3 months out he doesn't mind as long as there is no caffeine and it's Diet. I mean they work in the same practice and yet have varying rules!

My Dr said to kiss soda and alcohol good bye forever. He won't support it. Even after the first year. LOL

Nice - I will check those out too. My dentist was pushing the xylitol products, which I hadn't realized were a sugar alcohol, because they are supposedly good for teeth, but holy cow, I was pretty sure i was going to die after adding some of that to my coffee too! I actually cried I was in so much pain. Just say no!