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You are asking us to tell you if it's worth it, I think all of us post-op will resoundingly say, yes, it was worth it for us. The questions you might actually be asking yourself is Are you ready? The things you are worrying about are really minor when compared to the more energy, the better health, the longer life you might live because of the surgery, in my opinion. Also, I don't want to sound like a negative nelly, but it sounds like your worries may be hiding some deeper issues for you. Have you talked to your Psychiatrist about these fears? For many of us, it's an 'easy' road, but there are those out there also who have suffered complications, and their journey is different, and more difficult. The truth is, eventually you will be able to eat your favorite foods again, you will be able to drink alcohol, and if you want, you can drink while you eat. The other half of that coin is our favorite foods probably contributed to how we got to where we needed surgery in the first place, alcohol is a lot of empty calories, and sadly some people find it too easy to trade their food addiction for alcoholism, and drinking while you eat fills you up faster, makes your food digest faster, so you are hungrier sooner, and can make you really uncomfortable, and possible cause you to vomit. Having the sleeve is not like a magic pill. It doesn't make you skinny automatically, it is a great tool for encouraging you to make better choices, but if you're afraid of those better choices before you get the tool, you might not know how to use it once you get it, and that could make you more miserable. I don't think anyone can answer for you if it's worth it, because only you know yourself, but do be sure that you know yourself enough to know you are ready and can face the challenges, because this is a change for the rest of your life, it's not reversable, and yes, you will have to make sacrifices. I hope you can do some soul searching. Good luck on whatever you decide.

I made the decision to get sleeved in January, but the sooner the surgery is getting, the more I'm having doubts! I was so confident in my decision that now all I can think about is things I'll be missing. Like all my favorite foods & alcohol, and not being able to drink with my meal. Are these just simple pleasures I can give up? How did everyone else deal with it? I just want to know if its worth all of that, I'm confused if its my "fatness" coming out thinking of these things... I've been heavy my entire life so I really don't know any different. Is it worth it?

I made the decision to get sleeved in January, but the sooner the surgery is getting, the more I'm having doubts! I was so confident in my decision that now all I can think about is things I'll be missing. Like all my favorite foods & alcohol, and not being able to drink with my meal. Are these just simple pleasures I can give up? How did everyone else deal with it? I just want to know if its worth all of that, I'm confused if its my "fatness" coming out thinking of these things... I've been heavy my entire life so I really don't know any different. Is it worth it?

So My Pre Op Appointment is only a couple of weeks away and I have been winging myself off of certain foods and drinks. I quit soda, alcohol, and now just stopped drinking coffee and that's a big one for me. I am trying to stay focused but some days I just want something sweet and don't know how to fight the craving. I was just wondering how you all fight the craving and stay on track or what substitutes you use? Need some motivation and support, please share.

WOW this hit home with me in a BIG way. In a revelation kind of way. I come from an abusive, broken, dysfunctional family with generations of alcoholism and drug abuse. I am not a drinker nor a drug addict, and I've always elevated myself in a small way, giving myself a pat on the back for staying clean and not becoming an addict like the rest of my family. But I did. food was my solution, and it worked for the last 10 years. Thank you for the eye-opener. Whatever I next "cope" with i hope it's something positive like exercise. (sorry I know this is the man room ( though man-cave would have been a better name for this section!) but lets not kid ourselves, we all read the others' threads!)

03/08/2013 Hi, I haven't don't have any formal training on the subject or had surgery but just thinking about it food it is most likely alot of over weight peoples drug of choice. Then when taken away, even voluntarily, if we are unaware we may turn to other drugs to take the place of food. Be it alcohol, cigarettes, or what have you. Alot of us who are over weight are addicted to food. It would be like we had a bad day so we had a bowl of ice cream and it made us feel better. So we do that every time we are stressed. Then anytime there is even a little stress we look for the food to make us feel better. So eventually that one little bowl of ice cream now is 10 big bowls of ice cream. Even though we get fatter and fatter, doesn't make us feel better, or even taste good most of the time we still do it because we have become addicted. We have lost control. Its probably not that simple but, after surgery and if we are unaware and become stressed we may try to replace that food addiction with another addiction because we can't have the food, (our drug of choice), any longer. I am certain that is why we are told that WLS is one of many tools to help us finally lose the weight and keep it off. Sincerily, Searching

Dumping also passes pretty quickly. If you're still feeling bad today I'm thinking its because of the alcohol dehydration. Drink plenty of water today. More than usual.

I'm thinking it is because f the dehydration alcohol causes more than it being dumping. From my experience dumping is pretty sudden and almost as soon as I ingest the sugar and it hits my tummy.

I know so many of you will be able to relate, so please sing along if you know the words! It still amazes me how powerful things that happen in childhood can be. In my case as in so many others', there was no safety from fat criticism at home. In fact, my worst critic was there every night: my mother. My Dad came from a family of alcoholic men and settled in to be one himself. He was also fat, as was my older brother. My younger sisters took after my former-ballerina mother. Mom didn't criticize Dad's drinking in front of us, but his weight? Oh, yeah, that was fair game. Dad and my brother (affectionately known as Doc) and I were all geeky and book-oriented. Rather than running around the yard playing tag, I wanted to read books inside. My first gym teacher was apoplectic at my utter lack of love for sports and running. Mom didn't care so much about that - she still tells the story of how she utterly destroyed the teacher when the teacher called to complain that I didn't know how to skip - but she did care very much about my weight. I don't want to talk yet in-depth about what she said. The post would need a trigger warning if I did. We all know the words, anyway. Years later, I am so very unwilling to tell my family about what I'm doing. Every time I have taken initiative on a health decision, my family has found a way to credit someone else with telling me to do it. My brother-in-law got banded last October, and I know for sure that if I tell my family what I'm considering they'll have two reactions at once: Tell me I'm utterly insane for mutilating myself and also (in the same conversation) it's a good thing I'm FINALLY getting a brain, because W. looks so much better now and I should have done this years ago. I can't tell my sisters, because they'll run straight to Mom. I can't tell my brother, because he lives with Mom while he's looking for work. (These are the brothers and sisters who had an actual, sit-down-and-come-to-Jesus intervention with me when I said I was going to move to Minnesota. Good thing I don't drink or do drugs.) It hurts that I cannot rely on any support from my blood family. It hurts more than I can say. My friends and loves are totally behind me and supportive. Why can't my family be?

transfer addiction.....we have addictive personalities.....some transfer to shopping,sex,alcohol....even exercise....it's to know this we can all aware

My doc told me that I would have to be careful with drinking alcohol because I would get drunk much faster now due to the VSG but that was it.

Has anyone done any reasearch or spoken to their Dr. on why bariatric patients may be more likely to have alcohol issues? I have alcoholism in the family... And it kind if scares me to hear that. Is it it just the replacement of a food addiction with something else perhaps?

I drank a whole bottle of wine yesterday over the course of several hours and right before I was about to go to bed I had loose stools. I'm 5 months post op and was playing video games and this was my first time drinking this much but yup I was off and on the toilet all night and this morning. Alcohol did that to me before surgery but it usually didn't happen until the morning. I learned my lesson and plus I didn't eat while I was drinking and I'm sure that made it worse. I don't consider it dumping though.

So, you're going to have weight loss surgery. If you've never had surgery, the experience might be a bit more traumatic than it was for those of us who've had multiple surgeries of varying types. Here's what to expect:Usually, the first thing is the IV. The IV tech will start a line with saline, to insure you're hydrated and there's a vehicle, so to speak to carry the drugs you'll be given before, during and after your surgery. It doesn't really hurt...I've had them in the back of the hand and inside the elbow. Each bag of saline is about a liter (over two pounds) and this weight will show on your scale for some time. Don't freak out about this... Usually the anesthesiologist will come in and introduce themselves, ask some questions and tell you what they're going to do in the OR. This person is fully responsible for keeping you alive during surgery. They ventilate you, regulate your BP; this is the most important person to you in the OR.The surgeon usually comes by too, to reassure you, ask a few questions, before going into the OR. Once you go to OR, they'll usually have you scoot onto the table off the gurney, make sure your comfortable and then proceed with anesthesia. First, you'll be given 100% oxygen and told to take some deep breaths. Take as deep of breaths as you can, since this O2 is what sustains you while being intubated. Once you've taken the breaths, you get another drug to make you "sleep" followed by a drug that basically paralyzes your abdominal and breathing muscles (pretty much all muscles, but the heart). You'll quickly be intubated and put on a ventilator for life support. The entire process is completed in less than a minute. When you wake up, you'll be very groggy, want to go back to sleep and you may be uncomfortable. Tell the recovery nurse if you're hurting. You might be nauseous from anesthesia. Tell the nurse. Anti nausea drugs can be given thru the IV. After your vitals are stable and you're alert, you'll go to another room to recover. Sometimes, if you're doing great or if your hospital has this protocol, you'll be discharged straight from the day surgery recovery without being moved to a room. For the trip home, you should have loose fitting pajama bottoms, a warm top, robe or sweatshirt, socks and slippers. You'll also want a pillow to put under the seatbelt in the car. You'll want a barf bag too, just in case for a day or two. Once home, you'll be most comfortable in a recliner, though I slept in my bed the first night, on my side facing the edge of the bed. Practice getting in and out of bed without using your abs before surgery. It will hurt, it won't kill you. I've had open abdominal surgery and lap surgery, while still painful, cannot hold a candle to open abdominal surgery. You will live. To get up do the following: Roll onto your side Use your elbow to push upHave someone rotate your legs and feet to floor Push off with your hand to get fully upright...wait a minute to make sure you're not dizzy Stand with assistance. Wait a minute to ensure you're not going to faint. Reverse to get into bed. Always, for the first couple of days, have someone with you whenever you get up or down and while walking. I cannot emphasize enough that your discharge orders and doctor's diet, hydration and exercise orders should be followed EXACTLY. If you have a question, call your doctor. Don't post here. If you get a fever or can't drink water at all, call your doctor immediately. Nausea should subside within 8-24 hours. If it doesn't and you need a medication for it, call your doctor. Do not post here until after you've called the doctor and please state that you have called so we don't all tell you to call your doctor. Another thing...definitions: Clear liquid means you can see through it Full liquid is things like runny cream of wheat, puréed cream soups, protein shakes. NO LUMPS. Mushies or Purees is the consistency of baby food. No chunks., no lumps. Smooth is your friend. As you progress to solids, remember that babies don't go from puréed baby food to a NY steak in one day. Hopefully you practiced your new eating habits for a couple of months pre op to establish them as your new lifestyle. Transitioning from purees to solids is a gradual thing. Add a little finely ground turkey to a puréed food at first. Add ONE new food per day. After you tolerate ground meat, poached eggs, tuna salad, egg salad, etc, you can try cutting your food into 1/4" pieces and chewing 15-25 times per bite. Initially you won't get many calories in...500-700 calories, focusing on protein. You'll gradually get up to 900-1000 or more depending on your needs, per your nutritionist or doctor. Drink your water as directed too.The first weeks post op aren't for losing weight. You might not lose anything, but most people will lose the IV weight and a pound or two a week. Once you're on solids, your weight will go up a pound or two...filling the intestinal pipeline . This is normal. Fills are not the goal with the band...they are another tool to use when your weight loss levels out and/or you're hungry less than 4 hours after eating a meal of 1/2 cup to 1 cup of dense protein and low glycemic veggies/fruits. Go easy on the fills. Being over tight is the #1 identifiable cause of band erosion and slips.Many with the band are so focused on getting fills, they don't realize until they have a little unfill, that their band can work better with less fill. You can go out to eat with your band. Sharing works great. I ask for a small plate and put my food onto it immediately. I cut up everything before taking a bite. I eat very slowly and if my companion is having a glass of wine, I'll have one too, to sip as I eat. I don't do this at home, most of the time. Alcohol was not permitted for 3 months post op by my doctor. You'll get a little more tipsy on less due to abstaining for months. Your band has no affect on alcohol absorption. You probably shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, ever, band or not. I hope this is informative and helpful!

I am in the same boat you are in. So glad you posted, as there are not many frequent posts on this topic, although I am finding out that cross-over addictions are extremely common after bariatric surgeries---one person mentioned as many as 80% have this post op!! I, too, formed a cross-over addiction to wine. It started roughly 3-6months after my surgery and I am 1 year post-op. I believe I always "abused" alcohol, but it really escalated when using food, etc. was no longer something I could turn to as a coping mechanism. I hit my rock bottom, and am now actively trying to reach sobriety. I find that isolating is my downfall, and people in the recovery community are so caring and generous if you reach out. I had a terrible day yesterday and reached out to people. I had a tremendous response which was a lifesaver. I am finding however, that no matter how common this link is between VSG/etc. and cross-over addictions (which I hear over and over,,,), I still can't seem to find specific people experiencing it that I can talk to for support. So would love to chat with you if you are interested. We could discuss by phone or email if you like. A fellow VSGer in recovery!

I just walked in the house and the first thing that crossed my mind was head to the kitchen and decide what to have for supper. I stopped myself and said why are you going to the kitchen your not hungry it's just what you are used to doing. Much like spending 10 minutes looking for your cigarettes then realizing you haven't bought a pack in 2 weeks because your quitting. I have been fat all my life, I have smoked since I was 11 that's 35 years. I have abused alcohol and or other drugs from the age of 14-35. Today was the first time I realized to change these behaviors all require the same things. Not only do you have to change the behavior you must change the vicious cycle that got you there in the first place. Such as not making food so important. Knowing that difference between wanting something and needing something. Well I don't know if this is the right forum for this and don't know if this qualifies as a success but it is a success to me. Just in case here are my successes I was banded on 1/21/13 and have lost 17 lbs. I have not bought a pack of cigarettes since Feb. 11th. I was bumming one here and there but have not touched one in over a week.

I have a glass of wine about every 2-3 weeks. I have had a few beers as well, but the bottled or can beers have way too much carbonation for my tummy, so the draft beer is a little easier to drink as it tends to have a little less carbonation. Just keep in mind that many sleevers tend to become a little addicted to alcohol after surgery, and there's also the whole "empty calories" thing.

I get it hehehe 3000 calories does seem forever ago, I know I could probably get near there nowadays but it would incredibly hard and include alot of alcohol...but i would sick as a dog for the next few days...errr no thanks.

I was told no carbonated drinks what so ever but I can drink alcohol in moderation. So I'm anticipating that I'll drink wine and other mixed beverages that are carbonation free. I love my wine!

Much of Carnie Wilson's weight re-gain after her bypass had to do with her being an alcoholic. She was drinking a bottle of wine a day. Some people have addictive personalities. It may be genetic. Her father has dealt with substance abuse problems and mental illness his whole life.

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.

I am so excited that my three month diet monitoring is completed I have an appointment with my doctor on monday and after that they will submit my information to my insurance then the wait for insurance approval I am hoping a praying that I get it because I have worked my butt off so far and I have never been more determined to loose this weight. I have quit smoking, stopped drinking soda, quit drinking alcohol, started exercising 3-4 days a week and started a whole new eating regimen. Being diagnosed with sleep apnea 2 months ago has really snapped me into reality. I can't wait until I am an official "bandster" even though I already feel like I am

Hello moonlightdreamer and welcome! Let me start by saying that you are not alone. I know that I have had an unhealthy relationship with food for the past decade and actually found that it stemmed from my coping with my moms alcoholism. It didn't affect me until I became a mother. I made a promise to myself that I wouldnt drink or become an alcoholic; I didn't realize that I was actually turning into a foodaholic! Like you, it wasn't until I was confident with my progress in therapy that I decided to move forward with the surgery. In the past my weight has fluctuated between 80-100 lbs each year! Eek! I was banded two days ago and I am excited for this journey! I commend you on seeking this tool for your journey as well. You have made a major decision that will dramatically change your life for the better. Keep us posted! Good luck on your journey! -Cozy:)

Drinking does not make you a so called "bad person"...but it does bring into question if you are ready to make the commitments necessary for successful weight loss with a band. No doubt some of your behaviors are precipitated by stress related to the scheduled surgery...now is a great time to begin to identify alternative coping skills to manage stress in your life. The empty calories of alcohol will only sabotage your efforts to loose weight if used excessively. Don't call yourself names...you deserve better than that...the power of positive thinking does wonders. Best wishes for a successful journey...

Alcohol hits me much faster, and I can go from what feels like "OK" to being "plastered" in a half a drink. If I have two drinks over several hours, I am OK. A third drink is too much for me. The line between OK and too much happens very quickly. If you are going to a bar, talk to the bartender and request that you don't get drinks brought to you if someone buys a round. Most bars have free-drink chips you can get instead. I found that I would drink 1 drink for every 3 drinks others with me would have. Most of the time, my first drink will get warm before I can finish it. If I was with a group that buys rounds, I would have a stack of unfinished drinks quickly if I didn't say something to the bartender. I also mixed up my drinks. I really like getting a glass of Water with a shot of cranberry juice in it (no alcohol). It looks like a mixed drink, so I don't get harassed for being a stick in the mud, and it helps me control what I'm drinking. Another option is tomato juice, which most bars have or a virgin bloody mary. I started with a low-calorie beer. I had Bud Select 55. I couldn't drink more than two my first time I tried. I think I actually had 3 beers, but I didn't finish the first two before they became warm. Most of the people with me probably had 8 to 10 beers in the time it took me to drink two. I've found mixed drinks hit me harder in part because I can't control how much a "shot" is, and it varies between bartenders. I don't drink shots.