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Thanks Sandi for the words of encouragement. I am right there with Poodles. Trying very, very hard to adhere to the pre-op diet and have made a few slips. I am scheduled to be banded on the 31st, 6 days away and I to am worried about postponement. My starting weight is 235 and I hope my liver will not be bothersome. I will be totally DEVASTATED if after all this time, dr. appoints., money, stress, and worry if I will not be banded. I also do not find comfort in those who say "you can do it for your life" or "make the sacrifice for the two weeks". To me, to be on a total liquid diet over the Holidays is like putting an alcoholic in a liquor store and asking him not to touch. If my will power to turn away food was strong, I wouldn't be 85 pounds overweight in the first place. I think to be on the pre-op diet over the holidays is the worse possible, imaginable time and I don't wish it on anyone. Believe me, I tried everything short of begging to change my surgery date to no avail.

I'm not a big drinker but the beverage I do drink has 65grams of carbs. My question is,is it safe to drink when I have the band? (Keep in mind I only drink one a week)

You mean skinny girls are people too?!?!?!?! Really, Lisa, I'm sure all the skinny girls out there accept your apology. The ones that matter, anyway. One of my dearest friends is skinny. She is a recovering alcoholic. She is like a soulmate, and totally understands my food addiction. I can always turn to her with my weight despairs, because she's been through all the same things with alcohol. So you're right, Lisa. Skinny girls ARE people too... Teresa, you ARE graceful and lovely.

I DID IT!!!! I GAVE MYSELF THE INJECTION. Fyi, when one is menstrating you don't have to do the blood thinning injections. I got my period the evening before surgery so didn't have to do the injection. I had to wait until my period ended to start injections. Today was the first day and it was a sinch!! No pain, no burning. Just alcohol area and let dry, push needle in, inject slowly and DONE!!! No big deal. Thanks everyone for your help. MDG

Have to agree with Lipstick Lady. BTW, I went through Kaiser and we got a very firm full liquids for two weeks, no alcohol for at least 6 months. Lynda

Alcohol is the enemy and you are putting yourself in this position by consuming so early on, That was one thing the Dr. stressed during the preop meeting and that it should be minimal to avoided completely. Try as shea2 suggested and drink an alternative. I know it may be harder especially if it is one thing you don't want to give up, but think about all you have put into this surgery already and what you want the end result to be before deciding to wiggle your way around it. You know the effects it has on you so you really need to try and avoid it.

I remember reading or hearing that Alcohol is absorbed differently post op and can become an addiction even if you were not prone to it before. So not as simple as transfer addiction, more like regular addiction and the struggle will be tough. If you can avoid that painful path, please try. Try using the supports your team may be able to provide. Kudos on catching it early. Safe Journey

A little primer on alcohol (I am in the industry) One of the things you might like to know is the quickest buzz is consumed with straight spirits, sipped slowly. Much of the alcohol will actually be absorbed right in your mouth, and it is a quick path to the brain. Unfortunately a lot of people drink too fast, and or mix spirits with various sodas, juices, etc so there is no immediate transfer of a good feeling. So then they drink more and more and eventually it is all absorbed into your blood stream through the stomach and intestine walls, where you end up having consumed twice as much, to get the feeling sipping straight or slightly altered spirits would have given an hour earlier. Extra money, extra calories from both the alcohol and the mixers. Think martinis , or bourbon or rum on the rocks. About the worst thing you can do, is drink shots. You might as well tip your head back and have someone pour 4 tablespoons of raw sugar in your throat 🍰🍪 For every shot. Actually worse than that (From a WLS stand) are liqueurs or cordials. By law they must contain a minimum of 2.5% raw sugar syrup back into the previously distilled spirits. Some add up to 15%.. Same with those creme based spirits, and that isn't just sugar they also add whole creme fat that keeps the alcohol in solution and prevent curdling. I have also read on many blogs people claiming they used to drink before WLS, but now get drunk easier. We'll of course you do. Because in most cases WLS patients end up with much less body mass to absorb and assimilate the same amount of alcohol. A breath anaylizer is a very good tool to have in your pocket or purse, to obtain optimal enjoyment, plus remain legal to drive (but it is always best to take an uber, or DD home. 0.04 is the ideal euphoric effect. there is also the fear of transference from food to alcohol and you must remain vigilant to not allow this to occur. the other item that seems to be misunderstood is that some believe sugar and alcohol react differently than each other in weight gain. It's simply not true. Alcohol is sugar/starch to begin with (from a variety of plants, or sugar cane, grapes, etc. Alcohol producers then add yeast to those various items , and said yeast "converts" note I sad "converts, not consumes" those plant sugars into alcohol and Carbon-dioxide these is no difference between raw sugar and alcohol. Except one can make you feel better if used appropriately. I am not writing this to push one guilty pleasure over the other, I am just pointing out that you should perhaps look up the caloric content of the alcohol you drink, with the same intensity as I beleive many do with the sugar/carb load of food. It's just calories, either way, and if you are going to drink in moderation,you shoul calculate those calories into you meal plan.

For the time being do not have the ingredients for the cocktails in your home, assuming that is where you are drinking them. If out and about, have some low calorie non alcohol alternatives instead.

My surgery went well on November 12th it has been a little challenging due to throwing up after surgery but they say that’s normal. Wright is coming off It is difficult to drink the water daily but I have down now. Still not really hungry eating the same thing my appetite is not that good. But I’m staying the course exercise is your friend and I am unable to use aloe vero gel because it has alcohol in it. So bio oil is Great to use. Good luck to u all !

You can do it mate. Just tell peeps you've developed an allergy to alcohol if that helps! Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

ME TOO! I had mine Jan. 21st. I'm at a stall the past month. I'm going back to shakes and gonna not induldge in alcohol =) I feel your pain!

Hah just read the thread. Confused about the bribe for Secret Santa.. bribe so you can get her and buy her alcohol? And if all yer bringing is cottage cheese and blueberries.. I'm bringing my own food LOL!! I'm going to see how far it is to drive from here, I *HATE* flying.. Anyone else thinking of driving from the southern area? Would be nice to have a roadie in the car with me if I decide to drive! Isn't someone in Florida? (EDITED REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE SOMEONE NOTICED MY IDIOCY?!)

Did u have pre op nutritionist classes? Each program has their own guidelines unfortunately. I start my 14 day preop diet on Monday. I will have 5 EAS myoplex lite protein shakes a day, one serving of veggies, one serving of fruit and one serving of starch a day plus all the clear liquids I want (ff broth, sf Popsicles, sf jello, decafe coffee/tea w/out milk, creamer, sweetener etc and no carbonated beverages or alcohol). I plan on taking my one serving of fruit a day and adding it to one of my shakes with ice and making a smoothie in the blender. As far as your post op eating, that is very specific to what your nutritionist outlined for u. I will have clears only on day one and then clears and protein shakes from day 2 through 7. Day 8 I advance to soft foods ie: sf pudding, sf applesauce. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!!!

You can sip if you need to. It's not going to hurt you. Just try to stick to non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks.

Welcome to the boards. The struggle to revert to old methods and coping skills involving food and making unhealthy food choices is real!!! As everyone says, they operate on our tummies, not our brains! Damn you brains! LOL. The great news is this is a super place. You will get support and you may also get some kicks in the booty! I can def. relate to eating crap preferentially over healthy protein and a veg. The crap gives us a dopamine and seratonin dump that releases oxytocin, the feel good hormone--just like drugs and alcohol do for us (in the same area of the brain -- the pleasure center). The even greater thing is that you KNOW what to do to get back on track. Take it one day at a time. Thank you for posting and being so honest. This really does illustrate that the struggle and temptation is life long. ((hugs)) You CAN do this. I will be cheering for your success!

My husband has gastritus (not banded). The causes of his gastritus are the foods he eats & stress. He shouldn't have spicy foods, alcohol or stress or his stomach hurts and he gets an ulcer that acts up and bleeds a little. He is on Acephex and it helps a lot. He only takes it when his stomach is bothering him and then it heals up and he doesn't need medicine anymore. Maybe its something your eating. Do you eat spicy foods???

My Dr. said no alcohol for 6mths after banding , and then just wine. No more Rum & D.Coke

w/the band! Since cutting out alcohol and other empty calories AND exercising every day, I have now lost two pounds in the last four days. Yes, this band really does work when you work with it! :tongue_smilie: I almost don't feel like I really NEED my 3rd fill that I have scheduled for Monday (I scheduled it when my weightloss had stalled), but I know I could still use at least a small fill. I'm not at my sweet spot, but I can tell that I am not that far away from it either. :thumbup: For example, I can eat a fairly large portion right now, but I can also be satisfied on a smaller portion. And, I do think about food between meals, but I can usually get by w/just water until my next meal. Last night I was so sure my dinner was not gonna last me until bedtime. I ate at 5:30pm and was feeling the munchies around 8:00pm. I was gonna have an artichoke (healthy at least), but got distracted and tired watching TV and just ended up going to bed. Woohoo!!! :thumbup: So, even though my restriction is not perfect w/the band yet, its definitely better than during my TOM when I was really hungry and felt like a bottomless pit. :smile: Now, instead of worrying about not getting enough fill at my next appointment, I'm a little worried about getting overfilled. But, I'm just a worry wart in general. My ideal would be if I can get to the point where I can still eat almost everything (if I chew it enough), be satisfied w/a small meal, and not think about food between meals. I have not PB'd or thrown up at all yet and hope that when/if I do, it will not become a regular thing. I did get stuck on a roll once (in my first month post-op) and was in pain for 5 minutes, but I don't know how to make myself puke (or I have an aversion to it) so I just waited it out. Now I have an aversion to rolls! But, that's a good thing. :thumbup:

I agree with 2 much. don't get drunk. you do not want to vomit with the band. still call your doctor. if something should go wrong at least he is aware what you were up to. just sip. enjoy the taste of the wine and spend your time enjoying your social aspect of your outing. 3 weeks is really quick to be testing your band, your doctor maybe on board. I had to agree to give up alcohol for a year but at Christmas time my doctor gave me the ok to enjoy my Christmas morning bailey's I have every year. so you never know what your doctor will say.

UKAngel I cannot belive 2 stone in 2 weeks!! omg!you have done brilliantly and really encourages me to carry on .. I have just paid the balance on this op and just hope it's all worth it. I have a fridge full of slimfast for the pre op stage :¬[ Saggi I have to tell you I went to an all inclusive in Cuba last summer - It was the only time I lost weight on a holiday!! there is only so much you can take of buffet style food- the thing you need to watch out for it the unlimited alcohol! annie

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree:). If we had this willpower I doubt we would have needed wls in the first place. Plus if your having a hard time controlling a craving why would you want to put yourself in such a difficult situation to begin with. Better to set yourself up for success in my opinion. A struggling alcoholic would not be smart to go to a bar so why would we do something that seems very similar to me to ourselves??? This is a lifestyle change we have to make and in order to do so we must change our environment the way a drug addict would no longer hang out with user friends. Plus I totally agree that family can benefit from a healthier diet. It's not about the fact that my son is not fat. It's about the health benefits of a good diet not just being fat or skinny. Ok so now that being said I def agree that you can't change everybody in your life and to say that if so and so eats this then I can't succeed is definitely going to cause failure. You have to take responsibility for your own actions and choices for sure. I just think if you can change the lifestyles of others around you for the better then great:). If not then find a way to work around it. Mami I think you are wonderful and such an inspiration to me and to many others and I am in no way offended by what you said It's great and inspiring that your willpower is so strong. Just for some us that may not be the case:)

I either have red wine or whiskey and water (depending on whether I want to have the carbs in the wine or not). On those days I do have drinks, I have to maximize protein and minimize calories through protein shakes. Basically, I have to reserve calories for the alcohol, and since I'd rather be able to eat real food rather than drink, it has become just an every-once-in-a-while thing for me now. (No beer for me, though, since I won't do any carbonation...) Good luck!

My surgeon told me that I can have wine after 6 months and to always drink in moderation. I had have a glass of red wine with dinner on occasion prior to surgery, nothing sense, so waiting hasn't been hard but I do plan on incorporating an occasional glass of red wine and some hard cider in the fall back into my diet. The best advice I've heard is to try it, see how your body and your stomach tolerate alcohol and always use moderation. It may be possible that you will go to have that drink and no longer have the interest or the desire to drink anymore.

I've been told I'm a cheap date lol Has anyone tried drinking with the sleeve? I hear alcohol poisoning is a big concern??