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Gigi, Maddysgram, elcee and ajtexas.... First, I want to thank you for so kindly responding to my plea's for help. I'm in a bad place and I needed your ears/eyes. No, I am not in control of my life at the moment. I think maybe I am trying to take control of my life, even if it's deciding to sabotage myself and my journey. Sounds weird, I know, but it's easier to control with learned reinforced bad behaviour than with new, difficult behaviours like my dieting, journaling my food journal. It's easier to fail than to fight to succeed. (I'm coming up with this stuff as I write) Hm, something else to think about. Gigi_Girl, I'm so proud of you for quitting smoking completely, I hear cigarettes are one of the hardest addictions to quit! And good luck with your new Band. My therapist is admittedly stuck on this issue of why I "have" to eat bad foods. I mean, she has shed alot of light on the subject, as she has worked with many addicts. She just felt I should get some inpu by those going through the Band journey. Maddysgram, it was very, very hard to take in your kind words of wisdom, but a few things helped me. "Tomorrow hasn't happened yet..." "You're brave to come out..." "...me a complete stranger loves you..." have all been allowed inside, and helped me for that moment. My past has not made me a criminal, a drinker, a drug user, etc. I guess that's a very good thing! Elcee, I did walk away with major issues, but I consider myself a genuine, honest, caring individual in spite of my issues. I see that I have achieved very little in my life but be a survivor. I'm a fighter, which is why this whole thing about fixating on cheating myself and my diet, is baffling. I never give up, not for long anyways. Your positive comments embarras (how do you spell that!) me, but secretly it's nice to hear. ajtekas- I have a history of sabotaging things when they go well, and I was doing very well. Is it because of fear of success? Is it because of fear failure? It it because it's all I know? All of the above. I was proud of myself for adhering to the program and I think it was overwhelming for me. Didn't deserve it. I say the serenity prayer everyday, everyone should. I started Al-Anon four weeks ago, and I honestly feel blessed to have the kinship of those who share my experience with alcoholism and the family. And, yes, we members do beat ourselves up! Tomorrow is a new day. There are many success stories to help me along. I so hope I get more responses to this...every one of you makes a difference to me. My therapist would thank the four of you! And I thank you. (*bows down*)

Yes you can eat almost anything. But I choose not to in honesty. I eat so little and it takes me away from my goals (One more lb till 100 lbs lost, woop woop!). I generally stay away from fried foods now and olive oil though (fat content makes me ill). But have loved to go to Cracker Barrel (for catfish plate that I split with my hubby) and KFC (a leg and a wing or two legs and a bite of both sides is more than enough for me). I don't drink alcohol anymore, but I haven't been much of a drinker in the last few years. If you have a "love affair" with food, it is a hard adjustment.... I won't lie. I am a total "foodie." But what's more important to you? You will THINK more about food after a sleeve because you have less area to fill. So going out will be a planning event (planning what you will eat). Best of luck!

I still eat out, Usually at least once a week with friends or family. I can find something to eat on just about every menu ( i usually look at the kids menu but at most places everything on the kids menu if fried or pasta). I always come home with a lot of leftovers. Only thing i miss is going out for drinks, but my surgeon recommends no alcohol for 1 year.

I understand that the lighter, clear alcoholic beverages are lower in sugar content, so maybe you'd be better to try those.

Anything with alcohol is going to be bad for you, so moderation is the trick, vodka os no exception, the big trick w/vodka is watching what you mix it with. O.J & cranberry areboth pretty sugary.

I think acknowledging the problem is half the battle and you have done that. I understand fighting the sabotaging yourself, I do it anytime I get close to a goal. Why? I don't know. Fear of success? failure? or just wanting to make things hard on myself cause that is all I've know? What I do know is if I keep at it and meet that goal, the pride I feel is overwelming. It gives me the courage to keep trying. Those little voices in our head can really mess with us! But we CAN BEAT THEM! just do it one day at a time, or one hour, or one minute, whatever it takes to get through it, Remeber the serenity prayer it helps me get through a lot of tough times. I also had an alcoholic husband and spent a few years in al-anon. It's funny how us "co-dependence" seem to beat ourselves up more than anyone else. Take care.

So, I'm 9 weeks post op 75 pounds down! YA!! Well I'm going on a cruise next month. I'd like to have some drinks. Wine and Margaritas. Just wondering if that's okay. Does anyone have an experience drinking alcohol post op?? Advise Please....

What's the story with alcohol? Is vodka the liquor of choice as far as 'clear' is lower sugar/carbs? I'm not a big drinker but I love my tap beer and shots now and then! I'm sure my 'shot' days are over!

Hi, this is a topic that was requested of me to write this post and ask for help by my therapist. She believes many of you will relate to, even if you don't post back....I'm reluctant because: 1. It's a heavy topic for me to post on the internet, to people I will never know. 2. It's exremely painful for me to even venture in this territory. But it is something that is at the core of my where and who I am today, as a someone fighting to lose the psychological pounds I have put on over the years. I was brought up in a highly dysfunctional family (to put it lightly), and there was sexual abuse, emotional deprivation and abuse, alcoholism, parental fighting and divorce, self-harm, para-suicidal actions and more things that I can't access right now. I was raped and beaten repeatedly by a boyfriend in high school, my best friend comitted suicide, I married a wonderful man who is also an alcoholic, and last year, my Mother passed away from breast cancer. It was engrained into me as a child that I was fat (I wasn't even heavy or plump till a year after marrying my husband in 92) and utterly worthless. Most of me believes that to this day, but thanks to all of the therapy I'm in, medications and recently Al-Anon, I am learning that I might not be worthless. "might not". My reason for writing this...I feel majorly worthless right now (I'm in a tough place in therapy AND my go to, bad food, has been taken away from me, by choice) and am having a bloody hell of a time fighting all the negetive "voices" in my head, and adhering to my diet. I was banded 5 years ago, gave up on it 4 years ago and got unfilled, then found myself back in the Doctor's office wanting to try again, three months ago. For two months I did very well, losing 20 pounds. Feeling that I understood my relationship with food, eating very well. I thought I had it in the bag. But this month, I am deliberately buying junk food to sabotage myself. I want to "hurt" myself by eating junk food. Obviously I am not in a good place. My baggage got me to today, and frankly I am proud as hell to have made it to the age of 46. Albeit a confused 46. My therapist wanted me to ask of you how some of you overcame those negetive voices, hurtful relationships with food and became a successful Bandster. I'm not looking for "atta-boy"s or "you-poor-girl"s or "you-can-do-it"s...I'm down but not out. How do you fight the inner demons that make you reach out to bad foods for a coping mechanism? I mean, I know the tricks, but they're not working. I know that some day, I will know that answer, but it will take a long, long time. I want to be a successful Bandster like I was the last two months, now. You guys are doing so well, how do you do it? Can you even relate or am I just a freak? Bless you for reading my post, and I'm sorry if I annoyed you and please do not pity me. I'm just looking for support...

Hi I am having difficulty with the 'only 70 pounds' thing. I agree with Mz Elle only to the part where all of these surgeries are invasive and extreme. They are, and anyone who says otherwise is downplaying the risk. As a nurse of almost 30 years I know this. With any surgery comes risk - from the anesthesia, chance of complications - running from minor to life threatening, temporary to permanent. It is not a decision to be made lightly, and certainly not to be made without exploring all of your options and doing extensive research. Having said that, what do you do when you HAVE tried everything? I have tried many things and different combinations of diet, exercise, herbal preparations etc. but always in the parameters of healthy foods . I currently need to lose about 75 pound to be at my ideal weight. I am currently relatively healthy but I do have mild asthma and high cholesterol, controlled by medication. I know for a fact both of these will at least improve if not disappear if I can lose the excess weight, and I also look at my dear brother who 'only' has to lose about 80 pounds to be at his ideal weight - he has had a heart attack, 2 stent placements, asthma, high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea and non alcoholic fatty liver disease - ALL of these conditions would improve with weight loss. Do I have to wait until I am in the same boat before I do something about it? No, I am choosing to get the sleeve as a tool in my Quest to get and stay healthy. I am satisfied that I have tried all I can to lose and keep the weight off, and for me it just isn't working. For me it will be worth the risk, and I think everyone needs to look at their own unique situation and decide what is best for them.

Well, i'm out 3 + years, have been doing well and maintaining great. . however, (yes always a however) I've been drinking coffee, alcohol, and taking ibuprofen a lot. I work in a very high stressed job and even though i know i should probably quit before it sends me to my grave, i continue to do my "prison sentence" (yes, I realize it's all self inflicted). . .now in the past 1 month, I've notice daily nausea to the point of nearly vomiting, a horrible burning pain when i eat or drink anything except water. . . i have told my doctor and she has given me some meds, but they aren't helping at all. . . i have to call her tomorrow to let her know how things are going. . . well. . . they aren't. . . has anyone else had ulcers that probably needed surgery? What happened? I'll let you all know what happens with this. . . thanks for listening.

Hello fellow nurses! I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, have been an RN for close to 30 years now, currently splitting my time between dialysis and long term care but have worked everything from Surgery to Outpost, occupational, etc etc etc (I get bored easy!) I am not sleeved yet, likely not until January due to staffing issues (sound familiar to anyone?)' and will be self pay going to Mexico with Dr. Liza Pompa. My BMI is 37, and I am struggling with people who say that that's not too bad. Well, my brother 'only' has a BMI of 38' had his first heart attack at 38' has had 2 stents, severe sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and my whole family struggles with high cholesterol, asthma and depression. No, not 'too bad'. I need to do this to be healthy. I have done diets to deAth ll, I do enjoy exercising but it is obviously not enough. But, despite being a nurse for so long, I must admit I am scared of surgery! I had my tonsils out at age 4, and have been fortunate enough not to need anything else done (so far). Talk about ironic!

Im 11 months out. Alcohol hits me a lot quicker so i tend to have to take it slow. and yes we are all cheap dates after having the sleeve.

When I drank alcohol for the first time, drinking some yummy Hurricanes, I cycled in and out of feeling tipsy and feeling sober. Real quick, it was odd

Yes, alcohol is processed quicker so we're a whole big group of cheap dates now. I have read studies that alcohol addiction is a big risk for post-op wls patients. I have tried a little bit and it gets my tipsy really fast, but only lasts a short time, and makes me feel sick/dehydrated after. I really don't enjoy it at all anymore, and I used to drink a glass of wine or two a night. I'm actually glad for the change =p

Mmmmm, spicy hot V8 juice. One of my favorites before surgery, kind of like a Bloody Mary but no alcohol. Still have not tried one yet after surgery but maybe down the road a bit.

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??

My surgery has been cancelled and rescheduled 3 times in 2 months, so so frustrating! The Dr always wants 1 more test, which is fine, but on 9-17-12 I went in for my pre-op only to have it cancelled again. Now the Dr says im high risk and wants to do my surgery in a hosp that has an ICU. I have cirrhosis due to fatty liver, no alcohol,drugs in my life. I'm curious to see if anyone else out there has liver disease and had this surgery? The main reason I'm having GPS is for my liver, diabetes , my gastro highly recommended surgery to stop the liver damage and possibly reverse damage that is there. I wasn't nervous or scared until the other day when words like high risk and ICU were used. I appreciate any comments or peace of mind. Marta

What are they????

I am thrilled with my results, but I have also put the work needed into it. I work out regularly and watch what I eat. I dont let one slip up ruin the rest of my day/week. I also know that I am human and I'm going to allow myself a bowl of ice cream if thats what I want. If I'm out with friends, I am going to have a glass or two of alcohol.

It's because caffeine dehydrates you (as does alcohol of course) and with a limited intake of fluids and foods, you need to use everything you're taking in hydration wise.

We share a birthday!!! I will be sleeved by then, so ni food or alcohol based celebrations for me either. Congrats on getting a date. It's exciting to know that the day after your birthday you are starting a new life. You will in a sense be reborn!

Our plan will cover drug and alcohol counseling and treatment, but not food addiction. So if I became an alcoholic and fried my liver (self-inflicted) I would have coverage to attempt to regain my health, but nothing for nutrition counseling, medically supervised diets or stronger methods if those fail. Just really smacks a bit...hard!

Reminder that i am 3 + years out . . . . . B = 1 small bean and cheese taco L = 3/4 c dahl (split peas and curry) with 1 small flour roti (like tortilla) D = probably lean cusine Snacks = small apple, fruit roll up Will probably have a alcoholic drink after dinner as well.

I think that it would be nice to see a movement toward preventative care. We get so focused on curing people that we forget that we could avoid a number of diseases and ailments by pushing more preventative care. There is some movement toward it, but in the long run we could save ourselves far more money by preventing the disease in the first place. My surgery cost my insurance company about $20,000, but to pay for doctor visits, surgeries/amputations for necrotic ulcers due to noncompliance, hospitalizations, medications, etc for if I got diabetes would far outweigh the cost of surgery. But type 2 diabetes is preventable in a lot of people - does that mean that it should still be under the uncontrollable category? Or alcoholism? The list could really go on and on of self-inflicted ailments that are considered necessary by insurance. Personally, I don't feel that this is all that much different. Some of us are addicted to food, some of us have mobility limitations, etc. It may start out as something that is elective, but obesity is a large risk factor in an endless number of diseases. I do agree that that's how insurance companies see things like this nowadays, but I hope in the future we can see a change to them covering more preventative care - not just weight loss surgery, but other measures that help keep people healthy. OP: I would try to see if your HR has any kind of appeals process. The worst that they can do is come back and say no. I know that I - along with probably a number of people on this board - would be very interested to see the process and the results if you do. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.