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Amanda, I've had a similar experience & can completely understand and empathize. I was banded in August 2010, I was desperate, had been battling my weight for 15 years. I didn't really prepare myself mentally for it & thought it would be a quick fix. For the first year I did ok but then I didn't listen to my body & started eating bigger portions & all the wrong foods, I was constantly being sick because of binging, got to the point I couldn't even keep liquid down but I thought this was good because it would mean I would lose weight!! Finally after not being able to cope with the discomfort I got it emptied, blaming everything on the band! I then tried every fad going......lived on shakes for months until I got to the stage normal food made me wretch & I didn't want to eat. I was so depressed I then went to the other end of the spectrum & starting binging in secret.....even taking food to the bathroom to have in secret......disgusting!! I realized in October 2013 I had issues & went to my GP he referred me to a eating disorder specialist......this was the turning point......I saw her every week together with a psychologist and managed to get to the bottom of my food issues which weren't actually food.......it could have been any addiction, drugs, alcohol anything I could use as a crutch. I have now been discharged from their care and have taken the first steps to lose the weight (I'm now 50lbs heavier than when I was banded).......I got my first fill 2 weeks ago & have been patient and sensible & now realize it's simply a helpful tool but you need to work with it and change your eating habits & mental attitude to succeed. Good luck Amanda I wish you well xx

This was really difficult for me as well, especially since I ended up having a bad reaction to the tape... i literally just sat there and picked at it and used whatever I had around (lotion, conditioner, rubbing alcohol, etc) to try to get it off. I was really careful and only used tiny amounts since my skin was already so sensitive, but I had to get it off! Honestly in the end all I did was pick it off and then gently washed my skin after. I actually liked when the lint/etc stuck to it because it made it easier to see and to pull off. Good luck!

Same thing happened to me and it lasted for weeks... just wouldn't come off. I tried everything from alcohol pads to acetone (nail polish remover) to goo gone! In the end, the only way for me to get it off was to keep scrubbing it in the shower and as soon as I got out (and was still warm) tried rolling it into a clump and picking it off slowly. Good luck! I know it really sucks:(

For perfume, my current faves are Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant (super-spicy, but I love it so much), and some Middle-Eastern attar oils that I got as a blind-buy from Ebay. One of my coworkers had one and I loved it so much that I bought it and two more. The brand is Al-Rehab, and the oils are AMAZING and the scents last so much longer than a regular perfume because they have no alcohol in them. Another of my prized perfumes is Hermes L'Ambre des Merveilles. Since I don't smoke and I don't drink a lot, I tend to splurge on duty-free perfumes when I travel (usually cruises). I'm also a make-up addict, even though I very rarely wear it. I absolutely love Cargo's long-wearing glosses (I think it's a different formulation than the ones you can get at Kohl's) and Tarina Tarantino's gem glosses (picked up for a steal at Nordstrom Rack). I like Dior's Addict Fluid Stick, too. They're pricey ($35), but they really last a long time and they really do wonders at making my lips look fuller. ' I really want to try out the ColourPop brand. You have to buy it online, but the prices are extremely good ($5/eyeshadow), and the rest of the line is not much more expensive) and they're generally very well reviewed. I have super-picky, sensitive skin, so I have to be very careful about what I put on it. Even a lot of stuff made for sensitive skin will break me out (Origins' sensitive line, for example, even though I love the way it smells). I am currently using Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, which I was extremely surprised that it worked, since usually drug-store brands of skin care break me out horribly. It's been the best thing ever for my skin! It has no foaming/suds action at all, so it feels like a lotion, but you wash it off and your skin is perfectly clean.

Have you seen 60 min? They have done studies that demonstrate the addictive properties in consuming sugar. Sugar is also consumed by cancer gulped also. I know that I am going to make more of an effort to stay away from processes foods. Fruit drinks are the worst. If u haven't seen 60 min maybe go to the website and see it. This is really scary and makes alot of sense.

So yesterday was all about spoonfuls for me. I wanted stuffing....I wanted sweet potato, I wanted the greenbean casserole, I wanted gravy. I took my roughly 3 oz. turkey with a spoonful of gravy, and took a spoonful of everything else. Was it more than I usually eat? Yes. Did I stuff myself like the turkey? No. I made several conscious decisions during the meal. I had alcohol...more than usual but I wanted it. Won't repeat that tonight so it was simply a one off. Had dessert and not of the 100 calorie or sugar-free type. Again...a one off. Didn't even bother to get on the scale this morning. If I gained a bit, so what? Back to eating as usual today. Did not go nuts yesterday...all is well. Hoping this is my new normal for the rest of my life.

Here's what I've learned from my doctor, nutritionists, nurses, and all of your doctors, nutritionists, and nurses: Weight loss is a life long process. You need to lose most of the weight in the first few months, or you won't be successful. If you don't lose a lot of weight pre-op, surgery won't be successful. No pre-op diet needed. Only Protein shakes the week before surgery. Low fat diet before surgery. No prescription pain meds after discharge from the hospital. Prescription meds for about a month. Only Motrin is allowed for pain from no on. Never ever take Motrin ever again. You can only drink Clear liquids the first week. You need to be on clear liquids for as least two weeks. You can eat very soft foods while in the hospital. Protein Shakes only for two weeks. Protein shakes only for four weeks. Don't graze all day. Make sure you eat every two hours. Take only small sips of Water. You must get 64oz water every day. Don't drink water half hour before eating. Make sure you drink 64oz water. Don't drink water half hour after eating. You can return to work after a week. You'll be off work 4-6 weeks. No carbonated beverages ever again. No carbonated beverages for the first six months. You will probably start to be lactose intolerant. Eat Greek yogurt, it's high in protein. meat is better for you than fresh fruits and vegetables. You'll stretch your sleeve very easily and gain all your weight back. It's really hard to stretch your sleeve. After 6 weeks, you can eat the same as everyone else. You'll never eat the same again. No alcohol for 6 months. No alcohol for 1 year. No alcohol ever again. Over the counter Vitamins are fine. You can only take bariatric vitamins. And my personal favorite, just for me: "oh you're passing out due to being malnourished? Ok, for the next three days, only drink water, don't eat anything." Okey Dokey, then... ????

I feel like sugar alcohols are the "artificial sweetener" of the future. In other words, its a scientific miracle that one day they will tell me causes cancer. I try to avoid them but don't always succeed.

It is really funny you ask this because I was just reading some pre-op diet info from my NUT before I logged on and read your question. It was talking specifically about sugar alcohols (usually end in 'ol', ie: sorbitol, mannitol) My NUT recommends avoiding them because sugar alcohols can cause gas, bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Of course all things we do not want to risk having post op. Just some info I thought i would pass on....

I dunno how many weeks you are out from surgery but I'm about 9 and my doctor oked alcohol in moderation and even suggested rum amd diet coke for the low calories. Where I'm from, the glass is mostly rum with a spritz of diet coke. If you're not feeling any pain I'd say you're probably okay.

If it was just a sip nothing will happen. No worries love. You may get a little gas but that's about all. :-) Don't make habit of drinking carbonated drinks as it can stretch your tummy and alcohol is just not good for your little tummy :-) be well

Sooo I sipped an alcoholic beverage and didn't realize until it was down my throat it was A Carbonated Drink. What will happen to me? Im so scared :'(

my dr. said 6-8 weeks after surgery before having alcohol - each doc different. trust me i'm counting down the days.

My doc says that an occasional glass of wine or mixed drink is fine but no beer/carbonated beverages. The only thing about alcohol is that there are extra calories...

For the love of the gods, husband, if you insist on buying chips, keep them on the top shelf where I can ignore them. I have asked him nicely, more than a few times since being sleeved in March to put that stuff where I can't see it. Instead, he leaves the open bag on the bottom shelf of the cupboard with the plates and bowls. I go to get my little plate on which to put my 3oz of chicken, only to be greeted with the aroma of deep-fried goodness in the form of a potato. No, I don't believe that he is trying to sabotage me, he just truly has no comprehension of my deep-seated issues with potato chips. You see, chips and I, we were BFFs. But alas, no longer. Husband looks at me like I am crazy when I tell him to put the bag out of my sight, until finally I ask him, "Would you leave alcohol out in the open in front of an alcoholic?", and I see the light bulb go on. He sorta gets it. And the chips are moved. One step at a time, my friends. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My poop suddenly turned black after I began drinking wine again. I had blood work done and discovered that my liver rates were elevated. I stopped drinking wine and other mixed drinks, and within 30 days, my liver levels had returned to normal. Apparently, my post-WLS system does not tolerate and process alcohol well.

It's really hard to say what somebody else's father feels or is going to do. Sometimes relatives, even fathers, have issues, and in families where alcoholism or addiction is present, family members try to tiptoe around it, thinking it is their own fault. It is important to be able to live our own lives, but we shouldn't forget how hard or painful it can be to separate yourself from someone you love, especially a parent. There are costs to following one's path, but in the end, the cost is worth it.

Sunday, June 14, 2009 Surgery as surrender Having once been married to an alcoholic and having attended Alanon for many, many years, I've learned a lot about addiction. I know that we are addicts because we are addicts. Environmental issues can impact the predisposition of our genes, but once our addictions are triggered, we are addicts because we are addicts. I also know that in order to recover you have to be willing to do whatever it takes. You surrender your will to God and become willing to do whatever it takes, to go to whatever lengths it takes. For an alcoholic or drug addict that may mean going through rehab, going on meds to treat depression that could drive them back into addiction, working the 12 steps constantly, going to 90 meetings in 90 days, calling a sponsor and being sponsored, and never ever touching another drop of alcohol because once they start they can't stop. In a very real sense this surgery represents my surrender. I will always have to eat to live. Everytime I pick up food it can trigger my addiction. Having attended many Overeater's Anonymous meetings, I can testify that very few people are able to permanantly keep their weight off. Only those who are capable of being really anal seem to succeed. Weighing, measuring, checking every ingredient, counting carbs, calories, points, filling out food plans. These may all be good things but I'm not capable of them--at least not for long. Just the thought of doing these things gives me a panic attack. I hire people to do my paperwork and attend to details because I'm so bad at it. I've accepted my ADHD as a gift and I no longer try to be good at what I'm not good at. I do what I'm good at, which is being a highly flexible, very creative, gifted teacher. I generate ideas like confetti. My lesson plans are barely a guideline. By having this surgery, my stomach will become the weigher and the measurer. I can follow the simple food guidelines which will take me from clear liquids to 1000-1200 calories a day of healthy food without having to make food plans the rest of my life. Unhealthy food and too much food will make me very uncomfortable. I'll experience satiety--a completely unfamiliar feeling. And I'll be reprogramming the addiction center in my brain. It won't be easy. I'll still be triggered by the sight, smell, and taste of food. The surgery will be a jumpstart on food sobriety, like going into rehab. I'll still have to surrender my food to God every day. But with my body cooperating instead of fighting it, I stand a much better chance of success. This is the length to which I am willing to go to acheive food sobriety and better health. This is my surrender to God. If your stomach offends you, if it causes you to stumble, if its an obsession that takes you away from being able to love God above all and your neighbor as yourself--tie it off.

The simple answer is that we are addicts. Just like an alcoholic, food is used to cover up and mask pain/sadness/anger and we've abused it and our bodies for so long, it becomes difficult to stop on our own. Surgery is one answer, but it does require hard work, and some people go into it with the mistaken belief that the surgery "fixes" you so that you can eat whatever you want without dieting, or without dealing with the psychological issues of why they got to this point in the first place. I had issues with three different aspects: I had no sense of portion control. I would eat every bite on my plate and go back for more almost every time. I binge ate frequently. There was a definite loss of control sometimes - since I was using food as a comfort when I was sad/depressed. But no amount of food would ever fill the empty/sad space inside me. That was a big thing I needed to deal with in therapy. I ate horrible things - junk food, fast food, high fat/salt/carbs. I ate good things too, but the amount and frequency I ate the awful stuff really cancelled out the good foods. The only thing that the sleeve fixes permanently is the portion control, and even then it is possible to cheat yourself by eating soft foods like cake or ice cream that slide right through the sleeve. It provides a temporary fix as far as the ravenous hunger and the early days where you can't eat high sugar or fat without it causing you to feel sick, but that wears off. After that, if a person hasn't committed to changing their eating habits and really their entire relationship with food (seeing it as a fuel source instead of using it as self-medication), then they are not taking this seriously enough and likely will fail. I realized early on that it was on me to use the small amount of time to fix the other things wrong with my relationship with food. And it is hard work. But if you're not willing to put in the work, you need to see that you're throwing away the opportunity the sleeve gives you to get your life back, and that is really, really sad. I get craving stuff that is on the "bad" list. The thing is, once you've achieved goal, you should be okay to indulge in things every once in a while. But they are very rare treats, and I look for healthy alternatives, like only eating low carb, whole wheat bread or adjusting my calories if I know I want to have a slice of cake for a special occasion. This is the way normal people eat. They do well 90% of the time so they can have little treats and not feel deprived

Similar fiasco with our wedding... But it wasn't my dad... My hubby's dad is a butt and we didn't even invite him to the wedding because he is a dead beat alcoholic and cares nothing for his family... BUT, that was my hubby's decision... I went with what HE wanted because it was HIS dad. I think your sister needs to do what SHE wants and screw what is PROPER and what everyone else thinks!

Very interesting article - My old phen/phen doctor (Baltimore MD who was later on 60 minutes and lost his license - a whole other story) was absolutely crazy on some levels BUT was insistent that all addictions (including overeating) were based on out of whack dopamine and seratonin levels. I still staunchly maintain he was right as this article is - He was convinced the phen/phen protocol could 'cure' every addition including smoking, alcoholism, one woman even came in with hives like I've never seen before - they literally came out in the group meeting - she was covered in massive hives from head to toe that went away in a few hours after he dosed her. I also had such success with the drugs i hated to see them go - although I'm glad I didn't have heart problems. I lost a ton of weight and most of all I felt NORMAL. I didn't have to fight head hunger, I no longer cared about food outside of a small meal now and then. That is what always amazed me. I would kill for that as that is always my goal - to feel normal about and around food. Not just to 'control' it but to NOT think about my weight, my food choices, my band, 24/7 which is what I do now. Very interesting article - thanks.

Your post answers a question for me. I am 8 days post-op and although I feel fine I have been plagued with intestinal gas. It just rolls our of me. For a while I associated it with the surgery, but this is not that kind of gas. I have always drank a lot of water (plain water) but after surgery they gave me a sample of Crystal lite and suggested that I flavor my water to make it easier to get it all down. Well, I have done that and now I know where the gas is coming from. I have always been susceptible to artificial sweetners (alcohol sugars will all but launch me in the air) but did not think to attribute it anything in the Crystal lite. So, it is back to plain water for me and hopefully a much calmer gut. For those who don't like plain water, maybe a little lemon juice with a tiny bit of sugar would make it more tolerable. Thanks again Mary

Having alcohol right now is a bad idea since your body is still weak from surgery. It will affect you quickly, and maybe not in a good way. MOST people don't have restriction right after surgery. The band works by making you feel "full" quickly and keeping you feeling satisfied for 4-5 hours, but it's not going to stop you from eating or drinking a large amount of anything. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

If you don't bring it into your house you can't eat it. I have Outshine pop cycles, grapes, peaches, and almonds for snacks. I also use a calorie counter on my fitbit and stay true to my count. I have one "free" day and I have an alcoholic drink that day.

I was specific for decaf as it was evening. But I was also specific about no sugar. I actually have had a bit of caffeine since surgery and seem to have no issues with it. I do think if I had much it would fire up my acid reflux but I'm not much on caffeine. Even in my 50's I'm hyper enough without it. No sugar alcohols have bothered me otherwise and I was bad about relying on the Protein bars that have them for a while. ( I don't think it's the best way to get protein so weened off of them.) And thankfullly, nothing yet give me gas. I really am grateful for that as I have a co-worker who had gastric bypass and she can just about close us down at times!