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That's a good point. I am sure alcohol plays a role in that. I think eating fried and fatty foods is even a bigger problem (unless you are drinking booze every day). I think you are fine though, as long as you don't partake again before the surgery.

I am 6 months post op and I slid off for a bit and then I got angry at food for taking over me and being in control over me. I have to put my recovery over drugs/alcohol/food first or I can't be the wife/mom/friend etc. It's crazy living life on life's terms and doing what's right, but I have to be selfish or I can't be there for others.

I'm 5 days post op the surgeon said no alcohol for a year but also said no carbonated drinks ever again so I'm going to miss my beer that's for sure

I wrote a lengthy post and lost it . . . aargh!!! So I will have to rewrite an abbreviated version, lol. I am not a member of the SCA but have attended many events similar in nature. You should be fine going to events banded as long as you are prepared. I would suggest bringing a cooler and other items to help with our post-banding diet. Lots of Protein options, Jello cups, sugar-free pudding cups, cottage cheese, string cheese, some low fat crackers and other band friendly items willl help. If you are still in a liquid stage, you can buy pre-mixed Isopure drinks in a case (maybe $30-$40) that can supplement your protein. Just make sure you have plenty of stuff that you know you can eat with you. If you are purchasing any meals from a vendor, be careful about trying new things that you haven't tried after banding. You want to go really slow and carefully just in case. Also remember that one meal may now be several meals post banding, your food expenses may go way down if you have a means to keep things fresh. Be careful about breads. If you drink alcohol, you want to stay away from beer or other carbonated beverages . . . but wines or mead might be OK in limited quantities depending on what your doctor says (although you want to watch the calories). This might seem gross, but you also want to keep a container, perhaps a big plastic cup, in your tent/yurt/or whatever you are sleeping in for emergencies. If something gets stuck and has to come back up it is best to be prepared. Also, if you are stuck or need to PB, it can take a while to work its way through or out. You don't want to be holed up in a restroom or port-a-port for an extended period. This may never happen, especially if you are careful, but it is best to be prepared. If you get yourself involved in any war related activities, you would want to make sure that you are completely healed from surgery. Also, if you bump your port with any force, it is going to hurt no matter how far out you are from surgery. One good thing to consider is that you will need to think about making, buying or modifying your clothes for the 2010 season. I am sure that whatever you are wearing this year is not going to work for next year . . . and that is the most fun of all the banding dilemmas you may experience :0) Good luck with banding!!!

<p>One of my friends once admitted to me that he couldn't go to sleep at night if there was a beer in the refrigerator. Then, I got to thinking that my addiction was not alcohol but food. I don't get banded until next week, Jan 16 2008. To lose weight, I know I can only have lowcarb foods and drinks in the house. Fortunately for me, it's just my husband and I at home and he is willing to stay on the same LowCalorie LowCarb foods that I am. </p> <p> </p> <p>I do believe the LapBand is a good tool. Just as you can have all the top-notch tools to build something but you still have to put the labor into it. Our labor is to consume LowCalorie, very LowCarb foods and drinks.</p> <p> </p> <p>I've learned just on this Pre-Op diet that my 51yr old obese Type 2 Diabetes body is responding so well to those foods. It's returned my bloodsugars to almost normal in just a few days and I've had diabetes for years. The lbs are just melting off and I feel better than I have in years. It's Wednesday, all this since Sunday! I'm not kidding.</p>

It's very frustrating when people are ignorant enough to think that WLS is an easy way out. Obesity is an addiction that one can't possibly hide from the world (at least that's my opinion); if there was an easy way out for an alcoholic or drug addict no one would critisize them for taking it. The fact that there is any way out at all is good news for those with the problem.

Congrats Carol!! You are doing amazing! And you are much more strict than me! LOL Good for you. I have taken a much softer approach - the mental has definitely been harder for me than the physical. If I cut back anymore, I would likely be looney. ok, loonier : ) I average 500 calories, less than 40 carbs, 60 or so Protein. I am lousy in the Water department, but was before surgery also. I feel fine so my body must be used to it. LOL If I count the one or two shakes I have every day, then I am close to 64 oz tho. Alcohol definitely hit me hard at first. I have had a couple of ounces of homemade lemoncello the past two nights, and it hasn't made me very loopy. It does have alot of sugar in it tho so will need to be a weekend treat : ) My first hard boiled egg was an experience as well! Even tho I took an hour to eat it! I have had some since tho as well as scrambled eggs and they have gone down just fine. Everytime I eat something new tho my stomach gurgles like crazy! Its actually pretty funny. Does it really keep track of post op foods??? Great post! Should be very useful to people considering surgery or recovering!

I go out a lot. I still personally, order a regular meal and just eat what I can usually about 1/3 to a 1/2 of it (appetizers usually have a crapload of calories, not worth it). If I can plan ahead I do.. I like to check out the menu and see what I can eat. Generally just look for anything grilled, baked or broiled and doesn't have a sauce on it... Or if I don't know the calories, I just try to guess, and eat a small amount, I don't over do it. Don't get the bread basket, a salad, soup, dessert, soda, alcohol.. then a meal isn't so terrible. I don't get sick or puke, I haven't had any problems yet. But if you do, then you may want to be more careful.

What you have written in this post about the individual looking at ways to "bend" the system (in this case, the recommended diet) can also be said about other addictions as well. I spent years working as an addictions counselor for a county drug court program, and it was amazing to witness the lengths some people will go to try to manipulate the "system" (in this case the treatment center and the court) to bend the rules to accommodate them. I could also predict, virtually from week 1 who would successfully complete the treatment program. I once had a client come to my office late on a Friday afternoon to request a treatment compliance letter for court on the following Monday morning. If he did not have the letter, he was going to go to jail. I asked my client how long had he been aware that he would need this letter, and he said for several weeks. My reply was that I could have the letter for him on Monday afternoon...and that his lack of planning did not constitute my emergency. It was a common treatment issue for a "population" dealing with addictions...manipulate the system instead of changing choices and behaviors. Many of us had/have an addiction to food...emotional eating to cope with problems, stress, or boredom. And I agree, I have been amazed by the threads I have read that discuss which alcoholic drinks you can have shortly after surgery...how many calories, and so on. Also posts discussing ways to continue to have the carbs many have gained weight on, instead of recognizing that their relationship and understanding about food and the emotions which are associated with it need to change, if they want to have a successful and lasting weight loss journey. Alright, I do see a valid reason for sugar free throat drops for sore throats or coughing...but sugar free chocolate candies? I had to give up chocolate if I wanted to even hope to loose weight...and agree that if I continued to believe that it was alright to have chocolate as before, I would only be setting myself up to fail with weight loss. An occasional piece of chocolate is believed to be healthy...but if you have an "addictive" personality, one piece is too many and a hundred is not enough. There will be a number of others here on the forum who will disagree with my beliefs about the process of change as necessary for success, and manipulative behaviors as a predictor of failure, but success or failure is directly related to changing our choices and our behavior. What we were doing before with failed diets did not work...and to expect a different outcome if our approach to solving the problem does not change is not realistic. This quote "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results" appears in the Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous. I'm not implying that we are drug addicts, only that some of the same behaviors packed on the pounds...and change in beliefs and behaviors is the only way to success with loosing weight. IMHO...your mileage may vary. Best wishes to all of us for success...

Hello, I'm sitting here wondering if everyone else goes through this feeling this soon-it started last night (I'm still on liquids) I thought my pepcid was stuck-lots of pressure and felt like something was in there. Followed with lots of gas-took 4 chewable maalox (with anti-gas) some relief but felt that way until bed. I was able to drink but it hurt. I woke up this am and felt better but the feeling came back as soon as I drank something. I sipped slowly but the feeling has creeped back. I have yet to throw up so I guess thats good. Is this normal?:guess How do you handle it?:phanvan How soon will I quit lusting after everyone else's food (I have 4 kids):hungry: ? I feel like an alcoholic as a bartender at dinner time.:violin: Thanks for listening...

That is exactly what mine told me she was looking for. She really fixated on the fact I was bulimic in high school and my dad had been an alcoholic. She then drilled me on my 'addictive' behaviors. She also wanted to know about my support system. She even told me at the end that is was not really to look for conditions but to see if you are in the frame of mind to handle all that comes with the surgery. So, if you are fine on medication you should be OK. Good luck to you!!!

<p>Hi Everyone,</p> <p>I'm new to the board and this is my first post <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" /> </p> <p> </p> <p>I've recently discovered this procedure, and feel that this would be a wonderful opportunity for myself. </p> <p> </p> <p>I turned 21 in April and attend college in Rochester, NY and was wondering some things about people who have had the procedure done while they were in college. </p> <p> </p> <p>For instance did you have any problems with your pre/post surgery diet by eating in the dining hall? And also what are the limitations with alcohol after the surgery? </p> <p> </p> <p>Any advice would help, just any insight about going through this procedure while in college. </p> <p> </p> <p>It's really inspiring to read all your posts, I hope everyone is doing well!</p>

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

Hello Pebbles and welcome! First I have to ask if you are in the US? If you are, given you age being listed as 19, I wouldn't think you should be concerned about alcohol and the band for a couple of years, right? The band does not cause "dumping" syndrome like bypass does. Therefore you can still drink alcohol, but why would you? It's full of empty calories and can be tough on your stomach. With a small pouch being created from either procedure (band or bypass) alcohol wreaks havoc on your esophagus and stomach over time. Also, if you drink to get drunk and end up puking, you risk causing a band slippage, and that my friend, is BAD. Carbonation is generally considered off limits, at least initially and many docs still say never again, so beer or "coolers" or champagne are out unless you let them get flat first. So don't take that as a reason to get bypass, because lots of bypass patients report dumping syndrome with alocohol intake (sweating profusely, diarrhea, cramping, etc) which is no piece of cake. You are 19, believe me when I say that in a few years, alcohol will (hopefully) not be a big part of your life so please don't make a huge decision such as this based on which procedure will be easier to drink alcohol with (if that's a factor, I mean). After your initial post-op period (four or six weeks, depending on *your* surgeon's instructions), you can eat whatever solid foods you like. Though I have to say that there are certain foods some people can eat and other cannot. Everyone is different and you will not know what you can tolerate until you are banded. The point of the band is as a tool to restrict the amount of food you can eat, not what kind of food you can eat. It does require work, you have to make good choices in what you put into your body, and you will need to exercise. There are many choices and changes to be made in order for the band to be successful, but it is not anything one cannot do. Bypass malnourishes your body, it works by removing a section of your intestine and causing you to not absorb certain things. It is a truly lifetime commitment as you will never be the same again. You will need to take supplements forever. Sometimes those supplements include injections of B12 and Iron. At 19, I would never want to alter the insides of my body before I gave a band a chance (at 37 I won't, either). The band is removable, it can be deflated for pregnancy so you can eat normally, it is a flexible tool. Here's some threads that ask questions about band or bypass and what others have to say, I hope this helps you, good luck! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=34045 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32584 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32616 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32079 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30997 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28724 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28690 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=27483

Obviously the effects of stress are detrimental to even the healthiest of people, but I am dealing with insurmountable stress lately and the effect it is having on my health (especially) since the surgery. I have found that my appetite is either gone or my brain tortures me with visions of choclate dipped bacon covered cake! I have also noticed that in times of stress I can physically feel my pouch hurt, I am worried I am developing an ulcer...the point of this rant is to ask of anyone knows the risks associated with stress in regards to being so fresh from surgery or even stress relief tips? In the past I have dealt with self injury, drug/alcohol abuse, and of course the go to EATING. Clearl I have overcome all of these negative coping mechanisms. It bubble baths, candles and music just isn't cutting to to tonight...I Ben tried some comfort food (rice pudding) help!? Sent from my iPod touch using RNYTalk

That's great!!! How did you do with alcoholic drinks?? Tolerance?? And great that you are loosing 4lbs a week 9 months out?!?! Was it 1wk vaca? Regardless, Congrats!!!!

salsa, i only asked because some children fold with that kind of pressure and begin to resent the sibling that they are forced to take care of. it sounds to me like you were forced to be a very mature 7 year old and handled it well. your brother is probably more greatful to you than you will ever know. i think that is awesome!! i think a lot of things happen for a reason, and becuase of your mother's own issues, you now have an incredible relationship with your sibling, and it is also quite a coincidence that you would be his only family left. fate has a funny way of showing it's meaning through time. i didn't put on here my own problem, because it is very multidimensional, i cannot pinpoint any one problem. 1. i hate to cook, my mother was an alcoholic and i had to do the housekeeping and the sibling keeping and i didn't take it too well. i never wanted to learn to cook because i knew that i would have to do it every day. in our house for a period of time, cleaning came before homework. at the same time, i was under tremendous pressure to be perfect by my mother and i developed anorexia. i never finished therapy, but almost died from it. one night my mom force fed me. i do not remember it, but my younger brother does vividly. i apparantly threw up for about 12 hours while my mom force fed me (i had gotten to the point that nothing stayed down). you can imagine my horror when they retold this story to me several years later. all this time i thought i just decided to eat..ha my mother and i are now extremely close. she had made some bad decisions, but was a very strong woman and pulled herself through (abusive relationships, alcohalism, etc.) 2. i never had a trusting relationship with any man. the man that i called dad beat my mom to the point of no recognition on a regular basis (i used to run down the street daily to call the cops, and there was only one cop in town and they never answered the phone, when they did come, they wouldn't do anything). the same person that i called dad held me at gun point one day and said that if he couldn't have my mom, then no one could and he was going to kill us all. then add to that, the absence of my real father, who later i built a very shaky relationship with-still working through that one, to the point that i truly convinced myself he had died. add to that not two, but 3 molestations, and my first sexual experience being a rape by my best friends older brother when i was twelve. the rape's continued for over a year and when my friends found out, they didn't believe me. my dh and i dated at the same time some of the rapes were going on, and i made my dh wait 8 whole months before we had sex (i was proud, it wasn't like i had anything to hold on to), i was 13 at the time, and the guy raped me the same night that i had my first real sexual experience with the man that is now my husband. i cried and begged him to stop doing that to me..and he did. people do not understand why i still went to my friends house, but at that time, she was the only person i had. my "dad" was very verbally abusive, my mom was avoiding her own household by going to a diner every night with friends. my friend's house was just as bad, so we had each other, and we were inseperable. ok, now, there are SEVERAL other instances that have been added to this, but i started a horrible relationship with food as a means of control. first by deprivation and then it was my enemy. i later found it to be my best friend and confident, and became very comfortable with the shell of fat that i carry which, in my own demented mind, shield me from being a target of rape, or just plain abuse, or just being abused. i have a problem with men. i like where i work because there is only one man. if i go to the store, i will not go through a line with a man who is checking if i can help it. i do not like for strange me to look at me at all. i live in fear of being broken in on, or a victim of a serial killer stalker...and somehow i think that fat protects me. so, that is a VERY VERY BRIEF description and only skims the surface. i think that is why this has been sooooo hard. my fat has deep roots, and although i know i have to get rid of it for my health, i haven't adjusted to well to the emotions that go along with it.

No carbonation is definitely one of the rules of banding, however, there are different schools of thought on this. I'd try to stick with what my doctor says. Alcohol, besides being high in empty calories and known to be a stomach irritant, there is nothing that says you can't enjoy a cocktail now and then. Anything in excess could be setting yourself up for esophageal problems, band erosion and of course slower weight loss.

i lost 6.7kg on optifast (i will admit i did cheat a little on optifast. i had carrots and a few pieces of potato with my veggies), drank alcohol during the last week and had rice snacks once. my surgeon had no problems with my liver and the operation went fine. i weighed myself since the operation and i had gained .5 of a kg! (i'm assuming thats because of all the gas and me looking like im pregnant!) will weigh myself tomorrow! looking forward to it :blushing:

Hi all! So I have my first fill tomorrow and as many of you know, it's St. Paddy's Day!!! Of course I won't be drinking any green beer or anything -- I tried a sip of beer about a month after my surgery and it was SOOO painful. BUT I was wondering about wine or a white russian or something like that? Don't want to sound like an alcoholic or anything but I have a two big parties -- one on Friday night and one on Saturday afternoon (lots and lots of Irish friends) and I hate to think that I can't even have one drink. I know you're supposed to be on liquids for a few days following the fills --- do you guys think a glass of wine will really put me in pain or even a white russian with just a little booze in it?? HELP!??! :help: :help:

I was just worried about my stomach being all irritated and in pain after the fill and that alcohol would just irritate it more Is it anything like after surgery or much milder than that? I have to come right back to work after the fill and I'm really hoping I won't be in pain or anything.

it will take some time to adjust but most people do. Journaling and support groups are definitely great ideas! You might want to also consider psychological therapy to figure out the reasons behind your self medication with food. Unfortunately many people get the surgery and don't deal with the underlining issue and end up abusing drugs or alcohol. Good luck and hang in there!

so much of this entire Journey is interdependent on many aspects of our lives..... The very co-morbidities that made a complex and fragile daily life have served to motivate me. One of the inescapable issues many of We of the Tribe of the Morbidly Obese face, are such as diabetes and the very cascade of related such as high blood pressure, eye disease and kidney function, amoung others. Without boring anyone, the factors that make sweets and the close relative of alcohol, so devestating to various body systems, require understanding and control every day. My own "6-pack and a loaf of bread" snack routine symbolized the direction my rational mind didn't want to go, yet the Bad Habits and Belly Beasts were effectively taking over my entire life style. I was given the choice between kidney function and eyesight, vs a 400# lifestyle and a beer. Lap Band saved my Life nearly 10 years ago. The bit of daily discipline it takes to remain on the Path to Life is a joy.

Did anyone who had to do Optifast before their band have such severe issues with it as I am having? I feel like an alcoholic trying to stay off of liquor only my liquor is food. I am so frustrated and tempted to eat and I have to call people to help keep me occupied so that I do not eat. I have followed my doctors orders thus far with my 5 shakes a day and some sugar free jello but I am so frustrated and miserable. I need to do this and I don't want to cheat, heck I have even incorporated 30 minutes of walking during my lunch break at work, but I am seriously going nuts when I get home and ahve to make dinner for the kids. Hubby has been doing what he can to help but he works three nights a week this week and next and I HAVE to make dinner for the kids. I am just so frustrated and looking at the prize at the end is not even helping. I don't know if I can make it though 9 more days of this.

OK, here's a mushroom Soup I make that is absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Even if you are not a mushroom eater, like my husband. And, depending on how much you blend it, it can be more liquid or less so.... I am estimating quantities because I NEVER use recipes per say...But, you can adjust to your own taste. And, you can leave out onion or garlic if you cannot handle it.... a splash of oil 1 medium sized onion, chopped 3-4 cloves, minced 1 1.2-2 cups diced carrot 1 cup of celery 2 cup of assorted mushrooms (shitake, straw, etc) 6-8 cups of beef broth (you can make from boullion) salt and peper Sherry (the alcohol burns off as you cook it, and you CAN leave it out, but I think it is missing something without it) Sour cream Saute the onion and garlic in a frying pan with a little oil, until the onions become translucent. Then place in boiling broth, together with remaining ingredients, except 1 cup of mushrooms. Simmer until everything is tender. Strain the solids from the broth and allow to cool . Place solids and some of the broth in a blender and blend until a creamy cosistancey (this is where you decide how smooth you want it.) Pour this back in the broth, and add the remaining cup of mushrooms. Let simmer for about 20-30 minutes, until mushrooms are tender. Add sherry to taste and allow to simmer for additoinal 15-20 minutes to burn alcohol off. Serve with a nice dollop of sour cream. I am telling you...this recipe is DELICIOUS, almost totally fat free and VERY healthy!!! I make it frequently. Happy drinking!