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I had a fill a couple of days ago and it's going great. I am really working on slowing down when I eat and drink. That is probably my biggest downfall. I did get stuck the night of my fill. I had chicken, baked potato and steamed veggies. Not so Good! I ended up having terrible pain in my chest, sliming & spitting until I threw up. Then life was good again and I think I learned my lesson to slow down! For now anyway...:smile: I went to a support meeting that my doctor set up and attended for post-op banders. It was very encouraging to here all the stories of weight loss. My doctor also talked a little about addiction as he feels food is an addiction much like alcoholism. I can see his point. I know I eat for "head" hunger more then real hunger. Seems like so many people do. It is all a learning process. The number one question that came up was "What are you in this for? What is your goal and how will you know when you get there?" Maybe we should all take some time to consider these questions... Hope all is well and have a super day! PS: down 26 lbs since 2/17/10 :biggrin:

Good question. I don't know exactly what suger alcohols are (I know they act as a sweetner). However, on atkins I learned it doesn't raise your blood suger level like regular sugar does. Low carb is all about keeping your blood sugar nice and steady. I eat sugar free jello- only 10 calories.

I thought alcohol was forbidden for a year?! [emoji15]. I’m afraid to even think about it during this rapid wl phase HW 242, SW 236- (Bypass 12/20/17) GW#1- 199 [emoji736] (2/11/18) GW#2- 180 [emoji736] (4/2/18) GW#3- 160 CW 174 5’6”

LOL at the title and the blog. The first thing I thought of was drinking alcohol! The cheeseburger picture is priceless. I'm picturing a labor-like "breathe with the contractions". I'm sure it wasn't as funny going through it, but it sounds cute. I hate when I can smell something really really good. Like neighbors grilling......... Take care, and keep up the good work!!!

@@BLERDgirl Thank you for the insight. Im glad to hear you can still eat and drink what you want but in smaller portions. I'm totally fine with being able to do that from time to time on those special occasions.I was worried that I'd never be able to enjoy a birthday party or the holidays or any special event ever again. Or that id make other people uncomfortable for not being able to participate or join them. The pre op nutrition class left me weary. The nutritionist said for the rest of my life I can only eat food that is cut into pencil eraser top sizes and chew each tiny piece 30-40 times before swallowing...I mean what's the point? Might as well opt for a liquid feeding tube. It sounded exhausting to always eat this way and that it would take hours to finish one meal. Also, I was disappointed when the nutritionist told me I could never eat certain foods again. Also, im in 4 weddings this year in which I am maid if honor for 2, which has me stressed. my window for the preop 2week liquid and surgery recovery is small. the doctor has told me I cannot drink alcohol for a year which concerns me when it comes to not missing out on bachelorette parties they are once in a life time experiences. I feel as if I will be ruining my sisters and best friends experience bc we won't be able to make the traditional memories they are expecting. To have my surgery I will have to sacrifice a lot for my health,but I feel my health should come first. It's just that all these scenarios and dilemmas are weighing heavy on my heart.I think it would be more important to my sister that i look good for her wedding standing next to her than making bachelorette and bridal shower memories. Thank you all for your responses!! I felt alone. I think my biggest fear is the surgery in general. I just need to be strong and work hard to keep my nerves aND anxiety in check.I'm 26 but hospitals and needles make me a 2year old baby crying for my mom....it's always a scene getting blood drawn and my edoscopy done and it's ALWAYS embarrassing! Lol. Last question, do they make you use a catheter? Because If so, I honestly don't think I could go through with it. My dear and anxiety couldn't handle that violating and painful situation.

No group support dynamics ever appealed to me. I'm just not a "people person" and prefer to do things on my own or one on one. I found www.smartrecovery.org a good option for dealing with my food and alcohol addictions. And I finally started seeing a therapist to deal with my grief and emotional issues. I also talked with my PCP about my situation and after running some tests turns out I have really low testosterone which can account for so many of my mental and emotional struggles. Started T replacement therapy last week. But I'd go ahead and give OA another shot but also explore all other possible options. Besides therapy, counseling and addiction support, there are a lot of good books out there than can help. It's definitely important to find the type of support that works for you.

Here's a bunch of topics with a lot of replies to the great soda debate. This is my standard reply: I'll throw out my experience just for s&g's. . . I've been drinking soda for a year, and have zero ill effects from it. I rarely drink diet soda because most are sweetened with aspartame which I hate. I recently found Diet Shasta cream soda which is sweetened with Splenda so this one is doable. I can say without a doubt that drinking soda has not changed my sleeve capacity in the least. Nor has it effected my weight loss in a negative manner. My restriction is the same as it was a year ago unless I cheat (take longer to eat my meal, sip throughout my meal, drink a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage before my meal, drink hot fluids like coffee or tea before my meal) to get more in. I don't even let it go flat before drinking it. Early out, I would get a gas bubble, burp and it was over. The whole soda leaching Calcium from our bones is obviously a concern, but in my opinion, moderation is key. There is ZERO scientific evidence that soda drinking causes stretching. Even for RNY patients, there is no proof that soda causes the pouch to stretch. We have a normal stomach with a pyloric valve intact. The fluids, be it soda, Water, crystal light, all go in, hit the pyloric valve and dump into our intestines. It isn't like the soda is sitting in there brewing for hours on end. Plus, there is NOT enough tissue left to stretch out our sleeves if the surgery is performed correctly. There is only so much stretch that can occur. It isn't like the stomach tissue regenerates, or can stretch back to pre-op size. It just is not physically possible. Not that I'm advocating going against any particular surgeon's recommendation, but this has been my experience and my opinions on soda drinking post-bariatric surgery. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/15947-the-diet-coke-debate/page__p__134881__hl__soda__fromsearch__1#entry134881 http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13580-carbonated-beverages/page__p__116756__hl__soda__fromsearch__1#entry116756

So I just returned from a scary visit at my parents house. I went out to see my mom, and she's been on a four day drinking binge. She's had some depression issues since her RNY and chooses to self medicate with alcohol. My mom had a bad drinking problem when I was growing up, but got it under control by the time I graduated high school. She's maintained her weight well, but she's had some major issues since her RNY with regards to depression. I went out to visit her at 2 this afternoon. By the time I got there she was already half crocked, and had been drinking while taking her medicated cough syrup as she was diagnosed with bad bronchitis earlier this week. It was so bad today that she thought I was 17, and proceeded to lecture me about hating my boyfriend (I broke up with him almost 4 years ago). I explained to her repeatedly that I'm 22, in college, and married to a man who she adores. I'm so scared I'm going to turn into my mom. I know I'm predisposed to having an alcohol problem, and I'll be honest with you....there are days when I just get up and I want to drink. I never do of course, and I've never abused alcohol (I drink once a month--if that, and even then it's usually just a couple glasses of wine or a few beers); but still, sometimes the urge is there. This is probably irrational and I aware of that...I'm just so scared that I'm going to spin out of control. I can't exactly talk with my friends about this, because it's so humiliating to admit that she's back to her old ways. Just feeling a little lost this evening. Sorry if this doesn't make much sense.

If you are losing weight, you do not need a fill. My doctor believes that you only fill when you need to jumpstart your weight loss. On the other hand, your idea that you want to enjoy the holidays is a little scary. We are like alcoholics in that when we had the surgery we mentally and physically committed to never and I mean NEVER binging again. NO MORE "ENJOYING" the holidays. Enjoyment comes from the faces of people who admire the new you, the one who doesn't need seconds or thirds anymore. I strongly encourage you to read my archived blogs at Michaelwasfat. blogspot.com I can help you if you need it and you can write to me at michaelwasfat1@gmail.com btw- I am 5 1/2 months post-op and have lost 91 pounds out of my target loss of 101. I can help

OH my goodness. This is the first time I've read this thread. So sorry you had to go through this. How are you doing? I hope you are better!! I'm 19 months out and leaks can happen even up to 1 year. It is rare but it does happen. There was a gentle that took NSAIDS and drank alcohol and ended up with a leak at one year. We just have to be so careful and do everything the Dr's say but sometimes like in your case you did everything right and still ended up in HELL as you said. Praying for you and I hope you are doing better.

We have all tested our bands from time to time and they do let us know what they will and will not tolerate. I have had two experiences with alcohol since banded a year ago and neither have ended well. I have no tolerance, if I drink I can't eat or I end up eating something while drinking that is not good for me. Now days I have an occassional glass of wine. I hate party's also, especially when people insist no there will be lots of things you can eat. New rule for me, eat before I go to a party, carry a protein bar. You may have gained the pounds from the dehydration from alcohol and should drop them quickly.

I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass. I strictly avoid processed sugars. I have a sweet tooth and that is one of the major causes that contributed to my weight gain over my lifetime. I limit myself to artificial sweeteners (such as Splenda and sugar alcohols), to natural low calorie sweeteners (such as Stevia) and to the natural sugars found in fruits and milk. I had diabetes. That went into remission when I left the hospital two days after surgery and I have not taken any diabetic medicine ever since and my blood sugar levels are good. I test my blood sugar levels periodically. I read the labels of all food that I consume. I look at the grams of sugar per serving. If it is above 5 grams, I look at the ingredients. The ingredients are listed in order by highest percentage, and if the first 5 ingredients contain processed sugar (in any of its many forms), then I avoid this food, like a plague. This is a list of sugars I avoid: Sucrose (table sugar), Fructose (honey), Dextrose, Maltose (malt sugar), corn syrup, corn solids, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, evaporated cane sugar, molasses, corn sweeteners, brown sugar, barley malt, beet sugar, pure maple sugar and date sugar.

Thank you Floridays. Just reading around here I've noticed a lot of people talking about drinking and eating at the same time and how it isn't really allowed. What is that about? Also, like I said I'm in my early 20's and obviously going out to dinners and bars socially is something I do from time to time. Not saying I abuse it at all or that I wouldn't beable to give up alcohol for my health but is alcohol frowned upon after getting the band?

Re alcohol: I drink wine about 2-3x a week. A big band no-no is to stay away from sodas or anything with carbonation. The bubbles can make you feel pain and stretch your pouch. I take a sip of my husbands soda occasionally. But I'm a rule breaker (and I've also had a band slip, so learn from me!). You're not sposed to drink at the same time as you eat so that you don't wash down the food that it's your pouch before satiation is found. Over the last 3 yrs, I've attempted numerous times (especially while eating spicy foods) to break this rule also, but it never stays down. Some banders get what they call the "cork effect", which is the food that sits in your esophagus acts as a cork and when you add liquid to it, out it all comes. It's now been 3 yrs and it still does the same thing. I will honestly tell you - if you're a rule breaker, you might want to look into something else. I wish I had followed the rules from day 1 (but alas, I didn't) - maybe then I wouldn't still be dealing with a slipped band 6 mths later. That said, I luv my band! Would do it again in a heartbeat! It has helped me take off almost 100 lbs and get to a size 8. I think I would just have done things a little differently, if I could. Good luck with your decision! Marci

I am 4 months post op and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Wish I had done it yrs ago. I'm still learning my band. What I mean by that is, you have to really chew your food, chew it to smitherines, chew it to liquid form or you will have a stuck episode and believe me you don't want that, been there too many times, it's painful and gross. You have to take your time eating so if you are in a restaurant, please take your time eating, take tiny bites and chew chew chew. As far as alcohol, I don't drink but personally if I did, I think I would want to put delicious food in my mouth for calories than a drink. This is a lifestyle change, eating healthy, not drinking while you eat and waiting up to an hour for some people after you eat to drink. Some dr's say only 30 mins my dr says an hr and then I can drink. As far as recovery, it wasn't bad. You may have a pre-op all liquid diet for 2 weeks, piece of cake, you can do it! Insurance, I had BCBS at the time and since my BMI was over 50 I didn't have to do the 6 month diet before surgery, they waived that, therefore from the time of my first appt to surgery was very quick. You can call your ins company and ask if they cover lap band surgery and what are the requirements as others have stated above. I started out day of surgery June 13th, 2012 weighing 294 and this morning I weighed 255, so yes I'm happy I did it. Good luck.

To me my weight issue is comparable to being an alcoholic except it's food. We have to find a way to have some control over what and when we stick something in the hole in our face. I lack control over how much of something I eat. I'm hoping that the band will force me to have more self control thus allowing me to bring down my weight. I wish you the best and yes you can achieve your goal! Be tuffanf remeber why you choose this option. i to need support as I have just begun this journey and I as new to this as a newborn baby.

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please don't use alcohol. Alcohol burns the edges of the skin and will prevent it from closing. Steri-strips to hold the sides of the wound together should be all you need along with keeping the wound clean with an anti-bacterial soap. Alcohol is actually stopping the closure.

the sticky stuff is annoying! i got most of it off (not the stuff right around the incision still too tender) with a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball...did the trick! i felt so dirty...and hated having my hubby see it

Breakfast foods yummmm. Any kind of eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, cream of wheat...mushy Cereal. MMM I like breakfast As for alcohol I am not banded yet and I quit it completely...but I think on here I see people drink wine...noncarbonated I would think. Sorry I wasn't much help...but I am glad you are back to trying again. You should goto a support group or check out the Overeater's anon part of this site. Might help. Good luck and welcome to LBT.

Sex - when you feel up to it. Alcohol - on your dr's advice.

Hey everyone, I'm Angela. I'm a 31 year old nurse (You'd think I'd know better then to let this happen to me...). I've been overweight now for the last 12 years. Basically since I got married. The interesting part is that I lost the husband, but not the weight LOL. Too bad it didn't go WITH him. I'm 5'4'' and 250. My heaviest was 275, and about 4 months ago, I busted my ass at the gym, along with a diet (shake and whole foods plan) and got down to 221. I've since, gained it back. I had a consultation with Dr Paul Cirangle in San Francisco and it went well, I'm just not sold on the Band. It's invasive, it's surgery (although smaller then any other option out there), and it's "permanent". I feel like I should be able to succeed without the Band, however, obviously haven't up to this point. The one thing that Dr Cirangle said that resonanted most with me, was that the band helps you fill your stomach from the "top down" not the "bottom up". That made my analogical mind think "coffe pot percolating method", so its a "drip down" kinda picture. That made sense to me. I know I'm addicted to food, and unfortunately, unlike alcohol, drugs or even sex, you HAVE to have it to survive. So where that leaves me, I don't know. I'm an emotional eater and have portion control issues. Just thought I'd come here to see what I could find, and talk to some people who've been here too. Thanks, Angela

It can throw you out of ketosis, but it doesn't necessarily do that for everyone. Listen to your doctors recommendation on when you can resume alcohol. If you are having issues with not consuming alcohol, you might want to ask yourself why. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi Kathy- Lots of love to you, too! I'm feeling much better already... logging in and sharing the truth of my experience has helped me take a deep breath and look at what is happening from a loving and neutral place. Hi Hastings - I can appreciate the intention that you are sharing. I guess what I'm referring to is freedom from the constant urge to indulge and comfort myself with food. When I speak of "normal" I think of my friends for whom food is not an emotional trigger. They eat when they are hungry... sometimes indulge in treats... but food does not sing to them the way it does for me. For example, I don't drink alchohol. It's never been my thing. It's very easy for me not to drink. I can pass by a bar and not have a longing and not need to "control" myself from drinking. It's just not my trigger. However, for someone who has an imbalanced relationship with alcohol, it will take tremendous will power not to have that drink. I desire a healthy neutral relationship with food. One where I do not have to use a lot of will power to monitor my intake. Instead, I'd love for it to be organic and gracefilled. I don't actually believe that all "normal" people monitor their weight and intake. It is very natural for them and they don't have to work at it. I'm not saying that some people who are thinner don't work at it. But I do know people who have healthy bodies and weight and food is not their issue. All that being said, food is my issue. And no amount of "I wish it were different" can change that. So, I'm looking at adopting a healthier eating pattern that hopefully will help break the cycle of addictive food patterns. Wish me luck! Starrgirrl

After my other post and seeing several other posts lately, do you think that obese are more prone to addictions, or am I being to general? I know alot of us are/were addicted to food, but with that food addiction did you find yourself easily addicted to other things? I know myself if its addictive and comes my way I usually end up addicted. Although I must say I never did drugs and the reason why was that I knew it would only take once for me to want the feeling again so I steered clear and never tried it, same with alcohol...Wonder why I couldnt do that with food Just steer clear of it hehe. I had my fair share of being a little addicted to the pokies, Phen fen, smoking, food (generalised), chocolate and many other things. What was/is your addiction/s.