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I agree, stop the alcohol, use a bandaid or steristrip to pull the edges together and call your surgeon today. An opening in the skin is a potiential entry point for infection to get in. I'm wondering if there is any drainage from the opening? If so, what color? Clear? White? Green? Yellow? Pinkish?

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.

I agree. Call your surgeon. Please don't put more alcohol on it. That just sounds painful! Ouch!! IIRC, alcohol actually prevents healing. I was told to leave my drain incision alone, although they did bandage it after the drain was removed.

Yeah, I'd make an alcoholic stop drinking before rehab. I'm actually dealing with an alcoholic hubby right now and MY requirement for us to have a relationship is that he stop drinking, period. And, yes, I think it's fair for our doctors to require us to show some kind of motivation by losing weight before surgery. The surgeon has only so much time available to do surgeries and he wants to see results from his hard work, just like anyone else. If we, the patients, can't control and motivate ourselves somewhat before surgery, then how does the surgeon know we're going to do so after surgery? I know my doc has a waiting list of patients who want to be sleeved by him. Now, the other side of that coin is that I think it's ridiculous to expect a long-term obese person to lose 10% of their body weight before surgery. Why do I think that? Because I lost 50 pounds the year before my surgery, then got hit with health problems that packed that 50 pounds, plus more, back onto me. I'd have never been able to lose 35 pounds (10% of 352) before surgery. I did drop 13 pounds on my pre-op liquid diet, which I think shows that I was motivated to lose weight. I see both sides of it. I just think that some surgeons require more than others, which is fine. But, that requirement has to be adjusted to the patient and the patient's health status.

i was told alcohol was not a no no just to be careful with it because it could absorb faster, I had to give up my drinking days due to diabetes long before the surgery was done. my problem is snacking, I like to snack and I feel I need to have something right before i sleep or I cant get to sleep right. bad bad habit. guess i need emotional eating therapy lol good luck

Yes.....I would tell an alcoholic to stop drinking before rehab. Sorry...I don't see the problem.

Hi there. I am a few months out before having surgery scheduled. In my WLS program, I am required to lose 12 lbs to "prove" to them I can lose weight. I don't know why, but this enraged me. I felt humiliated and degraded. Please note that i am not referencing the pre-op liquid diet--that is for safety issues. I do understand that post-op I will be adjusting to a whole new way of life, but come on, I need my tool! I have gained and lost the same amount of weight so many times in my life. I'm a pro. I've never gotten to "goal" but I can lose weight. I am less angry now and have been successful in losing that small amount of weight, but don't treat me like a moron, Mr. Surgeon! Thanks for letting me vent (obviously still a little anger lingering...) LOL. Shan

You caught that homeopathic and OTC products are FRAUDULENT. The real HCG come in injectable form. It is a white crystalline powder that you add Bacteriostatic Water and men take a dosage of 1500ius ed for a period up to 2 weeks to help induce natural testosterone production. Bacteriostatic water has 1% benzyl alcohol (BA) added in, while sterile water is just sterile H20. Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth and reproduction of bacteria without killing them. Bactericides will actually kill bacteria, and bacteriostatic solutions will only prevent bacteria from forming. So it's just like the name implies--it's bacteria-static water. Whereas sterile water is just water. You can make bacteriostatic water by mixing correct portions of Benzyl Alochol and distilled water (for example 99 ml water+1 ml BA) through a filter, but it's just easier and safer to buy it yourself... (null)

Blunt is good. This is a support site right? Maybe some people need a different kind of way of support. I'm no guru on people's thoughts or means of feeling support, but i do know personally that if i fall, i get right back up. Keep in mind, eating for me personally is an addiction like alcoholism or drug abuse. food was mine. Have a good one !

My doctor said to stick to 1500 calories and keep it low fat. That's pretty much what I've been doing all along anyway. I did notice, however, that it said no alcohol for 6 months prior. Guess I'm going to have to fudge a little on that one. I drink very seldom, but I have had a very few drinks in the last 6 months. Anybody else been told this?

Just keep pushing. It is your body. And take to heart the changes you really need to make. Are you ready to give up sugars? and that often includes sugar alcohols (which are found in sugar free candies)? And practice eating off a baby spoon and fork. They force you to slow down. IT does really help. I often walk away from food now because I'm tired of eating, because it takes so long, instead of because I'm full. I don't often have a full feeling. teri

Hi, thanks for the information on alcohol! LOL...I am a sucker for a glass of wine! I was banded on 12/30 and I have lost 17 lbs. I will get my first fill on 2/2! I just started on mushy food. I have been a slacker on my walking! A small fact that I must confess! I haven't really had much of a hard time with eating....I am eating when I feel the need and chewing, chewing, chewing! I'm paranoid to get food stuck! I have read the horror stories. I would like to lost 50 lbs by summer. I have never been a small person so losing 50 lbs doesn't seem real, but now that I have been banded, I know that I can get there...one day at a time! Good luck to you!!

MissTxDiva, I have no advice on what not to say! I told my psych that I have tons of addicted family members (food, drugs, alcohol), that I knew I had a food addiction, what my behaviors were, and what I had done to overcome them. After she told me that I am guaranteed to become an alcoholic post surgery, she still gave me approval! LOL I think they're trying to weed out people who would do something stupid like eat a whole pizza the day after surgery. I think 99.9% of us are smarter than that! Good luck!!

Most docs are concerned with the acidity and the possibility of it building up and eroding the wounds in your stomach. Generally, after your stomach is healed, it's okay to drink coffee or wine (my two vices) within "reason." I drink decaf coffee during the day, but I drink a 1/2 caf coffee in the morning. My NUT said 1/2 caf is fine. A little caffeine is fine - just don't drink it all day. It will dehydrate you and the acid isn't great for your sleeve. My NUT gets pissed at me about the wine. Technically only supposed to drink 1 glass a month AFTER 6 months out. Well, that kinda got thrown out the window and I drink once a week. I have noticed it effects my losses, so don't drink wine much if you want to lose consistently. On the days I drink wine, I only drink decaf. My nurse had had numerous patients in the hospital for bleeding ulcers from alcohol/caffeine acid. So just in moderation. BUt it's one of those adjustments we all need to make when we chose the sleeve and a healthy lifestyle. It's not gone, but be thoughtful when you consume it.

Liver enzymes ALT and AST can go up due to many things (alcohol intake, too many ibuprophen, viruses etc.) That is not that high of a value. Gallstones can make your liver enzymes go up but usually happens after the gallbladder is really pissed off (and you would know that and be in severe pain). You might want to ask to have them rechecked and see where you are at. Might have gone down by now. 25 years of working in the lab.....they can drop by as much as 40 points a day. Just FYI don't freak out yet! But STAY away from motrin, ibuprophen, alcohol until you have them repeated. Woops forgot to put here.....ALT and AST DO NOT GO UP FROM JUST HAVING A FATTY LIVER!!! I weighed in at 230 at 5'1" and had perfect liver enzymes. Gallstones, hepatitis, alcoholism, etc are disease states and make your liver enzymes go up. Fat surrounding the liver does not make your liver enzymes high. I did liver enzymes on a guy that was 500+ lbs - they were NORMAL! Hope this helps.

After a week of anxiety and wanting to eat everything I could find (good thing I didn't find anything!), I had my first fill yesterday. So excited to report that my total weight loss is 34 lbs - weight loss from date of operation 22 lbs! I am excited, but I have to make a confession. I haven't given up my wine or bloody mary's - even though I have been drinking SO much less, I haven't cut it completely out. My nurse didn't seem upset about it, but reminded me of the calories in alcohol and to add what I drink to my total calories for the day. I haven't seen anyone on this site ever talk about alcohol.... Well, here I am. I can do without the chocolate, anything sweet, but don't take my wine! LOL I have found a life-saver in food tracking and excercise tracking - MYFITNESSPAL.com There are even apps for every type of phone. I found it very enlightening (however, not surprising) that I was under-counting my calories, so when the tracker showed me the actual calories, carbs, protein and sodium, I made immediate adjustments. The best recommendation on protein shakes I have is make sure you have some everyday! Now that I can eat more, I have cut my protein shake serving down to 8 ounces - which is 23 g protein, 1 carb, no sugar and 95 calories! Doesn't get better than that! It is SMOOTHIE KING'S GLADIATOR chocolate protein powder. Mix it with water. I feel hopeful, excited, nervous and grateful for my new journey with my new best friend, her name is Lapsa. Take care all and I look foward to keeping up on the site - it is most encouraging and educational! Leslie

Hi there - I was re-banded in November 2011 having had a band for just one year 2005/6. Sadly for reasons unknown the band failed and started to choke me and so had to come out. We have tried to find reasons but apart from the fact that it may have been tightened too much too quickly none are apparent. Anyway it is now January and we are waiting for the band to embed well before a first fill in the Spring. I am not losing weight at the moment but am trying to develop good habits. I have been feeling a very slight sting now and again - mostly after eating and am just wondering if this could be the type of foods I am eating although I do try to eat mostly bland food. I think maybe if I cut out alcohol that might help too. Anyway - heres' hoping for a good result this time. I was banded in Bristol UK at The Spire Hospital and it was good to be reunited with my surgeon Sally Norton and Sharon Bates who knows everything. It was also good to get back in touch with fellow bandee Julie Hunter.

Eating till you're satisfied is an interesting point, I've been focussing on this with a psychologist I'm seeing for post cancer issues - having my band unfilled, losing so much weight (and liking being ultra ultra skinny) and having trouble getting good restriction back has really messed with my head. Just like some people quip without thinking "Oh, I'm a food addict", I would probably say "I'm a binge eater". Yet, I might get a huge desire for sugar, and begin eating and eat what I consider to be WAY too much of that food (a packet of Cookies for example). However, in reality it might be seven or eight cookies - nowhere near what really constitutes a "binge". I've never eaten from the garbage can, never eaten one food after another in an hours long episode, I have a specific desire and I indulge it. And once I'm satisfied - which unfortunately only comes after 700 or 800 calories have been ingested - that desire simply switches off and I dont think about food again till I'm hungry. That's not a binge eater and that's not a food addict - although I sure do have a real problem with cookies. They're a trigger food and I absolutely cannot and never have been able to eat one or two. I can feel like a Big Mac once or twice a year and have it, enjoy it and not think about it again for another six months. Its just sugar - cookies, muffins, cakes etc. There's a definite pay off, I can literally feel sugar hit my bloodstream and soothe me. In analysing it with my psycyhologist, it is absolutely definitely triggered by tiredness and general daily stress. It has been worsened by the anxiety and depression I've battled with from time to time this year and improved out of sight by starting hormone replacement therapy. It also tends to happen because I exercise to a point where I need a balanced 2000 calorie a day diet, but have a lapband and dont eat that much. You can prevent hunger, but you cant fool your body with a band, it finds ways to get what it "thinks" it needs. My body often cries out for energy in the form of another little sugar "binge". I've learned the mental association, since that need could be fulfilled with chicken and carrots. Its in my head, not my body. So that's a trigger food situation - a food that has a physical effect on your body that you like, a food you turn to when your body is in a particular physical state, a food that you've learned to associate with feeling a certain way and so turn to in particular situations. I dont think that's quite the same as alcoholism or drug addiction although its similar, I think there's a bit more of a mental dependence and not a physical one.

After a week of anxiety and wanting to eat everything I could find (good thing I didn't find anything!), I had my first fill yesterday. So excited to report that my total weight loss is 34 lbs - weight loss from date of operation 22 lbs! I am excited, but I have to make a confession. I haven't given up my wine or bloody mary's - even though I have been drinking SO much less, I haven't cut it completely out. My nurse didn't seem upset about it, but reminded me of the calories in alcohol and to add what I drink to my total calories for the day. I haven't seen anyone on this site ever talk about alcohol.... Well, here I am. I can do without the chocolate, anything sweet, but don't take my wine! LOL I have found a life-saver in food tracking and excercise tracking - MYFITNESSPAL.com There are even apps for every type of phone. I found it very enlightening (however, not surprising) that I was under-counting my calories, so when the tracker showed me the actual calories, carbs, protein and sodium, I made immediate adjustments. The best recommendation on protein shakes I have is make sure you have some everyday! Now that I can eat more, I have cut my protein shake serving down to 8 ounces - which is 23 g protein, 1 carb, no sugar and 95 calories! Doesn't get better than that! It is SMOOTHIE KING'S GLADIATOR chocolate protein powder. Mix it with water. I feel hopeful, excited, nervous and grateful for my new journey with my new best friend, her name is Lapsa. Take care all and I look foward to keeping up on the site - it is most encouraging and educational! Leslie

I bought several bottles of different flavored protein drinks - most of which I thought tasted nasty. I passed my unopned ones on to a friend who was having surgery. I did the same with a tub of protein and all of the chicken soup protein packets that I had ordered. I should have ordered one of those sample packets before I ordered anything in quantity. The other thing I would do different is do more work on my head in addition to making my food choices. The food stuff was easy for me early on. But now that I am normal and eating mostly how I will eat from now on, I realize the psychological stuff that led me to have a bad relationship with food is still there. I don't do the bad behaviors (mostly) but it's like an alcoholic taking it one day at a time. I wish I had started working on this stuff 6-10 months ago.

I thought giving up diet pepsi would kill me, now I don't even miss it. It's ok to drink alcohol you just have to watch the calories and be careful because it will affect you much quicker. As for the 8 pounds needed to get insurance to pay, just strap on some ankle weights and leave on your shoes!

I share the same experience. I am in Egypt, and my Doctor's main recommendations were to watch out for Sweets, chips, Nuts, Alcohol and high sugar/fat drinks. Only use them as rewards once in 1-2 weeks IF you're losing weight. He said other than as you get tighter you'll eat less and you'll lose weight. If i were able to do the low carb diet or Atkins, then I wouldn't have needed to get banded in the first place! I have observed thin people and how they eat for a while now. I live with one, my sister. She eats everything - it's all about portion control. She has no cravings like I do. Whatever she wants, she eats. But all with the right quantities. And that's exactly what the Doctor told me - i've tried dieting for years, i am sick of it. I want to eat everything - the good, the bad, the horrible - but be happy with just a little bit of it.

I still love socialising, having a drink and good food. You won't lose that. My brother once told me he didn't think he could have the band coz he would hate that he couldn't eat as much as he liked. He's right, he shouldn't have the band. But if HOW MUCH you eat isn't as important as WHAT you eat, then you can make those changes and not feel deprived. I did not cut out carbs or any one food group. I ate a little of everything, even chocolate, and I even drank alcohol. And I have wine if I'm out for dinner. Always have. I just don't drink with every meal.

Jachut hit the nail on the head in the first paragraph. Nothing has changed being banded for me other than I eat A LOT less than I used to. I can eat bread, in small quantities, I can drink alcohol, although it doesn't take much to get me drunk anymore, I can go out and do exactly what I used to, i am just more careful. Maybe I am one of the more fortunate ones and am not so limited as others. I lose slower than some on this site, but I still LOSE! I had a BMI of 34 when banded with no other complications. I paid for it on my own. I didn't want to wait until problems came about for my weight. If you are not ready for what might come, you may want to wait and do more research. Good luck in whatever you do.

I have an addictive personality. Alcohol, cigarettes, food, whatever. My ex husband used to worry that the portion control that the band gave me would never cure me of the way food made me feel, and that I would fail as a result. But once I made the decision to get the band and lose the weight, I replaced my food addiction with exercise and clothes shopping and going out dancing instead. I still have a shoe addiction that rivals Imelda Marcos, I kid you not. Just like any addict, you need to want to kick the habit. And I wanted to. So there is hope for us addicts, really.