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Those meds don't always work though! I get sick through them, so beware! Always tell you anesthesiologist before hand, Also, if you are feeling nauseous after have the nurses wave some alcohol under your nose and use some oxygen. That makes it go away too!

chocolate for dinner is a bad idea for sure, but I think a piece of chocolate (especially dark) every now and then is fine! I get sent tons of European goodies for Christmas from my family in the UK, and though I allow my husband to eat most of them, I refuse to completely avoid them. I am down to 135 lbs too On top of that, I don't avoid alcohol- they sent me some nice brandy and I have one glass of that a couple times a week with my husband. I'm of the opinion that so long as you enjoy the naughty stuff in moderation, it's good for your soul. What got me to being obese was not having the ability to "moderate"- I'd go through an entire box of chocolates in a day, along with massive portions of everything else. I am happy I can no longer go nuts, but I don't really care to over indulge now, even if I could.

Hi Sarah, My name is Debbie and I am in Orlando. I had my surgery Thursday on Dec 15th. Boy I can tell you that I was scared! So much that I almost didn't go! I lost my mom last year to non alcoholic liver cancer. She had been on statins for years and was diabetic. I wad headed down the same path. In June I had a mild heart attack. In July I had a mini stroke. Pre diabetic and with a fatty liver I knew what I had to do. The surgery was not bad at all. I have four incisions including the one where the drain was. They are healing great with very little discomfort. My doctor placed a few staples at the incision sites which will be removed this Friday. Yay! I did not have a pain pump, nor did I need it. I was given pain meds through the IV to stay comfortable and I did not have any nausea. The Important thing is to get up slowly and walk. It will help tremendously. I spent one night in the hsp and once home walked around the house 10 minutes every hour. Gas x chewables help with the gas and remember lots of chapstick. In the hsp you will have a very bad dry mouth and lips. Ice chips and chapstick( actually I prefer Nivea kiss of milk and honey) are a must! I feel really good today. Even did my hair! You can do this! Research your doctor and be prepared. The people on this site are awesome and I would love to keep in touch.

I'd heard prior to having surgery that Lap-Banders have a higher rate of divorce than normal. The person losing weight becomes more confident and strong and able to make choices they'd been afraid to in their "prior" life. I was prepared for that and was not worried because I was totally in love with my husband (and truthfully still am). I've lost over 100 lbs in the last year and a half, during which my husband had his first and only severe bout of depression. I've tried to be understanding, loving, non-judgmental, encouraging, etc. I tried to be there every time he needed me and backed off when he didn't. I talked him down many times when he didn't see any point in moving on. He started volunteering working with animals to begin his bridge back to working (has been out of work for nearly 2 years). His lack of employment has been due to his emotional state, not due to lack of skill or opportunity. I've never once shown disapproval or asked anything of him, except to make the effort to get better. I've held his hand through drug abuse, self-medication with alcohol, public embarassment and more. I've never waivered in my support or unconditional love of him. He said recently, I was "an ideal wife". He says that I did everything a husband could ask for and more. So, imagine my confusion when I found out that my 42-year-old heavy and bald husband was not just sleeping with a college-aged girl, but exchanging "I love yous" with each other. I'm 35. He squashed any chances of us trying to work things out by faking "break ups" with her and resorting to name-calling and alcohol-induced rants where he displayed his inability for fidelity. I've never once, through this whole devastating process, raised my voice much less yelled at him or called him names. Someone explained that the non-Lap-Banded partner can feel insecure in their relationship and turn elsewhere for attention to validate their insecurity. I tried to be cognizant of this by telling him daily something I found attractive about him. I made sure that I let him know that he was often on my mind. I often made sacrifices for us financially (sewing my clothes instead of getting new ones as I lost weight, clipping coupons, etc) so he could have his comfort items - pipe tobacco, gummy bears and the like. So, I have to wonder, if I'd never had a Lap-Band, if I'd never lost the weight, would he have remained faithful? Was my losing weight the catalyst that drove him into the arms of another? I know he regrets his decisions and wishes he could take them back, but I also know he's not willing (or unable) to change that behavior and I won't continue to allow myself to live in a situation where I'm reminded daily of his girlfriend. He has many faults, as do I, and I have loved him just as much with those faults as I would have were he "perfect". I wish I could get to the point where I'm angry, but my heart is struggling to let go and move on. I feel like, while I look much better having lost weight, it's mostly with clothes ON. Clothes off in front of a long mirror serves as a reminder as to how I abused my body with inappropriate eating habits for so long. How can one expect to find another person who is willing to look past the skin that looks melted and saggy? Has anyone else experienced this situation and if so, how did you get through it? Sometimes I feel as though I'm at a breaking point and that my future looks pretty bleak. Thanks for any advice. And I know God is watching over me and he'll see me through, give me strength, etc.(my mother reminds me daily), but sometimes when it's quiet, I hear nothing and the silence is unbearable.

Hi there, I was just banded in November for the second time; but I have 9 years of experience with an Inamed band (Allergan bought our the Inamed company.) In my experience, almost always, the band tightens up due to stress. Many people tighten up their shoulders from stress; likewise many people tighten up their stomach due to stress. For me, when teaching....during lunchtime, if the other teachers were talking negatively about their students or their day, I had trouble swallowing and could only drink soup. However, if the atmosphere in the lunch room was calm or positive, I had no trouble eating my regular protein loaded lunch. Think of when your band tightened.....were you experiencing stress at that time? One way to relieve the stress in the stomach is to drink a warm drink like tea. Alcohol, though not recommended, also does the trick. LOL. Best of luck, Julie G. in Ontario, Canada

Ive had one, just one incidence in six years with a band where ive wanted to throw up- as opposed to pbing- from nausea. Unfortunately it was a few weeks ago and involved alcohol. Since chemo i cant tolerate it or some reason and have gotten unexpectedly and unpkeasanly drunk a few times. Anyway, my body heaved and i got the sweats anf he watering mouth and all the symptom of tue vomitin but nothinbg would come up. But i wpuld think bingin would quickly cause pain, food ould get stuck and vrything bov the pouch ould come right bck up. Trouble is when ive been stuck and pbd, unless its. Really bad one, i can eat again within minutes. I dont think pbing would halt hlt binging at all, no reputable surgeon would knowingly band someone with bulimia ( or anorexia either or that mattr) witjout dircting them for treatmen of h primry Ho

Wow, touching story. You've had a challenging life, but you are strong, stronger than you know. Be proud of your accomplishments and your decision to help yourself have a healthier life. My mother grew up in many ways like you, but during the depression in a home with a alcoholic father and 8 kids who never had enough to eat. Her dad would go off for weeks and leave them all without money or food. The children would eat whatever neighbors or the church would drop off and sometimes there wasn't any food and they ate walnuts from a walnut orchard they lived next door to. Her Mom took in laundry to try and earn money to buy food. My Mom would tell me they would be so hungry and they would pull out this big wooden box of walnuts and cry and eat them. She married at 17 to get out of the house and be one less mouth to feed. Because of her past Mom became a addicted to food which is understandable, but she passed that addiction on to her children. We use to go to the store and get foods, especially sweets and gobble them up before my Dad would come home from work. Sneek binge eating was normal. She would hide the box or wrappers in the neighbors trash cans so Dad wouldn't find out. A couple of weeks ago Mom said to me "but what will you have to look forward to" when I was talking about eating after the surgery. How about a healthier life Mom? She didn't get it. In her adult life Mom became heavy from the binge eating. Now that she's almost 80 she has lost some weight but she still has her addiction. So I understand how our life experiences can lead to food addiction, although sometimes understanding that doesn't change it. I did this surgery in hopes this tool will force me to get a handle on binge eating and my food addiction. I'm only 11 days post-op and I've wondered what the heck have I done! Will I ever eat again?? I'm scared of changing my relationship with food and if I can do it. Going into this I felt strong telling myself I can do this and that I was ready. I took a long time to think about it and research it knowing it was the right decision for me. This hasn't been a cake walk physically for me and I"ve had some problems and set backs. I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I didn't think it would be this hard either. I haven't had solid foods since December 4th and I watch others eat and smell the food cooking in my house and I can't eat it. I am grateful not to be hungry. Good luck in your life saving, life changing journey.

Im sorry to hear that hope all gets better. Thats exactly why I dont understand people when they say my doctor said not to drink soda but can I. He said to not drink alcohol can I? He said not to do this or that can I? If he said not to do it then dont test your band. Its for a reason people. No one realizes also when you over eat you are forcing the band into the wall of the stomach which equals erosion. If he tells you drink decaf then do it. I dont miss coffee, alcohol, or soda. You have to learn its not about what you want but what is best for you. We all need to take a lesson from this and do what the doctor says to do and not ask everyone if its okay to do this or that when your doctor told you not tooooooooooooooo

If it were me, I'd not want to risk it. The point if the pre-op is to shrink the liver, like a previous poster said. Alcohol goes through the liver. It also lowers inhibitions and might make you more tempted to eat that evening and really blow the pre-op diet. Some surgeons don't require a pre-op diet, but yours does. Mine did, too. Mine also said if he got inside and my liver was not in shape for the surgery, he'd either have to do it open (huge incision and recovery) or would close me up and no band that day. That's my opinion, take it for what it's worth and have a Happy Birthday.

At 24 I was healthy too, just overweight. I was 50 or 60 lbs lighter than I am now. Granted, it's been 10 years and two kids, and my metabolism has slowed a bit and I have a sedentary desk job. But, I've also developed early onset osteoarthritis, which has led to a total hip replacement at 32 and the likelihood of another within 5 years. I've been been fortunate that my heart and blood sugar have been stable, but my cholesterol has suddenly gone out of control only in the last 3 years. I also developed fibromyalgia which, along with the OA, has made it much harder to exercise. The weight has been packing on with alarming frequency over the years and I wasn't able to figure out how to get rid of it. I don't know if I would have had WLS at 24. It seemed so extreme to me only a few years ago; but all I knew about was the band -- which didn't seem like it was enough -- and the bypass -- which seemed like too much. But it's amazing how health issues suddenly make you rethink your priorities, and the lengths to which you are willing to find relief. One thing that did scare me, which I didn't know about, was that during my surgery my doc took a biopsy of my liver. I received the pathology report in the mail earlier this week and it said that I had stage 1 NASH, or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (aka "fatty liver disease"). I had never heard of this and my liver enzymes hadn't indicated problems so I googled it. I was alarmed at what I learned but I'm glad that I'm already working to reverse the damage before it gets too bad.

well, I agree with all the above.. I was married to an alcoholic and I enabled him to continue to be for 10 years. Finally broke free of that! Yours sounds a lot like mine... giving orders and such. If he wants a divorce, let him file it. Why should you take on all the stress of that, meeting with lawyers, paying for it and so on while he sits back and just signs his name when you are done doing ALL the work. Screw that. Let him do it and you sit back and sign when you agree to everything. Thats what I say... Dont let him keep ordering you around... you dont owe him sh*t.

Have a great day at work my dear.. WHATEVER to the haters!!! People don't look down on drug addicts and alcoholics who go to rehab, or people who get botox and their ears pinned back.... I was buying a new robe and slippers last night .. and this other NOSY customer was inquiring about why... I told her I was having surgery.. she looked me up and down and said.. it's not the special WL surgery is it.. I said YES, and gave her a look that said .. heifer, you next word maybe your LAST!! LOL.. She quickly turned away and completed her transaction... You are the only person who knows what it's like to be in your body.. Let me gossip, as you continue your journey toward a more vibrant life!! Congrats on your weight loss!!! (I won't be back at work until Feb. 1, so I know all my students and co-workers will know..) So!! LOL...

I was also a wreck before my surgery (8/18). I had no health issues and a pretty awesome life. However, I wasn't happy with myself. I wasn't someone who had been overweight her whole life... it honestly just crept on over the course of 10 years and 2 babies. Before I really even realized it I had gone from a little overweight to being labeled "morbidly obese". It broke my heart. I was 35 years old 235lbs and my son was afraid for me to climb into his bunk bed with him because he thought I would break it... he had no worries about his tall, thin 230lb daddy being up there though. I couldn't live my life like that. I also started to fade away from my friends. Somehow I was the only one who got heavy after high school. All of my old friends still look amazing. So I would skip meeting them out for dinner or drinks... and started avoiding their calls altogether. I also worried that my sweet, wonderful, handsome husband was embarassed of me. He always told me I was beautiful but "I" didn't "feel" beautiful. I knew that eventually I would have health issues due to my weight... and I knew that day wasn't far off. So I made the decision to take control and get my life back. The decision was all mine... and I only shared it with my husband. My journey has been amazing... AMAZING!!! Hands down the very best thing I could have done for myself. I have a spring in my step now that was long gone. I smile more than I ever did before and I was pretty darn smiley before surgery. I just plain feel good... inside and out. To some I may seem like a slow loser... I have lost 57lbs in just under 4months... BUT when I step on the scale I smile! Crazy I know! At 4 months out I pretty much eat what I want. If I want pizza with my family I have pizza. I end up eating only a small piece or maybe a few bites but it is more than enough for me. If I want an alcoholic beverage I have a few sips. That is the beauty of the sleeve. You will have a little and you will be happy. It is not hard to follow the sleeve diet because you will learn very quickly what your sleeve can or cannot tolerate after you have healed. Only you know if you are ready to start this journey but I believe you will not be disappointed if you decide to go through with it. Good Luck!!! Keep us posted

Praying for you.. I grew up w/ an alcoholic father... you know the rest!!.. Be strong and positive...

Lissa, I "liked" your post - you are very brave and I know going through this is very hurtful. My Sister married an alcoholic after dating two alcoholics. They werent back-toback-to back but I can tell you you are much better off filing for a divorce. Reoccurence in alcoholics is high, and the chances of an enabler changing the situation for an alcoholic is slim. I dated an alcoholic for awhile and we were very serious, until they wrapped their graduation present around an oak tree. It may sound horrible but what if they hadn't? I would have probably spent years and years putting up with an escalating situation that could already get bad at times. I would have never met my wonderful Spouse, left the town I really needed to get out of...you are out, and you see it for what it is. Be brave. Be prepared too. Do what you need to to be protected. Get your handgun license if you don't have it yet. Please don't take offense. I didn't say you needed to get a gun, i just said get the license. The license takes longer, and you don't want to be two or three months out from legally carrying one if you decide you need to. This step, from what I observed with people I knew, can be really hard. This is the physical and spiritual representation of your marriage, and you are going to have to separate all of this out. Be really careful, get a lawyer and email me if you ever need to talk.

So, I got a text message from my DH last night (and that doesn't mean Dear anything!). Text message said, basically, "File our divorce papers now!" We've been separated since June. I came home from the hospital June 3 on 3 kinds of oxygen. He got ticked because I didn't know what was for dinner that night @@ and broke every dish in our house. I moved out a few days later. I've been doing everything I know how to a. get healthier mentally and physically and b. have even gone to marriage counseling with him, which was useless because he thinks everything is ALL my fault. He's an alcoholic, which he hid from me till after we got married. Now he's in full bloom again. I guess we just weren't meant to be. So, to keep this on topic, can I count this as losing 180 pounds of unnecessary crap in a hurry?

I'm surprised nobody has said this yet seriously... But the reason they tell you not to drink alcohol after surgery is because of the pain medication...if you drink while on the pain meds it could be a deadly combination. So, if you are done with the pain meds then by all means, drink on your birthday, but if you aren't done with the pain meds, just don't take them that day...and have fun...as you already read, people still drink after surgery, just not in excess...so it doesn't effect you calorie-wise. Oh yeah and Happy Birthday!

Although Southern California is known for health food and outdoor activities on its sunny beaches, there are still rising numbers of obese individuals. This is in line with the rest of the country, with approximately 30% of Americans currently meeting the standards of obesity. When diet and exercise alone aren't doing the trick, there are weight loss surgical procedures that can be used as a potential last resort. One of these surgical options which have become more and more popular involves the use of a lap band, or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. This type of surgery involves the placement of the lapband, or adjustable belt, around the upper portion of the stomach. This is constructed out of silicone, and it can be tightened when needed by adding saline into the band to inflate it. The band is connected to a port, which is placed right under the abdominal skin, which can then be opened or closed to put saline in and out of the band. Like gastric bypass surgery, this is a way to reduce the size of the stomach, so that you can control how much food is able to go into the body. It is also a way to slow down the digestive process, giving a feeling of increased fullness. This type of weight loss surgery can be extremely effective, but it is not recommended for everyone. Most surgeons will not perform this procedure unless there is a demonstrated history of other failed weight loss attempts using traditional diet and exercise. It is also only available for those with a certain minimum BMI, and who have health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes that are caused by this excessive weight. It is not recommended for those who only need to lose a few pounds or those who are mentally unstable, or dependent on drugs and alcohol, as they may have difficulty with the aftermath of the procedure. It may be necessary to lose weight before the procedure can be performed, in some cases. Before you can go in for a lap band Los Angeles, you will first need to sit down with a doctor for a thorough consultation to learn more about what your options are. They will need a full medical history to determine if you are a good candidate, and you will need to learn all the information about the risks associated with this drastic yet potentially lifesaving procedure.

O lord people, didn't you read her post and request to not reply with the criticism about it being so early in her journey? To the poster, have your self a drink, dear and enjoy your birthday. If your stomach isn't liking it, im sure it'll let you know and stop. I had a girls night about this time after my surgery, which included several glasses of wine. Didn't hit me any faster than preband, my band didn't fall off, and I'm still losing weight. One day of alcohol isn't going to hurt you IMO. I hope you have a fabulous birthday.

My PCP also does not understand that the band does not affect the way food is digested or nutrients are absorbed like gastric bypass. Alcohol, once you are healed, is no different whether you are banded or not. It is so-called empty calories but I have a cocktail or a glass of wine every evening...

My surgen said alcohol was fine but just know that its calories. I think it will be fine from time to time

You need to consider that it could really set your weightloss back. Alcohol has lots of calories, and it may reduce your inhibitions enough that you eat things not on your plan. I would tread carefully. You don't want to ruin a whole weeks work in one night.

First, what did your doc say about drinking alcohol? If he/she said "yay", go for it; if "nay" you will have to decide if you want to be a rebel. I haven't had any ill effects, but I am not much of a drinker either. Even before banding alcohol just didn't agree with my stomach. Now, before you hear all the "drinking is empty calories, why would you do that so early in your journey", let me just say this ... you're birthday comes once a year (although some would argue it also comes "every" year), if you want to have a drink, do so. That said, be careful because the consensus is that it takes less to "feel it" once you have the band. That has been my experience as well. Also, don't over do it. This is a good time start being conscious about what you eat/drink. Lastly, if you decide to get "blasted" (being your birthday and all), don't freak out when you don't like the numbers on the scale next week. In fact, don't weigh for a week or so. Give yourself time to get back on track and make up for your "celebration". If you are able to immediately get back on track and move forward on your journey, you're golden. If, on the other hand, you find yourself struggling to get back into the groove it will be a good lesson for the next time your friends want you to go drinking. Starting out it is trial and error for some of us. Others are able to walk the straight and narrow from the start. As long as you know which type you are and can live with it, you'll be just fine. Oh and ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy! My birthday is Friday and I will probably have at least 1 glass of wine.

I did have a couple of drinks and I was banded on 9/8. Just be careful because I am a beer drinker but now I can't drink it so I've been drinking wine and it's much more concentrated with alcohol. It only takes me a couple of glasses to feel it. Sip it slowly. Happy Birthday and use your best judgement...

Is it ok if I have a drink or 2? How many have drank after getting banded. Please help!!!