Search the Community

Don't give up on yourself. If your hungry all the time, it may be that you have alot of acid in your stomach. Check with you surgeon to see if you can take a PPI (prilosec). I was always hungry and I started taking prilosec and I'm not hungry anymore. How many calories are you consuming on your liquid diet? Are you getting enough protein? Are you exercising at all, like walking? Have you lost inches? Hang in there, it will happen..... Kaiser educated on the dangers of drinking of alcohol. Some weight loss patients have died from drinking alcohol. How manydrinks they had, I don't really know. Also, alcohol can contribute to weight gain.

Nooooooooooooooo.......no alcohol. It is wayyyyyyy too soon. Sorry to hear about your stall. Have you contacted your doctor?

Hello! I had my surgery done December 14th, and i lost 12 pounds pre-op, and 8 pounds the first week post op and now i have stalled. I have read that it happens but it is really annoying. My surgeon required me on a liquid diet for 1 month. I feel like i should have lost more than 20 pounds. This is going to sound really lame but so far i have regretted this surgery. I just feel like i should have gotten the RNY but i could not because i take coumadin (blood thinner) and the malabsorption would not have processed it correctly. I started at 238 and now i am down to 218. Who gets stalled the second week? I guess i keep wondering if my pouch expanded or what.. I can eat less then i did before but more then i imagined. People talk about *not being hungry* doesn't happen to me, i get hungry all the time. I just fear that since i started the puree phase that the scale won't move. My question for you longer sleevers- when is it okay to drink a bit of alcohol? I am not much of a drinker but with new years coming up i was just wondering.

A lot of people will say it is empty calories, but I am sure they have treats that are empty calories as well. I believe the same with alcohol as I do food, everything in moderation. I monitor my calories, make sure I meet my daily nutritional requirements and enjoy one or two White Russians or glasses of wine just about every night. I know a lot of people will frown on me for that, but at least I am honest. Presently, I am in a great deal of physical pain due to severe back problems. Having those one or two drinks in the evening helps me relax and sleep better. I will be having spinal surgery next month. Will I continue to have my one or two glasses of wine or whatever at night after that, probably, but that doesn't make me an alcoholic. Not by a longshot.

Sweetie, I've been obese for over 20 years and I was one of those "you're taking the easy way out" people until earlier this year. I'll tell you one thing: YOU are the only person who can make this decision for you. What finally flicked the switch for me this year was realizing that I've fought my weight for over 20 years, repeatedly saying "I can do this myself...I don't need the easy way out!" And yet...here I am. 215 lbs overweight. So if I can do it myself...why haven't I? I am now able to look at this surgery as a tool and not as an easy way out. In fact, if you look at the facts and what we all have to do before and after surgery...this is NOT easy. This is a tool, not a quick fix or a guaranteed thing. We all have to work to get the weight off and change the way we're living our lives. Finally, I thought about my Dad...who was never able to beat his alcoholism and died at the young age of 67. I realized that if there had been a surgery that would have helped him to stop the drinking...I would have supported him. I would have wanted him to do it. Because I would have had so many more years with my Dad...and now he's gone. I'll never have that. You have to do what is right for you. Let your friends and family know that you've made your decision and that you're standing by yourself. Make it clear that you've heard their input...and now it's time for them to shut it. You can stand your ground and have healthy boundaries...you're going to need to flex those muscles in the months and years to come. As far as support is concerned, you have it all right here sweetie. You can do this. And we will support you and be here for you.

You're not alone- I was honestly frustrated when posing the alcohol question prior to starting this thread (with lots of helpful responses, thanks everyone!) because the unanimous response was the "it's empty calories!" or people simply chiming in that they lost the taste for alcohol after surgery. I think it's the sort of thing to be enjoyed occasionally and not as a very regular thing, if you have a tendency to gain weight it's obviously not smart to indulge in something like alcohol regularly. I've always detested soda, and I'm not a fan of candy (except dark chocolate) so perhaps thats why I have gotten away with it for now.

Reach my goal weight and maintain (within a 5 lb. window either side) throughout the year. Continue my exercise program. Do not succumb to alcohol addiction now that I can't eat as much. Lynda

Since I've posted this topic, I've been (honestly, I know I'll get some ridicule for this) having drinks 2-3 evenings a week since my 30 day mark. I do not drink mixed drinks, just hard alcohol on the rocks- no tummy troubles here, but everyone is different! I am also the same weight I was at age 13....13!!! I am aware of the empty calories etc. etc., and this month has been filled with Christmas parties, family in town, and my husbands 30th birthday- I don't intend to keep it up at this rate. I also am "good" about my eating aside from alcohol. I do intend to drink once a week or so.

Since posting this, I've been (some may ridicule me for this behavior) drinking 2-3 nights a week since my one month mark. I am still losing significant amounts of weight- does not seem to be a problem! I do not drink mixed drinks I drink alcohol on the rocks, and the pure alcohol has not hurt my tummy whatsoever- but everyone is different in that regard. I do not intend to drink more than one evening a week at this point- Christmas parties, my husbands birthday, and family being in town has kind of made me a bit of a drinker this month. I'm aware of the empty calories etc. etc.- I am also 131 lbs which is the same weight I was at age 13...it's hard to feel like I've failed myself in any fashion!

I don't drink with my meals. I don't drink alcohol at all. I usually eat around 5pm and have 100 calorie pack of almonds around 8pm. The reason my friend gained weight back is because after awhile, she could eat bigger portions. I really do think it's easy to gain weight back because it's really hard to maintain and eat such few calories.

Wait, 2 more questions...do you drink alcohol? I do not. Or take any special medication? I do not. Again, just wondering and trying to figure this out! Thanks!

Hi CowGirlJane, I am new to the forum and my op was mid-Dec. I am also worried about leaks. My surgeon told me that leaks can be found months later (he showed me an article that described 2 cases of leaks folowing LSG, one at 6 months and another at 9 months after surgery. He said that was why I had to follow the feeding instructions and the no alcohol and smoking for a full year..... yes, he managed to scare me! He told me that a sudden spike in temperature, abdominal pain and feeling unwell would be the sign that I needed to ring him asap. I saw there was a whole section on this forum about complications but I don't dare go and have a look!

Also getting banded Jan 3rd! Today is day 5 of the pre-op diet, and its just now starting to get easier. It's been hard having to go to holiday parties and be surrounded by food and not be able to eat any of it (yesterday there were bagels and lox on my dining table, a huge test of my willpower to not eat any!). I'm excited to ring in the new year (sans alcohol, unfortunately) knowing that the year will be filled with weight-loss accomplishments. Good luck to the rest of the January bandsters, and happy holidays!

Thanks everyone. The omeprazole seems to be working and I havnt been eating any spicy food and eating very slowly. I think I had a way too spicy curry one night, also been drinking alcohol which I rarely do. Just got a bit of a fright because I'm so far from home. Merry Christmas to you all!

I didn't have a nutrition test, just a consult. The psych consult was ok. They basically make sure you do.t suffer from depression, you are doing this for the right reasons. They asked me if I ever used drugs or alcohol? If there were alcoholics in my family? Did I have a happy childhood? Then the computerized test was a hoot! Do I hear voices? If so do I do what they say? Do I believe in God? Do I base my routing on what God tells me? They ask you the same question a million different ways. Don't go in nervous, its really easy!

When I became diabetic I was given the choice of continuing my slow dance with alcohol or keeping my kidneys and eyeballs. It was pretty close there for a while, as I was literally going blind due to diabetic retinopathy as a comorbidity of morbid obesity complicated by other mostly self inflicted over consumption errors. I quit all alcohol cold turkey 22 years ago. I am not a tee-totaller. Due to the Band, my thoughts on food & drink have been revised. Looking back, while I spent nearly 40 years in various enjoyments with beer, wine & spirits, I can't look back and actually identify where any of it did me any real benefit. In one course in nutrition, we were to recreate as closely as possible what our yearly intake of calories might have been. After considerable effort and following a model to make the process seem somewhat of a reliable indicator, we then extrapolated into a "10 year" intake frame. I was astounded to find that my beer/alcohol calories was virtually equal to my food calories for that period. I was also faced with the fact the exact amount I was overweight, equaled in calories that amount....I could have given up either the food or the alcohol portion of my intake, and NOT been carrying that extra fat around. Up til then I had attributed it to the pizza and burgers, etc. So, for me, I haven't had a drop of beer since 1989. Don't miss it. Now. That part took a few years. I do enjoy sparkling mineral water now, but couldn't tolerate the fizz for a couple years postOp. Speaking of which, TOMORROW 12/24 marks the beginning of my SEVEN years POSTOP!! Hooray the Band!!!

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.