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The point of a 4th step out of the big book is "to face and be rid of that which is blocking you from God". Theres a great website to visit to learn about what AA actually is and isn't. In the 1940's AA had a 75% success rate. Today there is less than 10%. Why? because what they did back then (working the steps in less than a week) is not done the same today. Today we are more interested in patting someone on the back, then telling them the truth. Go to Steps and Traditions Web Site for more info, read the articles, they are very interesting!! Not blaming additction on heredity, but I do believe what the big book says that I suffer from a genetic pre-disposed illness and for that reason my body processes alcohol differently than other people. Congrats on your sobriety as well!

Ok pardon my ignorance. I truly am, I don't know much about AA except what I have seen on movies. I read the 12 steps for OA. Now.. how does that help? I thought in AA, you make amends, because due to your alcoholism you've hurt people, etc. But doing this for OA seems like a joke. Seriously, I don't understand? You apologize to someone because you're fat, ???? I'm not trolling or trying to flame, I'm truly ignorant on the subject and would like educating. Because I think I am addicted to overeating, and I think I've made strides with the band, but the binge times still come, so I'm of course curious for other options. But the 12 steps seems very odd.

the truth of the matter is that is does not matter what one uses to 'check out' - alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling etc etc. the problem isn't those 'things'. the problem is, as the book says, centered in our minds. we are uncomfortable in our skin and are unable to live in the day that we're in without reaching for something else. the purpose of the program of AA/OA/GA/SA/CA/MA ... (as it says on page 45 of the Big Book) is to help us find a power greater than yourself that will solve our problems. it also says, on the same page, LACK OF POWER THAT WAS OUR DILEMMA. i first got into AA back in 2001. i could put together some time (9months, year, 6 months etc etc) but kept 'going out'. My sobriety date is 12/10/06 and for the first time ever i've been in the book more and have truly worked all steps. i also sponsor 3 guys. for those of you who are new to AA or at an impasse, i suggest reading page 567. then go to page 45, then to page 25 and i finish up with the Doctors Opinion. Then start with Bill Story and go for it! that really lays the ground work for what AA is, our problem and the solution. if anyone wants to chat about things, feel free to PM me anytime. you best resource in your area is AA Central Office. Google it and call them. *remember "time", as they call it means nothing. you could have 6 months or 60 years. just b/c someone has lots of time under their belt doesn't mean that are a good resource to go to. don't listen to their words, look at their actions. are they resentful, judgmental, gossiping, self centered, acting on ego? if so, regardless of 'time' look for someone else to work with. AA saved my life. and now with this little band thing - i get to live my life. check out my sponsors website: www.theaaway.com there is an awesome meditation on the homepage. PM me with your thoughts.

This is a great idea! As so many of us with weight issues having compulsions that have led us to this point. I will admit that I do not struggle with the compulsion to overeat, although I have had my moments. My struggle is with alcohol, it is my escape from "feeling fat" or being embarrassed in social situations about how I look. I have tried to stop many times and am not successful. At AA and Celebrate recovery I got stuck on number 4, I think from just lack of knowledge on how to complete that step. Anyways, it is a terrible habit and my children are starting to reach an age where they are aware of it. I am concerned that this will be my greatest obstacle with the lap band as the eating is not really a big problem. Anyone else who struggles with alcohol? and is having the band or has the band? I would like to hear from you.

Thanks for all the info guys! I guess it makes a little more sense, but I still can't wrap my brain around 12 steps for binge eating.. As for whoever said you can't blame alcoholism on anyone else, it has been proven that alcoholism is a genetic disposition. Or maybe it's obsessive compuslive habits? I may be wrong, couldn't point out where it says that anywhere.. But everyone in my family has serious addictions, between food, Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling and Sex. ALL of these run rampant and dangerously through every single person in my family. Everyone seems to be motivated to address the issues in the past year with me losing weight, I'm the first one to make some sort of difference in what's going on. Due to this, my mom & sister are trying to get away from the food compulsions. My uncle is going to rehab for alcoholism. About 8 of us in the family are taking (or will be soon) Chantix to stop smoking. Maybe all families are like this, I don't know. I guess everyone hides this stuff well, but it's boggling when I write down all the things every single person in my family are addicted to. Mine are ultimately food.. and cigarettes.

I can tolerate any artificial sweetener, but some people have trouble with some of them. Sugar alcohols (those whose names end in "-itol", like xylitol) are especially known for giving some people problems.

From Raven's Husband, Paul: Assuming you have experience with accessing various types of ports, it's easily done in about 1-2 minutes. If you can't feel the port outline to determine exactly where the diaphragm is, consider US guided access as an option to fishing around blindly in hopes of locating the diaphragm. Supplies: -20ga Huber needle with short tubing extention. 1"-2"+ needle length depending on depth of tissue over port. -10ml syringe. -18ga needle to draw saline. -18ga needle to draw 2% Lidocaine w/ epi. -25-27ga needle to inject Lidocaine into tissue overlying port. -Sterile saline (Or contrast media, if necessary for visualization via fluoroscopy or CT. Check port manufacturer's data to confirm compatibility.). -Alcohol prep pads. -Betadine prep pads (Unless allergic, then substitute as needed). -1-2 gauze pads. -Bandaid. -Spill safe container of Water for patient to drink from. -Non sterile exam gloves. -Sterile gloves if desired. 1. Patient positioned supine w/ 1-2 pillows under his/ her back. 2. Draw up roughly 1-3ml (Or as much/ little needed) of saline with 10ml syringe and 18ga needle then remove needle. Attach syringe to Huber needle w/ extention, flush and clamp the tubing. Note volume of saline remaining in syringe. 3. Locate the port. Spend as much time as needed to get comfortable with port location and attitude. 4. Prep site with Betadine/ Alcohol, wipe with sterile gauze for better visualization. 5. Infiltrate Lidocaine to tissue directly over the diaphragm. Less is better, too much and you'll have trouble feeling the port. 1-2ml is probably enough. 6. Reprep the site as needed, inject Huber needle through anesthetized skin and tissue to the center of the diaphragm. It takes a bit of firm pressure to penetrate the diaphragm. Don't worry, the port body is plenty strong enough to prevent overpenetration. 7. Release the tubing clamp and aspirate until resistance is felt. Again, note volume in syringe. If unable to aspirate at all, you're either not in the right spot or the port & band are completely empty. 8. Inject desired amount. Clamp tubing and note volume injected. Have patient drink a small amount of water while still supine. If patient's esophagus is now obstructed and unable to swallow any Fluid, aspirate enough until no longer obstructed before removing the needle. 9. Remove Huber needle, clean up the site, place Bandaid. Repeat swallow test in upright position with at least 120ml of water (4oz) to "Proof" the patentcy of the esophagus. 10. Discharge patient to home with 24hr phone# access to your service for emergencies related to this fill.

I had to take a few short written assessments. One was questions related to whether I understood what the surgery entailed and it's possible complications; one was about alcohol; one was about eating disorders. My appointment was only about 30 minutes.

I am 7 months out and 95 pounds down - and i weigh daily without fail on my bathroom scale after using restroom (and naked) first thing in morning before getting in shower. My weight can fluctuate within about 3-4 pounds overnight - in other words there have been major short-term swings over the months. Sometimes this is due to me having more calories the day before, bloating before/after/during ovulation/period, amount of salt/water retained in my system, alcohol night before (like I'm dehydrated the next morning - my weight is falsely super down by a few pounds - but it's all regained the next day from hydrating). Take heart - I do not know many people who go down on the scale every single day - there are going to be fluctuations - (and different scales always produce different results). Just stick to what you are doing and you will get to goal!!!!

My addiction was diet Pepsi. The thing that I finally was able to kick it with was orange flavored stevia drink mix mixed with about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. It actually does taste good and I think it gave me that sweet-tart and crisp feeling that the soda did. Interestingly I read that back in the day they used to use apple cider vinegar to help alcoholics kick.

Yep check with your team & watch the sugar alcohol sweeteners. Also you may find things become so super sweet & you can’t eat them when your taste buds temporarily change. I loved that phase as I never went back to sweet foods or drinks & broke my desire for it - I loved a sweet treat after dinner & on weekends. I keep my sugar intake low (less than 10g a day) and avoid artificial sweeteners or sugar alternatives wherever possible. They only feed your craving for sweet & research is showing that artificial sweeteners actually lead to weight gain, mess up your immune system & cause inflammation so I choose to avoid them. Now if I want something sweet I have some fruit.

That's not a stupid question...the only stupid questions are the ones we want answers to and don't ask! My understanding is that a sugar alcohol is a hydrogenated form of sugar, and to varying degrees, it may or may not be absorbed by the intestines. They may to be used to mask the aftertaste of some artificial sweeteners, and depending on which sugar alcohol it is, it may have some caloric value. The sugar alcohol is not absorbed by the body, and tends to ferment in the small intestine, thus may cause digestive upset. For my purposes, I would be counting them in with the grams of carbs listed on a food product, if they contain any caloric value. Carbs which occur naturally I allow myself to have (fruit, some veggies). I limit my carbs which occur in condiments, such as ketchup. I try to avoid the over processed foods which may contain artificial sugars/sweeteners, which would be including the sugar alcohols. Your choices may be different, but generally I would count the ones with calories as carb grams, and avoid them, as they would be found in the over processed foods that are chemically engineered. One easy rule which I follow is to shop only on the periphery of the grocery store, in the produce, meat, and dairy sections. Of course, the bakery is also on the periphery, but I avoid going there! I don't know if I answered your question or not...please let me know if you would like a clarification of my response!

I am so sorry you're having diarrhea. Have you used artificial sweeteners in the past? If not, you really have to watch out for sorbitol and the sugar alcohols in sugar free products. They will give you both gas and diarrhea. I hope you feel better soon.

mine too. Kelly said it best, you people should be given a special medal for turning out so good. Anyone ever read a book called, "A Child Called 'IT'" by David Pelzer? This man was severly abused by his mom - the things she did to him.... horrible. AND - she was an alcoholic too!

I hate to say it but I messed up on my pre-op last Saturday by drinking some alcohol. My surgery is Friday and I'm a little scared that my liver will not be shrunk up enough. Is it possible to just drink liquids for 3 days and have my liver small enough to do the surgery?

I think you should go. You can put Protein powder in a Water bottle and even add the water to it for the ride. I think it will dissolve fine. Tea bags or crystal light can be added at the brewery. Beer was my choice of alcohol and at 3 months out I still don't think I would enjoy one. I may try a sip once I get the guts for carbonation. Maybe there will be a soup you can have or a mashed potato so you don't feel totally left out. Good luck and enjoy! It sounds like a fun outing! Sent from my iPad using VST

I hear you. It has been so hard fo rme lately. I ate on of those big reese's cups yesterday, but luckily it was at the same time I was developing the stomach flu so now I don't think I want chocolate for while. If you are really, really addicted, then you need to be like the alcoholic. Have none. Not the diet chocolate or the power bars or anything else. It is a slipperly slope that you can't afford to go down.

Sorry Kimley that should have been minus Fiber and sugar alcohols not Protein and sugar alcohols...Having a bad brain day.....

I too was worried about my psych evaluation....mainly because I admitted myself to a Mental Hospital a year after my first daughter was born. (Severe postpartum depression). But unlike most people on here, my Psychiatrist didnt ask me to fill out any questionnaire. She just asked about my family history. If there was any drug abuse/alcohol abuse, obesity, mental disorders. Then she asked why I wanted the surgery and how much I was REALISTICALLY looking to lose. I guess I got an easy Psychiatrist who didnt really do these types of evaluations too often. (And that showed later when they faxed the eval the first time to the surgeon and forgot to put my last name on it.....and then it took them a month to fax the FINAL eval because the Psychiatrist didnt release me and did not NOT release me). So far, I seem to be the only one who didnt endure any lengthy visit. Mine was like 20 mins tops. I spent more time in the waiting room than I did in with the Psychiatrist. What I am trying to say is, dont freak out. Just be honest and dont forget to stop and breathe in between parts of the eval. Good luck and hang in there!! Let us know how it goes...:thumbup:

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 waited about 6 weeks before I had caffeine and about 3 months before I had alcohol. I have found though that one drink at a bar (probably 2-3 shots worth of vodka) makes me feel good and 2 just makes me unwalkable drunk lol. So be careful!

I drink coffee, diet coke and alcohol-all in moderation. I didn't drink much alcohol until I was close to goal. At this point though I'm trying to get Kcal in to maintain and quit losing! Nice problem right? I don't mind being this amazingly thin but almost nobody knows about my surgery and is sorta watching me and freaking out. Anyway, the only rule I followed was 60 grams of protein everyday. I didn't get all the water in, but tried. I didn't stop eating carbs, bubbly things or coffee. I drink when I eat and I eat carbs in moderation. However, I find I don't have much room for carbs when I'm pounding the protein down. The other thing I did was exercise. Anyway, in my brain those are the most important things. Its been 8 months and its still a honeymoon!

Your dr. sound VERY similar to mine. I was told no alcohol until at least 1 year post-op (I'm 10 months now and haven't had a drop of alcohol or soda since before surgery) I was told to say goodbye to caffeine forever and now I do drink 1 cup of decaf a day (decaf still has small amts of caffeine). My dr. also doesn't believe in the liver-shrinking diet and said my liver was beautiful when he was in there...lol. I think follow your surgeon's guidelines and use your own common sense. If caffeine or alcohol are slippery slopes for you then maybe give yourself more time before partaking. While they are not slippery slopes for me (I truly had no problem giving them up, as I'm not a big drinker anyway, diet soda was harder than alcohol for me, but I did it anyway, cold turkey too!) I just felt it was in my best interests to not give myself tiny amounts of something that my body doesn't even need. You will figure out what works best for you and your sleeve.

My husband has this and when he is overly tired or had lots to drink (alcohol) it makes it worse.

I kid you not, I had to answer 100's of questions, but not all therapist do that. Mainly they make sure you know what you're getting yourself into with the LB and to make sure you have no problems that will work against the band working. They asked things like "do you drink alcohol or drugs to face the day", things like that.