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For me it does I drink one drink of alcohol not beer and I'm wasted I've found myself a few times with my head in the toilet from two drinks. A dame shame if you ask me because I like to party.

You are absolutely right. The bypass definitely makes alcohol a big fat no-no. For sure it can create an alcoholic out of somebody who never had a problem very quickly. But the sleeve is not the same thing Thank goodness and I never had a problem with drinking alcohol in the past but I certainly enjoy a glass of wine from time to time. I had 3 oz of white wine last night over 2 hours. I never once felt buzzed and I enjoyed it very much with a little bit of cheese. As for soda I have never been a big soda drinker. I can't drink caffeine I can't tolerate it for the last four or five years I have had no caffeine in my life and I'm better off for it. And soda doesn't call to me thank goodness. I'm good with water. Every now and then I have Crystal light but I actually get bored of Crystal light and crave plain water.

Just remember to take it slow. Our bodies absorb alcohol differently now.

I am totally having food funerals... Chinese today, alcohol and sushi tomorrow, and hot wings on Sunday!!! I know I need to get it out of my system !

Hi, I am in the medical profession and also started with bulimia, but recovered and never required treatment. According to one of the DSM manual ( psychology book): Many people who are bulimic describe their feelings during binges as completely out of control, driven by a desperate desire to escape or numb out. While they might feel ugly, unworthy, hopeless, and helpless before and during a binge-purge episode, after, they might feel a mix of control, shame, relief, disgust, high, dizziness, exhaustion, and resolution. Part of the cycle often includes the promise that each incidence will be the last. These are the exact feelings that an alcoholic/addict feels. If a physician feels or knows you have a substance abuse problem, they will not do surgery, never mind if are have bulimia or anorexia. This would be life threatening to the individual in addition to being an unsuccesful surgery. Excessive vomiting can cause slippage of the lapband causing erosion of the stomach. Vomiting causes pressure in the stomach. The pressure exerted can cause the band to expand and contract, leading to erosion of the banding material. Treatment for this includes medications and surgery, in which recovery is longer than the initial insertion. Please, don't think about this or do this, until you totally have the bulimia under control with the help of a physician and couselor. It is going to take some time. This disease has a lot to do with psychological and physical changes. Preparing for and after receiving the lap band, is a big process both mentally and physically. I know. I am post operative day 16 and right now, have no vices to lean back on when I am stressed out. I don't drink, can't eat my comfort foods, can only walk at this time, and the gym is out. I am getting through it with the support of fellow banders.

Hi - thought I would share my story. Had a lap band over ten years ago. Worked really well for first 3 years or so but slowly regained almost all of the weight I lost. Two years ago i started on sensible eating plan and virtually no alcohol. The weight dropped off and now I am as low as I ever been and feeling really great. I don't believe that the band has been ' working' over the last several years. I had an infection appear over the port site recently and have been diagnosed with erosion with about half the band in the stomach. I suspect that the band eroded some years ago and it is not a recent event. I will be having the band removed shortly and even though I don't think the band has been working and I have finally got my act together with regards eating sensibly I still harbor an irrational fear that once the band is removed i will regain the weight. Has anyone else got a similar story ?

You are the sweetest person - you and your princess are lucky to have found each other! I did love him when we got married - but really I married the him that he constructed, as he is a compulsive liar. I made my bed and I'm lying in it - no one made me marry him or stay with him. Circumstances got in the way (I was just here to visit, 9/11 happened, my flight home was grounded, and I just stayed and we had to get married quickly before my visa expired. Had I had more months to know him better, I wouldn't have stayed). I am a really strong person. I get it from my mum who had to go through hell with my alcoholic dad (which is why I said I couldn't be with someone who drank, and my husband said he was teetotal... and he didnt drink until after we were married. He can stop for months before binges). I will always win in the end - I'm patient and I can wait. He will never get the better of me. I have gained a lot through the path I chose - my amazing daughters, my breast reduction (I would have needed to wait for years to get it on the National Health Service back home), my design business, true friends, self-awareness, even this surgery. I'll be in my mid-40s when I return home for good - and if I meet someone I will be ready, and I will know what I want and need and not settle. I can wait. My daughters will be 16 and 17 then - I wouldn't want to enter into a new relationship with young daughters anyway. Not these days. In the end I'll thank him for the experience he gave me, and let him go - I am a stronger wiser person than I would otherwise have been. We are friends, co-parents, family even. But there is just no attraction for me any more, and too many bad memories of trying to bring up toddlers while he was passed out on the bathroom floor for me to rekindle a deeper relationship beyond attraction. The age difference becomes more apparent with each passing year too - he is 67 and I am 42 - and we have less and less in common. He loves me, at least he thinks he does - as much as a narcissist is capable of loving anyone. And he thinks we have a good marriage. Perhaps we do in this day and age. Honestly, I do hope he just passes peacefully at some point in the next 5 years so that my daughters and I can move on. I don't want to hurt him or wish him any ill. He's not a bad person - he is just not a very good husband (there was a reason why he had never been married at 50), and he's not my prince. So many hugs to you! I hope your recovery is going well and that your princess is taking care of you and cherishing you!

Paris!!! I am soooo jealous!!! I will have to go back to Paris as soon as I reach goal! that would be a fabulous reward for my efforts!! Food is just our crutch of choice...it could have been something like alcohol or drugs or any of a number of other behaviors. This is something we will have to deal with always, but the lapband should really help. I wish you (and me--being banded tomorrow) success on our journey. Now, go drink some wine, eat some great bread and cheese, and enjoy Paris!!!

I am not going to try it yet, but has anyone tried alcohol? What would you drink?

Two years out... I'm on a bender eating frozen yog 3 times a week. I keep it small and low/non fat. I skip the sugar free because the sugar alcohol gets to me. I log everything I eat, and pay the price by not eating something else, or exercising a little bit more. I also bought the ice cream maker to make eggfaces protein ice cream recipes. I just got a new blender with a smoothy setting... I take an ESA carb control protein drink, a few ice cubes and a 1/8 cup of peanut flour...wizz it up and so YUM. Also 25 gms of protein. I think it is always wise to keep to the Drs plan... especially early out... that tender little tummy needs lots of TLC. Don't make it digest more than it has too early out...plenty of time to test the water later!(as if water is the problem child!)...oh and by all means, go ahead and eat the pets wether you paid for them or not... they are non carb!(unless your pet is a potato)

I'm not a big drinker, but when I go out with friends, I do like to enjoy a drink or two. I am three weeks post surgery. I am going to a concert soon (I will be almost six weeks post surgery by then). I would just like to have a margarita or two with my friends. Do you think I'm pushing it? Has anyone else had a drink that soon after surgery that could give me some advice?

Happy anniversary! That said, yes, I tried wine from my husband's glass and it gave me headaches. So did beer. It's either too early or my alcohol tolerance has gone to hell for good. Meh ... No loss, no mourning.

I should have started this yesterday, but it was a bit crazy around here then. On Sunday, my niece (she's 36) called to let me know her father died. He'd been an alcoholic, from a family of alcoholics, as long as I've known him. My dear sister died in 2003 from complications of Redux(part of the phen-fen family of drugs). So I had little to no contact with him in the intervening years. My brother-in-law's family has been of no help with planning or even being supportive, while that should come as no surprise...but the sheer selfishness they've exhibited is amazing. Ugh, I could go on forever about that...... But, I won't bore anyone with my epic ranting about them. For my pre-op diet I'm supposed to drink three protein shakes totaling no more than 600 calories altogether. They have to have no more than 10 carbs and at least 15 grams of protein each. I also get a meal of no more than 400 calories a day. This is a standard low-cal but now too low carb meal, I'm allowed a serving of whole grain w/ the meal. My day should be 1000 calories and 100 grams of protein. I did pretty well yesterday, I got in 906 calories and 115 grams of protein. Although my niece would say that I was mad at the world and weirdly forgetful . Today is better, I'm not mad and I think I'm doing well memory-wise (although I can't be 100% sure).

I drink pop sometimes, but it depends, it can irritate a little the first couple of sips. I've always been a fan of Diet Coke and love it, but I don't drink it much anymore. I do drink alcohol frequently, and don't have a problem with it. I love my wine....lol! However, we have to remember it still has calories, so you need to adjust your daily accordingly. Also many people find they feel the effects sooner so can't drink as much anymore. Not necessarily a bad thing!

Sorry to hear you've had some health issues and having a hard time. But how awesome that you lost 22 pounds in a month?! When was the last time you can say that?!! For nausea, my nurses told me sniff a alcohol wipe. It will make you feel better instantly. I mixed new whey protein with isopure and lots of ice and just kept sipping throughout the day. At one point I had a timer set. During puréed foods I had a lot of blended fish and ricotta cheese. Amazon sells unflavored protein powder you can shake into your blender to add some more protein. I know how you feel about the regret and was it worth it. I remember very vividly my first few days after surgery thinking ... what did I do? Was this worth it? Could I have tried one more diet? And the answer a year later and 146 pounds lost is yes!! I am two weeks away from my 1 year anniversary and how I feel, how active I am now, all worth it. You are doing awesome!! I wasn't walking as much as you after surgery. Keep your head up, every morning say it is only going to get better :-).!! Feel better!!

We dont say alcoholics are taking the easy way out when they enter rehab, we commend them for it because quitting anything cold turkey is next to impossible when you are truly addicted. To me, WLS isnt any different. And although I havent been sleeved just yet, from all the posts I've read on VST, it's still a big struggle. You have 80% of your stomach removed, but the sad news is that our "fat brains" dont go out into the medical waste container along with it. We have to retrain and recondition ourselves on how to eat. We cant just pick any old piece of food up and eat it, we have to make conscious decisions which is certainly a battle when you're addicted to food. So although the weight loss stories sound phenomenal and seeing the before and after pics are mind blowing, dont ever think that making this major change to better yourself, your health and your quality of life "the easy way out". I wish you all the best and much success on your journey. I enjoyed this post, hope to read more from you soon!

You are definitely in the right place! You will find tons of great folks here who are more than willing to answer your questions based on our personal experiences. The most difficult part of post-op life? Many folks who suffer from obesity are food addicts. There are a number of similarities (and differences) with addiction to other things such as alcohol or drugs. Some experience a type of "withdrawal" from their former eating habits. The big difference being that it seldom manifests with physical symptoms such as a drug addict would experience. It is usually more of a mental challenge - often described as losing a best friend and often resulting in depression. The good news is that it is usually short-lived. Watching the pounds melt away usually puts you in a pretty great state of mind! Maintaining your goal weight - I believe that maintenance should be practically seamless from what you were doing during the rapid weight loss stage. The only change should be a gradual, nice and easy increase in your calorie intake until you determine what your daily calorie number is to maintain your goal weight. Your surgeon and his/her team will likely drill into you that the surgery is a tool. Far and away the most important part of the process, what I call the Prime Directive - lifestyle changes. And you develop those changes during the first year following the surgery. The really cool part is the surgery makes those formerly impossible changes, possible. Finally, start maintaining a food log. And never stop. Do a search here on the forum for the thread "A Little Too Skinny". You might find it interesting. Gym rat - I lost 130 lbs in thirteen months and did not visit a gym a single time. I chose instead to walk. At least four times a week (often more), 20 minutes each time to begin with and slowly building up to two and half to three miles and 45 to 60 minutes each time. But that was my choice. What's important is that you get active and stay active. There are many, many options for doing that. I'm sure some of the folks here will chime in with their choices. Whatever you do, find something that you ENJOY. If you hate your choice, it's not sustainable. Keep trying as many things as you need to until you find something you enjoy. Remember that staying active is not synonymous with working yourself to exhaustion. That's not sustainable and more importantly, it's not necessary. You're gonna love the new you!!

I've settled in with my Isopure/Cranberry cocktail this morning to see if I can get a few thoughts down about what's been going on in (dun dun dun DAH)...The Battlefield of my Mind! Maybe you remember when you were a new parent and someone said, "Oh a baby changes everything." I do, I sort of was young and invincible, and so my response was a mental, "Duh." Of course, not even a week into child rearing and I was like, "Holy crap, this is hard! How do people do this?!! WAHHHH." Do you remember? Well this, THIS little sleeve of mine? It changes EVERYTHING--it truly is a game changer. Now, it's not bad...but change is not always easy (maybe NEVER for some of us certain personality types...you know who you are...). Maybe easy isn't the right word. Comfortable? Whatever, my point is it's not bad, but it's new and what makes it particularly uncomfortable is being at the bottom of this steep learning curve. Having head knowledge of how to change a poopy diaper is different than hands-on experience when you are getting the "full senses" tour. Don't get me wrong, I am all about having head knowledge and being as prepared as you can be. Doesn't mean I always am...and frankly, I have been known to leap without looking a time or two. I'm a cook. I'm a creator-cook. Cooking is what I do, so I have been cooking for my family since I was day 6 post-op. I've made Red Beans & Rice with Andouille Sausage, Arroz Con Pollo, Southwest Taco Chili, Salmon & Rice Pilaf, Beef Peppercorn Stirfry, Sweedish Meatballs... I mean, I like to cook! Now to some of you, that may seem like unecessary torture, but the truth is, I will always be cooking for my family, making lunches for my son's. Preparing delicious meals is what I take pleasure in doing. Now I just have to deal with not "tasting and partaking" like I did. But regardless of what we are exposed to, the fundamental truth to all of us is that we have an addiction (and I realize that not everyone here does...some have physical or chemical reasons for being overweight) but most of us do, and we have to cohabitate and live with our "poison". This isn't like removing all alcohol from our lives to avoid drinking. We still have to eat, period. I read a book some months ago written by the wife of a singer whose teenage son accident'y ran over their little 5 year old daughter. The book is entitled, Choosing to See, by Marybeth Chapman. I know it seems random, but sometimes concepts transcend topics. The books title has stuck with me...as much as the amazing story of healing and courage did. I am choosing to see. Choosing to see the truth of why I eat, why I have to stop, why it is OK to do this for me (this may be a foreign thought to some of you, but it seems to be a real stronghold for people of certain faiths), and that it really isn't just about me but about the impact I'm supposed to have on my loved ones. What I eat impacts others and it does matter. So I said all that to say, someone recently asked me if I still obsess about food. The answer is an unequivical YES. I'm not sure you heard me over there in Idaho, but YEEEESSSS. The motivation has somewhat changed...so I'll cut myself some slack. When you haven't chewed in 4 weeks, even gumming greek yogurt is almost euphoric. I am not overstating this fact. Eating half of a Ricotta Bake (by Shelly), is enough to make you cry. I did. I savored every little tiny miniscule particle that I put on my tongue...all the while knowing that this moment might lead to, gulp, constipation. What's changed is that I'm spending as much or more time on food now because I'm reading labels for a whole new sub-set of information. It's similar to WW with Fat/Fiber/Protein...and yet it's really all about the protein and the carbs. There is some mental gymnastics for hitting daily targets. It's not hard, it's just different. After some time, I expect to know quite a bit about a variety of foods...just as I use to know the point values of most of my favorites. Am I mourning the pleasure of snarfing? Yes. OK, if I tell you somthing, you have to promise it's just between us, ok? My son had McD's in the car (he's a brave boy...get's it from his mamma) and I asked him for a french fry. Just one. SHHHHHHHHH! Yes I did! And I ate it too!!!!!! And it was...G-0-0-D. And one was enough. My guilty pleasure was met and paid for and it was enough. Sure, I chewed it till it completely disolved in my mouth...and yes, I know that it could be a slippery slope....but I felt like I snarfed and it made my screaming mind shut-up. Seriously. I totally nipped my whiny mind in the bud by giving it a fry. It didn't bother me after that. I felt like a won. I certainly didn't feel deprived anymore and ultimately, I felt good about having just one! So, as I head into week 3...did I mention I hit that inevitable "STALL"? Yeah, the minute I introduced yogurt, cream of wheat, etc. I hit the stall. I knew it was coming and I also know that IT is not going to be a game changer for me. Mentally, I've won this battle because really, what the heck can I do? Haha Hopefully it's just a quick blip and I don't lose face on the bravado I'm feeling right now. As I was saying, as I head into week 3...I'm facing the constipation consideration: Not just having less frequent BM's, but actually feeling the urge to go but can't...so I'll increase my water, try to increase my activity a bit, add some fiber. Try to get my BP stabelized--which has dropped dramatically from 145/80 ish to about 95/70....I've had a reduction in meds so we're working on it. It's not just the 30 pounds, but it is the decrease in sodium, no doubt. So as you see...I'm not obsessing-free yet. I totally look forward to that day, but for now, I'll take things one salty slice at a time and try to keep things in perspective. Thanks for listening. May the Lord bless and keep you, Susan

Newmom, I know what you mean about the incision being covered. I clean them twice a day with alcohol and cover them all! The big one is itching and seems scabbed over but not chancing anything. I had surg Dec 4. Glad you are finding protein you can tolerate. I have a whole box of samples for shakes that I can't stand. I should have gotten unflavored powder and put it in drinks or does that have a smell also? I'm just so glad I feel better every day!

Thanks for writing about your son, Mark. I will add my raspy voice to the eloquent chorus raised by Megan, Joanne, and Vickie; my perspective is slightly different than theirs, in that I was a fat kid who was constantly badgered by my parents regarding my weight. Not a penny for my college education, but no diet doctor was too bizarre or expensive for them to open their wallets. Now that I'm in my 40s, I can see that they thought they were trying to help me, but at the time I resented their interference and the implication that I needed fixing -- and that my weight was the only thing that merited their attention. I don't imagine that you have such a severe attitude toward your 17-year-old son, but I thought I'd mention what it feels like to be on the other side of parents who devote considerable energy to solving a child's "weight problem." I bet your son wishes he could just wake up thin one morning (what overweight person doesn't?), his body issues magically gone. And if you ask him "don't you want to be thinner?" of course his answer will be YES. But it's so hard for anyone, especially kids, to be patient with the tiresome process of losing a pound or two a week, as would happen if he followed a conventional dieting program like Weight Watchers. That your son is very heavy does not mean that you and your wife have failed. Unless you are force-feeding him Krispy Kremes, please do not beat yourself up for his condition. I would encourage your son to talk to you, or to another adult he trusts, about how he feels about his weight. Don't judge him or try to direct his answers. If he'd like to make a change, tell him you will support him however you can. If he doesn't want to do anything about his weight, unfortunately nothing you do can make him. I will hold back from making the tempting comparison to alcoholism, but there is one relevant point where addictions and weight issues meet, and that is the total inability of anyone to help someone who doesn't want to change. As much as it may hurt you to "sit here knowing he is killing himself," you can't force him to modify his eating or exercise; if you try, he may simply rebel and in consequence sabotage his own efforts (and wind up even heavier). If your son shows any interest in losing weight, please encourage him to sign on here, or on another Lap Band board where he can be anonymous. It's great that he's interested in exercising with you. It might be unrealistic to expect him to exercise alone, especially if he thinks it's "for his own good" rather than something he enjoys. (It's hard to move a 365-lb. body.) And please, please don't throw him out of the house in hope that he will toughen up. That rarely works, and usually backfires. Keep him close and try to support any good eating and exercise habits that he voluntarily develops. Encourage him to walk to school and on errands, or with the family dog if you have one. Pay attention to the rest of his life: academic achievement, hobbies, friends. Let him know that you are on his side. You can offer him a tremendous gift simply by making him responsible for any decision to change his body. He's almost 18, and with manhood comes the opportunity to seize his own destiny. Good luck.

Don't tell a child suffering the long-term effects (varying degrees of retardation) of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) that it's comparing apples and oranges.

Welcome--you are in the right place, the right place to ask anything you want! I would have been fine a month out, I am sure the wedding will be fine. You should be feeling good again, losing well, and back to eating pretty normally by a month. The wedding would be good to keep your mind off of the hard time, following surgery, when liquids are your main food! It passes quickly, and is done so that you can heal. As for alcohol, I have had several drinks at different times in the last 8 months. I will occasionally have a margarita with my dinner at a favorite mexican food restaurant. The other night we were at a friends bridal shower, and they had Fuzzy Navels---I drank that without issue. I don't notice a difference in how my body reacts, I do not drink much, never did, a drink or 2 here and there, never in excess. Pretty much anything non carbonated is fine. My friend who is banded drinks vodka and cranberry juice she says. So it should be fine. Please feel free to ask away!!! You have found a great site---with great support, and we believe fully in our bands!!! Kat

Alcohol should definitely not be in the pre-op diet. Alcohol is known to cause liver inflammation that lasts up to a couple of weeks.

Everyone is different! My md recon. no alcohol for 6 months! I didn't listen, had a little sip of alcohol at week 4 - was so sick! Left the party-sweating, chills, feeling like I could vomit, but couldn't! Was disoriented...I felt like someone drugged me! Not fun or attractive! Hold out as long as possible! Now at 9 months, I can drink vodka and tonic or crystal light and lime. One drink is great, a second...I'm ok, any more than that is too much and I'll get the same suck feeling as in the beginning. So now, like my food , I can drink in moderation.

Well, first of all, what does your surgeon say? That's going to be your guidebook through this sleeve journey. In my option though, 5 weeks after is waaaaay to early to drink alcoholic beverages- weak or not. You just had most of your stomach removed and are still healing- I'm two weeks behind you and I just started on purée- no way is my stomach ready for alcohol...I'm not even trying caffeine yet! Every surgeons office is different...some even say you should NEVER drink again after sleeve surgery. My surgeon's office said three months, but I'm trying to wait six months like my husband did, just to play it safe. I'm not saying the lemondrops haven't been calling my name! Alcohol also has lots of extra calories you don't need this early on, so keep that in mind when you do drink later on. But please, don't drink this early out- not good for your sleeve!