Search the Community

Yes!! I was lucky that my first pouch was 6 millimeters (I think) leaving room for the revision. I didn't participate in any normal ulcer causing issues like caffeine, smoking, soda, alcohol and so forth.

I can't remember when, exactly, I started this process. I think it was around Feb/March when I went to the information seminar. In August, after having my sleep study, I finally got to meet my surgeon in a short office visit (the actual visit was nothing compared to the amount of time I spent in the waiting room). During that visit, the nurse gave me a list of required testing that had to be done before my info was sent to insurance. However, my surgeon (Dr. Allen - Louisville) told me that it wasn't necessary - he said I could get all of them done, none of them done, or some of them done. The only thing is that the anesthesiologist could decide he wanted one done and it could hold up my surgery. My primary doc and I decided we wouldn't have them done. Dr. Allen told me to call his office if I hadn't heard from them (on whether or not insurance had approved me) within 30 days. So, around mid-September I called only to find out that they were waiting on me to do the "required testing." I told them what Dr. Allen had told me and they said that was not correct! It sounds like they need to have a staff meeting there! Anyway, my primary doc arranged for me to have lung tests, an ultrasound of the legs, an ultrasound of the heart, and more blood tests. I got them all done in one day. The results were sent a few days later to Dr. Allen's office. After a while, they called to let me know they were missing two things: a letter from my pcp stating that I have been alcohol/tobacco free for 1 year, and my electrocardiogram results. She also wants proof of 6 months doctor supervised weight loss - she said it wasn't absolutely necessary, but would certainly help my case. OMG - - - this is driving me crazy. I do not have notes to support doctor-supv weight loss. I have canceled checks for weight watchers, nutrasystem, and a personal trainer over the past 3 years. I didn't keep any paperwork from these things, because I didn't know I would need them. I'm about to loose my mind. I am right at 35 bmi and was told not to loose any weight since I was so close. That's not been good for me - as I've been eating whatever I want and have probably gained 5-10 pounds. This, combined with the weight I've gained previously, has caused me to continue to feel bad - hips hurt, feet hurt, etc. I am so ready for this process to be over and to start on my lap band journey. I have kept leaving messages for Celeste at Dr. Allen's office to find out where we stand, and I've not heard back yet. If you're still reading, thanks! I know this is a long message, and that I'm probably not the only one who is frustrated during this stage. I only hope that I get approved by insurance after getting this far (and spending the money I have spent so far).

Natrol makes a strawberry chewable/dissolving Biotin. I'm like a 5 year old when it comes to Vitamins and pills. I want fruit flavors and dinosaur shapes if at all possible, lol. I go out to eat all the time. It's not a problem. I have a stomach the size of toddler. Does that stop toddlers from going out to eat? Nooooooo. They are everywhere you look. Are they all worked up because they can't eat a mountain of food? Nooooooo. None of them are feeling deprived. They're happy. You will be too. I get 3 full meals from an entree, a little less if I share with my pets when I get home. No one gives a damn if you clean your plate or not. It's all about the fun, going to a nice place and having good food. You can make good food choices from any menu. I very rarely drank before surgery and I found my alcohol tolerance has lessened, but every once in a while I will order a drink before dinner and have a few sips because I want to. Four or five sips of wine or a Cosmo while waiting for the food doesn't affect the food volume for me. I don't make an issue over what or how much or what I am eating and no one really notices. Of course my weight loss is really noticeable, but I have been talking about things like "the gym" and "watching what I eat" in general so the comments I do get are encouraging and playful in nature.

Hello all my fellow sleevers! I'm 5 months into my nutritional visits so I have 1 more before I get to submit to insurace for approval. Iv been having second thoughts about the surgery and its giving me so much anxiety I can barely sleep at night. My life is great.. To a point. I have amazing friends and we love to go out and party quite often. There's only one thing.. I miss out on so much because I hate my body. Its kills my self esteem every time I'm out and I can't even get a guys head to turn because I'm constantly surrounded by my beautiful tiny friends. I want to lose the weight, I want to be happy but I just wonder, how am I going to be happy if I loose the weight and can't go out and have fun? And please don't judge me when I say this, but I'm 21 and "going out and having fun" always includes drinking. I mean I know I'm going to have to stay away from alcohol for a good 3 months after and my tolerance is going to be a lot lower but has anyone been able to maintain a party life with healthy vsg foods and proper exercise? And I know alcohol is extra calories but I really could use some insite from someone my age who understands the struggles I'm having. PLEASE comment!! Is there anyone out there who's like me?!

Agree with all above. I learned to get copies of EVERYTHING to keep in my own file in case something got lost. Sure enough, the doc's office lost my sleep study results (BUT I HAD IT) and they couldn't find the cardiology clearance (BUT I HAD IT) and then they lost the psych eval (BUT I HAD IT)!!! The insurance initially denied my surgery because of the missing psych eval. It took me nearly a year to jump through all the hoops, but I think it was a good thing. I had time to really think through the whole surgery idea and make sure it was what I really wanted to do. I watched a ton of videos and read a lot of literature, so I think I was well informed about the good and the bad. I also started making major dietary changes so that I wouldn't have to do that after surgery (eliminating sugar, soda, caffeine, alcohol.) I do not regret the year's delay. Only wish I had done it earlier in my life, but then again, I might not have been to point of absolute commitment to the program because there were no other options left for me at age 63, which my joints failing and my health rapidly declining.

Monica, There's definitely a requirement to do the head work that goes with this surgery. Addiction runs rampant in my family, me included. I just chose food instead of drugs or alcohol. I was told that I WOULD be an alcoholic by my psych evaluator, so I fight that prediction daily, although I've avoided it so far. I think therapy and exercise are the two most important things to do for oneself both before and after WLS. Good luck!! The fact that you're thinking this through tells me that you'll be successful.

Okay so I did not want to give the impression that I had the alcohol issue because I never did.....I actually need to increase my alcohol intake from 3 glasses of wine per year to maybe 6!!! I just know that they go through the whole, one day at a time thing and they call themselves alcoholics even when sober for years. Will I always be a recovering M & M Junkie??? I am glad that you responded that even at goal you can have a few bites of a burger etc.... that sounds like bander bliss to me!!! Thanks again....you all inspire me everyday!

I also liked to good out and have fun (party) when I was 21. That time of my life was fantastic and it's when I made the friends I still have at 40, so I understand. But when i was partying i didnt drink much. Not because i didnt want to, but because i had allergies that didnt allow me to drink many types of alcohol. So, i always ordered a drink, sipped it, and waited 15 minutes before taking another drink to make sure i didnt have a reaction. I still danced, laughed, flirted, and had a fantastic time. My friends knew about my allergies and never evwn brought up the dact that i would only have one or two drinks the entire night. You can still have your fun without drinking non stop. Going out with friends should be about enjoying the time with your friends, and that is not going to change.

This is going to sound harsh...do you want to be fat or do you want to party? You said that much as you have a great life, it is limited because of your weight. You avoid doing things because of your self-esteem and you feel like you are surrounded by all your beautiful friends and guys never look at you. You're going to need to give up booze for a few months after surgery, but after that if you want to you can still go out and drink. If anything you will be a way cheaper drinker because less alcohol gets you buzzed faster. I can appreciate in a sense how you feel because when I was 21 (and under 21) I had a great time partying, however back then I was normal sized. When I did finally decide to get the sleeve (when I was 29) I hadn't gone out in several years because I was so ashamed of what I looked like. Guys wouldn't give me the time of day, so no matter how much fun I had with my great girl friends, I felt like not only was I bringing them down because guys had to send in the grenade jumper (the dude that jumps on the ugly fat girl so his friends can hit on the hot girls) before they could come hit on my friends but I was embarrassing myself in the process. As a result, I just decided staying in and being alone was the better option. I am now slightly under goal and for the first time in a very long time dating someone. We go out places and instead of people looking at me like I should be at home on a treadmill, men hit on me all the time. People are nice to me. Women and men make comments about how tiny I am. I'm not a big drinker anymore, but when I do drink I really don't notice a huge difference between before sleeve and after sleeve now that I'm almost 2 years out. I can still go out, have a good time, and drink...I just don't eat a lot of the foods anymore and I don't spend the entire time wondering if people are laughing at me. Really though, I would give up booze and partying forever if it meant that I got to be the size I am now for the rest of my life. Being thin, healthy, and attractive is worth way more to me than being able to drink and eat my face off whenever I want to. So...getting the surgery will not kill your social life for more than a few months, but if your priority is not with being healthy and is instead with going out, partying, and keeping the bad habits that contributed to your weight problem in the first place, the sleeve isn't going to help you much past the first few months. I can easily eat and drink my way to WAY too many calories, but I'm more focused on being thin and healthy than I am in enjoying food and booze. It sounds like you, like me, want to be thin because you want to be hot. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, however in the long term the motivation to be thin has to be more than the motivation to go out and have fun every night. Being hot comes with sacrifice and if you don't think you're willing to make that sacrifice, wait until you're a bit older, a bit less interested in partying everynight, and a bit more oriented toward making the healthy choices you will need to make if you have a sleeve. I'd say I'd do a shot for you tonight and wish you luck on your decision....but I'll drink some carrot juice for you instead.

The real "party" is the fun time you'll be having in your own head after surgery. Right now, it may seem like its about the alcohol, but you are also self-conscious, comparing yourself to your friends, and feeling insecure around the guys. After you get some weight off and are feeling more confident and beautiful, the focus isn't going to be on the alcohol any more. Trust me on this! You'll be dancing, laughing, meeting cute guys, and having fun with your friends. And guess what, you can do all that without getting drunk. The thing is, you can have a drink or two after surgery. But, before you do go under the knife you might want to talk with a counselor or someone. If having drinks is seriously a factor in your decision, it may not be the right time for you.

The link to my recent blog on Transfer Addictions

Hello this is refreshing, i have felt alone for the past 14 months so feel like i need to share my experiences !! In the first year I bearly lost a stone in weight following surgery, Bearing in mind I was drinking alcohol which doesnt help, however having stopped drinking alcohol for past 4 months things have changed and I have now lost a stone; I guess the message I would like to give is that gastric banding is a vehicle for loosing weight not a solution!! You need to be able to change your whole philosophy in terms of eating, lifestyle etc, the band helps so much and for some people is perfect but I am not perfect and have learnt that lifestyle changes are so much easier to make with the band and that is what it is all about:clap2: .

Your diet composition and how frequently you eat determines how hungry you are for the most part. If I eat CRAP and carby stuff? I want to eat every 2 hours. It's hell for 2-4days to break that cycle. If I have a weekend of grazing and "treat" type foods with higher carb items and any alcohol? I want to eat like a beast for 2-4 days after. But if I eat my plan, work my plan, and do what I know to be true for my body and lifestyle and health status? I have "appropriate" hunger. At this point in your recovery, you should be able to make 3 hours between meals IMHO or longer. Missing a meal is not an emergency for me anymore--now that the initial phases of healing are finished. I regularly go 4-6 hours between meals or longer and I do IF for 16-20 hours on selected days without a great deal of hunger. But the more and more often I eat of very deeply pleasurable foods? The MORE of them I want to eat.

I love the convenience of premade protein drinks. My favorites are 1-premier protein chocolate 30g protein 2- protein H2O 20g protein juice like (coconut flavor tastes just like piña cola without alcohol) 3-. Eas carb control 17g protein (cold brew coffee flavor). I make my own shake every morning using half frozen banana, 3-4 frozen strawberries, 5oz unsweetened almond milk and 2 scoops of brand bariatric fusion vanilla flavor - 27g i have some unflavored protein that I use inside my pudding & mashed potatoes.....but don’t really cook with it

Hello, I'm sitting here wondering if everyone else goes through this feeling this soon-it started last night (I'm still on liquids) I thought my pepcid was stuck-lots of pressure and felt like something was in there. Followed with lots of gas-took 4 chewable maalox (with anti-gas) some relief but felt that way until bed. I was able to drink but it hurt. I woke up this am and felt better but the feeling came back as soon as I drank something. I sipped slowly but the feeling has creeped back. I have yet to throw up so I guess thats good. Is this normal?:guess How do you handle it?:phanvan How soon will I quit lusting after everyone else's food (I have 4 kids):hungry: ? I feel like an alcoholic as a bartender at dinner time.:violin: Thanks for listening...

With a BMI of 62 have you verified with your insurance company that they will still band you? Some insurance co's are amazingly stupid and anything over a BMI of 50 they will only pay for bypass. I still haven't figured out their reasoning behind that one but that's what they do often times. It's just another thing for you to research. Don't just call the insurance company, look it up on your policy and read it with your own eyes. You have the same issue as the rest of us. You can't stop eating on your own, thus... the band. If you could control your eating behaviors over the holidays or any other time you would but you can't. That is why you are just like the rest of us. Most of us can lose weight but we can't keep it off. Eating is a compulsion and it's very difficult to overcome that kind of issue. Many compare it to telling an alcoholic they can only have one drink daily but they MUST have that one drink daily. Well, for an alcoholic one is too many and 100 isn't enough. I think the same kind of concept applies to us as well. One bite is too many and 100 isn't enough. Yet unlike an alcoholic we HAVE to eat to survive. It would be easier to just cut out food completely since we typically are "all or none" kinds of people. But that isn't possible so it merely means we have a few challenges others don't have. I don't really look at our type of eating disorder as a mental problem. I have read too many studies that show very clear biological differences for our complusion to over eat. Everything from hormones, brain activity, type of bacteria in the intestineal system, pancreatic issues, studies showing how MO diabetics respond to bypass procedures... I can go on and on. Thin people stop eating when they are no longer hungry. We eat until we can't possibly cram one more bite down. We can eat until it hurts and then we eat some more. That isn't depression, that is an eating disorder. Maybe it's a matter of what came first, the chicken or the egg. Depression/eating disorder. Either way it isn't something to be ashamed of, it just is. It is probably one of the least socially acceptable disorders out there. It's PC to make fun of a fat person, it's a horror to make fun of a 78# anorexic. That doesn't help us any. Tell me something, when you eat Breakfast are you thinking about what you'll have for lunch? If you are eating lunch are you planning dinner? If you are going to go to a restaurant do you stop and think about what you will order before you ever see the menu? Thin people don't give it much thought until they are in the restaurant looking at the menu. We are planning what we will eat the morning before we go to dinner. Do you eat when your stomach isn't really hungry? There is more than one kind of hungry. There is stomach hunger and head hunger. Our issue is typically head hunger. We aren't hungry, there is no stomach pain associated with hunger but we see that chocolate cake and we want it. We don't need it, we aren't hungry, but it tastes good, the texture of the frosting is creamy, the aroma is fantastic. We aren't actually hungry but we just want to eat anyway. Does this describe you? Anyway, it seems to me your next step is to read your insurance policy for yourself. Don't depend on what the ins co says when you call them on the phone. Look it up for yourself. Verify everything. See if they cover bands, see what their requirements are, see if your BMI fits in with their criteria for banding vs. bypass, and most of all at this point, see if they require a six month medically supervised diet. If so, you need to get to that appointment and get it started. Have your doc document your weight and get a copy of the office notes each time you go there so you can prove you were there. Some people do all the diagnostics such as the sleep study, nutrutionist eval, psyc eval and THEN they discover the six month medically supervised diet. So get that diet going just in case it is an issue otherwise you'll have to start all over and do it again.

Band-plus-10 days and I think I'm ahead of the curve (thanks doc!). I've been able to eat some things I maybe shouldn't have but what's a guy to do? Went to a Seahawks game, went out a bunch of other times during the holiday break... ugh! I busted most every rule we're supposed to follow during this period (alcohol, solids) but seem to have gotten away with it as I'm down 11 lbs. Now that partytime is through I'll be better. Although I've yet to experience some of the bad symptions (nausea, vomiting) I think I've been close to being stuck. Things like greek yogurt have a way of piling up if not eaten very carefully. I can tell I'm going to miss eating haystacks of food but I suppose so long as I'm full I can handle it. Restaurant bills ought to be less cringeworthy from now on! Today I'm starting some light work on the treadmill - maybe 20 minutes of uphill walking. I'll wait a few weeks to hit the weights but am looking forward to coming home from the gym and not having to eat pails of spaghetti to feel satisfied. At least I hope that's how it will go.

I am working toward the band, with my surgical consultation this Thursday. Wondering how alcohol plays into life with the lap-band. Not that it is a major part of my life, but I do enjoy going out with friends and having a drink. Are certain drinks better than others? (If something is already posted out there about this, I apologize... I did not see it).

I heard alcohol will hit you very quickly because our stomachs empty so much faster. But seriously, your taste buds go through some major change. Mine started before I even got sleeved. Now sweet is overpowering sweet. I think cake or ice cream would make me sick. I have to say last night my husband had pepperoni pizza. I snagged one and put it in my mouth to try the flavor. Heavenly but WOW the flavor was intense. My dog then got a treatLOL! But it told me flavors are more powerful to us it seems. Right now a chicken breast and veggies sound like heaven but I've got another 30 days. Oh and I have zero hunger. This is nothing but mental at this point and honestly barely there.

The real answer is unless you have a stricture or some other complication. Nothing is off limits long term. I can tolerate everything I try. There are some things that are not worth it to me, but nothing makes me ill. I drink alcohol rarely and when I do, I adjust all my calories to account for it. That makes alcohol just worth it to me. I'm not really willing to short myself a pork chop or some halo top just for some vodka. I also don't want to have to spend an extra hour in the park the next day walking the calories off, so it is a no for the most part from me. Beer is gross to me and with the added knowledge that drinking it is like drinking a loaf of bread, that is something I will never add back. If you are active with a normal metabolism, you might be surprised at how many calories you have to play with at the end, when you are in maintenance. The important thing is to track all along so you know this information and you aren't just guessing. A lifestyle and not a diet accounts for going off plan or having something you do not normally have. Daily I have dense protein 3-4 times a day and coffee. On the weekends or when I am out I eat what I want within reason and that fits my calories/macros. If I went out daily or several times a week that would have to adjusted but it works for me. I think people telling themselves they will never have XYZ again leads to depression, anxiety and feeling deprived. Long term you can eat whatever you want, the difference is what you want will hopefully be very different.

I was told that alcohol would be two or three times more potent than it was pre-op, and as I couldn't really handle more than one drink then, I'm sure I better just steer clear of it entirely--no big loss for me. I don't think there are any things we can't ever have, but judgment has to play a big part of this. I know I'm better off avoiding carbs such as bread, rice, potatoes, so I'm going to try to do that. Steak, on the other hand--steak is definitely in the plans down the road!

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to have 14 years of restriction without any hormonal help from bariatric surgery. The American standard take here is pray to god, never drink alcohol, suffer on Optifast, and why not try keto? The global take is: - Get that band out, ASAP - Get a surgery that helps you - that would be any surgery that involves a bypass (RNY, MGB, DS) - Know that your deserve a life free from obesity Let me know if you need any insights. Feel free to DM, and feel free to ignore any takes involving Optifast.

Also as I honestly think about it, before I got my NEW band placed last year, I was eating out at restaurants with my hubby, and not paying attention to types of food I was eating, I was 7 years out, living life. I had been eating LOTS of spicy food, salsa, etc, which caused gastritis, which CAN lead to ulcers, however, it did not get that bad, but when you have a lap band LONG TERM, you have to always be mindful of spicy food, too much alcohol, etc..... I think this contributed to inflaming a hernia which caused pain, and a revision surgery....so BE CAREFUL

I drove 5 days post op after I had stopped taking the pain meds for over 24 hours. I was overly cautious about it. First time, I drove a very short distance with my wife to make sure I felt OK and that I wasn't driving badly. It's important to note that in many places, DUI laws don't make any differentiation on alcohol or drugs. If something happens and they determine that you were impaired by drugs or alcohol, you can be charged. Not something I wanted to risk.

Ok, let's talk poop. And let's not be shy. Please do explain the "yellow" color. And if it varies, include all variations you've noticed. Are you on any medications? Yellow diarrhea that just sort of comes out of nowhere is most often from an infection, but not always. And fever, lethargy, etc? (an answer of "no" doesn't necessarily mean anything). A lack of bile can also cause yellow diarrhea/poop. Do you have your gallbladder? (The gallbladder is just a "storage pump" - bile irregularities are generally more centric to the liver where the bile is produced). Generically, make sure you're getting hydration primarily from something with electrolytes such as Gatorade. Until you're doing better you might also want to avoid fatty foods, anything spicy, or with lots of caffeine, alcohol, etc. <- common sense, I know, but still good to keep in mind.