Search the Community

How long did you have to wait before consumming alcohol? I'm not looking to get drunk or drink anything fizzy, just a glass of wine or two at a wedding. Any input?

Yes, lean Cuisine has a lot of salt but I would be more concerned with the carbs. Most of the frozen dinners have rice, potato, or Pasta. So you could be getting way to many carbs for the amount of Protein. Sorry but the booze has to go. If someone said they were on a diet but ate 3 ice cream cones every Friday and Saturday night you'd think they were wasting their time on a diet. Admittedly I can say this easily because alcohol means nothing to me. If you gave me the choice of a rum and coke and a snickers bar there would be no contest. Great job on your exercise program that is a huge part of the battle.

It sounds like you are active, but sometimes, it's not enough. I know you mention that you're eating lean cuisines, but the packaged foods are loaded with sodium, so you really need to pay attention to your Water intake. Are you getting at least 64 ounces of water a day? For Protein, how much are you taking in? My doc tells me 70g, but I am actually around 80-90g per day and it does make a difference. I understand the need for 'cheat' days here and there, but they should be every now and again during this time and when you get closer to goal, perhaps you could do more often (this is what I did, which is why I am still 10 lbs from goal LOL). You have the tool to help and until you get a fill, try to find alternatives to one of the lean cuisines. Perhaps do some chicken and veggies for lunch or chicken salad with light mayo and wheat thins. I bring lean cuisines to work because it's just easier, but I make sure I drink a ton of water to balance out the sodium. 2 a day might be a little much, so you really have to get that water in. The good thing about the band is that it's always there to help you, but to be successful, it truly is a way of life. It's not an easy road, but it's definitely a journey--we can't just snap our fingers and BAM! we're all following everything to the "t". So, pace yourself. Don't be hard on yourself and try to Celebrate your successes with things other than alcohol or food (me, it's usually a pair of shoes or new jeans LOL). I do have some wine during the weekend, but try to keep it within reason. You'll get there. It's definitely not about deprivation, but moderation. Good luck to you!!!

I had surgery on July 17th this year. I didnt really follow the post surgery diet. (I know bad!) I recieved my first fill august 20th, where I weighed 245. I have religiously worked out since then, 5 times a week for an hr everyday.. im very athletic and do bootcamp classes, run atleast a mile everyday or the tredmill! Also, I've been eating leancuisine meals religiously through out the weekday. breakfast- oatmeal & apple (200 cal) Lunch- Lean cusine (250 cal) Dinner- Lean Cusine (300 cal) and I usually eat 1 cup cottage cheese through out the day. So like 800 cals a day. I do have a cheat day on saturdays but i never go crazy.. just let my self drink alcohol. lol Also, I need a fill but kinda broke right now. (I can't wait!!) I have changed my life style so much!! Its awesome! Although, I weighed 231.6 this past Saturday morning. I cheated over the weekend drank/ate alot.. Today I weighed 237!!! WTF Its been like 3 months and ive only lost 10 LBS!! How are all of yall losing so much weight?? I dont get it! What am I doing wrong?! Cheating one day a week should NOT make me gain that much.. im sure its Water weight and ill prob be like 234 tmrw. But still thats only 11 lbs down! HELP ME PLEASE!!! Amanda, July 17-surgery ( 250 ) August 20- first fill (245) Current- 235

Please read........it might help you. Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV has been around for a long time yet many doctors do not prescribe it for ailments that it is perfectly capable of treating. * * * This wonder food is said to help with weight loss, acne, acid reflux, cholesterol, constipation and heartburn among others. Apple cider vinegar, also called just cider vinegar, is produced from cider or apple must (crushed and aged apples). The unfiltered product is a kind of brownish to yellow color, the unfiltered cider contains the "mother of vinegar", this is the part that has the most health benefits. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a natural bacteria fighter that contains minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, potassium, Calcium, copper, Iron, silicon and fluorine. This wonder food is said to help with weight loss, acne, acid reflux, cholesterol, constipation and heartburn among others. it is also said to work wonders for your overall health and can even help fight diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, memory problems and aging. Apple cider vinegar will also act as a blood thinner which aids in the prevention of high blood pressure (blood pressure chart). Vinegar has been used to cure and prevent a variety of ailments for centuries. As early as the time of Hippocrates, considered by many to be the father of medicine, vinegar was used to treat patients. During the Civil War, it was used as an antiseptic. What makes it so special and why should you use it? Apples are one of the most nutritious, health-giving foods available, containing a host of Vitamins and minerals like pectin, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, phosphorous and potassium in addition to enzymes and amino acids. Apples are the main ingredient in apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar detoxifies and purifies various organs in the body. As a purifier, it breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body. By breaking down these substances, it improves the health and function of organs such as the kidneys, bladder, and liver. It oxidizes the blood, reducing the risk of high blood pressure, and neutralizes any toxic substance or harmful bacteria that enters the body by ingesting certain foods. Apple cider vinegar promotes healthy digestion, assimilation and elimination. Research has proven that apple cider vinegar can assist in strengthening the heart, stabilizing blood sugar and reducing the risk of certain cancers. It flushes harmful toxins from your body and assists in weight control. Try drinking two to six teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with Water every day. It can also be used in cooking or sprinkled on salads, vegetables, etc. You can drink it as a hot or cold beverage and sweeten it with honey. You might wonder, if Apple Cider Vinegar is so great, why hasn't your doctor told you about it? I think the simple reason might be that medical doctors are more apt to prescribe medicines than natural remedies. Pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money getting their medicines and pills approved and they certainly wouldn't want you using the inexpensive, unpatentable alternative of ACV instead of buying their expensive cures and treatments. One big problems today that many people suffer from is acid reflux. Consequently, pharmaceutical companies have come up with a plethora of pills to treat this ailment. But before you take pills that may be harmful to you, you might want to consider treating your acid reflux or other stomach ailments with apple cider vinegar. You see, your stomach needs acid to digest food and when you have digestive problems like acid reflux or heartburn it's not because you have too much acid it's because there is too little. Most medications you would take for these are antacids which diminish the amount of acid in your stomach but this may not be what you need. These antacids may treat the symptoms but they will not address the cause and therefore, will never cure your problem. Apple cider vinegar will mimic the acid level of your stomach and help you digest food properly which can help to treat that burning sensation. In addition, you might also consider taking digestive enzymes that will help your stomach digest the food. If you suffer from acid reflux, heartburn or nausea, try taking one tablespoon of Apple cider vinegar prior to each meal. You may see your symptoms go away in as little as three days. However, you'll want to continue this practice for three to nine months and you may see the problem disappear altogether. You don't want to use just any kind of ACV, though. What you need is organic apple cider vinegar that still has the enzymes in it (called the "mother"). This is where the healing properties are. The "mother" will show up inside the bottle as stringy globs floating around. To get the most out of your vinegar, shake it up each time you take a swig so that the mother can be dispersed throughout. What's that you say? It tastes terrible? Certainly most people do not take to the taste of ACV right away but it can be somewhat of an acquired taste and I know many people (including myself) that slug down a tablespoonful of the stuff all by itself. If you can't stomach this, space however, there are some things you can do to make it a little bit more palatable. Apple cider vinegar can be taken in many various ways including in salad dressings, making mayonnaise, or sprinkled on chips and fries. It also can be sweetened with natural honey to make it taste better, a method often used in India where physicians will often prescribe apple cider vinegar with Gotu Kola (a herb) to help in the revitalizing of the skin. You might try making a tea out of your Apple cider vinegar by heating a couple of water and then adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to that. While it's best to take ACV before each meal, you can also take it anytime your stomach feels a little upset and it will have immediately curative effects. Some people swear by it, and drink it for everything including the onset of cold and flu. Apple Cider Vinegar is also a cure for bad breath or halitosis due to its acidity. An additional benefit is that many people who have taken apple cider vinegar before each meal have seen a moderate weight loss as well. Some theories for the weight loss benefits of apple cider vinegar suggest that ACV may help to speed up the bodies metabolism. Medicinal uses of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Honestly, natural apple cider vinegar is one of nature's own, true miracle health elixirs. The long history of its use demonstrates, rather clearly, that using vinegar was once highly revered as a practical medical application long before Johnny Appleseed graced North America by planting apple trees. The healing powers of vinegar has been traced back as far as 3000 BC, Hippocrates, Babylonia, and to 15th century England as a means to ward off dangerous and infectious diseases, to keep one's general health fit and strong, and used as a simple antiseptic/disinfectant. When deciding to use ACV for medicinal purposes, be sure to select only a raw, non-distilled vinegar. You may be able to find this type of vinegar in your regular grocery store. But more likely than not, you will probably need to look for it at a local health food store. Clear distilled vinegar is easy to find in any food store and is relatively inexpensive. This type of vinegar is great for regular household cleaning chores, but it is not so wonderful for your internal health. Non-distilled vinegars are definitely going to be more expensive and nutritionally potent than the distilled varieties, but isn't your health worth the price difference? Plus, you are going to have the satisfaction of knowing that you have chosen the right mixture that will work hard to enhance your health. Most commercial brands (whether white or brown) have been pasteurized, filtered, and refined or distilled in order to make the final product look more attractive to please the consumer. The manufacturers are only giving the consumer what they apparently seem to want. Unfortunately, unbeknown to the average consumer, this extra processing actually destroys much of the natural health restorative properties of the end product. Look for ACVs that have been cold pressed and made from whole, organically grown apples, with no added chemical preservatives, and in which the 'mother' of vinegar liquid has been retained. This 'mother' substance, as it is lovingly known, is the gelatinous liqueur that is naturally formed during the final fermentation process. This milky, cloudy, and stringy looking stuff at the bottom of the container is what contains the healthiest part of the mixture. It also lets you know that the important vitamins and minerals, enzymes, and naturally occurring good bacteria have not been compromised due to over processing, filtration, or excessive heating. Before consuming, shake the the bottle gently to thoroughly distribute all of the nutrients, pour, and serve. An energy boosting way to drink ACV, without it taking your breath away, is to mix about 2 teaspoons with an equal amount of raw honey in a small glass of warm water. Stir to dissolve the honey and drink one to three times a day. You can sip on this drink during a meal for extra digestive power, or you can drink this ahead of a meal. Refrain from drinking to much water or any other beverage during your meal, and for up to an hour afterward. Give your gastric stomach juices enough time to fully break down the food you just ate, on its own, without weakening their effects with added liquids. Why use apple cider vinegar? Because, when it is used medicinally it helps the body rid itself of harmful toxins, has wonderful disinfecting properties as a natural bad germ fighter, and is a very biodegradable substance that does not pollute the environment. With regular and continued use, this wonderful liquid helps restore and balance the body's pH, taking it from acidic to neutral in a short amount of time. Normally, it would be hard to believe that such an acidic substance could normalize, or lower our pH so easily. As far as I know, this only applies to vinegar, as our digestive system will naturally convert it to an alkaline based substance. An acidic internal system is directly caused from eating excessive amounts of meat, grains, and sugar by eating and drinking too many processed foods and beverages. This will provide an invitation, internally, for unwanted illness or disease to set up house. Otherwise, a neutral or more alkaline system will promote an enhanced emotional and physical health state. Raw, ACV contains over 40 different naturally occurring substances from vitamins and minerals, to enzymes and beneficial bacteria. It has been used for generations to treat a variety of different human health conditions such as, arthritis high blood pressure all types of skin problems chronic fatigue and insomnia heartburn and other digestive abnormalities high cholesterol maintaining normal body weight This is not exhaustive list, by far, of common health maladies that ACV has been known to eliminate. As with any new diet addition, your expectations may be too high in the healing effects of vinegar. Keep in mind that it is not to be considered a panacea for all ill health evils. Although many individuals have achieved a more improved physical state by using vinegar, without modifying their daily dietary habits, serious diet modifications need to be considered in some hard-core cases. Doing so would further enhance a partial response when combined with a healthier diet. This is, especially, a key factor when using vinegar for serious weight loss. You simply must reduce or eliminate your consumption of over processed foods, eat more raw plant foods, eat smaller meals more often, and step up your effort in getting regular and moderate physical exertion. These strategies combined with ACV will take you a long way in seeing the results you are hoping for, and quicker. It is possible to lose up to one to three pounds a week. Remember too...that diet modifications include increasing daily liquid intake. Apple cider vinegar works best when adequate liquids are supplied to help carry out the toxins we ingest and are exposed to every day. Not just any liquids, but read this to mean WATER exclusively. Start reducing the amounts of other beverages you may be drinking instead, such as soft drinks, coffee, tea, fruit juices, and alcohol. Moderation, in occasionally consuming these, is absolutely crucial in maintaining a healthy body weight (even if your underweight), or if you are trying to lose weight. When used as a flavor seasoning, or drinking as a healthy tonic, ACV could have your current health issue becoming a thing of the past. As with any type of natural or conventional health treatment, be realistic. Expect a reasonable amount of time for vinegar to take affect. This may be only a few days, a week, or it could be longer. If you are really committed to giving it a real chance, you may look forward to a much different health reality sooner than you think. Related Articles about Apple Cider Vinegar Magic of Apple Cider Vinegar as a Natural Home Remedy Brenda Skidmore has spent over the last five years actively researching natural health care alternatives. She can attest to the many positive results natural practical cures and preventive strategies bring to human health. Along with the many medical professionals whose public works she has studied, it is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit: (link) Link To" Apple Cider Vinegar" <a href="http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/apple-cider-vinegar.shtml">Apple Cider Vinegar</a> Email Article Printable This site is intended for your general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/apple-cider-vinegar.shtml#ixzz11PR3zLr7

Actually, let me put my .02 as a mental health professional here-- it is absolutely not the original posters responsibility to do anything more than she has. I think she's said numerous times that she doesn't know who the surgeon is-- she's talked to her friend, talked to her husband, and now for her own mental health she is doing the right thing by stepping away. The number one problem of friends and families of alcoholics is assuming responsibility in situations just like this and any Al-Anon or psychologist is going to say the same. The alcoholic's behavior and the consequences of that behavior are absolutely not the poster's responsibility, but the alcoholic's responsibility. Ultimately, the people responsible for uncovering alcoholism is the psychologist who did the psych eval and the surgeon who is doing the surgery. There are ways to discover this if you do a thorough enough eval. It is a sad situation, but brow-beating this woman who seems to have really tried in this situation seems unnecessary to me, and I say that having the utmost respect for you, BetsyB.

How has it backfired? Making the thread go away does not remove the moral imperative to let her surgeon know that he is about to operate on someone who is likely to suffer severe consequences on his watch. You don't like the answers you received. You wanted to be told, "You're right! She shouldn't have the surgery!" And you were. All of us know that you can't do a thing to influence your friend. She will drink---it's what she does. You are not expected to cure her alcoholism. But when you are in possession of important information that jeopardizes not only her, but those caring for her---and the hospital---you are morally obligated to let the appropriate people know. Having a thread deleted will not remove that responsibility.

14 ccs to close your stoma??? Did I read that right? 14 ccs--then trying to have you swallow barium? I have never heard of a doctor doing that! Even just as a test, before withdrawing Fluid to an appropriate fill level. (ETA: I just read your profile, and Dr. Curry has a really excellent reputation as a surgeon--but wow. Is his group doing your fills, too? I am really surprised at this approach.) To those who have not yet had fills, please don't be scared--this is NOT TYPICAL. Most doctors start out with conservative fills. Even if they use fluoroscopy, they do not close the stoma, then observe as they remove fluid. Rather, they put a conservative amount in, observe the flow of barium through the stoma, then add/remove a tiny bit as needed. My first fill--and all subsequent fills--have been non-events. A swipe of an alcohol swab, a needlestick, infusion of a reasonable amount of saline. Then, the doctor observes, fluoroscopically, as I swallow barium--and if he believes a little more/less saline would be best, he adjusts. That's it! No biggie.

Well, he may drink. But the fact of the matter is that SOMEONE has to tell her surgeon that she's an alcoholic. It's immoral not to. If you don't think he will, call yourself. Or find the surgeon's email online and send an email. "I am very concerned about my friend, your patient Jane Doe. She has a severe alcohol addiction, and has indicated she has not shared this information with you. I am concerned about surgical risks; in particular, I am concerned that she might experience delirium tremens during the immediate postop period. I have asked her to share this information with you, and she has indicated she will not--that she did not share it during her psych evaluation, and will not comply with any preop diet/postop rules you have about drinking alcohol. I know that HIPAA prevents you from discussing this patient with anyone, but I hope that this information is received in the spirit it is intended---to protect my friend, and to protect you."

I don't know if you read my post last week. After my go around with Kaiser.I not sure what do. For days I have been myself to just forget the whole thing just try again on own. Now I am starting to get my fight back on.. I am not sure which way to go, fight the under 40 BMI with my HP,HC fatty liver, or gain some weight plus put weights in clothes. What do you think is the best route? NIH Requirements for Weight Loss Surgery The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is considered one of the world's foremost medical research centers. The NIH has set patient criteria for weight loss surgery which states that eligible patients should have a BMI of 40 or higher (morbidly obese) or a BMI of at least 35 with co-morbidities (obesity related health conditions) such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, high cholesterol, or hypertension (high blood pressure) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Eligible patients must also have attempted and failed at previous weight loss efforts and need to pass a psychiatric evaluation to be recommended for weight loss surgery.

This what I found.. I just don`t get Kaiser. NIH Requirements for Weight Loss Surgery The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is considered one of the world's foremost medical research centers. The NIH has set patient criteria for weight loss surgery which states that eligible patients should have a BMI of 40 or higher (morbidly obese) or a BMI of at least 35 with co-morbidities (obesity related health conditions) such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, high cholesterol, or hypertension (high blood pressure)and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.. Eligible patients must also have attempted and failed at previous weight loss efforts and need to pass a psychiatric evaluation to be recommended for weight loss surgery.

Its mornings like today that I still struggle with my addiction to food. Waking up at 5am with the most unbearable pain in my stomach...true HUNGER. I have an honest addiction to food, and I'm aware of this...and have to face my addiction everyday. Its not like you can just walk away from it and never face it again. You have to have food to survive. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I were addicted to drugs or alcohol...where I could chose to not to have these things in my home....out of sight out of mind...but NO my addiction is FOOD and I face my addiction everyday. This is not easy and I pray for strength to get through every day of this process. I'm learning every day new techniques on how to handle this, and break the patterns taught to me as a young child. Learning to express my emotions, as oppossed to supressing them with a overfull stomach. How many of us "eat" out of pure emotional hunger. This morning I chose to "CRY"...full on heart wrenching tears, instead of eating a bowl of icecream. Another episode conquered...one step at a time Christy...YOU CAN DO THIS! Stay focused, 4.5 more weeks of liquids...I can't wait to be back on track and have my band back at my "sweet" spot...I have done this for 18 months, this is a bump in the road. Just gotta pick myself, brush myself off and keep going. Goodness this is a tough morning, I can't wait till the Sun comes up....I could use a walk in the fresh air to clear my mind. Confidence is building even as I write. I CAN DO THIS! This time I have WON!

I have been replacing 1-2 meals with protein shakes as the RN suggested while I waited for my appeal,and so I bought a box of the pure protein bars from Costco. They taste pretty good. I read the warning on the back about alcohol sugars and didn't think anything of it. About 20 minutes after I ate it the first time, I got lightheaded, felt extremely nauseous and started shaking. I dismissed my class early and thought I was going to pass out. I thought I might be getting sick. After about 30 minutes it passed. I didn't connect it to the protein bars until the next day when it happened again. It was just like the low blood sugar attacks I would get in high school when I would go without eating all day. So I did some research. It turns out that even though our body can't process the alcohol sugars, some peoples bodies are still fooled and their pancreas dumps insulin to process sugar that isn't there, so the blood sugar drops rapidly. No more protein bars for me.

Once you achieve restriction, which can take a period of months, you will be left with a pouch (with limited capacity) that slowly empties. This means that hunger is pretty much removed from the equation, making it far easier to sustain the lifestyle needed to lose weight and maintain loss. It depends on your doctor. Many recommend a higher-protein, lower-carb regimen. There is limited pouch space once you achieve restriction, so the most important thing, really, is to choose foods that benefit your body and meet its needs. Well, most of the time; there is room for indulgences and treats. See above; hunger is removed from the equation. If you are a compulsive eater, you will still have to learn new behaviors and coping techniques; the band will not miraculously remove the impulse to eat. But it does provide pretty good negative reinforcement for overeating. This is dependent on your specific policy. Mine does cover band-related complications. I have not heard of any large-scale manufacturing defects. In general, when there are medical device issues, patients (or their insurers) are generally responsible for repairs unless the company is found liable. Your doctor will inform you pretty fully of the potential risks associated with banding, and when you consent to surgery, you accept those risks. It is temporary (and related to anesthesia and surgery itself); most doctors give medication that prevents these from occurring. It depends on your doctor. Most do not recommend drinking alcohol for a period of time after surgery. Mine vetoes it for about a year; the idea is to promote the adoption of new health habits (while maximizing weight loss). Alcohol = liquid calories that are used, by the body, very efficiently (as in, converted to fat very easily). It is also a disinhibitor--making it more likely that you will make inappropriate food choices. That said, occasional drinking usually is not an issue (if you don't have medical issues that preclude it)--you just have to be aware that it can affect the rate of weight loss.

I was asked how much I drank on a pre=psych form and then in the Psych's office. He asked a couple different times and ways. I drink a couple times a year and he had a hard time understanding that. Makes me sweat, makes me go to sleep...not as much fun as it was in college. About your friend. She will have to run into a wall before she will change. All this fuss over her telling her doc is pointless, though I know you care much for her. Alcoholics and other addicts are fabulous at diverting attention away from their problems and slipping out of your questions. She will stop when she has to or wants to. Then you can offer your kind words of encouragement and hugs. Hopping over to youtube to watch the surgeries.

Her surgeon MUST know of her alcoholism prior to surgery. This is potentially a matter of life and death. My mother was not honest with her doctor prior to a surgery near the end of her life. I pulled the anesthesiologist aside and told him---it was imperative. She still experienced delirium tremens--a minor surgery landed her in ICU because of complications due to alcohol withdrawal. Had they not known in advance, they would not have been prepared, would have wasted time trying to determine what was wrong. Alcohol withdrawal is very dangerous--very. It needs to be carefully medically managed. It's utterly immoral to subject a surgeon to her risks without informing him. He puts his license on the line every time he performs a procedure. Knowingly jeopardizing HIM with her actions is pretty heinous. Legal liability aside, living with the knowledge that a patient came to harm on your watch is HORRENDOUS. What a horrible, ill-thought plan.

The first thing I though was that they might get in there and discover she has liver damage. If you watch the real life lap band surgeries on YouTube (no blood at all so not gross). They show you how they lift and pull away the liver to get to the stomach. If she has been drinking for a long time she could have serious liver damage. I wonder if they would stop the surgery if it is bad enough. She is not going to tell the doctor. I have a sibling who is a recovering alcoholic and they can and will rationalize ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. I am pretty sure my doctor's office asked if I drank and if so how much. Also if she has to do a presurgery diet that is low carb clearly that won't work becuase alcohol is all carbs.

Alcoholism is such a sad and destructive disease. Being an adult child of an alcoholic I can understand your frustration and concern for your friend. Unfortunately, without knowing who her surgeon is there is little you can do other than what you are doing. Keep talking to her and remind her that lap band surgery will not save her life if she is determined to destroy herself with the booze. You are a good friend for trying to help her, but I will tell you what I told my father; We can protect our loved ones from anyone and anything in this world.... except themselves. Sadly, if your friend is determined to destroy herself with drink there is little you can do to save her. I wish you both peace and good health.

Hopefully the psychologist will catch this during the psych eval and refuse to recommend her. She should absolutely NOT have the lap-band while an active alcoholic.

you have to a recovering alcoholic for a year before you can get the surgery. i don't know how it is with everyone else's insurance or drs but this is the way it is with mine. if she isn't willing to take the steps to stop drinking then the band isn't going to help. you have to have self control with the band and not eat or drink. i'd def go in or call the drs office. if you call they might blow you off but if you were to go in person it might be better. but i would open my mouth. she does have to do the other tests like was mentioned so they might pick up on it. good luck

While an occasional alcoholic drink is permissible for most of us, we are advised that we must not drink our calories. (We are also advised to stay away from beer and carbonated soft drinks.) Because we are significantly reducing the size of our stomach it is imperative that we use that limited space for nutrient rich Proteins and veggies. If your friend is truly an alcoholic I would strongly suggest she get help for that issue before she addresses her obesity issue. My father is an alcoholic and much of his weight can be directly attributed to the amount of beer he consumes daily. If your friend is not ready to make the changes necessary for banding, including giving up much of her drinking, I'd recommend you speak with her surgeon. As gracierose said, they will not be able to discuss her treatment with you, but that doesn't mean you can't voice your very real concerns for your friends health. Good luck to you and your friend. I hope she, or her surgeon, recognizes this may not be in her best interest at this time. ETA; Since your friend already has a surgery date scheduled, I'm curious if she was completely honest about her drinking with her surgeon and therapist during their evaluations.

My doctor's recommendations include - never drink alcohol again, never eat rice again, never eat mashed potatoes again, never eat steak again, you will never eat a cheeseburger, etc. I am struggling with him to get his reasoning......is it staple tearing (sleeved 8/17/10), triggering ghrelin production, science based, bypass experienced based, etc. Suffice it to say I have not followed his instructions. I have had a tablespoon of rice, two tablespoons of applesauce, a Snickers bar, and even chewed a burger without the bun. I have also had two glasses of wine, one of them with a few french fries. I've lost 54 pounds in 60 days ......way ahead of his expert expectations and with three times as many calories as his recommendation!!!! Tomorrow is the town road race and I expect to beat my last year's time and I expect to hydrate more than a tablespoon every 15 minutes (hopefully you see my point). It sure would be nice to know the true risks. Of course I don't want my staples to tear but every tear I have ever heard of here in CT (I know too many nurses and read too many blogs) are all related to a surgical issue, not a gulping or piece of steak issue.

This sounds serious and is a definite contraindication. If she will not listen to you, I would play "narc" and call her doctor's office. While they cannot discuss her case with you, there is no reason you cannot express your concern. She could have serious complications including malnutrition and alcohol poisoning. Don't delay.

Betsy, I just knew you had to be a nurse like myself! Just after having my psych eval. I realized that many nurses abuse food,drugs,alcohol,etc. We took care of everyone except ourselves. I thinkthat is why I have done so well with this journey. I stated taking care of me!

Spooky! You sound like me right down to the name and age. So my questions: 1. How will the LAP-BAND® help me lose weight? It is built in portion control but you still have to lose the weight. The lapband doesn't control what you eat, just how much. 2. What kind of diet needs to be kept after the LAP-BAND® is installed? Nothing special. You just eat a balanced meal. The portions will just be smaller. Just don't drink you calories and keep snacking to a minimum. 3. If I/We/anyone can’t maintain a diet regiment before the LAP-BAND®, how can we expect that it would be any different after the LAP-BAND®? That's a chance you'll have to take. You have to ask yourself how serious you are about losing the weight. Don't make the mistake like many here and think that surgery is a panacea. 4. Are there medications or supplements that need to be taken after the LAP-BAND® is installed? NO, NADA, NICHTS! 5. If insurance covers the procedure (I am investigating that with my insurance right now), and there is a problem with the device such as a leaky port, who covers the expense of fixing it? It all depends on the insurance company; your coverage; your deductible; etc... 6. Are there other manufacturing defect problems that can occur with the LAP-BAND®, and if so who absorbs the cost of repair? There are issues but I can't say who pays. 7. I am noticing the number one side effect of the LAP-BAND® is nausea and vomiting. Is that a temporary problem or an ongoing problem? You're noticing wrong!! Most of us never get nauseous and 90% of the time the vomiting is our own fault for not paying attention or eating too fast. 8. Is there any restriction on drinking alcohol when you have a LAP-BAND®? Hell NO!! Although, American beers are full of carbonation and that doesn't work so well with the band. I don't have any issues with Guinness. Keep reading and don't hurry into anything. The lapband is not going anywhere. It will still be available if/when you decide you are ready.