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Forgot to add in my last post they weighed me again today so since my fill on Thursday I lost 3 lbs!!! Drinking: nope I've never been drunk either partly because I don't like most alcoholic drinks but put me in Hawaii with lava flow drink and who knows lol

Im having surgery the 19th and I went and bough chicken broth, sf pudding mix, sf jello mix- they told me not to get the premade kind. I also bought 2 big bags of SF popsicles. I got to looking at the label the other night and it does say sugar 0gm, but also says sugar alcohol 2gm.??? the told me to watch out for sugar alcohol...what exactly is it? oh ya, i also bough 2nd stage baby food :-) Good luck !!

I have lost 10 pounds on one week of pre-op - Medifast Supplements. I was so hungry and had so many headaches the first few days...I didn't think I could make it. Now it is much better. Yesterday, however, I was playing in a golf outing. Told my girlfriends upfront that I could not stay for the dinner portion (they do not know about my surgery). Long story short - I ended up staying for the dinner portion. I ate lean ham and 1/4 cup of cole-slaw. I couldn't get out of it and I didn't want to draw attention to myself by not eating. I am sure I stayed within the calorie and carb counts for the day. I did not eat the potatos, baked beans, chips and brownies that they offered :thumbup:. I did not drink any alcohol all day either (my first time doing that during 18 holes of golf!). I'm just not going to beat myself up over it. I did not use this slip as an excuse to raid the fridge (the old me would have). I am back on track today and doing great! There have been so many times when I could justify eating a little protein, or a veggie, as so many don't even have pre-op diets...but I stuck to the plan. Funny that I ended up being in a situation where I ended up doing it anyway. I really didn't even enjoy it. It certainly didn't feel like cheating! I'm sure it will be fine - the protein bars that are part of my diet plan have 15 carbs in them. I don't think the coleslaw had more than that...and I didn't eat the protein bar that day. My surgery is one week from today . I'm already not sleeping very well. I can't wait to get this behind me!!!!:thumbup:

Morning...interesting conversation. Let's just home none of us discover we only have 24 hours left....if I do, then I don't want to know. We need to resume this conversation for Las Vegas. Laura, I found a "duffle on wheels" type suitcase at the Samsonite outlet store in Phoenix. I love it. It isn't particularly lightweight, but I can sure pack a lot of stuff in it and it has a lot of handles so I can grab it many different ways. I took it to Costa Rica and DH and I use it when we need to check a bag and we just need one extra bag that we share. Cheri....getting plastered is fun at the moment, but the after affects aren't really worth it to me. Ug! But I guess you really need to do it at least once to know what it's all about. I have an automatic shut off valve, I drink too much, I throw up. It's sort of like PBing with alcohol. LOL. Off to work again this morning. I know I'm wishing my life away, but geez, I'm not going to miss the weekly grind of getting up, going to work, not having enough time to do what I want to do. Okay, talk to you all later. Eva

Phyll, got a contact high from mj once. Newly married at 19, went to a Joan Baez concert. Very smokey. Don't remember much of the concert. Just wanted to sleep. My husband told me later that all the smoke was mj. Never understood the attraction. I'm enough of a space cadet without the addition of drugs and alcohol. Cheri

Just get me to the plane in time for my ride home. Actually, I did get sick from drinking 1 time. My first husband and I were at my uncle and aunt's house in Milwaukee (both of whom turned out to be confirmed alcoholics-they divorced after she tried to set the bed on fire-with him in it). We hadn't had lunch and they took us to a brewery where we sampled the beer. Then we went to their house and sipped on wine well into the evening before they grilled some brats soaked in beer. I think I had one Southern Comfort Manhatten thrown in there too. Next morning, bright and early, with the sun shining in through uncovered windows, I finally gave up trying to sleep and went in the bathroom and stuck my fingers down my throat. The brats hadn't digested-just pickled. TMI I know, but funny. I actually told that story at my uncle's intervention. My husband, who ended up with an alcohol problem himself, started drinking Southern Comfort a lot after that. I had a five month old baby with me and I decided I'd never again drink that much. I don't think she liked the taste of my breast milk the next day either. So that's my drunk story. Once in a while I don't mind getting a nice buzz if I'm not driving anywhere. But I am not at all fond of headaches and throwing up. Cheri

Thank you everyone for the advice and encouragement. I will think of you all as standing between me and that fork that I want to use to shovel all that food in my mouth. I don't normally binge but after all this time waiting for regular food, it's pretty scary. I feel like an alcoholic-in-treatment going to a wine tasting event at a vineyard without being able to take a friend for support. But, I will follow your advice and report back how it goes. Thank you again!

Sorry that you are having so much problems with this issue. I know it's so easy for anyone to tell you that your issue is with the food and that you have to let food stop controling you like this. BUT it's not so easy getting rid of those old habits that follow us even after we are banded. The only real thing that I can possibly say to you is this, Step back and re-evaluate things. You had the band for a reason. You can either make this work, or you can give up and let food take over like it has probably done for most of your life (I know that's what it was for me). I am not trying to be harsh here but sometimes the only way to the heart of things is facing the truth. Honey we can sit here and type until we are blue in the face and it's going to go in one ear and out of the other. You have to be the one that makes the decision of wanting this to work. "You can lead a horse to Water but you can not make them drink." Yes the band is only a tool. And if you want it to work for you, you have to put your best efforts into this. Yes this is not a diet but it is a lifestyle change. And it will work if you set your mind to it, and WANT it to work and MAKE it work. Look food is a comfort food that we turn to when we are stressed, when we are upset, and when we want pleasure. It's just like an alcoholic turning to the bottle or a drug addict turning to heroine. It's a addiction that can only be broken by you. And if you want that to happen, only you can do it. No matter HOW much your mind tells you to do otherwise. Most of what you are feeling is head hunger. You really need to learn the difference. I don't eat 5 to 6 meals a day. I eat 3 meals a day which are no more than 5-6oz. I have sugar free ice pops and plenty of Fluid in between. I have a sensible snack once and awhile. If you are THAT hungry then you need to make sure you are eating higher Protein foods. And you need to stop yourself when you have reach the end of the plate. If you are having problems stopping then you need to measure your food and only eat that much. Keep a journal of what you are eating, that sometimes also helps. Get back on the path and don't give up. Don't give into frustration. That's probably how we all got into this mess in the first place. You can beat it. Don't let food beat you. Have faith in yourself. You can do it. If I can do it, SO can you.

Well, I set a goal to be at 150 by this Sunday when I left for vacation and I am at 150.1, I would say close enough! To date I have lost 30.5 pounds and this coming Monday will be 9 weeks post op. I continue to follow low carb, low fat, high Protein and it is working for me. Weight loss is slow and steady and I am fine with that. My Mom, who has not seen me since we said goodbye in the DFW airport when she went home and I still had to fly back to Dulles after surgery, has been asking me to send her pictures of my progress but I told her she will have to wait until I see her in Orlando on Monday! My babysitter came over last night to watch the kids so I could go to dinner with a friend and she screamed when she saw me! Said I looked so much smaller! That was so awesome to hear!!! Like I told a girlfriend at dinner last night, if anyone ever accuses me or anyone who has had WLS that we took the easy way out I think I would come unglued on them. This is not EASY! I watch what I eat everyday. Do I regret having to follow this healthy lifestyle, ABSOLUTELY NOT! This is what I needed to get control of my eating and my life. It is a blessing in disguise because I was feeding my face and drinking alcohol to deal with emotions. Now, I can't do that. I have moments where I want to grab food or a beer and I know I cannot. This has given me the push I needed to start dealing with some very deep routed issues in my life and I am so grateful! It will be a long process but well worth it all! TGIF!

So....here I go again...it's been a long time since I have posted and MUCH has happened (again). Well...the honeymoon is definitely OVER with the bf. He turned out to be very controlling and I was not going to have that in my life so I broke it off. Well...he wanted no parts of breaking it off and he went NUTS. He threatened me, called me a whore and an alcoholic. He said that he has pictures and he's calling my ex-husband and he'll make sure that I never see my kids again...says that these "pictures" show me drunk and that he will prove to my ex-husband that I'm an unfit mother. I'm sitting at work right now crying and wondering how did I get my life to turn out like this? Am I that bad of a person? So...there's more...a couple of months ago I took out a personal loan so he could get a vehicle because his credit is horrible and he wrecked his car on the ice and he didn't have money for another one. Looks like I won't see that money, huh? I did have him sign a promisory note but we'll see how that works out. He has the keys to my house and the garage door opener. I'm actually scared to go home from work...how did this happen? Well friends...I sure could use some good vibes to be sent to me right now...I NEED them badly!

Congratulations and best of luck. I haven't had soda since 5/1 and any alcohol since 5/3. Somedays that is a shock to me, most of the time I forget :-).

I found the contraindications on the lap-band page and it does not specifically mention APS; however, it does mention autoimmune connective tissue disorders as contraindicated with the lap-band. I'd ask a surgeon or even call the toll-free number and ask someone at Allergan. The LAP-BAND® System is not right for you if: You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn’s disease. You have severe heart or lung disease, or any other disease that makes you a poor candidate for any surgery. You have a problem that could cause bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. That might include esophageal or gastric varices (dilated veins). It might also be something such as congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia (dilation of a small blood vessel). You have portal hypertension. Your esophagus, stomach, or intestine is not normal (congenital or acquired). For instance, you might have a narrowed opening. You have/experienced an intraoperative gastric injury, such as a gastric perforation at or near the location of the intended band placement. You have cirrhosis. You have chronic pancreatitis. You are addicted to alcohol or drugs. You have an infection anywhere in your body, or one that could contaminate the surgical area. You are on chronic, long-term steroid treatment. You might be allergic to materials in the device. You cannot tolerate pain from an implanted device. You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases.

If you hang around here more, you will bump into many many bandsters who have lost 100+. My mom has lost over 100 w/her band and I've lost just over 50 in 6 months. My goals is 100 and there's no way I'm not makin it! I think if you have your mind made up and you follow the rules, there's no way you can't succeed w/the band. My weightloss did start to slow dramatically about two months ago. I did some soul searching and decided I didn't have surgery just to get halfway to my goal. So, I gave up alcohol and increased my exercise A LOT! Yes, there are challenges for everyone and everyone's challenges are different. But, if you have your mind made up that you are gonna get to goal and this great tool to help you, you will achieve your goal. Best of luck to you!

Why no dairy? Also caffine can cause acid reflux which can cause band erosion. Alcohol can also cause band erosion. 4 months after my surgery I had band erosion and I was a coffee drinker and enjoyed alcohol as well. I am definitely changing my eating habits my second time around already stopped drinking coffee and alcohol its' been a week and I am still dying for coffee. Surgery in 3 days though so I want to do better this time. My doc also doesnt see a problem with coffee and alcohol though we are being cautious because I already had band erosion.

Hi, I was just banded on June 28th. I have a baby, almost one year old who I still breast feed. I spoke with one of the anestesiologists. He said that the anesthesia is not in your milk once you no longer feel the effects of it. The same is with alchohol. If you have a drink and feel tipsy you should not breastfeed because the alcohol is in your milk at that time, but once you feel normal, then your milk is ok. He said to be really safe, wait for 24 hrs to feed your baby. That is what I did. I had Csections with both my babies and breastfed them immediately after I came out of the OR and while on pain meds in the hospital with no problems, and that was when they were newborns, so I would think if it was not safe, they would not have encouraged it. Because I paid cash for the Lap Band, I was able to go first at 0730, and home by 1400. So I fed my little guy before I left for the hospital and then I started again the next morning. He is older than your little one, so only feeds in the morning and before bed, but I had some frozen milk just in case he seemed to need it. He was fine about it all though. In regards to supply, I think everyone is different and you won't know until you have the surgery yourself. I would recommend you talk to your surgeon and research for yourself and then decide on what makes you comfortable. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

I do tend to lose more on days that I take a moment to praise God before I step on the scale. It can't hurt! More Protein and Water would help if you are low in those areas. Sounds like you have stepped it up on the exercise already which is good. You might not see results immediately w/the extra exercise, but hang in there because it really does make a difference in the long run. The only other thing you might consider is if you are getting any empty calories any other ways. For me, I was still drinking alcohol when my weightloss started to slow. It was pretty obvious I had to give it up. Since giving it up (a month ago) and upping my exercise, I am losing a lot better now.

My restriction varies a bit from day to day. I think mine is tighter when I'm dehydrated. Usually I keep up w/my water really well, but the few times I haven't, I have definitely noticed being tighter. Also, alcohol dehydrates you and can make you feel tighter the next day.

My doctor pointed out that the band does nothing to the inside of your stomach. All restrictions, adhesions etc are from the outside. So the things we can't eat are affected by the shape of the stomach; tolerance for things like alcohol, caffeine, etc should be unaffected.

Doctors seem to be all over the map on tea, coffee, and alcohol (not to mention other foods). You can find studies that say that caffeine is a diuretic, that it isn't a diuretic, that it makes you eat more or less, that it helps alertness, that it does nothing... I have to wonder if their own preferences control just what studies each doctor decides to believe and transmit as orders to patients. Well, that's no true exactly...I don't really wonder. Since this is a diet for life I am choosing to drink my tea and coffee much the same way I always have...2 cups of hot tea in the morning and a latte here and there through the week. Gallons of unsweetened tea during the day. An occaisional cocktail...calories permitting. My doctor says "whatever works".

My doc says no coffee for 2 months post-op, no alcohol for 4 months post op. As with my pregnancies, I can live without the alcohol, but coffee...that's a tough one. I know caffeine is an appetite stimulant, but I swear, for me it is not!!! A cup of coffee can really take my mind of hunger for a while. I started my pre-op diet today and switched to de-caf. The last month or so I limited myself to one cup per day so I'm hoping the headaches will not be too bad. I'm curious to know if other people received similar doctor's orders regarding caffeine...

hi hun the port is on the left hand side just below your ribs,you cant see it but sometime you can feel it.you drink fluids after op,cup a Soup etc not sure bout alcohol,have you paid your deposit not long now hun:thumbup:

BB/Slinky, its very hard to tell people. so far only my partner eldest daughter and a very close friend know. I.ve even heard my siister talkin about how its cheat, but I think why should you suffer i there help out there. Im being banded on 27 july and wanted to know from those that have had it done where does the port sit can yousee it or feel it. What can you eat following op and you drink as normal what about alcohol I know loads of quest:tt1:

Thanks for your insight, agiudice! Spot on. :thumbup: Seems in our rush to rid ourselves of all the trappings of our ugly past we are quick to make the same mistakes that led us to the dead ends of obesity. We need to take it slower and smarter; get your information from legitimate sources rather than anecdotal. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea during my early consultation my physician said after about a 40 to 50 pound weight loss I would need to adjust my machine. If I didn't it would introduce too much air and I might spend most of my days expending it from either end (he was much more eloquent than that but the core idea was less gas when adjusting the device). He said it may seem like I no longer need the machine. He cautioned me not to stop until we had discussed the details. There was a possibility I might transition to a static device fitted to my mouth instead. He likened sleep apnea to alcoholism: you will always have it lingering in the background no matter how many days you have kicked the machine. I would have been happy knowing it was "chronic" a tad less pejorative. I got the point. What I can state is I am sleeping sounder and getting the much needed rest. It may be due to a variety of factors but at this point I am not going to start cutting the cord on anything that has got me this far. Keep us informed, agiudice. Regards as always,

Hi there, and thank you. I had complications due to my band destroying my stomach tissue. I had a leak, it was repaired, longer recovery, would do it all again, complications and all. ZERO REGRETS. I technically do not have any food issues. Scrambled eggs and pork chops sit like a brick in my sleeve. I don't particularly like scrambled eggs and we quit eating pork with the exception of ham on accasion so I'm not missing pork chops either. I did not, and do not drink with my meals regularly. I broke that habit with the band, and never really picked it back up. I don't miss it. The only time I really drink with my meal is if it's wine, and I'm not wasting alcohol. If I'm eating super spicy mexican or thai foods, I might take a few sips with my meal and it's just enough to wet my whistle. It's not drinking, it's taking a few tiny sips to quell the heat. I did accidentally take a drink early out too soon after eating, and it was immediate pain and discomfort. We don't have pouches. We have normal, fully functioning stomachs. Our stomachs do not stretch after surgery. Our stomachs are extremely swollen post-op, and need time to heal and become acclimated to food going in there again. Once you are off the post-op diet, and introducing new foods, with each passing week and month, you will be able to consume a bit more. I'm 13 months out today, and I can consume the same amount of food that I could 6-7 months ago. My surgeon believes my stomach is at maximum capacity. I can eat 3-5oz of dense Protein, and 6-8oz of mushy foods. If I eat 3oz of meat, I can fit a few bites of greens, or some veggies. If I eat 5oz, I'm topped out, and can not eat anymore. Chili, yogurt, thick Soups etc etc I can eat about 6-8 oz depending on the consistency. Also, if I take longer than 30 minutes to eat my meals, I can consume more. I lost half of my hair. Yes, half. I had extremely thick, full, volume filled hair pre-op. I started losing around 3.5 months, and it last a solid 3 months. I had new growth coming in before the shedding stopped. There is nothing to stop it, but you can do things to help the regrowth such as taking Biotin or using Folicure extra care shampoo (found online or at beauty supply stores). No amount of protein, Vitamins, will stop the loss. It's a mixture of surgery, trauma, dramatic dietary changes, it's temporary and hair grows back. I still experience zero physical hunger. But, I have cravings just like any other normal human being. Skinny b!tches have cravings for Thai food also LOL. I don't obsess over food. I eat on average 6 times a day. I eat about 1500-1800 calories per day, and eat anything and everything I want. I do not forbid any foods off my menu. I eat ice cream, cake, and Cookies, but everything is in moderation. Instead of eating an entire package of cookies, I eat 2-3. I eat 1/2 cup of ice cream etc etc. I eat white carbs, and refuse to deprive myself of any specific foods. It's what works for me. Not everyone can do it like this, and that's okay. It is the path I've chosen, and you'll find yours. I truly love the sleeve. It's given me a fabulous life, and I live it to the fullest. I enjoy a very balanced, healthy and nutrient filled diet every day. Thank you to everyone for your sweet comments, and I look forward to another year with my sleeve, and sharing it with y'all ! ! !

Hello from Toronto! I understand 100%. I was a smoker, quit LAST SUNDAY! I've been a smoker for 20 years, but have only been smoking 12-15 cigs a day for the last 10 years. I quit because it was time, and this was punctuated by my surgery date on the 15th of July. My Dr. wanted me to quit 2 weeks before surgery. I have quit in the past, about 7 years ago, but stressful events in my life had me returning to the nasty habit! I had quit for 6 months, a real shame to return after that period of time. Alas, we move on, and try, try again! My quitting this time is part of my overall change of attitude! I want to get healthy, so I can play with my children, and feel good physically again! It's a lifesyle choice, and I am now chosing to control my habits, like smoking and eating and lack of exercise, rather than letting them control me! It's rather empowering me...and I'm feeling like I'm taking back my life, step by step. I'm using the patch, and it's working well. Try taking it off about 15 minutes before bed...the dreams and restlessness should stop... Stay strong, and breathe deeply everytime the urge creeps up on you...seems to be working for me. Staying away from "triggers" like coffee, alcohol ect is important. I KNOW you can do this.... Best of luck!