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i was told that if I wanted to drink wine/alcohol or eat something spicy to "protect" my stomach first by taking a pepcid chewable or a liquid antacid before Mary

Wow? Down to 4 a week? Well I don't know what your previous consumption was, but if you're cutting down to 4 a week, it was probably pretty robust. I'm the Bandster exception I guess. I look to the European Bandsters since they have been banding there for decades with great success. Euro Bandsters drink quite regularly and still lose well. Of course moderation is key, but I never missed a Friday Happy Hour during my banding (except for the 2 Fridays after my TT - ouch!) and I lost fine. In fact I think that most of the light social drinker Bandsters I know seem to have lost a bit more some of that didn't drink. Doesn't make sense but it's true. (And the Bandsters' unofficial fave liquor is vodka - from coast to coast. Don't know why but it is.) Anyway, that's completely unscientific but bottom line is that I was never a beer drinker but those who do drink it say that the carbonation isn't easy to tolerate in larger quantities. I believe it. Two or three drinks a week will probably not slow anyone down from weight loss - if they account for those 'empty' cals or carbs elsewhere. No one got this band to make their lives miserable, I bet. I think I lot of us chose this option to help us make good choices and maintain our weight over a lifetime. It's not a reason to eliminate things that we enjoy - the band is suppose to help us moderate our intake of those things, and that might well include alcohol. (I can't drink as much as I did before banding, basically because I eat so much less. It's simple. I'm a cheaper date now! ) So for that reason it's important to find a way to incorporate the band into our lives - not to make our lives dry (so to speak). Let's be banded and live our lives to the fullest - I'll tip my martini glass to that!

Random B12 information (includes some folate) Causes of non-megaloblastic macrocytosis (megaloblastic meaning large immature erythroblasts that come from the bone marrow, due to defective DNA synthesis, normally either B12, folate or both deficiencies. Macrocytosis refers to a blood condition in which red blood cells (RBC) are larger than normal) Liver disease can cause these items, as B12 can be stored for years in the liver. Unless released due to problems with the liver, it is normally good for 2-5 years. Serum folate levels are normally taken but red cell folate is more specific. Serum B12 is NOT not always an accurate reflection of deficiency at a cellular level. This is why some patients have symptoms when the injections or pills are reduced, even with normal B12 levels. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570488/ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410469_4 "A low serum folate level may indicate only a decrease in folate intake over the preceding few days. [26] A better indicator of tissue folate status is RBC folate concentration, which remains relatively unchanged while a red cell is in the circulation and thus provides an assessment of folate turnover during the 2 or 3 months preceding measurement. Also, low RBC folate levels correlate better with the degree of megaloblastic changes in the bone marrow than do low serum folate levels. When there is coexistent Iron deficiency, liver disease, serum and RBC folate levels may be normal -- and serum B 12 levels may be normal or even elevated -- but tissue Vitamin deficiency can be present. This is only demonstrable via subtle hypersegmentation and/or deoxyuridine suppression test and is subsequently confirmed by response to vitamin therapy. Decreased serum total folate-binding capacity is another test that may indicate hidden folate deficiency." An elevated MCV can be associated with alcoholism (and if you look for signs & symptoms of alcoholism, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, you will see bariatric patients that mimic those symptoms when deficient! Vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency has also been associated with macrocytic anemia (high MCV numbers).

yes - it's due to transfer addiction. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon among WLS patients.. I think they want to make sure you have your eating issues under control so you just don't substitute alcohol for food in response to stress, etc. I was told to wait a year as well.

My doc’s rule is six months. I was told it was because they want to make sure your pouch is healed completely and also dehydration is an issue since alcohol is so dehydrating.

@@Slick300 I think true foodies, not food addicts, do well after surgery. If you thought you were a food snob before surgery, after surgery it is times 10. I will not eat bad food or mediocre food, not at all. This have to basically be delicious for me to eat them. The time post off where you are eating very simply for weeks/months cleanses the palette in a very interesting way. When you add food back, good high quality food has the taste amplified quite a bit. You taste everything more. Which is why bad food is so terrible to you. I enjoy being able to eat at trendy restaurants and not walking away hungry. I can have a couple bites of something, get a taste for it and be satisfied. I really enjoy places with small plates, it completely cloaks my small capacity, and by the time people have realized I have barely ate anything, they are almost done (realizing they pigged out). I gave up alcohol long before surgery, so I can't really comment on that. I will have a sip of something if it compliments the dish, but it is purely for the taste/compliment. Alcohol does enhance food. I suggest paring with liquor before surgery and not having it, until you have lost over 50% of your excess weight. Some people can do well with alcohol after surgery, but others not so much. It is just empty calories, with no nutritional value. I think about food/drink in terms of how it benefits me, and alcohol just has few benefits and lots of cons. If you love food, really love, good food, you will after surgery. If you follow your food steps, and change your relationship with food in a positive manner, you can still be a foodie and be successful.

Addiction is REAL!! Be it food, alcohol, sex, shopping whatever is real!! Cross addiction happens to many after WLS. For sure. My hubby was hoping and praying that I would have SEX as my cross-addiction!! NOPE didn't happen, now shopping watch out. LOL All joking aside, I had a very hard time justifying going out to eat!! I felt the same about cooking because when you can only eat a few bites it was hard!! Notice I said WAS. My hubby has said all along that I should look towards QUALITY, not QUANTITY!!! It was such a SMART thing to say!! I'm not saying that I'm like all cured of the examples above but it is much better. Now I am not a fancy foodie I was just raised on the OL SOUTH GOOD FOOD!! But, I can deal with having them ever once and awhile. Heck, one of y very favorite meals could more than likely cause most of you foodies to go into a swift HEART ATTACK!! LOL My old fav used to be fried potatoes, Mac and cheese, corn and a buttered piece of Wheat bread (the bread was more than likely the healthiest part of the meal) of course even if I fixed it I wouldn't be able to eat but a few bites. LOL Just a thought. Oh, BTW I always loved a cold beer before my WLS now I like wine. Does that make me more sophisticated? Just kiddin

The NUTS in m Bariatric Center say that foodies do very well after WLS. We foodies love food and know it, you'd be amazed at how many overweight people deny their love of food or actually consider food their enemy. As for me. I am 7 weeks post sleeve. Mostly solid food but red meat still doesn't go down well. About 600 calories, 25 grams of carbs. I am not hungry so that's plenty to get a taste of everything but desert when we go out and tasty small meals at home. We eat out 3 sometimes 4 times a week. My surgeon said I could try alcohol and I has a sip of wine last week but seem to have no taste for it right now. I get 8 oz coffee drinks (instead of 20 oz) and drink about 4 oz before I am done. I use heavy cream in coffee at home because it is lower in carbs and I don't have a restriction on fat. I expect that at some point I will allow myself some sweets but right now I want to loose weight more that I want chocolate. My hope is that I will be able to decide ahead of time that I will eat a certain food instead of impulsivity eating then regretted. I took a weekly, six month "lifestyle" class before surgery that has really helped my understand my eating issues and, so far, it has really helped me choose between short term pleasure and long term gain.

1. I can tell my pouch is full when I start burping. I have to take small bites - about a teaspoon - to keep from getting overfull. I don't have a warning sign that I'm getting "close" to being full. It's take a bite, I'm okay, take a bite, I'm okay, take a bite, I'm full. 2. I don't know if you can get full on fluids, I haven't ever felt that way, but I am sure it can be done. Everyone's different. 3. It is normal for me to go 4 - 5 days and the scale not move. I don't worry about it. At 7 weeks out, I've gone through it enough times that I know it's just my body readjusting to the reduced calorie intake. 4. It might be okay to eat marinara sauce. Everyone's stomach is different. I still can't eat anything with sucralose or sugar alcohols - sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, G2 Gatorade. I created my own stomach test for new foods. I take a bite, about 1/2 teaspoon, wait 5 minutes for any signs my stomach doesn't like it, take another 1/2 teaspoon and wait another 5 minutes. If my stomach isn't rumbling in that 10 minutes, I can eat it. 5. I haven't had an pains around my incisions, but during the 1st week I could feel a pulling sensation inside when I lay the wrong way on the bed. 6. Didn't experience that, sorry I can't help with that one.

No coffee because it acts like a diuretic. No drinking a half hour before a meal and no drinking a half hour after a meal. This way you keep the food in your stomach longer and it won't get flushed out. No alcohol because you don't feel it like before and it enters your blood stream faster. You might not feel drunk but your blood level will say differently. No carbonation because it stretches the stomach. You must follow the food plan that your surgeon and nutritionist give you or you won't be successful. Protein is first always to eat and always have all your water. You must measure everything. No sugars or fats because you will get sick and have dumping. Well my nutritionist says it should have no more then 10g of sugar per serving or you get sick from it. We all go to social functions you just have to plan ahead on what you will eat. I personally go out to eat and go to people's homes, I even went to a convention and brought food with me just in case there wasn't anything for me to eat. It worked out great. I ate their food and mine. Those are the basic general rules to follow. Your surgeon and nutritionist will come up with what is best for you for your plan. I was a very big soda and seltzer drinker and gave that. I also was a big drinker with meals and got use to not doing that. WLS is a big commitment and there are adjustments but it can be done and you can have a very full life also a much healthier life. Good luck with your decision. I'm so glad I did it.

Right after I got approved the Doctors office called and wanted to know if I wanted to do it the next week.I needed time to get my head right.I was still like a deer in the headlights from getting approved.Take your time this is not something that you just jump into.It takes alot of mental preparation. I found out it is best to stop taking all herbal sups and asprin, ibuprophin, tylenol, alcohol ,smoking at least two weeks before surgery. Do you have a support group in your area? If so go take to them see what life is like after WLS.Take time ti get your self prepaired for this LIFE CHANGING event. My surgery is Thursday I have been approved for two months.

The reason behind the eval is they want to be sure that you dont turn to drugs alcohol or sex as a way to cope with emotional issues I would go into the therapy you may have a shorter time than you think .the therapist could clear you based on your sessions. choochie:cool:

Although you will ultimately lose more weight when you cut the alcohol out of your diet, if you must, and I like to have one socially or every now and then, I stick with gin or vodka mixed with sugar free cranberry and a splash of OJ, or Crystal Light. Low to zero carbs, and 1 or 2 won't kill your efforts. But this sparingly. I do not do anything carbonated, beer, champagne, soda, etc...it just puts too much pressure on me and it is openly frowned upon in banding. My big concern that I see across responses is that people feel the need or even desire to deal with stress(work, family, school, etc) and correlate it with drinking. To be drinking 2-3 drinks 4 or 5 times a week....no matter how you put it, is A LOT. Stress should never be the reason you drink. I bet you use to eat when you were stressed, and you see where that got you. You have just substituted one thing for the other and I'd rather be fat than a drunk. I am neither...goodbye 120lbs, hello size 6. Stress is ultimately alleviated with relaxation techniques(hobbies, me time, sleep, rest, etc) or exerting it out physically through exercise. So why not kill two birds with one stone and when you are stressed from your so many figure positions, take your unhappy behind to your fancy gym or equipment, work the stress out and lose weight as a result. Drink if you like socially but definitely do believe that you need it to relax...scientifically it just doesn't work like that. I don't earn six figures or more as I am a public school teacher(so I should). I also am a special education teacher, so I teach students who are the lowest in the school and are emotionally and behaviorally difficult. I sometimes complete 15 hr days, plan until midnight, up back at 4 to be back at 7 doing it all over again. I am also working on my second masters/last rank. So I know stress.....

Pat COOL pictures. Bet your place is breathtaking. Love the tart cart Donna, sorry about your visit. I know what you mean about the drinking, I have 2 brothers who are alcoholics (my dad was one too). Its really something they need to do for themselves (sadly). How is your Dad, what did the hospital say? Sherry, the band is wacky LOL !!! Congrats on the 39 lbs WHOOT!!!! The reason people do liquids after they have a rough pb is because the esphogus is usually irritated. I get food stuck alot but thats because I go to fast. If your having a hard time you might want to wait to get another fill....only you can tell. I was supposed to get one this past week but I'm waiting until June 16th... I'm afraid of going to tight too. Cindy, sorry your aunt is making things ugly. Its rough enough when some one you love passes and yet to put up with that crap just sucks. No tickets ??? just kidding Voice lessons........ how cool !!!!! you should be proud. I wish folks would use their time to support than to call each other names...it really is sad (on the troll thread and such). We went swimming today, water was chili but it warm up and you got used to it after a while LOLOL !!!! Oh well...good night folks. Have a great evening and well, we'll be back to the grind tomorrow. Hugs and :kiss2:

This weeks weigh-in: 172.2lbs - HELLS YES - 90lbs down! I've been away for a few weeks so this is going to be a long one! SORRY ahead of time. I had a realization about my band Saturday morning. The besties and I were headed out for a day of bridesmaid dress hunting (yes I know, less than a month away) after a late St. Patrick's Day night. I rolled out of bed and figured that we would hit up a drive-thru on the way since I felt kind of like death. I am a coffee fanatic! I neeeeed a cup of joe in the morning before I even open my eyes. My regular routine is to have a few sips before my shower and getting dressed and then I eat the same oatmeal type concoction every morning. Same time, same portion, same everything. I never have problems in the morning. Since my last fill, I have had a few issues when I am on the road. Twice now, the Mr. and I have checked out of a hotel without coffee or breakfast and stopped in at McDonalds or Tim Hortons on the way since it is such a long drive home. We are in a hurry!!! Because I do not drink and eat with the bad, I have made the mistake of trying to eat first without the coffee. Things that would never get stuck, do. I couldn't figure it out and thought that it may be my band reacting to alcohol (for shame Jennifer, for shame). Well, this Saturday - BING!!! the light bulb came on after throwing up into a take out bag in the front seat of Sparms' new car while Mama G sat unfazed in the backseat. Totally embarrassing. They are both totally supportive and have really taken this journey with me but it sucked making them pull over to ditch my bag of slime. Then, it came to me - COFFEE LOOSENS MY BAND! I should not be eating anything solid in the morning until I have had a warmish liquid in there first. I have heard and read about this with many bandsters but never thought that it applied to me. Well, now I know. Over a year out of surgery and I am still learning and adapting to my ever-changing band! Work is nuts!!! Wedding stuff is even more nuts and life seems to be whizzing by! We leave in 12 more sleeps. Both of our suitcases are packed, the passports are locked and loaded and my dry whiter-than-snow skin is just dying for some sunshine and some humidity! I get my hair done today too! I've never had my hair done by a real professional. I stop by at the local strip mall for a chop here and there and because I have curly hair, no one can ever tell that it is a shitty job. Not today friends. I am hitting up a real professional! I am going to wait to put up this post so that I can include a pic. I'm hoping for something natural looking.UPDATE- The trip to the salon was worth the head message alone! Really liking how soft it feels. He even straightened it too! I felt like a special lady all afternoon. Over the last few weeks, the wedding odds and ends are being tied up. Saturday night, Sparms Bestie and I went to my Mom's house. Mom is a scrap-booker, card maker and crafter extraordinaire. We made gift tags for these gorgeous little ditties that we are sending home with guests: (this is not my photo, nor our guestbook). Collectively, the tag dream was materialised! They turned out better than I ever expected. This proven by the fact that we used none of the things that I purchased specifically for them! Thanks Mom and Sparms! Mama G Bestie braved make-up and underwear shopping with me. I have to admit, stores like that were really intimidating for me before. I don't wear make-up often at all. Partially because I have always purchased crap that I don't use more than once or twice. Mama G took me in to Seph*ra and wrangled a shop girl to test a bunch of powders on me.(Who wants sweat lip shiny wedding shots?) I would never insist on this alone. I would do my best to pick the one that I thought matched my colour and be done. After that trial, I know that I am completely clueless. I would assume that my skin was pink, not yellowish. What the hell do I know? Obviously nothing! Left the store with some great stuff and a little bit of an interest in make-up. I always believed that I would never be able to buy something from "V*ctoria's S#cret". Pssh, who cares? That place is STOOPID anyway! HMPH. Well, I hate to say it... I couldn't have been more wrong. These bras are like little silk memory foam pillows for the girls! The straps are made out of some kind of anti-slip material that feels like money on my skin! I was floored. I wanted one of everything! Mama G stood beside me and was my courage. We had so much fun chatting and browsing that all anxiety went out the window. I flipped through the drawers looking for a white strapless for under my wedding dress. They didn't have it in white at the one location but I found the style that I wanted and they held it for me at another location. The next day, the Mister and I went to pick it up. The Mister totally enjoyed the store more than he would ever care to admit and he bought the bra and a bottle of a perfume that I had been raving about. It's called "BOMBSHELL". *cough* *cough* HELLS YEAH I AM! I am also a very lucky girl! I love my friends and family... and they love me too... most of the time. lol.

Well... I can't pass judgement as I had a drink or two around that time as well (maybe just at two weeks? can't remember). Anyways, be careful - you're eating much less, your alcohol tolerance will probably be lower. You really should have a DD. (yeah yeah yeah, you need to have a DD whenever you drive, but it's crazy how much different it is now). I like to do little wine tastings on the weekend at Total Wine. It's also interesting to keep track of how many oz's you drink and how many calories you consume from just a little tasting. While wine is good for you to a certain extent, it's a lot of empty calories. One event like this won't kill your journey but try to minimize what you drink if that makes any sense. Hope this makes sense. My surgeons notebook didn't really have anything in there about alcohol this close to surgery. If your doctor says this is wrong, follow your doctors orders above mine . Have fun.

The arrest: I was 20 and in love with a madman. He worshipped me and treated me like a queen and "made me see God" daily **quivers.** But he occasionally snapped with jealous rage if I barely glanced at another guy when paying for gas or something. I still talk to his twin sister and he went completely mad after I finally left him. He married a girl after 2 months then broke her pelvis. He's now a recluse in Oregon with major mental/alcohol problems. But in our youth, we were engaged because he said he was only jealous since I refused to marry him. But things got worse after I accepted the ring. The night I tried leaving and had to call the cops, they showed up to 2 calm people. They asked Rob, "are you going to give Lisa her purse back if we leave?" He said, "no, I'm going to make love to her." So I whispered to the dust bunnies, "I'd rather spend the night in jail." They cuffed me in my own apartment! I think Rob cuffed himself just to be with me.

I was so damn thirsty and out of Water I had some soda when I was 1 week post op, and was totally fine!! I've had sips of sparkling water and sodas here and there and It goes down like wata! I think beer would be fine but might take you a while to get used to again because of the foam . Everyone is different so I wouldn't count on other peoples experiences to be your own. But In my experience it's been fine, I've had no nausea or vomiting or taste change since surgery and never had high blood pressure or acid reflux or diabetes. I guess take a look at your own stats and maybe you'll guess how your body will react, if not well your surgery is right round the corner so you'll know sooner than later lol Plus I always hear about people after surgery who trade one addiction for another and become alcoholics, well that makes me think that drinking is possible after the surgery. Just be careful, I have to tell you that for me right now at 3 weeks post op, your brain is going to hurt and not being able to eat is going to start to wear on you so I can see how it's easy to pick up drinking to cope. I'm 30 as well. Gooooood luck!!!

Personal experience, no preaching. I am almost 9 months out. I honestly haven't tried carbonation. I drank WAY too much diet soda to open that door again at this point. I do hope to maybe try a beer again one day, or a hard cider...but since drinking while eating makes me completely ill I probably won't try that for a LONG time. I think it's luck of the draw who can and who can't. Carbonation makes a lot of people ill. I have has wine (once--about 1/4 glass), margaritas (twice, again about 1/4 glass) and an after dinner liqueur (once--amaretto--about half of a shot glass). All four times the alcohol hit me VERY fast and hard. Which is why I have only done it twice!

I had lovenox shots only in the hospital. I did end up back in the hospital 2 weeks post-op wirh blood clots. So I think taking them after you get home is a good idea. I am almost 6 months outing had to get my gallbladder out last month. I had to be on the lovenox shots for a month after surgery. It does give you some bruises but it doesn't hurt as bad if you let the alcohol dry before you give yourself the shot

I'm here! I'd like to see this thread become more active also! A little about me - surgery 2/1/13. No pre-op diet required. My Dr says he only requires them for people he feels will struggle with dietary compliance, seems like every Dr is different. I've lost 31 lbs so far and have been lucky to have very little hunger from day 1. I've also not has any alcohol since January - tough as the hubby and I own a liquor store/deli/catering operation and wine and food tasting are part of the job! I have 3 kids - a son who is married with a 2 yr old of his own, a daughter graduating college in May, and a 14 yr old daughter. My surgery coincided with my son and his family moving into their own apartment (they had lived with us for 2 yrs) and honestly, this has been the biggest help in my weight loss journey! Love them all but the stress of 7 ppl in the house was not good for me. Prior to surgery I was diagnosed with knee issues - arthritis and a meniscus tear. While waiting for knee surgery I developed a blood clot in the leg which scared me. While dealing with that, my decision to have the surgery was cemented - I just had to deal with the 3 denials from insurance! Finally got that resolved in early December. Other than the obvious appearance changes, I am very hopeful that the weight loss will help my knee arthritis/pain. I look forward to hearing other people's stories!

Is it ok to have a small glass of wine a week post op?

I so totally agree. I am a newby as I was banded on 3/24. I found prior to my surgery I was lamenting "all the food" that I would not be able to have. It is way to early in the game to see if those foods even interest me, because right after surgery I have not really been hungry or even wanted to eat. (I know wierd huh) I found that I was using food as a crutch to not feel, to stuff myself with something other than what I was really needing. Therefore committing slow suicide, just like an alcoholic I could not say no to just one. I would eat till sick-stuffed and then 15 minutes later look for more food. I guess we all have to just let ourselves "be" in the moment and experience those feelings that scare us. I have found in the last 4 weeks with the preop diet and now post op that just being able to feel without pushing down food to block it out has been liberating. You can and will do this, and we are all right here beside you. Ruthie

What a powerful story! Thank you so much for sharing. I've just begun my journey -- at 55. My mom died at age 56 of alcoholism and I made up my mind I didn't want to die at age 56 of my own addiction. It sounds like you have worked very hard, and you have found peace -- and health. I'm so happy for you. Thanks again for sharing.

I work in psych and can't tell you how many times I see a patient come in who's here for abuse/dependence of alcohol and/or drugs, and guess what!?? They've had gastric surgery in general. Because many people who have addictions of ANY kind are more prone to substituting one thing for another....you miss food, you start smoking, drinking, gambling, etc.... I know that is one reason for sure. Another thing I read is in a book called Losing Weight with the Adj Gastric Band, (I think that's the name...excellent book), and in there, it states about 6 qualities in a person that have indicated success with the band. Offhand, I can't name them all, but being female is one, having overcome some tragedy in life such as divorce or death of a loved one and surviving is two, etc...From what I can remember, many qualities of the typical driven, OCD woman...well, that puts it harshly and I certainly don't mean that, but it described me to a T. So, I'm running with it. But check out the book. It's excellent!