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The main concern is that they don't want to band alcoholics. However, I know an alcoholic who is banded. She has lost 100 lbs and is doing fine. I drink wine a couple times a week and am still losing at least 1 lb a week. I am sure you will be fine if you drink the way you say you want to.

1. Do you FEEL the LAP-BAND® around your stomach? Does it feel tight or uncomfortable? No 2. I think giving up soda will be really hard. WHY must it be done? You may be able to drink sode at some time in the future, BUT in the beginning especially, the carbonation can build up in your pouch and cause you some discomfort. 3. What is the purpose of the liquid diet pre-surgery? And post? Pre-op is to shrink your liver so that your surgeon has a little more room in which to maneuver. Almost all obese people have fatty deposits in their livers, some more than others... Your doctor's pre-op and post-op diet may very dramatically from other docs. Just follow his instructions! Post-op is to facilitate healing. 4. Did your insurance company cover the procedure? How long did the pre-auth take? Did you have to do psych evals, etc? No, my insurance did not cover the surgery. Your doctor can likely tell you the average approval time for your insurance company. As to requirements, you can can always call your insurance company to see what they require. Bear in mind that some requirements are not the insurance company but the doctor. 5. The port - does it physically bother you? Can you see it initially, after losing, etc? My husband is kinda freaked out about it.... It's about the size of a quarter and not very thick. I can feel mine if I press down firmly. 6. Does getting a fill hurt? Or does it feel like getting a flu shot / giving blood? Mine have never hurt at all. The first time, they gave me a numbing shot and then did the fill, the second time, I had them just do the fill. Either way you get one little pinch but no pain. 7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. I now have to take absolutely NO medications. I have taken some Tylenol a few times and had no problem swallowing them. The medications are dissolved the same way but in the pouch. I was told not to take ibuprofen ever because it can inflame the smaller environment of the pouch versus your whole stomach. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally?' The only restriction on alcohol is the calories. A shot of rum has about 60 calories. Mixers are, of course loaded. I drink rum with Diet Coke. It seems like the alcohol kills the carbonation really quickly. But just remember that post op you will be eating about 1,000-1,200 calories per day and just 2 shots is 10% of that amount so it's easy to add a lot of extra calories quickly. So don't make a daily habit out of it, LOL.

So I finally had the fill of fills. You know, the one where you can no longer eat the crap you're not supposed to be eating anyway without it all coming back up? It's actually kind of great because I'm eating a lot less and I'm not hungry very often. However...my brain has started to panic over the fact that it can't have "the crap" and subsequently all I do is walk the halls in a desperate search for food that I don't/won't eat. I'm like an alcoholic looking for the bottle of vodka I hid from my family. Yikes. :thumbup: (For the record, when I say "crap" I mean things like crackers, Very Thin wheat toast, Pasta. I don't even care about chips or cupcakes anymore. Well, maybe a little.)

once all the broken skin is healed...and not until then!....you can take a quick swipe in there with an alcohol swab daily. The alcohol kills germs and evaporates very quickly so it doesn't stay moist and invite infection. Now that you're aware of it, it probably won't be an issue.

Yes, you can have alcohol on occasion. I find it does interfere with weightloss though. I am so happy to have my band. I have tried and failed at losing weight more times then I can count. The band has made losing easier because I don't feel like I'm starving.

I've had wine several times since my surgery. Birthdays, Christmas, a nice dinner out... a glass or two. It didn't hurt me a bit. I didn't care for the carbs and calories, however! LOL! Just watch yourself, the alcohol really hit me quick and it didn't take much to make me a bit tipsy! :thumbup: Hugs,

I know they asked me a dozen times if I am a drinker before my surgery so I'm wondering if that means we can't drink now? I like to have a glass of wine maybe two or three times a year when I am out with friends.... Will this harm anything? Make me sick? I usually sip on the one glass for a couple of hours.... What about mixed drinks? Any Harm on Special occasions?

If its like mine, there is a LONG test w/a bunch of statements and you have to respond w/how much you agree or disagree w/each statement. Statements like... 'It makes me nervous to drive on a freeway.' Or, 'My friends are generally supportive of me'. Or, 'I like to go fishing in my free time'. Just answer the questions and don't overthink it. LOL I recognized some of the questions were trying to figure out if you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Alcoholism, etc., but some of them I had no idea what they were there for (like the fishing one). In any case, even if they do see you have signs for something (like GAD), it wouldn't prevent you from having the surgery, but they would probably recommend you follow-up w/your PCP or a psychologist to discuss it more. It is a general test and tests for things that are not contraindicated for WLS. The only things that I think are contraindicated for WLS is active alcoholism and active bulimia... meaning if you have either of these right NOW, they would deny you. If you used to have them, I think you can still have the surgery.

7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. I use liquid Tylenol and it works just fine. It's a 'slider'. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? Yes. .

1. Do you FEEL the LAP-BAND® around your stomach? Does it feel tight or uncomfortable? Not really. Mostly just the port. 2. I think giving up soda will be really hard. WHY must it be done? I am a former diet coke and seltzer Water junkie. Never drank flat. But I followed the rules. I have been told that the carbonation is added gas and when you are healing and learning how your band works you want to do whatever is recommended until you get to know how your band and body will get along. Sometimes mine doesn't play so nice - I named her Princess. She's a little better behaved as they (my body and band) play well now. :-) I just stayed with flat water and am fine. I don't miss diet coke - sometimes seltzer. 3. What is the purpose of the liquid diet pre-surgery? And post? Pre-op: To shrink the liver, and make the surgery easier on your body. Post-op: To aid in healing, your stomach does not need to work as hard. I was a bad patient when it came to this. I ate WHATEVER I wanted...up until the night before the surgery. Awful. But I was fine. Thankfully! 4. Did your insurance company cover the procedure? How long did the pre-auth take? Did you have to do psych evals, etc? My insurance did cover it. With TONS of requirements, it took about one year - yes seemed like forever. Attended the seminar, then surgeon's visit, blood work done, pysch eval, 6 month monthly appts with primary for history - waited painfully 3-4 mos for approval from insurance company. 5. The port - does it physically bother you? Can you see it initially, after losing, etc? My husband is kinda freaked out about it.... All five of my scars are visible. It will be a year in Feb since being banded and I've lost 85 lbs. I have started to notice my port sticking out more and more (bc of weight loss) it's right under my breasts and looks like an alien living in there. I showed my dr a month ago and he said we could do a low profile port revision but I want to lose more so would rather weight until it's all gone. But I am interested in doing it. 6. Does getting a fill hurt? Or does it feel like getting a flu shot / giving blood? Not at all - I go in - chat a few mins - lay down and pull my shirt up, left arm under my head - they stick huber needle in and done. Don't feel anything and no bandaid needed. 7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. Sometimes but after surgery I switched to every chewable or liquid that I could. Vitamins are chews or chewable and if nessa I use liquid tylenol for pain. Recently, I haven't had a problem with regular vitamins and/or ibuprofen. Fine. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? I have no troubles with it. I am a big fan of wine. I have noticed I cannot drink as much - that's a good thing. Especially wine though - it causes acid reflux to me. I've tried to determine if it's red/white/heavy/etc. It's a little better but no more than three glasses - GOD telling me something - another reason to love the band! btw - I had wine two weeks after surgery. 9. WHY IS IT YOU CAN'T DRINK liquids, LIKE WATER, RIGHT BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER A MEAL? This one is still tricky for me. Not so much at first. But now - I guess bc I'm filled. I can't have both - food and water at the same time. I can have liquid up to 15 mins prior to eating but 60 mins after. In fact, at a time when I've felt like I ate too fast or was going to puke or stuck - if I drank water - it immediately came up. That was a good thing for me bc I can't take being stuck. I do have to be careful sometimes with gulping water or milk...u can't drink or eat anything too fast. This past summer I would even have Protein shakes at around 4:00ish at work so I wouldn't be starving when I got home and inhale food. It helped a lot. Now I think I've got it but I can have a glass of wine, eat some dinner but I cannot drink a drop of liquid for a good 60 mins after eating...tea, water, whatever - I have to do it slowly and be careful. I just can't have both at the same time. It looks like some pepl can. I hope has been helpful! This site has been my savior! GOOD LUCK!

Program Coordinator/Senior Case Manager of a Foster Youth Program. I am also a Drug and Alcohol Counselor with a specialty in co-occuring Mental Health Disorders.

Yesterday, Day 21, I had 1 egg, 2 veggie patties for brunch and 1 oz beef tenderloin, 3 stuffed mushroom caps, some cheese and like a slice of summer sausage through the night. I also had a few sips of alcohol. It was my companies holiday party and I had a blast. We has some games too and I ran around like a crazy person and didn't hurt today. Still managed to stay under in Carbs, but didn't hit my Protein... Cal: 714 Carbs: 28.5 Prot: 41.75 Today: Day 22 post op scale Moved again! Yeah! Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Egg w/Cheese Snack: 40g Isopure Snack: 1 string cheese Lunch: chicken salad Snack: Crystal light Popsicle Dinner: 1 srv Stove Top Bake Water throughout the day. Cal: 867 Carbs: 32.5 Prot: 87.88 End of Day Observation: Felt like I ate A LOT today. Need to start working out tomorrow! Later everyone!

I'm a little confused about the pre-op diet. Everything I've read says that liver fat from non-alcoholic means (NASH) can and should only be reduced by losing weight very slowly, such as 1-2 pounds/week or 5-10% of body weight over a period of months and so as not to hurt the liver. If the pre-op is meant to empty the intestines and bowel, then I can see more of a relationship between the diet and ease of surgery. I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me where I can find studies on how rapid weight loss is positively correlated with a decrease in liver size for bariatric or any type of surgery. Thanks very much. I know there must be another side of the story but I can't find the data. Thanks again!

Last night was my first real social situation since I had my surgery. We're a military family, and since we're away from our familes, our little group of friends become our family. Last night we went to hang out with our usual group of friends. This lady is an entertainer. She has the best food in the whole world. And she's such a hostess. For "snacks" she had chips and dip, fruit and dip, hot wings, pizza (yes, as a snack). And the alcohol flows freely, including my favorite beverage...chiltons...(vodka, lemon, soda water). Not to mention the dinner that she cooked (bbq chicken, macaroni salad, hotdogs for the kids, rice). Now, to the abundance of infantry guys hanging around, they can eat all of that crap and it be NO problem. After all, almost none of them have a weight problem and they all run like 8 miles everyday. However, to Miss Lapband over here...it was just temptation sitting right in front of me. lol I did good though. I didn't snack. I drank a ton of water. I ate a healthy piece of baked chicken. And I woke up this morning on weigh-in day and was down 3 pounds from last week! Yes! But thinking about my weight loss journey so far has made me realize how bad my eating habits were before. Before, I wouldn't have hesitated to eat those yummy doritos with ranch dip, and her macaroni salad is to die for! And I would had 2-3 chiltons, plus maybe a vodka and cranberry juice. I would have snacked on the pizza and had 2 pieces of chicken. I see it at home too. I stand up and go to the kitchen and look in the pantry and look for something to eat. I end up not eating anything because I know it's just habit and not because I'm really hungry. I eat 3 meals daily (small portions) and a snack. And that's plenty! To date I've lost 25 pounds. I got off track when I went back to eating solid food and gained about 2 pounds back, but now I'm headed in the right direction. Right toward goal.

Last night was my first real social situation since I had my surgery. We're a military family, and since we're away from our familes, our little group of friends become our family. Last night we went to hang out with our usual group of friends. This lady is an entertainer. She has the best food in the whole world. And she's such a hostess. For "snacks" she had chips and dip, fruit and dip, hot wings, pizza (yes, as a snack). And the alcohol flows freely, including my favorite beverage...chiltons...(vodka, lemon, soda water). Not to mention the dinner that she cooked (bbq chicken, macaroni salad, hotdogs for the kids, rice). Now, to the abundance of infantry guys hanging around, they can eat all of that crap and it be NO problem. After all, almost none of them have a weight problem and they all run like 8 miles everyday. However, to Miss Lapband over here...it was just temptation sitting right in front of me. lol I did good though. I didn't snack. I drank a ton of water. I ate a healthy piece of baked chicken. And I woke up this morning on weigh-in day and was down 3 pounds from last week! Yes! But thinking about my weight loss journey so far has made me realize how bad my eating habits were before. Before, I wouldn't have hesitated to eat those yummy doritos with ranch dip, and her macaroni salad is to die for! And I would had 2-3 chiltons, plus maybe a vodka and cranberry juice. I would have snacked on the pizza and had 2 pieces of chicken. I see it at home too. I stand up and go to the kitchen and look in the pantry and look for something to eat. I end up not eating anything because I know it's just habit and not because I'm really hungry. I eat 3 meals daily (small portions) and a snack. And that's plenty! To date I've lost 25 pounds. I got off track when I went back to eating solid food and gained about 2 pounds back, but now I'm headed in the right direction. Right toward goal.

Alcohol is also legal, but I don't have a problem with people having to be off of drugs to receive benefits. You can't allow someone with a criminal record to live with you if you live in section 8 housing and I'm fine with that, too. In Connecticut, and I'm sure other states as well, if a welfare recipient worked, the amount of money they made when they worked was subtracted from their welfare benefits. Now, why would anyone work? That doesn't make sense. So, when they changed the law, more people had an incentive to work. I support these common sense changes. But I don't support eliminating the programs because some abuse it. And when the republicans were in power they could have set the wheels in motion to reduce these programs over time and they didn't. Yes, it would have been hard but that shouldn't have swayed them.

Patty: Originally Posted by jessress87 Well, I must say this thread has got me thinking... and thinking... and thinking....... I'm also very frustrated that after all this thinking I can't come to a firm conclusion. When asked if I am pro-life or pro-choice my knee-jerk reaction is to say pro-life. I would answer pro-life because I personally would not have an abortion (unless my life is being threatened by the early pregnancy). I will tell you right now that my answer on the poll was that I am pro-life except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened. But I read and read and read some more and have to admit that I swayed a little bit when I considered that I too do not want the government to take over my choices. What might they do next? Do I believe that abortion is morally wrong? In most cases yes- but who am I to judge? For someone who doesn't believe that a life is being taken it would not be morally wrong- it's all relative. And just because I beleive it's wrong doesn't mean that belief should be forced on EVERYONE. Why not, Jess? People have many differing beliefs about all the laws we have. Beliefs of all kinds are forced on people everywhere with all our laws. My son feels there is absolutely nothing wrong with smoking pot. He says it's not as bad as alcohol is. Yet, the laws force him to smoke in hiding. I think that the whole issue is that no one can come to an agreement about whether or not it's murder. If it was black and white, like some might consider smoking pot (I've never smoked pot nor really knew anyone personally so I can't say I know what kind of ill effects it has- but I take its being illegal is due to the facts of it's obvious ((or not so obvious to me,) negative effects). I just don't want it to get to the point where the government starts forcing more and more of their beliefs on me. Armed robbey is wrong, rape is wrong, assault is wrong, therefore no one (that I know of) has any objection to these things being illegl. However, not all people consider abortion to be murder because not all people believe that an 8 wk fetus is a baby. I do, but not everyone else does. So until the scientific community can come up with a determination that this fetus, at this stage is technically a human being, whether or not it's 'murder' will always be a gray area. I do, however, cringe at the stories of women who have had 4, 5, or 6 abortions- have you ever heard of birth control? I do realize that it isn't always 100% effective but it's definitely more effective than nothing at all! I think that one of the things that really bothers me about abortions is that I know more than a few women who have suffered miscarriages or who have not been able to have children. I feel like it's so unfair that someone who didn't want it (or for whatever reason chose abortion) would be blessed with such a gift when there are women that want it desperately that haven't been able. I have another dilemma from the analogy provided earlier about if exterminating the Jewish was legal. (sorry, I know this is inflammatory but I can see its relevance)I knowthis is just hypothetical but in this situation, how could I just say, 'well I'm not going to participate but I'm also not going to do anything about it. I know it's not the same thing, but still. On the other hand, abortion is legal and I'm not going to go around harassing people about their choice. I'm not going to go to abortion clinics or campaign or anything against it, but when asked how I feel about the legalization of it, I will alwys give my strong response to anyone that I am totally against the killings that this country allows daily. I can appreciate that. You are most certainly entitled to your opinion, as everyone else is, and you absolutely should feel free to express a strong response against something you disagree with, as long as that strong response isn't throwing pigs blood on young women coming out of an abortion clinic . (Totally kidding, btw- you seem like a reasonable lady, I'm sure you wouldn't do that) I think that in order for something to be called murder there has to be mallicious intent. I don't think that every woman having an abortion is saying 'take that, fetus!'. I'm sure it's a very, very difficult situation for most (except for maybe those who seem to use it as birth control). But I also do believe that some form of life begins at conception. I do agree that women who have abortions are not thinking that they are murdering anyone. They are focused on their 'problem' and want it to go away. But it is a fact that they are murdering none the less. It's all relative. I brought this subject up to my fiancee last night and I must say that I was VERY surprised at his response. I asked him if he thought an abortion would be acceptable under any circumstance. He said no. I said, 'what if the mother's life was in danger,' he said no. If it's God's will for you to die in order for your child to live, it's your time.' This scares me. I have to say that if a doctor was telling me that I AM going to die if I don't have an abortion, I think I would have to. Am I being selfish? I don't want to die. I don't want my baby to die either. I try to think about it this way: my 6 wk old fetus is a tiny, comfy, content life. He doesn't know anything yet. He hasn't seen anything yet. But I have. I've seen corn blowing in a breezy summer night. I've experienced true love. I've made sacrifices. I've made mistakes. I've been disappointed. I've been elated. I would never get to see my mom, my dad, my brothers, grandparents, nieces, nephews again. Which of us would be more valuable to humanity? I can't answer that question- again, maybe I'm just being selfish. I believe that every person has a right to defend themselves. If she is going to die from carrying and delivering her baby, then, and only then, should she be able to live by aborting her own death sentence. I know that other pro-life people do not agree with this view, but I believe it is the right one. I agree :frown: I do consider myself a non-religious Christian, which in itself is something I'm sure some people would have a problem with. Definitely not me. I do not like 'religion'. I prefer people to have a personal relationship with God, one on one, without the interference of organizations and their made up rules and ideas. That is refreshing to see. I feel a lot of judgment sometimes for feeling that way. I am of the belief that Jesus died for my sins. I think that says it all right there. We are all sinners- that's why Jesus died for us. I believe that you should try to be kind to others, I believe that you should help somebody if you can, I believe that you should try to be tolerant when dealing with someone who has different beliefs than yourself. When I get ticked off at a bad driver, or a cranky cashier just as I reach the point of irritation I try to remind myself that I don't know what happened to that person today. They're grandpa may have just died. They could be going through a rough divorce. I know that the day I found out my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer I was out of sorts, I hope no one would hold that against me. (They caught it early, he did some extensive radiation and is now doing great (knock on wood! Thank you Lord!)) I believe that Jesus loves us all, despite our sins. I don't believe that in order to have a relationship with God you have to attend Church every Sunday and Wednesday and doing so doesn't automatically make you a 'good person' it doesn't make you a bad person either. Just like I would never peg someone with different beliefs as me as a 'bad person,' it's not my place to judge. I feel like we should always try to be understanding and treat others with respect. I'm not saying I've been perfect with this, but who is? I agree.

I agree - either lactose, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. Do you eat any other "sugar free" foods? Do you have bad reactions with them? I do not do well with any of those, so avoid them all (incld Splenda). I am using a protein powder called About Time. You have to order it online and it isn't cheap. It is naturally sweetened and is 100% whey protein isolate. I haven't had any problems with it all. Good luck!

Obamacare must lead to medical care rationing. Despite the democratic rhetoric, the government (taxpayer) will be unable to afford basic treatment for everyone, let alone the lavish care most Americans expect to get for free. Those to be denied first will be the aged and the chronically and terminally ill (poor bang for the buck). After that, the U.S. Dept. of Wellness will exclude people with self-inflicted illnesses, beginning with smokers and fatties. Based on what's happening in England, drinkers should also expect to be on the short list for denial. The cash-strapped National Health Service spent $4.4 Billion in the last fiscal year treating patients for drink-related ailments or injuries. Admitting they no longer can afford to subsidise Britians growing binge-drinking culture, a consequence of the sloth and idleness that comes with socialism, NHS officials promised to help HC providers "deal with" the mounting medical bills related to alcohol use and abuse. The clear implications is the NHS is moving towards defunding the coverage and redefining universal care as medicine for everyone whom politicians and government beaurocrats deem deserving. Imagine what our government will start denying us fatties if they are in control of our HC?

addiction talk....."You had a relapse." When we relapse with food, we get the same feelings of failure, incompetent, guilt and depression as a drug or alcohol addict would after trying so hard to JUST STOP! The wonderful and blessed thing is that we do have these tools that can help in getting back into our recovery from food that has taken control over us...once again. Good Luck

We have a hard enough time trying to get the laws to support the abolishing of the murders that go on with abortions, never mind trying to figure out if someone intentionally killed their baby with drugs or overeating or alcohol. Let's stick with the abortion issue. Just so you know how I feel about your question, it's yes. If she intentionally does drugs or drinks alcohol in hopes to kill her baby, then she is attempting murder.

Net Carbs is Total Carbs minus the amount of Fiber and the amount of sugar alcohols. Total Carbs is all the carbs in the product. Net Carbs subtracts the carbs that are less likely to cause a reaction with your blood sugar. Hope this helps.

1. Do you FEEL the LAP-BAND around your stomach? Does it feel tight or uncomfortable? Not at all, unless food is stuck, then I am oh so aware of it. But I don't feel the band itself. 2. I think giving up soda will be really hard. WHY must it be done? I still sip it from time to time, I like the taste. But it sometimes gives me hiccups. It has no nutritional value. I have also read that diet soda can trigger hunger, who wants that? 3. What is the purpose of the liquid diet pre-surgery? And post? Pre-op: To shrink the liver, and make the surgery easier on your body. Post-op: To aid in healing, your stomach does not need to work as hard. 4. Did your insurance company cover the procedure? How long did the pre-auth take? Did you have to do psych evals, etc? My insurance did cover it. With all the hoops needed, it took about 5-6 months. Yes, psych eval was required, a no biggie. 15 minute talk to show I knew what the procedure was and possible complications. He also wanted to be sure I understood it was not a quick fix or miracle cure. 5. The port - does it physically bother you? Can you see it initially, after losing, etc? My husband is kinda freaked out about it.... High waisted pants bother it. The scar is visible. If I got really thin, I expect the port would be visible, but not now. I understand that there is a low profile port that some people have installed. 6. Does getting a fill hurt? Or does it feel like getting a flu shot / giving blood? Not at all like giving blood. I get a numbing shot with a very small needle. After that, I feel a slight "pop" when the huber needle enters the port. It is nothing to be afraid of at all. 7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. Big pills sometimes go down a little sticky. Small pills no worries. Yes, they digest as usual. Food also digests as it used to. As a side note, my surgeon advised me to not use anti-inflamatory drugs on a regular basis. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? I have no troubles with it. Even have beer sometimes, same issue as with soda, hiccups. But as the previous poster said, empty calories. Defeats the purpose of having the band, so I limit the amount. Thanks!! You are welcome! There is lots of info here, read and learn! Denise

1. Do you FEEL the LAP-BAND® around your stomach? Does it feel tight or uncomfortable? - NO 2. I think giving up soda will be really hard. WHY must it be done? CARBONATION DOESN'T AGREE WITH THE BAND - IT MAKES YOU FEEL BLOATED - 3. What is the purpose of the liquid diet pre-surgery? And post? PRE-SHRINK YOUR LIVER - POST - HEALING 4. Did your insurance company cover the procedure? How long did the pre-auth take? Did you have to do psych evals, etc? YES 2 WEEKS AND YES 5. The port - does it physically bother you? Can you see it initially, after losing, etc? My husband is kinda freaked out about it.... PORT SITE HURT THE MOST RIGHT AFTER SURGERY - MINE STICKS OUT A LITTLE NO BIGGIE 6. Does getting a fill hurt? Or does it feel like getting a flu shot / giving blood? MY DOC NUMBS ME PRIOR TO FILL SO NO IT DOESN'T HURT 7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. - YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO TAKE LIQ TYLENOL - SMALL PILLS AREN'T A PROBLEM FOR ME - I CAN EVEN TAKE TYLENOL CAPLETS - IT DEPENDS ON YOUR RESTRICTION AND SIZE OF PILL 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? YES - I DRINK OCCASSIONALLY - BUT REMEMBER EMPTY CALORIES.. The Band is only a tool - you have to change your eating habits for life and add physical activity to your life. Good luck on your journey