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I waited a month and have no problem with anything non carbonated...but my Dr didn't say no alcohol... It's just a matter of useless calories.

At 54, soda was my drug of choice -- no coffee, no tea, no alcohol. But give me a 2 liter bottle of diet coke a day and I was happy. I drank that much up until the day of surgery. I have not have even a sip, nor have I wanted a sip since. I think the post op diet did it for me. First, they tell you that soda will cause pain and burping -- not something I wanted to sign up for. Second, it's hard enough to get all the calories in without taking up space with zero calories. Third, now you can't eat and drink at the same time -- and that was primarily why I drank it. It went really well with all the things no longer on my list of foods -- potato chips, pork rinds, taco chips, etc. So, start weaning yourself onto caffeine free (say every other soda) and by surgery day caffeine will not be an issue. Then remember, the reason you liked it so well is it offset the bad calories you were consuming. Now that you are making smart food choices, it won't be an issue.

so I know that you can have like a glass of wine a day, basically just keeping it down to a minimum, but, just wondering how soon do you think it's safe to have a glass of wine (for example). I got banded on the 13th. I should call my doc but, just thought I should ask you guys!

I am pre-op, but was finding that the foods I've been eating are just not making me feel well. I've always suspected that I may have an intolerance to wheat, but not sure about anything else. So, I went on an 'exclusion diet' and removed all dairy, gluten (wheat, rye, barley, and oats), eggs, citrus, alcohol, and caffeine from my diet for two weeks. I chose these because after much reading on the internet, these seem to be the most common food intolerances. There are more complex exclusion diets, but this was hard enough to follow as it is. Luckily, I have a friend who has celiac disease (allergy to gluten) so she was able to help me understand what foods are gluten free and which ones aren't. Anyway, after the two weeks of excluding this all from my diet, then I introduced one at a time (not faster than one every three days). So far what I've found is I have intolerance to onion (goes right through me - horrible cramps and diarrhea). Even though this wasn't something I had purposely excluded, it just so happened that I didn't have much onion in anything until the 10th day in. I had been feeling great, then bam, the onions made me feel awful. I didn't quite see the connection at first, but then it happened again the next time I prepared something w/a lot of onion. The next thing I identified as a problem is dairy, but I seem to have a threshold w/it. A little dairy is fine. If I have more than a normal serving or multiple dairy items in one meal, I feel sick to my stomach, and get diarrhea again. Sorry, if TMI. Finally, I just reintroduced wheat products today and haven't had any GI symptoms, but VERY noticeable lethargy/tiredness after eating. And, I didn't eat a lot of wheat. I had popcorn chicken (that has breading on it) and a cookie. Then, took a 2 hour nap. Interestingly, prior to the exclusion diet, I was feeling exhausted every afternoon and most days needed a nap. Since the exclusion of wheat, I had not needed naps anymore.

The only person that I have told is my husband. My teenage son doesn't know, my daughter is away at uni and she doesn't know.I do have support as I go to a monthly support group meeting. Not having told my friends I tend to feel a bit weird when they carry on about my weight loss which they do! It's not so bad with casual friends - I have no problem telling them that I eat less, drink less alcohol, don't eat chocolate on a daily basis etc. It just feels wrong when I tell my close friends this - almost as though I'm lying which technically I'm not- it's just not the WHOLE truth. At this stage I wouldn't know how to fess up and tell them and in reality they don't need to know. My body,my health my business! But be prepared if you don't tell people to maybe have similar feelings. My mother and sister live overseas and I am going to visit them for 6 weeks over Christmas. I will decide when I am there if I should tell them or not.I will probably have to .

I know this is my second blog today, but I haven't been on in a bit, so got to catch up. Anyway, Thursday night, after my first fill and only able to eat mushies, my office had a small party and was having a meatball contest. Well as you know, can't quite eat beef yet. And of course a lot of alcohol was being served. I have to report, it wasn't as hard as i thought it was going to be. I got roped into serving the judges with one of my colleagues. That meant cutting up 10 different meatballs and plating them for 5 different judges! And you know what, I wasn't tempted at all! Yeah they looked good, but I didn't want to go cry in the corner because I couldn't have them. The harder part was not drinking. I told myself at the begining of the night I can have 1 glass of wine despite my doctor saying 6 weeks....but I didn't! I didn't need to! The most difficult thing about the night was everyone was asking me to try their meatballs. LOL. (you can imagine all the jokes) So people were asking why I wasn't eating or drinking etc. Only a couple of people at the office know the truth. It was a strange night to say the least. It was challenging in some ways and easier than I thought in others. I am proud of myself for not giving in to temptation. And I actually had a nice night. If I can do, we all can!

I know this is my second blog today, but I haven't been on in a bit, so got to catch up. Anyway, Thursday night, after my first fill and only able to eat mushies, my office had a small party and was having a meatball contest. Well as you know, can't quite eat beef yet. And of course a lot of alcohol was being served. I have to report, it wasn't as hard as i thought it was going to be. I got roped into serving the judges with one of my colleagues. That meant cutting up 10 different meatballs and plating them for 5 different judges! And you know what, I wasn't tempted at all! Yeah they looked good, but I didn't want to go cry in the corner because I couldn't have them. The harder part was not drinking. I told myself at the begining of the night I can have 1 glass of wine despite my doctor saying 6 weeks....but I didn't! I didn't need to! The most difficult thing about the night was everyone was asking me to try their meatballs. LOL. (you can imagine all the jokes) So people were asking why I wasn't eating or drinking etc. Only a couple of people at the office know the truth. It was a strange night to say the least. It was challenging in some ways and easier than I thought in others. I am proud of myself for not giving in to temptation. And I actually had a nice night. If I can do, we all can!

I have one suture site that won't heal up. I thought I had caused it because of wearing an underwire bra. It was all pussy and I would drain clean it with alcohol each morning and night. then I got to going around braless~not pretty at this stage~ anyway, got the infection cleared up and in cleaning the site yesterday it is still open! 5 weeks post op. Well, looking in I think I see a blue thread. I tried to get it up to the surface with tweesers, but no luck. I guess I will go to the Dr. on Monday? Has anyone else had this happen? What did you do? Of course I had to discover this on the weekend. Is there anything that will disolve the stitch? All my other wounds are healing nicely. Just the one under the left boobie is a problem.

I think this is yet another case of the Food Monster fighting against you. Mine keeps telling me that if I am going to go through all this trouble anyway and strictly dieting, why CANT I just keep going on like this and forget about the band? The answer for me is...because I can't. I have tried. I keep on for awhile and then I quit. So, now I am placing those Food Monster thoughts in the adversary category of my brain and liken them to the alcoholic who hears "oh, one more drink can't hurt you. You've been sober for 6 months. You have a handle on your drinking and you are not an alcoholic like the others. You're cured so now you can drink socially." No I can't.

Josie: Thanks for asking. I went last month and had a check-up. She's pleased with the results and the scar looks light pink and fading more and more. I do have a small dog-ear on one side. She wants me to give it three more months to see if it corrects itself or not and if not she'll fix with a minor procedure in the office. Now I'm focused on trying to find a new job. I got laid off in April and it's a b**&h trying to find a new job. If I get a job at the level I was before I'll be saving up to get the girls done. It's not likely, but I can dream. Unfortunately with the boredom and stress of trying to find a new job I've been grazing. I have now gained 20 pounds since my plastic surgery. I talked to my band surgeon about it this week and I asked if I can come in for weekly weigh-ins until I get a job and get my eating back under control. He's so nice. He gave me his cell phone number and told me to call him any time if I was struggling. When I went in to weigh in yesterday with his office staff I got the same feeling that an alcoholic must get when they go to AA meetings with a hangover. Embarassed, but facing my demons. I'm not changing my ticker because I am going to kick it back down very soon! I cannot wait to see your pics. Take care. Sue

I like the Pure Protein chocolate/peanut butter. They are 200 calories, 20 grams of protein and 16 grams of carbs. Now, I'll post that they do contain 6 or 7 grams of Sugar Alcohol which some people say contribute to gassy issues. I haven't had that problem, and they remind me of a Whatchamacallit candy bar. I have everyday either before or after my workout regimen.

Hey.. I use the "F" word now & then, and "sh... " one of my favorites, too... but rarely "GD". And this was CONSTANT! That's just ignorant! The three RVs directly behind us... Yeah, the big guy with white hair behind us and to the right, two right behind us... didn't use that language, and the the couple behind and on the left... he was not as offensive as the bigger guy, but they were trying to outdo each other with all the sexual comments. If I'd been either of their wives, I think I would've gotten up and gone inside. I couldn't wait for an opportunity to leave and was very happy when it broke up around 7:30! You are in no way offensive. Believe me... these guys were WAY out of line!! Completely inappropriate... especially for mixed company!! And barely knowing Earl & I!! I'm no angel by any means! I have my "words" that I use. But... I guess you had to have been here to understand what it was like. It was like they didn't know any other words... especially the one guy. The one that Janet met last week. I'd chatted with them a few times before and he didn't come across that way. But... a little alcohol, and being with his buddy.. unleashed it all! Okay.. enough of that! I had a really FUN day today. TOPS first.. only down a pound, but had to get weighed in my clothes instead of bathing suit today. Usually, I have to be ready for water aerobics, but today I had a Red Hats outing to go to at 9 a.m. So... we went to a place called RV Casuals.. a little store that specializes in Red Hat clothes, jewelry, accessories and fun stuff. I was looking AGAIN for a purple outfit to wear to my Red Hat outings. But all their clothes are either from China or Vietnam! So most of their 3X pants I can't get over my butt!! Earl took me their last year and that was the case, but I thought maybe this year... I did find three pairs that fit, but two of them were that flimsy kind of polyster fabric that is really clingy and you could see every ripple of cellulite in my thighs! They had fancy tops that went with them, but one was too big... pants fit, tops too big!! And it looked really silly on me anyway. The other... was okay, very plain, but looked nice, kinda dressy, but I couldn't see myself going out in public with those pants! And they were too long and that type fabric really hard to sew. So I nixed that outfit, too. So I ended up with a pair of purple cotton knit pants that fit nice, not too tight in the thighs, perfect length. Just a little more casual than I"d hoped for, but they'l work. Have some purple tops that will go with them, and I bought a little open weave red jacket to go with the outfit. So I have a few things to feel a little more festive when I go to Red Hat things. Got a bracelet and necklace, too. BUT.. what really made my day... I made a couple of stops in Desert Hot Springs on the way home... Starbucks, of course! And I went to K-Mart looking for needles to use with my beading projects. So I'm at the cash register checking out and I wanted to use my Am Ex card. Cashier says, "I have to see some identification." I told her my picture was o the back of the card. She looks at it... she looks at me... she looks at the picture again... she says, "THIS doesn't look like you!" So I laughed and said, "well, that's because that was 125 lb ago!" And I got out my driver's license and showed it to her and said, "this isn't much better, but it's really me!" So then she apologized and said she didn't mean to insult me! I told her.. not at all! She says, "but you look so much BETTER!" It was kind of funny. I told her she was the first one to ever call me on it!

Well, except the difference is that your body does have "leaks" in that you can burp and gas can also be absorbed. Still good to stay away from soda if you can, either too much sugar or too much artificial sweetener. Just like bread, chicken, Pasta, caffeine, alcohol, etc, carbonation is OK for some and unpleasant for others. Some docs tell you to avoid these things and some don't. I drink beer most weekends and never had any issue with it, my doc says no problem as long as I understand those are calories. My opinion is to always follow the advice of the guy you will turn to if you have a problem.

I can't believe that this is still carrying on. It's almost like a competition to see who can have the last word. LOL. I make my own soda at home. I find an occassional glass of diet lime and home made soda really refreshing when its really hot. I also like to dilute white wine with soda. I am sure that 1 glass of half soda half wine is better and has less calories in than plain wine. And yes I am allowed to drink alcohol. Both my "rule" book and my Dr say its fine. Now if everyone can just stop arguing and trying to convince everyone else that they are right......................

I know first hand how difficult bipolar is on a family. I have bipolar disorder and I know that it has been really rough on my husband and two kids for the last 7 years. I have many regrets ( that I will have till I die) of things that I have said and done to all 3 of them. I love my family with all my heart. But some days, I feel like leaving them...for their own good. I have been on medicine for the past 5 years but have only been really stable for a year now. I still have my days though. Medicine isn't a miracle cure but it sure helps. My kids are 10 and 12 now and we sat them down a couple years ago and explained my condition to them. They have gone to my therapy appts with me so they have a better understanding of why I behave the way I do some days. They have pretty much adjusted to me and now they can predict which mood is coming next and when to let me have alone time. I love my children more than anything and it kills me to know that I haven't really "been" there for them most of their lives. But they tell me all of the time that they understand and still love me regardless. My husband, God bless him. He must be a saint because he has put up with more than his share. We have been married for 15 years and I can't tell you how many times I have screamed at him and threw things. It gets annoying when he asks me everyday if I have taken my medicine, but I know why he does it. He should have taken the kids and left me years ago but he didn't. I am thankful for that because I don't know what I would do without my family. My husband always tells me that he loves me and if he didn't believe in me and know the real me then he would have left a long time ago. I guess that I have always had symptoms of bipolar since I was around 10. My parents were alcoholics and very abusive. Being abused sexually, mentally, physically.....I just thought that I was normal. I didn't know any differently until my husband kept telling me that I changed and begged me to get help. All I can say is thank God for a family that is understanding and loves me now matter how I am and for my therapist.

Wow, happy2lose. My surgical group also allows me to have NSAIDs, alcohol, and caffeine. If you like, I can give you the contact information to yell at them. I'd prefer you berate them rather than me for following my doctor's instructions. :thumbup:

I LOVE a good party. My body has never processed alcohol the way it does for most. All our friends partake and so does DH. More than one makes me slur and walk crooked. After LB tried but was much worse so had to give it up. Not like it crimped my style. I'm still the first at a party and the last to leave. Even when my son has his "after parties" in his shop in town. I'm there. Love to socialize.

I had an overnight stay at the hospital and went home the next morning after the leak test. My surgeon said some surgeons were doing this outpatient, but he wasn't comfortable with that. As for alcohol, we were told that we should wait a year, but then we could have a little alcohol if we wanted. As for the other things, one of the best things about the sleeve is after the initial period of adjustment to your new stomach, there really isn't much you can't enjoy. You will just be eating a few bites instead of a lot of whatever it is you want. When I go out to eat, I order an appetizer or soup, and can't finish all of that.

I wouldn't be comfortable going home after major surgery. The risk for leaks is highest within the first week, and I had 3 leak tests. I know some surgeons do this procedure on an outpatient basis, but I personally would not go home without at least 2 leak tests, and an overnight stay in the hospital. My husband was extremely supportive on my decision to have this surgery. I'm a band to sleeve revision and he was supportive of both surgeries. Neither one of us are drinkers per se, and I haven't attempted to drink anything since my sleeve surgery. I was able to drink alcoholic beverages with my band. I don't think you're crazy for wanting to live a longer, more healthy life for yourself. Tell your husband about all the joyful activities that you 2 can do after you lose the weight. Just from my personal experience, my marriage is more exciting, fun, and full of surprises due to me losing weight. We are more active in and out of the bedroom as well. There are going to be plenty of joyful things that you can share. Just get creative, and make him a list of all the great adventures you 2 can participate when you lose weight, gain more confidence, and more energy. Best wishes, and keep us posted on your progress.

I'm self pay and my doctor required it. I met with the psych for about 20 minutes, did about 90 minutes of testing (answering questions on paper) then talked with him for over an hour. In fact, we would have continued talking even more if I didn't have to leave for my dietician consult. He charged $275 for the consult. I think the reason behind it is to see if we have really given due consideration to what we're doing, how we think it will effect us, etc. The tests I took included a medical history (about 10 pages long), alcohol use, drug use, and three or four others. What the psych said to me was that he was really trying to determine if I had the cognitive ability to realize what I'm doing. My consult was like an added bonus as my psych had gotten the band in May of this year, so he was able to give me his own personal experience plus answer questions about the band. Only downside was that he was doing things that my dietician told me I shouldn't (like drinking soda, and eating McDonalds, etc.). Just shop around, find a good price, but also find out how long it will take to get the report to the surgeon. You don't want to be waiting around for weeks on the report.

Hey guys, just want to stop by and give you guys an update, and boy oh boy was I tempted to just let this one go by. Well as you all know I had revision surgery September 30 and was unfilled down to 3cc's at surgery. Now to me 3cc's might as well have been a complete unfill. So here I am 6 weeks later and UP 6 POUNDS!!!!!! Yes, you heard me right and I didnt studder, 6 fricken pounds. Am I surprised? Not really. I'll admit that I got LAZY I enjoyed sleeping in until 6am instead of getting up at 4:30am to go to the gym. My eating post op was going pretty good until my husband (how dare he) took me on an all inclusive 7 day trip to Cabo for my 40th birthday and I Lost my fricken mind. I swear when I got on the plane the scale said 185 (and I know it did because I weighed myself on the scale at the airport where you weigh your luggage). And at the airport on the way home it said 197...I PROMISS IT DID. There was alot of drinking and late night eating on that trip. And honestly I know I didnt gain 12 pounds in 7 days but I knew that I hadnt been eating right and drinking alot of alcohol plus not getting in my water (unless you take in water by sitting in the pool swim up bar?) So 5 days home and the scals was down to 190, 10 days home and there it remained 190 sometimes 191. THANK GOODNESS today was my follow up from surgery appointment where she gave me a fill and I was never so happy in all my life. Theses last 6 weeks have really reafirmed my decision to get the band. with out it I truely have very little will and I really need the restriction that it gives me. I still am a fat girl at heart and in my mind. I still have work to do. C25K here I come and 180 by Christmas!!!!

Thanks Garry, i didnt realise i was eating 1400 calories a day, christ knows how...must be the alcohol! Guess il have to step up the exercise although i am currently cycling alot because we have a charity thing at work where we have to do the same amount as from london to lapland.

Mine are not healing as well as I would like. The one where thy took my stomach out is fine.all healed up. the one above it ( under my left girl) is a mess. It keeps oozing blood and pus. It was/is a tiny little thing, but, it just won't heal. I am one month out. I am keeping it clean with alcohol. and covered lightly. (gauze) I think I caused this to happen. I wear an underwire bra. I think it irratated that site and ground some dirt in or something. All my other wounds are healing nicely enough. One of them opened up when I took the stiches out. Pcp here said it will heal from the inside out. Will just take longer. I am with Cajun on the scars VS fat. gimme the scars, there is always a one piece suit for the pool. Plus you can say you had some moles removed. That is what it looks like. There is always tatoos for coverage. LOL Wait for at least a year or two before resorting to that. Tiffy could get a pink (breast cancer) ribbon to cover hers. HA

My BOSS sat there 3 months before I had the surgery, and before I even told them I was having surgery and was talking about WLS to another co-worker. His words were "I have heard that people that do that WLS take up other addictions, like sex, alcohol, etc." So a week before my surgery I told him that I was having the surgery. Then proceeded to tell him my husband will be a very happy man because of my addiction... Point is, everyone has their own idea about WLS. Some will say it's the easy way. Some will make fun. Some will act jealous..ect. It is my experience as a mother of a 21 year old son born with Down Syndrome that the reason people make fun of you is because they are 1> Afraid to ask questions. <2 Have no clue about what the procedure (or in my case disability is> so it's easier to pick it apart. So what I do with people who do that stuff to me, and insist on eating infront of me and staying stuff. Even if it DOES bother me, I tell them, "Nope it doesn't bother me at all. I have no desire for sweets or stuff anymore. I want to be one of those statistical people that live a long and healthy life. So if you want to continue to be silly like you are, then go right ahead." 9 X out of 10, they stop because they see that it's not bothering you. Those people are called food bullies. When bullies see that you aren't going to let them bother you anymore, they usually stop. You will have all types of Food Bullies along the way. Whether it be the ones that tell you, you are losing TO MUCH weight. Or the ones like your co-workers. It's hard but stand strong and don't let them get to you. Since your surgery was on 9-18-2009, I'm assuming that your co-workers have taken on a different light now that they see you have been losing weight???

Next time you go to the doctor, be sure you are not rushing around shopping or doing things before your appointment, go early, and do some meditating/relaxation exercises while in the waiting room. Have your appointment in the early morning because your pressure should be lowest then. Ask the nurse to let you sit quietly and rest for 5 minutes in the blood pressure area before they take your pressure. Close your eyes and take slow breaths like stoongal said, and relax during those 5 minutes. Be sure you are not drinking any alcohol at all in your diet, because that raises BP. As already pointed out, so does salt. I hope things get better for you.