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Good for you. My date is exactly one month from day, 8/20. Yesterday was my last pre op appointment with the surgeon. Had a panic attack on the road and my husband had to talk me down. No pre op diet for me. Here's the instructions I got 1). Stop taking birth control pills 30 days before. Good thing I'm poet menapausal 2). No alcohol 2 weeks before. So I have 2 more weeks to get my happy on. JK 3). No aspirin or other painkillers 5 days before 4) stop blood thinners 5 days before. These last 2 do effect me. A 24 hour clear liquid diet. I'm scheduled first so he can getme back on my insulin pump ASAP Now I am oppressing about a bad blood work/EKG/chest X-ray result like another August sister just had. Getting those on 8/6.

I started my pre-op diet on Thursday and I've already lost 10 pounds in 3 days! I'm on 3 Protein shakes a day (which I make myself) and 2 meals with lean protein and veggies. No dairy, no fruit, no alcohol, no caffeine, etc. I've been averaging about 1100 calories and about 120g of protein per day. I find it interesting that some programs allow for dairy and fruit, as they are both quite high in sugar. I love the Syntrax nectar protein powders - they taste like regular juice when mixed with Water. I have 2 of those a day. I also have a Protein shake in the morning where I mix almond or soy milk (and sometimes a block of soft tofu) with either flavoured Protein Powder (like vanilla or chocolate) or unflavoured. I have both Syntrax and Isopure for those, plus the PB Peanut Butter powder, which mixes in great with the chocolate protein powder. Edit: I had a bunch of links posted, but this site overruled them. Amazon carries a lot of good protein powders, but for unjury you may have to buy directly from them. I also shop from vitacost and iHerb, as they ship to Japan and many other countries (whereas Amazon will not).

I just came across this and thought you might find this interesting: The 10 Most Common Mistakes WLS Patients Make Vitamins, supplements, or Minerals 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water 6th Mistake: Grazing 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda (soft drink) 10th Mistake: Drinking Excessive Alcohol For anyone wanting to read the mistakes in full detail; the National (America) Association for Weight Loss Surgery website address. The 10 Most Common Mistakes Weight Loss Surgery Patients Make I know I've been guilty of some of these from time to time. I think I need to print this out! :thumbup:

Hey friends. Doing an update. I will be sleeved one year on August 17th. I have lost 95lbs. I am 5’2” 26 years old and weigh 138lbs. I am a size 8 in pants/dresses and a medium/small in shirts. I have saggy skin. Luckily it can be hidden with clothes. Photos are before and now. Problems: I am terrible with my water intake. I am always exhausted. I have zero energy. I don’t do pasta or breads: I tend to overdo it and end up vomiting. I am able to eat bad. That’s something I am scared of. Just like before the surgery, I am still constantly thinking about what I am going to put in my mouth. My brain will always have a fat soul. I have to use little plates or else I make my servings too large. I think I am content with my weight now. I need to start exercising. I do not exercise at all. It’s hard to eat well during the summer since I am a teacher. However, during the school year, I am strict with my diet on week days. I allow slip ups on the weekends. I still snack and drink alcohol, but that is just a weekend thing. Still trying to learn how to change my mindset. So beyond grateful for this surgery and my new life!

If you are on the fence about it, take your time coming to a decision. Even if you are theoretically eligible for it, you might have a funny feeling about it still. Here are five signs that might be saying that you are not yet ready for WLS. 1. You want to know how soon you can have … Whatever “…” may be, if you are counting down the days until you can have it after your surgery, you might be missing the point. This is a lifetime commitment. It is not a 30-day period of abstinence from alcohol or from pizza. If your mindset is that this is a short-term race to goal weight, bariatric surgery might land you where other diets have: at goal weight and then back to starting weight, plus a few pounds. 2. You’re looking for any excuse to be found ineligible. You may technically qualify for weight loss surgery based on your BMI and any obesity-related health conditions you may have, but are you ready? You might not be if you are grasping at straws to come with reasons you that you “should not” have surgery. For example, you practically ask a doctor to disqualify you because your great-grandfather (who was a smoker) died of a heart attack at age 92 and therefore you worry your heart is not strong enough to withstand surgery. (Note: it is absolutely the right thing to do to explore all of your health history to be sure that the surgery is a relatively safe option for you. Just distinguish between real and imaginary reasons). 3. You are seeking fourth, fifth, and sixth-second opinions. Let’s say your primary care doctor recommends that you have the surgery, and you found a surgeon who gave you the go-ahead. It’s one thing to ask another expert for a second opinion, just to be sure that you are making the right choice. It is quite another to ask several more experts for their opinions, hoping that one of them will advise against surgery. If that is the case, it might be a sign that you are not ready to commit to weight loss surgery and the lifestyle changes that are part of that commitment. 4. You are not sure how it would be different than dieting. Bariatric surgery is worlds away from dieting. If you are thinking of bariatric surgery as a new diet that you will follow until you reach goal weight, you probably will not be prepared to sustain your new eating habits for life, and the weight will come back, just like it may have after countless diets. If you cannot explain to yourself why this is different than previous diet attempts, you might end up with the same results. 5. Your SO is doing more research than you. It seems like every day, your significant other or your mom or your sister is telling you factoids about surgery that they discovered while researching online or talking to people. In the meantime, you have not seemed to be able to find the time to look things up. The fact may be that you are just not that engaged, which may be a sign that, deep down, you are not ready to take the plunge.

Well, here goes nothing... My name is Jim. I am from central California and have three absolutely beautiful daughters from two different marriages. They are smart too, which leads me to wonder where the heck they got their brains, because their moms and I definitely got the short end on that deal. lol I was born with severely deformed feet and legs. Spent my entire childhood in casts and braces. Surgeries were the norm to get me to where I could walk (almost) normally. I was also incredibly skinny and had a voracious appetite. The standing joke was that I stored all the food I ate within my casts. Because we were also quite poor and depended on assistance, my parents insisted that I clean my plate with each meal and nothing was allowed to be wasted. Pasta was plentiful because it was so cheap. As I got older, my appetite never let up, but I still did not gain weight. I was active and my body seemed to eat those extra calories with ease. Then, I hit 21. For whatever reason, the weight poured on. I went from 140 pounds to 175 in a few months. Then to 200. I felt like I was on a runaway freight train. I noticed with the increased weight, my feet and legs began to hurt more. My activity levels started to decrease because of the pain. Then, with the failure of my first marriage and the trauma of the disgusting divorce process, depression set in. I isolated myself and began to eat to take the pain away. Before I knew it, I was 250 pounds and my feet and legs were worse than ever. Over the years, I managed to diet, but fell into the 96 percentile and always gained the weight, plus extra, back. A few years ago, I suffered a work related injury to my left foot. I was told that, because of the deformities and the surgeries, that my work injury would never heal. Essentially, I re-sprain my foot every morning when I get out of bed. Although minor, it is painful ... daily. I also learned that I had limited mobility in my ankle and that the metatarsals were trying to pick up for the slack that my ankle was leaving. In short, I was told that I need to find a different career or I would not make it to retirement. The only solution for my problem will be to fuse all of the joints. In April, I went in to see my doctor and weighed in at 299 pounds. I am 5' 11", so I know that for many this is not as significant, but my BMI was 42. With a historical trend of increasing weight, HPB, sleep apnea, and severe joint pain, he recommended I look into the Kaiser bariatric program. This is where my journey begins .... June 29: Attended first orientation class in Stockton (299.0 lbs) July 03: Had a huge mental set back when I took my daughters to a theme park and was called out of line to see if I fit in the "test" chair. July 07: Attended official orientation at Bariatric Center in South Sacramento (298.8 lbs) July 10: Officially gave up carbonated drinks, alcohol, and caffeine. Started using post-op food plan religiously. July 21: First visit with Dr. Yenemula. Was informed I had already made goal weight (283.1 lbs) July 24: Attended nutrition class and that evening attended support group meeting (282.4 lbs) Aug. 07: Stopped by for official weigh in (270.2 lb) Aug. 16: I have my psych visit I have been very limiting on who I have included in my journey. My mom, significant other (SO), and kids know. I have also told my boss (a close friend), so he is aware of the time I may need coming up. Everyone has been extremely supportive, except that my SO is insistent that I do not get the surgery. She has never had weight issues and is a gym rat (talk about oil and water). She believes that all I need to do is continue with this diet that, as of now, has been extremely successful. The problem is, she has not been with me to see 20 years of struggling. The emotional and physical pains associated with losing, then gaining back more. She has not seen me getting dinner for the family on the way home and ordering an extra meal, just so I can hurry up and eat it before I get home for dinner. And, after wolfing that meal down, feeling the extreme shame in doing so. For me, this is a much-needed physical tool that will assist me in maintaining what I am doing right now. With this surgery, I will be lighter and able to return to exercising the way I used to. I see the possibility of retiring on my own terms…not a doctor’s. I am so sorry for this lengthy intro. Just started typing and it flowed. If there is anyone in my neck of the woods that is willing to chat (Stockton, Sacramento), I would love to learn more about your journey and maybe mutual support. While I value the support groups and do intend on going, I am not as comfortable in that group type environment. If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading.

I think we would be best served leaving our curbside psych consults to the professionals, that's why there is a multidisciplinary approach both pre and post sleeve. I have had some wine post op (I am two months out), but have lost my gusto for it. I used to enjoy a nightly glass with dinner, and a few more on weekends out with my BF. Since my sleeve, my tastes have changed and I don't enjoy it as much. I would not begrudge anyone from doing what they decide to do. That being said, we do have to be careful overindulging in anything to excess. That is what got us here in the first place. I am trying to be cognizant of that on a daily basis, whether it's carbs, chocolate or alcohol.

I smell a muddy troll... No doctor in their right mind would sleeve someone with only 20# to lose, and at two weeks out your sleeve can barely tolerate water and protein shakes, let alone alcohol. If this is what you do for entertainment is start drama on a site intended to support those who need it I feel sorry for you.

I was advised not to drink alcohol for at least eight weeks, and I followed that direction. Now, at well over three years out, I do enjoy my White Russians without any issues or guilt. Sent from my iPad using VST

JP do you think the the FDA would allow alcohol to be legal if it was to strip off paint it is a different alcohol it is just like DON'T swallow gum cause it will stick you stomach together it is wives tale

I know someone who uses Vodka to strip paint off some of their crafty things they do... Hmmm? IDK. Doesnt really matter to me, I was just sayin'. Probably not a smart thing to drink alcohol 2 weeks after surgery, but like I said before. Its her body! She can do as she pleases!

I would be WAY too scared to drink THAT soon... Cant it cause a leak? I would imagine it could since some alcohols can strip paint.. What would that do to a healing stomach? Its your body, but I would just be careful. Complications of any sort are no fun. Not worth having a drink to me.

And another thing the medicine .. Loritab liquid that they sent me home with contains 17 percent alcohol !!! So is there any proven fact that alcohol affect the sleeve ??? Need answers not just negative comments

So for all of you with this "Alcohol causes leaks and liver damage, and ulcers, Just got back from the dr.s for my 2 week check up . I asked him about every single concern and risks that people were saying. He said it is no different than how alcohol affects a regular liver. And started laughing when i was concerned that it would cause a leak!!! I dont know where these people get this info from. I have googled this topic, researched and came up with exactly what my doc told me. High calorie intake, and more affects of the alcohol due to ur low tolerance. My doc is one of the top leading surgeons in the Orange County area and i take his advice over anyones in this forum. Sorry to burst your bubbles. he gave clearance of 3 weeks !! So all that crap talk about leaks and things is NONSENSE from alcohol!!!!!!!! THANK YOU DOC!!!!!

My name is Irene and I'm a 57 year old divorced woman who lives with her mother. My younger brother lived with her and he died about 3 years ago and wanted me to live with her since my 3 daughters were now married and on their own. It's been tough. In 2009 when he was diagnosed with cancer in March, within 6 months I gained 30 lbs. I gain weight very quickly!! I went up to 291 lbs. I'm 5'2" - you can imagine!! End of Sept 2009 I joined FA - a 12 step program and lost 145 lbs relatively quickly and kept it off. However, things fell apart for me when my brother died in Aug 2011, my daughter had gotten married in May 2011, the oldest daughter was going to marry at the end of the year and my youngest baby was moving into her dad's house with her boyfriend (they married in 2013 at Disney World!). I had the Empty Nest Syndrome really bad!! At the first wedding May 2011, I was a size 6 and at the last wedding, Feb 2013, a size 22. I feel ashamed. I feel like a failure. I've thought of WLS for years and was concerned about altering myself with bypass surgery. I hadn't heard many positive things about the lap band. Recently I heard about the sleeve and that sounds like a good fit for me. My youngest had the surgery done in May 2014 and has been very successful with it. My oldest will have it done in Nov 2014. My middle daughter is obese; so is my mother, my sister and both brothers. My father was an alcoholic (I learned that alcoholic fathers tend to have obese daughters...). I have Kaiser insurance. I love the 6 month wait because I feel I need time to prove to myself that I can commit. I want to gradually accept the changes. In the past (I've been dieting on and off since I was 17 yrs old), I would have paid out of pocket to have it next month (or sooner); now I know that's addictive behavior for me. I want this experience to be different. I want this to be the final diet. My middle and youngest daughters, their husbands and I joined the YMCA at end of Jan 2014 and I've gone to exercise at least 4 times a week to mostly 5 - 6 days a week. I don't see it as a chore or something I have to do. I see it as movement and "recess" - I look forward to going. I love doing it with my daughters because we enjoy each other's company. When I have a tough day at work, I just picture myself in the pool. We do deep Water treading. I'm not a swimmer. I get quite a workout doing that, the elliptical and I was doing belly dancing once a week but my weight really prevented me from enjoying it. I look forward to getting the weight off and joining the girls! I also tried yoga and was not quite limber enough. Still, I want to try again as soon as possible. I babysit my great-nephew (my dead brother's grandchild) every Sat since he was 4 months old (he's 17 months old now) and chase him all day - no TV on my watch! I laugh all day with him, hardly have time to eat and enjoy life when I'm with him. I get quite a workout playing - the best way to do it, in my book!! So I began my journey in Aug 2014 by attending meetings. I've met with the Nutritionist. I already have sleep Apnea and have the machine to bring with me to surgery. I am having trouble with the diet I'm supposed to be on right now; I feel resentment about following a diet!!! I feel like I'd better hurry up and have a "last meal" - of whatever junk I want to get in. I hope this is temporary because I'm supposed to be losing weight... I also fear that I "can't" do it. I want to be motivated, I want to just DO IT - and then I fall apart. I'm going to work closer with the Nutritionist and see how they can help me. I know this is a long entry, but if you have read this far, do you have any suggestions? I do hope I can get on track - this forum has been inspirational for me so far!

hellllllloooooooo out there :wave: Hope everyone is doing well today and was able to rest a bit. Went to one of DH's coworkers cookouts today at their summer home. Man...small but very nice cottage by the Water and his friend did it all over inside. Very very nice...beautiful peaceful place. I can see why they love going there on weekends. DH did some fishing off the dock and I relaxed with a nice frozen Margarita :shade:. I haven't had alcohol in so long that after two I was feeling prrreeetty rrrrrelaxed :guess:wacko:. The only problem was it took people so long to get there that they held off grilling anything so my freakin hands were in the chips, dips, cheese, crackers ya know all the stuff you try to stay away from. :hurt Oh well. Before we went, I had to bring something so baked a batch of brownies and put toffee chips and chocolate chips on top of them. Good thing they stayed there and we left right after we each had a burger cause I would of eaten those too haha. Got home took a 2 hour swim in the pool. Burrrrr the water was soooo cold but, I did it anyway. Had to burn off those margaritas ya know lol So I won't feel so guilty if we go for ice cream later hahaha. After the pool I decided to try a recipe I found called chicken and Veggie Couscous. It allowed me to use the fresh basil I've been growing not knowing what to do with it hee hee. Well, it tastes ok but it's missing something to me. I can't put my finger on it either. But ya know it's good and different. It called for 1 cup couscous and 1 cup chicken broth but honestly I had to use 2 cups broth so I wonder if it was a typo. I found the recipe on SparkPeople which has mostly healthy recipes so probably why I feel somethings missing...like BUTTER lol. I can bet it would be good cold too. If you want the recipe you can find it on SparkPeople.com under Chicken and Veggie Couscous. Now DH is sound asleep on the couch with the Harry Potter book on his lap haha. The pups are sleeping, son is working during this Sales Tax Free weekend here in Massachusetts and I'm bored out of my mind. I should be studying my reiki stuff and will probably do that after I finish this post. My tattoo is finally done. Looking kinda funky because it's healing. So I'm kinda scaley haha. Lets say the planets Saturn and Earth are looking rough along with the shooting stars. I'll post a picture as soon as it starts to look like it's suppose to. Sounds like everyone has been keeping busy Eileen - Work week was HELL this week to say the least. I really am looking forward to the day I'm doing ONE job only. Personality clashes are making things tense and moral seems to be down...hopefully it will turn around soon. My boss was in a bit of a funk this week too but, she's been under alot of pressure home and work so I can understand why. She's cool to work for so at least I have that part going for me Sorry to hear your boss was being a turkey this week. Like you said...maybe he needs a bit of fun then he'll be better on Monday Did you go in your pool today? Man ours was so cold today, took a while to get used to it. Cindy - You really look great in your picture with your daughter. They've been working on alot of roads here too. One of which I use to get to work and found myself going around town to get passed it. You really do feel like your car is getting ripped apart going over it. Speaking of Cars...UGH....my stupid engine light came on so I had to bring it in. *GASP* $600 later and I'm back on the road grrrrrr. Stupid air sensor, a small part about 3'' long cost $250 for the part alone. Geeeepers! Patty - Funnel Cakes huh? Do you make flavored ones or plain with powdered sugar? Do you use cinnamon and sugar? Been Years since I had one of those or Fried Dough. My mom used to make us donuts by using the pilsbury biscuits and deep frying them. They puff up and she'd take them out and roll them in cinnamon and sugar. OH BOY they were yummy! Easy to make too but, I don't make them now cause I'd eat em lol. How are you feeling with your band? Chrispy - Did you go to that family cookout thing today? How was that Friday date? I miss ya We gotta get together again soon! Ya know before Disney cause I need to do some shoppin! and you are the gal to shop with cause you help me pick out nice things...cause you know me. I HATE everything I try on lol. I need someone to nominate me to be on that TLC show "What NOT to wear" I think it's called? MAN I'd love help picking out outfits to compliment my body......I have no confidence in that. Mandy - Ya know I won't even pack until the night before we leave lol. I just never do for any trip because I use all the stuff I take with me. I will have to pick up some sun block too I guess. Hey...question for ya....did you say you have Staples deliver water to your room? I'd heard someone doing that to save money on the water since it's so expensive in the park. Just curious. Betty - WOWZA you've had some high temperatures there. Ya sure you don't want to come to New England for a visit to cool off? You're more than welcome to stay here if you'd like I think the hottest we've reached so far here is maybe 90....not sure on that as my weather man is sleepin on the couch right now lol. He's the weather guy...Hun whats the temp today is what I usually ask him before I dress for work lol. He's got an entire weather station set up here at the house and his webpage has our local weather and results from his stations so friends can see it. Hmmmm I don't even go to the site...my bad huh? Kat - Are ya saying we're old if we have to scroll back to remember what people said here. RUT RO...I'm in troubl then cause I have to do it all the time hahaha. I think that's a great idea on the concert tickets for birthday gifts. Pretty cool! You're right...I can't even remember what my mom used to give me for my birthday....now she gives money for everything. She doesn't really shop at all. She said this way she knows everyone likes it. EH I'm fine with it but, I find if I get money....it ends up going toward house stuff versus if she gives a gift certificate to a restaurant it gets put to the use she intended ya know? But of course I'm thankful for anything I get Sounds like things have toned down a bit for ya...shhhh that's great Darcy Darcy Darcy - I've missed ya girl! I'd love to see pics of your new place. I can bet it's looking so nice I hope you're enjoying it and the peacefulness around it. Sounds so nice. Thinking of ya! Well I think I got everyone...well at least as far as the scrolling will allow me hahaha. Hope everyone is doing well and shrinking cause my freaking scale needs to hit the road. Hmmm if I give it a swift kick do ya think it will move? probably only from kicking it huh? hahaha Oh if anyone is thinking about seeing Bourne Ultimatum...do it...it's awesome!

Hi all-- Cindy, when I do the individual freezing, I usually just use a double zip lock bag, so I can get in and out of it easily. But for things like the green Beans Betty told me how to do etc, I use my food saver all the time! I use it for leftovers---then I can just pop them into Ricks lunch, or into our cooler when we go camping. I buy meat in the big Value Packs, and break it down, into smaller packages. With them, I actually lay them all out, pierce them with a fork, mix up my marinade, and put 2 steaks to a package, (Rick eats one, I eat part of one, and make him a sandwich out of the other part for work the next day!!!) pour in the marinade, and seal...by the time they are thawed they are ready! When the apples on the tree are ready to freeze, I will do the same with them, add the butter, cinnamon, and a bit of flour to the bag, and seal. Ready to thaw, mix a bit,a nd dump in a pie crust. With our green chile we put up. I do half of it whole but cleaned and peeled, and the other half I will clean and dice before freezing, then when I freeze it, I freeze it in the wide bag, and flatten it out, so when I need some, all I have to do is pop it against the edge of the counter, and it breaks off a section, then I just seal it again and put it back in the freezer. Back when I froze it in chunks, you had to thaw the whole thing to use it. Plus using wide bags, and freezing things flattened out, you can store it in less space, and it stays more organized on the shelf. I prefer taking a day to do the work, then when I am in a rush cooking, most of the tedious work is done! We also used the food saver once to make these ice packs, we used them for a long time too!!! You fill a food saver bag with some Water, and freeze it--we stood it up in a bowl-because the top is still open. When it is froze solid, you pour in half a cup or so of rubbing alcohol. With the frozen ice, it allows you to sit the bag in a way that the liquid does not all run out---and then seal. When the ice thaws, it them mixes with the alcohol, and will never freeze solid again---it remains fairly flexible, and can be ice cold in the freezer for use. We eventually ended up sending them all off with kids, and friends---hadn't thought about making more, until telling you!!!! With my daredevil grandkids, I better make some more!!! Well girls I went to the Dr. yesterday, my DH was having a conniption fit. I have had a headache for several days. I attribute it to sinus issues. But I do have a tumor in my mastoid, also one in my fibula, they have been there for many years now, but I have a yearly bone scan to keep them monitored, and see if more ever develop. They were discovered when they did my work up following my cancer diagnosis. They are not real serious---more than a simple bone dysplasia, but not malignant at the last biopsy, and there has never been a change in them through the last 5 years. My scan was due several months ago, but with the year we had with Ricks health, and no obvious changes I put it off, as well as my mammogram, and all the other fun checks. Not really intentionally, but time just kept going by.... Then I was whining for several days about the headache, and Rick freaked out when he found out I missed my scan. So I went to the Dr. yesterday. He thinks the tumor in the mastoid feels as though it may have grown. I don't agree. It sounds silly---but I swear it is weight loss!!! Anyway...I now am scheduled for my bone scan on the 6th, mammogram on the 10th, and yearly physical on the 18th! Doesn't that sound like a fun month to everyone!!! The bone scan is NOT my favorite thing. The body scan is not an issue. When they bring that monster ass machine down onto my head, it IS an issue. I had them so frequently in the begining, and one woman, Julie, did them always, she would tell me when it was coming down, and when it was going to touch me, and would tell me every step of the scan, count it down, etc. Then time before last another lady did it. I ask her if she was going to warn me when it was coming down. I am on my side, and cannot see anything other than the side arm of this beast machine. Overall the scanner part is really not that huge, but when it is pressing on your head---it seems gargantuan! She kinda sighed and said yes she would tell me. The way she said it, I mistakenly assumed that the way Julie did it was standard, and was lying there, she told me "coming down" and it was there immediately, pushing HARD on my head. MY claustrophobia kicked in--I pulled out from under it (scraped the hide off my head doing so!), tried to get up---keep in mind I am on a table about a foot wide, and I am at my heaviest, and my feet are taped together to keep them upright and still. I managed to heave myself into a sitting position---this is all happening in nanoseconds, I am in full panic mode, and hyperventilating---and I puked all over her legs and feet! So.....it took serious effort to get me back last year, as well as a good dose of Verced! This year, it is a new neurosurgeon, my old one left, and she does not prescribe relaxants unless she sees you first, and there is no appointment open with her until October. So....I am going to self medicate...and try to get the scan done so she will have all the results when I see her in October. For the scan, I go it, and they start inject radioactive isotopes interveiniously, and I leave for 2 hours, over which time I have to drink minimally 36 ounces...then the contrasting isotopes, are spread throughout the body, and they can detect if there are new hot spots, and how the already noted hotspots react to them. In the film---I could see the tumors, as well as the injection site, and my bladder---all full of the glowing junk---but you could see my fat blob body in pale outline, I was excited to see it this time, and found out it will all be on the computer only, I will not have films to compare myself...dangit! Anyway----I come home, with my head continuing to pound---and said to heck with it, I dug into the medicine cabinet for the only thing that EVER took these sinus headaches away, and come out with a box of Advil Cold & Sinus. Just before dinner, when I knew I would have food in my belly, I took one...it passed without issue, and lo and behold----no headache! No one ever listens to me!!!! I am NOT worried over this testing. They have biopsied my leg 2 times, never the mastoid, due to the tissue make up of the mastoid, sometimes disturbing it causes over growth of the honeycomb type of bone tissue it is made of. So while it is not changing they have left it alone. If ever this causes me problems, or if they were to end up keeping me in the hospital with issues over it, I will have DH, or DD or someone come in and let everyone know. Promise. Cindy, your Dads gift sounds great! I bought my girls birthday gifts Monday. Lord of the Dance is coming, right between their birthdays in October and November....so that is what they are getting. Amanda will love it--without any question. I am hoping Abbey will too. Well I have a list of things to do today, none of which I am wanting to do----oil changed in the van, to take my Dad to ABQ Friday...banking, laundry, sorting things to pack if we get to go camp at the rally Sat. & Sun. Lotsa fun!!! Eileenie, I am glad to see you pop in---just like old times!!! Betty---I printed the recipe--going to try that. I am usually not a big eggplant fan, but DH likes it....so we are going to try it!!! So I better get busy, or another day will go by with me not getting these things done!!!! TTYL Kat

I was told to wait a month to have alcohol.. I still drink the same minus I don't mix it with soda anymore, I use juice or take shots. I do get tipsy faster. I don't drink often. Maybe once a month if that.. more or less.

can you drink after being banded? I'm not much of a drinker, but I like to have a margarita once in a while, you know during girls night out

My dr recommends waiting 3 months before drinking alcohol and then nothing carbonated.

Linda, I was just taking care of a pt that was sleeved 5 years ago and was going through severe DT's when he decided to quit drinking. He ended up in my ICU intubated for 2 days. When he started coming around we talked for a while, said it started slowly because he was bored and didnt have anything to do with his time in the evenings and weekends and then it gradually escalated to a bottle of vodka a day. Good for you that you recognized it...I can see this being a problem for us nurses when we get home after a bad day and cant eat bad food to self medicate....so we turn to alcohol instead. Like I said good for you, thank yoi for sharing.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I do realise that this will probably be the end of the road as far as surgery is concerned and I'm pleased about that as I don't want any more surgery. I have always had problems with portion control and grazing and have been working hard to deal with it, I am pleased at your will power and apparent success at conquering this issue. For me I am still hungry after eating 2 cups, of course I try not to eat and I swap unhealthy foods for healthy options and choose proteins first. But it's not always easy, hence most of our decisions to have surgery in the first place. I have also given up smoking after 25 years of smoking 2 packets a day and no longer drink any alcohol at all. I do have will power but for me it seems that I am gaining weight after an initial reasonable loss with the bypass, so for me my next option, which my surgeon agrees is the Overstitch. I had also started Saxenda with great initial results, I have only been on it for 2 weeks and am still titrating the dose but have noticed a marked decrease in appetite and have lost 4kg! Happy days, I am determined to get where I want to be eventually.

You know Rod, I always thought the whole "walk a mile in their shoes" phrase, was so that you could understand what made them do certain things. For instance, if you had snapped someones head off the day your son had surgery, if we were in your shoes, we would have known WHY you were in a different mood. To walk a mile in MJ's shoes, no matter what the issue, would not answer some of the questions we all have --- unless one of the stops in those shoes were at a dealers house or something! I mean, what experience or what mood are you in to hang your infant son over a balcony? What pushes you to continue to allow children in your private areas in your home, when it has already caused problems? These are the things I wonder about. The plastic surgery, I honestly feel was a mental thing, I think he like many of us suffered from a body dysmorphia issue, and he probably never truly saw himself as he was becoming. And the drugs---the problem with them, is once you begin, you are often unable to make a straight decision again. Which is why so many are addicted, famous and not famous. My brother had an addiction to alcohol, and it took a forced time out (aka jail time) for him to be forced into sobriety, and to stay that way long enough to realize he had reasons to stay that way. He has a brain injury from years ago, and he just never sobered up long enough prior to be arrested, to figure out that it was a SERIOUS problem! When the drugs are always there and available, and you can even have a Dr. there to get and give them....doesn't seem like a lot of hope going straight. Those issues I can I suppose relate to, feel I HAVE walked in those shoes. But the others.....no desire to walk in them, as I cannot see any way to rationalize them. One thing for sure, the story is not going away any time soon......

I do not and will not buy any foods or snacks that I like. I only have in my house the good foods and if I want to "binge" I can have 3 no sugar added Outshine pop cycles. I know what I like and I know that having it in the house gives is like pouring an alcoholic a drink. You just don't do it. Find an Overeaters Anonymous to help you deal with your food compulsion. You will find others with the same issues you have.

So do you also go to an alcoholics anonymous forum and brag about being able to drink booze? I mean, since we're talking about what works for you.