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Had my psych test today. It was not at all what I expected from what I have read of others experiences here. I had no pen & paper diagnostic testing at all. Just spent about a half hour w/ a psychiatric nurse practioner. She asked me to explain my understanding of the surgical procedure and the frequency and sort of follow up required. She asked me why I wanted to have this surgery, if I had ever been able to lose weight on my own. Asked about family psychiatric history, if I ever thought of suicide,if I ever thought of killing anyone, if I ever hallucinated, asked whether I had a history of eating disorders, and if I had a history of drug/alcohol abuse. Then she did some simple, verbal evaluations of my cognitive functioning. This consisted of asking me my name, where I was, and what sort of surgery I was pursuing. Then she said three words and asked me to repeat them back to her. Told me she would ask me again later, and in the meantime would distract me with other questions. She asked me to spell a word forward and backward and had me do some simple arithmatic in my head and then asked me if I remembered and could repeat back the 3 words she had given me earlier. In the end, she said I did fine and that she thought I was a good candidate, psychologically speaking, for the surgery. YAY! That was my last pre-op test! Now I just have a follow up appt. with the pulmonoligist to get the results of my sleep study and I have to await the nutritionist's stamp of approval. :smile:

Don't give up Candra! Your body is rebelling & hanging on to water in an attempt to protect itself from startvation . . this is, after all, medically-supervised starvation! Cut out the carbs & double your water, and you will lose 5! Are you logging EVERYthing you eat? I log every bite at www.caloriecount.about.com, every day. Thanks Christine, good to know how long we will be there for . . . now does anyone have the address of the Pinole MOB? It's apparently too new to show up online . . . another 1/2 hour with Robin, oh joy she will want my food log again and I leave to camp out at the NASCAR race the Thursday before, then my daughter's wedding up north of Redding on Sunday, I won't get home until Tuesday and will be puffed up like a balloon from heat, salt, and (shhh) alcohol . . . and she'll want a food log??? Maybe I'll bring her one from the week before, since I won't be near a computer to get online & log what I eat. . . . So my fill is working so far, my calories have been cut almost in half! The amount that I eat is also cut in half, lol. I am .2 lbs away from 80 lbs. lost this morning! WOO-HOO!!:smile: Riley

I eat because i am a food addict. I LOVE FOOD. Food for me is the same as alcohol or drugs or cigarettes are for some. The reason the band has worked amazingly well for me is that it physically stops me in my tracks from being able to over indulge in my addiction. Does it stop me from wanting to eat (aka head hunger) HELL NO. Does it stop true hunger, not for me, what the band does is allow me to eat a small portion that is just enough to satisfy the real hunger and be done.

Hmm interesting. I do know that there are gobs of fat around the liver in overweight people, and I can see how that could be hard to see and work around. If you google fatty liver(images) the liver is clearly larger and paler in color than healthy livers. There are several causes for fatty liver, but the appearance is basically the same for all. The fact that it's paler in color would go along with actual fat lipid deposits, but I have no clue what color the sugar stores would lend it... I'm on day four of my pre op diet and my instructions are to eat any Soup I want however much I want, yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, and sugar free drinks. I'm opting to do a very low carb diet because I was a heavy beer drinker utill 7 days ago. It just seems that I would consume too many carbs, sugar AND fat with the diet he recomended. I'm still going low fat, but I'm worring more about the carbs and I have been enjoying eggs:redface: I guess that's why I'm curious about what actually makes the liver smaller. If mine is inflamed due to alcohol as well as my bad diet, I should probably eat a lot less fat as well:frown:

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, but almost two years out with the Lap band. It has worked really, really well for me and so far I have lost 78 lbs. and I have about 30 left to go (I have been plateaued for over a year- grrr!). Anyhoo, I have had a sinus infection for the past week and a half after having the flu and I have noticed that for the last week or so I have had a hard time keeping ANYTHING down, even fluids. It's like my band it too tight or everything is getting stuck. I think it is from having so much mucus and goo running down my throat that it is plugging up the band?? Almost everything is coming back up, even Water, juice, milk, Protein drinks, etc. I am almost back on a clear diet and it is very frustrating. I am on antibiotics, Sudafed, Claritin and the band problem isn't getting better... Has anyone else every experienced this? I have even sunk to having a glass of wine tonight hoping that the alcohol would relax the esophagus enough that I could get some Soup down, but about half a glass down and it came back up. I would hate to take the trouble to go all the way into my doc and get loosened, pay the big co-pay to have it go away in a couple days, then have to back and get tightened again, but I have hardly eaten anything in days. I. Am.SO.Hungry. Help! I am getting desperate and I am miserable. Anyone have any experience with that and have any good ideas?? Thanks in advance!!

Based on my experience and knowing several people with different experiences when compared to mine...I think you have to know the following and be ok with knowing this for yourself. 1.) The surgery is a personal decision and if you decide you are ready to go for it because you have to make a change for your life then you are ready to do it and do it right. 2.) You must understand that while it sounds like magic, it is not. It will not be magic...waking up and all your weight is gone overnight. It takes time. The normal weight loss with no working out and barely eating right is about a quarter to a half a pound a week at best. IF you eat good but don't exersize much then you might get double that. IF you exercise and eat better at a gradually increasing rate then you will hit the one pound to two pounds a week rate. Even with all of this you are going to be working on changing your metabolism as well. The longer you've been obese - the longer it will take to change this. (IN my case it was 25 years of being over 100 pounds overweight). 3.) The longer it takes you to learn how to chew and manage the band rules - the higher your changes of causing yourself problems associated with eating too much, too fast, the wrong things, wrong combos, etc. (i.e. all the things people are complaining about...) Many are caused by user error. 4.) Your health care provider will probably seem like they are slow to fill you and they will tell you that you are doing fine. This will be infuriating because you will compare yourself to what you thought would happen or to what others experiences have been. You have to realize that just filling you up to let nothing through will cause more damage than not having a band at all because you have no re-learned eating and timing and choices yet. IT takes a great deal of time, trial and error, trying and re-trying in different situations to re-learn how to live and eat in a healthy way. 5.) When you first get your band, your mind will not be changed like your stomach...again, it takes time to reset and unlearn bad behaviors. 6.) Somewhere around the 6-8 month mark - you will start to view food differently. This is about the same time that your fills should be catching up with your brain to have the tool working to help you think about food differently (i.e. food is not a reward system or something to do when you're bored). You start to only eat because you know you need to or because you really and truly do feel hungry. 7.) Somewhere around this time you will have a bad episode with alcohol that will teach you that you no longer have tolerance for a lot of it. NEgative reinforcement of what you have already been told re-establishes the new eating pattern...just like the PB'ing that you see people talking about here. THe only time I have trouble is when I blatantly disregard the rules and then you know I remember it next time or the time after that when I have a bad episode. It's all learning. You just have to commit to it taking time and effort. What I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt is that the two years of saving money so I could pay for my surgery in cash (insurance wouldn't pay) was the best decision I made and I think it made me more dedicated to making it happen because it wasn't given to me on a silver platter. (At least for myself I think this has been a contributing factor). Best of luck on your journey!

I would recommend to call your doctor. also the alcohol could have irritated the stoma. I didnt have a drink until 3 or 4 months out. kathy

Hi There, My Doc says to try anything that I want and I will find out just what works and what does not. I have found that soda is okay or carbonation is okay but in small amounts. I get a feeling of being bloated that lasts a while. I drink wine but try to keep it to a very minimum! Like Band Groupie says everything in Moderation. But what you really need to know is that all of these tasty drinks are empty calories and you will pay for them in not loosing weight or having it slow down. I have found this to be true for myself. I have slowed way down on the weight loss and I am rethinking my need for Alcohol! Good luck! The Skinny Margarita sounds really really good.

Oh Lingling! I am so so sorry about that! I almost had an experience while we were on vacation. I had too much to drink on our last night and I was starving. That really dampers your control over how big your bites are, how well you chew etc. Well, my dear friends (and S.O.) very kindly pointed it out. I had an agreement with the S.O. that I wouldn't get any lectures about how or what I ate. So, when they all said something (bunch of nurses!), I heeded their advice and stopped. I'm not sure what would have happened if I had kept on eating. I guess that me and alcohol aren't too good a mix right now. I don't drink a lot any way. But, I have gotten stuff stuck (a little) and it hurts like a big dog. Really makes you not want to do it again...hope you are better now. I always have to learn the hard way on certain things.

ok the alabama meet and greet is now set in stone. details is as listed below. place - springvalley beach food there. and you are allow to bring food in the park if you would like to. they do have Lifeguards on duty. they are located 2 miles north of Blountsville off of Hwy 231 on County Road 55. you can map Quest it if you need be, if you have never been there like me. and remeber.... No alcohol is permitted. No diving is permitted. this is going to be a family meet and greet so bring your boyfreinds,husband,wifes, girlfreinds, and kids. and also please have a good time. this is what this is all about. meeting everyone and enjoying the day. and remember they have alot of pools and slides to enjoy so bring the swim suits :w00t: and enjoy. :wink2: this is a list of people coming so far. i will update it when new people tell me they are coming. 1. jason r,wife,and 2 kids 2. kaninag and husband 3. fordgal88, husband, and kids 4.swneighbours 5.gone 4 ever 6.naynayto2, daughter, and grandson 7.venzwife 8.southern missy 9.debbut ok if you are going to bring someone thats not listed please let me know.

I had a lot of diarrhea and called the nutritiionist because I think that it is the protein shakes. I am diabetic and use the low sugar. He told me to change to the regular, not low sugar ,because the sugar alcohol causes some people to have diarrhea. I did this and no more problem. Thank god. The sugar content is not that much greater and my blood sugars, so far are stable.

I think your dr probably told you no beer, but really meant no alcohol. Margaritas have so many more calories then beer. If you are going to drink, drink what you like. It has to be all in moderation. Also this is your life, you have to have what works for you.

I have been banded for about 1 month. It has been very easy and I have felt great. I eat less, but it takes much restraint because I haven't had any fills. At 1 week, I started eating anything I wanted, but just chewing very carefully and eating just small amounts. I love beer, but haven't done that since it is a big no!! Well, last night we went out to dinner and I had 2 margaritas since I can't have beer. I really don't like hard liquor and I hate wine. Those 2 drinks were way too much for me and I have a headache today. Is there anyone out there who has found an alcoholic beverage to replace beer? I also love mimosas, but those are a no also. I drink only when we go out, but would like a drink that won't hit so hard.

I have been banded for about 1 month. It has been very easy and I have felt great. I eat less, but it takes much restraint because I haven't had any fills. At 1 week, I started eating anything I wanted, but just chewing very carefully and eating just small amounts. I love beer, but haven't done that since it is a big no!! Well, last night we went out to dinner and I had 2 margaritas since I can't have beer. I really don't like hard liquor and I hate wine. Those 2 drinks were way too much for me and I have a headache today. Is there anyone out there who has found an alcoholic beverage to replace beer? I also love mimosas, but those are a no also. I drink only when we go out, but would like a drink that won't hit so hard.

Debbie, 17,500 is definitely more than a lot of people are paying. My daughter flew from nyc to Houston and paid 13,500 (NY, NJ, PA are all pretty high). Her doctor was part of the original 14-member team that introduced the band to the US from Europe. Requires almost no pre-op diet (he's done 4,000 plus procedures. I've also seen on here doctors in Colorado under 10k. And whether you're making the right decision or not, only you can answer that but if it's a lifelong problem, do you want to spend the rest of your life dealing with it. I'm being banded June 1, but my daughter is my biggest support and my primary care physician. My daughter was 265 at 5-10 on Feb 2008. i can't even begin to tell the difference it has made in her life. She is now about 170 and a size 8, but is having to have plastis surgery. But she has never regretted it a day. And, yes, there are some people that don't do as well. I have a neighbor's sister who had it done and has never had a fill, never lost a pound, but is also an alcoholic...duh. I'm 57 and clearly don't expect the same results as a 37 year old, but I've lost the same 50 lbs I can't tell you how many times and it is now or was 87 pounds and every time I gained it back, it came with a new set of health issues. So find a support group if you can near you. If money is the issue, you clearly have options. Once my daughter had all of her blood work and whatever other tests her doctor required in Houston, she was scheduled within the month (no six-month regimen like some of us have had to meet.) Good luck in whatever decision you decide. Trisha

thank you so much for the information! I haven't had any alcohol for a month or so, so I I should be good there. My insurance has already been approved, but my doctor requires the nicotine blood test. I'm sure it will be fine. I'm a big worry wart! Thanks again!:thumbup:

Okay, went on vacation, drank lots of alcohol and ate lots of seafood. I'm out of ONEDERLAND :thumbup:, but it's my own fault. I NEVER drink, but we had so much fun!!! I'm a little surprised that it is so much because we walked all OVER the place and I limited my portions too, but oh well... I'll see ONEDERLAND again...back on track I go!!!!!! 202.6:nopity:

Both nicotine and cotinine (a nicotine breakdown product) may be tested for. Cotinine has the longer half life (up to 40 hours) and it takes five half lives for anything to clear completely. So a week and you should be fine. You shouldnt get snagged for second hand because its so much less. By the way they can also check a liver enzyme for chronic alcohol abuse and refuse you for that! I had a particular martini-drinking friend who got denied health insurance because of it...time to clean up our acts! LOL! Cali

Hi Tarob. The idea of the band is, ideally, that over 2 years you will lose 2/3 of your excess weight. So Just say someone was 80kgs overweight, then they might lose around 50kgs, but still have another 30kgs left on. One of my friends got a band 7 years ago. She lost 50kgs but is still over 100kgs, and is still trying to shift some more weight. That said, it is very easy to eat badly with a band. chocolate, lollies, soft drink, alcohol... All that yummy but bad stuff passes through the band without a problem. So its possible that your work mates sister doesn't eat well and probably doesn't exercise. I have lost 22kgs so far, but it has been by no means easy. I have to constantly watch what and how much I eat and work my ass off at the gym. The band is a great tool if you use it to your advantage, but if you get stuck in old, bad habits it won't help at all!

so you haven't had any problems that i hear on the site about never eating bread again etc....is there anything you find your stomach can not take? I've noticed I'm becoming scared that this might actually work! Which creates a whole new set of anxieties but I've been getting worried about people who say they can never drink soda again or alcohol or bread. I thought it just shrunk your stomach so you couldn't eat as much of things

When did you first have an alcoholic drink after post-op?

OK friends....tomorrow morning I am going away for the weekend. My best driends daughter is graduating from high school so we are going to party in Louisiana CAJUN STYLE. Thats right, you guessed it...the alcohol will be flowing and the crawfish and crabs will be plentiful. God give me strength! :cursing: And its not just one day, no no, it is 3 or 4 days straight of fun fun FUN! lol Macy is coming with us and she is gonna get to eat her first crab and first crawfish. She will be introduced to the crazy cajun life and I fear she will not be the same child when we get home. Terry...I would love to kidnap ya (all of you really) and bring you along for the good time.... I will check in before we leave in the morning! (((hugs)))

Unfortunately, my DH gained - and continues to gain! For the meals he cooks, he still cooks more than I can eat despite doing this for 16 months now! As well, where we used to split a bottle of wine at dinner, as I have almost completely given up alcohol, he consumes the whole thing - lots of empty calories there!

Many docs do alcohol/drug screening, it's normal and standard.

My doc said I'd need bloodwork but never a drug / alcohol screening. Is that normal? That's the first I heard that, I guess all docs are different. Anyhow, I hope it all worked out and is falling into place for you!!!