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Nancy - Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous condition of the esophagus. It results from food and acid splashing into the esophagus. The esophagus is not made to have these things there and cells start to change. The pictures of his endoscopy would show a pink esophagus with large patches of red (Barrett's) and they would biopsy every year. They will tell you that only a small % of Barrett's turns into cancer. Doesn't matter if you're one of them. Because it's a death sentence. It is more common in men and more deadly for some reason. And more common in smokers and drinkers. My husband was neither. My husband died at 56, his dad died at 58 of cancer of the stomach/intestinal area (he was a heavy smoker) and his grandfather died in his 40's of some type of stomach problem (we don't know for sure if it was cancer - it was so long ago). So 3 generations of men died early of cancer - something not lost on my son. Both he and my daughter participated in a study at the Cleveland Clinic. They had to send blood and I gave permission for a sample of my husband's tumor to be sent to them. They were looking for genes for esophageal cancer. This is why I am so concerned about my reflux. I know it's nothing to mess around with. I got breast cancer 7 years ago. I have never been a smoker but blamed my weight gain as an adult for it. Yes, smoking and coffee are bad for reflux as well as chocolate, mint and alcohol. Hope your husband gets checked and good luck.

I used the Whey protein bullets, they are 42g of protein in 3oz. I shot 1/2 a day, 2x a day.. like alcohol shots, I shot 1.5oz--chased it with water. I didn't like shakes either.. The only other way I did extra protein was freezing expresso in ice cubes, then blending 2x expresso cubes with a little skim milk, splenda, and vanilla protein powder. Tasted like a vamped frozen frappucino.

I'm home! What a day! Got to the hospital about 9:30 (3.5 hour drive)--talked to Manda while I was attempting to park. Valet was full, parking garage was full, 3 parking lots roped off---security at all entrances, directing. Kinsey and I walked probably half a mile to the hosp....SERIOUSLY! I thought I was going to pee my pants before I got there. We go in, and in minutes here comes Manda's nurse, saying she had bad news. Since home health was not going to be able to meet with us until late afternoon, since we live so far away, she had to have another dose of one of her meds--it takes 4 hours to drip in! She rushed it to 3. So finally we leave the hosp. and the directions they gave us to the pharmacy for her infusion drugs were wrong. 3 calls later, we finally get there. The woman tells us, the meds have been pulled, they just need to label them, and it will be about 15 minutes. 45 minutes later, there is this ear splitting (and 4 year old waking) screeching sound.....it is a fire drill for the facility. So all the patients there being infused, and all the employees, and us of course have to leave! So we stand around outside, while half of them smoke---which was the only fire around. And we eventually get the meds, and there are 3 HUGE boxes of them! This is a weeks worth of PART of her meds! She takes 1 bag by gravity drip once a day, and 3 push doses. Which is a syringe that is slowly pushed into the PIC line over a 15 minute period. For each dose...so 4 of them, and then once in the morning and once at night, she has to flush the PIC line with heperin, and then saline (or maybe the other way...I dunno) Anyway EACH of these doses is preloaded into a syringe, and labeled like a Rx. So there are boxes full! They sent an IV pole, a sharps container, boxes of alcohol swabs, boxes of gloves.....TONS of waste!!!!! And then we had to go to Walgreens and get the oral meds! She will be doing this for minimally 6 weeks! She has to go back for a 1 day treatment at the local hospital in a month to have her PIC line changed, they are only good for a max of 6 weeks. Finally got her home, and she is at HER house. But one of her sisters is staying with her, But home health care wanted to set her up where she would be for the infusions....and she does not want to stay here for the next 6 weeks! She was worn out. Heck I am worn out! But, the ear is looking better. It actually looked pretty bad today, but it is scaling badly, from the skin being so stretched, now it is peeling off, so I think after her shower it would have looked better. Kinsey was awake the entire trip! She did not stop singing----she mixed every song she could think of!!! She had monkeys jumping on the bus all through the town, and E I E I Ooooooooo!!!! Crazy kid! Son is not staying at home tonight.....is causing some issues with the family. My inlaws are siding with DIL, and making it everyones business when in reality it is none of our business, it is the kids. Rick and I have chosen not to discuss it with anyone (besides each other) unless the kids come to us with it. His Mom was offended by our attitude. So the hell what! For years DS could do no wrong in their eyes, he waited on them hand and foot, hauled their wood, took care of their garden etc. And now that he is in this position, they decide he is at fault, and are mad as hell at him. We aren't thrilled with his actions, or timing, but we don't live in that house, and do not know what is going on.....neither do my inlaws!! He has ask her to go to counseling with him, to a marriage counselor. Her only response was he would go, but he wouldn't listen so why bother...... yep there are lots of problems there! Tracy, I hope your birthday cake was wonderful!!! I too know lots about my neighbors, but learn most of it from the woman next door, she is a HUGE snoop!! Well I am off to bed. I promise to be less self centered! I do not know how to tell you all thank you for the way you have held me up through all of this. And while we are not completely out of the woods, and surgery is yet to come, I feel such hope where I felt dispair before. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. You are all so special to me---I consider myself so lucky to have you in my life. Night! Kat

Nothing to be depressed about. You've lost 42 pounds, which is great! As far as my secret, I am pretty much maniacal about managing this. I weigh everything so that I never eat more than 4-5 ounces at any sitting. I have kept a food diary every day since my surgery to make sure that I get my 70 grams of Protein and to keep my daily calories between 1300-1500. The only dessert that I have had since August is sugar free pudding-1/4 cup per day. Other than that, no Cookies, cake, or anything else. I have started running or walking 4-5 days per week. The only "rules" that I have broken are caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. my doctor told me that I couldn't have any of these after surgery. As far as alcohol, well, I just really like it. I'm on call alot of nights and when I have to be at the hospital overnight, coffee is what gets me through. As far as nicotine, I'm a mostly reformed former smoker who occasionally falls off the wagon (but if Obama does it, so can I?). Bryan

Not that I an alcoholic or anything but this is nice to know. As a 25 year old woman it is nice to know that when I go to a bar with friends and everyone is singing kareoke (sp?) and puonding down drinks I know that I don't have to make 1 drink last 4 hours.

My surgeon says 2-3 months before alcohol but that it's never really recommended because it does slow your weight loss. Some surgeons say longer or never, but I think they are not giving a medical answer but a value judgement. Plus, you'll be a lightweight, if you weren't already. So do the first drink in a controlled environment. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

My surgeon says 2-3 months before alcohol but that it's never really recommended because it does slow your weight loss. Some surgeons say longer or never, but I think they are not giving a medical answer but a value judgement. Plus, you'll be a lightweight, if you weren't already. So do the first drink in a controlled environment.

Remember, with a sleeve they are removing Ghrelin, that is a hormone produced mostly by your stomach that signals your brain that you are hungry. That's not the only way your body tells you that you are hungry, there are also insulin/blood sugar issues too. But Ghrelin is the big one. The first week you do not WANT anything. You struggle just to get your fluids down. You should be drinking 64oz daily and I haven't met anyone yet that has managed to get all the fluids down. Not in the beginning. In the hospital you'd almost pay someone to drink fluids for you so that you don't have to hear the harping from everyone telling you to drink fluids. ;o) By the end of clears you are bored with it, head hunger DOES kick in, but not stomach hunger. I will be honest, I had a band and then revision surgery so I have done the post op diet twice. The 2nd time was a breeze, I don't know how much of it was that I had been dealing with food issues and head hunger was not kicking in full force and how much was the lack of Ghrelin. But I will tell you that I didn't have any problems with it. But again, I had already dealt with many food issues, I revised at 125# and a BMI of 20.8. After banding it was hard but doable. You won't want alcohol at first, it will burn along your staple line but I have it every now and again. I will tell you that when I was losing weight alcohol would stall my weight loss every single time. Without fail. It will slow down your weight loss. Artificial sweetners are fine, I live on them. ;o) Coffee... only problem with coffee is that it changes the cells in the lining of your stomach and it does tend to make your stomach empty faster thus defeating the purpose of any WLS. It's the caffeine. But if coffee did not bother you before surgery it probably won't bother you afterwards. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Remember, with a sleeve they are removing Ghrelin, that is a hormone produced mostly by your stomach that signals your brain that you are hungry. That's not the only way your body tells you that you are hungry, there are also insulin/blood sugar issues too. But Ghrelin is the big one. The first week you do not WANT anything. You struggle just to get your fluids down. You should be drinking 64oz daily and I haven't met anyone yet that has managed to get all the fluids down. Not in the beginning. In the hospital you'd almost pay someone to drink fluids for you so that you don't have to hear the harping from everyone telling you to drink fluids. ;o) By the end of clears you are bored with it, head hunger DOES kick in, but not stomach hunger. I will be honest, I had a band and then revision surgery so I have done the post op diet twice. The 2nd time was a breeze, I don't know how much of it was that I had been dealing with food issues and head hunger was not kicking in full force and how much was the lack of Ghrelin. But I will tell you that I didn't have any problems with it. But again, I had already dealt with many food issues, I revised at 125# and a BMI of 20.8. After banding it was hard but doable. You won't want alcohol at first, it will burn along your staple line but I have it every now and again. I will tell you that when I was losing weight alcohol would stall my weight loss every single time. Without fail. It will slow down your weight loss. Artificial sweetners are fine, I live on them. ;o) Coffee... only problem with coffee is that it changes the cells in the lining of your stomach and it does tend to make your stomach empty faster thus defeating the purpose of any WLS. It's the caffeine. But if coffee did not bother you before surgery it probably won't bother you afterwards.

So you weren't really that hungry after surgery? I know this is not that important but what about alcohol? Not that I am planning on getting drunk anytime soon (empty calories and carbs) but I do enjoy a glass of wine here and there and would like to do it again someday. Is there a restriction on coffee if you use artificial sweetners? __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

So you weren't really that hungry after surgery? I know this is not that important but what about alcohol? Not that I am planning on getting drunk anytime soon (empty calories and carbs) but I do enjoy a glass of wine here and there and would like to do it again someday. Is there a restriction on coffee if you use artificial sweetners?

Well that brings up a good question, Nancy. Since all I am hearing about the sleeve is how great and wonderful it is, why would anyone choose RNY surgery these days? I am assuming that RNY is the procedure that has been done for many years that involves bypass rather than removal, correct? I understand that you believe that you need the malabsorbtion side effect that RNY creates. Is that because it causes you to restrict the fat you eat, due to the odor problems? Or is it for some other reason? Wasa I really appreciate hearing your story. And Susan, you too. I've been here since Aug. 2006 and I've read a lot of posts by both of you. Wasa I know what a proponent of the band you were and you even helped other people who were looking for a doctor and all that. Wasa at first I hardly knew where my port was. I had to really probe around to find it. The longer I've had it, the more prominent it is. But that may just be due to my having put on some poundage in the last few months. Susan you've lost 80 lbs. and I've only lost about 40 lbs. that I can keep off. There's another 20 or so that I seem to play around with. At first I thought I had just slowed down losing, but since I have regained 20 lbs. since Nov., I think I am realizing that I will never get to 135, as I'd hoped. I too got to the point where I hated, just hated, to go for a fill. I got really tired of either having too little restriction or too much. I hit a point where I had a fill of 2.2 and it seemed to be my "sweet spot". Then something happened (who knows what) and it was too much. And I'm back into the search for a fill that actually helps me instead of causing me grief. I am like oregon (I think it was) who said she was sick and tired of thinking about food all the time. I'm either trying to work on finding an intelligent choice for my next meal, or I am obsessed with what I can eat that will taste good and stay down. It seems like that's kind of like an alcoholic who is constantly thinking about drinking all the time and having to choose whether to drink 8 oz. of gin or 4 oz. of vodka. Not a perfect analogy, but you get my drift. Frankly, I am jealous of plain's and Jachut's success.

Just stay away from carbonated beverages and recognize that any alcohol you drink is going to slow down your loss for that period of time.

Getting banded on 4 March as well. Stopped drinking any alcohol about 2 weeks ago (used to have a double Scotch every night) and starting the liquid diet today to try to get the liver as small and healthy as possible so I don't run into any problems during the surgery. I have read on this site where people have had to go thru the surgery twice because the liver was to big.

E60 - Welcome !!! Being pouch full and statisfied are 2 different things - If you have read any of my post - I talk about this all the time !!! I will eat my dinner and will be physically full - but still want to eat - mentally I am not full - this is head hunger and it does manifest it's self in to you thinking you are really physically hungry - but you really aren't cuz if you eat any more you will bp. Your doc is asking if you are pouch full - and yes slider foods (yogurt, ice cream, thin oatmeal, soft veggies anything super soft - for me popcorn is a slider and so are Cookies & chips and cake) are foods that you can eat 24/7 and tons of without restriction as they slide right thru the band.. There is a reason for the band rules - Protein 1st - then veggies and if any room starches - the reason is that you will be pouch full after about 4 oz of meat - you then may get to eat 1/4 c of veggies... Yep Bonnie - tracking forces you to be honest :biggrin: and ya I bet you fell down those stairs on purpose (just kidding - really hope you are OK) A while back I was sitting at the computer with my legs crossed got up to go to bed - well my foot had fallen asleep - and I fell hard on it and hear this snap crackle pop - thankfully I didn't break anything - but I did sprain it... Holly - Thanks !!! You are doing good on your calories & exercise - Keep it up -:rose: and sweetheart - cornbread is bread :smile: and as stated above I think your doctor wants to know if you are pouch full - not satisfied - hell thats why we were fat in the first place - we ate to darn much food - and just like a drug addict or an alcoholic - the amount of food we ate to feel satisfied keep getting to be more and more... Remember the day when you ate 1 candy bar and were fine - I remember I would make a box of rice a roni and I would eat on it all weekend - but prior to banding - that box was gone in one setting :smile: . As to the weakness are you getting your Vitamins ??? that's very important along with your water - I would discuss it with your doctor again - cuz you shouldn't be feeling weak.. Becky - Sounds like good restriction to me - cuz I will get stuck on pudding too if I eat too fast... Yes life seems to revolve around food - all the holidays the birthdays etc and you will also notice how much pple eat and how fast they eat and the whole eating out thing - it's so hard to make good choices - but with proper restriction it's ok to eat that enchilada cuz you won't be able to eat it all- you will box up the left overs and have a few meal out of what use to be 1 meal.. Missing being able to pig out - yep - I hear ya girl on that one - I still miss it and most likely always will - but it's in our heads as you said and as each day passes it does get a little easier as with each pound that is lost you feel so much better and that feeling is better than the taste of the food (well most of the time :biggrin:) Well, gang - I have been to the gym twice today - 4 miles this morning and weights tonite - am charging my Ipod as I type so that it will be ready for tomorrow (NO EXCUSES) so that I can do another 4 miles after work tomorrow - I gotta get these 3 lbs off and fast... I am making soup for dinner - oxtail - cabbage zucchini carrots mini corn on the cob and oxtail's- will be eating soup for lunch the rest of the week and getting in ALL if not Extra exercise - dessert tonite will be strawberries & black berries with some lite whip cream... No more candy or Oreo cookies or real ice cream... Til tomorrow - Sweet Dreams !!! :tongue2:

Beer is no problem for me to give up or any other alcohol. But I am addicted to my Diet Pepsi so have the same concerns about Pop (or as they say outside of Michigan "soda"). But I'm so ready to get even that monkey off my back. I spend so much money on Diet Pepsi. Today I started to cut back by only drinking 1 per day until I start my liquid protein. Then I can have clear, no caffeine pop like diet Vernors until the surgery. Since I start my liquid protein diet in about 10 days I'm trying to wean myself off the Diet Pepsi before I have to give it up cold turkey. Maybe then I won't get a caffeine headache and it won't be so bad. Isn't that a darn shame that I have to wean myself off Diet Pepsi and I'm so addicted. But I'm READY for this at all costs! Good luck to you!

Slider food are items that you can chew up easily, swallow, and slide past the band. Some examples are: Cookies Candy Chips Milk shakes Mocha's Alcohol Soda Ice cream

My birthday is 3 weeks after my surgery, and my surgeon said it is fine to have alcohol as it is liquid. problem with alcohol is the calorie intake...not the substance. Any liquid will pass right through into the stomach. It is best to stay away from ice cream, milk shakes, alcohol as it is easily ingested, but can cause you to not lose weight, as on any diet. Moderation and all is well.

My surgeon cleared me for the occasional drink, which I've enjoyed, for all that I rarely manage to finish a cocktail. Do be aware of the empty calories in alcohol, though. The other thing I was warned about was transfer addition; most of us were addicted to food to cope with things in the past and, being more or less denied that now, it's easy to switch to something else, whether it's alcohol or exercise or shopping or some other such thing. Just discuss it with your surgeon and keep your eye on your intake and you should be fine.

by 8wks out, i was cleared for alcohol & i have had wine regularly since. no bad experiences - all in moderation.

My question is why exactly we aren't supposed to have alcohol, or when I can drink again. I really enjoy a drink when I go out and I just want to know when is it ok? 6 months? a year? what did you surgeon say? Any bad experiences?

My question is why exactly we aren't supposed to have alcohol, or when I can drink again. I really enjoy a drink when I go out and I just want to know when is it ok? 6 months? a year? what did you surgeon say? Any bad experiences?

WTF, Dan you are absolutely right some here are very rude and uppity,some are worse than a recovered alcoholic talking to someone who drinks.You know the (I been sober for 2 years ) and that makes them an expert or something.But the great news is its a small percentage .

I was so worried too. I thought "ohmigod i have that superbug!", but i did some searches and found that its pretty normal for diarrhea after surgery. I also read that about a week after surgery as we are transitioning to fuller liquids and mushies, we will start having the constipation problem...today is my last day on clears...I've been living on chicken broth, Vitamin Water, popsicles, and water...i know the popsicles and vitamin water have some sugar but i know i can't even be taking in more than like 500 calories, so i'm not too worried. I have issues with sugar alcohols in the sugar-free products as they really make me sick and then i am living in the bathroom. Pain is much better today...still took my lortab as i want to go on a walk with the dog. He's very good about not pulling as he can tell something is up with me and he walks very gently by my side. Hootie, when do you transition to full liquids? What kind of Protein shake do you use? I stopped using them on the pre-op a few days before surgery because i realized they were making me sick. I have to go find a soy powder cause i also have lactose issues (I wish i could have transplanted a whole new intestinal system! ha!). Are you going on walks already? My doc wanted us doing 10 minute walks the day after surgery.

Once you pick a bariatric surgeon, I think normally their office will arrange all these tests for you (at least mine did). I've only gone for two visits and I've already had most of them done (except I have one blood test and sleep apnea test left). My surgeon's office said that they've never had to refuse anyone based on the psych test and they've done thousands of surgeries (center of excellence). They do sometimes have to refer for additional counseling, but never had to refuse surgery. The written psych test is really kind of funny. One of the questions is 'Are your favorite hobbies archery and stamp collecting?'. I'm sure its in there as a guage to make sure you are actually still reading the questions (its a loooooonnnng test), but I had to laugh out loud at that one. But, the test will probably show them if you have other possible psych issues (depression, anxiety, alcoholism, eating disorder, etc.). I have generalized anxiety disorder (controlled w/medication - lexapro) and it was funny to see so many questions that I would have answered differently prior to being on meds for this. But, even if I didn't have it under control, I don't think they'd refuse surgery. I think they'd just want to make sure I got it under control before surgery.