Search the Community

Just a lot of determination. Also I stick to a high protein diet and no alcohol. I have to be honest I don't exercise but I do ensure I only eat 900 cal a day. You will get there remember everyone is different and will loose at differing rates. Keep strong xxx

I wonder what that person took that she reacted to? I have to agree with SpartanMaker that its related to an ingredient in the medicine, it may be the dextromethorphan, but it could also be that the medicine has alcohol. The problem with NSAIDS/Advil type medicines, is not that you'd react wierdly, its that NSAIDs are a lot of work for your liver to break down and since you're tummy is already stressed and small, the liver takes on MORE of the breakdown work. So taking Advil/NSAIDs after weight loss surgery is very damaging to your liver. Smaller tummy = much lower tolerance and slower breakdown - so yup, you can get drunk really fast and stay that way for longer, you could have an adverse reaction to things with sugar (even lactose in dairy products), that you never had before, etc. I found this article which was kinda helpful: Cold and Flu Season after Weight Loss Surgery (utahbariatrics.com)

While I agree that it is ultimately the alcoholic's responsibility to remain sober, it's helpful when you have a supportive spouse. It seems unrealistic, if not cruel, to expect an addict to stay strong early on in their sobriety when their spouse is routinely pouring a scotch night cap. I don't believe it's unreasonable to expect some support from those who live in the same house as you, especially in the early stages of this wl journey when we are still trying to break old habits and create new healthier ones. ETA; Thankfully we live in a rural area where there aren't any kids trick or treating. I love candy corn and I'm just glad I don't have to test my resolve this early on. =)

Months before bariatric surgery, I started making diet & lifestyle changes, such as NO sugar, artificial sweeteners, desserts, processed food, carbonated/caffeinated/alcoholic beverages, smaller portion sizes, no drinking during meals, and minimal bread or rice. This allowed me to lose 30 lbs pre-op. I did not tell my family, colleagues, or friends (except for 1) about my gastric bypass surgery. No one noticed anything different after surgery as I had already been losing weight and was eating less in their presence. This allowed me to focus on myself and not have to deal with negative comments, energy, or misinformation. It worked well for me. YMMV

I have been thinking about LAP-BAND®® since 2007, yet I still havent made any moves towards having it done. I was about 240lbs then,and 3 years later I am now 270 lbs. so, I need to do something asap....What's your advice for someone contemplating surgery ..... -pros and cons? -what was your diet like in the begining and what is it like now? -how often do you exercise? -did you have anyd difficulties? -can you drink alcoholic beverages (not a big drinker, just curious)? -did your insurance cover surgery, and if so what did you have to do for them to agree to cover the surgery? -what has been the hardest part with having LapBAND? Any extra info you would like to offer would be great! THANKS!

The only thing my doctor said about alcohol was that I could not have any up to 6 months after surgery. After that, I can have it, but within limits. But that is just like food. If you are not ready, then don't do it. You should be 100%. You will be supported here no matter what you do. I do think 1 meal a day is not good. I use to do that & my Doctor told me how that isn't helping me 'cause my body is storing what I ate once a day b/c it wasn't getting what it needed other times. Just be careful.

Here is the Liver Shrink Diet my Surgeon and Nutritionist gave me to follow pre-op: Liver Shrink Diet Remember: Vegetables ar unlimited on this diet. (except potatoes, corn, beans, and peas. Breakfast Protein Shake or Protein Bar (You may use any shake as long as it has 220 or less calories and 10g or less fat/serving) Mid Morning Snack 1 small piece of fruit (if you have Diabetes add 4 oz low-fat yogurt) Lunch Protein Bar (220 calories of less and 10g or less of fat) or Shake Mid Afternoon Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you have Diabetes) Dinner 3 oz meat (lean) - The size of a deck of cards steamed vegetables or salad with Fat-free salad dressing 6 unsalted crackers or 2 slices low calorie bread or 1 small baked potato 1/2 c fruit or 1 small piece of fruit Evening Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you are Diabetic) (You may have non-caloric beverages on this diet) NO ALCOHOL!!!!!!!! Examples: Decaf. Tea, Crystal Light, Sugar-free Kool-Aid, Water Follow This 1 Day Prior To Surgery: Clear liquids only including Jello, broth, juice, and any beverages listed above. Jello can be congealed, but do not put fruit in it it. (NO RED JELLO) & NOTHING TO EAT PAST MIDNIGHT (of course). This is just what my surgeon and nutritionist gave me. Of course everyone's seems different but I just thought I would give you something to go on.

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

Here is my plan on maintenance. I was worried about it too since my Dr never really gave me any guidance. I have to eat 800-1000 calories a day and work out at least 2 times a week to lose 1-2 pounds. So after I get to goal I am going to keep working out (I hope) and raise my calories to 1200-1300 a day. Then I am going to weigh myself every.single.day. If I gain more than 5 pounds I will go back to 800-1000 calories until its gone. (I have a daily fluctuation of about 3 pounds due to Water, salt, etc. So I will not change anything unless I gain 5). If I continue to lose I will go up to 1400-1500 calories a day until I find what my body needs to balance my weight. If I cant get as many calories as I need I can always do a slight unfill which will allow me to eat more, but I have found that as I lose weight, the fat under my band goes away and my band gets looser anyway. In the past when I dieted I was starving and I knew when I stopped what I was doing that I wouldn't have the strength to start back. (Adkins, diet pills, ww, etc.) So I never could maintain. It was like an alcoholic once I started eating "normal", I couldn't stop. Now I know I never have to stop what I am doing, I will eat like this forever but just add a few things to up my calories. I hope this helps.

You can actually get the "Rx strength" OTC, too. The Prilosec on the shelf is 20mg. The Rx version is the same thing, just 40mg, I was on 40mg daily for 2 months....it's mandatory for my surgeon because it helps with healing. Didn't need it after that except when I drink too much coffee or alcohol or when I have to take NSAIDS. Some people do better with nexium or protonix but Prilosec is an easy place to start. Just be aware you don't want to take PPIs long term if you don't absolutely have to since they have their own set of negative side effects.

Ditto what everyone else said. I've heard horror stories from folks who had carbonation and ended up in severe pain. Plus, I was told it could cause band slippage by making the upper part of the stomach swell. I was banded on November 6 and I've had alcohol. I had some wine and some tequila, but not a huge quantity because of the calories.

Our minds sure do play tricks! It is very frustrating to not be able to quiet my mind with either food or alcohol right now. I know that I need this change, though, so I guess I need to just take things one day at a time. I managed to distract myself from food several times today, I met my liquid/protein goals, and I also managed to stay under 600 calories, so I just need to keep working at this. Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

Too soon. You're still healing. You need to worry about getting fluids (NOT ALCOHOL) and Protein right now. Why do you want to deprive your body of much needed nutrients for empty, non nutritious calories?? Call your surgeon. He will tell you the same.

Just be careful because now that you're stomach is so small, you absorb everything so much faster! The one thing I've heard is alcohol poisoning (even from wine) It's more lonely to happen than before. If you do decide to.. take it slow and listen to your body. You're going to get "warm" a lot faster than before. Just be careful!!

I'm almost two years post-op. These days I can eat (comfortably) a cup of food at a time. I eat three meals a day and a couple of planned Snacks daily. I've lost 100 pounds and have been maintaining at 135 pounds for the last 6 months (and at or below my original goal -- 150 pounds -- for 14 months). I typically eat 1700 - 1800 calories/day to maintain my weight. I'm 70 years old. At six months I could eat 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of food. It's slowly increased since then. Very early on (a month or two post-op) the restriction is much greater because your newly built and badly traumatized sleeve is swollen and inflamed after surgery. The reason why your eating program is so restrictive for the first 2-3 months is because your stomach edges (where it's stapled together) haven't knitted together / healed yet. If you do have WLS, you will REALLY want to follow ALL your surgeon's eating phases so you don't spring a leak. Here's the deal -- after losing your weight you can regain a lot of weight by "grazing" (nibbling) foods that won't challenge your sleeve. The foods that will flow right through you, leaving your sleeve empty and awaiting more food, are things like chips, crackers, Cookies, ice cream, starchy foods, sugary foods, and, of course, sweet and alcoholic drinks. Dense Protein and fibrous vegetables stay in your stomach longer than anything else. (You'll learn all about "the rules" if you go forward with WLS.) Oh -- and sleeves seldom cause "dumping", although it does happen for a few folks. Sleeves usually let you eat all the sugary foods you can slurp up. Whatever you do / decide, good luck!

I am 8 months out and i low carb it for the most part. I have learned the trick is to have some carbs.... that way ur body doesnt freak and go into fat holding mode when you eat them. I dont have many but once a week i have a meal where i eat what i want and have dessert even..this helps me not to pig out during the week. That below 20 carbs is for the birds..and if i could do that i'd not have had to have lapband for the assistance!! lol i have under 60 usually and that works for me. I avoid bread and rice and potato of course... no alcohol. My snacks if i have them are nuts or South Beach. Dont beat urself up about it... you can and will do it... Good Luck!

First, I think you should take your time deciding. This is something that you don't have to do today, or tomorrow, so make sure you're 90% confident in your decision before you do it (there is always some doubt, even in the highly motivated- that's normal). I don't know if, at 23, I would have been motivated to succeed in the same way that I am now. My life was just very different then-- going out with friends was a much bigger portion of my lifestyle than it is now. That said, I know reverie is a young and successful bandster so you may be more like her than me To address some of your points: Fills-- unless you are truly phobic of needles, I seriously wouldn't worry about it. My doc uses a numbing something or other and the needle feels like pressure- no pain for me at all. I just don't look at it and it doesn't bother me Some people have issues with finding the port, so I know that the experience CAN be worse for some people, however, the no-pain/no-problem fill experience seems to be more common. Band Slippage-- yep, that's scary. But it happens in 5% of cases and it does seem to be associated with band abuse; either being too tight and thus vomiting a lot, or perhaps with continued over-eating after band placement (I'm a little less sure about that one). It could happen. But it's against the odds. Carbonated beverages-- this is the thing I was most upset about pre-surgery. Post-surgery-- it is seriously no big deal. Look, I used to have a major Diet DP addiction and I LOVE beer. But, weighed against obesity, it was no contest. Giving it up ended up being a total piece of cake. I'm really surprised now about how much I cared before. However, that said, I'm 35 and my drinking is almost entirely about taste and enjoyment and is not as much about socializing and social lubricant as it was when I was in my twenties. Not that there is anything wrong with that! But it would have been mentally harder for me then, I do think. Now I drink wine and some liquor (mostly wine). Since wine is my favorite alcoholic beverage anyway, this worked out for me. Not Being Able to Eat Certain Foods-- This one seems to vary greatly. The tighter the band (in general), the more this is an issue. My band is not tight-- it is just enough to allow me to have less hunger and hunger satiation with smaller portions of food but it doesn't STOP me from eating. I can still overeat if I don't put my fork down. So I do have to exercise some self-control, but in trade, I can eat pretty much everything. I've never been stuck. I've never PB'ed, slimed, or vomited. And here's hoping I never do! Excess Skin-- You're young. I bet this would mostly take care of itself. In any case, to me, it's no less attractive than fat and you can hide skin with clothes. I don't love the excess skin. But, it's 1000 times better than where I was before. Failing-- This is where dedication comes in. This is where education about what you TRULY can expect and not expect from the band comes in. This is where educating yourself on what you will have to bring to the table comes in. There are some people who the band doesn't work for. There are more people who don't work the band, and there are the most people who significantly reduce their excess weight and become healthier. I will tell you, though, that 40-60% of excess weight lost is the average. My surgeon was very clear during the education process that if you were going into this expecting to be skinny at the end, you were setting yourself up for disappointment. The odds are, you will not lose all of the weight you want to. The odds are, you might even still be overweight when all is said and done. You should be aware of that, and be ready to accept it as a possibility should you go through with WLS of ANY kind. That said, just as there are some people who don't lose anything, there are some people who lose everything. It's probably a combination of luck and motivation. I've beaten the odds so far-- I've lost 73% of my excess weight and I'm still losing, but I don't know if I'll make it to my goal of "normal BMI". We'll see! But I do believe that I've been pretty lucky because 2 small fills have gotten me to my sweet spot, my body is cooperating me despite my copious wine consumption and relative lack of exercise to this point, and I haven't had complications to struggle with.

Good Morning: This is my first post on this forum and I'd like to say how amazingly grateful I am for all the information and support. I have really immersed myself in the tide of knowledge and experience contained here, it's almost overwhelming. In addition to being an aspiring pre-op sleever, I'm also a sober/clean alcoholic/addict. I've been working the steps of AA for 15 years and my wife, who is also a newbie pre-op sleever, has 21 years. We're pretty active in our various programs but neither of us have had much in the way of results working an OA program. Furthermore, I've observed a fair amount of, shall we say "resistance" within the OA community where I live to embrace people who have chosen WLS as a solution. As much as I like and will continue to use this forum extensively, it seems like it might be difficult to preserve one's anonymity here and the Traditions we observe compel us to guard our anonymity at the public level. Therefore, I've decided to start a secret group on Facebook called "WLS Support for 12 Steppers" and we are welcoming anyone who is pre-op/post-op WLS of any kind, AND who also happens to be in any 12 Step program regardless of malady. If you are interested in being added to that group, please message me your Facebook email address (which is in the "About" section of your profile) and I will send you an invite. Thank you for your interest.

We eat out at least once per week. I don't have any trouble. Sometimes I will split with one of my kids or husband & sometimes I order my own and take leftovers home. I can pretty much eat whatever I want - I try to eat "healthy" - I stay away from breads, meats can be difficult depending how they are cooked. This lapband has not stopped me from eating out or having an occasional alcoholic beverage - I just need to think about my choices.

I did know a RNY person that turned to alcohol instead of food and it ruined his life - he lost his job, ability to drive and other things. I still think many bariatric programs need to mandate therapy for 6 months prior ad 1 year after because so many people fail to find a coping mechanism to replace food and have a multitude of reasons behind the symptom of using food. There is of course a wide spectrum to disordered eating and many are unwilling to admit or tackle that - oh I just eat too much, etc.

I didn't see the Oprah show but i have seen a few research articles about how we are at risk or replacing one addiction with another. For the first year after banding I didn't drink any alcohol because I didn't want to waste calories. Then I went through a few months of bad drinking on my own where I felt very alone. Now I've pulled myself together and am back at goal weight and am verging on anorexia to stay at goal weight. It is one addiction or another

Thank you everyone. I will eat 4 oz of chicken or steak, have not had bread since being banded in March. Never drink soda, never have pizza anymore. I still have chocolate but very little. I still drink alcohol but not often. I do cardio and weights and switch off on different days. I have salad and the occasional two or three french fries but that is all. I eat cheese. Except for cutting WAY back on carbs, I eat the same but less but no movement on the scale. I have noticed inches but the scale won't budge. I never seem to be thirsty so I am working on that. I eat a lot of eggs. Should I only have eggwhites maybe? How would I take Hoodia? Aren't they big pills? I am still crushing some or opening capsules since my doc said I may have to do that indefinitely. Can you crush or open hoodia? I have a ton of natural energy so I don't like taking things that may make me wired. If I have coffee, it is always decaf. I have never been able to drink any caffeine at all! What do you eat when you drive around all day from client to client (bookkeeper)? I don't want to rely on fast food. Not that there is much I can eat.

There is nothing off my diet either, the doc said I have no restrictions, even alcohol. But that my diet needs to be protein focused and water heavy. lol! So I have a bite of stuff now and then but in general I'm pretty full and satisfied with my homemade low carb high protein meals.

It's no biggie but they didn't give me a preop and I'm surprised about that coz I was 277 and 5'5". My surgeon was Dr. Atkinson. Weight loss center. Had my surgery at Desert Inn hospital on the 5th of this month. I followed orders the first two weeks but I don't follow to a t anymore. That's bad. I still get all my Protein in but I had pain popcorn (not supposed to) and I had alcohol one night (not supposed to). Other than that, it's going great. When I first woke up, I immediately regretted it but now I am so glad I did it. I went back to work 3 days after. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

I am a food addict as well and can relate. I am also a recovering alcoholic and suffer from Major Depressive Disorder. I wish I had some words of wisdom but I do not, just wanted you to know that you are not alone. I am about 10 weeks out, feel free to PM if you want to chat.