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I'm 18.5 weeks pregnant. I won't have any issues losing the pregnancy weight. I'll just low carb it again until I get the weight off. I gained a few pounds over the holidays and dropped those pounds in a little over a week just by cutting alcohol and carb consumption. As for the breakdown of weight gain with a pregnancy, this is what they've outlined for my weight gain: Maternal Fat- 7lbs Baby- 6-8lbs (average is 7.5lbs) Increases Fluid (blood volume)-2-4 ( a mother's blood volume typically doubles during pregnancy) Amniotic Fluid- 1-1.5lbs Placenta- 2lbs Breast tissue/mammary system weight increase - 1-2lbs Watch out for the ROSE procedure, it has an 85% failure rate. This is also discussed heavily on the obesityhelp.com Revision forum. ERNY (extended RNY, where they remove more intestine to start malabsorption again since intestinal adaptation has taken over at this point for you) is also an option. They will shorten your common channel by another 50-100cm. You definitely want to know before you agree to a revision if you have a pouch or stoma dilation because if you have actual mechanical failure with your RNY even a band over the pouch isn't going to do much because once the food passes through the band pouch into your RNY pouch, you will still be able to more food, and your malabsorption is gone. As for Jerusalem clinic, honestly, out of over 3 years on weight loss forums, I have never read of one patient having a RNY take down and revision to the VSG being performed there and honestly that is possibly why they are recommending the band over the bypass pouch to give you restriction again. Seriously, I can name 4 surgeons worldwide that are experienced with these surgeries, and with self-pay patients the cost just for the surgeon run upwards of 20-30k because it is such a complicated and exhausting surgery to take down an old RNY. I promise I researched revisions for months once I knew my band had to come out. The risks for complications especially leaks from scar tissue and adhesions literally quadruples with revisions vs. a virgin, unaltered stomach/intestinal tract. I had a leak with a band revision to VSG after only having the band for 8 months, and actually lost more stomach tissue because of the damage the band had done. My surgeon was experienced with revisions, and I happen to be a statistic of his that I'd like to take back. I was his first and only VSG leak so it can happen even with really experienced surgeons. I'm not slamming Jerusalem Clinic, but revisions are super tricky, complicated, and I would hate to see you fork out the money, get a surgery that is as high maintenance as the BOB procedure and then continue to struggle with your weight and be looking at or for another surgery. There have been RNY to VSG revisions performed due to reactive hypoglycemia symptoms and diagnosis after RNY, but again, it's a very complicated surgery with high risks. Just choose carefully, and continue to research your options.

I am still wading into this thread, but one of the things I've seen is this repeated insistence that "I have to drink, it's part of my job." Hey, you know, there are a lot of recovering alcoholics or other folks in the world with jobs that have a social component like this. As a result, there are plenty of great alternatives to have other than liquor which will allow you to "look" like you're participating, if that's the issue. For example, a bit of cranberry juice with Water on the rocks or shaken and into a martini glass with a twist of lime. Looks like a cocktail, has much less bad going for it than a drink. Basically, if you need *appearance*, then your fabulous bartender can create that for you with ease. You walk up to a bartender you know and say, "I need a great looking virgin cocktail with no carbonation and easy on the sugars." Done! So, when someone says, "Oh, but I need to have the actual alcohol," then I agree that's something else. I'm not going to go so far as to say "OMG red flag," but as someone who grew up doing peer alcohol education, I don't think it's terrible to say to someone, "Have you considered some non-alcohol options that might be healthier and let you have more than one "drink" a night?"

I chose to sever ties with my best friend of 7 years. She is diabetic, will not take care of herself, and can't stop eating or drinking alcohol, I had tried to help her on numerous occasions, I told her please don't end up like an ex of mine that almost died from diabetes because he would not take care of himself, I also asked her to please stop drinking, for her own health, and I told her that she was seriously hurting herself. At the end of our relationship, she was the biggest I had ever seen her, seriously, she was bigger then me. After my lap band, our relationship changed a lot, It seemed like her whole LIFE was centered around getting food, eating food, or securing food for later. I couldn't eat much of anything after my surgery, and at restaurants when I would go to eat with her, she would try to make me eat. She was trying to sabotage me, and I actually let her one time. I was so angry that I let her make me feel that bad, that I ended our friendship. If she wants to be fat and unhappy, let her be, sometimes you cannot help people help themselves.

I have had pancreatitis myself, not a fun disease. I had my gallbladder removed in 1983, in the bad old days it was An open procedure. General surgeon walks in my room, announces We'll have to remove your gallbladder-haha,its been gone for 30+ years, then asks how long I've abused alcohol. Wrong Bozo, I don't drink. He further says But that's what usually causes it. Can you tell at at that point he is not,my favorite person? I had been laying there in a state of peace when he barreled in. Well Sherlock, I told him, you'd better,put, on your thinking cap cause you just struck out. They never did find out what caused my case so it went into the records as idiopathic, a fancy doctor word for Duhh I don't know what caused it either. You can get gallstones in your pancreatic duct as well as the biliary one.The two duct systems kinda go together and empty,their,products into the small intestine. My surgeon in 1983 said he put gallstones on a charm bracelet for his wife. Don't know how long they lasted before they disintergrated. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I was a huge beer drinker (pun intended) before surgery and I really thought I'd miss it. But I tried my first one at about 5 months and discovered carbonation is the one and only thing my sleeve won't do. One or two sips and my tummy hurts. The closest I can get to beer is hard cider over ice until it's pretty flat. I can drink non-carbonated alcohol, however.....anything from wine to vodka cocktails to straight whiskey. I was actually bummed to find out alcohol doesn't affect me any differently than before surgery. I could practically out drink a football team without feeling drunk, and I was looking forward to being able to get a quick buzz, but alas it was not meant to be..... So I went from having 2-3 cocktails every night (yea, really) to maybe a drink 2-3 times a month. Since surgery, my brain just decided all those calories aren't worth the minor buzz I might get.

I cannot stress enough what Matt Z. posted is spot on - there is no *TRICK* or MAGICAL thing to do but hard work! Even being so new out from surgery it is sort of clear you have not yet addressed your emotional issue-connection to eating with ie. stress and life. DO NOT THINK YOUR ALONE! I am 4 yrs out from surgery and regained due to a year of over stress and horrible things happening but I recently took self stock and got myself into psychotherapy to address what I was doing to myself both mentally and physically. Nothing is wrong with you, and nothing is wrong in asking for help! Call your surgeon/weight loss team! Tell them what your going through, ASK FOR THERAPY! Not just group therapy most ALL insurance converse some form of mental health. Get what you need and DESERVE! You deserve to be healthy, you deserve peace of mind, but remember our sleeves are TOOLS, they are NOT THE SOLE ANSWER., It is work, dedication and perseverance that will get you to the finish line. We all need to remember if we were food addicts prior to surgery we will ALWAYS BE A RECOVERING FOOD ADDICT. We need to keep ourselves in check, and it is the hardest fight one can endure! Alcoholics can stay away from places that serve or sell alcohol, same with a drug addict, but we as food addict must eat to live, and it will always be a trigger struggle. So long as you truly admit that to yourself and self check and correct and get help when you spiral, you WILL BE OK! ~ChunkyChicTrying

How miserable to not lose any weight in a year. I really feel for you. Yes I would go to a therapist and find out how to stop the emotional/addictive eating. You can do it! I have given up alcohol, drugs and cigarettes in my lifetime. I go to a 12 step group and it really helps me. Did you get any nutritional classes before you were banded? We got quite a few hours of instruction and it really helped me to understand why my body needs healthy food. Good luck!

Hey, @@Joey Jackson. Here's the stuff I wish someone had told me: That it hurts like hell when you first wake up! But the improvement starts almost immediately and after 2 weeks you'll feel pretty decent. That the first few trips around the floor are really hard, but after that walking actually starts to feel pretty good. That they would transition me from IV pain meds to pills during the night in the hospital. And yes, you can swallow a small pill. That the pain meds are only needed for 3 or 4 days. That Water is even more important than Protein during the first week or two. That if you don't get enough fluids, the constipation is gonna really suck! That you should have some kind of laxative or stool softener ready. (Miralax is pretty good.) That food and drink are going to get stuck at various points in your esophagus at various times in the first few weeks, and make weird noises going down. This is normal, and due to swelling, and it improves pretty quickly. That tons of fluids (eventually) are the best way to keep your skin elastic, which might help down the road. That tons of protein (eventually) plus Biotin is the best way to try and keep your hair. That Vitamin B-12 is a happy pill. (I prefer timed-release to sub-lingual.) That around week 3 after surgery, all weight loss may stop for 2-3 weeks! This is completely normal and here's why. good article That if I follow ALL the rules about what and when to eat and drink, never eat starches or sweets (or drink alcohol), and get regular exercise, I could lose 111 pounds and reach my goal weight in 7 1/2 months. And.... that if I did all of that, I would actually enjoy the journey... and I have! Good luck! I wish you all the success in the world!!!

Hey! Getting SIPS in March(previous vsg)! Jus wondering, i said u had fatty liver initially...was it non-alcoholic?, and how did they find out u had it? And how are u doing now? Are u losing much with the SIPS?

I took my bandages off the day after surgery and never looked back. I eventually had to use alcohol, about a week later, to get the gummy stuff off my belly. I walked a lot after my surgery. I walked around the night after surgery and the next day. Two days after surgery, I walked at least a mile. I think this helped with the pain and gas and all that discomfort stuff. Dr. Sanchez, who banded me, encouraged the walking, not only to relieve shoulder and tummy discomfort, but also to prevent blood clots in the legs. I know you are probably past all your discomforts by now; I thought that perhaps this would help others who were about to have the surgery. 5 weeks since mine and 20 pounds are gone. I feel great!

I am neither a regular smoker or regular drinker. The two do tend to go hand in hand for me, but usually it is weeks or months between my 'party' nights out. I don't drink or smoke at all when not in these sorts of social situations, and I do neither to excess when I do go out. Once every year I go on a campout with a group of people that is pretty much a party group. I've been going to this event for over 10 years and it's my one time of year when I get to let my hair down for a few days. This year, it happens to fall over Memorial Day weekend, which is right before my 2-week pre-op diet. I am going to TRY not to drink more than a beer or two each day or smoke any cigs at all, but I know it's going to be difficult around this crowd. I'm wondering how much effect a few days of less-than-perfect behaviour with the alcohol/nicotine thing might have, or would the two weeks of following the pre-op diet to the letter be enough.... *sigh* I'm also not going to go off my BC pills until 2 weeks pre-op (as the idea of dealing with feminine hygiene while camping is not a good one), and I hope that 2 weeks will be good on that too. Argh, I hate second-guessing all this. :thumbup:

Hello my fellow May sleevers! I don't think I have introduced myself yet. I'm in Detroit, Michigan and I am a band to sleeve revision. I was initially scheduled for a gastric bypass in March but I chickened out the week of surgery. My sleeve date is May 16th! I feel so much better about this decision. My docs office was a bit irritated with me but I have to do what is right for me! I have had my crap band for five years with little weight loss and I have been taking off and putting back on the same twenty pounds for the last six months. I'm just sick of it and I need to do something different. I've been trying to get myself ready so months ago I quit soda, carbonation, and caffeine. I also gave up alcohol almost completely (never thought I'd be able to do that). I've also learned to love yogurt which, until two weeks ago I could not stand! I made a list of what I will need and posted in a thread. I purchased my Vitamins, belly band, ear plugs, and eye mask for the hospital today. My goal is to get to the gym everyday until surgery so that I go in in the best shape possible. My doc does not require a liquid diet but I would really like to try to do one for a couple of weeks prior. I figure there can't be any harm in trying to keep my liver out of the docs way! My surgery will include gallbladder removal, band removal, hernia repair (caused by the crap band), and my revision to a sleeve so I am anticipating being in a world of hurt or as the coordinator at the surgeons office put it a "hot mess"! She has assured me they will get me through it. I look forward to sharing this experience with all of you and wish you the best of luck!

I think, that she must have some good qualities to have a loyal friend like you,but if she were a good friend to you,then you wouldn't have to worry about jealousy making her nasty towards you and you wouldn't be afraid to share such an important piece of yourself. Yes, that's true. She is an excellent friend. I think everyone has that one thing that they can't deal with due to a bad past experience. For some it's a bad shopping or restaurant experience. For some, it's being bullied. For some it's getting your hair done or something at a certain place. For many, it's a bad relationship. There are many people who won't touch a drop of alcohol due to watching the downward spiral of an alcoholic. And there are many even smaller things. I won't touch tuna with a 10 foot pole after vomiting it when pregnant over 10 years ago. There are people (I am one of them) who never realized how many people they have had bad experiences or associations with until it's time to name your baby. LOL Point being that everyone (E V E R Y O N E) has an avoidance subject/issue that they can't deal with based on their association with a horrid past experience. This just happens to be hers. I don't judge her for it. I just don't want to put her, myself, and our friendship through the anxiety triggered words and actions that I know would result. I have to do what's necessary for myself.

Hi, I had my first post op drink last Friday (vodka mixed with pink lemonade crystal light!), I was 24 days post-op, it went down fine and I have had a frozen margarita since then. I think it just depends on how well you handle your alcohol and also yes it is empty calories so you have to be extra careful if you want to continue living healthy with a successful weight loss!

If you're only eating 6 or 700 calories a day and almost all of that is coming from protein, it sounds like you're not eating enough calories to support a healthy nutritional balance. You're also eating so much protein that you're excluding important micronutrients. I am a big believer in going ultra-low carb (love Keto), but to cut out carbs AND fat is definitely going catch up with you. You can live without carbs (except for fiber, which we really need a lot of), but fats and protein are both essential. Protein is very important--particularly in the month or two after surgery when you're recovering since amino acids are required for tissue growth, neurological repair and growth, hair growth etc. However, you can't really live long term on protein alone. First off, your body will convert protein to glycogen to compensate for the reduction in available glucose that you might ordinarily get from carbs. Protein molecules can be converted to glucose by your liver in a process called glyconeogenesis. It's an inefficient way to create glucose--which is a good thing in most instances since it means that your body consumes about three time the amount of energy to create glucose from protein than it does from carbohydrates. However, this process also creates a lot of unpleasant by-products and waste that needs to be processed by your liver and kidneys. If this is your primary/only source of energy for a long enough period of time, your going to risk liver and kindney damage and possibly failure. This is one of the things your Surgeon is checking for when they do your blood work every three months (it shows up in your creatine, thiamine and protein level reports). This will tell him or her if you're eating to little or too much protein. Second, you need to have fats in your diet. I am not talking about cheese burgers and bacon. We can all live without that crap. However, healthy fats are very important for neurological function, heart health, liver function and hormone production etc. You need to also be eating the right kinds of fats from things like avocado, fatty fish oil (wild caught sockeye salmon), extra virgin olive oil, ghee etc, nuts (pecans, macadamia, brazil nuts--all great). These are all great sources of omega-6 fatty acids, which are also very important for your immune function and will help you suppress free radicals and mutations that can cause cancer and other health issues. Third, even though I am a Keto evangalist, you do need to some carbs in your diet. Those carbs need to come mostly in the form of fiber along with some nutrient rich foods that will help improve your micronutrient profile. Sure, we can take supplements but most of those pills only mimic the vitamins we would otherwise get through a healthy diet. There not one in the same. That said, 20 net grams of carbs is more than enough to live on---but your total carbs (including fiber and sugar alcohols does not require any limitation). Depending your choices though, you can certainly have more than 20 net grams of carbs and still be very healthy and lose lots of weight. You just have to monitor your calories a little more carefully. Finally, even with your tiny tummy, you can easily get your calorie (nutrient) consumption up to 1000 to 1200 a day if you add in fats. A small handful of brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds or pecans will get you plenty of healthy fat, protein and fiber to fuel you through the day. Sure, these are calorie dense foods, but if you can't eat food in quantity, you should still try to get your calorie consumption up near 1000k a day. It's not going to really change your rate of weight loss significantly (it might slow things a tiny bit), but it will help you prevent regain to get yourself to a point where you can eat a sustainable amount of calories daily. You don't want your body to adapt to 600 calories a day and base your new set point on maintenance at that level. That's not a recipe for long term success.

Have I become a picky eater??? YOU BET!!! And I am loving every minute of it! Before Lap band surgery, I was a disgusting fat gluttonous pig with one foot in the grave...diabetic, one heart attack resulting in cardiac surgery....I would eat anything and everything put before me, then finish whatever was left on my wife's plate But after Lap band surgery, I have NO hunger, NO cravings...I have NO interest in food or eating in general....I have gone full days and have forgotten to sit down AND EAT.... At times, I can stare at a menu and not find anything that interests me. I can wander around a grocery store and not find anything to bring home for dinner. My Tastes have changed dramatically...things I used to crave have no flavor anymore. Because of the band, there are foods I had to give up...I don't eat meat, things made from flour such as breads and Pasta, no longer eat rice, nothing deep fried.... Not only is my hunger and cravings limited, but My portion sizes are very small because of the band. So when I do eat, I have to make the best of what I can...the most nutritious, healthiest choices I can make...don't want to blow that opportunity on something bad. So I have become a very "picky health nut" Always looking for the most nutritious,healthiest, all natural, organic, non processed and high Protein foods I can Am I Picky??? YOU BET! I go to the gym every chance I get....usually at 5-6am where I run 5 miles, then do weights. I have NO BODY FAT left! (or very little)...It is not my goal, but my bodies decision to stop where it is the most healthiest - normal. I have not felt better, been healthier, in over 35 years...all because being very "Picky" thanks to this WLS... I have friends, read magazine articles, advertisements etc, where people find this lifestyle very "Chic" and they work hard to try to live it everyday....for me, it all became easy and fell into place because of my Lap Band surgery... As a disclaimer.....on top of it all, since I am no longer dieting or have fear of gaining any weight back...I still enjoy life's little pleasures....we will go out and get a Ice Cream Sundae with all the toppings at least twice a week....I do not hold back on alcohol....I enjoy a good beer with my friends from time to time.... In other words...food does not scare me.... I Love this new life! Call me picky...I LOVE IT! It beats the alternative....

With Lapband -you can eat ice cream physically - super easy to get down -- but it could hinder weight loss due to high calories and being liquid your newly modified pouch really doesn't limit quanity -- (same with alcohol - liquid high calories) I eat IC sometimes - not daily -- just have to be accountable for it - or anything I place in my mouth. You will do great - you will need to make sure to get 3 meals in a day -- it increases your metabolism -- otherwise your body thinks it is starvation mode - I am sure you heard all this before. Journal your food daily and share with nutritionist! Great sites for journaling: www.nutritiondata.com www.fitday.com www.fitbodystrongbody.com www.dietfacts.com www.sparkpeople.com www.calorie-count.com www.thedailyplate.com www.calorieking.com Best Wishes!

I hope you don't mind if I answer here too. I've never had pain with my band.. once I got over the immediate post-op period. I do have a weird stretching/pulling sensation at times in my back, but it's not pain. No one knows why I feel this and I can't relate it to eating, exercising, or any behavior. I've had an upper GI to make sure the band is in good position.. it looks fine on xray. Just my anatomy I guess. I guess the stretchy/pulling sensation is the only way I "feel" it. Most of the time I could almost forget it's there. Port area isn't painful, again, once past immediate post-op stage. It is the area that is usually the most tender and usually takes the longest to return to normal. My first fill was a bit of an ouch because I was still tender. Since then they've been pretty much a breeze. I lie down, they swipe the area with an alcohol wipe, quick stick.. sometimes I have to do a mini "crunch" .. inject Fluid, remove needle, sit up, drink Water. At the beginning before I lost so much weight, they used an ultra-sound machine to help locate the port. I know some doc's use flouroscopy.. which can be bad & good. I personally don't want that much extra radiation or expense. As I understand what the sweet spot is.. is where your appetite is satisfied on a small meal and you stay satisfied for a reasonable amount of time (3 hours or longer). I think it's probably the same as or very similar to the "green zone" that you'll see on the lapband site. Hope this helps some.

I found experimentation to be the best thing. An egg mixes well with tuna and makes a nice patty with a little olive oil. Sprinkle some salt on it and u have a crispy tuna patty - tons of protein too. Maybe some crab meat? Shrimp sautéed in a little butter and seasoned well? Salmon patties? Chicken salad? It's not the meat that won't sit well, it's the DRY meat. Add some moisture with butter, gravy, etc. make it more medium than well done. The point behind no corn or enriched flower the first couple months in the more successful programs is because our bodies NEED protein and theirs ZERO need for enriched flour and corn. Some of these programs around are nothing more than herding fat people thru a turnstile and knowing they will be back for revisions. Do some research. Don't eat enriched flour or corn. Don't drink alcohol, etc etc. Make smart decisions.

I find it hard to believe, but I DO KNOW you can drink your calories via alcohol, cokes, milkshakes.....I guess if someone came out of surgery and did every possible thing WRONG....it's possible. Anyone that stupid is destined to fail. 50 lbs in six months is good. I lost 23 prior to surgery and another 55 in six month. I continued to lose, ending up at one time, 18 lbs below my doctor's goal weight. This is a GREAT "tool" - forced portion control. The perfect solution!!

I have!! I am 9 days post op. I was having TERRIBLE pain after surgery, they had me on dilaudid for pain which made me so sick all I did was dry heave for hours and I even threw up blood which scared me to death , my dr told me it was ok bc it was a small amount but gahh those 2 days post op were terrible. Has ur nurse told you to keep alcohol swabs near? If you wave them in front of your nose the smell will help with your nasea. And hopefully your getting some zofran or phernergan for it as well. I am so sorry that feeling is terrible but I promise every day gets better. I am still struggling with little hurdles but I know we can do this!!!! Keep reading these forums and focus on the positive!! several weeks from now when you've lost a number of pounds and your feeling better you will say aha! It was worth it, I remember why I am doing this... Hope you feel better soon.

The band stopping the amount of food you intake is a misconception and people need to realize it. Just because you can eat everything and as much as you want does not mean you are supposed too. Its not going to stop you from making bad food choices. You have to want this and do it. I have lost 70lbs and gving up all the things I love was worth it. Do I love to drink yes but I dont, do I love sweets more than anything but I love living even more. I could with the band sit down and eat a half gallon of ice cream and it wont stop me. I can sit and eat 10 hershey bars and it wont stop me, I can sit and eat as much food as I want and it wont stop me I have to stop myself. No one said it will be easy if they did who was it because it hasnt been easy and everyday is a daily struggle. For those who magically lost weight with no issues well yay for them because I think most people with the band struggle to maintain what they have lost and still reach for that goal. You have to want it you have to stop sabotaging yourself. Isnt the scale moving enough motivation for you. If you dont lose the weight it will eventually lose you. Your choice but make the right choice and healthy eating is not that bad it actually taste pretty darn good. As for the alcohol it wont kill you if you dont stop drinking it but it might if you dont.

This is pretty much how I feel, I don't mind giving up soda or alcohol forever, but I'm not giving up my pizza!! I basically wanted to try to re-learn how to eat and not be a pig! Have 1 slice and be satisfied instead of thinking I need to eat a whole large by myself. If I want a few chips I'm going to eat them! I really just hope this is a lifestyle change in regards to making me realize that a small portion is just as good! Amanda

Exactly, I guess I'm used to unwinding with something. Be it with food or with alcohol. I will have to learn a new way I'm just haven't found it yet.

Oprah did a show years ago when gastric bypass was becoming popular. Many individuals failed to work the mental health part and transfered their food addiction to alcohol. It in no way says that it is definitive that WLS causes alcoholism.