Search the Community

Hi All, Well i have a little dillema...:confused2:I am getting my band May 12th. I have ran into a speed bump though. My husbands 2 best friends are having a birthday party this saturday. Apparently i cant eat anything and i cant drink (alcohol):thumbdown:...I would have loved to go but it just doesnt sound like ANY fun due to my issues. I told my husband this and he got all upset about it. :angry:I told him to go by himself and he said no, i want you to go...so i said okay ill go but i do NOT want to be there for very long. He got upset with that but dealt with it..i guess:glare:. So i am going to this party with 25yr old single men who are going to be getting drunk with their skinny rude girlfriends and they are going to be wondering hmmm why is victors wife not eating or drinking?:bored: I dont want to tell them i am having WLS...maybe i dont want to tell them b/c i dont want to embarrass myself:sneaky:. (He doesnt want me to have the surgery bc he loves me not matter what even if i have 13 fingers:lol:). I really dont know what to tell them. Can anyone help me think of something to tell them...i dont want them to think im being rude and i just dont want to be around them. ( i really dont bc of my surgery) Really confused and frustrated:incazzato: Mandi Jo

To add to the mrs' post... Lots of RUM! (Artificial or alcoholic is up tp you)

The surgeon and team I had said no more alcohol ever. I'm 7 months out no alcohol at all and don't plan on starting. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using the BariatricPal App

That does sound like it is a bit on the low side. One time my mom was lying down on the couch, my daughter called me and said there was something wrong with mom. She was white as a sheet. She couldn't talk. She tried but no words came out, only a few whispers. She couldn't move. She looked like she was dying. We called an ambulance, they came in and measured her blood sugar and I believe it was in the 30's. So 58 is too low. So I think you are right about reactive hypoglycemia. Here is a link https://www.stjoes.ca/patients-visitors/patient-education/f-j/PD 7972 Reactive Hypoglycemia after Bariatric Surgery.pdf According to their webpage: How can I prevent reactive hypoglycemia? You can help prevent reactive hypoglycemia by following your diet guidelines for bariatric surgery. • eat 3 healthy meals and 2 healthy snacks each day • space meals and snacks 2 to 3 hours apart • eat protein at each meal and snack time • avoid skipping meals and snacks • avoid or limit alcohol depending on what stage of diet your are at • avoid or limit caffeine depending on what stage of diet your are at • avoid sweets like cookies, cakes, candy, pop, juice and sweet drinks Instead of sugars and simple carbohydrates, eat complex carbohydrates because they release less sugar over a longer period of time. Having a complex carbohydrate with protein will slow this release even more.

yes there were 9 of us in the pre op class for Drs Smith and Ferrara. we were told if we had drank a soda that day that is was our last. we were told to do high protein (according to our individual nutrition guidelines) lean meats, eggs, chez, etc, that we could eat all veggies except corn, peas, beans and potatoes, nothing deep fried, no sweets, no alcohol, no bread of any sort (sliced, tortillas, bagels, chips, etc) and at least 64 oz of water a day but we could drink as much non carbonated, sugar free drinks that we wanted. also we could not have any fruits (juices, whole, or otherwise). i started a week earlier because i knew we would be required to do it. i followed my dietician's instructions for high protein, no carbs and lost a total of 14 lbs in 3 weeks but i was also walking a mile 3 times a week which doesn't seem like much but i've had 3 knee surgeries (1 on the left and 3 of the right, 2 of them back to back in less than one year on the right) so for me at my weight that is a good bit of effort. my surgery date is this tuesday oct 7th and i'm so excited!

Well I made it! My surgery was at 4pm so I didn’t make it to my room until late. That first night was tough. I woke up from the surgery in a lot of pain but the nurse wasn’t giving me a lot of pain meds because I was breathing slowly. Luckily I was able to have my mom there because she works at the hospital. Yesterday was better. VERY sore at the incision sites, hard to tell if it’s the incisions or my insides that were hurting but the pain meds help wonders. Don’t hesitate to use the pain meds. Luckily I didn’t have much gas pain, I think they did a good job at removing the majority of it. I was still very sleepy from all the meds so I only walked 3-4 times during my stay in the hospital. They wanted to discharge me last night but I ended up staying last night and got discharged this morning. Only a little nauseous when I took the liquid Tylenol but they gave me Zoltan and oddly enough waving an alcohol swab in front of my nose helped wonders. I’m home now still in some pain but it’s most just tightness in my abdomen, still using the pain meds. I was a mess crying all the way up until I when to sleep but I survived and so will you! I’m having no trouble with water or protein shakes so that’s good

Careful what you ask for... National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Facts About sleep Apnea WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA? Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. First described in 1965, sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning "want of breath." There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea, which is less common, occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations. Obstructive sleep apnea is far more common and occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person's nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue. In a given night, the number of involuntary breathing pauses or "apneic events" may be as high as 20 to 30 or more per hour. These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes, although not everyone who snores has this condition. Sleep apnea can also be characterized by choking sensations. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness. Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. WHO GETS SLEEP APNEA? Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes but is more common in men (it may be underdiagnosed in women) and possibly young African Americans. It has been estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. Four percent of middle-aged men and 2 percent of middle-aged women have sleep apnea along with excessive daytime sleepiness. People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who snore loudly and also are overweight, or have high blood pressure, or have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway. Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic basis. WHAT CAUSES SLEEP APNEA? Certain mechanical and structural problems in the airway cause the interruptions in breathing during sleep. In some people, apnea occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the opening of the airway. When the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula (the small fleshy tissue hanging from the center of the back of the throat) relax and sag, the airway becomes blocked, making breathing labored and noisy and even stopping it altogether. Sleep apnea also can occur in obese people when an excess amount of tissue in the airway causes it to be narrowed. With a narrowed airway, the person continues his or her efforts to breathe, but air cannot easily flow into or out of the nose or mouth. Unknown to the person, this results in heavy snoring, periods of no breathing, and frequent arousals (causing abrupt changes from deep sleep to light sleep). Ingestion of alcohol and sleeping pills increases the frequency and duration of breathing pauses in people with sleep apnea. HOW IS NORMAL BREATHING RESTORED DURING SLEEP? During the apneic event, the person is unable to breathe in oxygen and to exhale carbon dioxide, resulting in low levels of oxygen and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. The reduction in oxygen and increase in carbon dioxide alert the brain to resume breathing and cause an arousal. With each arousal, a signal is sent from the brain to the upper airway muscles to open the airway; breathing is resumed, often with a loud snort or gasp. Frequent arousals, although necessary for breathing to restart, prevent the patient from getting enough restorative, deep sleep. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP APNEA? Because of the serious disturbances in their normal sleep patterns, people with sleep apnea often feel very sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance suffer. The consequences of sleep apnea range from annoying to life-threatening. They include depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleep while at work, on the phone, or driving. It has been estimated that up to 50 percent of sleep apnea patients have high blood pressure. Although it is not known with certainty if there is a cause and effect relationship, it appears that sleep apnea contributes to high blood pressure. Risk for heart attack and stroke may also increase in those with sleep apnea. In addition, sleep apnea is sometimes implicated in sudden infant death syndrome. WHEN SHOULD SLEEP APNEA BE SUSPECTED? For many sleep apnea patients, their spouses are the first ones to suspect that something is wrong, usually from their heavy snoring and apparent struggle to breathe. Coworkers or friends of the sleep apnea victim may notice that the individual falls asleep during the day at inappropriate times (such as while driving a car, working, or talking). The patient often does not know he or she has a problem and may not believe it when told. It is important that the person see a doctor for evaluation of the sleep problem. HOW IS SLEEP APNEA DIAGNOSED? In addition to the primary care physician, pulmonologists, neurologists, or other physicians with specialty training in sleep disorders may be involved in making a definitive diagnosis and initiating treatment. Diagnosis of sleep apnea is not simple because there can be many different reasons for disturbed sleep. Several tests are available for evaluating a person for sleep apnea. Polysomnography is a test that records a variety of body functions during sleep, such as the electrical activity of the brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, air flow, and blood oxygen levels. These tests are used both to diagnose sleep apnea and to determine its severity. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) measures the speed of falling asleep. In this test, patients are given several opportunities to fall asleep during the course of a day when they would normally be awake. For each opportunity, time to fall asleep is measured. People without sleep problems usually take an average of 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. Individuals who fall asleep in less than 5 minutes are likely to require some treatment for sleep disorders. The MSLT may be useful to measure the degree of excessive daytime sleepiness and to rule out other types of sleep disorders. Diagnostic tests usually are performed in a sleep center, but new technology may allow some sleep studies to be conducted in the patient's home. HOW IS SLEEP APNEA TREATED? The specific therapy for sleep apnea is tailored to the individual patient based on medical history, physical examination, and the results of polysomnography. Medications are generally not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. Oxygen administration may safely benefit certain patients but does not eliminate sleep apnea or prevent daytime sleepiness. Thus, the role of oxygen in the treatment of sleep apnea is controversial, and it is difficult to predict which patients will respond well. It is important that the effectiveness of the selected treatment be verified; this is usually accomplished by polysomnography. Behavioral Therapy Behavioral changes are an important part of the treatment program, and in mild cases behavioral therapy may be all that is needed. The individual should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong the apneic periods. Overweight persons can benefit from losing weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients. In some patients with mild sleep apnea, breathing pauses occur only when they sleep on their backs. In such cases, using pillows and other devices that help them sleep in a side position is often helpful. Physical or Mechanical Therapy Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common effective treatment for sleep apnea. In this procedure, the patient wears a mask over the nose during sleep, and pressure from an air blower forces air through the nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. Nasal CPAP prevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodes return when CPAP is stopped or used improperly. Variations of the CPAP device attempt to minimize side effects that sometimes occur, such as nasal irritation and drying, facial skin irritation, abdominal bloating, mask leaks, sore eyes, and headaches. Some versions of CPAP vary the pressure to coincide with the person's breathing pattern, and others start with low pressure, slowly increasing it to allow the person to fall asleep before the full prescribed pressure is applied. Dental appliances that reposition the lower jaw and the tongue have been helpful to some patients with mild sleep apnea or who snore but do not have apnea. Possible side effects include damage to teeth, soft tissues, and the jaw joint. A dentist or orthodontist is often the one to fit the patient with such a device. Surgery Some patients with sleep apnea may need surgery. Although several surgical procedures are used to increase the size of the airway, none of them is completely successful or without risks. More than one procedure may need to be tried before the patient realizes any benefits. Some of the more common procedures include removal of adenoids and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps or other growths, or other tissue in the airway and correction of structural deformities. Younger patients seem to benefit from these surgical procedures more than older patients. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils, uvula, and part of the soft palate). The success of this technique may range from 30 to 50 percent. The long-term side effects and benefits are not known, and it is difficult to predict which patients will do well with this procedure. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is done to eliminate snoring but has not been shown to be effective in treating sleep apnea. This procedure involves using a laser device to eliminate tissue in the back of the throat. Like UPPP, LAUP may decrease or eliminate snoring but not sleep apnea itself. Elimination of snoring, the primary symptom of sleep apnea, without influencing the condition may carry the risk of delaying the diagnosis and possible treatment of sleep apnea in patients who elect LAUP. To identify possible underlying sleep apnea, sleep studies are usually required before LAUP is performed. Tracheostomy is used in persons with severe, life- threatening sleep apnea. In this procedure, a small hole is made in the windpipe and a tube is inserted into the opening. This tube stays closed during waking hours, and the person breathes and speaks normally. It is opened for sleep so that air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any upper airway obstruction. Although this procedure is highly effective, it is an extreme measure that is poorly tolerated by patients and rarely used. Other procedures. Patients in whom sleep apnea is due to deformities of the lower jaw may benefit from surgical reconstruction. Finally, surgical procedures to treat obesity are sometimes recommended for sleep apnea patients who are morbidly obese. NATIONAL CENTER ON SLEEP DISORDERS RESEARCH (NCSDR) The mission of the NCSDR is to support research, training, and education about sleep disorders. The center is located within the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. The NHLBI supports a variety of research and training programs focusing on cardiopulmonary disorders in sleep, designed to fill critical gaps in the understanding of the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep-disordered breathing. FOR MORE INFORMATION Information about sleep disorders research can be obtained from the NCSDR. In addition, the NHLBI Information Center can provide you with sleep education materials as well as other publications relating to heart, lung, and blood diseases. National Center on Sleep Disorders Research Two Rockledge Centre Suite 7024 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7920 Bethesda, MD 20892-7920 (301) 435-0199 (301) 480-3451 (fax) NHLBI Information Center P.O. Box 30105 Bethesda, MD 20824-0105 (301) 592-8573 (301) 592-8563 (fax) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute NIH Publication No. 95-3798 September 1995 .

I was wrong, BlueCross Complete is going to be it. Aetna Medicaid is 12 months, not 3. After consideration, I'd feel better about a 6-month wait. There aren't many hoops to jump through either. I've got a 41 BMI, the only thing they want from me is 6 months and a drug/alcohol test.

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. =)

Sorry if this is hard to understand, I am in actual tears and I just don’t know what to do. I desperately need advice or comfort or just something from people who may understand what I am going through and maybe know why I am feeling this way. My mom and I had the bariatric sleeve surgery done 2 weeks ago and the experience with her that I have had has been mostly miserable and upsetting. I am extremely obese and have always had a very difficult time keeping the weight off. Long story short I went for a doctors visit and my doctor recommended that I get the bariatric sleeve to help me, since with certain medical issues such as PCOS it can be hard to lose the weight without help. My mother begged me to do it and said that she wanted me to be able to live past her and my dad, and then she went and said that she would do it with me. Now, to some this would seem like a thing of encouragement, and while I do believe that may be part of it, I truly do not believe that that is the true underlying reason. You see, my mom is an alcoholic (she is viciously mean when she is drunk), and I believe that she is very self-absorbed. Not in the way that she thinks she is the greatest thing to walk the planet, but in the way that she always needs to be the center of attention. We haven’t always had the best relationship, as she has said and done many things that have really hurt me, and every time that we have tried to talk about these issues (when she wasn’t drunk) she always has some excuse, or blames everything on her past trauma, or how she just wants to let loose and have fun. A spitting example is how she once told me when she was drunk that she was just wanting to let loose, since she lost some of her twenties -aka the party years- due to having me. Almost every hurtful thing and word that she has said has stuck with me for a long time, and when my family tried to go to family therapy, my mom decided to stop since the therapist “kept saying that everything was her fault.” Another key thing is that she is also overweight, but not nearly as big as me, and she has tried hundreds of diets and pills and has never stuck to any of them for very long. Anyway, I tell you all of this so that maybe you understand why I think she mostly wanted me to do the surgery since I am clearly at more of a health risk and part of her wouldn’t feel right doing it without me. This of course could all be in my head. So no, on to the real problem at hand. Ever since we have been released from the hospital she has not been doing well -I am a college student and came home for the recovery process but plan to move back to campus as soon as possible. At first it was just minor things that bugged me a little bit, such as every time a food commercial came on the television, she would moan about how the food looks so good and yadda yadda. This was minor, but it still bugged me since I too had gone through the surgery and did not need to hear her constant moaning about how good something looked on the tv. This coupled with the constants complaining about how much she was hurt, and how much she hates the blood thinner shots that we must give ourselves, slowly started to drive me up the walls. I HATE needles, but just recently I have been able to give blood and receive shots without crying, while she has literally been fine and delt with needles for years, but all the sudden she claims that she hates needles (which I mean who doesn’t, but come on). After I got annoyed enough, I watched her do the shot and saw that she had been doing it in a way other than the nurses had showed us, and when I tried to point it out to her, she waved me off and said that she was doing it the way that she was showed. Another thing with her complaining about her constant pain. The first night we got home, - 2 days post op- we both slept on the recliner couch. The next night she tried to sleep in bed, even though I had warned her against it. She tried for a few days, each day complaining about pain, while I suggested that she try sleeping on the couch again. I sleep on our recliner couch for nearly the two whole weeks that we have been home. I have finally been able to sleep in bed for the past two nights, and my pain is almost gone, while she claims to still have pretty bad pain. And guess where she has been sleeping the past few days. The couch. Now comes the parts that have really been getting to me. She has not been following the diet plan that our Doctor gave us. First it was her not drinking enough fluid, which I constantly had to tell her to do. Then, it was the incident that occurred a few days ago. Our doctor has us on full liquids right now, which consists of things like sugar free pudding, low-fat yogurt, chicken broth, and instant mashed potatoes. Well, a few days ago she went to the store with my brother, I cannot remember why I did not go, but I did not. When she came home, I went into the kitchen and saw a bag of open potato wedges and I instantly knew that she had some. So, I went and asked her, and she said that she did and that she made sure to chew them up well and that her stomach tolerated them just fine. Then I found the little foil covering of sour cream and knew that she had some of that as well. And while sure, potatoes mashed in your mouth is similar to mashed potatoes, the things that get me are: 1. They’re fried, which is an absolute no no as of right now, and 2. They aren’t on our list of approved foods so why even chance it. Anyway, I tried to move past that one and dropped it. Then tonight came. My mom made my dad and brother biscuits and gravy and eggs for dinner. I had some of the scrambled eggs because those have been approved by our doctor, and apparently, she had more than just eggs. Then, just a few moments ago, she came into the living room with a small bowl of chili. We are not supposed to be having chili for another day. And again, I understand that its only one day, but that fact that she cannot follow simple doctors’ orders has driven me mad. Now here’s the real kicker. Not only did she have the chili before she was technically allowed to; she put Fritos Scoops chips in it. Now I know for sure that we are NOT supposed to be having those. And then the smell of it and the anger drove me crazy, and I excused myself from the room, claiming that I had to go charge my phone. Well, after I did not return for a few minutes she came looking for me and knew I was upset. I told her I didn’t want to talk about it and that it didn’t matter -I said this because my opinions and feelings have never ever felt like they mattered to her, especially when we are in conflict. She came and sat down and kept pushing asking me why I was mad and said things like “so you’re mad because I had chili one day early?” and then she used the, “I have already lost weight” which I replied I wasn’t talking about her weight and that didn’t matter. She also said that it should not matter since she didn’t make me eat it. I then told her I didn’t want to talk about it now and she finally left. I know that I shouldn’t worry about it, and that I should just focus on myself, but it kind of feels undermining to me. She did not need this surgery as much as I did, but even still I feel like she doesn’t really care or understand how much effort this is. I honestly believe that she thinks she just going to get skinny and not have to do anything. She doesn’t exercise and clearly, she doesn’t have the willpower to not eat something if it looks or smells good, not to mention that fact that she never watched the hour long lecture the doctor wanted us to watch and just asked me what it was about and told me that she would watch it that night at work. Heck, she didn’t even know what the bariatric sleeve surgery really even was until a few days before the surgery when I mentioned that part of our stomach was going to be removed. I am just getting really upset at this point and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to have to lie to the doctor or listen to her lie to the doctor again -she has lied about her alcoholism, tobacco usage, and what she has been eating before the surgery- when we have our first post-op appointment. And I don’t even want to bring these things up to her, because she gets very combative when she gets defensive and is never able to see things past her own perspective. My dad says that it wasn’t me who needed her support in this, but that he thinks she needed mine, but at this point I don’t even know what to do. How am I supposed to support her when she cant even follow simple rules and restrain herself from eating things that she is not supposed to be eating? How am I supposed to look at that and make my own progress when she is making it seem like its fine to just go back to eating whatever I want whenever -which I know is not true. I know I have more willpower and restraint than she does; that fact has been made abundantly clear to me. I am just at a loss. I know her surgery is going to be pointless and she is going to complain when she plateaus or even gains the weight back. How do I keep myself from getting so upset over this? Am I just crazy? Am I acting selfishly? Please help. I am sure I did not include some of the information or things that have happened, but I know this has already been a lot to read.

I've had a few cocktails here and there starting the second month after surgery. I know this is not recommended but I checked with my doctor and was told just to not over do it, and I didn't. The alcohol does affect me differently. One or two cocktails over the course of an entire evening is all I drink. My go to drink is vodka and Water (tap) then I add a flavor enhancer to it. There are tons on the market now and you can make yourself a great cocktail.. I also order it tall (twice the water same amount of vodka). This way I can track the calories and carbs without worrying about anything else in the drink. I don't drink often, maybe once a month or so, but I like to go out and have the occasional drink. I stopped drinking wine. I tried it several months ago and just couldn't take it. That makes me sad because I have wine racks in the basement with about 100 bottles of wine! Oh well, they will make excellent gifts!

Hi everyone, I'm new the forums. I've updated my profile so you know my story. I'm been reading lots and lots on here as I've been looking for information and experiences from both the Optifast diet and WLS. I'm currenlty on the medically supervised weight loss program at Kaiser. Today marks two weeks. As I started this journey, I also wanted to know more about WLS because I thought I would rather eat real food than Optifast for 12 weeks. Well, after the introductory seminar I felt a bit defeated in my Quest as it seems to be more restrictive than I thought. I was hoping to ask my follow up questions here to help me better understand what happens after WLS, what can you eat/drink after WLS, etc so that I can make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed with the WLS orientation. I did receive a referral from my doctor. After WLS: Can you no longer have a glass of wine with a meal? They told us you can no longer consume liquids with your meal. How do you all handle this and how has it worked out? Only 3 meals a day can be eaten, no Snacks or small meals in-between. What do you do in social events, parties, picnics? You need to strictly monitor caloric intake and weigh and measure your food. Is there a standard typical caloric intake per meal and per day recommended? You need to avoid foods high in fat and sugar. Restrict alcohol. Restrict carbonated drinks. Any guidance, learnings and knowledge sharing from your experiences would be greatly appreciated. ~R

Would like some input about an upcoming trip... It is s Business Convention and I am trying to figure out a non carbonated, sugarfree, alcoholic beverage to sip on (a weeks worth of business dinners). Prior it would be Bacardi diet or Mike's lite hard lemonade, neither of which will work now. Doc gave me ok to have alcohol but I have no clue what other types of drinks to have. Thanks!

My grandfather used to make liquor and the bulk of any alcohol is sugar. Not a professional but is drinking alcohol customary? I have a friend that goes out sometimes and drinks ice Water but tells people its vodka if they ask to keep the peer pressure down...lol Sent from my Nexus S 4G using RNYTalk

Hello everyone or anyone who can help me with my question. I was banded in 2011 everything was great until July of 2014 NO restriction after an EDG, port replacement and still no restriction we had to remove and replace my entire band on 12/18/13. My tube was crystalized and leaking. My do doctor said he had never seen this before only heard about one case of this in Las Vegas. I feel like I need answers and not getting it from google or my physician. Do you think you can ask your doctors why this happens? The band was good no erosion but the tube was??? Is it aspirin, alcohol? My PH in my body? To much acid? Am I eating wrong? Was I red the red zone for to long? PLEASE I don't want to do this again and would LOVE any feedback. Thanks in advance! Going strong and wanting to do it right the second time around.

hEy guys thanks BUt I do feel like I am failing and messingup badly and don't know if I can do this. I almost wish I was living with someone going through the same thing for moral support. I can't satnd the smells inthe kitchen when they cook and I take off to the computer in the basement. The popcorn went down easy although I could only eat half the large bag I usually get and I ate two hamburger patties, the ones from presidents choice that you nuke and have cheese in them. They were interesting, it felt kinda stuck a little when I think the piece was too large but not painful, so I chewed it up. I hate this full Fluid thing and being hungry is awful I swear. I literally am thinking about food more than ever and craving everyting I can't have. I hate to sound weak but boy I guess this is IT for me as far as my weakness in this world and sometimes I feel it has me beat. I used to think alcoholics etc. man are they weak poeple , "just stop drinking" but that they realy don't wan to, but I know I am addicted to food, it seems to have run my life for so long ad look at the prices I / perhaps you have paid..with health, for me a job and relationships , being reclusive all because of food. I dunno, I am finding this really tough. I am eating yogurt again and going to try to get back onthe wagon...but boy I would love a night at the MANDARIN in Barrie! I read about people living in the same communtiy who get together and meet or go walking and I wishI was closer to some of you here. I mean YOU guys in the canadian group are my support system and I tried the other band the canadian one that sends threads all day, but I just don't feel the same connection there and so far I cannot relate to folks talking about plastic surgery etc... Yoda, Cloe, Argon, wheezy, jude et all, Ifeel weak to say this but I do need your support right now and I am sorry to be a oain but I am finding this really tough.

I've only been banded about 2 1/2 weeks, but before banding used to drink a couple of drinks every day. I LOVE beer. Oh well, the carbonation is now an issue......But, I thought giving up alcohol would be difficult for me. Funny, I haven't even missed it for one minute these past few weeks. There is always beer in the fridge, a bottle of wine in the bar, and spiced rum or vodka on the counter. I haven't touched it. I sure hope this lasts.

Anyone else noticing that as they address the food issues, and can no longer use food to compensate, that alcohol has gained in attractiveness? Seriously I used to drink once every six months. Now I find I am looking for booze a couple times a week. Any one relate?:faint:

I was an Addict (alcohol and Sedatives) BEFORE the lapband. After about 2 years of recovery, I got banded. I use "The Work", www.thework.com, to deal with the thinking that leads to the emotion that leads to the (Food, Alcohol, whatever!). It ALWAYS starts with a thought. I have given up alcohol, drugs and cigarettes using The WORK (IT'S EASY AND ITS FREE) and use it in conjunction with my band - I have never been so at peace in my life. Give it a try. Contact me and I can send you a cd, too. No cost - i just love sharing this remarkable tool that helps me so much!

I went with the hernia surgery. Months prior to surgery I started talking a lot about having to go on a health kick, eat right, stop smoking and no alcohol.. I started drinking my Protein shakes at work , soon after other co workers were doing the same thing, they wanted to get healthy. When I had my surgery, no one really noticed anything different. I had said prior to the surgery that I won't be going out to lunch because I know I have no willpower and would eat too much or fattening foods. Now they don't even ask me to go out to eat, they know I bring my lunch or go home and that I'm really trying to stay healthy. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I go out as much as I want. I eat out out at restaurants a couple times a week at least. It's all about choices and what you order. High Protein apps or Entrees. Share something with a friend. Take what you can't eat home. Avoid carbs.... Get the veggie of the day instead of fries, skip the bread. My social life has never been more active and it is wonderful!!!! Driving home from 'socializing' as we speak. Had steamed shrimp appetizer as an entree and some of the hubby's veggies. Lol I will have shrimp omelet for Breakfast from my leftovers tomorrow. WLS is about living not giving up your social life. You will need time to heal but after 4-6 weeks get back out there and enjoy the new you. Of course follow your surgeon's advice on alcohol consumption.

Everyone is different. For me, not much has changed in terms of alcohol. I can have few drinks just as I could pre-surgery. I don't notice getting inebriated any quicker. Same issue applies, however - alcohol calories will make it harder to lose weight. If you want realistic answer, I'd say take it slow, listen to your body, and accept calorie trade-off. I probably had first drink couple months post-surgery. I probably only drink once every couple weeks. But except for the calorie issue, I think I could have drink everyday if I wanted.

I think you need to be done with that part of life first. I was like you, a "heavy hitter". I partied like crazy until I was 34. Then I realized I would eventually die from it. I am a recovering alcoholic of 21 years and I would not advise even thinking of the operation until I was completely ready to give up that part of life. I never could have made that judgement when in my 20's. I don't recommend you make it now.

Lower your carb intake and up your protein. Also, try and limit your alcohol consumption.

@@PennStater920 Social drinking doesn't have to end, but those nights of chugging do. (I went to Rutgers and just graduated law school. I GET IT). I'm not telling you that you have to give up drinking forever, but you'll be likely limited to a single glass or bottle of your drink of choice. I'm a little less than five months post-op and had my first drink the other day. To address your point, it was at my graduation party to celebrate graduating law school. It was a wine glass full of white sangria and to be on the safe side since it was the first drink I'd tried, I limited myself to half. It's important to note that it wasn't terribly strong. That all being said, things like straight liquor (vodka, rum, whiskey, etc) are best to be avoided because they may agitate your stomach. Mixed drinks are the safer bet, but make sure you consume them slowly because the alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream far quicker post-op, whether bypass or sleeve. You shouldn't feel like you can't drink socially ever again, but you won't be able to pound back the beers and shotgun them. You will, however, be able to nurse a glass of a mixed drink or wine while out and about with your friends. Just be pragmatic.