Help??

Jeremy · 11-10-2008, 04:19 PM

I had Lap band 1/5/08. The day of surgery i weighed in at 367lbs. As of this morning i am weighing in at 239lbs. Lost 130lbs so far and still losing. I am concerned with a few things though. One i have never gavr up my habit of drinking. I drink about a half gallon of Whiskey every week. I know many of you will say i have a problem but i dont i just like to drink. I drink about a 5th every Friday and another 5th on Saturday. Im only 23 so cut me some slack. The other problem is that i have recently been taking Adderall during the day for school and at night i take about 2mg Xanax to calm down after i work out. I dont mix pills with alcohol either. I am wondering if this can increase my risk of erosion. Is adderall/xanax/Hard alcohol anything like NASIDs. I am having no problems other than i get a funny pain near the port area every no and again almost like a tug. Simply wondering if i need to stop taking my meds. Are they going to increase my risk of band removal. If so ill stop immediatly. I will never have this thing removed it has completely changed my life. I can ride on an Airplane, tie my shoes easily, Sleep 5 hours and feel great rather than sleep 12 an still fell tired. I can run, lift weights, and dont even get me started on the ladies; didnt have a sex life before the band, i have made up for that. Went from taking, Lexapro,Diovan,Nexium,water pill,Toprol to nothing. Well until recently the xanax and adderall. Had obstructive sleep apnea; dont even own my machine now. If you are considering this procedure do it dont wait like i did just do it. The best 13 grand i have ever spent. If anyone has any advice on my condition let me know. I am not going to take another pill until i get some answers. Thanks to all fellow bandsters.

RestlessMonkey · 11-10-2008, 04:23 PM

Discuss this with your surgeon. Do you have ADHD? If not, stop taking the adderall.
You may not think you have a problem, but popping pills and binge drinking every weekend aren't "normal". I was 23 once, too. Trust me. You're headed down the wrong road, Dude.

Mrs. Bubba · 11-10-2008, 04:33 PM

Hey Restless Monkey..... I think you are giving Jeremy very good advice... It's been a while but I was 23 once, too, and if I was your mother I would be very concerned...

Jeremy listen to some good advice and talk to your doctor soon.. All those things that have now made their way into your life since your weight loss will only be better when you work on the other things, too.... Oh, and by the way... great job on the loss... I wish women could lose as fast as men...... Best of luck to you... Julie

Spendi · 11-10-2008, 04:36 PM

Whatever you decide, I think it needs to be done under medical supervision. Suddenly stopping meds/alcohol can be dangerous. 2mgs. of Xanax is quite a bit if you really have only been taking it for a short time. I hope you are being very honest with your medical providers regarding your med. and alcohol consumption.
Congratulations on your weight loss!

ccarter8219 · 11-10-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I had Lap band 1/5/08. The day of surgery i weighed in at 367lbs. As of this morning i am weighing in at 239lbs. Lost 130lbs so far and still losing. I am concerned with a few things though. One i have never gavr up my habit of drinking. I drink about a half gallon of Whiskey every week. I know many of you will say i have a problem but i dont i just like to drink. I drink about a 5th every Friday and another 5th on Saturday. Im only 23 so cut me some slack. The other problem is that i have recently been taking Adderall during the day for school and at night i take about 2mg Xanax to calm down after i work out. I dont mix pills with alcohol either. I am wondering if this can increase my risk of erosion. Is adderall/xanax/Hard alcohol anything like NASIDs. I am having no problems other than i get a funny pain near the port area every no and again almost like a tug. Simply wondering if i need to stop taking my meds. Are they going to increase my risk of band removal. If so ill stop immediatly. I will never have this thing removed it has completely changed my life. I can ride on an Airplane, tie my shoes easily, Sleep 5 hours and feel great rather than sleep 12 an still fell tired. I can run, lift weights, and dont even get me started on the ladies; didnt have a sex life before the band, i have made up for that. Went from taking, Lexapro,Diovan,Nexium,water pill,Toprol to nothing. Well until recently the xanax and adderall. Had obstructive sleep apnea; dont even own my machine now. If you are considering this procedure do it dont wait like i did just do it. The best 13 grand i have ever spent. If anyone has any advice on my condition let me know. I am not going to take another pill until i get some answers. Thanks to all fellow bandsters.

Jeremy, Alcohol (hard Liquor or beer) alone will erode your esophagus and stomach lining without the lap band.

Having the lap-band only makes it twice as bad because it sits in your pouch before going down. I am a nurse and have seen people who drink 1 beer a day and state they are not alcoholics but it did not keep them from dying from erosion of the esophagus and intestinal bleeding. Please be careful and don't take any chance of harming yourself. You may only be 23 but you do want to live to see 24.

God bless and take care.

jetsy62 · 11-10-2008, 04:42 PM

Please call your doctor immediately. Dont' be afraid to tell the truth. Let him know everything you are putting in your mouth to include the alcohol and pills. You are doing exactly what the doctor told me some people do with this surgery when I went for my psyche eval. You are substituting one overindulgence for another. How you are able to consume that much alcohol with the band I don't know but please call your doctor. I can't even say to stop taking everything because doing that cold turkey may cause you harm. You have done a most wonderful thing for yourself with the weight loss. Now do another wonderful thing and call your doctor. All my best to you. Please keep us updated.

Jeremy · 11-10-2008, 06:19 PM

No i dont have a problem. I dont have ADHD either it just helps me focus and get the job done quicker and more efficient. The xanax simply helps me calm down i can hang all of these up tommorrow no problem. Since one has said that hard alcohol does cause erosion i am concerned. I drink 2 days a week not 7. As for the pills does anyone else out there take adderall or xanax with the band if so did you Surgeon perscribe to meds. Thats what i am asking if my habits effect my surgery/band. I am not concerned with what is the best interest of me. But what is in the BEST interest of my band. My doc knows nothing about my habits if i came down to the fact of dissapointing him. I would rather just kick the habits.

RestlessMonkey · 11-10-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

what is in the BEST interest of my band. My doc knows nothing about my habits if i came down to the fact of dissapointing him. I would rather just kick the habits.

Then do that. "Kick" the habits. Seriously.

L12 · 11-10-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

No i dont have a problem. I dont have ADHD either it just helps me focus and get the job done quicker and more efficient. The xanax simply helps me calm down i can hang all of these up tommorrow no problem. Since one has said that hard alcohol does cause erosion i am concerned. I drink 2 days a week not 7. As for the pills does anyone else out there take adderall or xanax with the band if so did you Surgeon perscribe to meds. Thats what i am asking if my habits effect my surgery/band. I am not concerned with what is the best interest of me. But what is in the BEST interest of my band. My doc knows nothing about my habits if i came down to the fact of dissapointing him. I would rather just kick the habits.

Jeremy:

To be honest, I think most people who read this thread are going to be very concerned if not alarmed by what you are saying. There are a lot of us out here who were pretty wild 23 year olds at one time; denying that you have some major problems just isn't going to fly with most of us, but it's your life. I'm not sure that you will agree with our advice or opinions, but even if you don't at least know that we are hoping for the best for you. I think "Talk to your doctor," "Good luck," or just not replying at all are the most diplomatic things we can do without disagreeing or arguing with you

Good luck--I mean that!

Jeremy · 11-11-2008, 07:32 AM

Thank you all for your advice. Ill kick the pills. But i am talking to my doc about my drinking i wont give it up unless he says it is going to do harm to my band. Thanks all. Happy losing it is a blessing!!!!

lipstix64 · 11-11-2008, 07:47 AM

Sorry to tell you, but YOU DO HAVE AN ADDICTION TO PILLS AND ALCOHOL. I am not judging you, but I fear for you. Your dependence on the alcohol and pills is a serious matter and you are in denial aobut your addiction, and it is just like all of our addictions to food. Its no different. Never mind that this will erode your band; you have much bigger issues that that right now. Please seek help from your doctor and he will be able to help you find a program for these addictions. The first step is to acknowledge that you have a problem. Look how you acknowledged your weight being a problem. Its the same thing. It will take some time and you will do it. Please, you are so young to be going through this and I urge you to find some support through friends and/or family to help you with this struggle. Take care of yourself. Good luck.

lipstix64 · 11-11-2008, 07:53 AM

Why is the alcohol so important to you that you arent willing to give it up? You need to figure out if life is as important to you. The alcohol is consuming you as much as you are consuming IT.

jetsy62 · 11-11-2008, 08:43 AM

Jeremy, I am on Xanax, .25 mg 3 x's a day for anxiety, panic disorder. I was on this before the surgery and my doctor knows this and this dosage was acceptable and he kept me on it. As stated by him, the band causes a lot of changes and he must know everything you are taking in regards to prescribed meds, alchohol, herbs, vitamins, OTC meds, etc. The surgeon put me on two meds, one to prevent gallstones and one to prevent ulcers. The point is that alcohol and meds interact ... and now you have this foreign object in your body and the side effects of it can change your body chemically, the way your absorb nutrients, etc. Just let your surgeon know what you are taking and how often. Good luck Jeremy.

gentylwind · 11-11-2008, 09:45 AM

If you don't have ADHD where are you getting the Adderall? You should not be taking it if you don't have the medical condition requiring it. You do need to own up to your doc. Sounds like you may have traded one addiction for others.

Garth5555 · 11-11-2008, 07:47 PM

Wow...what a post

I'm with the rest of the people and their advice.

Congrats to you on your major weight loss, but seriously dude, talk with the Doc about that alcohol you are consuming. You've come along way with your weight, you don't want to waste it on alcohol.

Like it was mentioned earlier, it definitely looks like you have traded one addiction for another.

Just one side note, people on here are in your corner and wishing the best for you, they are just concerned about you.

Hope all works out for you,

G