MyTimeToLose

Does anyone know how long the effects of alcohol stay in your blood stream after gastric bypass? I can't remember and I am going out for an after work drink next week with some co-workers and wondering how long I should wait to drive. I know that normally it is a drink an hour, but not sure if that is the same after surgery. I am 8.5 months out and will probably drink a glass of wine which I have tried and can tolerate fine.

I am going to answer my own question.....I found a medical study that was done and they drank 5oz of wine and on average it took 108 minutes for the alcohol to leave the blood stream, but it also said it really matters if you are drinking on an empty stomach and within the 1st year after surgery which both can mean it will take even longer to leave your blood stream. The 108 minute average was based on both male and female who were over a year postop. It can also greatly affect your blood sugars if you are not used to it or drink a lot. After reading the article I have decided that since I do not have a ride, I am not going to risk it and I will just order something without alcohol and enjoy the conversation instead

My doctor told me 6 months. I had my first drink at 7 months, a beer, and it was ok, the carbonation of it made me feel a little bloated, but I could drink it, just took a while. Now at 8.5 months out I drink the occasional glass of wine and I am fine, I do feel drunk very fast, usually 1/2 a glass and it hits me, lasts a little bit and goes away....Be very careful since even though it wears off and you feel fine, your blood still has alcohol in it and you can easily get a DWI when you feel fine. I went to a party about 5 weeks ago celebrating a friends engagment and I drank, probably the most I have since surgery and I did fine, but planned a ride home. I had about 4 drinks the whole night. Just remember people get addicted very easy after surgery, so don't make it a habit! I would go off what your doctor tells you and follow that advice. I hope you are doing well!

That is tough since you never know how long you have with them. I don't want to say deal with it, since that can personally make you unhappy. Any chance you can sit down and talk with them and straighten things out? I am sure they are used to you being overweight and by the sounds of it, you didn't stand up in the past, so they are relating the current issues with your new weight. It is tough since I don't like to hear families split apart, but I have had issues with my siblings in the past too. I would try to sit down and talk to them if possible.

I have gotten a lot of comments too and it sucks. I ignore them, but if it really bothers you I would just tell her, lets stop talking about me, I am happy. How about you? How are you feeling? OK, maybe not, but honestly I would just say, I am healthy and I don't need to be reminded all the time by you. My doctor said I am at a very healthy weight.

I agree with the post above, average is around 10 to 20 pounds.

I am a daily weigher, lol. So I was 237 yesterday thinking how nice it will be to be in my 220's soon. Well I woke up this morning and weighed myself as usual and it said 231! Is this for real? I decided to walk around, come back and weigh again, lol. Just to make sure. How is that possible, 6 pounds in a day. Must have been water or something, lol. So excited! Now only 2 pounds and I will be in the 220's! I can't believe it is coming off so fast and I am not excerising that much yet.

So I drank my first caffeinated coffee today (small, non fat, no whip Mocha) and well, after only drinking about 6-7 ounces, it acted like an enema! Sorry TMI. Anyone else experience this? I didn’t get any of the dumping syndrome feelings from it ( no aches, cramps, headache, sick all over, hot feelings), just had to go, one time and I am fine. Strange! I am definitely awake though, lol, so the caffeine really worked! I also found that it makes you not hungry since I forgot to eat lunch today after I drank it. Whoops. Not a good thing when I barely make 700 calories a day when I eat all my meals. So now I am down on Protein for the day, so I have to get a shake in too, yuck, lol. Not sure it was worth it, but I am happy I am awake. Just a warning for those who try it once they bring back a “normal” food diet….don’t plan to do it out in public in case you have to run, lol. On a good note, my weight stall is no longer and I am almost in the 230’s, only 1 more pound! So 29 pounds in 6 weeks (269 day of surgery) I am soooo excited. I saw some people I haven’t seen in over 3 months and they didn’t even recognize me! It was such a great feeling. One even said….wow you look sexy (in jeans and a tighter t-shirt). I haven’t thought of myself that way in a long time!

Those are the usually dumping symptoms I get. Are you not tolerating something? Maybe dairy or too much sugar? Or do you get those feelings after every meal. I don't get those symptoms for eating too much, I get more of a chest pain when I eat to much and feel like vommiting. The symptoms above I get more because of the food I had eaten. I would try to pin point what it is that is giving you those symptoms? Usually for me it is sugar, but I also get sick on milk (but not cheese), and some protein shakes, on tuna and really bad on peanut butter.

I haven't heard that before. I would call so they are aware. Any blood with your stool or pain? I am sure it is all fine, but I would call just to make sure since you never know what they would say. And they can also note it in your chart. I am sure they have heard it before.

I am 6 weeks out and lost 30 pounds from my surgery date (was 269 day of surgery), so I average 5 pounds a week, Well technically I lost a bunch the first 2 weeks and then about 2-3 pounds since then. I lost my weight everywhere from my fingers to my butt to my boobs, lol. Is it an A line dress? If so I would do 1 size down from your current bust at ordering and then have them take it in. You usually don't drop over 2 sizes your first month, but depends on where your weight is lost. In the past, where do you lose it the most? Then go from there. It is easy to take in, but hard to let out a dress. So in 1 size, means you could lose 3 sizes the first month and the dress would look good still. That is what I would do.

Remember that if you are a size 20 now, that usually means a 22 formal dress size. I have the same issue right now, but the wedding is in fall, so I will almost be a year out. Is it an A-line dress? If so, I would take your bust/chest measurement and go from that. My guess would be you would want to order around a 16, so size 14 regular clothing. But I would start by having them take your current measurements and then drop 2 sizes,. You can let out a dress only 1 size usually, but can take in 2-3 and it will usually look fine. So I would be safe and drop it 2 sizes from your current, measuring from your chest measurement. I am buying 2 dresses, but they are only $121 each, so I am buying one that is 1 size smaller 16 weeks prior to the wedding and 1 dress that is 4 sizes smaller. But if your dress is $200, I wouldnt want to order two,

Today I struggle some since I felt hungry most of the day, which is not the norm, I usually have to remind myself to eat. I ate my 3 meals, but then for a snack I had 3 small pretzels and 1 hershey kiss which I craved, I know bad. My stomach tolerated them, but they are not "good" for me. The hershey kiss tasted different than I remember them tasting, not as good, so strange. I am sure if I had 2 or more I would have gotten sick though. But overall not a bad day, I actually was a lot more thirsty after the pretzels, so I drank 1 extra bottle of water than I normally did and then a big BM, yes, sorry tmi, but the water must have did it. I also tried artifical crab meat today, I really liked it, protein is good, I just wish their wasn't so much sodium in them. So excited to be on regular foods now, but I am finding myself still going back to previous favorites...greek yogurt, chili, refried beans and cheese, and eggs.

So no weight loss in a few days now, bummed! I think I need to up my excerise maybe? The day of surgery I was 269, so I have lost a good 22 pounds, but I am 5.5 weeks now, I just want it all off, lol. I am excited to start regular foods on Monday! Not sure what I will eat, lol. Maybe something crunchy that has some protein. I miss the crunch...Any ideas?

Hi Gen, I am thinking/praying for you during this difficult time. I am happy they found it early and I know you will be fine. You are a very strong woman! Keep working on yourself and forget about the people who don't matter anymore! You will find someone new who loves you forever.

I had this as well and my post op the doctor clipped it so it didnt stick out, it didnt hurt.

Thinking of you today. I hope your appointment goes well