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Cool compresses. I would say wipe them off with 90% rubbing alcohol if they are not too tender. And the next time you have a wound- even in the Emergency Department- inform them you have a sensitivity to SuperGlue type suturing. I would almost prefer old-fashioned silk or similar stitching to being so miserably sore and itchy.P.S. Have you told your surgeon's office or even your PCP about this? They may have advice I haven't thought of. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Biotene like others have recommended immediately after surgery. Wouldn't know why it wouldn't work for you also. Worse case scenario, rinse out your mouth with non-alcoholic mouthwash. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Coffee and alcohol , well duh on those 2 but my other without fail, coconut oil. I usually can tell if it is in something even if it's not prominently labeled. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Question; can I document an entire six months as it happens? The only way I can tell the journey is as it happens. How I got here; Hi! My name is Johnnie, and I am morbidly obese, and I am also a food addict. 27-years ago, I was a dope smokin, cigarette puffin. soon to be alcoholic. This is when god sent me one of his purist angels, we will call her Elizabeth. This angel accepted me for who I was, but loved me for who I am. When my destructive lifestyle began to corrupt her, she gave me an ultimatum; lose the pot, or lose me... I cannot have both. 27-years ago I quit the destructive habit of smoking dope. Elizabeth and I were also married. Retaining the other two bad habits of smoking and drinking, I had also started to pack on the pounds. My married weight some 27-years ago fluctuated between 195 to 200 lbs. Over thsee years I tried the Atkins diet, which worked initially, but not before the steadily gaining back the weight. Fast forward to 2002, my weight blew up to 260 pounds. This was also the time my doctor started me on my first of many high blood pressure meds. At this time I also wanted to quit smoking, so my doctor prescribed Welbutrin, and within a month I became a non smoker. This about the time that my drinking got worse, and my weight started to soar again. A brief try at Atkins again proved futile, as my metabolism was not as young as it used to be. At 300 +/- pounds in 2008, I quit drinking and started dieting again; this time it was the 1600 calorie diet with a daily dose of Phentermine. I managed a measly 50lb loss, before reversing direction. I tried Phentermine a couple more times, and even tossed in the 1200 calorie diet. Nevertheless, my weight was now getting out of hand. I have been plagued with plantar faciitus, sore knees, accompanied by a (un-)healthy dose of low self esteem, it became clear, I need help. 2017 arrived, and I decided to change occupations. In April I started a new career as a professional truck driver. I do not need to describe a truckers lifestyle, accept to say, 2017 was not my best year for decision making. July I came off the truck with a kidney stone. It took 2-attempts to get the stone out, but that little bugger came out. Three days after the last kidney stone procedure, was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with multiple pulmonary emboli (blood clots). It was deduced that I got deep vein thrombosis from the truck driver life style, producing the clots that nested in my lungs. Weight in July and August was 298. I should note here, that through all of the years I also suffered from acid reflux, which I treated with baking soda and water. But the acid reflux became severe about 5-years ago, before I managed to get a grip on it. I have been reflux free for the last 4-years. This was about the time I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and put on the CPAP machine. If you skipped ahead in this story, just know that I suffer like so many here, with many of the issues surrounding those two nasty words; Morbid Obesity. Elizabeth, has never left my side, she has been my rock, my angel, my best friend for life, even now more than ever! With my background story out of the way, I can begin my journey now...

Unfortunately, the Smucker's are too steep for my budget. 2TBSP of either of those is 90 calories compared to the 5 calories and once you subtract sugar alcohols, they still have 9 and 10g of carbs. They use cornstarch. So I would not use them when I'm purposely trying to be a miser while I'm in active weight loss. But they're sure better than full sugar once we hit maintenance.

I am going to keep this short (If I can!); I’m English and English people tend to keep things to ourselves with strangers, especially if it is a point of failure so I am nervous about posting this. I had a gastric sleeve on 23rd July 2015, so 2 years and 7 months ago and it has been easy peasy with regards to food. I used to think that I couldn’t really support other people as I never had issues with the operation, or the months that followed nor with the huge weight loss. I felt fantastic, healthy and was going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, swimming a couple or more times a week and walking my lovely Labrador a couple of hours a day. I could walk up steep mountains and still have breath to talk non-stop. Life was great. My second son got married at the end of Feb 2016 and I had a glass of champagne and a couple of small glasses of wine at the reception. The three drinks lasted 9 hours. For the rest of the year the drinks increased. I would have a couple of glasses of wine at the weekends. Then after a rough day at work (I have a very stressful job) I would have maybe one gin and tonic. That became a glass of wine and a gin and tonic and so on. I would have odd weeks where I didn’t drink at all so I never really saw it as an issue. I enjoyed it but did not really crave it. Jump to January 2017 and I had skin surgery. Tummy tuck lower and upper eyelids and a breast reduction and uplift. The first four weeks were perfect and then I started having the wounds split on my tummy and breasts. I was very ill and had to go to the hospital every day to have the wounds redressed and packed (they were black and absolutely stank at this point) initially I had three open wounds and as one started healing another would appear. In all I had 17 wounds along the scars and had to have additional surgery in June to clean 2 of them out and re-stitch them. In 2017 I had a total of 6 months off work because of this and slept in a riser recliner for 4 months. So, I started drinking heavily around May last year (that’s not an excuse its just the reality). I did it in secret, I hid bottles all over the house where I knew my husband or sons wouldn’t go (like the washing machine lol). I hid them in wellington boots, in old handbags, in my laptop workbag, in the garden, the car, behind furniture. I tried a few times to stop but just couldn’t. I spoke to a gentleman on here who had the same issue in the past, he said he had never posted about it because it would just get backlash and I felt the same. I told three close friends, I stopped drinking and lasted 3 weeks then started to drink more than before. I would get alcohol at different shops daily, so they wouldn’t judge me! Once I bought two ltr bottles of gin and the woman behind the counter said, “watch out, you will become an alcoholic with all that”. I nearly burst out crying, I felt so ashamed. It got worse and worse then a lot worse. I was drinking 4 pints of beer and half a ltr of gin a day. I functioned well in my job and no one suspected a thing. Even the friends I had told before didn’t know I was back on the booze. Then one night, I was driving home from work, stopped to buy some gin, and thought I’d get some ready made up ones too which come in cans. I drank 3 whilst I was driving home. That was my wake up call. Im an ex policewoman and have been to many accidents where the drivers have been drunk and I was ashamed of myself. I saw the Doctor the next morning and whilst I was telling him what I had been doing and sobbing my heart out, I had a panic attack and ended up passing out. He was so good with me and signed me off work for a month and referred me to a drink and drug support group. He then put me on a 10 day detox at home where I have to take a ton of tablets. This is my last day. Tomorrow I only have to take 6 tablets a day of one medication and the other one has stopped. I have my first appointment next week with the support group. Once they have seen me I will again change medication and will need to stay on that between 6-12 months. I am so lucky to have had the guts to see the GP and tell him the truth. I feel so embarrassed and ashamed. Throughout all of this I have kept to my eating plan, stuck to drinking 64oz water, and taken all my vitamins. I cant believe that I have had the control over that yet not over the alcohol. On the day I saw the GP my Blood Pressure was 202/147 so I have to go every day and its now normal. I am now 176llb so have put 40llbs on, not through food but through drinking calories. I haven’t read through this after typing it as I might just lose nerve and delete the lot so if it sounds odd or the grammar is poor please excuse that. I am still having withdrawal symptoms (just the tremors) but at least I wake up in the mornings and can remember what I did the night before. I know people here who have a glass of wine every night after work. Some people can, I obviously can’t. Just be careful. Please.

A year ago I would have agreed with this whole heartedly. I hate when people lie about liking foods they don't like...and when they lie about not missing/wanting the foods they were so attached to...they got fat on them. I have always been someone who prefers ugly truths to pretty lies. I love food. Food and I have a deeply intimate attachment. THAT SAID... I've gotta disagree with summerset on this point. I think there are a wide ranges of experiences and I'm absolutely shocked to have had a different experience than what I anticipated. There are a lot of foods I used to use for comfort...that I have turned to for comfort again (yep, I'll admit I have...in carefully measured quantities...I still wanted the stress relief and comfort of eating them on occasion) Something in my physiology has changed. They don't work anymore. And it makes me kinda freaked out. Sometimes I feel like something akin to an alcoholic in a warehouse full of beer. No matter how many bottles I pop open and take a swig....it's not beer anymore.....it all tastes like iced tea...and I don't WANT iced tea. I can take a bite of chicken pot pie, or donut, or BigMac, or chocolate turtle pie....stuff I used to freakin LOVE....and it fails to bring that little release of serotonin like it always has. It fails to caress my insides like love. it doesn't make me feel better. It just goes down empty and makes me feel both stupid (for doing it) and sad (because the sensation is missing...the relief is missing) The up side...is that it's not hard to stop. Who wants more than a bite or two of abject disappointment? I'm running fewer experiments. If a bite of donut doesn't work, a bite a cake isn't likely to, so why bother? I'm not saying I didn't LOVE eating this stuff before...I'm not saying I feel accomplished to have "conquered it"...cause that's not it...I don't feel like that. I'm saying that it kinda scares me and upsets me that it doesn't do much for me anymore. The magic is gone. Something CHANGED. My guts or parts of my brain involved with eating....feel alien. I think there's more than meets the eye...to what happens to people with these procedures. And I think individual experiences vary widely. I never expected to feel like this.

Kudos that people that can truly look at it at as fuel and be okay with it. Like you said in the real world not a lot of us can do that. I can do it while I'm at work. I can eat chicken salad for morning and lunch and not get tired of it. I'm looking at it as fuel at that point. That goes right out the window the second I get home, though. We are wired differently. My wife could be a casual smoker and only have one a day, then go 2 days without one, then have 3-4 if we were out, then none the next day and be fine with that. Me on the other hand....nope. I loved smoking (when I did years ago) and there wasn't much control. There was absolutely no way in hell I could do what she did. That goes for a lot of things in life. I can drink a beer every week or once every two months if I wanted. For somebody that has trouble with alcohol they couldn't do what I do. Yet I can but couldn't do that with smoking. Somebody may go to a casino twice a year for fun. Other's know if they went just once their gambling addiction would come roaring back. Food can have the same power/hold on us as any other addiction. For anyone that scoffs at others for not simply being able to "turn it off" then you don't get what addiction is all about. I do believe that we can all overcome our own addictions but it's easier said than done for many of us.

I have surgery scheduled for March 6th and I have anxiety to but more about the long term changes in lifystle ( concern about overeating a little and then vomiting a lot.. still being able to enjoy wine every now and then just in general all the social stuff that happens that seems to most of the time involve food or alcohol.. I know that is a big part of the reason I am so heavy does anyone know what happens if I postpone do I have to get insurance reapproved Just not sure if I am mentally ready thanks

We don't have any carb limits and are, in fact, encouraged to eat low glycemic carbs very early. One of our first soft foods is mashed potatoes...regular or sweet. We're encouraged to eat 1000-1200 calories a day as soon as we can. (I did at 3 weeks out) We are supposed to get 60+g of protein per day We eat six 200 calorie meals per day. (eventually transition to bigger meals, lighter snacks) We are told to avoid high glycemic carbs, only one caffeinated beverage a day...the rest should be decaf. No NSAIDS. Alcohol and carbonated beverages are both treated as something you can have once in a blue moon, but should not be part of your regular diet because they have poor nutritional value and high empty calories. Empty calorie items....sugary foods, added sugar, alcohol, soda...should be consumed at no more than 75 calories total per day....and should be avoided altogether if possible. We eat low glycemic bread (sourdough, pumpernickel, whole wheat), lower glycemic brown rice, and protein pasta. We eat fruit early and regularly. Veggies and fiber are encouraged. We're cleared for almost all foods at about 6 weeks. We take a multi vitamin, B12, B Complex, and Calcium

These are my surgeons directions exactly, with the exception of the alcohol. 1 year no alcohol for me. Sent from my LG-LS997 using BariatricPal mobile app

Day 5 Post Op - 224.4lbs Ok, so upfront let me just admit that the scale drives me bonkers and that it's a short trip. I know intellectually that I should not be weighing right now. I get it. LOL. But, as Hal said in 2001 Space Odyssey, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that." *snort* I also want to say that I fully recognize I am the scale's little bi*ch. I was so good yesterday. I did add in the Celebrate Vitamin Drink Stix and calcium chewy bites. But fu*k me! There's a ton of carbs in them! I'm not real good with sugar alcohols like sorbitol and maltitol (they spike my blood sugar) and they are choc-full of them. So I'm going to go in search of new vitamins this morning. And I'm clueless. In my mind, I should be down to pre-surgery weight at the very minimum at 5days post surgery. I'm walking, getting plenty of water in, and taking my vitamins. I'm also getting in around 72g of protein daily, and between 20-25g of carbs daily. So why am I up 0.2lbs this morning? Oh, and I had a poopy too...so I don't think it's that I'm full of poop any longer! I'm eating about 400cals per day! How can ANYONE not lose weight on that amount? Now, I know weight loss isn't linear. I know I have a lot of inflammation left from the surgery and that I'm still doing a lot of healing. Blah blah blah...but it still boils down to the irrational fear that I mutilated my digestive track for nada. No bueno por nada! LOL, please forgive this little rant. I feel like I had one due to me, because I feel like I've been a pretty model citizen through the pre-op liquid stage to the post op liquid stage. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Fu*k you scale!!!! In other news, the pain is level is very, very low. I didn't even take my pain pills this morning. Will go take my gabapentin now though cuz I committed to taking it for a month. So at least that's good. I ran a 100 degree fever last night, but it's back to being normal. As I understand it's pretty common post surgery to run low grade fevers for a while. Ok, feel free to jump in and talk me off the ledge and cheerlead!

My surgery instructions are over three years. I'm sure things have changed. no straws drink 30 mins before and after you eat. 60 to 100 grams protein no alcohol until 6 months no sugar low fat No bread pasta rice until I lost 75% of my weight. Healthy carbs were added to slow/stop my weight for maintaining. I'm glad to see instructions change and evolve with time.

-No carbs whatsoever until we're in maintenance (I've mainly followed, although I'm not sure about staying into ketoacidosis so long.) -No alcohol until at least 6 months and make sure you're at home the first time. -Limit caffeine -Atleast 30 minutes of exercise a day. Try for an hour. (I have no problem getting this in.) -No fruit until 6 months out because we don't eat much they don't want us filling up on the fruit and its sugars. I've mainly stuck to these rules although I don't agree with all of them.

No caffeine for 3-4 weeks, no alcohol for 1 year, no bread/rice/pasta for at least 3 months. Goal is 60 grams of protein per day and 64 ounces of water. I’ve avoided all the things I was told not to have. Working up to my fluid and protein goals—-39 Days post op.

Aw come on Pride of the Badgers, you know better than this. It is no longer your job to eat food just so it doesn't get away from you. You are not the world's trashcan, that was one of my failings, I'm a mommy, rather than refrigerating the end of the cassarole after casserole, i ate it. Now I have a rump that won't fit through the rabbit hole, shoot it barely fits through a metal drainpipe. I wouldn't say it's head hunger you aren't even using your head to think. You are suffering from terminal boredom and unconscious engorgement. You are abusing your new tool, it's like putting it in a vise grip and pounding it with a sledge hammer. You know you know better, there isn't anyone stuffing things in your crumb cruncher but you. Put the Reese cups down, no not down your throat, child. If you were in Texas Fluffy Chix would administer a b***h slapping and I might just let her.Now up off of your rump, drink some Water or chrystal lite, you are a foodaholic and just like an alcoholic trying to reform you need to stay on that wagon, even if it's an uncomfortable haywagon.Yeah food is all around you, it's trying to seduce you back into its clutches. I live 30 miles from Dublin Ohio, the home of Wendy's. You think I don't have a barrage of commercials headed my way? Buck up Buckaroo, don't sit and feel sorry for yourself, yeah you made a mistake, wonder you didn't get sick, but you can And should vow to nor do it again. Think you want a fry? A moment on the lips, forever on your hips. Think how greasy slimy cold frenchfry grease is.Get up and clean but do some knee bends, March in place, sing Go you chicken Fat Go. You can do it, take some of that resolve that got you past your surgery, nothing to it but to do it. You're having a pity party and catering it yourself. Besides I'm wise but I haven't had my surgery yet, you've got to get mentally stable so you can mentor me! Your Buckeye friend ME Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

No alcohol,no smoking, actually alot of restrictions and I've followed them to the almost t Sent from my SM-G935T using BariatricPal mobile app

I have talked to many people frlom different parts of the country who have had different "rules" after surgery. Some said no alcohol, some said no caffiene, etc. What rules did you get? Have you followed them?

So, just be careful. Most if not all surgeons/NUTs advise to not drink. Why? Because it is very common for people to replace eating issues with alcohol and the statistics are very high that many people who have had the surgery become alcoholics. Not everyone but it is a huge risk. And to start drinking alcohol that soon after surgery seems like a huge red flag to me. As someone has said, carbonated drinks of any sort, including beer, are not advised and can be really tough. I had been told no juice, no carbonated beverages - ever. Not just at the beginning. And to avoid alcohol, especially at the beginning. I do have wine now and sometimes a small glass of bourbon but the sugars in them are a lot as well. I would advise you to ask your surgeon and nutritionist what they think/recommend. That would be the best option.

I appreciate your concern but I’ve actually be doing really well food wise and am just trying to make wise decisions for Memorial Day Weekend and such. I already gave up alcohol for lent just to tack on another reason why I can’t drink it lol!! Right now all I drink is water with the occasional diet snapple. If you have any preferred drinks please share!!

Nobody should prefer Michelob Ultra. Beer can be difficult to drink but all depends on the person. Hard alcohol is obviously easier to drink if you mix it with something. Yes, it will hit you hard and fast even if you were a seasoned drinker prior to surgery. All that being said if you're only 6 weeks out from surgery as your signature indicates that's reeeeeeeeeally way to early to be considering having a drink. Won't lecture you but it's a slippery slope. If you're willing to go off plan already then you could be setting yourself up for failures. You've been given a chance to have a fresh start. I'd kill to go back to being 21 and having this surgery done way back when. Make the best of it.

Hi Everyone! Does anyone have any alcohol suggestions that are the best option for my situation? I know your tolerance is basically gone post op but I just turned 21 years old so alcohol free is a little harder than anticipated. I do not like michelob ultra (My mom was sleeved 6 years ago and this is her drink of choice). Please drop suggestions!! HW 240 SW 232 CW 203 (6Weeks out)

So, I had my 6 week check in today and all is well. Weight loss is on track...27 lbs down. I do need to increase my calories. I've been around a thousand and the doctor and dietician would like to see me at 1200-1500, particularly before I start going to the gym. While I was there, I asked how long I needed to wait before I could have a glass of wine. I expected to hear 6 months to a year based on what others have posted. I was surprised when the dietician said that I could have started a couple weeks ago! Of course they gave the usual caveats...empty calories and take it slow to see how I react. Just thought I'd share since I know that question comes up a lot

Two weeks should be fine. I also have a desk job, and realistically could have returned to work after a week. I was tired for a few days after surgery, but that went away at around day four. At six months out, I can eat anything that I want. I try to eat clean for the most part, but do have "bad for you" foods on occasion. I had a few alcoholic drinks at 4 1/2 months out (New Years Eve). I was fine, and didn't overdo it. I haven't had drinks since, because I just haven't felt like it. I did make myself throw up once a few months ago. I normally weigh and measure my food, and on that particular occasion, I was out to eat with friends. I either overate, or ate too fast (or a combination of the two). Long story short, I ended up vomiting. I was really pissed at myself, because I tried hard to keep this from happening. Since then, I have practiced asking for a to-go box when my food arrives. I then pack away everything except for what looks like a handful. I eat that, and take the rest home. It is all trial and error, and you learn from your mistakes.

Thank you Hope4mom! I'm feeling good - getting a lot of comments when people see me - and am fitting into my "skinny jeans" if ya know what I mean? I have not done any clothing shopping but I may give it a shot tomorrow. I've been eating regular food for over two months now - I think in the 7th week is when I started eating pretty normally. I just eat less of it, and I keep it really simple. I weigh everything. No white carbs, rice, bread, potatoes etc. I did start adding brown rice and some brown rice cakes to the mix a few weeks ago and all seems good. The only thing I haven't added back in is alcohol. I'm not much of a drinker and don't miss it, so why add the extra calories I say.