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I've taught psychopathology for over 25 years and I don't believe that article suffers from selection bias or that the results could be applied to the general population at all. There is a far greater incidence of PDs in patients with morbid and super obesity than in the general population. Furthermore, NurseGrace, I am not here as a staff member or the forum psychologist. Given what's transpired on this thread, that article is entirely apropos and informs a great deal of what the OP complained about. The sharing of that article was not a bastardization of anything despite the fact that my motivation in doing so was obviously over- and multi-determined! As for your earlier idea about labeling members by their orientation to abstinence vs. moderation, i.e., "different ideas about how closely we follow the guidelines," the only long-term guidelines I received from my surgeon were: 1) no carbonated beverages ever and; 2) no alcohol for at least one year. For the record, I plan to follow both those guidelines religiously. So, please, put me down as "by the book!"

A few times a month I will have a glass of wine or part of a light beer. Alcohol hits me hard and therefore I don;t have much. With wine I can drink a glass over a period of time, beer I don;t even drink a full glass before I fill full.

I apparently missed something. It is a loss when someone feels they can't share their perspectives...but something to consider -there are lots of us that are experts on "one persons WLS". I drink and am maintaining and have been for some years. Would it be better if I gave up alcohol coffee and British comedies? Probably. Anyway consider if the intolerance isn't a bit 2-way.

I think you really need to stop and think about your actual thinking here. :scalesno: Seriously, the whole idea behind the band is so that we can be like normal people and eat like normal people. With the band, for the most part, you can still eat all the regular foods you would normally eat anyway, right? So doing an unfill would serve what purpose? Allow you to eat like a cow again? I mean, that is what we do without a band, right? Isn't it a bit like suggesting an alcoholic drink since they are on vacation? The only value is so that you can eat mega portions. We are trying to get OUT of that mindset, not find excuses to go back to that way of thinking. We are trying to be normal again when it comes to food issues, not find reasons to go backwards.

A lot of the "rules" have to do with certain foods that are a) really unhealthy or b)can be trigger foods for other bad eating habits. Realistically, there isn't really a lot of foods that you "can't" eat. Carbonation can make you uncomfortable, high fat food and high sugar foods might make you nauseous. Alcohol and coffee are typically not great on a perfectly intact stomach, so a surgically modified stomach has more chances for additional problems, plus all the empty calories. All these things do not happen to everyone and a lot of these so called rules apply to those that had bypass surgery and may not necessarily lend themselves to the sleeve surgery. I really don't have a problem eating or drinking anything. However, I have made a commitment to be as healthy as possible, using the surgery as a tool to restrict my caloric intake. I might have a different mindset than a lot of people that feel that eliminating certain foods or drink, is denying things in their life that they must have. You are going to get a lot of answers to this question, just like you will get a lot of answers about diet, exercise, activities post op etc. Every Dr. seems to follow a different playbook. Really there seems to be no real fast rules to anything post op. My suggestion is to follow faithfully what you Dr and nutritionist plan out for you. That way you have the proper support system in place and they can answer your questions in a way that makes the best sense for you particular situation.

@@LipstickLady This line made me snort. "Plain Water makes me nauseated so I get most of my fluids in via coffee, diet soda and liquor (KIDDING!!)." I drink diet soda. I don't smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or do drugs but lordy, I just want a diet soda. It brightens my day. I agree with LipstickLady, I can't drink anything for close to an hour after eating or I'll get sick. I've taken that one bite too many a few times (I'm still learning) and it's incredibly painful. I've never felt that discomfort from drinking soda or I certainly would never drink it. My physician's main issue with soda is the caffeine (slight risk of ulcers), drinking full calorie and not losing weight, or the bubbles causing uncomfortable burping. I drink caffeine-free diet and the carbonation doesn't cause me discomfort. I do find it interesting that the topic of whether to drink soda or not creates some strong opinions. I admit I'm a little jelly of all those that have been tough enough to give it up. At the end of the day, I don't think it's just one thing that will cause us to fail. It's a series of things. Not exercising, grazing and quite possibly, drinking soda.

I do not drink at home after a stressful day when I am alone (that's when I ate too) It stared for me with my pain meds (refilled twice after surgery) I found I was taking them at night to relax. So I stopped quickly! I've never had a drug or alcohol problem so it surprised me at bit. I will have 1 glass of wine or cocktail if I go out to a social function only, and that's not very often. It's a good thing that you are noticing it now and are looking for a way to deal with it.

Well I'm hoping you are correct because it removes a worry from my mind. I don't know anyone personally who has been sleeved, only banded, and they ate more and more till now they have gained back 75% of what they lost. I worry my stomach will grow, but if it doesn't then it would be difficult for me to put on much weight since most of ,y cravings are for healthy is foods anyway. I think there are many doctors who tell their patients white lies or worst case scenarios because they don't trust their patients to use common sense. It makes trusting their words on when to exercise, eat certain foods, drink alcohol, take NSAIDs and all sorts of other things difficult to discern. For example my surgeon told me I could exercise as much as I wanted from day one as long as I can handle the pain. I asked why other doctors say none for two or four weeks, or limit types of exercise for months. He said that a lot of surgeons don't like to deal with patients complaining and not understanding the differences between pain resulting from exercise and more dangerous pains that need to be attended to, so the easiest thing for them to do to reduce complaints and worries, is to just tell patients not to exercise till the surgical pains are gone. Anyway, it was my RN, not my surgeon who told me about carbonation and stomach stretching, and I don't really like her at all. I like and really respect my surgeon, so I'll ask him directly next time I see him.

After the first 6 months there really wasn't anything I couldn't tolerate. Rice was probably the last hold out. but I'm fine with it now. After the first couple of months I ate bread in small quantities, Pasta, desert, whatever I wanted really, just only a little bit. I do tend to stick to the separate food and liquid rules. I'm just more comfortable when I do. For me hunger returned at about 5 months, but the pull was not the same. Many mistake acid for hunger early on. I took 40mg of omeprazole 2x day from the beginning and never had that problem. I still like (and eat) everything I liked before. I just can't binge anymore. Today, my lifestyle is different, but maintenance is very doable. I start my day with a 45 minute bike ride, some strength training and Protein latte. The rest of the day I eat what I like in small quantities, typically protein first. I have a drink with my friends a couple times per week. I record weight weekly and if my weight creeps up I log food and give up most treats\alcohol until it comes back down. I live withing the same 5 pound zone most of the time. This feels very "normal" now. I don't know anything about sleeve inversion. Did fine with my standard sleeve with hernia repair. It'll be 2 years in October. Feeling great!

I told my family. Most of my family is overweight and has diabetes. I told them to tell them they have a choice to make their lives healthier. They all told me how much better and healthier I look. They really don't want to make the change and give up their love for food and alcohol. That is their choice. I have done this for me. I want to live a healthier lifestyle to me a role model for my two children. My daughter is 26 and my son is 20. They are so very proud of me. I guess it depends. I have always had a huge family and we have always gotten along well and loved each other. I thank god for my moms support as well. I just wish my dad would get the surgery. But he won't make the lifestyle change. I am so glad I have made that change.

Yeah, I'm in several community groups and social clubs whose night/evening meetings are at hotels (as in bars) and bistros/cafes. People are going to wonder, indeed, when I don't order food or alcohol or soft-drinks in future.

they wouldn't send me home with a precription for the dex, so I'm still in the "test" phase. I can only hope they got the numbers that I need. Yesterday I had another one of those frantic freaker/tweeker episodes. Heh, I'm sure I'd be arrested for being intoxicated in public! I ended up walking in a circle in my kitchen for over an hour... When my brain started to work again, I taught my spud boy how to make a drink for me. He's not wild about giving me booze, but alcohol and cortisol "eat" each other, so I can only hope that one or more stiff drinks will bring me out of it. I'm so tired of this. I went to bed lastnight at about 3 am, was wired until about 4:30, up again at 6am and then at 8 am again. I am pretty sure this UFC will be really high, but I don't "need" any more high UFCs.... And I'm rambling again.

OMG--I can't friggin' breathe! Gasp! This thread is too funny! I remember reading the post about the alcohol. I didn't get it then and I still don't get it now! Yikes! I've been passing some of the posts by as well. I get a sharp pain in the center of my head sometimes after I read them. I'm pretty sure the sharp pain isn't caused by my band...do you think I need to see my doctor? LOL

i'm 2 weeks out from surgery... i really really want a drink... how long did everyone wait til they started drinking again?

Only last night i had a couple glasses of wine and a glass of vodka also with orange juice . first alcoholic drink sine op , I was fine , went down ok , didnt feel the need for any more ... note the 3 drinks were consumed over a period of 5 hours . My surgeon said fine as long as in moderation and again the empty calorie scenario .. ie calories in , but nothing much else from the alchohol. That had been my first drink in 6 weeks , which is good for me as I do like a drink also , but thats the old me and now I am just going to treat myself once a month , to a couple of drinks whilst out after having dinner with my wife. Again as recommended discuss with your surgeon , everyone different and everyones surgeon give different advice based on what info they have etc tc best of luck :wub:

Early on in this thread I did empathise. However after now reading all the posts which I must say do come from a very narrow minded point of view I've seriously had my eyes opened. Seriously folks if you are planning bariatric surgery please don't pay heed to this viciously over exaggerated and very negative thread. I'm now five weeks in and although it can be a struggle at times, it's really life changing worth every once of hard work needed to gain success. Like this lady pre-op I suffered from many of the same illnesses fibromyalgia, crippling Arthritis, irritable bowel, lumber spondylosis, just to name a few. I took a large cocktail of drugs that the side effects from made me very ill and yes I was one was lyrica too. I was virtually housebound for a year. Since Xmas I've lost 3 stone. One and a half stone lost since the op Only five weeks ago. I no longer take any medication apart from paracetamols and lansoprazole which protects our stomach while it's healing. I no longer need crutches and am vitally pain free. I live in the UK and did extensive research on bariatric surgery prior to my op . I know the NHS offer an amazing comprehensive service for those lucky enough to live in a district that can fund bariatric surgery free in the UK. You get free pre counselling Good free pre op care Good post op care including medication and follow up diet all prescribed free. Free follow up appointments with your bariatric surgeon. A free post op support group And free care from a doctor if you need it. If you live in the right district her in the UK the Gastric Sleeve operation on the NHS will cost you nothing. I know people here on the UK who would jump at the chance to have this life saving and changing operation but their district has not got the funds to offer it. I hasten to add I could have gone through the NHS but chose to pay nearly £10000 for my op because I could afford it, I got the op performed within four weeks privately my decision because health was so bad and I was virtually housebound. I don't regret it at all. I now have use of private telephone support. But I also have access to a regular NHS support group where I meet people who support each other. ...................... I've just read about not knowing about the effects of bariatric surgery. This is impossible ! Everyone has a consultation with your surgeon before making the decision to have the operation . Everyone has a pre op consultation with a team of nurses. Before surgery everyone meets with their surgeon and anaesthetic consultant. Everyone has to read and sign a pre-op agreement outlining exactly what could go wrong during and after their operation. The surgeons have to be so careful. They need to know you understand all the risks. From all the frequent posts above full of drama you would think the care here on our NHS is non existent. This is not true! What worries me and many other people is a narrow minded point of view we are reading can scare monger and ruin other people's chances. I also find it extremely disturbing to read there was no understanding to what the operation entailed or what would be happening after the op. However someones pointed out a membership on this forum of ten years prior to surgery. A ten years membership here would make an expert of anyone! ...................... I've now read of another side effect from the operation is Clostridium difficile. This can be carried in the body and could be caught after any operation. Unfortunately it had to be another drama and turn into a further more serious complication. I've just read the support for this condition is also poor with no proper treatment and no doctor support. The NHS in the UK take this infection very seriously. Granted there is a massive shortage of doctors in the UK it can regularly take weeks to see one . However you can get phone call appointment and readily get nurse appointments. Also emergency appointments instantly if deemed necessary. I can't believe I've just read that while so critically ill with gastric sleeve problems and CDiff a house move have been planned actioned and is taking place... If things were so bad this would be Impossible! A house moved is deemed as one of the most stressful events we can have in our life. This can also effect our digestion and bowels. Let's look at... Clostridium difficile: What is the treatment for Clostridium difficile infection? The decision to treat C. difficile infection and on the type of treatment depends on the severity of the illness. No treatment is needed if you have no symptoms but are known to carry the germs (bacteria) in your gut. However, if symptoms develop, some of the treatments below may be needed. If you are not already in hospital, people who have mild infection can often be treated at home. However, if the infection is more severe, you will usually be admitted to hospital so that you can be treated and closely monitored. ...................... Pseudomembranous colitis signs and symptoms: Diarrhea that can be watery or even bloody. Abdominal cramps, pain or tenderness. Fever. Pus or mucus in your stool. Nausea. Dehydration. Pseudomembranous colitis self-management: To cope with the diarrhea and dehydration that can occur with pseudomembranous colitis, try to: Drink plenty of fluids. Water is best, but fluids with added sodium and potassium (electrolytes) also may be beneficial. Avoid beverages that are high in sugar or contain alcohol or caffeine, such as coffee, tea and colas, which can aggravate your symptoms. Choose soft, easy-to-digest foods. These include applesauce, bananas and rice. Avoid high-fiber foods, such as beans, nuts and vegetables. If you feel your symptoms are improving, slowly add high-fiber foods back to your diet. Eat several small meals, rather than a few large meals. Space the smaller meals throughout the day. Avoid irritating foods. Stay away from spicy, fatty or fried foods, and any other foods that cause you problems. ...................... If suffering this illness, it seems having the gastric sleeve which limits the intake of all the irritating types of foods that can make the current problem worse is really a very good thing! That is if following a gastric sleeve diet properly. That means reading all the paperwork and diet advice everyone undertaking this operation is given prior to leaving hospital. The gastric sleeve operation will help anyone recover faster. Doctors medication advice. Sensible foods, lots of liquids and don't forget your soluble or liquid vitamins ... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I would go by what your physician/nutritionist tell you. As with many other aspects, presumably guidance will vary. In my case, I was told no alcohol for 1 year following surgery. Also, if you have lost a lot of weight, and due to the changes in your system, inebriation may hit you much faster and more severely than prior to surgery. Carbonation is a lifetime no-no. I think I've had 2 partial cups of soda in 8 months. I wouldn't have believed it prior to surgery, but I don't miss soda. I now drink unsweet/diet tea and zero-sugar vitamin waters instead. One thing that I have found incredibly difficult is locating low-calorie noncarbonated energy drinks. They just don't exist. EVERYTHING in the energy drink space is carbonated. Rockstar Recovery Lemonade was a Godsend and I was ordering 3 cases every 2 months... until 2 months ago when Pepsi changed the formula and made it carbonated. Bastards.

** Mandatory Disclaimer: This is my experience and I neither recommend nor advise against drinking to anyone who chooses to read this. The choice to drink or not to drink is yours, and yours alone, and any consequences or benefits you encounter are also yours and yours alone. ** So pre-wls I drank, and post-wls I still do. I was never (nor am I now) a drinker because I needed something to help me unwind or relax or take my mind off things. I drink because I'm having a dinner that calls for it, or I'm with friends/family and a good time is being had (or about to be had, lol). I guess I'm more of a binge drinker...? Had my first drink (1/4 of a glass of red wine) at around 4-5 weeks. The past couple weeks aside (as I'm consciously laying off the alcohol for a couple more weeks as a PPI-wean-off experiment), and not counting alcohol-laden vacations, I probably have 1 day every couple of weeks where I'll drink maybe 5-6-7 drinks over the course of the evening. And maybe 1/2 a glass of wine with dinner one or 2 days a week. My choice of liquor though is a lot lower sugar than it used to be. The dryest of red wines, vodka sodas, skinny mojitos, straight tequila. Once in a while I'll drink a sugar-laden something or other, but the sugar doesn't sit well with me, so I need to be mindful of that. In terms of volume, I drank waaaaaay more pre-wls. This is likely because I get pretty drunk pretty fast now. I do however, sober up really quickly. Which I think is pretty awesome. For those who have previously experienced the need for assistance in walking out of establishments after a night out, you can vouch for this as an honest-to-goodness super-power. With that said, so long as I feel like my drinking (or any habit, really) is not negatively impacting my physical or mental health, my relationships, work, financial state, or any other important aspect in my life, then its all good. Each one of us should strive to know ourselves and acknowledge what we are capable and not capable of. It would be good to learn our limits so we can stay within them. P.S. I recently admitted that I went beyond a personal-vice limit myself (smoking), and am addressing that issue now. Work in progress... ** Read Mandatory Disclaimer Above **

On the 10th of July I will be 1 month post op, and I feel great, I had BBQ for the first time yesterday, steak, shrimp, sausage, the cool part is I ate 2 bites of the sausage, 2 of the 3 med Shrimp, and 3 oz if the steak, and I was full!!!!!!!, this is an awesome change for me and I utilize the sleeve with what I've learned, a typical Sunday breakfast would have been 2 eggs, 6 pieces of bacon and 8 tortillas, today it was 1 egg, half a sausage, and 1 slice of 7 grain bread, and I left 1/4 piece of the bread and 1/2 a sausage, and I always remove the plate and yell I'm done just to re-affirm it to myself, I actually find it harder with drinks, I'm craving things like Energy drinks, my coffee, and yesterday I wanted a beer so bad( I always limited myself to 1 or 2 after college), I'm still researching the alcohol thing, too many varying opinions, even a couple of theories that some wine is good for you after gastric! We will see

What is anaphylaxis? My sister had gastric bypass 10 years ago and became a raging alcoholic and chain smoker. I don't even know how she's still alive, she doesn't eat she just eats gummy bears and drinks and smokes. I've put her in rehab 5 times but she always fails and she hardly drank before surgery.

My experience, and this is mines and no one else so, take this information at your own risk. First time I had a drink of alcohol was literally 10 days post surgery. It was new years eve and I had like two sips of super cheap champagne and I was very tipsy right away. I didn't have another drink of alcohol of any kind until a good year after that event. What I have noticed that with drinking is that it does depend on the drink that I am consuming and I can go from tipsy, to buzzed very quickly depending on the drink and strength of said drink. Shots (tequila, rum, and whiskey) are indeed one shot and done sort of drinks for me now. If I go beyond one of those, which I think the most I have had so far almost two years out of surgery was 3 shots in one evening within a 15 minute span of consuming all three shots, and I was very buzzed (lightly drunk). It took about an half and hour to an hours for that buzz to go away where I could feel "normal" again. What I have learned is that if I pace myself, usually only stick to one or two drinks max (on the hard stuff listed above), and sip them very slowly and moderately, that I can be alright. But again a mixed drink will now last me damn near an entire night vs pre surgery I could have K.O'ed quite a few of them before even feeling remotely buzzed let alone intoxicated. I personally don't like the get buzzed "high" quick feeling that drinking gives me especially if I am out at like a bar/public environment vs at home or at a trusted friends home. When I am out, I will stick to drinks like hard ciders or dare I say a Mike's Hard Lemonades sort of drink. Beer I really don't drink much of anymore and when I do its usually a stout and again only 1 now. Stouts tend to be heavier beers than your light lagers, and with more yeast and hops makes for a more fuller tummy experience. Wine, I just had recently for the first time in years, it was a dry red wine and it did have a bit of the buzzy feeling to it but it was like 4oz and it took me a good 30 minutes to consume it. Tequila, especially patron, 1 and done. I know if I go beyond that then I'll be in some troubles. Now I will be two years post op this Dec, and I can say that in the time post surgery I can still say that I have had less than 10 drinks in that time frame. I know how drinking for some of us can be a slippery slop to leading towards unwanted addictions and coping mechanisms. I get that, and I think its why I choose to wait so long to attempt to drink anything post surgery, especially after the NYE thing. But it is something that I have learned to enjoy, just on very special occasions and in the right situations.

I was doing the same thing in reverse just days ago. i.e. What would I (a morbidly obese 61 year old male Australian) say to my 15 year old (or 18 year old) self given temporary use of a time machine? My four top answers would be: 1. Don't eat factory-generated breakfast cereals or any added sugars or sweeteners. 2. Moderate portion sizes are best and "seconds" should be a rare thing NOT your normal thing. 3. Soft drinks or carbonated drinks are unnecessary ... including all diet varieties. 4. Alcohol, especially beer, does not have to be central to social life or "winding down". - - - While I cannot guarantee that these four pillars will stop my adult overweight, I'm sure that I would not have reached 191.8kg (423 pounds OR 30.25 stones). Five of my grandchildren had a dad that was 208kg (458 pounds) in January 2015 and is now 99kg (218 pounds) today following diet shakes for six months then Gastric Sleeving in late July 2015. In fact, it's his success that finally prompted me to go for Gastric Sleeve surgery myself. He and my daughter do not want any of their five kids to repeat his life or mine. They operate under my first three advice points for their kids. My daughter and the youngest grandchild in that family are Coeliac as well. So food and eating and drinking sensibly are at the core of their daily life.

Another Christian here. I don't think God minds if people turn to medical help in dealing with alcohol or drug addictions...or cigarette addictions. My thought is, why should food be treated any differently? If there is medical treatment available, and it leads to better health for you, I do not see a conflict in your faith. I see it as very different than plastic surgery for purely vain purposes. I am not a very good scripture-quoting person, but have strong faith. I hope perhaps some of this makes sense.

Alcohol is a big time trigger for me to eat crappy food. Wine usually doesn't give me the munchies, but after a whiskey sour or two, I become a human vacuum cleaner! Needless to say I seldom drink them anymore.

@@thesweetone Hi! just seeing your post. I am four months out, and I can eat a hot pocket. I can eat a small fry, chips, and cheese dip, I can eat a lot of different foods in greater quantities than I could before. I just try to eat foods that are going to go down heavily - like eggs. If I eat two hard boiled eggs, I can't eat another thing. My stomach reacts like that to tuna l fish and beef as well. I drank some alcohol and went out to eat with my husband one night, and I gained 1.2 pounds, so I realized alcohol is not something I need either. I think that once the swelling goes down a person is going to be able to eat more. The important thing is what you are eating - not really how much.