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Every surgeon is different and you should be compliant with your plan. I'm about six months post op and at gw; my surgeon was very lax with me because of my starting weight and my eating habits at the time of surgery (I had pretty healthy eating habits). After four weeks of healing I could eat what I wanted provided I followed the guidelines for Proteins and carbs as well as calorie required requirements. At six weeks he said I could have an occasional drink of alcohol-- I did try it at about 2 months and it burned like the fires of hell! I can now have ONE cocktail (I can't tolerate wine or beer) once in a great while. No foods are off limits to me but I avoid fruits, pastas, and breads... I can eat a little but certainly not every day. Nothing carbonated. Social gatherings are not hard for me; I'm more social in that I spend time talking to people rather than eating. Eating out is a waste unless I share a meal-- I cannot eat enough to justify the cost. I can eat oatmeal,quinoa, etc but sparingly as they all expand in my stomach. However, I've been compliant with my nut and my surgeon and if they told me to not do some thing, I don't do it. Have faith in the plan your surgeon uses and you'll find that what seem like sacrifices now are nothing but small annoyances in the end. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Girl, i can drink or sip @ least 5oz ( equivalent to 10-12 medium sips appx. the size of a Jim Bean whiskey glass) wit not much problem, as long as i pat my chest in the manor of a baby feeding, to get a burp up! Solids are different, i ate 4 bites if my friends chineese food yesterday & suffered greatly! But other softer food, i hv no problem with, for example, yesterday i went to a watch Party !!Go cowboys, i ate 1/3 slice pizza & brought my own non alcoholic beverage, no problem! Your body will let you know what your limits are. I think it depends on the individual, I was never one with a weak stomach b4 surgery, & I believe the people who are throwing up alot really aren't following their diet like they suspose to,because it requires you to be extremely hungry &everyone cant handle that , but I guarantee we have had the same quality of work as in tha us!!! What hospital were you in ? Who was your doc? Did you see me? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

A slider is something that doesn't seem to take up much space in your sleeve so you can eat large quantities of it. liquids are sliders, which is fine if you are drinking Water or low cal drinks, but not OK When it comes to milk shakes, high calorie coffee drinks, alcohol, etc. Foods that contain a lot of air and basically turn to mush when you eat them are often sliders. Things like Cookies, cake, potato chips, popcorn, candy. You feel restriction and portion size is limited when it comes to dense Proteins, veggies, and most things we are supposed to be eating. Our sleeve can do its job when we eat these things. Sliders are the opposite. There is no, or very little, portion restriction. In general, these are the things we shouldn't be eating anyways. For me, the exceptions are salads and nuts. These are on my "good food" list but are still sliders because I can eat large quantities without feeling full.

Delsym is non-alcoholic and works to suppress the urge to cough. I'm one week today as well and certainly don't want to cough. Sent from cyberdiva's iPhone using the BariatricPal App

As far as I know, other than a full blood count and liver function tests.. there's no way in knowing if you have a fatty liver.. it's really about your diet. If you know you eat a lot of fatty foods and drink a lot of alcohol then it's very likely you have a fatty liver. The pre op diet is just to eliminate the chance of it as it makes the surgery more difficult if you have a fatty, brittle or enlarged liver. When I had my surgery, my surgeon told me my liver wasn't fatty but enlarged which made it difficult to move out of the way to get to my stomach he actually nicked it because it was that big. My surgeon didn't mind if I did the pre op or not as he's very experienced but I definitely cut down on the bad food and stuck to salad and shakes 2 weeks before the operation, the last thing you want is to be woken up from being out only to be told they couldn't do the surgery.

I had mine on the 20th as well! The throat was never sore, but it was raspy for the first few days. The gas pain persists but I'm hanging in there. Today is the first day I've felt human. We're even going to a movie tonight (one of those nice places that bring you food and alcohol ... yeah, I'm taking a protein shake in my purse. Lame.)

Hi I'm getting panic attacks and I'm wondering if anyone else is too? I think it might be vitamin related. Here is my story, so far. I had one panic attack when I was heavy in 2005 or so. I had surgery in 2007, I was a model patient and got below my goal weight. I went through a divorce and by 2010 I was alone. I started going out with friends and not eating right, not taking vitamins, drinking alcohol, etc. I had my second panic attach in 2012. I felt my heart racing and was convinced I was having a heart attack and that just spiraled into a full blown panic attack. I went to the ER, nothing was the matter with my heart, in fact it wasn't racing at all, it was normal. They diagnosed panic attack and recommended psychologist. Since then I have had panic attacks on a regular basis with one big one sending me to the ER annually. It all starts with a vibration in my chest, a flutter I feel in my heart, tightness in my chest, restlessness and the feeling I'm going to have a heart attack. When I go to the ER they always calm me down and show me my heart is just fine. Last night I had a panic attack that should have sent me to the ER, but I took my pulse and it was 53. Earlier at the doctor office it was 58. So I did some breathing and after an hour and a half was able to go back to sleep. My doctor referred me to a cardiologist and a full lab panel. I've been slacking on my vitamins since September and eating wrong food, so that's why I'm thinking its a vitamin deficiency. Anyone else have this happen? Thanks for any kind of insight.

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukah to our Jewish friends! Season’s Greetings for those of you who are not celebrating a holiday now – it’s still a festive time when everyone can enjoy the uplifting spirit around town. As we near the end of a long season of tempting food, you may need a little help getting back on track or staying on track. Here are our offerings. Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery Hopefully this newsletter can help you keep your weight loss goals in mind and give you a little push to inch closer to hitting them. After reading the newsletter and spending some quality time with your loved ones, don’t forget to head on over to the BariatricPal Forums so you can share your tips and ideas with all of the BariatricPal members! Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge The weight loss surgery journey itself is a bumpy road, and recent weeks may have been even tougher as the holiday spirit has taken over. High-calorie, fatty, sugary foods have been everywhere, and gift shopping, family obligations, and holiday parties may have been eating into the time you might otherwise have spent exercising or planning healthy meals. So, what do you say to a challenge to lose weight this Christmas? The idea may sound crazy, but it is actually possible if you try hard. Here are our suggestions for a weight loss Christmas Day. Christmas dinner the WLS Way The totals for a full-blown Christmas dinner can be somewhere between staggering and horrifying. You yourself may have indulged in a few such dinners in the past. Between the ham or turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, and Desserts, plus some alcohol and a bit of nibbling on appetizers and nuts, you can have 5,000 or more calories on this single day. Yuck – that’s 1.5 pounds of fat! Here is a more reasonable Christmas Day scenario to consider. Breakfast: Festive Protein pancakes with 1 cup sliced strawberries (150 calories) Meet ‘n’ Greet Appetizers 1 cup fresh cut vegetables with yogurt-based dip (100 calories) Red, white, and green Christmas skewers with cherries, peeled apples or pears, and green grapes. (100 calories) chocolate Coated Protein Puffs Soy Snacks (150 calories) Christmas Dinner 3 ounces of ham or skinless turkey or duck breast with mustard (150 calories) Green bean frittata – a high-protein, low-calorie substitute for green bean casserole (100 calories) Green salad with Light Dressing ½ cup pureed sweet potatoes sprinkled lightly with crushed pecans and sugar (or honey or low-calorie sugar substitute) (200 calories) 1 medium baked apple with cinnamon, served with light or sugar-free whipped topping (150 calories) Later Snacks Protein Cocoa or Mocha (100 calories) 1/2 ounce mixed nuts (100 calories) (Don’t forget to use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 for a 10% discount of your first order!) Savor Your Treat Don’t forget to leave room for a treat. That’s right, even WLS patients deserve a treat. Just make sure: It’s one that you really, really want. You can tolerate it (some treats are too sugary or fatty for your post-op digestive system, and even a small serving can make you feel sick). You take only a small amount and count the calories. In the sample Christmas Day menu shown above, there is room for another 200 to 400 calories from your treat while still staying under 1,500 to 1,800 for the day. Those calories can get you any two of the following: A half-cup of mashed potatoes with gravy. A half-cup of bread or rice-based stuffing. A 1-inch sliver of pecan, pumpkin, or another kind of pie. A small square of fudge. A small dinner roll with a pat of butter. A half-cup of eggnog. Get Moving, for So Many Reasons It’s a busy day, but surely you can find a few minutes to get in a short walk or workout. There are so many reasons to get moving in the morning or during the day. Burn calories and boost metabolism. Keep yourself motivated as you notice how good it feels to get moving rather than eat. Take time away from the food because when you are walking, you are not eating. Bond with your children, nieces, or nephews; with your out of town relatives; or with your significant other. Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! One bad day of eating does not make a habit, but a six-week period does. A skipped workout or two doesn’t get you out of shape, but a month of inactivity makes you sluggish. A single bad weigh-in is no cause for alarm, but a few weeks of climbing numbers is reason to take heed. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas can put you in a weight loss slump. Over time, your can get weaker and those poor decisions can get easier. While a bite of a cookie might have made you feel guilty in early November, the whole cookie and a second one may be par for the course now. Snap out of it! It is time to get out your slump. If the thought of reversing all those bad habits at once is too much, take heart. You can put yourself on the right path with a single decision. One good decision can increase your confidence and lead to more good decisions. You could: Make your own 200-calorie Breakfast sandwich with Protein Pancakes, a fat-free slice of cheese, and egg whites instead of hitting the drive-through for a 500-calorie breakfast biscuit. Schedule a short walk with a neighbor – no backing out! Log your food for a day, no matter how bad you know the numbers will be. Step on the scale if you’ve been avoiding it. How will you break your slump? The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery As hard as the food and lifestyle around the holidays may be for you as a weight loss surgery patient, your family can make things even harder. You can prevent them from knocking you off your game by being prepared for what to expect and how to handle it. Problem: Pressure to Go Off Your Diet Saying no is just one of those things you have to learn how to do in life. Refusing your relatives’ offer of freshly baked Christmas bread or Christmas Cookies made “just for you” is difficult. They may feel that you are rejecting them. Practicing ahead of time can help. A simple, “No, thanks” can do wonders, and it leaves no room for argument. You could elaborate with variations such as “No, thanks, I’m not hungry,” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that anymore,” or, “Not right now, thanks. It’s already great to get to see you!” Problem: Unwanted Comments on Your Weight or Weight Loss If you got your WLS in the past year, you may have dropped several pounds since relatives from out of town saw you. They may be overly reactive to your weight loss. Or, they could have the opposite reaction and say something discouraging about how they expected you to lose more weight by now. Whatever they say, do not let them throw you off your game. Problem: Lack of Acceptance of Your WLS They are not living your life, and they do not know exactly what you have gone through. A lack of understanding about what WLS is and how a WLS lives can inspire negative comments. You can choose to ignore them, or try to explain your WLS to them. You can also try to include them in your routine, such as inviting them on a walk or asking for their help in your kitchen while they’re in town. You can grow closer and develop a better understanding. Again, Happy Holidays! Enjoy this special time with family and friends, and make it a safe and healthy time for yourself and your loved ones. Thanks for spending some time with the newsletter, and we look forward to seeing you on the forums! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

Many, many addicts, alcoholics, smokers, etc. are simply told to stop and are given no more than counseling and many succeed. We are given the added bonus of a great tool via variatric surgery to ensure our success if we use it right. It's was my opinion that I could do anything for 3-4 weeks to cleanse my system, retrain my brain, and focus on my future good health. And no, I've never argued against WLS. I'm 3.5 years out and maintaining beautifully. I was simply giving you MY opinion of your perspective. Please don't put your words in my mouth simply because you feel differently.

Guys I couldn't agree more, I would add something else binge eating is not worse than alcoholism, anger issues they are all ways to deal with different kind of stress , but in my opinion find a healthier type of binge , you have plenty of options hiking,bilking and being outdoors. Anyways guys I used to have Six abs and i lost 100 pounds from a 6 month in a boot camp and I maintained it for 3 years but then my fat person inside me came back. You have to love yourself when your fat so after you lose it you will be happy. Im 10 days post vsg and im planning to use this surgery as a tool to get back to the gym and eating healthy. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was told no alcohol 90 days prior to surgery. Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

Hi, as someone who was cheated on by their husband with multiple people because he said being faithful isn't for him due to drug & sex addiction & couldn't be with one person -will tell you it hurts. I so wish he would never have went out with me & especially married me if he knew this. I do feel as others have suggested & that you may have just switched addictions. I am sure you are not alone in changing addictions but there is always help. At the least if don't want to get help you should divorce your husband & let anyone you are with that you do not want to be faithful to one person that way honest & not lying because lies hurt many. If want to seek help I suggest a good counselor also. The other additional help besides counseling can be a good support group. Just like drug & alcohol addictions the % of recovery is improved with faith based support groups such Celebrate Recovery. This group is for anyone that has hurts, habits or hangups. It is nationwide group. I go die to going through divorce. But others for drug, alcohol recovery, sex addiction, gambling. Divorce..... Sent from my SM-S902L using the BariatricPal App

My Dr told me no alcohol 3 days before surgery, but you're far enough out even she wouldn't mind. Go for it. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Nothing about alcohol was mentioned before my prep diet which was only 1 day before surgery Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So the only preop requirement I have is a Liquid diet starting noon the day before surgery. The anesthesiaologist told me no alcohol 3 days before surgery. So wondering what other folks thoughts are on this. I've done fine on all my preop prep and lost more weight than was required.

I think for me I drink the alcohol because it was easier to do then actually having a meal. I still struggle to this day on certain meals but I have no issues having a drink to fulfill my needs. It's been 4 years since surgery and I have not had one soda because I would be miserable if I did it but I can pound down a 6 pack with no issues. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App What about Protein shakes? They're filling and are great for avoiding food when you don't feel like chewing.

I think for me I drink the alcohol because it was easier to do then actually having a meal. I still struggle to this day on certain meals but I have no issues having a drink to fulfill my needs. It's been 4 years since surgery and I have not had one soda because I would be miserable if I did it but I can pound down a 6 pack with no issues. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If you don't crave it, then that's actually a good thing. The alcoholics I knew of, actually craved it. What makes you want to drink?

I'm new to all of this. Have Humana ins. with a bmi of 33.9 and weigh 203 currently but have high blood pressure, prediabetes, non alcoholic fatty liver disease, severe GERD and I could go on and on. Not sure if primary will approve with letter or insurance will approve? Also, I've been going to a dr. supervised weight loss clinic for a year and only lost 26 lbs plus gained 8 back. Now down again slightly. It is very frustrating. Will this count as my 3-6 months weight loss trial? Any experience with these issues? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

For type 2 diabetes folks this is presented as a benefit, and better option than the sleeve. Sleeve patients do not experience dumping. Regarding addiction, food addicts cannot abstain from eating. It's not the same as alcoholics who can completely abstain from drinking alcohol. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

There are fairly standard guidelines that most bariatric patients are instructed to follow, but it's ultimately your prerogative what you decide works the best for you and the goals you've set for yourself. I was sort of a DIY patient since I had the VSG in Mexico, so I looked at the information reputable bariatric centers (Mayo Clinic, Stanford, Emory, UCLA) had posted beforehand because I didn't know how much I'd receive from my surgeon's office. I read enough horror stories about people having severe problems with eating foods too soon post-op to overcome the head hunger I experienced at first (bizarre cravings for things I never would have wanted otherwise) and follow the post-op plan precisely. Once it was no longer a matter of safety, but success, I made a few modifications. I'll have frozen yogurt, popcorn, whatever - in moderation, sparingly. I have been very careful about alcohol because even when I was heavy, I was a lightweight in that respect. Others can handle far more. I've never sought permission or validation for any of my choices from this forum. If I had, I probably would have received criticism for some of my choices, and would have expected it. We don't know one another. We can't know about a stranger's personality or physicality to be able to offer up tailored information, so instead one-size-fits-all tends to be what's given. It's up to each of us to then decide if it fits us.

I was on purees at 2 weeks and that would be hard in vegas. Mushies may be too so as long as you take protein to consume as liquid, you can get what you need. As mentioned, someone else needs to carry your luggage, no alcohol, and needing rest, it would be doable as long as your recovery goes well. I had no nausea, have not thrown up at all in 6 mths, and was off pain meds after 2 days. I love Vegas and go once or twice a year. Best part is that you would be walking a lot.

I'm also dealing with this issue. I had surgery July 9,2016. I was losing pretty steadily, but this past month has slowed down a lot. My dad is an alcoholic, and I've always been a "drinker". One of my first questions after surgery was..."when can I drink vodka again?" Now though.... I don't feel like I'm a drinker, I feel like an alcoholic. I'd rather drink liquor than eat food. (Since we can't do both at the same time) I also don't want to not drink ever again, sooo I'm having a hard time deciding to seek help. This is definitely complicated and scary and something all wls patients should consider and think about prior to surgery. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I guess the first question is, are you going to tell all of your friends? At 2 weeks post-surgery, you will need to tell them because your are going to need a lot of understanding and support from them. Some challenges I can think of that you'll need to be prepared for..... Someone will need to lift your luggage because you will have a 5 pound limit. Whether driving or flying, you will need to get up and walk at least once an hour to prevent blood clots (increased risk for the first month after surgery). You will need to carry Water with you at all times to stay hydrated because you can only sip small quantities at a time and you need to sip constantly to get in the 64 oz by the end of the day. Finding Protein based food for the soft/mushy stage will be a major challenge in restaurants, and you don't want to resort to carbs. You'll need to avoid alcohol. You may not be in pain, but you may still be really tired and need to take naps or rest. It takes a while to get your energy back while you are healing. All in all, you can probably make it work as long as you have supportive friends. Good luck!