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I hope you don't take this brief post as "preaching." Have you also considered: * Alcoholics Anonymous? * Therapy? If not, what are your thoughts about these resources?

I have been reading thru these forums for over six months now, and I'm finally posting my own thread! I have been overweight my whole life. I have non-alcoholic Liver Disease that consists of Fatty Liver & several hepatic adenomas, PCOS, Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance, Leukocytosis, Infertility, Severe GERD, IBS, Chronic unspecified inflammation in the body, the list really goes on and on. On top of my own co-morbidities, I have a very very strong family history of Heart Disease & Diabetes. I thought about pursuing Bariatric Surgery a couple years back, but after doing research, I talked myself out of it because I didn't want to have to wait ANOTHER 18-24 months to conceive. Well, after 6 months of fertility therapy & horrible side effects, I decided I needed to stop and reassess the situation. I went thru all my requirements, and submitted my Pre-Auth to insurance in March '16, to be denied 2 weeks later due to lack of support from my PCP. My Primary is very "old fashioned", and doesn't believe in "Non-Traditional Weight Loss", so I was left hanging & she would not right up a letter of medical necessity or provide documentation that I have been actively trying to lose weight for the past umteen years. So, I ended up going to my Bariatric Center & just doing another 3 months of NUT appointments to add on to everything I already had to HOPEFULLY achieve requirements while by-passing my PCP. My appeal was submitted June 10th, and I was getting multiple responses for "Wait time" from my insurance. One person said it was the standard 7-10 days, and then another said that an appeal isn't the same thing as a pre-auth, and they are allowed 30 days. At this point, my lab work is getting worse; liver is getting worse; retaining ridiculous amounts of fluid; CRP is thru the roof; in ER with sky-high WBC; I just need this done! Just got word from my insurance today that my denial has been overturned and I have been APPROVED! Going thru these threads for 6 months, I never understood why people cried when getting the approval. I now understand... Something that seemed so unobtainable the last few months is finally real. It's my Holy Grail honestly.... I woke up today just having an awful morning & that 1 phone call just turned my day upside down. My golden birthday is 1 week from today (27 on June 27th), and this by far is the best present ever! Now, to just wait on a date! So many happy tears in my cubicle today! -Brooke

It's not a secret that I take an antidepressant. It took me a long time to be open about that, as my family are "just snap out of it" kind of people. My brain just doesn't handle serotonin well on its own. Without an antidepressant, everything and nothing makes me cry and I can't feel joy. With it, I feel and act, like a normal person (HEY! no comments from the peanut gallery!). Last week at work was a week from hell. Patient almost dying in the parking lot, another patient having a psychotic break and calling constantly with delusions of grandeur and racing thoughts (and I got to take his calls), several interactions with the police regarding that same patient, dismissing two patients (one for combining alcohol with her meds on top of a positive drug test for pcp, another for increasing her meds on her own several times)... you name it, we went through it. I take my medications (antidepressant and vitamins) after I get to work; it's part of my morning routine at the office. With all the chaos, I forgot to take them on Thursday. Then I forgot to take them on Friday. Then I went out of town on Saturday and forgot to take them. Saturday I went to an adult, Disney-themed party. I went as Milady de Winter, the spy from The Three Musketeers that plots to kill the king of France (if you've seen Disney's version with Tim Curry, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, etc., it was the part played by Rebecca DeMornay). Years ago when I was doing Renaissance stuff, I made a beautiful Italian Renaissance green and gold gown, underdress, etc. So I wore that, and everything I was wearing I had made myself, with the exception of my shoes. Roughly half of the women at the party were wearing as little as possible. There was a costume contest, and I came in second, behind a girl dressed as Belle, in a very short dress with major cleavage. Think "adult Halloween costume" versus historically-accurate gown that you might see in a Renaissance painting. It left me in tears, and it shouldn't have. It was clearly a cleavage contest, as a number of people expressed in surprise to me afterwards. I have no cleavage anymore. I used to fill out the bust of this dress and then some. I was able to tighten up the bodice a bit, but still no cleavage. I couldn't believe how stupid I felt for being in tears over something like this. Something that doesn't matter. I'm usually very careful not to enter contests that are not based on skill, because I want to be judged on ability, not popularity. Just as we were leaving the party to go back to the hotel, I got a massive headache. Great. No sexy time for me. So we're laying in bed, my head is killing me, and tears are streaming down my face, and I can't even tell him why. Thankfully, he's a patient guy and he just held me. The next morning, I realized what had happened. I had no antidepressant on board, and it takes about two to three days for any changes to be noticeable, positive or negative. I still had a headache, but it was just kind of around the edges, not as bad as it had been. I was able to articulate to him what the problem was, and I got some gentle sexy time (which, if you know anything about me, is not my preferred "speed" ). So I made stupid choices and got a stupid outcome. This was not my first rodeo, and I know better. I know I have to take care of myself. Uggghhhh.

There are only a few things that are on my never again list. The most critical one is soda pop. Drinking anything while eating is a no no permanently and NSAIDs. Now keep in mind that if you have severe arthritis your Bariatric team will work with you on an NSAIDs program that will protect your pouch. I have severe arthritis in my spine and several other joints but I choose not to risk a potential ulcer. Alcohol after year 1 is fine in small amounts but realize you are drinking your calories. I have been eating raw celery once 8 weeks out, it has never bothered me. I just chop it in salads and Soups small. I use a straw everyday! It helps me drink all my liquids. You simply have to learn not to gulp. I am now 21 months post op and have tried just about everything else I once did. I just don't like things like greasy foods, sweets or heavy carb foods. I crave good quality Protein, great fruit and veggies.

@@Kindle except it varies by every anesthesiologist. My point as I said before, was ask the hospital/doctor and go by what they say. Asking random strangers on the internet isn't going to be a lot of help and is not worth having your surgery delayed. I did what my team asked and I offered my opinion on it. You yourself said you had to remove it for one surgery, not the other. Did you ask them why? I asked them why one said it was okay and the other didn't. The hospital that let me keep the polish on went into a long technical explanation about the light and how it works and why it still works even with polish and the other place was like this is how we do it. I did what was asked/expected both times. That doesn't meant I am not entitled to question it if I feel like it. I didn't come in here belittling people that enjoy having their nails done. Or telling them they would risk brain damage. Those were extremes we didn't need. This is ending up like an alcohol/pizza thread. *sigh*

Not sarcasm at all. I was just pointing out the difference. Your past is hard for you while mine is the opposite. I was a strong, confident fat person and fir the most part, life was good. I only became a blubbering mess after losing weight and I no longer had my emotional crutches (food and alcohol) to back me up. My best friend committed suicide 17 months postop and it was then I discovered I had no constructive coping abilities. I stayed drunk for the 18 months following my brother's death prior to my VSG but I couldn't do that this time. The illusion of my mental health went out the window and i realized what a wreck I really was. My therapist, antidepressants and testosterone replacement are my new crutches that keep me from joining my friend at this point. So you are right, we all have certain mental issues. Being obese is simply one of the symptoms, not the cause. And unfortunately surgery only treats that one symptom. It's a lot harder to find and treat the cause, But it sounds like you have made great strides in that department. All I'm saying in response to your OP, is that like it or not, the past is a part of who you are. You already said it, you conquered and overcame so much. Forgiving and accepting a past that you can't change is just a part of that and definitely better in the long run than hating a stack of photographs.

So once again, I'm the odd ball out here. Losing weight did not change who I was on the inside. I had dysmorphia in the sense that I never thought I was fat. So when I lost 100 pounds my body finally matched what my head always believed. I had no problems adjusting to what I saw in the mirror. And to tell you the truth, from an emotional well being standpoint, I was a hell of a lot happier all those years being large, I just didn't know it. My real depression and unhappiness didn't happen until I realized that in order to remain thin I could not dull the pain of life with food and alcohol. I became miserable. Feeling emotions rather than feeding them sucks. I finally sought out a therapist who is helping me work towards some sense of happiness again. So when it comes to old pictures, once I overcome the shock of seeing how big I really was, they actually bring back memories of how freaking happy I was....fat, drunk and happy. These days I'm just thin, sober, angry, and sad.

The great thing about erythritol as a sugar alcohol is that for MOST people, it doesn't cause the GI disturbances that malitol, xylitol and sorbitol do. The molecule that makes up erythritol is so much smaller, and very little of it can reach the colon to feed the bacteria that would cause the upset. And for the percentage that does make it- well the intestinal bacteria can't digest it. Erythritol enters the blood stream and 90% is actually excreted in the urine untouched. It has a zero glycemic index too! The warning for it is that should you consume over 50g at once you may have stomach upset/grumbling.

I love this ice cream! It's a great treat that has a decent amount of protein, low sugar, and low cal. I would caution people who have an issue with sugar alcohols to be careful, though. If you're able to enjoy a few bites and put it away, it's a great treat. The lemon cake is my favorite flavor.

Why can't you have surgery sooner? At 4 months, you will be able to eat pretty decent, if you eat seafood moist foods, you should be good. You can take small sips of alcohol at your wedding toasts you should be fine. Your dress though, that is going to be a real mess. It is not even likely they can take the dress in and keep adjusting it as you lose weight. Its is easy to drop a whole size in 7-10 days in months 3 and 4. The schedule for wedding dress alterations, means it that they will do the last alternation a month to 2 weeks before your wedding date. If you buy your dress from a shop, try to find another seamstress, hopefully a family friend, that can take it again if needed the week before the wedding.

Hands down - Being able to make it through the most devastating event of my life (my best friends suicide) along with a few other crises (loss of pets, stressful job situations and helping a friend through cancer treatment) without turning to food and alcohol and regaining any weight.

Let your new stomach heal properly...........before taking on new challenges like alcohol. Let it heal. Be safe.

Alcohol can cause bleeding so that soon out could be dangerous. You could also get sick and ruin your night. Good idea to wait. Sent from my KFFOWI using the BariatricPal App

It sounds like it is not a good idea for you to be drinking alcohol right now. I love wine and martinis, but my focus is on my health, which is more important than drinking. No judgement, but we all have to recognize our limitations when it comes to post-surgery life. If I never have a glass of wine again, but get back my health and can do the things I want to do physically, it will be totally worth it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It happened to me as well, which is weird because I never had breakouts. I didn't really do anything different except make sure I was drinking tons of Water. It seems to have gone away now, and I am 4.5 months out. I took a cotton ball and dabbed alcohol on the bad spots to take out the oil when it got really bad.

I am an expert on no one but me. I am over three years out and have had gastric sleeve. I lost all my weight in 9 months and have been maintaining since. My surgeon cut out the fundus (the stretchy part) of my stomach leaving behind the muscle so I have little to no stomach left to "stretch". I drink carbonated beverages, I use straws, I consume alcohol, and I am fine. That said, I could easily "eat around" my sleeve if I wanted to. I choose to follow my surgeon's dietary recommendations 90% of the time. If instead, I chose to eat ice cream and Cookies, I would/could gain all my weight back. If I make good choices, I can eat no more than 1/4-1/3 cup of food and I am full for hours. If I choose carbs, I can't eat much more than the above, but I can eat more sooner. Again. MY stomach hasn't stretched nor will it, I am quite confident. I can't speak on anyone else's.

. Thank you for your nice comment. I know it sounds cheesy but should we all not get a bit more respect with our dedication and resolution to change our lives? I know that we have some differences (gender, cultural, emotional etc.) and sometimes it can lead to some intense (aggressive?) thread exchanges I´ve read here and there, as I have been browsing the forum quite intensively. A the end, we are all trying to reach the same goal, following different paths and struggles. We congratulate and sometime admire ex drug addicts or former alcoholics for their recovery (There is a great post about this).Not obese people. We believe that it is just about eating too much. we know it is far more than that. We are some kind of recovering addicts (otherwise we would not have head hunger), and some of us fall again in the same trap along the way. I am trying not to be in that group.... but I am only 12 weeks out. I hope I can say the same 2 years from now. Right now, it is about rebuilding myself physically and emotionally once and for all. No more tries and failures. If I can inspire people as many of you have been inspiring, supporting and pushing me, then it is a nice way to contribute back. I thought I was struggling alone until I found this board. Now I know there are people all over the world doing the same. Respect to all!

Ditto on the tackling one thing at a time. It would suck to go through all your withdrawals at the same time postop. And yes, one little carb cheat while trying to clear carbs will set you back to the beginning. Basically because from a biochemical standpoint, your brain reacts to sugar (and most artificial sweeteners) similar to how it reacts to cocaine. It's highly addictive. I stopped smoking, caffeine and alcohol all before surgery. Cold turkey on the smoking 3 months preop. A lot of folks need to wean down through vaping or Patches, but I just threw all my cigs away and never looked back. I didn't drink sodas, but I did drink 20-40oz of coffee/day. Weaned off both caffeine and coffee by going half caf then decaf then switched to decaf herbal tea. Took about 2 months. Then there was the alcohol. I drank 2-3 large cocktails/night plus mass quantities on the weekends. I stopped drinking completely the day I Started my 2 week preop diet. It was December and I made it through a funeral, a birthday party and 2 Christmas parties sipping on ice Water and Protein shakes. Funny how nicotine and alcohol were better stopped cold turkey while it was the caffeine that went better by weaning slowly. But I Guess that's the nature of highly addictive substances. So you just need to find your motivation and hold on to it. Why do you want this surgery? Would you rather trade it for a 12 pack of Coke? Every time you are faced with temptation, ask yourself which choice will get me closer to goal and go with that one. The more times you say no the easier it gets. conquering your cravings becomes empowering. And likewise, each time you cave it makes it easier to cave the next time.

At only three weeks out, you haven't healed enough to deal with alcohol. Unless you're at something like a wedding and need to take a mere sip at the toast (and there are always plenty of nondrinkers at weddings), it simply isn't worth it. Your sleeve needs a solid 6-8 weeks healing time before you try anything off-plan.

Please talk to your doctor, but alcohol in any shape would be a very bad idea that early. You are not even close to healed at that time, so drinking is a huge no as far as I'm concerned. I was told that drinking was off limits for minimum of 6 months, but highly discouraged for the rest of my life due to the effects. Like, have a glass of wine or a weak mixed drink on special occasions but steer clear of it as a regular thing. After you're a year or so out, it may still hit you VERY hard as you have less stomach to process it, so it filters right into your bloodstream and you'll feel very drunk super fast on a very small amount. I've heard stories of people going black out drunk from just a few glasses that used to not even get them buzzed. And besides that, alcohol is empty calories and super high carb. Very, very bad stuff to try that early. It most likely will make you feel pretty bad and minimum make you stupid drunk, and very likely could make you sick. But yeah, ask your doctor.

After 3 weeks could you have just one drink of alcohol or would it make you sick Sent from my LG-H811 using the BariatricPal App

I'm nearly 2 months post op. I haven't dined out or drank alcohol for over 2 months. Next week I have to travel for work. I'll be out of the safety of my own environment. ANY ADVISE PLEASE. What should I eat? What should I drink? I don't want going out to eat with coworkers to be an issue. I don't want them staring at me wondering how much or what I'll eat. How do I painlessly order from a restaurant with confidence? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't track calories, sorry, but I did a lot of Protein and Water and avoided alcohol, car by junk etc.

Have patience young grasshopper. In time you will be able to consume alcohol again (if you really want to), occasionally and in moderation.

Do not do this!! Very dangerous!! If you are having issues with alcohol, please don't hesitate to reach out to your surgeon to get the right support! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App