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Do WLS patients ultimately go back to eating anything?
IncredibleShrinkingMan replied to reachbree's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
In a word: yes, but in generally less than one-quarter the prior proportions. I can tolerate anything, and alcohol feels just like it did before. I was frightened by all the stories about one drink feeling like six but that has just not been the case. That said, I am choosing to generally abstain from any beverage but water because I am trying to maximize losing phase. -
Eating Disorder
Inner Surfer Girl replied to Lisa_85's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Yes, I have seen what appears to be people developing eating disorders after surgery on these boards. I have seen people with unaddressed/untreated eating disorders on these boards. I have seen people with disordered eating on these boards. I have seen people have or develop body dysmorphia. I have seen people who are practicing alcoholics on these boards. I have seen people transfer addictions on these boards. The bottom line for me is that seeking help early for whatever your issues and challenges are is a good thing. Your NUT is a great resource for determining if your approach to eating and food is healthy. Listen to your psych eval recommendations. If that involves getting a counselor or therapist, then get one. If you just need help dealing with change, then get one. Attend bariatric support group meetings and/or twelve step recover meetings (OA, AA, CODA, NA, ALANON, GA, etc.) if you need them. WLS is not a magic bullet. It is a catalyst for a whole range of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and psychological changes. As we become healthier we may find that we are confronted with issues that we had buried or avoided for years by eating. That along with hormonal changes and fluctuations can be challenging. For me, WLS is about getting healthy. I hope this helps answer your question. Is there a particular reason his statement resonated with you? -
I had a similar incident in a store - vasovagal response brought on by pain (starting my period always is super painful) and a combo of being dehydrated and having not eaten in around 6 hours. I used up my reserve sugars fighting through the vasovagal response and that dropped me right into a low blood sugar episode. I was lucky that I recognized what was happening fast enough to do something about it - I ate about 4 mints out of my purse and then was able to hobble to the front desk to ask for help. The store almost called an ambulance but I begged them not to and told them just get me a soda and I'd be fine - so I laid on their floor behind their service desk sipping a soda. Turns out I was right. I didn't actually pass out, but it was close for a while there. The joys of weight loss surgery side effects, huh? I would not drink alcohol on an empty stomach, and I would not drink more than one or two over the whole night either since alcohol is pretty much empty sugar calories. It will really screw you up.
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The only time I nearly passed out was when getting out of bed, pretty sure it was dehydration, I'm no doctor but my first thought was blood sugar, then read about the cake along with the alcohol. Sometimes your blood sugar spikes and then falls so low it can cause issues like slurring and passing out. It seem to me it would have showed up in the ambulance,
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I have not had this happen but I am still recovery from my surgery. If you had a bypass I could understand this happening to you. However I see you had the sleeve. I am not sure how people with the sleeve surgery react when they have had alcohol. Was this the first time you had a drink since your surgery? I hope your doing better now and don't have that reaction again. However if I had that happen I think I wouldn't drink again.
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Do WLS patients ultimately go back to eating anything?
Rogofulm replied to reachbree's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So many excellent points, @@VSGAnn2014! (As always.) Just to close out my last post... I don't disagree that it's the responsibility of the one going under the knife to learn everything they can about the surgery and the long road ahead. But the "When can I have pizza?" question from those who are only a few weeks or months out indicate that the education portion of their program has not been effective. Maybe that's a better way to say it. Now, on to your question... I think driving through to goal weight and having some degree of success in maintenance requires a single-minded focus on the prize. We didn't get heavy through self-discipline, but that's what it takes to get thin. Other factors: Not merely fear of failure, we all have that going into surgery, but some degree of terror of the "slippery slope" that certain foods might put us on. Accept that the 12-18 month window for optimizing our weight loss is real and must be used to its full advantage. I was told by my doc that it takes the 12-18 months to inculcate the good eating habits. Learn quickly from our missteps. If we eat just two bites of cake, but then eat a whole slice the next day, then we know that the two bites were a bad idea and we shouldn't do that again. Certain foods are never going to be a good idea for us, and the list is different for everyone. But my doc told us that ice cream and fruit juices should always be avoided as pure empty sugar calories -- the ultimate slider foods. Realize that alcohol is not only empty calories, but can also lead to poor eating choices. I've done an informal poll of everyone I know (including myself) who quit smoking and then started again. 95% to 100% had an alcoholic beverage in their hand when they took that first puff. I finally quit smoking permanently 20 years ago when I became terrified to have even one puff. It's the same with food! Stress and boredom eating are real. Stress and loss don't cause me to eat, but watching TV does. Many of my friends go for the comfort of food when stressed. We're always going to have a certain amount of stress in our lives, so finding non-food coping mechanisms is crucial to our weight loss success. The ability to embrace our well-deserved success, look forward to the new slimmer/healthier self, believe what we see in the mirror, and don't look over our shoulders waiting for our former selves to pull us back. There are many more reasons, but that will suffice for now. -
So glad I found this forum! I had Orbera inserted exactly one month ago today. All in all its been OK, but definitely not easy. Nausea and some vomiting the first few weeks, allergic reaction (hives) to the nausea patch I was given, which was really unpleasant. Now, my biggest problem is that I don't feel great and have NO energy (a lot like morning sickness when I was pregnant with my kids). I've lost 13 pounds so far, and am happy with that, but really need to start exercising again. Started at 185, want to get down to 130. I was not given much guidance from my doctor about what, when, how to eat. From poking around on the internet, I've figured out not to ever drink while eating, no fried foods, focus on Protein. Ive also found that any kind of alcohol does not agree with me, so while I miss my glass of wine before dinner, dont have those calories to worry about. Are most of you exercising regularly? How and when is best?
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Ability to drink alcohol post-op, your experiences?
PlzCoolerMe replied to PlzCoolerMe's topic in The Guys’ Room
As I posted before, my tolerance is not nearly as good. It's been an adjustment for sure. Going from beer to hard alcohol I mean. Best thing I do is when I remember to drink Water in between drinks. 18 months post sleeve. -
I actually was concerned I was developing alcoholic habits before surgery. I would drink 1-2 bottles of wine in an evening on weekends, and frequently have 2-3 glasses even on week nights. Post surgery I occasionally have a single 3-4 oz glass of wine (now I have to buy the little mini 4 packs!), but I'm pretty tipsy after that one glass. I might have a glass 1-2 x per month. I'm much less depressed than I used to be, and alcohol was a (very poor) coping mechanism. I don't like the feeling of being drunk, so for me, I think surgery improved my habits.
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Maybe you can try a Bloody Mary. It has tomato juice, so there is slightly something redeeming about them. I had two yesterday at a super bowl party with no issues, or then a buzz that comes on a little bit quicker. The tomato juice has tons of salt, so I wanted get on the scale the next day. I gained two pounds over night and only ate/drank like 1,200 calories for the day. Not to people in weight loss phase. Alcohol does have calories, so watch you drinking. 400 of the 1,200 calories I had yesterday were drank, and I'm not talking about Protein shakes. Not a good idea to be doing frequently...
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I do not know when you had WLS. I used to love an occasional beer but not any more. Wine is smooth and gives me heartburn. Margaritas made me gain weight. I want to drink but I am still trying to find that perfect alcohol. I do not know when you had WLS. I used to love an occasional beer but not any more. Wine is smooth and gives me heartburn. Margaritas made me gain weight. I want to drink but I am still trying to find that perfect alcohol. I do not know when you had WLS. I used to love an occasional beer but not any more. Wine is smooth and gives me heartburn. Margaritas made me gain weight. I want to drink but I am still trying to find that perfect alcohol.
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What alcoholic beverage do you drink post-op? I LOVE beer but bc it's carbonated I can't have it. ???????? I don't want nor need negative or rude comments. I like to have social drinks from time to time. ESPECIALLY since it's Mardi Gras! ???????????? Thanks for you help!
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I am an alcoholic in recovery and you are right, there is nothing "mild" about it. I am glad that I have a program behind me to hopefully help me with the adjustments after surgery.
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How was your 5:2 day today?
CowgirlJane replied to Oregondaisy's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
@@UK Cathy good job on the 2# down! I am losing weight and a I am sure the zero alcohol for the last month has h helped -all those carbs! I am at 153.1, down almost 2 from last week. I almost didn't weigh myself as I was expecting a gain. I was desperately hungry as I missed meals yesterday while in the emergency room (started in a walk in clinic and was sent to ER from there.) Anyway I ate about 1/3 bag of sunchips and they were so salty I thought I would be up 2#! How is everyone doing? In spite of my physical misery, my spirits are good. I can't wait to rejoin the real world, which I expect by Wednesday. If I am not way better by then, I will likely be hospitalized but I feel better this morning. No fever, in fact I am back to my cold blooded self, can't even hit "normal" on the thermometer. My leg still looks infected but I need another few days to see that turn around. -
How was your 5:2 day today?
UK Cathy replied to Oregondaisy's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
It's good if your levels aren't up isn't it? Well after a try on 5:2 last week I'm down 2lb, not an enormous amount but still down. The fast days were fine it's the weekend (wine and snacks!). One of my fast days will be Wed this week as it is Ash Wed and a natural fast day for me (I'm RC). Hubby has suggested no alcohol for lent and I think I agree with him. It is certainly our weak spot. Kim where are you? Out travelling on that bike of yours. Check in and make us jealous of your trips. -
I also had my first alcoholic beverage(alright, beverages) today at a Super Bowl party. I started with the one, and felt absolutely nothing. It was like drinking regular water. I had a second beverage(changed it up a bit) and nothing. Before surgery I had an extremely high tolerance, to the point I could out drink almost everyone at the bar, including the guys, but doc said that had a lot to do with my type-1 diabetes and the way alcohol metabolizes in my body. I didn't get the slightest buzz and I was doing doubles in low-ball glasses for each drink. I was so proud of myself for staying on plan food wise, even with all of the delicious options being enjoyed by the rest of the party. But back to the alcohol, yes, I was perfectly fine afterwards and felt like I could drink many more with no issues. PS: I had a DD just in case because I wasn't sure how my body was going to react...I'm not chancing anything!
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Good job Sticking to your plan with all the temptations around! I'm one of those who became a total lightweight post op, but I've heard from some for whom alcohol didn't have the same effect.
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@@Afrikanaaa, Great question! I am really surprised your surgeon didn’t seem to know why or was surprised, though! I believe the alcoholism he’s talking about is a type of replacement addiction – it’s an addiction to replace the addiction to food. The new addiction could be alcohol, drugs, or smoking. Or it could be something less obvious and possibly a lot healthier, like an addiction to exercise. Another thing to be aware of with alcohol is that you’re far more sensitive to it with the sleeve. A little goes a long way, and fast. Drink less than you used to, and never on an empty stomach. Good luck!
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Six strong alcoholic drinks.
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Pre-Op Diet.. part of that 60-70%?
Ruth1ess replied to Ruth1ess's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So far so good I've identified that I use food as a 'reward' for doing well in other areas of my life, as well as stress eating to feel better. Working on rerouting those triggers with other behavior. I drink one beer every week or every other week, or not at all, down from 4-5 weekly. Don't do sugary drinks, never have since living a low carb lifestyle. The occasional diet soda if I feel the craving, but that's rare. I don't do sugar replacements/sugar alcohols. Splenda is a migraine trigger for me, and sugar alcohols are bad for the gut, so I cut them out completely to get my palette used to natural sweetness instead of overly sweet fixations. I've found some Vitamins I like and can tolerate. I've been playing with Protein powders and just bought some unsweetened pea protein, excited to try that. I'm an overachiever... next! -
Pre-Op Diet.. part of that 60-70%?
OutsideMatchInside replied to Ruth1ess's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I think the best way to optimize your results is to do research before surgery. Find out what shakes you like, Try lots of different shakes. Protein shakes are a great tool, they can save you lots of problems. find some you like. Understand the nutrition. Understand the Vitamins Work though any personal issues you have Lower your stress levels if you can. Give up sugary drinks Give up alcohol Find a sugar replacement you like (stevia, Xylitol, etc) Learn to cook healthy low carb meals The best to optimize your results is to make sure you can follow your program. If you follow your program and you like following it. Meaning you don't feel deprived or punished, you can be more successful. -
@@2goldengirl I think you nailed it. Alcohol addiction doesn't just happen, we slide into it. But I think if you were addicted to eating (or drugs, whatever) before wls, you may become addicted to drinking at any time. I was never addicted to eating. My problem was an oversized stretched stomach and misinformation about what to eat to lose weight. I'm the chef and we seldom ate out. I purchased and prepared all our meals and knew what I was eating. By the way, wls won't cure eating addiction, it will simply make it impossible to stuff your face at one sitting. I have no doubt that even at mid-honeymoon, I good consume 5,000 calories a day eating candy and chips without a drop of alcohol. I now plan my meals every morning and stick to my plan. On weekends, my plan includes 200-300 calories of alcohol and I log after each pour. Yesterday I totaled 1435 calories, so I walked 5 miles to offset the extra 225 calories of vodka. I also try to drink extra Water before and after to offset the diuretic effect. As long as I'm following this type of regimen, I'm not addicted to anything. That said, I'm 5 pounds away from goal and FULLY cognizant of the slippery slope that lies ahead if/when I stop logging! Stay tuned...
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The therapist who did my psych eval has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 14 years, and talking about transfer addiction is something she talks about in every eval she does - more as a caveat to preop candidates that the need to learn to cope without food is serious business. I think another factor for many is that being seriously overweight leads to social isolation for many. Once the weight is lost, those who may have felt socially isolated may enjoy becoming more socially active, but a feeling of awkwardness can remain. Alcohol can numb the awkwardness, but given the way many postops have a lower tolerance for alcohol, it can be a problem.
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The first thing I would ask is why do you ask this question? Seriously, what information and/or statement were you hoping to make? I have been a 3-4 day a week social drinker for 40+ years. Since my VSG, I find that I drink less and enjoy it equally well. I discussed this with my surgical team and they agreed that the VSG would help me reduce my moderate alcohol consumption and it has!
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I am an alcoholic -- I have been sober for 15 years. I can see the transfer addiction issue because while I was doing the pre-op classes, I saw a clear connection between changing my life after weight loss surgery and the change I went through when I got sober. The stress management techniques and some of the other things they taught at pre-op class were very similar to the techniques I learned from my AA sponsor.
