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My clinic has had a few people "blow over" and so their protocol is now no alcohol for life. That's fine with me I'm not much of a drinker - maybe 5 or 6 occasions a year pre-op so I won't miss it. The only problem is that I always feel like I have to justify my lack of drinking - as if people will think I'm a recovering alcoholic - as if that is a bad thing. Now at least I can say my body doesn't digest alcohol properly. I'm not sure why that is important to me but it is. However, Even with all the restrictions (alcohol, caffeine, soda pop) I must say I am thrilled that I now have a card to show restaurants that says I should be allowed to order of the children's menu!

Yeah, my surgeon's plan says no alcohol for 1 year post-op. I have taken a miniscule sip of a fancy hipster cocktail my husband had ordered, and of champagne to toast a friend's wedding, but neither was even enough to coat my tongue, let alone swallow.

My program allowed it only after 1 year. I even had to sign a contract. Yes, you do have to worry about the carb and calorie counts. I have been on meds that don't allow it so I still have not tried alcohol but I understand it won't take much for us to get drunk. Also it can become very addictive for us.

My program allows alcohol after you are at the two month mark which is at the eating normally/bariatric lifestyle phase of post op, which I am at now. My NUT did advised that after surgery we may be light weights and go very easy on it. Lots of alcohol and alcoholic drinks are high in calories which you'll want to be mindful of. I've had a light mikes hard lemonade and a glass of white wine so far and both seemed to go okay, I couldn't finish the whole bottle of mikes.

Hey! Hope all is well with everyone. I was just wondering, after having Gastric Bypass are you allowed to drink any types of alcoholic beverages?

This was a big concern for me for social reasons. I stuck my toe in the alcohol waters at around 6 weeks at a party with a very weak (1/2 shot) and diet cranberry juice. Hated it and didn't finish. The next night (another party), I sipped 1 glass of wine over the course of 3 hours with no issues. I have enjoyed a few since then, but I think it's very important to log the calories, eat before you drink, and take an extra antacid before you drink. Interestingly enough, I have lost weight the days after drinking, so the weight loss is not an issue. Keep in mind, wine is 125 calories a glass and vodka/bourbon are around 90 a shot.

If your are still close to your surgery date, I think the repulsion response is probably pretty typical. Your body is still adjusting to the new smaller stomach and your hormones are adjusting too. I remember that sensation of watching others load a plate and thinking "wow! how on earth?". But then I recall that when I had the same response when I had the flu or a cold, the thought of eating anything major was sort of sickening. this thought reminded me that we just did major surgery and our body is healing. Our bodies natural signals to our brain will be "don't you dare feed me!" This can translate to how we view all food, even that which is consumed by others. I liked @@HopeandAgony 's response as well. When watching others it is good to remember that this was us only a short time ago. Something I noticed about myself was that I was a little too self-righteous about my ability to turn down food those first few months. Something I had always struggled to do now became soooo easy. "No, I am fine and don't want a cookie", "Thank you, but I am going to pass on the chips", "No alcohol for me, thanks anyway...." Mentally, I was saying to myself. "You go girl, you are rocking this!" Just be aware that the further out you get the more that turning food offers down and sitting there while everyone has cake and ice cream gets much harder. I have to remind myself that they don't mean to sabotage me, they are just being nice. Such a different perspective now. I think it was at about 4 months head hunger really kicked in for me. Thankfully I had read things on these forums that helped me be somewhat prepared, but my self-righteous attitude went out the door and now I find that I have to work at setting myself up for the tough moments when someone offers me something. I also learned not to beat myself up too badly when I give in and say yes. I just remind myself to be careful or only take a small portion. But that is my journey, each person can be different.

Hi everyone, Missed you all bunches! The alcohol thing: yes, I did have the experience of going from zero miles an hour to 200 miles an hour in what felt like 3 seconds flat. I had one margarita and fell so out of control that I passed out on the couch. I think the combination of the sugar and alcohol did me in. Now I am super cautious. I take a sip of wine here and there. I am so sorry Shadow, making mistakes is human, not learning is dumb. If you don't do it again you will be fine. It's nice that your boss is in on your surgery. Perhaps you can send him/her a copy of some article on WLS and alcohol. Explain that you had not had alcohol "experience" since you are one year out post surgery. But now you know and I think you will be fine, mortified but fine. Many a co-worker gets smashed at the X-mas party. At least you have an excuse and that will play in your favor. Live and learn. Sugar: yeah, still has a pull. The drug effect is such that I tend to work it in somehow. Little bites here and there. A piece at a time. I can't have much at once but I do sneak it in way too much. It has not affected my weight but I do worry if it will in the long run. Burping: Sometimes its really bad. Even my family is complaining. I think I tend to eat too fast and perhaps its a combination of nausea and the food doesn't agree with me. Somehow I cannot stop eating fast. What the heck, why, why do I eat so fast? I can't stop. You would think the biofeedback eat fast=burping would make me stop but NOPE. I just want to wolf down my food like I used to and now I can. So SAD

Congrats on starting your journey the first step is the hardest. Expect a lot of testing pulmonary cardiology stress loads of blood test thyroid heart EKG psychological just to name a few my doctor gave me a list for the 6 months before my surgery and a proposed schedule of when I should see ascertain specialist or have a certain test done it helped a lot because by the end when I need to submit a reason to my insurance all my ducks were in a row now it is 6 months later and I'm having my surgery tomorrow 12/16 best of luck to you in hindsight the hardest part the 6 months was my own food demons so I took the six months to scale back the things that I need to get used to Mike reducing sugar carbs portion sizes eliminating soda alcohol fast food etc I had to cut down on my social life a bit because it's hard to resist when you're out with a bunch of friends and everybody's having a great big meal and you need to learn that this will not work after the surgery so I've become a bit of a recluse the last 6 months but the day is tomorrow and I'm feeling optimistic best of luck to you the time flies

congrats on the loss you could still probably have those drinks but without the alcohol, they will still taste good

Sugar alcohols (check your Protein drinks' and protein bars' labels) can and do sometimes cause explosive diarrhea. They sometimes do that for me. But not always. Any chance you've eaten at Chipotle's lately? Seriously, this could be related to your post-op diet -- or it could just be a food bug you picked up somewhere. And, of course, do hydrate yourself a lot. BTW, you're not going to die if you just drink Water for 24 hours and lay off all foods. Could be worth a science experiment.

Hi Alyssa and all! I'm Angie and am also 23, good to see some strong hard working gals that I could relate to. I'm almost two years post op, so I can definitely talk about the fun stuff lol. The constipation is not so fun, I actually don't have any movements unless I take a certain natural laxative. As for exercise, I've recently gotten into Zumba. It's extremely fun and seems to be one of the few things that actually make me break a sweat now a days. I'm also a college student and I come across issues such as stress eating, and alcohol. I'm not sure if you could relate, but if you do just know you're not alone.

Eat Right Can’t get away from this one, can you? You know when you eat well, you have more energy, feel more confident, and are happier. That’s a recipe for being able to do some quality gift shopping or even volunteer work. You know what “eating right” means. Base your meals around lean protein like non-fat cottage cheese, tuna, beans, egg whites, or chicken breast, for example. Add a bunch of vegetables, and enjoy some fruit or healthy starches at most meals. Pretty simple, and so effective! Oh, and if you do indulge? Keep it to a small and delicious bite to savor. Use the Trash Can, Don’t Be One If you’ve ever eaten something just because it’s there, you’ve used your body as a trash can. That’s because you ate something you didn’t need instead of simply leaving it or throwing it out. This happens a lot around the holidays, when you might eat the leftovers or a plate of Christmas cookies because you feel guilty throwing them out. Guess what. When you throw trash into your body instead of a can, you’re not helping starving children in Africa. If you really want to help them, why not make a donation? Donate, say, a penny for every calorie you dump, or a quarter for every cookie you toss. Now that’s how putting yourself first can help out others in need! Exercise When you exercise, you’re happier, more energetic, and more focused. Sound selfish? Not really. You can be more productive at work, better able to entertain your friends and family, and readier to whip up that next batch of cookies when your children have a last-minute request for a contribution to a classroom holiday party. It can be tough to stick to your regular exercise schedule during the holidays. You can save time by getting your gear ready the night before and by planning your workout ahead of time so you make use of every moment. Since it can be tempting to sleep in instead of a morning workout or just hang out at home in the evening, make use of other people to stay accountable. Make plans to meet an exercise buddy, or commit to group fitness classes. And, if you’re feeling too stressed or tired to do a hard workout, try going to the gym for some easy stretching. You’ll still get the mental benefits and stay in the healthy habit of being a gym rat. De-Stress Have you ever wanted to tell someone to just “chill!” because they’re making you nervous? Don’t be that person! Keep yourself cool and collected so everyone wants to be around you and not avoid you. De-stress in whatever way works for you. You can go for a walk, get a massage or manicure, take a drive, or go shopping. It doesn’t matter…as long as you do it and it works. If it involves someone else, you’re doing double duty and helping someone else out as well! Have Fun Amidst all the hustle and bustle of taking care of yourself and others, don’t forget to have fun. Do whatever you want, whether it’s meeting a friend for (healthy) lunch, watching a full season of a TV show in a few days, or doing all the aisles at Walmart at 1:00 a.m. Whatever you’ve been dying to do all year, do it now. When you keep yourself happy, you’re better able to appreciate what other people need or want to be happy. Forgive Yourself Yes, things will go wrong. You’ll eat too much, or go a little overboard on the alcohol at a holiday party, or sleep in instead of working out. Or you’ll forget to pick up a gift for someone, or burn the cake you’re baking. It’s okay, and you’re best off if you can laugh it off and move on. Fret about it, and you’ll just be hurting other people who would rather see you happy than upset. The holiday season is supposed to be about giving, but that can drain you if you don’t take care of yourself. Just like you do during the rest of your weight loss surgery journey, you need to put yourself first during the holidays. That lets you give your best to everyone else, too.

Here’s why putting yourself first can make everyone else happier, and how you can put yourself first this holiday season. The holidays are about being a good person, right? You’re supposed to be thankful for what you have. You’re supposed to give to others, and put others’ needs first. I agree completely, but you can do more for others when you’re at your best. You’ll be at your best when you take care of yourself, so here are some ideas for keeping yourself in your best physical, mental, and emotional shape…so you have more to give others. So here are some ways to put yourself first this holiday season. They’ll help you eat a little healthier, stay a little fitter, and be a little more in control than if you neglect your own needs. And they’ll help you be able to do more for others. Eat Right Can’t get away from this one, can you? You know when you eat well, you have more energy, feel more confident, and are happier. That’s a recipe for being able to do some quality gift shopping or even volunteer work. You know what “eating right” means. Base your meals around lean protein like non-fat cottage cheese, tuna, beans, egg whites, or chicken breast, for example. Add a bunch of vegetables, and enjoy some fruit or healthy starches at most meals. Pretty simple, and so effective! Oh, and if you do indulge? Keep it to a small and delicious bite to savor. Use the Trash Can, Don’t Be One If you’ve ever eaten something just because it’s there, you’ve used your body as a trash can. That’s because you ate something you didn’t need instead of simply leaving it or throwing it out. This happens a lot around the holidays, when you might eat the leftovers or a plate of Christmas cookies because you feel guilty throwing them out. Guess what. When you throw trash into your body instead of a can, you’re not helping starving children in Africa. If you really want to help them, why not make a donation? Donate, say, a penny for every calorie you dump, or a quarter for every cookie you toss. Now that’s how putting yourself first can help out others in need! Exercise When you exercise, you’re happier, more energetic, and more focused. Sound selfish? Not really. You can be more productive at work, better able to entertain your friends and family, and readier to whip up that next batch of cookies when your children have a last-minute request for a contribution to a classroom holiday party. It can be tough to stick to your regular exercise schedule during the holidays. You can save time by getting your gear ready the night before and by planning your workout ahead of time so you make use of every moment. Since it can be tempting to sleep in instead of a morning workout or just hang out at home in the evening, make use of other people to stay accountable. Make plans to meet an exercise buddy, or commit to group fitness classes. And, if you’re feeling too stressed or tired to do a hard workout, try going to the gym for some easy stretching. You’ll still get the mental benefits and stay in the healthy habit of being a gym rat. De-Stress Have you ever wanted to tell someone to just “chill!” because they’re making you nervous? Don’t be that person! Keep yourself cool and collected so everyone wants to be around you and not avoid you. De-stress in whatever way works for you. You can go for a walk, get a massage or manicure, take a drive, or go shopping. It doesn’t matter…as long as you do it and it works. If it involves someone else, you’re doing double duty and helping someone else out as well! Have Fun Amidst all the hustle and bustle of taking care of yourself and others, don’t forget to have fun. Do whatever you want, whether it’s meeting a friend for (healthy) lunch, watching a full season of a TV show in a few days, or doing all the aisles at Walmart at 1:00 a.m. Whatever you’ve been dying to do all year, do it now. When you keep yourself happy, you’re better able to appreciate what other people need or want to be happy. Forgive Yourself Yes, things will go wrong. You’ll eat too much, or go a little overboard on the alcohol at a holiday party, or sleep in instead of working out. Or you’ll forget to pick up a gift for someone, or burn the cake you’re baking. It’s okay, and you’re best off if you can laugh it off and move on. Fret about it, and you’ll just be hurting other people who would rather see you happy than upset. The holiday season is supposed to be about giving, but that can drain you if you don’t take care of yourself. Just like you do during the rest of your weight loss surgery journey, you need to put yourself first during the holidays. That lets you give your best to everyone else, too.

Gladiators! I need help and support. I've got no one to talk with this about. A very bad thing happened because of my surgery. At my company's holiday party (yes, the new job I've had for only two months) I had a few cocktails. Well, apparently I got so intoxicated that I said and did some not so professional things. Because of this, I received a final warning. I'm so upset. I guess alcohol really does process quicker and more in-depth. I am fortunate I wasn't fired. But. I'm mortified. I'm usually very professional, conservative and cautious at work. Now, I feel like everyone the company joke. My boss, who really has been supportive even though she had to issue the warning, told me only a few people know. But I can't shake this overwhelming quilt. I need hugs from my Gladiators.

Does the vicadon even help with sciatica pain? Nothing helped mine because I had an injury in that joint and the pain came from a spot with poor blood flow so pain pills didn't really help much. I would seriously consider alternative treatments. I think it's very admirable you can admit this. I want to give you a big warning. Post sleeve, your body will metabolize alcohol differently making it very easy to turn to problem drinking. It would be really great if you could find a therapist that understands WLS and addictions to help you ward off problems down the road. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

McCraven: My NUT told me to wait a year. Her reasons were: 1) Most of us sleevers have a fatty liver. As we are losing weight rapidly our liver is working hard. Add alcohol to that, and our liver has to work harder. 2) alcohol can inflame the stomach 3) liquid calories and could effect your weight loss and the rate of weight loss. Dietbelle: I wouldn't think a teeny tiny sip would would hurt, but I would leave it at just aTeeny sip for the toast. Champagne has the dreaded carbonation and of course the alcohol. A whole glass may not feel good on your tummy. As far as food, each surgeon seems to be a little different. I am allowed to eat solid foods at 6 weeks. He instructed me not to eat red meat for about 6 months but eat what I want with the rule of measured portions, small bites, chew till it dissolves, Protein first and if there is room, the eat some veg. Breads, cakes, etc should be avoided.

I understand that... As my surgery date is coming I desire alcohol more.. anyone else?

Congrats!! This is an exciting time and you have so much to look forward to. Good luck and keep posting!! And hey, you're on liquids. Drink what you like. (Except alcohol!)

The intention of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver. Alcohol goes straight to your liver. Why not drink some camomile tea and/or take a hot bath instead.

When I started my journey almost two years ago, I remember being told during my psych eval that it is very common for us sleevers to develop other addictions post-opt. Made sense to me, since food was my drug of choice and this "treatment" would severely limit my "habit" (ha ha). However, I never thought I would develop a post-opt addiction because I'm against drinking (alcoholism runs in my family), smoking (my grandma died of lung cancer), gambling (brother is an addict) and excessive shopping (I love clothes, but I'm also very cheap) or a lot of the other common vices I saw around me. I thought I was fine. Then, slowly and without me realizing it, I started becoming addicted to my job. I have a special alert set on my phone just for work emails. It doesn't matter if I'm at church, in bed half asleep, having dinner with friends, on vacation, at the doctor's office, at a traffic light, whatever. If I hear that special alert, I'm clamoring for my phone. Almost all my lunches are working lunches. On the weekend, I will sit down at my computer for "a minute" to do something quick for work, and not realize several hours have gone by until I get hungry and/or need to pee. My job also dominates most of my conversations. I've noticed it myself and find that when I try NOT to talk about work, it agitates me. So I take turns talking off different people's ear about my job. I get excited when someone I don't talk to regularly contacts me because I know that means I can talk about my job for a long time and not feel guilty because it's not like they have to listen to me everyday. When I watch TV, I'm half paying attention because I'm either reading a work email, responding to a work email or making a document for my job. Even though my Mom (who I'm extremely close with) has said several times that I seem consumed with my job, I didn't realize it was true until I had two panic attacks (one this morning, one last month). As I was driving home today sorting through my feelings, I remember my pre-opt psych eval. Now that I don't/can't binge eat, work is my new "comfort food". But like I used to do with food, I'm overdoing it. All my self-esteem and sense of self worth has also become tied up into my job. When I do a great job at work, then I'm walking on sunshine. When things don't go as planned, then I'm miserable and feel worthless. If I find out I've been excluded from something social (ie: maybe some coworkers go to a happy hour) I feel devastated even though I have a good number of close friends and family I spend time with outside of work. I constantly compare myself to other more senior staff members and tell myself I'm a loser who didn't deserve my promotion. Even though I've worked at my current job with the same staff and boss for almost 7 years, every day I go in like I have something to prove. Most mornings, I'm there before my boss and even though I leave before the boss, I go home and work another 3 - 4 hours. I plan to talk to my therapist, but I just thought I'd share. If anyone has thoughts and/or has been through something similar, would love to hear. Thanks for reading/listening.

I have dumping if I eat sugar alcohols or some dairy. I had the sleeve.

I am always very surprised at how little information is given to patients that do not have their surgeries done at Bariatric centers of excellence. Most insurance companies require that you use one but there are still some out there that do not. The pre care and post care of a center of excellence is outstanding. Mine literally gave me a 3 ring binder (my bible). It told me everything I needed to be doing day by day, week by week, month by month. It described the 3 different surgeries, the risks and benefits associated with each one. It had a section for each specialist you meet with and a special section for the 6 month supervised diet. Then it provided a huge list of sites to get even more information. I knew exactly what I was getting into from day 1. In addition, my center of excellence made me literally sign a contract stating I would not drink alcohol for the first year and that I would follow all the rules required of someone who has WLS. I also agreed that I would get my labs checked twice per year and take my required Vitamins. I feel bad when I hear about people not getting this level of care. I cannot imagine going through this without all the data. I also met with bariatricians, Bariatricpal nurses, Bariatric physiologist, and a nutritionist every month leading up to surgery, I was beyond educated and would love to see that every patient is but it just seems that is not a requirement of some insurance companies.

Premier Protein is really yummy, and it doesn't have any sugar alcohols and only 1 gram of sugar. I like the chocolate best.

3 months, no, no, no. I still choose not to eat and drink at the same time just because I don't want to risk getting sick from being full and taking in liquids too soon after that. I don't feel like I'm affected any more now by alcohol than I was before surgery. I've tried wine, mimosas, amaretto sours, but will usually stick to cape cods (vodka and light cranberry juice). Can't drink fast and carbonation of champagne has to go even slower. Still kind of nervous to try my luck with shots, but if someone else who answers has any advice, I'd love to hear that too.