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QUESTIONS: 1. How long did you go before having your first drink? 7 weeks post surgery. I had 1 glass (6 oz) at one of my best friends wedding last weekend. Then another 6 oz later at the hotel afterwards. Nothing since. I used to drink a couple glasses of wine on the weekends, maybe a couple beers in a month. Not touching beer or anything carbonated until I am much closer to goal...or maybe longer...don't know...I don't really have any immediate desire to do so. 2. Have you had any MEDICAL complications with your surgery that were attributed to drinking alcohol? None 3. Have you gained back significant weight from drinking alcohol? No 4. Have you developed an alcohol addiction post VSG after having been able to control your drinking before?

1. How long did you go before having your first drink? - 6 mths 2. Have you had any MEDICAL complications with your surgery that were attributed to drinking alcohol? NO 3. Have you gained back significant weight from drinking alcohol? NO 4. Have you developed an alcohol addiction post VSG after having been able to control your drinking before? NO I am a social drinker, but it really depends on when the mood hits. My first drink post-op was at a wine tasting. I had a drink over the summer at a get away weekend with friends. Since the new tv season has started I have a glass of wine on Thursday nights. I mostly drink wine, but occasionally also have beer or vodka.

1. How long did you go before having your first drink? I had a couple of sips 2 months post-op for a toast. But my first real drinking (wine) happened at 6 months post-op. Went to New Orleans and drank 6 ounces of wine for 3 days. Since then I've drunk 4-6 ounces of wine 4-5 evenings a week. Sometimes instead of wine I'll have a 1.5 ounce shot of single malt scotch. 2. Have you had any MEDICAL complications with your surgery that were attributed to drinking alcohol? Nope. 3. Have you gained back significant weight from drinking alcohol? Nope. 4. Have you developed an alcohol addiction post VSG after having been able to control your drinking before? Nope. My bariatric P.A. calls me a social drinker (women have no more than 7 drinks a week). See http://alcoholrehab.com/alcoholism/social-drinking-defined/ 5. Have your drinking habits changed post-opt? Nope - I drink now just as I did before WLS.

QUESTIONS: 1. How long did you go before having your first drink? I had my first drink about 15 days post surgery (had like 3 sips of some cheap champagne for New Years) 2. Have you had any MEDICAL complications with your surgery that were attributed to drinking alcohol? None that I can think of. 3. Have you gained back significant weight from drinking alcohol? No I haven't gained any weight back from drinking alcohol. However I don't drink often either. 4. Have you developed an alcohol addiction post VSG after having been able to control your drinking before? No. Before the surgery I was very much a social drinking. Going out for drinks at least twice to three times a month. Now I may have a drink once every few months (and by a drink I mean I am a one and done guy now). It hasn't been a year yet out of surgery for me, and I have had a drink of alcohol probably 4 times since the surgery. And the affects are the same every time. I get buzzed/high very quickly off of one drink. It last maybe 10 -15 minutes after I have stopped drinking said drink. I usually wait 20 to 30 minutes after the buzzing affects before I drive home, if I am out with friends just to make sure all the affects have past. Because I don't like that it gets me buzzed/high so freaking quickly and I prefer to have my wits about me when I am out in public I tend to limit or don't drink alcohol while out in public. If I am at home or a friends I may drink more than a drink, but honestly I haven't done that yet. With a giant bottle of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey in my fridge that I brought a few months before I even agreed to have the surgery I can still say is still in my fridge. full as can be.

Before I even signed up for an orientation, I checked out forums like this to make sure VSG was right for me. I have always been an Atkins oriented eater, so the whole protein first thing wasn't a problem. I am a social drinker (weekends only -- no high calorie drinks) and observed that most VSG veterans who were drinkers before the surgery seem to do so without problems after. I also listened closely to my surgeon during orientation who clearly stated that one of the big differences between the VSG and RNY was that that the recommended no one ever drink alcohol after RNY; okay in moderation with VSG. I also found that most threads on the topic of alcohol are full of people who didn't drink castigating people who did, which tended to distort the true information exchange, so before I get tp the questions, I humbly request that people who never drank, or gave it up since their surgery feel free to troll, but please don't comment -- I'm only interested in first hand factual responses! QUESTIONS: 1. How long did you go before having your first drink? 2. Have you had any MEDICAL complications with your surgery that were attributed to drinking alcohol? 3. Have you gained back significant weight from drinking alcohol? 4. Have you developed an alcohol addiction post VSG after having been able to control your drinking before? As I said, I have read all the guidelines and see questions 2, 3, and 4 listed as "risks of drinking alcohol". At the same time, I see lots of comments from people who have returned to drinking post-opt with no complications, weight gain, or sudden addiction. By the way, I have also read all the "doctor's orders" and have found total inconsistency (ranging from never drink again to a month or two). My own program doesn't even have a consistent answer, which is why I'm asking for real stories... Thanks!

I was sleeved on June 25th and have lost 47lbs. I was 200 and now I'm 153. Everything has gone smoothly. Starting to lose hair. Which I've read is normal. I've stalled a few times and gained a pound or two a few times. I sometimes feel a tightness under my right rib. Take regular a vitamin and a probiotic. Pooping is pretty good. Haven't had alcohol yet. Just water. No carbonation. First meal is just a few bites than I can eat more as the day goes on. Actually have to start watching my snacking at night. I'm taking it day by day. Love Fairlife milk. 19 grams of protein in a little bottle. Yummy! Best thing I've ever done!! ♥️

I can say one thing.......you live in a tough area. I, too, live in this tough area. I'm a two hour drive from almost anywhere in the state of South Carolina. Why is it tough ? Because South Carolina has the best tasting food in the world. Hands down, no kidding, real deal best tasting food I've ever had. Best tasting.....but not best-for-us. Everything that Paula Dean used to cook.....South Carolina's got all that and more and more and more. The good news is that there ARE healthy versions of the state's classics. Paula's son wrote a book, titled something like, "From Momma's Kitchen to Mine" or close to it. He takes her artery clogging recipes and rewrites them in a much lower calorie, healthier way and retains great flavor. Sweat tea. Good Lord.....sweet tea. Who in the heck thought to add 19 cups of sugar to a gallon of tea ?????? Local folks, that's who. That stuff is good as heck, too. I haven't been able to drink it or regular soft drinks for years and years, thankfully. Once I switched over to Splenda & Stevia there is no way I can handle that sugar poison. Even the cocktails down here are highly caloric. It's like they take a sugary child's drink and then spike it with the most sugary based alcohol. Fortunately there are tons of ways you can enjoy a cocktail or two down in due time that don't involve sugary poison. Our age old family recipes......another source of death. There isn't a single older family recipe that I grew up with that is healthy. Even the Soup is death in bowl. I'm grateful that my parents adopted very healthy eating and will be here much longer as a result. The Grandmother's and Aunt's recipes, though......taste great....but you'll die young eating them. Golden Corrals and the like are on every corner. All you can eat death. Now they advertise to-go boxes. What the hell ? All you can eat garbage....with a to-go box thrown in. Our only decision is burial or cremation. For me it was getting to be an easy choice. My prospective pallbearers were all going...."No way, bro. We can't carry yo big arse". "Those freaks that go to the gym". That is how a close family member described a couple of their friends who'd become health conscious. "Freaks" they became. Sadly, it is true. Not many folks in my family and only one in my wife's entire family go to a gym with any regularity. It's the norm among many families around here. Why go to the gym when we can stay at home and have sweet tea ? Bojangles. The folks around this site that don't already know about Bojangles have a distinct advantage to the weight loss game. I know for a fact that I've gained hundreds of pounds in my lifetime from the fuel I"ve chosen to eat form Bojangles. Lawd it was like fried crack rock. So good you wanted to slap yo mamma. Home made ice cream. I don't know if this is a Southern thing or not....but it seams that way. Somehow my dear Grandfather could take something wholesome like peaches or blueberries......and turn them into a semi-frozen treat that was loaded with sugar and fat. It was so good that my cousins and I would sit there an drool while we spelled him cranking the handle on the ice cream maker. Drooling like the little addicts we were. Fried chicken. My Grandmother could fry chicken that would have me eating the bones and all it was so damn good. I can still remember seeing her adding salt into the batter bag......... Homemade pickles. My Grandfather used to make watermelon rind pickles that folks begged for all year long. "When are you going to make another batch, J.D. ?". No kid should like pickles as much as I did. It's because he loaded them with sugar. Seafood. Only around here can we take an inherently healthy food and go screw it up in the name of flavor. Broiled grouper is great......but fried grouper is something else entirely. Flavor for days. her battered catfish.....oh yeah....almost every week. Shrimp 'n grits...........death, death, double death. I"m sure every region has it's share of culinary pitfalls....I'm just familiar with the local versions. Way too familiar Guess what ? All that above are the sins of other people and don't have to be ours. We can have fun through other means than poisoning ourselves just because our ancestors and locale restauranteurs want us to. There is a new theme that is going on in restaurants......virtually every local one, too.....a healthy theme. Bariatric friendly meals can be had anywhere Breakfast, lunch and dinner. The grocery store even has easy microwave bariatric friendly meals in the freezer sections. Convenience can be had. There is nothing fun about food addiction. By definition food ceased being fun is a source of pain, self loathing, resentment, etc. By taking charge and losing the weight you want to lose and living in control you will be able to once again have fun with food. You'll have zero guilt. You'll enjoy the preparation and the partaking. Many new healthy recipes await you. The spice world caters to us now more than ever......sugar free......sodium free.........wonderful tasting spices. We'll be able to get it right. We'll be able to teach our kids a healthier way and they will do it without thought. Imagine how much fun you can have when you are living at your goal weight. Mobility up. Pain down. Looming health issues averted. Imagine how much more appealing you'll find shopping for clothes and how great it will feel to wear the clothes that you've always wanted to wear but were not able to. You are just a couple days away from the rest of your life. Think about how much longer and more fun this life will be at goal weight. You've got this !!!!!!!!!!

My NUT said that dumping syndrome Is caused because the part of the intestines that are bypassed, that first section, is responsible for absorbing sugar and fats. Not all sugars, but like sugar used in things commercially and table sugar and baked goods and the alcohols made from them. If it has sugar listed as an ingredient pass on it same for any sweetener ending in -ilitol like malitol, xylitol, etc. they all will cause dumping syndrome, because it doesn't belong there and the body doesn't know how to process it, so it treats it as a dangerous substance and tries to flush it out by flooding your intestines with extra water to move it on out. Over time-somewhere between yr 1 and 2, your body will adapt and be able to process sugar again, but only in little amounts like in something like ketchup, but you may never be able to eat ice cream or cake again except for 1 bite. Same with greasy foods. Things sweetened with sucralose(Splenda) or fructose get absorbed in a different place in the intestinal line, so you can safely eat things sweetened with these sweeteners, because the area where they are absorbed was not bypassed.

Atkins would be the last bar I'd want due to all the sugar alcohol. It screws my system up badly. Maybe you'll have better results. Quest Bars are hands down the best I've ever tried. Very high in Protein, low in sugar, high in Fiber and the flavor is killer. Most all of the Protein powder when mixed with ice Water seems to work out great for me. There is a wide, wide range of excellent low-carb protein powder available.

Alcohol seems to affect me exactly the same post surgery as a dead prior to surgery. I have a fairly high tolerance. So far nothing alcoholic has made me dump and id. pretty severely. I drink wine and champagne because those are low calorie options without a ton of alcohol. Whiskey on the rocks is something I like as well. Occasionally I splurged on a mixed drink like a Mohito but I really watch those because of the sugar content and the calories. Looking at mixed drinks there are a lot of low calorie options like the skinny vodka drinks and things made with soda Water etc.

I have been 'writing' my life's journey for a little over 47 years. Early this year (2015) I finally admitted to myself that I need help to get to a healthy me. I'm 5' 4" and 225 pounds, I just called myself thick and sexy. Truth is I have been the least healthy in the past 8 years than in my entire life. I am a married mother of 3 or 4 (31, 24 and 19 yr old children and a 22-month old Chiweenie). Retired USAF, after 24 yrs (1987-2011). I, like most on this journey, put everything and everyone before myself. Since my Mother's passing, in 2006 (she was only 57 and passed from obesity-related complications), I have totally lost the focus and drive that kept me moving forward. My life came to, what felt like, a screeching halt. My health plummeted ... migraines, sciatica, Fibromyalgia, Nueropathy, anxiety, depression you name it, i had it. Narcotics and epidurals for physical pain, antidepressants, alcohol and food for the pain one cannot see. I was not aware that once forward momentum halts, all those life issues that one had so far 'successfully' out run (and not properly dealt with) catch up with a fury. Don't get me wrong, my life is no more difficult nor easier than anyone else's. But this post, unlike anything else in my life, is just about me. My feelings about myself (which were always positive) began to take a negative direction. So when I realized I was avoiding photos, social media and sometimes reality itself I decided to deal with my issues and stop running in place. Luckily, my earlier life decisions (USAF) allowed me to easily access the medical and mental health assistance that I desperately needed and still use today. My decision to have gastric bypass surgery was all mine. No one else, in my life, (well maybe my Dr) even thought I was 'overweight.' I'm Puerto Rican - and culturally, we tend to accept thickness with age. (See, I still call it anything but 'obesity!) When I asked my Dr for the referral (April 2015) he was all for it. When I finally received the insurance approval, in August, I sat there with my mouth wide opened as I read the document that brought it all home for me. There were two words on that document that stood out as if the font size were different, in bold, underlined and followed with many exclamation points although that was not the case. 'Morbidly Obese' As the oldest living female in my family (at 47 yrs old), I was following in the same footsteps as all the strong, wise, loved (albeit unhealthy) women who died way before their time. That's when I knew I had certainly made the best decision for myself and my family. My 24 yr old got married last year (2014) after graduating college and moved away with her Army husband. My 31 yr old got engaged and moved away less than a month later. He just married earlier this month and blessed my life with news of my first grandchild due in Spring next year. My 19 yr old realizes how good he has it and will need to be put out of our home by brute force. (That goes for my Chiweenie too!) My husband is 6' 4" and loves me 'no matter what' he just repeatedly tells me, "You'd better not die on me! I couldn't take it." All of them are reason enough for my decision to have this surgery in 2 days. But the truth is, I am having this surgery for me. My health, my life, my happiness and of course my life's next great chapter.

In Iceland we are big on traditions, at least my family. Ok probably all countries have their traditions. On Christmas, we always have this special drink, it's Orange Soda (kinda like Fanta) mixed with a Malt drink (non alcoholic) Both are carbonated. I love this drink. I could drink liters of it every day for Christmas, and well yes Easter as well. But lap band doesn't allow carbonated drinks. I tried one glass of it last weekend and I didn't feel that good. I had nausea that didn't go away until I let out a huge burp 3-4 hours later! How am I going to survive without that drink??? But I will I know I will. I will just find something really good instead. I tried a hot apple cider the other day that I made myself. It was seriously good but full of calories. I'm going to make that drink for Christmas as a special occasion. Then we LOVE our smoked meat. I love it as well. My fave meat actually. Nope, can't eat it. Had it last weekend as well (dads bday) and I had problems with lunch all week. I could get some down and wasn't hungry but I had Productive Burping every day and I had to deliver some in the toilet. And I was at work! OMG but I eat by my desk so that I can eat at my own speed and not worry about other people. I think this week has mentally been the most difficult since I went off liquid diet at the beginning. The smoked meat gave be lots of edema and I can't follow food tradition anymore. But I saw the weight go down anyway! 0.4 pounds or 200 grams. Not a lot but with edema, it is something. It made me happy, yes that tiny weight loss did everything for me. I'm always learning, maybe a slow learner and I do the same mistake twice or ok three times haha, but I have to avoid smoked food and salt. If I do have those things, I have to suck it up and well feel bad for a week. Is it worth it? nope not worth it. I even thought while this was going on, if I regretted the lap band, but nope, still love it. I can survive the productive burping, the slime and the fluid. I already feel overall better in my body. My underwear is even too big now! gosh haha, what a lovely feeling. Ok very bad for my bank account but it feels so good that my panties are about to slide down by itself if you get what I mean And today I saw that I have a follower on my blog a woman who had the surgery at the same time I did and my blog is helping her. I saw her comment 1 month late. But wow that made me happy. I always thought I was just blogging for myself. Talking about my failures and how my mind works through all this. I'm glad someone like my blog For those who don't know what edema is, it is excessive fluid in our body. Your face is like a balloon when you wake up and your fingers are like sausages. When you touch your skin, it doesn't feel like your own body, feels like jelly in there. Then the longer you are awake, then the fluid goes from your upper body and to your feet. But that doesn't bother me as much as when it's in my face, fingers and around the band.

I was cleared for everything (except fried foods and alcohol) at 6 weeks out. Week 1--clear liquids Week 2--full liquids Week 3--soft foods (didn't have to be pureed) Week 4--started introducing more foods; was allowed to have caffeine Week 5--same as week 4 Week 6--allowed to start introducing raw veggies, salad, nuts, seeds

I agree that it is especially critical to follow your surgeon/nutritionist's plan in the early weeks/months. I think down the road, once we are past the initial risks of leaks and whatnot, then it is up to us to explore and find a way to LIVE the rest of our lives. A lot of those early plans are in place to ensure proper healing and coping with your new stomach. But further out, you have to experiment with things that will make your new life sustainable for the long term and find the right balances for yourself. My nutritionist's plan didn't really extend out this far (I'm almost 14 months post-op) aside from the no eating and drinking at the same time and making sure I get 100 grams of Protein per day. I've found what works for me. I reached goal and I'm maintaining. All my blood work has come back great at regular intervals since my surgery. I'm pretty happy and comfortable with the way I eat now. I drink coffee every single day. I was allowed it at day 30 post-op and you can bet I had that day marked on my calendar and literally counted down the days! But I did wait the full 30 days. I was allowed alcohol at 3 months post-op and only have it VERY rarely. I find that I get drunk stupidly fast now. I am a SUPER light-weight. I haven't tried soda, so I don't know what effect that would have on me at this point. I wasn't big on soda even before surgery, having made the switch to Water years earlier. So I don't really miss it at all. I've had a couple of mildly carbonated alcoholic drinks in the past year and they were fine, though I do try to avoid them. I've drunk from a straw several times, just by accident mostly. Sometimes a restaurant will bring my drink with a straw already in it and I'll drink from it without even thinking about it. I haven't had any ill consequences from that, but I don't use straws the vast majority of the time. My nutritionist wanted me to switch away from protein supplements ASAP and get the majority of my protein through real food, but I still eat Protein Bars every day. It's what works for me! Like I said, it's very important to stick to the guidelines in the beginning and not jeopardize your healing. But you are the one who has to be able to live the rest of your life so only you can know what's going to ultimately work for you for the long haul after you are all healed up.

I'm no expert here - only six months out. However, I want to reiterate that you need to follow YOUR nut/surgeon guidelines. There are many on here that have no problems with straws, soda, coffee, alcohol, etc.and often share this information. Please keep in mind that it doesn't mean you should do the same. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of struggles following "the plan". The plan is in place to ensure your success in this journey. Just my two cents. Best wishes to everyone!

So I had my first cocktail 1.5 months out from surgery. My husband and I both had GB within one week of another. We are now 4 months out and we have a cocktail regularly (not excessive by any means), but the usual weekend socializer. Now, everyone has stated that alcohol will hit you faster and harder than before. Well, well....not the case for me. I have had a couple glasses of wine a time or even a couple rather stout cocktails at a time - and well....NOPE - no tipsy, no nothing. I have a feeling it goes right through me now. In the past a couple drinks I would be feeling a little happy. So not sure what is different for me. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this...??

Well, I had surgery on the 12th but when the dr cut into me, he seen my liver didn't look right, so he took a biopsy of it and my gall bladder and my spleen and my intestines. Long story short...they found that I have non alcoholic fatty liver sirrosis.. stage 3. The dr said doing a bypass would have killed me... but I can get the sleeve done. the only thing that will help my liver is to lose weight or I will have to have a transplant. So, I go back to my surgeon on the 20th and I am hoping we can get right on to the sleeve, and not let any more time pass.

Well, I had surgery on the 12th but when the dr cut into me, he seen my liver didn't look right, so he took a biopsy of it and my gall bladder and my spleen and my intestines. Long story short...they found that I have non alcoholic fatty liver sirrosis.. stage 3. The dr said doing a bypass would have killed me... but I can get the sleeve done. the only thing that will help my liver is to lose weight or I will have to have a transplant. So, I go back to my surgeon on the 20th and I am hoping we can get right on to the sleeve, and not let any more time pass.

@@Kimcamm you are so right! It is hard to get through the many emotions without the go to comfort food that we are used to. I used to eat whatever I wanted when feeling depressed or have a case of beer(that was bad) and now I can't do that anymore. Some foods don't agree with me and alcohol doesn't either. Learning to press on through those feelings without those is hard.

I have a food addiction too. The thing is, you can't quit eating, like smoking or drinking alcohol and unhealthy food is all around us, I just drove by a billboard showing a McDonald's burger and I wanted one, I wasn't hungry BUT that burger looked good!!! Life is hard and this is probably the hardest thing you (all of us) will go thru that is truly our OWN obstacle, not our spouses or kids, so that in itself is tough, especially if you always put others first. Well good luck everyone, the struggle goes on.

You're headed in the right direction--however, as the ex-wife of an alcoholic, be aware that you can slip into another situation like this rather easily. I would suggest some sort of counseling, maybe even an al-anon group. It takes real work to root out the issues that allow us to get sucked into an addict's life--and there are all kinds of addicts.

Not all alcohols are the same. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are good alcohols, they are fatty alcohols and emollients and in a complently different class than straight alcohol or rubbing alcohol. CeraVe contains cetyl alcohol which is a good alcohol. Which is why dermatologist recommend CeraVe, for people with dry skin. I wouldn't put the body lotion on my face though, they make a line of face products.

I didn’t find the researchers’ results surprising. That is in large part because I have seen the studies before. Also, although my own personal experience was completely positive, I have seen many others who have struggled post-op. Here are some of the possible explanations I have heard of and believe are viable for increased risks of suicide attempts in bariatric surgery patients. An increased ability to commit or attempt suicide, similar to what can happen when depressed patients begin taking anti-depressants. A theory I have heard is that the risk of suicide increases when patients first begin taking anti-depressants, possibly because they now have the energy to think about taking action toward suicide. Maybe weight loss surgery patients gain the energy to think about suicide as they lose weight. Replacement addictions leading to drug overdose. Replacement addictions are common in weight loss surgery patients. They replace our former food addictions and can come in all kinds of forms, whether it is an addiction to alcohol, exercise, or drugs. Loss of use of food as an “outlet” for external stressors. We all handle stress in our own ways. Many of us used food to reduce stress before surgery. After surgery, that outlet is gone. If we do not develop a new healthier outlet, our new outlet may be drugs or alcohol, or we may not have an outlet. The outcome may be a suicide attempt. Realization that a high BMI was not the cause of the patient’s problems and mood. Some patients believe their problems will go away when they lose weight and their obesity-related health concerns diminish. Unfortunately, problems at work, relationship struggles, and self-worth issues do not automatically go away after weight loss surgery, and they may become more devastating because the patient realizes they are not a result of having a high BMI. Increased social pressures. These can begin as soon as the patient begins considering bariatric surgery and feels the need to defend her decision and explain that it is not the “easy out.” The defense can continue for life as friends and family continually make comments, whether positive or negative, about the patient’s weight, eating habits, and other personal matters. Changes in hormone levels. The JAMA researchers noted changes in neurohormones such as neuropeptide YY, which could be linked to depressive symptoms. Realization that it’s a lifelong change. Life is a really, really long time. Some patients may not realize quite how long until they are post-op and feeling the daily grind of their surgery. This may be especially true in malabsorptive or irreversible surgeries like the gastric sleeve. A strong support system is absolutely critical to prevent these tragedies! It needs to begin in the earliest pre-op stages, and continue possibly for life. It needs to include the medical side as well as the social side. Before approving patients for surgery, bariatric centers need to provide more than a cursory psychological evaluation. They need to really try to figure out whether their potential weight loss surgery patients have risk factors for depression and suicide attempts. I have met so many weight loss surgery patients who are on anti-depressants, yet depression is a contraindication for weight loss surgery! The bariatric center team needs to put the best interest of the potential patient first and try to determine whether the need to use anti-depressants is due to obesity-related factors and will go away post-op, or whether the patient has signs of depression unrelated to obesity. From approval through surgery, the patient should continue to meet with a qualified mental health professional to prepare themselves for life after surgery – going beyond behavior changes and reaching into likely changes in self-perception and personal and even professional relationships. After surgery, mental health support needs to continue. Patients need to have access to a professional should they need one. They should be educated on signs of depression and suicidal tendencies. They also need to be taught to expect certain new stressors, and they need to learn coping strategies to replace food. They should also go to support group sessions, both to receive education and to be able to share stories with and learn from other patients. These are all things that “should” happen. Unfortunately, they rarely do. It is not uncommon for the initial psychological evaluation to be the only contact they have with a mental health professional, and even then, the evaluation may be more of a formality than a true investigation into the patient’s mental health and likelihood of being a good candidate for surgery. Post-op follow-up is often little to non-existent. Not only might patients not be given the one-on-one attention they may need, but they may not even know which symptoms to look for should they develop depression. They may feel lost, which can be exacerbated if other post-op follow-up such as nutritional support is also lacking. In addition, follow-up support in in-person support groups may not be what it should. If meetings even are offered by a certain bariatric center, they may be at inconvenient times, or too far away, or too infrequent, to be of use. Or, patients simply may not attend. This is also where online support groups like BariatricPal can come in. I believe they serve many purposes. Let patients know they are not alone. Whatever feelings, situations, and relationship struggles they are facing, countless other weight loss surgery patients have gone through the same things. They can be anonymous. People do not always want to talk about their deepest fears and feelings face to face. An online setting can provide a forum for them to express themselves without fear of consequences. They are available 24/7. Possibly suicidal patients need help RIGHT NOW, not tomorrow, and not at the next available appointment. They are free. There’s no need to worry about whether insurance covers it, or how many minutes they have to work through their problems. They are positive. At least, BariatricPal is. I work very hard to enforce our zero-tolerance policy for rudeness.

Thank you all so much for your responses I agree I need to actively try and get my highs from a new productive habit. I'll have a good think about it. It's so weird how similar the over eating and over spend cycling is.... the delicious anticipation and planning or the pure joy of a suprise temptation... the shutting out of the thoughts that tell you you will regret this.. the raised heart rate and excitement of the purchase or eating... the warm glow that follows and the brief high.... then the guilt sets in.....after a few cycles of that you face major weight gain or debt issues which add to the stress and of course you need to feel good again.... I guess I should be grateful I hate cigarettes and alcohol!

@@Alicia Richards You will be just fine. I had surgery at 8 am and the next morning at 8 am they weighed me. When I saw that I'd gained 9 lbs. I was furious. I had just spent 2 weeks losing 15 lbs. on a liquid diet and now had to lose this same 9 lbs. all over again ... what?! I heard, "Oh it's just the fluids we've been filling you with post surgery. You'll lose it." Well of course I will as I have no choice, but I still had to lose it! I find it funny (not laughing funny) they neglect to tell you this when going through all those months pre-surgery. Anyways at almost 6 months post-op and 81 lbs. down, I can laugh at it now. The surgery will do its job so long as you follow your plan. Here's some very sound advice to take to heart: Follow Your Plan Too many people treat bariatric surgery as if it is simply a diet and turn their head to the intensity of the operation. A smart friend quipped that if we woke up with a giant bolt going through our leg we would get it, but since there are Band-Aids on our belly, we think it’s nothing. Your internal surgical wounds must heal – this is no time to go to the mall, out to dinner, visiting friends and on vacation. Sew what? In terms of food, you must stick to your surgeons program for post op food stages. You need time to allow the tiny pouch cut and sewn from the fabric of your giant floppy stomach to heal itself closed. We have all glued something only to have the seams pop open. The liquid and soft food stages are to avoid stressing pouch seams and give your stomach a break from the process of digestion. Is ice cream a puree? Sirloin steak is not a soft food. Ice cream is NOT a puree. You can’t eat popcorn, raw carrots or celery ten days after surgery. People ask if we think they could have a pork chop, we say ‘no’, they eat it anyhow, then tell us ‘they didn’t have a problem’. No alcohol for a year… non negotiable… but people push back saying their surgeon said five weeks was okay. Folks… we know better and we are trying to help you. General Tso? NOT your friend The post op dietary stages are not a suggestion, they are a requirement for you own safety. You cannot eat Chinese food the week after surgery because you ‘chew it well’. A ‘craving’ for Orange chicken landed one support group member in the hospital! It’s a very bad idea to push. Being ‘released’ to ‘regular food’ does not mean what you think it does, but you already know that. How long until you can have pizza again? “Pizza is not a food for someone having obesity surgery.” (that’s a quote from Dr. N on My 600 lb Life) Every single week in our support group, these actions land new post ops in the hospital. Sip sip sip sip sip… If you had a back injury, you would not tile your kitchen floor the same week. Yet, people think nothing of making a trip to a theme park when they should be at home resting and taking in fluids. People ask us ‘Do you think I would be able to go on a cruise two weeks after my sleeve?’ (Nooooo!) As high as 30% of post ops are dehydrated enough to land back in the hospital with a Fluid IV. Not drinking enough Water after surgery can cause heart damage. Dehydration is the most common bariatric complication, yet it’s largely avoidable. Stay home and heal… drink hot water, cold water, broth, Diet Snapple, herbal tea, eat sf ice pops and Jello. (We have a free bariatric water app called HY, click for GetHyApp.com) What’s eating you? If eating is a compulsion that you cannot control, ask your surgeon to suggest someone for you to talk to. A therapist can help you come to conclusions about your life – you talk, they listen and even after one chat you’ll often have a clearer truth of why you use eating as comfort. Knowing what drives you can help you deal with your eating issues to better work with your surgery. Vitamins are critical It is impossible for you to have your stomach surgically removed or reconfigured and take in the nutrients needed to run your body. While your surgeons group has mentioned Flintstones, that is so you will possibly take something instead of being one of the 67% of post ops who take nothing. They are not optimal and won’t prevent long term problems like broken bones from simple falls and losing teeth, but may keep you from dying in the short term. The idea behind supplements is to prevent issues from grabbing you in twenty years when it’s too late to change the path. Take them! Protein from food? What a novel idea! Yes, yes, yes, we’d all like to get our protein from food and that’s what you want to hear. However, if you are unable to take in 70 grams of protein per day, you can either weaken and lose your hair or you can figure out another way until you are able to learn and eat the right foods. Protein drinks make up the difference between what you can eat and what you need. They are not simply a tasty beverage for your enjoyment for you to be all picky and ridiculous over. They are the antidote for your disease of morbid obesity. Morbid means death and obesity surgery only slows and reverses the disease IF you follow your plan.