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Are alcohol allowed after gastric sleeve surgery? Sent from my ELE-L29 using BariatricPal mobile app

Congratulations!!!! Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App Thank you!! We should be buddies.Definitely. Are you using fitbit or my fitness pal? Also there's a secret group on Facebook. Let me know. Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App I am not using either one but I plan on buying a fit bit. I think I am in a couple facebook groups, the latest one is for June - July sleeversI'm in one for May/June. But honestly I'm thinking of leaving the group. Too many people looking for an excuse to eat whatever they want. Had someone a few weeks post op talking about drinking alcohol because it's a holiday. Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

Faith is important to me as well. I felt that doors were open to me that I needed to walk through. I never thought I would have bariatric surgery. I thought it was the easy way out. Well I learned pretty quickly that is the farthest thing from the truth. Going to support groups and meetings showed me that it was a huge commitment. I had to be willing to give up some life styles choices. No caffeine. No alcohol. Eating food that is cold. (because it takes so long to eat). And I have to tell you, I do like hot food. Not drinking with your meal. That was and is hard for me. Slowing down to eat. So I had to figure out how important was this to me. I was living in the shadowlands. A gray world. My weight was truly pulling me down. I knew that this was not God's best for me. So I walked through those doors. Each time when I got prep work done, I would question myself and all I knew was that I wanted to be healthy. So, I got the surgery done 7/25. It was not a breeze. I did have complications. I was in the hospital for 9 days. Went home with a PICC line for 2 months. I ended up having extreme swelling. Had to stay with my parents for a month while I recuperated. I am fine now. But it was hard to trust in the Lord. I could not feel his presence. I had a hard time praying. Thank you Lord for having wonderful family around me to pray when I could not. I am so happy for all of you who had surgery with no problems. I guess this was something I just had to walk through. I am rejoicing now that I am on the other side. I have lost a total of 57 pounds since my first weigh in this February. I have been off the PICC for a week and a half. All I can say is thank you Jesus.

I agree with all the others that are telling you to stop drinking alcohol. Calories aside, alcohol is a system depressent (just like a pharmaceutical depressant)- and is probably the cause of your depression, or at least, makes it much worse. Also, your system is reacting to alcohol differently than prior to your sleeve surgery. For me - I tried alcohol twice since my surgery - as an experiment to see what happens. I got a buzz on <1/2 c of beer, and a buzz on 2 tablespoons of fine tequila (sipped, not done as a shot). Beleve me, prior to my surgery, I could at least have a couple of drinks (beer or spirits) before I got to the same point of feeling a buzz. So whatever alcohol did for/to you before the sleeve - it is doing it MAGNIFIED after the sleeve. If you are having trouble staying away from the alcohol - get it out of the house until you get things back under control. Good luck!

I'm only 2 months out, but I have a few things to contribute that I feel are appropriate. I stressed a lot over which surgery to have. BMI 40 at the highest. I wanted something reversible. I was scared. My mother had early bypass in the 90's and she suffers terribly now from mal-absorption, cant swallow important meds, can't eat. I got lucky with a rep for a travel surgery company over the phone who spent time with me discussing sleeve. Thank goodness she was insistent. I'm having an experience that seems not typical, but I am believing one thing from research and limited experience. Gastric sleeve makes the most logical sense as a concept when you break it down. Individuals vary but logically . . . It does not actually change the flow of the human body, or digestive system, it just keeps the natural flow, but reduces the pouch of your stomach size. It does not leave foreign objects like the band, port, etc in the body. Scarring is minimal, invasion is lower, recovery is faster. For me the recovery has been so fast it's almost unbelievable. It simply restricts you from overeating and presents you with a nauseous reminder to STOP, or SLOW DOWN constantly. Recovery seems to be the fastest for a general observation, Side effects for me have been nearly non-existent. I had a home made seltzer yesterday as an experiment (I do NOT call that "soda") and surprise, I did not die, explode, tear out my staples. Like all things in life, be smart, listen to your body. Seltzer provides an oral stimulation I enjoy within reason, and a squirt of some taste also can happen. Vitamin effectiveness is too early to gauge at 8 weeks, but at least taking those larger pill presents no problem like the eternal suffering my mother's radical bypass endures for 25 years, causing non adherence to vitamins, which then causes more problems. My anecdotal research tells me men have a vastly different easier experience when compared to women overall. ANECDOTAL. I'm just 2 months out, and of course years of a journey lie ahead. Oh by the way, I'm also HIV positive, 35 years healthy, never needed meds until proactive treatments started recently, and even those I have no problems with post surgery. Negatives I'm becoming aware of . . . you can find unhealthy high calorie foods that can slow or stop weight loss and slip by the restriction process. My personal example is Low Sugar Fudgesicles. I'm craving chocolate, I did not used to. I used to binge eat popsicles in general, now regular popsicles taste weird, but the sugar free chocolate products like Peppermint Patties, dark chocolate, in general also help because they have a laxative effect. I ate too many "Outshine' fruit low sugar popsicles last night watching Netflix (with no chill unfortunately) - and I vomited in my sleep, which strikes me as a bit potentially dangerous. I hope the negative reinforcement works. Tastes seem to change a bit. Cravings change. Whiskey/Scotch/Vodka tastes gross now unless it's an expensive super high quality bourbon. That may seem minor to you, but taste and craving changes can seem bizarre. I can sense a long term danger that mentally, I will "figure out" how to outsmart the surgery when I'm stressed and resorting to old eating behaviors and patterns. Last week I went to support a friend who is a cabaret theater singer, and there was pressure to order food and drink to keep the prime seating location we were in. I felt guilty for the waiter with me milking an appetizer and one drink for an hour and I pushed it ordering more food, and more alcohol, ill advised. I gained 2 pounds just from that stupid exercise. Thankfully avoided vomiting, but perhaps that would have been better mentally. My weight loss was so slow at first I was genuinely scared then angry. Then I resumed cardio exercises and teaching Zumba, which is twice as much exercise as just taking Zumba. Then the weight started falling off. Muscle tone is weird. I need to lift weights as I did when very overweight. It feels different. Hope this contributes and helps.

I'm 7 1/2 months post-op from my sleeve and 6 days post-op from having my gallbladder removed. I had the same surgeon for both. I did not have a pre-op appointment and there has been no mention of a follow-up. Basically I was there for 6 hours, saw the doctor for 30 seconds and they kicked me out while I was still only half-conscious. lol Needless to say, I didn't get much post-op instruction. The paper I have just says no lifting or submerging my incisions for 2 weeks. I'm wondering what kind of restrictions did you have for a post-sleeve gallbladder surgery? Specifically I'm wondering about working out and alcohol. Also, I know it is not as major of a surgery as VSG but did you suffer from fatigue for a while after? I feel pretty good for the most part but I still don't have much energy. (Surgery was the 4th.) I know I need to take it easy and heal but I'm feeling kinda guilty for being lazy.

Don’t. Please just don’t. It’s not worth it. I used to be morbidly obese. Now I’m skinny. And an alcoholic. Every day is a fight.

This is mostly how I feel about drinking. Every single time I’ve indulged it’s been with forethought. When I had a horrible night Thursday, I thought about opening a bottle, then realized that I didn’t have the calorie allowance for it, and my eating window (I practice IF) had closed for the day anyways so I had a hot tea (with a packet of truvia) instead. I did have a mis-step this week and went for an extra margarita and skipped dinner, but that was a choice I’ve only made about 3-4 times in the last 9 months and I can live with it. As long as I can enjoy the occasional night out and alcohol indulgence without gaining weight and wrecking maintenance, I’m totally fine with it

My surgeon said no alcohol at all for the first year, and ideally never. I had a tiny sip of expensive champagne when I retired six months after surgery. (I swear is was such a tiny sip that it barely counted!) I was a very light drinker before surgery and do not miss drinking at all, so I intend to avoid alcohol forever. Alcohol is empty calories that take up space in your pouch that could be used for something more nutritious. Just because you can drink doesn't mean you should. My post probably sounds judgmental, and that's really not the case. It's just my perspective. 🙂

Many have difficulties with creamed soup. You may have had a reaction from the sugar alcohols in the fudge pops too. Take it slow and see how things go.

My surgery is 3-22 and need advise on this.... Fast food what is best eat and alcoholic drinks how many? Thanks

I think both should be avoided whenever possible, but if you are going to have bad food and alcohol then be sure to count their calories in your daily total. Let their calories decide what to eat and not.

If you are putting yourself thru WLS why would you be worried about drinking? Are you having this surgery for the right reasons? If you can't give up alcohol then maybe you should reconsider the surgery. Having a drink once in awhile is one thing but several drinks several times a week is another matter. You don't have to drink to have a good time. Good luck on your WLS journey. It will be worth it. It is also a lifetime commitment.

This is just my personal opinion -- having several nephews who suffer from these issues. (I also was a young person one time. ) Many young people who "just drink with my friends when we go out" have literally no idea that they have a serious drinking problem. In fact, some of them are alcoholics. The problem is they have little context for what is happening. Everyone in their social set drinks like a fish,and there's literally no appreciation for what social drinking actually is. For the record, social drinking means having 3-5 drinks a week. It's not 2-4 drinks 4 nights a week and 8-12 drinks the other 3 nights of the week. Social drinking does not include getting drunk. Ever. Now, having gotten that off my chest, if your friend drinks a few beers, a ton of wine and some mixed drinks ... bazinga! He's going to gain back all the weight he has lost. Bottom line -- yes, after a while (a year or two) anyone who wants to can eat and drink around their sleeve's restriction. In fact, that's precisely HOW 40 - 50% of all patients who have WLS eventually gain back all their weight. Sincere best wishes to you. Your long-term success with the tool your sleeve offers you depends on your ability to be compliant with your surgeon's instructions and to change your lifestyle -- eating, exercise, and probably some serious "head work" that most people who are obese have to tackle eventually.

Hi tdriver, Welcome back. I am almost in the same position as you....only a little worse. I never got all the way to goal and then gained approx 7 lbs during the last 18 months. I have 20 lbs to lose, and hope to do this for Christmas 2013. I am hoping to tidy up my act and follow the rules properly and hopefully that will do the trick. I am hoping not to go back to the liquid phase but rather drop some careless habits, e.g. cut out alcohol, never drink within an hour of eating, and take a protein drink every day. My diet is otherwise healthy and I am hoping these small changes will make a difference. I will give these a try for 1 month to see. Best of luck with what you decide to do. Bookleen

No bread, pasta, rice, alcohol, caffeine, root vegetables or carbonated drinks. Reduce fats, carbs & sugar as much as possible. I slowly tried different foods over time to work out what my tummy could tolerate. The only vege I could eat for months was microwaved cabbage & cauliflower but didn’t have issues with any meats. Best advice is follow your surgeon’s plan & slowly introduce new foods when your ready. I can eat most things now. I follow what I call an avoid, reduce or limit eating plan. I still avoid bread, pasta & rice. I reduced my alcohol to maybe once a month & limit the sugar I ingest (only naturally occurring sugars like in fruit where possible & no sweets, cakes, etc.). The only carbonation I have is the odd tonic or soda water & only caffeine comes from green tea (which I’ve drunk for years). Limit carbs to small serves of multi or whole grains. I keep my protein up & eat vegetables, salads & a piece of fruit each day. Good luck with your surgery. I love my sleeve.

I have been on a two month journey to get a vertical sleeve surgery. Just two weeks to my scheduled surgery date; just to be told the insurance will only pay for RNY. I spent a lot of time researching the sleeve. Now I have to decide in a day or two if I want RNY. Can someone tell me all the drawbacks. (Sweets alcohol etc. ). I don't have a big sweet tooth but do like them once in a while. Also what are the pluses over the sleeve. THANKS.

so yeah there are the calories to consider but like you said it's very rarely that you are doing this BUT here is my thing!! after 9 lemon drops one night I found myself SICK BEYOND belief! and I began puking violently! sorry groose- and puking with the band SUCKS!! it really hurts! so just dont drink to the point of puking- oh and another time I didn't drink quite as much but you know when you are at that place where you are like UGG if I could just puke I'd feel so much better! well I couldnt puke thanks to my band keeping everything down and I had to sweat it out literally for hours until my body worked out all the alcohol and it sucked! cheers!

True, however they should maybe tone it down a little. Just like if I drank and the were an alcoholic I would go easy on them and not just drink everything that I can. Sent from my XT1585 using the BariatricPal App

You are a true inspiration. My surgery date is feb 5. Thank you for telling your story. I too have alcoholism in my family (my siblings) and it hurts to watch them through their lives away. Fortunately i have a wonderful supportive husband who wants me healthy. God bless you and your husband.

Hello to everyone!!! I am so glad to find a forum/blog to be able to talk about this!!! In the beginning of 2012 I had a big birthday coming up that was affecting me emotionally. I was turning 47, I was in a marriage that was very toxic (Spouse that was an alcoholic, and not working), and i was coming to the point to where I was aware of my own mortality. Let me explain... My father passed away at the age of 57, and he well over 450 lbs. Here I was, turning 47, just 10 years younger, and I did not want to die. On top of that, I had an issue with my Husband and his drinking and lack of employment. In March 2012, I separated from my husband, and my son (who is 19) and I moved out. Two months after leaving my husband, he called me and said he was ready to get healthy. As of today, he is almost 9 months sober and we are back together. I digress.... After my Husband moved back in, and we started talking about the new journey that we were on together, we started looking into help for me. In August 2012, my Internist referred me to Dr. Sami Hamamji, with St. Joseph's Bariatric Program in Orange, CA. I was advised that I needed to go to an initial Seminar. Hubby and I went and we were excited. We wanted both of us to be healthy. Now that he was back on the right road, I needed to be as well. August 2012, I had my initial meeting with Dr. Hamamji. I was ecstatic with him. Very open and willing to answer each and every question I had. I went thru all the required necessities of acheiving insurance approval, support groups, psychiatric evaluation, and what my husband and I found to be the most important part, meeting with the Registered Dietician. I finally received insurance approval December 5th. My surgery was scheduled for December 17th. Surgery day came, and to be honest, I was not nervous or excited. I think I was resigned to the fact that I was beginning a new journey in my life. Surgery went well, no complications. I was released the next day and went home to sleep (finally) in my own bed. Christmas was very difficult. As we all know, the holidays go hand in hand with food. I am the one in my family that does all the cooking. Christmas eve, I made 2 batches of enchiladas and 4 dozen deviled eggs. Had a great time with family. Christmas day was more difficult. Now, I am back to work, and am finding that each and every day brings anew... I am wearing clothes that I had not put on in 2 years (thank goodness I kept them). The scale is my nemesis. I am finding that I am losing inches rather than pounds. But I know it will all even out in the end. Good luck to everyone on their journeys... I know that for mine, I have a healthy husband and I am working on being healthy myself!!!

I was banded a little over a year ago, I've lost over 80 pounds and I am at my goal weight. I also drink wine every evening. I don’t hide this from anyone. I have posted such information several times and when I get PM’d about it I answer honestly. I knew when I decided to get the band that I would have to change my life and I was more than willing to do just that. But, I was not willing to give up my wine. I enjoy wine, I like the taste. My husband & I often go wine tasting at some of the Texas wineries. So, I decided that wine was going to be a part of my lifestyle. From day one (& before) I have enjoyed my evening wine. Yes, the evening of my surgery I had a glass. I count the empty calories (110 calories for 5oz of wine, approximately) and I am careful. I know that wine relaxes the band right along with you. So if you drink too much and the munchies set in…..everything will go down & then some. I am responsible with my wine. I don’t drink for the effect of the alcohol. I drink wine because of the taste. You wonder, does my doctor know? Of course he does, I tell my doctor everything. Hiding information from your doctor only hurts you. My thoughts are this, if you have something you love and you can manage it then you should enjoy it. Make it a part of your plan. I have a friend that has a treat once a week of their favorite fast food meal, and another who has a single serving bag of Cheetos every day. Depriving yourself will not work. If you are anything like me, you will get resentful and end up splurging and hating yourself after. Enjoy your love, just manage it and you will succeed.

This may be "against the grain" here, but I don't miss anything. Why? Because I don't have any "off limits" foods. The only thing that I gave up completely is diet cokes. And I did that months before my surgery. Thankfully, I don't miss them at all. I also never drank alcohol, so... I've chosen to not be on a diet. I've chosen to eat like a normal, healthy person. That means that nothing is completely off limits. Everything is acceptable in moderation. Sure, I have to be careful & concious of what I eat. But if I want pizza, I eat a slice minus the end crust (I usually can't eat a whole slice & I sure can't eat the end crust). I don't eat if often. And honestly, since I've had my VSG I find I have much fewer cravings for the "not so healthy" foods. That's just what works for me. I don't feel deprived. I don't feel like I'm on a diet. I simply feel like a normal healthy person who chooses the healthier options more times than not. But I also never feel guilty, or like I've failed if I choose to have a treat. It's a concious choice I've made, not mindless eating like pre-VSG.

I'm 10 weeks, haven't been craving anything really. Heavy carbs or fatty/creamy/buttery things are too much for me, can't handle more than one bite or two then I feel ill. I'd mentally love to eat pizza, but the thought of actually eating makes me feel ill. Wish I could get more veggies down. They agree with me (cooked ones at least), but I just never get more than a bite after my protein, too full. I have found that ice cream, roasted pumpkin seeds, and alcohol (all no-nos) go down just fine I can't stomach carbonation at all, not even the tiniest sip.

Just for me, and my experience, alcohol isn't a bad thing. I drink wine on occasion, and on 2 other occasions, I drank pretty heavily on rum/cokes and miscellaneous shots. Grant it, I am at goal, and not losing anymore so I drink on occasion. I can drink a glass of wine, and feel little to no effect if I drink it slowly. If I drink it quickly, it does hit my system quick, and then I feel normal again in about 20 minutes. With the couple of nights that I drank pretty heavily, I was able to maintain a good buzz, but then all the alcohol hit me at once, and I was pretty well hammered. I can drink 2-3 glasses of wine over a 3 - 4 hour time frame and feel zero to little effect as well. It's all about pacing myself with alcohol. Wine is my safe bet. I sipped a friend's margarita and I felt nauseated. I don't drink vodka, but a lot of bariatric patients choose vodka and cranberry juice, or to mix it with crystal light. As to what I miss, I kind of miss the 2-3 pieces of pizza I used to eat, but truthfully, pizza just isn't a pleasant experience for me anymore. It's just a waste. I don't even like the cheese and toppings. I've been making a homemade barbque chicken pizza for John lately, and he loves it. I take a few bites, but pizza has just lost it's appeal. Luckily, I haven't had any major food intolerances, and nothing has been off limits thus far. I eat just about anything and everything just in smaller portions. Sometimes when something tastes really great, I hate not being able to eat that one last bite. But, I bring leftovers home, and have found that I can enjoy them again.