Search the Community

Part of the issue with Quest bars is the sugar alcohols and part is the Fiber. Many people have issues with them. I did when I was earlier in the process, but have been fine with them since about 9 months out.

I posted this as another topic, but figured I'd share my update with my fellow May sleevers: So I had my one month follow-up appointment yesterday and assumed I was moving from pureed foods to soft foods for two weeks until my 6-week appointment. But my surgeon shocked me by saying I'm okay to move onto solid foods. He made a few disclaimers, such as trying new things when I'm comfortable and avoiding fibrous vegetables like celery right now. So I basically ended up in Stop & Shop with my sister last night looking around like a person who had never been in a grocery store before because I had so many options now. I felt totally unprepared because I was expecting soft foods first! I only bought cucumbers (to eat with hummus) and crystal light. I ate some chicken last night, non-pureed, and it went down fine. So I don't think he's wrong that I'm ready for solids, but I'm still really nervous! I also asked my surgeon about my calorie intake and I told him I was getting 400-600 a day but the last few days it was more like 700 because I was hitting my protein goal. He told me I needed to be around 1000-1200 which shocked me too, because I've read about people on here who are maintaining on that... And finally, I told him how I wasn't getting nearly 64 ounces of water, and he told me not to worry about it and to keep separating liquids and solids and just drink when I'm thirsty. I'm also allowed to drink alcohol (in moderation, of course) at this point. -------- It all feels so real now! I'm starting to freak out. I'm totally afraid I'll fail. It's a lot easier to avoid carbs when you're limited to pureed foods.

This happens to me too, especially the chocolate based Quest flavors. I think I'm sensitive to the sugar alcohols or something. I can only eat half at a time and even then it's iffy. The mint Quest flavor was particularly bad and sent me running for the bathroom within 30 minutes. So, I finally learned my lesson and just gave up on the Protein bars. If I'm on the run I'll carry stuff like beef Jerky, nuts or pork rinds.

So I had my one month follow-up appointment yesterday and assumed I was moving from pureed foods to soft foods for two weeks until my 6-week appointment. But my surgeon shocked me by saying I'm okay to move onto solid foods. He made a few disclaimers, such as trying new things when I'm comfortable and avoiding fibrous vegetables like celery right now. So I basically ended up in Stop & Shop with my sister last night looking around like a person who had never been in a grocery store before because I had so many options now. I felt totally unprepared because I was expecting soft foods first! I only bought cucumbers (to eat with hummus) and crystal light. I ate some chicken last night, non-pureed, and it went down fine. So I don't think he's wrong that I'm ready for solids, but I'm still really nervous! I also asked my surgeon about my calorie intake and I told him I was getting 400-600 a day but the last few days it was more like 700 because I was hitting my Protein goal. He told me I needed to be around 1000-1200 which shocked me too, because I've read about people on here who are maintaining on that... And finally, I told him how I wasn't getting nearly 64 ounces of Water, and he told me not to worry about it and to keep separating liquids and solids and just drink when I'm thirsty. I'm also allowed to drink alcohol (in moderation, of course) at this point. I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? Would this worry someone? My aftercare there has been great and my surgeon and NUT are both amazing at being available to answer questions at any time, but I totally thought my surgeon was tough and fairly strict, but he doesn't seem to be...

Any addiction's going to screw up your life - rather than hoping for an exercise addition (albeit one I've wished for in my previous life), I'd suggest to anyone dealing with WLS to get a good therapist and see them, at least monthly, for 2 years post op, if not longer. We're far better off seeing a therapist when we're entirely psychologically healthy and addiction free (excepting food, of course) and staying that way rather than waiting until we need it. That said, the likelihood of addiction switching from food to sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling, exercise, etc is no greater (and no less) than the likelihood of anyone else quitting another addiction swapping to another one. There's a reason for all of that coffee and those buckets of hard candies at AA, NA, etc meetings - folks just swap to something more socially acceptable. I'll agree I'd rather my own child was addicted to coffee than nicotine or narcotics, but I do wish 12-step programs did a better job writ large (I get that this is a HUGELY oversimplified generalization) of helping folks do more than just 'kick the ____ habit' and focussed on building a whole self in recovery. But that's just my 2 cents. In short - yes, you've got a higher risk than someone without other addictions, and a higher risk than if you stayed in your food addiction, but nothing some dedicated, honest, and vulnerable work with a good therapist can't help you through. Good luck!

I think it is a very real danger (just read some of the threads on here about alcohol). There is a reason that OA is patterned after AA. For many of us, we have used food as our substance or drug of choice along with or instead of other substances and activities. If we don't learn to substitute healthy substances and behaviors we can definitely be in danger of transferring addictions.

I've read that it happens with some people, drugs, alcohol, sex, cigarettes. I think it is called "addiction transfer", since you can't over eat any more you switch to something else.

What's the chance of developing a substance abuse problem after surgery? If we don't have food anymore to satisfy our "fix", will we turn to drugs? Alcohol? I've been reading up on this, and I'm genuinely curious.

Upon further research, looks like I went into hypoglycemia. Which is dangerous. I know now I need to not consume much alcohol as can come on without warning. Since we never have much in our stomachs not much to absorb alcohol and the alcohol blocks liver from producing glucose hence why it can be so sudden with a decent amount of alcohol and not much food to absorb.

I do think there are many people who have problems down the road. When asking my surgical team about this they were very up front with me about the statistics which you can find on line for your particular surgery. Those that gain back most or all of their weight revert to old bad habits like drinking soda, alcohol and not eating properly. Remember this really is a tool. In terms of people dealing with nutrient issues, many stop taking their Vitamins and do not go in for their regular labs. Ulcers happen for many reasons, some of which come from taking medications you are not supposed to. I too have read many of those threads and usually that person will say, I didn't take my Calcium or I started taking ibuprofen for my arthritis. This type of surgery is a life choice. Once you make it, you are in it for the long haul. Some people think it is a quick fix to lose the weight and revert to old habits. You have to decide who you are going to be 10 years down the road. I know that I am never going back to that unhealthy place with multiple comorbitities an almost unable to walk. I for one will follow the plan that includes taking my vitamins, getting all my Protein, and going to regular doctors appointments. I hope this helps but more importantly you must follow up with your surgical team and better understand the statistics for your type of surgery. Know exactly what you are getting into because you are making a life choice. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

The main reason you even have to do a pre-op diet is to shrink your liver. If your liver is too large, they might end up damaging it during the surgery. It sits almost blocking most of your stomach, so they have to use the laproscopic tools to lift it and then hold it out of the way while they cut away the stomach. If the liver gets damaged, it could not only turn a fast sleeve surgery into an hours long nightmare, but you could have serious complications - a damaged and bleeding liver could mean you're hospitalized for days or even weeks. You do not want that. That scared the crap out of me and although I had one moment of weakness during my pre-op, I did my very best to stick to the diet because I knew it had nothing to do with weight loss - it was to prevent me from having very bad complications. I was doing the surgery to improve my life, not damage vital organs. As far as the smoking... I was a very happy smoker for the last 20 years. I started as a teenager, and I was pretty mad about having to stop for this surgery. But same thing again - I am doing surgery to improve my health and my entire rest of my life. Smoking is bad. There is nothing whatsoever good about smoking. I know I am addicted, and quitting is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I had never been able to quit for any length of time before, but making the decision to have sleeve surgery meant I cared enough about my body and my future that continuing to be a smoker was just the most assinine, stupid thing I could do. And so I quit. And I had one slip up about 2 weeks out, but I got right back into quitting and I didn't slip again, and it's now been over 260 days since I had my last cigarette. I won't lie; I still want a damned cigarette almost every day, but I know it's bad for me and that's not who I am anymore. I won't let them control my life any more. Cigarettes are just as bad as being addicted to drugs or being an alcoholic - you are allowing an addiction to ruin your health and jeapordize your future. If you care enough about yourself to have this surgery, then show that you care enough also to get off the smoking and put ALL of this awful stuff in your past. Most surgeons will test you for nicotine and even the metabolized form so you might just be kicked out of the pre-op the day of if you haven't quit with enough time to get it out of your system completely. At least a month out should do it, and that includes using gum or Patches, but if you only have 7 days left, then quit right now. Even if they don't test you, you're risking a poorer outcome. VSG is major surgery, don't fool yourself that you can just keep sneaking one here or there and it won't hurt anything. You are hurting your body every time you smoke, and you are risking poor circulation, poor healing, poor lung capacity and issues with breathing during surgery and even clots for months after. Why? So you can feed a deadly addiction? If you continue to smoke, you're saying to yourself that you aren't worth having the best possible outcome and faster healing and better health. You're better than that, so start thinking that way, and fight hard for your health. There is still time, and you are so worth it. You CAN do this!! (I used patches and gum for a week, then cold turkey. I also used a quit smoking app on my phone - Butt Out - that was a lifesaver as it has a community that was really supportive)

I have an event that I told a friend I'd go to a while back. Tickets are bought and I want to do something fun. I was 100% prepared to cancel when I asked my surgeon when I could have alcohol again, and I was surprised when he said it was okay. I'm planning on having a non-carbonated drink, maybe two, and that's it. I'm sure it's not going to help me, but I don't think it's going to hurt either. For me, it's worth it. The point is I discussed it with my surgeon first and am adhering to my own plan set by my surgeon and NUT. I trust him completely and if he says it's okay, then I feel comfortable drinking in moderation.

Maybe drinking this week is fine, but in reality is that really the best choice for successful, long term weight loss? Alcohol is just empty carbs and calories. I totally understand that you have to do what you want to do. I just know that I want the sleeve to work the best it can for me. And that means making good food choices now and forever. Limiting fats and carbs for the rest of my life. Not just during the honeymoon period.

All surgeons and NUTs are different. For instance, I've heard a lot of people say they were told to avoid alcohol for a year or even forever, but I just recently asked my surgeon and he said I'll be fine to drink this week, just one month post-op. I only start soft foods this week and "regular" food in a couple more. Good luck with your stall! I had a bad one last week and finally broke it this weekend.

I too was worried about the same things. I started in March and when I found out my BCBS required 6 months of omnipresent diet before surgery I was really bummed. Now I will be done with everything on August 19 th and will then schedule surgery. I think I needed all these months to mentally prepare. I immediately went off soda, caffeine and alcohol..... I've lost 36 pounds so far and am hoping to have 50 gone before surgery. This forum is a great way to stay focused. I'm not sure I would be doing as well as I am without it. This is a great supportive group. Everyone has been in the same place so there is no judgement. Just support

4 week check in? How is everyone? Father's Day weekend came with a lot of food and alcohol temptations! "Tested" a few bites of solid foods/meats, and while the bites were small I think I popped it in my mouth/ chewed too quickly an paid the price. Got sick , first time since surgery. Missed eating for the first time! Had a glass of wine. Sipped it over 3 hours so it had no effect. 24 lbs lost since surgery on 5/26, last week only down 2 lbs. 10 lbs to go until "onederland." Was hoping to be there by July 4th, but doesn't look like I'll get there.

I was told no alcohol for a year, but I don't think I will be ready theme either. If I don't have any I don't care, but one day I might want a small glass of wine again....maybe lol

@PinkPolkadot619-My Dr. actually said try not to drink any alcohol at all. But once in a great while is alright, depending how I tolerate it.

That is the same reason I chose RNY too @amylynns. I know many people struggle with the mixed drinks because they are often mixed with super sugary juices. I have not tried any alcohol yet, I don't know when I will feel ready.

I got a bit blitzed, to the point i almost couldnt talk clearly off of two shots. so it does happen. Havent touched a drop since, and i weighed much more then. With all the Vitamins and Protein we take it, we put a greater need on our liver and kidneys to process the things we take in and as a result we dont filter alcohol as fast nor as completely over time as we used to. that why we get drunk faster. So just be careful.

I've only had the first situation you describe where I get "drunk" very quickly, on very little alcohol, then sober up just as quickly. I haven't pressed my luck, so to speak and drank enough to get any worse than that. I'm not a young person anymore (I'm 36), so my days of drinking more than a couple of drinks in one evening are well behind me now. I don't think I'd ever have any desire to drink more than a couple of drinks, especially when I start feeling drunk so quickly now.

First I know alcohol isn't the best for weight loss cause of all the sugars and calories. So let's not make the discussion about that part. I have read you can get buzzed pretty quick but goes away just as fast. I've had that with like a glass of wine or similar. My recent issue is this - twice I have drank too much whether a few margaritas or a few shots, I go from feeling fine or that happy feeling and at some point both times I instantly go to barely being able to function like the worst drunk ever. I can't even stand really and it doesn't go away quickly. Better by next morning but with bad hangover. Pre surgery if I drank too much, I could feel it and switch to water as I felt myself getting too tipsy, in these 2 instances it wasn't gradual, it was fine, then crap faced non functioning in an instant. Both times was like a couple 3 hours in when it hit me. Kind of scary. So I know I can't drink that much in the future as no warning signs like pre surgery, it just at some point crosses over without notice. Even pre surgery I never have felt that way drunk, meaning that far gone lol. Anyone else have a similar experience?

I find that sugar alcohols keep me regular. I purchase sugar free Russell Stovers Peppermint patties and eat one an evening. 60cals and less than one net carb. I feel like I am getting a special treat.

I was wondering how the "feeling" differ between the two. I'm on day 6 of all liquid pre op diet....and im surviving. The first few days were hard but I've survived making three meals a day for my family, going to a 50th party full of food and alcohol, and, a date night with friends out bowling and drinking. I was okay for it all...and that's just crazy for me. Funny thing was if I look at the food it didn't make me crave it but if I could smell the food is when I was like "oh hello". So I guess my question is...is the hungry urge different after the surgey or can I expect kind of the same thing? ????

My doctor said to avoid alcohol for almost 6-9 weeks. 6 weeks was good but 9 would be best. Edited to add: just looked through my paperwork from the doc and they recommend a year without alcohol. I'm not a big drinker (maybe once a month) but I do have a vacation coming up so I don't know how I'll do.