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I was sleeved on 12/16/14 at the Khalili Surgical Center in Los Angeles. Today, exactly five months to the day, I weighed myself and was thrilled to see that I have hit the "100 pound loss" mark, way ahead of schedule. Since the surgery, I have taken up light jogging (thanks, C25K app!), and COMPLETELY changed the way I eat and drink. Not a drop of alcohol since the surgery (I was an "every night" drinker), not a taste of sugar, and not a miligram of caffeine. Other than family and my wife, I haven't told anyone that I had the surgery. I'm sure people must be wondering, but the truth is that the weight loss has come from my complete 180 degree lifestyle change more than the surgery itself. But if I hadn't had the surgery, I certainly wouldn't be as motivated to succeed as I am. Hell, you can install an Olympic-sized swimming pool in your backyard, but you'll never get better without doing the laps! Anyhow, I know that this 5 month period is just the beginning, and I will have plenty of chances to fall off the horse, but I committed to making hay while the sun shines, and making sure that I got off on the right foot, maximizing the early weight loss in order to set up a long-term run. I'm so proud of how hard I have committed, and wanted to share my success with anyone on the fence about getting the sleeve surgery done.

This is from the ASMBS : Misconception: Many bariatric patients become alcoholics after their surgery. Truth: Actually, only a small percentage of bariatric patients claim to have problems with alcohol after surgery. Most (but not all) who abuse alcohol after surgery had problems with alcohol abuse at some period of time prior to surgery. Alcohol sensitivity, (particularly if alcohol is consumed during the rapid weight-loss period), is increased after bariatric surgery so that the effects of alcohol are felt with fewer drinks than before surgery. Studies also find with certain bariatric procedures (such as the gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) that drinking an alcoholic beverage increases blood alcohol to levels that are considerably higher than before surgery or in comparison to the alcohol levels of individuals who have not had a bariatric procedure. For all of these reasons, bariatric patients are advised to take certain precautions regarding alcohol. If you're someone who occasionally partakes, there is really no reason not to continue to do so. Telling patients to never drink again is absurd and completely unnecessary. Yes transfer addiction can be a concern but there are many things besides alcohol that are risky. I for one more less became a whore after I lost 100 lbs. Thankfully it wasn't long lived and I came to my senses before I ruined my life and my reputation !

@@innwtitdtity I am from the the same surgical group as you, Dr Krueger is highly respected. I had Dr Collachio. I am 9 days post op, so only completed the Psych Classes last month. We were given a very firm discussion on the practice "rules", which as you know, said no drinking for 1 year. Our Psych then went on to discuss, rather emotionally the increased possibilities of alcoholism after our surgery. She even went so far as to recommend not drinking again, ever. Apparently a former patient had just died that day, as a result of drunk driving, and our Psych was very affected. But she also explained many other patients who were also struggling with drinking after surgery. I understand that struggle all to well as I am a recovering alcoholic, sober 11+ yrs. In fact my research on the co addictions had kept me from exploring surgery sooner. I like to think that I have a healthy fear. and I feel knowledge is ammunition. Just research Alcohol and RNY, there are lots and lots of cases and evidence to help you make an informed choice. For me, I know that if I do not choose the first drink, I will never have to worry about any others. just my two cents.

I was advised not to drink again. I rarely drank anyway. But there were a few reasons... because it will affect us differently because of the size of our stomachs . i.e. you'll get drunker, much faster. I know the no carbonation thing, but the bigger reason my NUT and Surgeon both had for not drinking after surgery, is that the likelihood of changing out addictions is high. food can be exchanged for many other things....gambling, alcohol, drugs, smoking, spending, etc.

My brother is an alcoholic and he like you can't resist "just one" drink at the risk of his own health. Everything I have read has said that there should be no alcohol consumed for the first year. Just as your doctor has advised. I think rather than asking "please when can I?" (When you already know). The question you should be asking yourself is "why do I want it even at the risk of my own health?" I don't say these things from a judgmental perspective. I say these things from a third-party perspective having watched my brother destroy himself. Your need/want for alcohol has nothing to do with VSG. But then you already know that.

I was told 5 months to 1 year before alcohol and no beer because the carbonated drinks stretch your pouch.

Did your surgeon/nut say no alcohol? If so, for how long? And how long did you wait before your first drink? Mine said none for a year (I knew that would be hard) because of the added stress on the liver. I had a glass of wine 6 weeks post op while on vacation-it took me 3 hours to drink one glass because I was nervous of the potential effects. It did hit me more than before surgery(as expected). I used to drink 3-4 glasses a week prior to surgery. I would not advise doing it all the time(I hear many bypass patients become alcoholics post surgery). This is where my tastebuds have changed post surgery -wine just doesn't taste as good as it used to.

I am probably an anomaly as I don't really feel like I've made any major changes besides 1) I eat more Protein 2) I make healthier food choices most of the time 3) I drink WAY less alcohol, and 4) I can't drink anything carbonated. Basically my sleeve changed how much I can eat and my brain changed what I want to eat. I don't track or measure my food. I drink with meals. I use straws. I eat dessert. I don't use MFP. I don't exercise. I take NSAIDS. I eat when I'm hungry and I eat what I want. I still do all the same things I've always done, the physical things are just easier (working, riding my horse, hiking with my dog, kayaking, skiing). I'm still a couch potato on rainy, dreary weekends. I still go out with friends on occasion, but I'm still a hermit at heart and would rather stay home in most cases. But I feel great, I look good. My knee and ankle pain is gone and my BP is normal. After a lifetime of failed diets, I do consider this the "easy way". I'm not saying this way will work for everyone, just pointing out one way it can work.

Sigh! If folks can't see the problem with downing multiple alcoholic beverages just 2 weeks after surgery then they will never see the light. Our posts were not from a judgmental state it was more from a shock and concern state, maybe a bit of anger too. But hey it's your body, do you!

You posted about having some wine several weeks after your surgery. If you are having trouble going "cold turkey" with alcohol, then I would suggest getting some professional help. Did you even READ some of the responses? It's not judgmental. It's sadness and concern for people who don't have enough damn self respect to adhere to doctors orders and do what you need to do to heal from the MAJOR SURGERY you had 7 weeks before. Why don't you let your surgeon know that you had some alcohol, eh? See how "judgmental" he would be with you.

I'm more along the lines of KateP. I never limited myself to just Protein and veggies while losing, so ketosis didn't play a factor with me. I was eating MORE protein and fat than carbs, but I always tried to eat a balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruits, whole grains and nuts. I started adding in more fruit, more grains and more fat once I hit my surgeon's goal. But like you mentioned above, i still continued to lose another 20 pounds until my body found its new set point.....10 pounds below my personal goal. Yes, I can eat much more than I could once I hit goal and I my hunger returned in full force at around 10 months. I just had to find things to distract me from eating too much. I drink a lot of Water and tea, I clean my house a lot, I go outside and do whatever to get away from the kitchen. I don't buy stuff I shouldn't eat (resisting temptation once in the store is easier than resisting over and over if it was actually in the house). I basically just feel I'm eating like a "normal" thin person with no weird rules to follow. I choose protein over other options most of the time, but I don't hesitate to indulge in Desserts, candy, alcohol, or other "bad" carbs in moderation. Too much restriction would just piss me off and make me want it more. I have a 5 pound bounce range that I stick with. If I pop even 1 pound above, I will limit my carbs for However long it takes to get back into range. I'm only 17 months out, but have been maintaining this way for 9 of them.

I will be a self-pay and have no intention of wasting $15,000 on a drink of alcohol. My brother the alcoholic however would have cut himself open for a drink of alcohol. Most alcoholics justify their consumption in every way possible. Also from what I've read and been told, the affects of that bad choice might not be seen for weeks. So I hope no one experiences a leak and is hospitalized

Not "faults". CHOICES. As long as your choices aren't endangering your health, share away. We've all been there. But if you're drinking multiple alcoholic beverages weeks out from surgery, prepare to get your ass handed to you. By most of us AND your doctor. And if you feel that drinking and eating things you shouldn't be just weeks out from surgery is justifiable, then I SMH at YOU.

Pre op I clenched my teeth and followed directions to the letter. Post op for me was six weeks of liquids. Hard, but I did it without choosing to break the momentum. And momentum was the word my doctor used. He wanted maximum weight loss and a good start right out of the gate. I lost fifty pounds before my first band fill. As the weight came off after that, the high of losing quickly kept me choosing healthy small meals regularly. As time went on, I added foods I hadn't had before. I added alcohol. I added popcorn. I added carby Thai food. I stopped losing weight for five months. I tried a variety of techniques like 5:2, etc. I'd lose and gain the same five pounds over and over again. When I gained eleven pounds over a couple of weeks, it woke me up. No way was I going to lose my focus and return to my old life. I needed to get my food in order, lose the crap that was holding me back, and in order to lose this last fifty pounds, I knew I had to do the hard thing I was putting off. E x e r c i s e. I didn't wanna. But I gotta. If I want what I want, I gotta. And I wanna reach goal and stay there. So I chose to take this next step. I dropped the popcorn, the Thai food, the alcohol, and picked up exercise. I paid for twelve sessions of personal training at the gym I joined. I now exercise. I eat better. I feel better. I know this will get me where I want to go. It's all choices. I wasn't ready until I was ready. I'm glad I stayed around people who are motivated while I floundered around for awhile. In my old life I would have given up and gone back to eating and isolating. No longer.

The problem is not that the person veered off course. We will all do that. The problem was the person consumed a dangerous amount of alcohol/food days after their surgery, which could have seriously danger that person's recovery, health, and life. Although im glad that person is fine, I do not want anyone reading this to think that person's actions are acceptable. Some people read this form to see how far they can push their surgery. Someone reading that this person consumed xyz and was fine means they can do the same and be fine. Again what is done is done but I felt the need to respond out of concern to the future sleevers.

I know the OP meant to be funny, but these threads often end up being a battle of who's rules are right. It's not so much each little detailed rule, it's the glib attitude toward "bariatric rebellion" that concerns me. It's "let me see how far I can push the envelope" and get away with it. Then to announce it, have others chime in, it ends up sounding like the no alcohol rule is silly and encourages behavior that does not lead to success. The hard, cold truth is that weight loss is hard, and maintenance is harder. One bad decision won't break any of us. One drink won't make us fat or drunks. However, a general attitude of "let me see what I can get away with" seems like a bad idea to me. For me, I know that I can't maintain perfection forever. None of us can. We are humans, and most of us are in this boat because we couldn't refrain from eating and drinking too much. So, knowing that, I do strive for perfection every day. If I set that as my goal, I figure I won't be too far off the mark at the end of the day. If I strive for less, I'd probably be further off. I know if I had allowed myself too much latitude in the beginning, I would be worse off today. I had to learn new behavior, and I had to learn that I AM capable of following a plan that leads to success, and I learned what it takes to do that. The early days are what set me up for success by establishing new habits. It's the easiest time to do that, so my advice is to take advantage of the gift you have.

I remind people that it's an addiction just like alcohol or nicotine or anything like that! A lot of people seem to forget this! You seem to be doing a great job on keeping yourself on track! I have no doubts you will be fine!!!

Congratulations!!! You're doing great and I applaud you! Enjoy your resort vacation! It's wonderful to hear that you're avoiding the alcohol since your new tummy is still healing.

I just have one question. Why would you deliberately and intentionally do something that can harm yourself after just going through a procedure meant to give you a second chance at a healthier life? Something that goes against every NUT and doctor's advice that I've ever seen. A little something to think about. Alcohol is a diuretic. Now think about how your stomach has been altered and the amount of Water and Protein you need to consume daily. Your chances of dehydrating skyrocket when consuming alcohol and even more so in extremely large quantities. This post both saddens and angers me, especially when you think about how many people want/need this surgery for a better life and are denied or have to pay out of pocket and you see people being nothing more than irresponsible. @LipstickLady I'm right there with you...I said it, it's out there.

I'm right there with you @@Babbs, @@LipstickLady, and @@Slimsoon1988 - you all made excellent points worthy of serious consideration. I've had maybe 3 sips of wine post-surgery, but not before month 4. I felt fine, too, but the affect of the alcohol was different and more immediate post-surgery than it was pre-surgery-yes, with just a sip or two. Farther down the road I'm sure I'll have a sip or two again with a meal, but I seriously doubt it'll be a full 5 oz. glass like pre-surgery.

Hi Dee, Your partner is obviously scared for your safety and sometimes there is a fear that you may find that your renewed enthusiasm (as you begin to drop the weight) may affect your relationship. David probably told you that you might even lose friends as you are no longer the "safe fat friend" . I will be quite honest eating out does become a challenge BUT you will overcome it. I am lucky that alcohol did not play such an important role in my life, I always seemed to be the designated driver so I am used to not drinking. To date since my op I have had the odd sip of my husbands wine. What really helped me is that I met with someone who had the op about 2 months beforehand. prof Van der Merwe's team are great but quite honestly they have not been down our road. Whereabout do you live? I would be happy to meet with you over coffee/tea (just started coffee again recently). I leave for Spain on Wed 20th May and will be away when you go in. You will get thru this, don't fear and your partner will come around in time. My email address is: rosemary@mweb.co.za

Just because one can drink 6 glasses of alcohol weeks after surgery and be "fine" after does not mean one did not cause damage to their sleeve or self. This is when the slippery slope begins. Oh I had 6 glasses of alcohol and I'm good so it's ok! Let me try again! Oh I can have 6 glasses of alcohol and still lose weight so that means I did good today. Some of these post are concerning indeed. Trust me I'm no alcohol police. I'm 3 months out and have had a glass of wine twice. And plan to certainly drink A glass of wine during special occasions and social gatherings in the future but I wouldn't have dare compromised my healing process by downing alcohol 2 weeks after surgery which is a critical part of healing. My post is not to judge or make anyone feel bad because what is done is done this post comes from pure concern of some of the dangerous actions taking by some.

Been on this forum a while....I did leave for a while, about a year....it started to get to me and I had enough. When I first had my surgery, and found this site, (Lapband Talk)...there were many veterans I considered my mentors, and followed their personal testimony's with interest... But they are all gone......left. I noticed there are many other people who are doing well that just "Drop off the Radar"...did they have a major setback? Failure? Speaking from own feelings, I don't think so......bottom line, successful people simply do not fit in here, and don't have much in common....other than once upon a time they were beginners also. *****I am 100% successful...lost ALL possible weight. *****I finished this weight loss journey...done ...completed...reached my destination with a new life, a new outlook on what and how I eat, along with a love of exercise.... *****I have no hunger, no cravings, could care less about food or eating...a complete reversal from pre-surgery days. *****I will never Diet again, I eat what I want, NOT avoiding life's pleasures such as ice cream, Beer/alcohol, chips, etc, etc. *****I have no fear of overeating, the band sees to that...I have tried to overeat and find it impossible...does not matter where I'm at, vacation, a party, holiday dinner, venues may change but my surgery is a constant..... *****As a person with Lap band surgery, I cannot comprehend the notion of "Getting off track"....or the need to re-focus and start over....as long as the band does not have any issues,. I have NO FEAR of ever gaining the weight back! ******I have NEVER had a single issue with my band...the beginning "learning Phase" was tough, VERY Tough...but once that was past, it has been the EASIEST thing I could have ever done.....I don't even think about it! Bottom line, ALL my medical issues ( and there were many) have all been reversed or gone....I did have a heart attack, and that damage to the heart muscle is permanent..but tests show new arteries have branched out by-passing the damaged one... I can on and on...... Having said all the above, sounds pretty good, right? YET...in a environment of negativity, I'm the odd ball here....I'm the one who has to make excuses...TOTALLY out of sync. So why stick around? Because of all the negativity I feel SOMEONE has to stay in place and show people that this can and does work.... YET, by simply sharing your own life story, it hurts other people's feelings? They feel bullied??? It's no wonder successful veterans move on. It got to me once and I left for a while, and it's starting to get to me again... I see patients and families everyday in Clinic who are experiencing catastrophic medical situations, 10 times worse than anyone here is experiencing...(best of my knowledge) and I deal in Pediatrics so I see kids as early as 12 months old, whose lives will never be easy..... and yet I do not find anywhere as near, if any, negativity as is found on this forum.... It's crazy....either you want it or you don't....

Having read the statistics on those after bariatric surgery becoming alcoholics I'm not surprised by some of this but it certainly scares me so please guys look after yourselves and your bodies

At week 16....life is becoming more normal... I am now down 56 lbs and losing about 1-2 lbs a week. Calorie counting hasn't been necessary... being that I eat pretty much the same foods/portions... every day. Just trying to live as normal as possible. Getting my Protein in and with the warm weather coming in along with more exercise, I am realizing the importance of getting the liquids in.... Dehydration has been a factor, and I can feel it when I am not getting enough liquids. A few times I felt a strange feeling... almost ill feeling at times on busy days ( I have been so much more active at this point ). As opposed to my former sedentary self.... I have been really filling my time with active things in addition to at least 10-15k steps a day. I have increased my water/liquid intake and this ill feeling has subsided. Mexico bound in a few weeks (week 18) and I will be posting how I survive an all inclusive resort.....sans alcohol! ....but I do look better in my bathing trunks.....lol btw thats me on the left at my son's art exhibit....@202 lbs down from 258