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I have to be honest- I haven't been as consistent taking my vitamins for the past year or so. This past year I really gave up as far as weight loss and trying to be healthy because I really felt like I was out of options and why bother when nothing was working anyway?… until I started researching the sleeve in February 2013. I truly believe that getting the sleeve will help me immensely. I also think that I need to start taking vitamins again just to get used to taking them since my surgery is in February 2014. I've stopped little things such as drinking soda and alcohol so my next step to prepare myself I decided I would drink a shake for breakfast every morning and start taking my vitamins… I have to purchase both of those and start that this week. Sorry that was the long way around to your question of what vitamin I am taking LOL. And the answer would be… None.

i do worry about that last one. addiction issues run in my family. alcohol, gambling, food seems if you got my blood in you you get to fight one or all of these. hell some days i think i am addicted to being worried about addiction haven't drank in 20 years cause i promised myself i would never be my father love poker so much i won't allow myself to play more than once or twice a year cause i see nothing but a dark road down that path Now food is gone so i spend my time worried about what i'll have to worry about next. some days the whole bigger brain thing just seems more trouble than its worth.

Just wondering what the rules are on alcohol during my 2 week pre-op diet are. I am going to a cookout and didn't know if it was ok to have a "drink". Any feedback would be GREAT!!

Both my experiences with anesthesia ended with me waking up okay and puking. But the 1st time I was 4 years old, having my adenoids removed. The 2nd time was 5 years ago and 100+ lbs lighter sans sleep apnea, for my gall bladder. Same results as adenoids. Wake and puke. I'm trying to lose as much weight as possible between now and 3/11/13 to lower my BMI and my risks. I'm using Idealshape meal supplements. An organic cleanse. A Multivitamin. And tons of salad, veggies, Greek yogurt, fruit, lean meats, and the occasional whole grains. Kicking up my activity level. I've been a nonsmoker for almost 7 years and I'm eliminating alcohol and caffeine going forward. I am, in all seriousness, a little OCD with an emphasis on the "O". I don't know what else to do to improve my health and decrease my risks. Amanda Sexton

Hello … I’ve just been approved to be sleeved. I’ve been reading here for months, so wanted to introduce myself. 41, female, single, no kids, located in Los Angeles. I’ve been curvy my whole life, but really heavy the last 10 yrs or so. I had never considered WLS until now because of all of the negative side effects from the Lap Band or Bypass. But last fall my neighbor told me she was getting sleeved. So I started to research, and was excited by so few “cons” to the procedure. I went for my initial consultation in October, was told I was a good candidate. But I couldn’t have the surgery before the end of 2017 because of my work travel schedule. So I held off proceeding until January, so I wouldn’t have to pay more out of pocket than necessary. On January 9th I went back to my surgeons office and had nutritional counseling, psych eval, EKG, and then went to the hospital to get my blood work, chest X-ray & echocardiogram done. On January 9th I went to a PCP who works with my surgeon to review the results. I had one blood result she didn’t like, so I went back to get blood drawn again. Once that was all back and she signed off, it was submitted to my insurance. Approval came back in about a week! Surgery date is set for February 12th. Random thoughts: I’m really happy my insurance (Anthem BSBC) and my surgeon didn’t have a lot of requirements, or waiting periods, like nutritional counseling etc., or required preop diets or weight loss. I just want this done with, and have a skinnier me, sooner rather than later. My surgeon office was also really efficient about me getting all my tests, counseling, evals done within one week. I’m also glad my surgeon and my hospital are located about 3 miles away from my home. My job and this process is my biggest concern. I’m in sales and travel for work extensively. I have my first business trip 3 weeks after my surgery. It is a long flight and a weeklong trip, so I’m worried about my energy level, and eating (I’ll be in the pureed stage). I’ll also be with my boss (who won’t know about my WLS) from 7am-10pm, 3 meals a day, and also with a lot of customer and associates throughout the week. I’d love to have more time to recover, but traveling is a big part of my job so it’s unavoidable. On the job topic, because of the fact I’m in sales, entertainment, meals & drinking, is a big part of what I do. The difference in my eating habits & drinking will definitely be noticed and commented on. Also, I see a large number of business contacts & coworkers throughout the year. But everyone I see is infrequent, from less than monthly, to annually, so my weight loss is going to be very noticeable (hopefully!). I’m not sure how I’m going to answer well meaning questions about my eating or weight loss. I’m naturally an open book, but I don’t want to be open about my WLS. So I’ll need to come up with an answer that is truthful enough I won’t appear to be lying, but not the whole truth. I’m curious to find out what it will be like to drink post op (but once healed). I don’t intend to give up drinking, and my surgeon doesn’t require that I do. I have a reputation of being able to hold my liquor (considered an asset in my career). I know my tolerance will get lower as I lose weight. But I wonder how the sleeve will change the alcohol absorption and effects for me. I’ve told my mom and a few friends about my upcoming WLS, everyone is supportive (I obviously only told people who I knew would be). Last night I told the guy I’m dating, so that felt a little awkward. We didn’t have a big discussion about it, so I’d love to mind read and see how he really feels about it. Does he like my figure now and not looking forward to it changing? Is he just ok w my figure now, but looks forward to a thinner me? I’m obviously doing this for myself, so it doesn’t matter in the end, but I am curious. Definitely planning on plastic surgery when I get at or near my goal weight. Very fearful of the pain of a mommy makeover (even though I don’t have kids), but looking forward to the end result of being happy with my body. Any SoCal plastic surgeon recs appreciated!

@@PinkPolkadot619 true.. I haven't succeeded at losing weight but I think that has more to do with portion size and too -many- bad food choices rather than moderation.. both of which have to change but just to play devil's advocate.. a number of people post sleeve still drink alcohol.. and while that does have some health benefit in moderation it's not a Protein or a veggie.. your body doesn't "need" it and it's FULL of "unneeded" calories.. so why is that not frowned upon but a can of diet pop here and there is apparently completely taboo?

Here are some other topics that always inspire forum participation: * Alcohol: Pro-choice, pro-life or pro-Long Island tea? * Managing your appetite mindfully with marijuana, tobacco and cocaine * Birthday cake: But what if I scrape off the icing? * Jerky and pork rinds: The benefits of sodium and lard * Bread, potatoes, Pasta, rice and matzah balls: Carbs, vey! * Fruit: Worse than coconut cream pie? * Ketosis and quinoa * Avoiding caffeine: The case for Mormonism * How long must I wait before having sex? Protip: Longer than your parents did! Ba-dump!

Getting back on the throwing up subject I woke up from surgery throwing up...so awesome! Then didnt really throw up until like 9 months out when i had a stomach virus. Nowadays I wouldnt call it throwing up, like we would have pre-surgery, it is more sliming...just a whole lot of slime...yea it is pretty. And yes in almost every occasion, a carbonated drink as been involved, my drink of choice is champagne...and its not everytime I drink champagne, but as others have said it is best to drink or eat, never the 2. In my case, sometimes I am just dumb and enjoying being with people and forget BTW I am saving so much money on alcohol lol, i can do more than one, usually 3 before I feel it now. I get drunk quick and sober up even quicker, usually if I go out, have a few drinks, feel the drunk sensation, then by the time i get home I am sober again.

I think that face book group is called gastric sleeve recipes. I am on a whole list of facebook groups. None of them are vets only groups though. I can add you if you want! I do not drink alcohol. If I do, I get really drunk on one drink. i don't like that feeling. I still don't drink with my meals. It makes me feel sick. I do usually take a tiny sip of Water when I am done eating.

Keep in mind, “sugar free” doesn’t mean “carbohydrate free”. If the label says “sugar free,” that means that the product has less than ½ gram of sugar per serving. The product can still be high in carbohydrates. Sugar alcohols are often used as a sweetener because they don’t usually raise blood sugars. However, sugar alcohols can have 1.5 to 3 calories per gram. Evaluate you habits before adding in treat foods. Is your overall nutrition in the healthy range? Are you disciplined with your eating and supplements? Are you getting regular exercise? An occasional small treat might be reasonable based on evaluating your overall eating and exercise habits. Consider working with your bariatric program’s dietitian to see how these foods might be worked into your food plan.

Obesity bias. We all hear about, and some of us experience it, in the workplace and in social situations. But obesity bias lurks elsewhere, in places where you’d least expect it because the people involved are so well-educated. It lurks in what I call the “helping professions”. Teachers, ministers, people who ought to know better. Because of that, I addressed the last chapter of Bandwagon to medical professionals. Telling them how I feel about obesity bias is important to me personally, and awareness of the issue is important to us all, fat or thin, young or old. Politicians, educators, and the media can help (if they can just get their heads screwed on straight), but those of us who suffer from obesity can help by refusing to tolerate it. That’s why I’m reprinting my obesity bias chapter here: I want to put the fire in your belly. Curious? Read on. AN OPEN LETTER TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS You wouldn’t guess it to look at me now, but I was once obese enough to qualify for and have bariatric surgery. I was so fat that I got stuck in turnstiles, had to use handicapped stalls in public restrooms, and dressed in drab garments that looked like they were made by Omar the Tentmaker. I was so fat that children would point at me and giggle. So fat that I couldn’t fit in a booth in nice restaurants. So fat that fellow airline passengers groaned when I sat down in the seat beside them. Despite all that, I think I've been pretty lucky. I haven't suffered as much of the obesity prejudice that others like me have faced. My career might have been more successful if I was thin, but I was never aware of obesity bias in a workplace and I advanced further in my career than I ever could have dreamed possible. But I have experienced obesity prejudice, and some of that has come from you: the health care professionals with whom I've entrusted my physical and mental health, and that's a special kind of betrayal. I’m not a doctor; nurse; nutritionist; dietician; surgeon; exercise physiologist; physical or occupational therapist; medical, laboratory, radiology or surgical technician; or psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, so I can only make assumptions about what motivates you in the practice of your profession. It’s probably a mix of things: the need for a paycheck; love of science; the expectations of your families, teachers and employers; laws and ethics (both written and unwritten); the desire to relieve suffering; and compassion for your patients. In reality, compassion seems to be undervalued in both the medical community and society at large. I'm told that medical students undergo training so grueling that it would be considered inhumane in any other environment. Then they leap into a practice that requires them to balance patient care with business, financial, insurance, legal and ethical issues that their formal education did not fully address (if at all). Americans of any profession live in a paradoxical society. We praise the athlete who finishes out a game despite a serious injury while we pop pain pills for the aches in our own inactive bodies. We give our children television sets, video games, cell phones and junk food, but don't have time to play with them or encourage them to exercise. Our government mandates the publication of nutrition information on food packages that we are unable or unwilling to understand. We admire the underweight women pictured in celebrity magazines while we wait in line at the supermarket to purchase a cartful of super-processed, calorie-rich, nutrition-poor food. During our daily trip to McDonald's, we recoil when we see an obese person enjoying the same meal that's on our own tray. We think, "What a pig! I would never let myself get that fat. Why doesn't she go on a diet? She must be too lazy or too stupid." Then we stuff another fistful of French fries in our mouths, take a big swig of Coke, and secretly loosen the button on our own straining waistband. The meal we have just eaten could feed a third-world family for a week, but neither our greediness nor their neediness concerns us. Somehow the careless eating habits of a normal weight person, the anorexic eating of an underweight actress, and the starvation of an impoverished child are all okay, but the overeating of an obese person is reviled. Despite the societal stigma associated with it, obesity isn't the shameful plight of "other" people — lazy, unlucky, immoral people. It can happen to anyone. It happened to me, and it can happen even to well-educated medical professionals like you. I am by no means lazy. God has given me many blessings, and I do my best to live in a moral fashion, but through a mysterious combination of nature and nurture, I suffer from the chronic disease of obesity. It is no easier for me to cure myself of this disease than it is for someone to cure herself of asthma, epilepsy or diabetes. I find it ironic that the only current "cure" for diabetes - gastric bypass surgery - is so often considered to be unnecessary “cosmetic” surgery when an obese person seeks it as treatment for their disease. When I asked him for a referral to a bariatric surgeon, the physician who diagnosed my Type 2 diabetes (who happens to be morbidly obese himself) told me, "You don't need something that drastic. You just need to try harder." Telling me that was as helpful as telling a patient with a broken leg, "Let's just wait and see if this gets better on its own. If you concentrate hard enough, that bone will mend itself." That same doctor told me many times to exercise more and eat less. We live in a small town and I see him and his family in local restaurants and stores, but never at the health club owned by the hospital with which he is affiliated. The most strenuous exercise I've seen him do is to repeatedly lift a fork to his face as he plows through a plate of Mexican food. Do I sound bitter? I suppose I am, and you would be too if you had been treated by your fellow human beings, including medical professionals, the way I have been treated. To hear me talk, you might think I'm nursing a grudge against my doc, but I'm not. My obese doctor is a really nice guy, and I have genuine respect for the talented, hard-working people who practice the "helping professions". But not for one minute do I believe that any of them are qualified to judge me. That privilege is reserved for God. Sometimes it's the most kind and well-intentioned people who inflict the most hurt and humiliation on an obese person. To suffer that at the hands of professionals who ought to know better has been especially hurtful and disappointing. When I first moved to Tennessee, I went to see Dr. X, the family physician recommended to me by a local friend. He gave me a prescription for my high cholesterol (essential, he said), refused me medication for depression (not necessary, he claimed), and told me I must lose weight (also essential). I asked him how I should do that. His response was, "It's simple. Put the fork down. Eat less and exercise more." When I said, "That's easier said than done," he answered, "You don't need to talk about it. Just do it." (He also inexplicably refused to give me a referral to a nutritionist, psychotherapist or weight loss support group.) From this experience I could only conclude that my obesity was due to a fatal lack of willpower. I reported that conversation to my friend, who said, "That's probably because Dr. X used to be very heavy himself, and he thinks if he can lose weight, anybody can." The fascinating thing about that factoid was that although Dr. X was specially equipped by his own experience with obesity to give advice, support, and compassion to an obese patient, he was unable or unwilling to offer me any of those things. I don't know what his problem was, because I never got to know him better. I found another family doctor (the obese one) and never returned to Dr. X for medical care. I've also experienced obesity prejudice in a mental health setting. For a year or so I attended a support group meeting for behavioral health patients at our local hospital. The woman who facilitated the group was an addiction specialist - entirely appropriate considering the high proportion of drug and alcohol addicts in the group, but even she laughed when I told the group, "It's all very well for you to talk about abstinence. You can completely give up drugs or alcohol and survive just fine, but if I completely give up food, I'll die." I'll admit I often say funny things with a serious expression on my face, but how was that statement funny when tears were running down my face? I've even experienced a subtle form of obesity prejudice in a bariatric medical practice. In the past five years, I've used the services of two different hospitals with well-established, well-respected bariatric surgery programs. I won't name them because medically I have no bone to pick with them, but I will describe them because they reveal a lot about themselves in their bariatric facilities' design. One facility is supplied with plus-size patient gowns; wide benches and chairs; wide hallways and doorways; big exam tables with sturdy step stools beside them; large, easy-access restrooms; specially-equipped operating rooms; large-size blood-pressure cuffs; and many other accommodations for large-sized patients. The other facility has none of that, and if a patient is too large to fit through the door that leads to the exam rooms, his or her consult may take place in the waiting room, in the sight and hearing of other patients. So much for patient confidentiality, huh? Both of these facilities have given me excellent and considerate care, but only one of them gives the impression of having thought deeply about what its patients really need. And speaking of what bariatric patients really need, I also have a word for the general surgeons who are jumping onto the bariatric bandwagon in hopes of increasing revenue: please, please don't lift that scalpel until you've established a complete patient education and aftercare program, employing the services of the experienced nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, exercise physiologists and other bariatric professionals who can make or break your patients' success. When you have your team assembled, please make sure they're all singing from the same sheet of music. One of the most common complaints I hear is that staff members in a single bariatric practice issue conflicting instructions - for example, the surgeon says you should eat 1/2 cup of food per meal, but the nutritionist says you should eat 1 cup. My response to this is always: follow the surgeon's advice until you're able to clarify the issue. But bariatric surgery patients, especially new ones who are trying to learn dozens of new facts and behaviors, do not need their bariatric team adding to their confusion. Just as you should not underestimate your patients' need for education and support, nor should you underestimate their intelligence. Surely as a scientist you can acknowledge that human intelligence is not inversely proportionate to body size, any more than it's related to skin color, ethnicity or religious belief, but I must remind you that mental faculties do not decrease as body size increases. While I appreciate any efforts you make to communicate clearly, it is not necessary to talk down to me. And baby talk is out of the question. I will never forget the doctor (about 15 years my junior) who explained to me that while I (age 50) was catheterized for surgery, I would "go pee pee" into a bag. I am not a child, and I will thank you to treat me as an adult. If you want me to call you "Doctor Smith", please address me as "Ms. McMillan" (or, if you are of a southern persuasion, "Miss Jean"). By now you may be thinking, "I don't have time for any more of this nit-picking," or, as a nurse practitioner once said to me, "I don't have any more time for you today. I have sick people to see." But before you run off, I also want to say this: Thank you for all that you do, for your arduous studies, hard work, and long hours; for the risks you take, your research, your continuing education; for being willing to treat a complicated and chronic disease like obesity with an expensive medical gadget that's being refined and improved even as I write this, even as you walk through the operating room doors to perform weight loss surgery on another patient. Keep up the good work, partner. None of us would get very far on the bariatric bandwagon without you!

Okay, does anyone have any information stating that alcohol is dangerous too soon after surgery ? All I can find is "it can impact you differently" in other words you feel it a lot faster and of coarse empty calories and the risk of transfer addiction, but all that aside, I'm looking for actual research showing it is a risk to staple line ect. My surgeon had no stipulations on alcohol following the sleeve and in fact said "it's a liquid" you'll be fine, I had 2 margaritas about a month out. However, I recently had a revision so I'm looking for information in order to make an informed decision this time about if I would want to have a drink next weekend while out of town for the Holiday.

im a big fan of the Eades. ( sort of like Atkins) but they believe more in the high Protein low carbs that have come to be associated with our type of weight loss. They always gave that net carb formula. which is of course, total fiber + protein - carbs = net carbs. and it has really worked for me. Now im very grateful for the addition of the half sugar alcohols number to add in, i find the real sugar alcohol culprits are found in the s products like sugar free candies etc. things that we should probably stay away from anyway, sugar free cakes etc.

I had my first drink since New Years eve last weekend. And it was a single glass of hard cider. I got buzzed off the one glass fairly quickly, I would say within 10 minutes of drinking the drink. But just as quick as that buzz came, it went away just a quickly. That cider is about as hard of alcohol I've consumed. Prior to the surgery, I could out drink and last some of the best of them without even getting buzzed let alone drunk or super intoxicated. Now, I'm a very small lightweight.

So some people asked for information on "Why Alcohol Is Bad" post surgery. (Particularly directly after) Most of it has to do with wound healing. As people have said, your stomach has a large 'wound' in it from the surgery. There are many studies which describe the effect of alcohol, however this is one of my favorites. For those who don't have time to go through it all: "In summary, acute ethanol exposure can lead to impaired wound healing by impairing the early inflammatory response, inhibiting wound closure, angiogenesis, and collagen production, and altering the protease balance at the wound site. As mentioned previously, the host response to chronic alcohol exposure appears to be different from that of acute alcohol exposure. Analysis of clinical data indicates that chronic alcohol exposure causes impaired wound healing and enhanced host susceptibility to infections, but the detailed mechanisms that explain this effect need more investigation." Do what you want to do. We are all big girls and boys here, however know the risks and benefits of all of your actions.

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!

What happened to following your doctor's/NUT's orders? I've been instructed absolutely no alcohol until 6 months post op. To me, it's not worth taking a chance on eating/drinking something I'm not supposed to. And if you're "cheating" two weeks post op what will you be doing month's out? Make sure you're dedicated to the process. We all want success right?

I’m 8 weeks out and totally had a hard seltzer the other night. Low carb, low calorie, 5% alcohol. Naughty but so yummy.

I live in Washington State where recreational weed is legal and stigma around using marijuana is dwindling. My doctor advised to stay away from alcohol for at least two months post-op so I've been stone cold sober for more than a month now (including pre-op diet phase). I've also wondered if marajuana is a "safe" alternative to drinking post-surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Barb! Actually I JUST got an email back from my doctors office today. I'm taking Nexium a.m. and p.m. and then Zantac150 in the afternoon. For breakthrough heartburn I'm taking Gaviscon. Avoid tomato based dishes, fruits and juices, any form of chocolate, alcohol and anything carbonating. Also, if you smoke, quit. I'll be starting my Zantac tomorrow. Hope this helps both of us! Renee`

I'm very open about having had surgery. If someone asks how I lost all the weight, I say, "I had bariatric surgery last June. I haven't had a starch, or a sweet, or fruit juice, or a soda, or alcohol since then. I eat mostly Protein and vegetables, and I get exercise 4-6 times a week. It;'s hard work, but it's SO worth it because I feel great and I'm much healthier than I was before." Then if they have more questions, I answer them honestly. If anybody has a negative response, they haven't shared it with me. They usually say, "Wow, good for you!"

Just to say one last thing, the point of my post, and I should have been more clear, is that there are a lot of newly sleeved people ( think a few days, a few weeks out of surgery) asking when they can drink alcohol, eat ice cream, and eat pizza. To me it seems that I'd be more concerned about the healthier side of having this tool. To me that ideology makes sense. Am I glad they ask? Sure. Knowledge is power and it's safer for people to ask than not. But what makes it hard to swallow are the few who actually admit to eating the unhealthy stuff a month out and then tell others, "sure go ahead, no problem, eat it." We are all different and how our tastes and appetites react will be different from one another, our bodies respond different. But that's not the point, the point is how "healthy", not just in terms of weight loss, but nutritional value is drinking, ice cream, tacos and pizza. You know? I've actually read a post recently where some someone speaks casually about eating three whole tacos, and another four bananas in a sitting. One post here, the other FB. Is that cool? Does anyone want to encourage it? Would I want that example? I'm sorry my initial post wasn't as clear as it should have been but hopefully people understand more where I'm coming from.

5.14.06 Mothers Day Breakfast: coffee and creamer and a power bar Lunch: Brunch at Sister's Mojito Chinese chicken salad cheese pie fruit carmal popcorn with nuts cheesecake Comes to a whopping... TOTAL OF 1868 Total Fat: 92 grams 45% Total Carb: 181 grams 36% Protein: 68 grams 13% Alcohol: 15 grams 6% Tough day to admit (but I knew what I was doing!) and obviously wide open - I enjoyed myself and will begin again tomorrow...

How has everyone been? I've been so busy and lazy I forgot to check in. So what is new? I feel like I am getting back on track and things are back to normal. I don't feel like I have to be censored and everything seems to be natural now. So far I am keeping my food down and I am slowly added different fruit and veggies to my diet. I am just afraid to eat pasta, rice and bread. The other day I wanted some Raman noodles but I got scared and bake me some fries instead. Also I've been on a carb kick lately but at least I am choosing smart carbs. Wait smart carbs? Is that even possible? One thing I noticed about being back on track is my triggers days made an appearance and this past Sunday was it. AKA Sunday Funday. Why Sunday? Just in case you guys haven't noticed but I love sports and Sundays consist of sports. Also I love True Blood and Dexter. So did I handle my trigger day? Easy... I planned it. I know I will be drinking and there may be a possibility that I go off my healthy lifestyle because I will tell myself this is my "cheat day". So, I double my workouts on Sunday and preplan my dinner. Well I should say me and my friends plan the dinner. I love my friends by the way for two reason One the are on the mission to find lap band friendly recipes and two they found low calories drinks to make. How cool is that but I have a confession to make. Sunday I finished a whole bottle of Moscato at first my friends were like that wasn't too bad until one of them look up how many calories are in bottle. I am ashamed to say it but I will tell you this I see why alcohol is empty calories so I will need to be careful. Trust and believe I worked out another 30 mins when they left. I am still learning but I feel like everything is back to normal. Thanks for reading .

I asked my dr that and he said yes. The contradiction comes in on sweet things. Atkins markets those with net carbs as well but they count sugar alcohols or something similar. Those don't count. It's always carbs minus fiber.