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I wish I could say I thought it was as simple as that. In his defense, I don't believe that's it. I believe it only has to do with him loving to eat out or eat richly and in massive quantities, while I have to be careful of what I eat. That's why I compared it to two alcoholics and one decides to go on the wagon.

July 5 for me at fair oaks hospital virginia. Dr moazzez. Starting weight: 205, current weight 181 (no clothes). Eating less, losing weight, can't wait for band to help me stop feeling so crummy and hungry. My plan is to be hungry for next 16 days and then applying current better eating habits to my new pouch. Have diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Need excess weight gone so I can live to see great grandchildren born.

I told my mom (she went with me for the surgery), my sister, and my closest friend... only because I knew she would be very suspicious about my eating/drinking changes. I don't plan on telling anyone else. As far as what do I tell other people? I tell them I am doing high protein/low carb, and exercising. Also, if I am at a BBQ or something (which has happened recently) and there's nothing for me to eat, I tell them I'm on a diet and I had a protein shake right before I got there. It's usually true. As far as alcohol, I have used migraines as my excuse for not drinking lately. My feeling is that it is nobody's business but mine, and I don't want to be known from here on out as the "girl who had weight loss surgery" in my extended group of friends. I believe it's a totally personal decision if you want to tell people or not. I decided not to tell, and although it's only been a month, it's working out fine so far.

I definitely understand this. I've been telling pretty much everyone in my inner circle that I am going through with surgery, even updating my Facebook with my current weight loss progress, and it seems like I've got a good amount of outside support! My main concern is I drink like a fish (not alcohol, but water, for instance) and it seems like I won't be able to chug water like I am able to now. I think I can handle the food, though. I've been replacing 1-2 of my meals a day with a protein shake as of recently and its not terrible! I am happy to hear that you feel that way. I honestly think its the best choice for people who struggle with their health and losing any weight at all is a step in the right direction to a longer, healthier life.

I drank alcohol 3 weeks after my surgery and felt like crap about it. Youll feel liike you messed up a lot of times during this journey you just have to accept the fact you did it, take responsibility, and move on. Thats what i have to do, im still very hard on myself with certain things but when i get back on track im good. ☺️

LOL I've experienced this sort of this...both in my "real world", and in reading posts on this website! I'm amazed, almost daily, by the posts (here) that read "I'm X number of days post-surgery...when can I have (insert bad food/drink/behavior here) again??"! I rarely respond to those posts...sometimes its just better to keep my mouth shut... LOL As for people in my life, I tend to treat each question (and, Lordy, have there every been questions!!) as an opportunity to educate the other person regarding the realities of this surgery, and life afterwards. Oddly enough, the thing that seems to raise the most eyebrows is when I decline ordering a drink (and by drink I mean a non-alcoholic beverage) with my dinner. That really seems to throw waitresses right off their game! LOL Let people be amazed and bewildered by the lifestyle changes and choices we're making....maybe our example will make a difference in someone else's life one day!

As WLS gets more and more democratized, a certain type of patient will have access to it. Prior to its large-scale availability, the type of patient who would undergo the procedure was willing to do whatever it took to succeed. He/she was knew his/her life was at stake. Now, with WLS criteria being lowered, and more insurance companies covering it, or loans being made available to cover it, the patient base is much much larger. And with that, you get some people who slip through the pre-op psych evaluations...or don't even have to get a pre-op psych eval. So you get people like you report here...people who really don't have the mindset that is necessary and fundamental to success with the lapband (or sleeve, or bypass). People who will game the tool. (This is analogous to people who lose weight with something like Weight Watchers, but take all their points in chocolate, alcohol or other not-healthy foods. They may make it to goal, but they won't stay there long.) These are the people who skew the success rate statistics due to their non-compliance with post-op rules. It's a shame but it will become more prevalent as the procedures become democratized and normalized and available to a wider market. I would definitely speak up because misinformation is being diffused by this person, and that misinformation is harmful not only for the person hearing it (who won't question it, as you did), but also for the success rate of the band in general. The person delivering that information needs to be trained correctly, so the practice who is employing her should know about this. Ultimately it does no good for the practice if their patients don't succeed with the band, so they will want to hear your feedback.

I guess I think of the surgery as a huge change in my life. Something that I'm sharing with family and close friends. I can't imagine not telling someone that I'm dating. When to tell them, I'm not really sure. I do wonder though if the guys she was dating were really shallow and were worried that she was going to gain weight or if it would just be too much baggage to deal with? There's a whole game show called baggage about the junk we we carry from our past. We've all got it, when you bring it up is always a huge question. When do you tell them that you have a mental illness? When do you tell them that you've got an alcoholic mother? When do you tell them that you've been divorced or have children? I think it's really all a matter of your own preferences. Tell your friend to keep trying. A respectful and worthy man who will appreciate her is out there!

Ummm... I think there are plenty of people on here that do have the occasional glass of something that can tell you first had nothing, that I know of, happens to their body- myself included. There are definitely very opposing opinions on the subject but I, myself, believe everything in moderation. I have never heard on here that your stomach can become nercrotic and there have been tons of posts regarding the subject of drinking alcohol after being sleeved. I wish you all the best and Happy Holidays!

Both my dr and my NUT have advised that moderate alcohol is okay (it was a 1-2 month wait). My dr warned me that the alcohol will most likely hit quicker, which it does. The most I ever have is 2 drinks maybe twice a month. I find I get a buzz quick and it goes away quick. But my NUT is a nut in that she is always trying to up my carbs and I don't skimp on them as it is (or not as much as some people here). I choose to listen to my dr when they give me conflicting information.

After having worked with many NUTS due to my son's medical condition, I can tell you from experience that the majority of NUTS are aptly named as such. 90% of them let their personal opinions override any medical information they may have gained in their five mins of medical training. They make blanket and stupid statements, such as the one that you heard, which are completely false, and sadly people believe them because they have a title and work in the medical field. If the cleaning lady at the hospital said that you'd dismiss it right? Well she's probably smarter than the NUT Honestly, when I've challenged these idiots on total stupidity that has come out of their mouths they fall apart. Total idiots and we are supposed to PAY for their services! I can't even begin to tell you the stupid things they've said to me about my son's needs in the past. My favorite was one who told me to force feed him juice (he was two months old and less than 8lbs) because he needed to develop a taste for natural flavors at that age or he'd never be healthy. Tell me....how do you force feed a baby without drowning them???? Oh and did I mention he had chronic and explosive diarrhea so fruit juice was a 100% off limit item to us on the orders of our doctors? They're fools, and you were listing to a classic fool apparently who maybe had an alcoholic father or something. THere is NO medical data to back that up and frankly, I'd ask them for the studies in class next time to put them on the spot. Ask if they can bring it to the next meeting with references of course because you are finding that the information might be misleading or some other not threatening style question Bet they call in sick the next meeting LOL Your nut is a NUT! As to the liquor hitting you quicker This is actually not true of all sleevers. I find that it is quite the opposite for me. I only drink wine, so to be fair I don't know how hard liquor would effect me, but wine, while I drink less of it, actually does not effect me as much as it did prior to surgery and any effect I do feel goes away quickly. The only thing I have noticed as a trend, and this is only twice so it might not be my long term effects....is that if I have more than two glasses of wine during a long evening I wake up with a terrible headache. But I'm also able to drive home because while everyone else is partying silly I have sobered up quickly. And I use that term, sober, gently because I don't seem to get even tipsy. I actually don't mind this because we are wine collectors and wine tastings and dinners are a big part of our life. It's nice not to feel like a total lush after just a glass or two LOL

I was told by my NUT that after surgery I'll feel the effects of alcohol quicker. I asked if it effects the blood/alcohol level and she had no idea. Just seemed odd to think you may feel wasted after half a drink but still be way under the legal limit to drive!

i love martinis and gin & tonics. But i no longer want the empty calories. Post-op I am happy to give up alcohol. Maintaining weight loss is more important to me.

Had my first wine at 4 months. Had first hard liquor (vodka and whiskey) about six months out. Can't do beer at all...too much carbonation. I did manage to drink hard cider after letting it set over ice for a bit. I probably drink alcohol 3-4 times/month. I did have 2-3 cocktails everyday for 10 days straight when I was on vacation and then at a conference back in October. The 3 notable results were....1) I discovered alcohol does not affect me any differently than preop...I barely get buzzed. 2) that much alcohol gave an upset stomach (gastritis) that was fortunately fixed with 10 days of omeprazole, and 3) I gained 4 pounds that was most likely Water weight because it came off easily in a week. I know transfer addictions can happen after bariatric surgery, and I definitely used to turn to food AND alcohol for comfort. So I make it a point to NOT drink when I'm sad or upset or stressed. I consider those "trigger emotions" and make sure I do not default to the old habits during those times.

I wanted to add: Based on your mention of a family history of addiction. Have you ever considered exploring 12-step recovery? You might want to consider visiting some meetings of a recovery group like OA (for compulsive eaters), CODA (for Codependents), or Al-Anon (for families of alcoholics/substance abusers). A support group like one of these and/or a bariatric support group may help you to learn some new coping skills. This might be something to talk to your therapist about.

This is long... but I really need to get it off my chest and see what you all think. My situation is this: I have a husband with a brain condition, an 8 year old son, and a 25 year old daughter (plus 5 grandsons all under the age of 10). I live in a rural area about an hour from the hospital where my surgery is supposed to happen on Wednesday. I have to check in at the hospital at 6:00 am that day... but my son needs to get on the school bus at 8:15 am that day. We have just one vehicle, and my husband doesn't drive much... but he is going to come with me Wednesday and stick around until I go to the OR... at which point he will come home and get updates by phone until after our son gets off the school bus at 3:00 pm, when he will bring him along and come back to visit me (because by then I should be in a room... kids under 12 are not allowed in pre-op or recovery, so he can't come to the hospital with us). The plan was for my adult daughter to spend the night at our house on Tuesday night and get her brother on the bus Wednesday morning before she goes to work... but she just told me she will be out of town until Wednesday morning sometime and can't do it as planned. I can't take a chance on her not making it in time on Wednesday morning since she has no idea when she will be back in town... my husband and daughter are the only family members who know I'm having surgery, because the only other family member nearby is my mom who will freak out (and as a result stress me out) if I tell her (all I've not told other family members either because they might tell her)... she can't help me anyway... she lives an hour away in the opposite direction of the hospital I'll be at and one of my grandsons lives with her, so she has to be home herself to get him to school that day. Most of the friends I have who would be willing to help me all live too far away to actually help me (as in they pretty much all live in different states), except 2... one has a new baby and another child my son's age, but she lives over an hour away... and the other lives nearby... BUT she hasn't been very supportive of my surgery AND she will want me to send my son to her house for the night instead of coming here for the night... (but my husband won't allow him to stay the night over there because my friend is a victim of domestic violence and he is afraid her alcoholic husband could randomly show up anytime and be violent). So if I even ask, I'm afraid it will put me in an even more stressful position, being stuck in the middle between them. I'm on the verge of saying screw it and cancelling my surgery... I've got no way to make this work that I can see (other than getting a friend to drive me to the hospital and not having any pre-surgery moral support and that's IF my husband would agree to not being there with me and putting our son on the bus himself)... I'm nervous about the surgery anyway... and while I hate to have spent 2 weeks putting out the money and frustration on this pre-op diet, I did lose 10 pounds on it so maybe this is a sign that I just shouldn't do it and can try (again) to lose weight on my own without surgery. I'm so confused and stressed out!! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I am considering the band but have some reservations. I have a BMI of 34 with chronic knee pain due to arthritis ( I am only 36) Since I am about 8lbs away from a BMI of 35 I have to pay for the surgery out of pocket. The sleeve which I think I would prefer to get is out of reach because I dont weigh enough (never heard that before) Obviously you have to change you lifestyle to be successful but I am afraid it will change too much. I love to entertain and have people over for dinner. I enjoy wine of course some pepsi every once in awhile. The research I have found says you cant have alcohol or drink carbanated beverages, that you cant drink while eating. Am I going to miss that part of my life so much that I regret it? Will I be a completely different person at social events? I am not really sure what I am trying to say, I am just scared.

I thought giving up diet pepsi would kill me, now I don't even miss it. It's ok to drink alcohol you just have to watch the calories and be careful because it will affect you much quicker. As for the 8 pounds needed to get insurance to pay, just strap on some ankle weights and leave on your shoes!

I think it is a good idea to differentiate between foods you "can't" eat post VGS, and foods that don't agree with you or you choose not to eat. As for the "Can't" list (from my doctor and nutritionist) 1) Anything with carbonation (soda, beer, champagne) 2) Alcohol for the first year post surgery 3) Chewing gum (concerned that if you swallow the gum it will block the stomach). That was it on the "must not ever eat again list". I am 3 months post surgery and have only had one food "disagree" with me. That was a chicken and apple sausage. I felt yucky, and my stomach was upset, but it wasn't a horrible experience, I just wouldn't choose to eat it again. Then there are the foods that I don't eat anymore - this is purely my choice! I try to avoid most simple carbs - white rice, bread, Pasta. I am ok with the whole grain versions, but getting all that Protein in my meals doesn't leave a lot of room for simple carbs, veggies and fruits. I'm eating about 1100 calories a day and losing 2 pounds per week. If I truely crave a food, I will have a mouthful, and then the craving is done and over with. As for a prohibition on grapes, maybe in the first 2 months, but after that if you chew it well, it should be fine. I hope this helps.

I think 7 weeks post op is too soon for alcohol in my opinion. Obviously, if your doctor thinks it is OK, then go for it. However, we are still healing at that time and I feel like its just too soon. And, I want to warn you, that one cocktail could land you flat on your @$$ if you aren't careful. In fact, I just had a few sips of a drink this past weekend and felt drunk for almost 35 minutes. For me, its hard to find a happy medium, between feeling good and drunk. The first time I drank, it was at home, and I always recommend it that way. You just never know how alcohol will affect you. Still to this day, 8 months post op, I mix my own drinks at a bar. You want to go slow and easy. I never do a full shot of anything.

I am 13 months post op. i haven't heard anything like this about drinking alcohol. I will say that when i drink now it takes a lot less to get me where i wanna go if you know what i mean. Liquor hits you a quicker but it tends to burn off quicker also. after doing some quick googling it looks like alcohol can cause Alcoholism-induced bone necrosis. but it seems what you would have to be a alcoholic for several years before this set in. a few drinks from time to time shouldn't hurt you. hopefully this helps.

My doctor said never. Which I don't care, since I didn't drink before. His reasoning is that my stomach is so small now, do not waste the space on useless calories. Use the space for something useful, like Protein. Also, it does enter your system undiluted, and WILL cause liver damage, and WILL damage the lining of your stomach. Is having a drink really that important? Were we not all warned before surgery about alcohol use? I was, about a million times. If drinking alcohol is important to you, why have the surgery?

I don't quite understand though... if the sleeve does not stretch much (or so i have heard) how will I be able to binge? it just doesn't seem physically possible Slider foods can be eaten in large quantities, such as ice-cream, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, chips etc. Also,even though the sleeve does not stretch, after it is completely healed (6 months) the hunger and capacity to eat more returns. If this is not controlled through strict portion sizes, like 1/2 to 1 cup max at a meal, the weight will come back on. Put "Weight gain" or "Regain" in the Search button, and you will read stories of people who gained or even regained weight. Another slider food/drink is Alcohol, full of sugar and calories. I can't give you scientific explanation why people can eat more after the sleeve, but it does happen if they stray from the diet guidelines. As someone mentioned earlier, yes you can eat around the sleeve. I can have a big bowl of ice-cream now, being 7 months post op. I can certainly eat more now. Some foods I had issues with early post op, I am fine now. I choose to eat healthy, because I want to reach my goal, and maintain it. Show me a person who binges on Protein ..... As far as I know, the binge foods are sugary, fatty, sweet and salty carb processed foods. Easy to binge on after sleeve as well.

I was sleeved on August 14 and at this point there is no way I could even get a small meal meal or any alcohol down. I'm still struggling to get in my daily protein and liquids. I'm impressed that you're able to even share a small meal!

I am pre op but my Dr said 1 year! Did not really give why but I feel if I am ready after several months I will try a beverage here and there. I am an occasional vodka drinker. Which I hear by the bypass people ia the only alcohol they can drink. Guess it depends on the person