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I had alcohol this past weekend 5 weeks post op. Class reunion. Vodka/Cranberry juice and a few Jello shots. However it never ever really hit me. I thought SHYAAT!!!! I just wasted calories for nothing! Well that's over, and I'm over it sooo I probably won't have another drink for a long while. My surgeons guidelines say no alcohol for 3 months. There was no pain, burning, or discomfort whatsoever. I just shouldn't be doing it.

My doc said 6 weeks and to take it easy because the alcohol may affect you faster then before surgery. He doesnt forbid anything and says you have to have a life. I have followed his plan and it is working well. Had a glass of wine the other night and it took me a very long time to drink it because I didn't want to get drunk. Well, it didn't really have an impact. And it didn't burn. I know what my triggers are and I am avoiding them, but enjoying a glass of wine is something I will do on occasion.

That's how long I have been banded. I am at work right now. I am so tired I could throw a temper tantrum. I'm a little dizzy and in a little pain:crying:. I just took some liquid Tylenol - a single dose to help me get through this day. I get off work at 3:35. It's 11:40 right now. As soon as I can I'm putting my head on my desk and sneaking a nap. Think I may start taking my liquid vitamins twice a day until I get back on track. I think I'm supposed to be doing that anyway. The liquid diet is still ok. Of course I get those moments when I want to put something chewable in my mouth, but I just remind myself that I am not really hungry and more importantly, I did not put my body through this just to fail. I'd better succeed just to justify the scars on my once perfect stomach! I have lost one steri-strip. When I bath I do not face the shower head and I have tried to barely get my stomach wet. In fact I clean my stomach with an alcohol wipe or two. I like that because it also helps with the itchy skin that the steri-strips cause. Oh! - A co-worker asked me if I was losing weight!!!! YEA!!!!!!:biggrin: I have only lost 10 pounds since surgery and I'm sure that 's not really noticeable on a person my size, but I will take any kind of victory can get. I need all the motivation I can handle right now. Now if only I could figure out how to post my weight loss ticker and find a rarely used bathroom in this place - I'm gonna need a little privacy:embaressed_smile:...

Oh also....I have never had pain from drinking any kind of alcohol. Fuzzy drinks will give me gas and make we wanna burp and feel full, but I usually drink a bloody Mary or Vodka OJ.

I did too and I didn't take benadryl because I assumed it was because of normal healing (like any other itchy cut) so I very carefully cleaned the areas with alcohol and it helped a ton.

I know this wasn't directed at me, but I'll answer anyway. Note: I am only 2.5 years out...and I'm a sleeve. alcohol ? YES, regulary nicotine ? YES, regulary weed ? YES, partook probably once a week last summer, none since then. Nsaids ? YES, for 1 month post WLS, but none since cuz I didn't need them anymore. So far so good. P.S. Not to say that I am encouraging nor discouraging any of the above, just stating my experience. YMMV.

I met with my nutritionist and she gave me a PreOperative Diet to follow for at least 2 weeks before surgery. As I had been such a bad, bad girl for the last few weeks (who am I kidding, last few months) knowign that surgery was coming that I am doing this diet for 3 weeks instead of 2- no alcohol, Protein shakes (I drink high protein slim fast), some fruit and a small salad with grilled protein- that is it. I am only on the 4th day, but I feel a little better already and it will help me get past the headaches, dizziness and empty feeling that would certainly happen after surgery if I was not prepared. Oh, I did get special dispensation to have a piece of birthday cake on my birthday which is a week before surgery!

Ive got DVD's, and almost everything else here. But still bored to death. Most of our outings here are eating out. It is all you have to do in this country. I didnt care if someone ripped me for asking about alcohol. If we were all angels we wouldnt have had to have the lap band. And I sure dont need a sermon at age 53, nor will I listen to one. So I appreciate the advice I recieved. Thanks

Wow thanks so much for all the wonderful replies! I really must come on here more often it really is a haven of support! I feel much more motivated than i have in the past month thank you all so much! Waitingpatiently you make excellent points. In the past twelve months i have had a baby, been on the pill, come off the pill, had a band and gone back on the pill. I think i need to give my body a break so i gave come off the pill and will report to non hormonal contraceptive for at least six months. I also allow myself to get too hungry then good choices go out the window. I must admit i also haven't exercised at all in the past month and have had a few nights out- weddings etc where alcohol was involved. Well it's really no big shock that Im not down much, it's actually quite a wonder Im not UP weight! SageTracy- you're so right, in the beginning of this journey i gave myself two years to lose the weight so that i wouldn't get down at slow losses and give up. If you've read above you'll see that i haven't really done much to help myself in the past month so Im considering today a fresh such. Thank you! Stephy this is also true, Im definitely not at restriction but need a kick of willpower to make good choices and i think all you're replies were just the kick i needed! B-52 that's very inspirational and exactly what i needed to hear, even though my band is only half full i think i was thinking, wow this is IT?! I forget that i still have 5cc to go and from what i read sometimes even .5cc can make all the difference. Well today is a new day- Im in Ireland so it's the morning and Im feeling great. Thanks so so much everyone!x

hah! Your friend is probably an awesome friend. My life long best friend is a recovering alcohol and I bought her the same bracelet. 😉🤣

BTW....post op wind pain can be awful. In the Alex they give you peppermint tea but it doesn't work. From getting home I got peppermint cordial (from tesco in the alcohol aisle). A warm glass first thing in the morning got rid of any wind for the day and really helped getting fluids down. I still have a glass every morning. Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

I was so scared about starting back smoking again that I avoided alcohol. coffee and excercize helped me quit also. I ended up losing a significant amount of weight about 20 lbs. Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

I come from a family of skinny people. The women are naturally under 115 lbs . Most have hypertension, a few have sleep apnea and a couple have diabetes. Sometimes it isn't due to weight but body composition, genetics, diet (e.g. too much alcohol or salt) or unmanageable stress. I honestly can't see a surgeon doing RNY to someone who has a BMI of 30 and is active as you say. I wouldn't recommend it but to your question, I know a few who had a BMI of 30 and went to Mexico to get the sleeve (not RNY).

I remember seeing them somewhere and it seemed that the sugar alcohol was pretty high. Last night at support group my band surgeon said sugar alcohol is pretty much the same as sugar and really discouraged us from eating it. I just mainly hate the way it gives me horrible gas. I have enough gas already.

drinks IN MODERATION is a good way to look at the alcohol issue and being banded. Actually drinks in moderation with alcohol and not being banded should be the way it is dealt with in all aspects.

I wish alcohol were a problem... goes down way too easy for me!

Since alcohol is a dehydrator, it is feasible that one might sense less restriction. Of course, after enough alcohol, one might sense less of a lot of stuff...

Okay, flipping through Discovery Channel last nite they had a show on about a 750 pound man. Amazing. So this doc was discussing research about food addiction, and they did test studies on obese people, seeing how their brains reacted to foods. The MRI scans were eerily similar to the scans of those who are drug and alcohol addicted. What happens (if I'm remembering correctly and this doc is right) is the food causes dopamine levels to surge, and for some reason, obese folks do not have the receptors for the dopamine like "normals" in the world, so it takes lots and lots of food, in increasing amounts over the years, to get the dopamine levels to cause the addiction to be triggered properly...so you get the HIGH from your food. So, the more you eat, the more you NEED to eat to get your HIGH. Sigh. She also commented that exercise increases dopamine receptor sites, so not only is the exercise good for health and weight loss, it SHOULD cause the need for less food to get the same HIGH. I'm addicted to food, coffee, and ciggies. I'm going NOW to call my doc and change my Wellbutrin prescription so I can actually take it. I'm hoping it helps to get rid of the ciggies for good and helps me not to get so anxious about my food. Don't get me wrong, my band helps tremendously. I have been stuck fighting to stay below 190 for months now and it's getting old. I'm dong whatever it takes!

What diets have you tried? What do you expect from this surgery? What does a normal day of eating look like? Do you binge? Do you graze? Have you ever been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused? How much do you drink? Are any of the members of your immediate family alcoholic? Are you now or have you ever used illicit drugs? Do you now or have you ever smoked? Who in your family knows of your decision to pursue WLS? Who lives in your household?

Oh it sounds like you are miserable right now, and I really feel for you. Withdrawal from something you are addicted to is really hard on a person. I am a recovering addict alcoholic and have sure gone through the ups and downs through all of my recovery. AA and NA have helped me so much. I am in my 81/2 years of sobriety now, and those 12 steps and all of my friends at the meetings have helped me so much. And that's how I got addicted too....percocets for a long term complication from surgery and then another repair surgery. When it was time to give up the Percocets, I did it but I went through withdrawal symptoms, and started drinking more to get that good feeling. It progressed until I had developed an addiction to alcohol too. I'm so sorry you are losing your hair too, that's gotta be horrible for you. I have read other people saying that if you keep on taking your Protein shakes and make sure to get the maximum protein every day, it stops the hair loss. I can't remember how many grams of protein a person needs though....can someone tell us? I am pulling for you. You have already done a fantastic thing and lost all of those pounds.

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. 🙂

You guys sure have lost a lot of weight. That is awesome to see sucess so close to home (Tacoma). I am on the LONG waiting list for insurance to cover me (not done till MArch 09) Tick tock tick tock. I was almost at the point of just getting a loan and paying for it when my father in law became homeless and is now living with us (ugh...not a good deal, he is a total alcoholic) and not to be totally trailer trashy (i totally am not) he is now living on a trailer on our back property (we have 1 1/2 acres) but still is an expense none the less. I felt upset when my hubby told me because it was stealing my dream from my fingers but now i am trying to be a mature adult and know its just a delay. Its funny it takes you years to get to this place where enough is enough, you have tried it ALL, it has failed and you give up and then the surgery just clicks and a light bulb goes off. For me, its like the drug addict who had to try everything else on his own before going and getting "treatment". So once you make that decision and find the courage to say yes this is what i am gonna do, scary but worth it...then someone tell you to wait a year...yeah, that sucks. But, heck years ago they didnt cover it at all. Blah, blah. I just wanted to say Hi to the peeps in my neighborhood and connect with you all. And to tell you how inspiring your sucess it to folks like me, looking through the fence waiting to come on in =)

Thank you for the encouragement Not being able to afford the surgery here, has its disadvantages. One being part of a support group. We met another patient while we were in Mexico, who referred this site to me. She and I have been keeping in touch through e-mail. Her surgery was rescheduled, and she'll be going in at the end of this month. Anyway, I was on liquids the first week, then graduated to creamy things like yogurt, cream of wheat and oatmeal. This doctor has a different recommendation than what I have heard from others. Doesn't seem as strict. My primary doctor here recommended sticking to it. I think the longer you can go with the softer stuff, the better. The "strict" may be better overall. I snuck a few things here and there, and must say, I did regret it. I would try a bite here and there, and if it works, then I try it again another day. The broth and liquids were giving me a huge stomach ache several times a day. Yes, the port side has been quite painful. Nobody ever talked about that, so I didn't expect it. My husband felt it too. Our bandages were off after about a week. Our incisions were closed with some kind of "glue." I had two stitches, and my husband had 3, which are also out now. We're almost healed except for one long incision that is about 3". I think the port is under there because we can feel a bump. I am usually allergic to adhesive, so I understand what you went through. I started using rubbing alcohol as soon as I could get near the areas to get the sticky stuff off. Yes I have heard that men lose quickly. My husband is just in heaven, telling me his watch keeps flipping around now, and that he is on the last notch of his belt. I'm proud of him. He used to eat about 5 full dinner plate sized meals a day. Now he can only eat a cup at a time, and hasn't needed any insulin because his body is making just enough. His doctor is monitoring him, so please, don't anyone out there just go and do this on your own. Blood sugar levels are not something to mess with. He has been a diabetic for 14 years, and his top weight was 330. I did this for myself, but also to support him. We have a 14 year old son, and a 12 year old daughter, and look forward to having more energy and spending more time with them before they are grown.

My dr says no carbonation or alcohol for 6 months, and then only in moderation, very very moderated.

@@Cervidae I got a dog. It has helped me so much with my stress and isolation from living and working alone. The dog is the best comfort available. I realize everyone can't afford or wants to take care of a dog. I comfort myself right now by shopping. It isn't always about purchasing items, it is more about trying on clothes, seeing what I can wear and also seeing myself in a different environment. Even though there are mirrors and full length mirrors all over my house, I find that I can see my changes better outside the house and trying on entirely new clothes. That helps me stick to plan and also validates my struggles with head hunger. Doing your nails, deep conditioning your hair. Okay on to food. Comforting myself with food, is something I worked through before surgery, before I even considered surgery. I gave up sugar, I gave up alcohol. I learned to work through my problems and I always removed a lot of stress from my life. Now to be real, I Keto. That is more comforting than most diets. Fats satisfy a lot of needs. Low carb and low fat is just fail to me, and it doesn't seem to satisfy anything. So I have healthy fats, very few carbs and meet my Protein goals. That is satisfying and comforting to me every day. My food is high quality and delicious. I had filet mignon for almost a week straight, at 4 oz at a time, it is affordable yet still decadent.Totally on plan, totally delicious. I am savory kind of person. I would rather have fried chicken or fried fish than chocolate or any kind of sweet. That being said, it is kind of easier to get "treat" like foods that are sweets since most people are sugar fiends. I think that if sweets are your trigger then you should be really careful. I can eat these items and not care about them. They are mainly convenience more than comfort. Protein Brownies. Looking they are protein brownies and they taste like protein brownies, but they do taste good. They also aren't cheap, so you might not want one every day. Found on instagram, a real life saver, added bonus, they are moderately filling. http://www.eatmeguiltfree.com/ Protein Peanut Butter The chocolate is delicious. https://wildfriendsfoods.com/protein_plus/ Quest Bars Low carb cheesecake (just google a recipe. I get these at Trader Joes for $1.99 or 2.99 a bar, I forget the price. cheaper than Lily's I have one square at a time as a snack http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Lite-Chocolate-Cacao-3-Ounce/dp/B0049UDYHI These from trader joe's, fi you are going to buy them, weigh/measure out all the servings and put them in individual baggies as soon as you get it home. Only take one serving at a time. The calories are high per serving for those of us on 1000 calories or so a day so plan accordingly. I stopped buying them because they aren't worth the calories to me, but they aren't a terrible option. http://i.imgur.com/jWCaYT1.jpg Again I am going to state I can eat this things because sweets are not a trigger for me. If they are for you, don't do it. Food though is fuel, not a comfort device. We all need to work past seeing food as a comfort. It doesn't even work post surgery at least for me. Being full is super uncomfortable, it isn't soothing, it doesn't make me numb or sleepy, just miserable. Cooking a complicated keto or paleo recipe is soothing to me. It takes me out of my own thoughts and I have to focus on what I am doing. I find that relaxing. Recipe sites.. http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/ http://www.ruled.me/ http://cavemanketo.com/ https://ketodietapp.com/Blog I am not familiar with what RNY people can eat so if all of these are things you can't tolerate. I'm sorry.