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Dear Adam, I too have just had the sleeve on Monday August 18, but one of my good friends had it back in February so she is now six months out. I call her constantly with questions. She drank a few months out and all she said was it made her a cheap date. Lol. I believe they want you to wait three months so your stomach is completely healed so it's not like alcohol on an open wound. My nutritionist wants us to wait a year to drink ( probably won't happen for me) because she said it can lead to bad decisions. The whole first year is just trying to get you to relearn how to eat. They really just want you to put Protein in first. Yes because you are so young you probably won't have as bad saggy skin if you exercise, but would you rather be fat with man boobs or skinny with saggy boobs? Doesn't really seem to be that important as it does when it comes to being healthy. Don't stress about your social life you will find a way to make it fit. Keep reading forums and blogs and you will see how everyone deals with different things and moves along. You will be alright. Just don't push yourself otherwise in the long run you can and will regain your weight and stretch your stomach back out.

Hey guys. I'm 21 and just got the sleeve on Monday. The first 2 days were rough, really bad gas pains that led to non stop burping, which led to dry heaving. I still tried to get liquids down, but it wasn't easy. I was released Wednesday afternoon and have been doing okay since then. Getting my 3 Protein shakes in a day as well as some jello/broth here and there. But the shakes are filling me up, even though it's hard to get them down. It's not even the discomfort that makes it hard to get them down but the consistency and that fake sweet taste (ugh). The pain isn't as bad in my stomach... I mean I've been taking my pain killers so maybe that's why. I was prescribed dissolvable pills for the gas/stomach acid. I'm still burping but not as much. I guess things are going okay, not really that hungry obviously but I'm able to get liquids down and the shakes without pain. There is a stiffness in my chest though, I don't know what that is. It's only sometimes when I'm swallowing. I've been walking, took a walk around the block 2 times yesterday and did the same today. However there are some things on my mind. I feel as though I have been giving a sugar coated version of what this is going to be like by everyone around me. My surgeon is one of the best in my states, and has never had 1 leak, so I do trust him and he seems very confident and good at what he does. But I feel like I've been told things aren't as serious as they are just to get my nerves down. It's hard to explain. I'm still burping 5 days out of surgery, not as bad as 1-3 days out, but still. My surgeon and the nurses at the hospital told me it is because of the gas they put in you during surgery. However, I see horror stories on this site and others of people burping a lot 1-2 years out surgery. Why would my Dr tell me that isn't going to happen when it does happen to people? I know the weight loss is worth it, but I'm 21 years old and very social. I work, go to school, and have a lot of friends I go out with. Not to sound shallow but I really do not want to burp every 2 minutes when I'm out talking to people, or even at the gym with a trainer. Will the burping stop in a few days? Another thing is the saggy skin. I know everyone talks about it, but my Surgeon, Nutritionist, AND exercise consultant (all part of the bariatric team at the hospital) have told me because of my age this can be prevented with steady exercise (cardio and weight training) and Water. I obviously don't expect a 6 pack but I really do not want saggy flappy man boobs lol. The whole point of this surgery was to be more confident. I have seen guys online (instagram esp) around my age who got the surgery and don't have flabby skin. They told me they do a lot of weight training, so I'm hoping that works for me. As for the hair loss, my nutritionist and dr told me i can prevent that as well as long as I get enough protein and take all my Vitamins every single day. However, people still claim they lost a lot of hair while taking protein and their vitamins. So this makes me think.. are the professionals lying to me? Or is everyone different?? I'm just nervous about what to expect. This is also a small concern on my mind, and I don't want hate from it. I'm 21 and in college, I still plan on having a social life. I obviously know that I cannot drink until 3 months out (thats what my nutrionist... who is employed by the hospitals bariatric center.... told me). But I do plan on drinking later down the road. I'm not talking about craziness, but on a friday and saturday night I would like to be able to have some vodkas with crystal light or low sugar drink. I don't plan on binging beer or crazy sugary drinks, just something light. I work with a man who get gastric bypass done years ago and later became an alcoholic, which obviously is not my plan!, but still.. he had no problems getting liquor down. I don't want to hear how I shouldn't drink, or how alcohol has calories, because I know this. At the same time I am 21, and I don't plan on stopping my social life. I still want to go to clubs and lounges with my friends and have a few drinks that are somewhat of a healthier choice. I'll be working out and eating right, so I don't see a problem with a few drinks on the weekend if i live a very healthy lifestyle during the week. So my question isn't SHOULD I drink, but CAN I drink down the road? I don't plan on it soon, but if my nutritionist (who again, is employed by the bariatric center and not some random nutritionist i found in the yellow pages) told me I can 3 months out, why would she lie?? I have self control, I don't plan on chugging 12 packs and blowing this. I mean a few low sugar drinks... some gluten free vodka and sugar free juice or crystal light By the way, when I started this process in June (nutritionist, psychologist) I was 319 lbs. I am not 279 lbs. My goal is 170-180 lbs the most. I'm a taller guy so I don't expect to be rail thin. I want to lose at least 100 pounds and work it into muscle. I'd really appreciate if anyone who has had the sleeve for at least 6 months or over try to answer some of my questions. Thank you so much.

I felt the same way. All of my milestones (onederland, certain pant sizes, goal weight) have kind of been anticlimactic because I don't know how to celebrate now. No cake, no alcohol, no huge steak dinner. I never went with the "buy yourself something" advice because 1) I don't have a lot of spare $$$ just lying around and. 2) shopping can certainly become a cross addiction...no sense starting up a bad habit. So I end up just sharing the news with my sister or a close friend, posting on here, and quietly embracing the warm fuzzy feeling and pat myself on the back. On the flip side, I'm hoping I can handle life's sad/ disappointing moments as non-destructively as the good times, since food and alcohol were my go to's for those also.

Hi, well, I have to say I like the 'empty' feeling. Makes me visualize myself flatter in my fluffy places. It hasn't actually been that bad. Two mugs of chicken broth so far, I'm on my second sugar free Jello. I had tea and Water. It is temporary. Just like giving up your red wine - temporary - IF you choose to add it back in afterwards. They say 6 weeks, though, without alcohol. I can do it, though I have a wedding in that time frame, too. I may pour a glass of wine and nurse it all night.

Follow the eating rules and in a couple of months you will awaken to feel life super man. Dumping the numbing effects of food and alcohol is fricking amazing. You will want to live life to the fullest. That is what is happening to me.

Hi, I had the sleeve 8/2012 so wow it has been 2 yrs. i lost 120 lbs over the first year & now i have gained 5-10 back, i lose the 5 & regain it. I am an active sugar addict, recovered alcoholic for 10 yrs. the nurse at my surgeons office told us in a group class "i have never seen a person keep their weight off that returned to their trigger foods". I took this to heart for a long time. At 4 months I had 2 bites of chocolate cake & was scared to eat anymore in case I dumped. I did not. Over the next 6-8 months I had no interest in cookies candy cake. I would take a few bites at say Easter & then I would gladly give away whatever I had to my husband. Time went by, my appetite has increased & I can eat a lot more. Sugar now talks to me all the time. I am completely readdicted. I am now going to OA & was able to stop all the sugar & re lose the 5 lbs. Then I ate something & off I went again. You might chose to google Dr. Robert Lustig. I watched his video THE SKINNY ON OBESITY & ADDICTION TO SUGAR. It basically explains we are trying to get more dopamine. As others have said it is not the difference between RNY, sleeve or bypass. It is going to be you & your fight with your addiction. We are works in progress. I love being 110 lbs smaller. My energy rocks, except when I am on sugar. I am fighting the best I can. I highly recommend the sleeve as it is less invasive. My mom had the bypass & she does not dump & can eat anything. I wish you all the best, watch his videos, you might learn something that will help you

I thought I had a strong online support group through a daily thread on the weight watchers website. We checked in every day for about ten years. We even took vacations together. Then all of a sudden it's fallen apart. And since I am the only one of the group who had wls, I am the odd person out. So I'm looking to connect with some folks, or even one FOLK, for support and maybe some fun. I don't care if we have a lot in common. I'm 59, had my surgery in June, after a lifetime of dieting. I've been married for 35 years. I have three grown sons, all of whom still live at home. I call them Moe, Larry, and Curley. I am the director of a drug/alcohol treatment program in eastern PA. I've been doing counseling of one kind or another for over 30 years. I am a Buddhist. I currently have one crazy Akita named Finn.

This was an ignorant comment from an ignorant person. It's like telling an alcoholic to just stop drinking. It doesn't work for them, and just not eating doesn't work for us. You don't need to give her any comeback or smartass remarks. Not when you look like you do. You are strikingly beautiful and that picture tells it all.

Oh, some sugar alcohols like malatol can have a bad digestive effect on people. If you ever want a giggle read the reviews on amazon.com for Haribo sugar free gummy bears.

The reason why you can subtract those from the net carb count is because sugar alcohols are low glycemic, much like fiber can also be subtracted. Quest bars are good and have 20 g of Protein. They are high in fiber and low in carbs. Some people say they can trigger them to want candy/cookies etc though because they totally taste like Cookies and apple pie and the like. I like to use bars as a protein boost post workout. Sometimes I have half a bar before my workout since I go to the gym during dinner hour, then the other half after.

I am no expert. I used to be big into atkins though and as far as I understand it sugar alcohol does not have the same effect on blood sugar that regular sugar does. I did however find that if I ate too much of it like in the sugar free candies I felt sick to my stomach and didn't lose as much weight as I did without consuming them. It was probably the calories though. On my pre-op diet I was required to buy shakes and bars from my program. The bars has sugar alcohol. They tasted good, helped me lose weight and didn't make me sick.

Any advice or thoughts on the use of sugar alcohol, especially those Protein bars that claims those net carbs vs sugar alcohol and Fiber subtractions from the the total carb count. I am looking for additional protein support to meet my 60 grams per day. Thanks!

Hi Giana, I'm also fairly new to VSG surgery at only 2.5 weeks post op. I know your frustrations, as I was previously a lap band patient several years ago. The main key is to keep the big picture in mind, your goal. Take one day at a time and don't beat yourself up over the past. I went to a wedding 1.5 weeks post op and the temptation to have BBQ, wedding cake and alcohol was unreal, but I know that I'm unhappy with how I look, so I sipped a Water and had a few sips of lemonade. As a reward, my husband took me to my favorite mexican restaurant afterwards, where I ordered chicken tortilla Soup and asked them to just give me the broth. It tasted the same without all the extra stuff that I couldn't have! Give yourself mini pats on the back like that! This is just as much a mental game as it is a physical and emotional one! I'm a nurse and I work 12-15 hour shifts so I understand how hard it is to balance. Have a water bottle at your desk and sip, sip, sip all day. Pack and preplan your meals and Snacks. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Chobani yogurt packs, they made new ones called Coco-Loco (come with sliced almonds and dark chocolate bits) and Key Lime Pie (come with graham cracker crumbles) and I promise they do not taste like greek yogurt! I drink a green smoothie in the morning that I love, it tastes like banana! It's 4oz spinach, 1c. diced pineapple, 1c. vanilla greek yogurt, 1 whole banana, 1-2 scoops any plain Protein powder and 1 tbsp honey. Blend, blend, blend and add a little ice if needed to make it colder. I'm still on soft foods, so my lunch is tomato soup with a little ricotta, and my dinner is scrambled eggs with spinach. Snacks are colby jack cheese sticks, yogurt, cottage cheese mixed with avocado (don't judge me lol) and applesauce with cinnamon. Find what you like and tweak it. The biggest thing to know is that you can do this! I believe in you! Let's get you back on track girl!

Hi everyone I am 3 month post op and i was told i could drink after 3 month and this weekend is my friends bday so i want to take some drinks low on calories such as vodka water or whiskey and water. Any suggestions? How im i going to feel? What can you recommend?

I just had my final appointment with the surgeon before the sleeve procedure on Friday morning. I'm just feeling deflated because I made really huge changes to my lifestyle and eating habits. For me it felt like I was moving mountains. Unfortunately the doctor said flatly he didn't think I did a good job because I hadn't lost weight. The thing is, my home scale showed a loss of 4 lbs...It's not much but it's something in the right direction. At his office, I weighed after two meals (bfast, lunch), lots of fluids, and with my shoes on. (Excuses? maybe...?) But I think that's enough to tip the scale up, naturally. The past two weeks, for the first time in my life I've managed to drink 64 oz of Water per day, I've successfully cut out all caffeine (ouch), alcohol and carbonated beverages, and I upped my Protein intake. The only place I fell short is that I'm not sure I got under 30g of carbs per day (I didn't track it so well)...but I wasn't eating any breads, pastas, cereals etc. Oh well. I'm going to try to not be so discouraged at his quick judgment. I wish someone would have looked at my food diary and said "hey, it's not perfect, but you've made really awesome improvements." These past two weeks, I felt like maybe I really CAN lose weight through diet and exercise, something I haven't felt in years. I'm nervous and anxious about the hospital. Anyone else getting sleeved this week? Maybe we can have a support system something I'm kind of lacking at the moment. Good luck to all. Thanks for letting me vent. Feel free to add me on My Fitness Pal: Leema7

I am about a month out. I had an out of town event last weekend where I wanted to drink and got permission from my doctor to have a drink. I was quite nervous as I have read many forum posts indicating that I would have no tolerance. I have also read studies that say alcoholism rates are higher for bariatric patients than the general public. Before surgery I drank once or twice per week at most. I mostly drank martinis and scotch. Well the first night of my trip I had white wine. I put it over ice. I drank about 2/3 of the bottle over a few hours. I couldn't tell for sure what I felt. One moment I thought I was starting to feel something and then it went away. The next night I had vodka and crystal light. I had about 2-3 drinks again over a couple hours. I got a nice buzz from them - more than I probably would have felt before surgery but I didn't get stumbling drunk or anything. It seemed to wear off quickly though. The next night I had a scotch on the rocks. I definitely felt that. A nice warm buzz and again didn't get super drunk from it. Again, it seemed to wear off quickly.

Hi Everyone, I am experiencing crossover addiction from food to alcohol and have even used some drugs over the past month. It is not good. Super glad I read this thread. Makes a huge difference knowing I'm not alone and that others have moved through it successfully.

Thanks a TON for posting this kind of article. It strikes squarely at a point rarely discussed. "Sometimes they are uncomfortable being the object of sexual desire for the first time in their adult lives." Once in my pre-Op life circa 1972 or so I had undergone at considerable effort and a large outlay in therapy/pills/various quackery of the era, sufficient toning/fat loss to generate a noticeable wake of something resembling pheromones attractive to a far wider range of females than I had previously been aware. It had considerable effect on my fledgling confidence and I felt on-the-spot as an object of former-cold-contempt by having opportunity to make something of my own appearance. Without being able to verbalize such I felt drawn back to the safety of the Old Fat Habits and in short order managed to once again reside in the Zone of Morbid Obesity. I've managed to recover from that unwelcome shock, and fortunately along the way had the burden of any desire for alcohol lifted from me, by nothing less than what I can attribute to Divine Grace. Thanks again for your bravery in broach a complex subject. Cheers in your Journey

Thank you for posting this. I think you address an important but sensitive issue. I would not have expected myself to be plagued by "cross-addiction" issues. I did not think I was "addicted" to food. Ha! I was very under-aware of the degree to which food soothed my stress of life. Now that I don't have food for comfort or calming, I face my stress alone. I have allowed myself to relax and socialize with friends by enjoying a drink in the evenings (I could not eat the foods they ate so I joined them with liquid). I can see that it would be easy for alcohol replace my old reliance on foods. Thank you for reminding me of this.

Reading your post, I find myself relating to your story… I was thin till I was about 30/31 years old… so for the last 10 years I have put on weight for one reason or another – but I too didn’t match what I saw in the mirror… now 8months post op and a 100lbs lighter, I look back at pictures and have no idea who that person was for the last 10 years… I always knew there was a “skinny girl within” so when people who didn’t know me before I gained weight say “omg you look so different” I just smile and say well I am still the same on the inside… or a simple “Thank you.. I think..” and then normally they realize that they kind of crossed that invisible line of offending you with a compliment… and then they kind of back tract… Most of my coworkers know that I had this surgery, I just couldn’t really hide it… there are just too many big mouths and there was just no point in trying to lie about it… HOWEVER – in my life outside of work, only close family & friends know. It’s not something I post, blog or brag about… I have had a lot of people that are not in my everyday life ask me what I am doing, and I tell them I cut all pork, Pasta, rice, breads & alcohol… (which is the truth – I just have left out the part where they took out 90% of my stomach) I do feel bad, but half the time I just feel like they are being nosey.

Others may feel self-conscious or unattractive because an extreme weight loss leaves them with skin folds or scars. They sometimes feel that surgery did them no good because their bodies still stand-out in public and in private as unusual. One client referred to it as the "Is That All There Is?" syndrome. She said she somehow believed that losing 150 pounds would leave her with a body that society would consider beautiful and what she got was abdominal flesh hanging over her thighs. I notice this is especially true when a person going into the surgical process is focused on getting thin or attractive rather than on getting healthy. There can also be problems in intimate relationships. One woman spoke of her husband's lack of interest in her sexually. In all other ways the relationship was healthy so they were able to talk about it. What she learned was that after the weight loss her husband felt unworthy of her because he was still overweight. He also lost his sexual confidence when his overweight wife, in his words, became "one of the girls in high school who wouldn't give me the time of day." Also, if a WLS patient has early-life traumas unaddressed or not completely addressed prior to surgery the loss of food as a way to placate stress and to reduce anxiety can be a new source of trauma. This leaves many facing a very difficult transition to a life not centered around food. All of these stressors and others are a breeding ground for cross-addictions. It is vital to consider before surgery and in the "thinning" months and years after surgery how you will deal with stress, sadness, fear, loneliness, anxiety, or whatever thoughts and feelings triggered emotional eating in the past. If there is no healthy outlet for these the body and mind will create whatever outlets they can, which most commonly include alcohol, drugs, sex or gambling. The problem of replacing food addiction with alcohol addiction is the one I have personal experience with and have seen the most in people I've encountered. In 2006, three years after LapBand surgery, I developed an addiction to alcohol. I had lost food as my companion, soother of stress, provider of sensual satisfaction and entertainment. I was not able to eat the comfort foods that placated my fears of life prior to WLS and I desperately craved an outlet for uncomfortable emotions and beliefs I took-on and began running from during my childhood in a violent home. So three years after WLS, and after loosing 110 pounds, my dinner every night became a 6-pack of Vodka coolers or more (Sour Apple or Grape) and ironically Healthy Choice low-fat ice cream. At my lowest I was 220 pounds and I felt very uncomfortable and vulnerable in a smaller body. I continued to wear large, baggy clothes because I was afraid to look feminine. Feminine to me then meant I was vulnerable and open to attack. This went on for a year, during which I regained all 110 pounds lost and felt like a failure. Worse, I felt like a public failure because everyone around me knew I'd had LapBand surgery. What I had to do was address the beliefs and fears I had about what it meant to be feminine. I had to come to terms with my past and embrace a future in which it is possible and within reach to be healthy, feminine and safe. To avoid cross-addictions, it is important that individuals considering surgery or those who have had surgery take this very personal, individual journey into the beliefs they hold onto from their pasts. These are the beliefs that caused them to turn to food in an unhealthy way for comfort. It is vitally important to plan what healthy outlets for emotional pain they can create. A therapist or Weight Loss Life Coach can help with this. Dealing with the thoughts and emotions that caused compulsive overeating in the past and forming healthy patterns for working with and releasing fear and anxiety in the future are essential to long-term weight loss and the avoidance of cross-addictions for WLS patients.

Extremely overweight people who become thin very rapidly through surgery can sometimes feel very vulnerable and unprepared to deal with not only their own changing bodies but also the reactions of friends and family to the "new" body. Sometimes they are uncomfortable being the object of sexual desire for the first time in their adult lives. Especially with women, I have also seen that some feel as though they are ostracized by other women because those other women believe that their formerly fat friend has become an attractive threat to their own relationship. Others may feel self-conscious or unattractive because an extreme weight loss leaves them with skin folds or scars. They sometimes feel that surgery did them no good because their bodies still stand-out in public and in private as unusual. One client referred to it as the "Is That All There Is?" syndrome. She said she somehow believed that losing 150 pounds would leave her with a body that society would consider beautiful and what she got was abdominal flesh hanging over her thighs. I notice this is especially true when a person going into the surgical process is focused on getting thin or attractive rather than on getting healthy. There can also be problems in intimate relationships. One woman spoke of her husband's lack of interest in her sexually. In all other ways the relationship was healthy so they were able to talk about it. What she learned was that after the weight loss her husband felt unworthy of her because he was still overweight. He also lost his sexual confidence when his overweight wife, in his words, became "one of the girls in high school who wouldn't give me the time of day." Also, if a WLS patient has early-life traumas unaddressed or not completely addressed prior to surgery the loss of food as a way to placate stress and to reduce anxiety can be a new source of trauma. This leaves many facing a very difficult transition to a life not centered around food. All of these stressors and others are a breeding ground for cross-addictions. It is vital to consider before surgery and in the "thinning" months and years after surgery how you will deal with stress, sadness, fear, loneliness, anxiety, or whatever thoughts and feelings triggered emotional eating in the past. If there is no healthy outlet for these the body and mind will create whatever outlets they can, which most commonly include alcohol, drugs, sex or gambling. The problem of replacing food addiction with alcohol addiction is the one I have personal experience with and have seen the most in people I've encountered. In 2006, three years after LapBand surgery, I developed an addiction to alcohol. I had lost food as my companion, soother of stress, provider of sensual satisfaction and entertainment. I was not able to eat the comfort foods that placated my fears of life prior to WLS and I desperately craved an outlet for uncomfortable emotions and beliefs I took-on and began running from during my childhood in a violent home. So three years after WLS, and after loosing 110 pounds, my dinner every night became a 6-pack of Vodka coolers or more (Sour Apple or Grape) and ironically Healthy Choice low-fat ice cream. At my lowest I was 220 pounds and I felt very uncomfortable and vulnerable in a smaller body. I continued to wear large, baggy clothes because I was afraid to look feminine. Feminine to me then meant I was vulnerable and open to attack. This went on for a year, during which I regained all 110 pounds lost and felt like a failure. Worse, I felt like a public failure because everyone around me knew I'd had LapBand surgery. What I had to do was address the beliefs and fears I had about what it meant to be feminine. I had to come to terms with my past and embrace a future in which it is possible and within reach to be healthy, feminine and safe. To avoid cross-addictions, it is important that individuals considering surgery or those who have had surgery take this very personal, individual journey into the beliefs they hold onto from their pasts. These are the beliefs that caused them to turn to food in an unhealthy way for comfort. It is vitally important to plan what healthy outlets for emotional pain they can create. A therapist or Weight Loss Life Coach can help with this. Dealing with the thoughts and emotions that caused compulsive overeating in the past and forming healthy patterns for working with and releasing fear and anxiety in the future are essential to long-term weight loss and the avoidance of cross-addictions for WLS patients.

Good morning! I had my surgery 2 weeks ago today on August 4th, and am officially down 26lbs! I also survived my first social setting...I went to a wedding yesterday and was able to resist BBQ, cake and alcohol all just by will power! I sipped a water and a few sips of lemonade and I was fine! I get to move on to full liquids today so I'm excited to try some food other than broths, protein shakes and clear liquids lol. How are all of you other August sleevers doing?!

3 months...that was OK'd by my doctor. You should always follow what your doc says. I've read some docs want you to wait 6 months or a year to start consuming alcohol. I wasn't a big drinker before surgery, but I did enjoy a drink every once in a while. My drink of choice now is a vodka cranberry with a twist of lime. I can only have one at a time because I can feel the effects right away. I'm a cheap date now!

I would like to know how long you guys waited to have a drink?????