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The same thing happened to a person in my wls group. He was never a drinker, never touched alcohol, in fact. He had elevated liver enzymes but nothing astronomical, so did I. Doc opened him up and he had cirrhosis of the liver and wasn't able to have the surgery.

I went to a wedding 4 weeks out. It was a buffet so I took some protein and a bite of veggies. Had a nibble of hubbies cake. I had a protein shake in my purse just in case I needed it. Bride was a very close co-worker. She knew about the surgery and we had talked about it before. It was kind of funny because I was worried about her paying for a meal I couldn't eat and she was worried about me not being able to eat anything. In the end we were both just happy I was there for her big day, the food didn't really matter. Avoided alcohol, btw. Still scared to try it.

I needed to take a break for a moment from the band discussions to reflect on the loss we as a whole have just suffered. When I say "we" I'm referring to those who have been fans of Robin Williams since Mork and Mindy. He was a genius. He was an alcoholic. He was HILARIOUS. He was severely depressed. He was incredibly talented, and our world is a sadder place without him. RIP, Robin Williams. You inspired me in so many ways.

My surgeon suggested that I avoid it if possible. Otherwise, he said be careful as WLS patients are more sensitive to the effects, as others have posted. One sip and I am tipsy and tired for hours. I also don't enjoy the taste any more. I chose to avoid it altogether, which is fine by me as had I not had surgery I probably would have been well on my way to becoming an alcoholic.

@@Menina honestly I think it is way too early for you to be experimenting with bread and alcohol, no matter how slowly you eat/drink. I would really stay away from those things for the time being. Stick with food you can easily cut with a fork and water to drink (when eating out). Good luck!

I agree with Terry - just do what your doctor tells you to do. We all see such variation in diets on this website - it gets confusing. I was way more restricted than some other people - but I just complied with my own Doc/NUT and I've been successful. Interesting tip about alcohol - I've heard about the addiction transfer too! I'd like to become addicted to exercise instead

I chose my surgeon's group because of it's experience, national rating, and results. My PCP and endocrinologist both recommended him. Since I chose him, I also chose to follow his program as closely as possible, regardless of what other people say or do. The education I have received has been extensive. They clearly explain what I need to do, why I need to do it, and what can happen if I don't. In addition to classroom education, I have a thick binder w/highly detailed information on every aspect of WLS including possible problems, staying healthy, and food lists. They have provided all the information I need for short term and long term success. A lot of my team's program are generally accepted practices proven to be successful with RNY surgeries over the years. Some of their program includes things they've learned through personal long term experience over the years. Each doctor may have slightly different experiences that may account for different instructions. For example: My team says no alcohol for the first year. They say this for two reasons. One is transfer addiction - a common problem for WLS patients who have a food addiction. While learning to deal with the removal of one addiction, many quickly substitute another one. The other is liver failure - less common but potentially deadly. Your liver is working very hard to process toxins that are being released quickly from stored fat as you experience fast weight loss. Drinking alcohol during the early months of fast fat-burning can overload your liver and cause liver failure. They had a patient die from this not long ago so that is why they stress abstaining from drinking alcohol. I'm just using this as an example of how my team's personal experience has affected their instructions. I'm not telling you to do as I do. Your own doctor probably has his own rules based on his/her own personal experience that may differ from mine. If you trust your doctor, follow his instructions.

I had my last drink the day before I started my 16 day preop diet. Alcohol was not included on my list of approved liquids . It was several months before my sleeve could tolerate wine or liquor postop.

My instructions were to stop alcohol for the 2-week pre-op diet. My post-op instructions do not say one word about alcohol though! It does advise generally against empty calories, but that's it. I see people on here scolding people for drinking alcohol, but for me, per my surgeon's instructions it is not forbidden. That said, I've had a glass of wine twice and both times it made my stomach feel irritated and also made me crave sweets, so I am avoiding it. I'm also not a big drinker generally. For those for whom alcohol has played a role in their weight struggles they might consider putting it off limits.

I was told no alcohol starting 3 months before and for at least a year after. Empty calories

Was wondering about alcohol use and surgery/anesthesia. What is generally considered the rule for drinking when waiting to get surgery? Omit all alcohols or just certain types? Restrict intake to a certain level or cut it out completely? I enjoy a couple glasses of wine a few nights a week, but I can cut it out if necessary. I had read something that it is good to stop all alcohol 3-8 weeks before surgery as it can affect anesthesia, but I don't really know. I just want to be as safe as possible. (And obvious yes, I understand there would be no alcohol 48 hours before and after surgery, but I was looking more at long term use rules)

Really no secret, just your basic, healthy meal plan..... For the first 6 weeks I followed my surgeon's meal plan and transitioned slowly through the food stages (very good restriction did not allow for "skipping ahead"). As hard as it was, I met Protein and Water goals 90% of the time. Once I was on regular food I focused on protein and non starchy veggies. Steak, burger, ham, ribs, pork, chicken, BBQ, tuna, refried Beans, eggs, milk, Protein Bars, PB2, Greek yogurt, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, mixed nuts, beef and turkey Jerky, broccoli, spinach, kale, green and yellow beans, mushrooms, red peppers, edamame, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Chinese mixed veggies, you name it.... Now at just over 7 months out I have a 24-32oz protein smoothie with 30-40g protein everyday and eat 4-5 meals and Snacks. I get a MINIMUM of 64oz water daily and I take whole food based Vitamins. I have had sweets, deserts, chips, fries, alcohol, bread, Pasta and rice, but in moderation and probably not even once/week. As I got close to and passed goal, I started adding more fruit and whole grains. Besides protein bars (Natures Valley Protein, GNC Lean Bars, Fiber One Protein) I added whole grain bars like Kind, Kashi pumpkin Flax, and Pure Ancient Grains. I snack on mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, edamame, Peanut Butter and apples, frozen pineapple, melons, and plain Fage or Chobani Greek yogurt flavored with Protein powder. I add berries and other fruit as well as Metamucil and benefiber to my protein smoothie. But really, the simple answer is I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein (always first priority) veggies, fruit and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry and only until satisfied, not full. Besides protein and water, I never tracked anything. I have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat. As for exercise, I've got no magic formula there, either. I haven't been to a gym in years. Immediately postop I walked a lot but that was pretty much to help with digestion and to decrease the bloated feeling I had. I rode my recumbent bike 20-30 minutes/day for awhile but I haven't been on it in a couple weeks. I actually just have a very active lifestyle. I work 60+ hours/ week. I am a vet tech, so I'm standing, squatting, bending, lifting and walking all day. On the weekends I ride my horse, sometimes 15-20 miles/day (which is an excellent Pilates and thigh master workout if you are riding "correctly"). And along with the horses comes chores...shoveling shit, fixing fences, hauling water, feeding and stacking hay. Last weekend I got 42 bales of hay. Each bale weighs 80 pounds and I had to lift and move each one 3 times (big stack to truck; truck to shed; stack in shed). So essentially I lifted 10,000 pounds in 2 days....and at least part of that over my head (Basically lifted weights and did stair master for a couple hours). I got another 21 bales yesterday and the day before went whitewater rafting and rowed a boatload of friends 8 miles (more Pilates and push-ups). Anyways, everyone's journey is going to be different. What works for me might not work for you. Just figure out what you are most comfortable with (establishing a workout routine and tracking everything is not a bad thing, it's just not what I did). And if you are still reading this, let me say my biggest advice is don't compare your weight loss to others. Concentrate on being healthy, don't torture yourself with guilt, keep a good attitude, and look for NSV's for validation, not the numbers on the scale.

Hey good luck, I had a sleeve done dec 2012, lost a heap of weight and then tummy stretched and everything went downhill from then on, suger, alcohol, chocolate, I'm sure you get the picture. I decided to have an omega loo Bypass done 29th May and haven't looked back since, no nausea, no hot flushes, no diarrhoea have lost 26kgs in 10 weeks, I'm absolutely over the moon

45 years old, 5'5"; HW 238; SW 216; CW 145. I never wrote down what my weight loss was as I went, so I don't know what I lost 1 month, 2 months out, etcetera. According to my ticker I met goal weight on 7/7 ( 6 1/2 months ). I STRONGLY suggest you don't weigh yourself daily or compare yourself to others. The unhappiest people on these boards are the ones that do. I only weighed about 2-3 times/month in the beginning, then weekly, now a couple times/month, mostly to have something to put on my ticker. Gauge your success by how you feel, how your clothes fit and all the other NSV's that matter way more than numbers on a scale. For me, my milestones and highlights were my rings fitting (but now they're too big), being able to shop for clothes in regular stores, crossing my legs, not feeling obsessed by food, not drinking alcohol, my knees and feet not hurting everyday, and having to buy a new saddle because my butt got way too small for my old one.

Is ice cream one of the foods you can have a little of? For me, it's like when an alcoholic says they can have one drink. One spoon of ice cream would make me lose my self control, therefore it wouldn't be worth it. Only you can know if you can handle it. Also, my nutritionist encourages me to try "new foods" at home first. Not everything is as easy to digest!

Easily tolerating 12-15 beers means your physical body may have a dependency issue, even if you feel as though your mind does not; the amount is excessive and you'll know if it's really a problem or not by doing one simple thing........Stop drinking. If you can easily do this and move on with your days and nights without a problem, then you're good and have nothing to worry about. If you cannot simply give up alcohol (all kinds) today and not be consumed with urges to drink so much so that you give in, you may have a dependency issue and need help. Only offering my opinion of course, as someone who has seen others battle with addictions to drugs and alcohol for years. Damage to your liver is possible after years of binge drinking, and 12 to 15 beers in one night (a couple of times a week) falls into this category. Liver function tests (LFT) is a blood test that can be done to somewhat assess the health of your liver, but you may need an ultrasound done. The good news is that no matter the circumstance, the liver is only one of two organs the human body has that's capable of regenerating itself. It is a very resilient organ and heals nicely once the offending thing (in this case, alcohol) is stopped. I'd suggest doing a liver cleanse of some sort, and giving up alcohol completely. Add lemon juice to your water and it'll also help your liver to function better and begin healing.

I have a question for Post Ops. Were any of you beer drinkers before you were Sleeved? I am a beer drinker now and I am scared that my liver might be to damaged to have surgery. I am not an alcoholic by any means but, when I was in my 20's I partied a lot with and loved Vodka (ouch!) but now I am in my mid thirties and a couple nights a week I do like to come home from work and have a few Ice Cold ones. I am a big girl and can put them away, I can drink anywhere from 12-15 beers and still be good to go to work in the morning. So with all that said is there anyone out there that can relate to this? And although I love my beer I am fully aware I will not be drinking it anymore very soon. I would rather have surgery have be healthy and live than drink beer and have a heart attack before I am 40. Is there a test or something I can ask to have to check my liver? I would hate to go into the OR and be woken up with the news that it didn't get done because I have cirrhosis. Maybe I am just panicking, I don't know.

I have lost interest in alcoholic beverages. I use to drink a lot every weekend before surgery im so glad i dont even have the urge to do it now

My decision was brought on by a few things... One I lost my father in November after a year long struggle with lung cancer, He never took care of himself and through the eye's of a child (myself) I watched him over the year's struggle with Sex, Alcohol and Depression. So after I lost him there was this feeling of mortality and the need to do something about my weight, turn thing's around and give myself a better quality of life for as long as I have left. The other going force in my journey is my family, I have a 4 year old daughter that desperately wants a sibling and despite our constant effort over the past 2 years no such luck..Found out I have PCOS. Other then all that I'll be turning 25yo Halloween, I've been obese most of my short life and I think it's time for me to start enjoying the body I've been given and quality of life.. One thing I look forward to post-op is not sweating like a pig all the time, doesn't matter if it's winter, spring, summer or fall I'm constantly hot or have the feeling of overheating.

Sheryl, I am really happy for you! He sounds so great! How old is he? If he's fit, and not on medication, he probably won't have an ED problem. My last bf was really good in bed, and rarely had problems, but if he did, I could "help him" Alcohol is another story, but he rarely drank any. As far as Bill goes, I do love Bill, but it shouldn't have to be this difficult. We have nothing in common. He can't hike because of his health, he hates the kinds of movies I like, etc. We work around it, but it's difficult. I've already shared with you that he has ED problems and the sex is not great. The other guy is older, and I know nothing about him and could have ED as well. I just want to talk to him, for now, and find out why we went out before and all I remember is talking to him on the phone and him sitting on my couch. Maybe it was because I was fat. I JUST can't remember and it's driving me nuts. Bill is really bugging me to buy a motorhome together because he loves to camp. We would both put equal amounts for a down payment and split the payments and it would be in both of our names. I am SO not ready for that. Florinda, you need to talk to Jack about sex,and things not being right with each other lately. Do you video chat, or talk on the phone? Is it possible for you to take a train to Eugene? or How about meeting in Portland? Tell him it's important that you two talk, and you can't live like this!

This will probably annoy many of the "preachers" on here, but, I had a golf tournament the weekend before my surgery this past Monday. I drank a ton of beer on Thursday night and a modest amount on Friday along with not following the pre-op diet to a T. It was basically as I envisioned... There is the "perfect world" vision that the Shrink and Nut give you that say "Absolutely No alcohol", then there's what actually happens in the "real world." I did ask my doctor ahead of time and he was a little more in line with the "real world" stance.

I'm 8 months post-op, and my post-op eating schedule ended after 8 weeks - except they said no alcohol or tough meat like steak for 6 months. So that meant I could have raw fruits at your point, maybe a week after. I haven't run into anything that I can't tolerate. Dry meats, like chicken breast, can still feel like a rock going down. Depends on how it's cooked. I stay away from anything tough. Probably a forever thing. The only thing that's made me feel sick and like I really wanted to throw-up (I haven't thrown up/can't) was spinach and artichoke dip on bagel crackers. I ate it over enthusiastically... Too much too fast, and it was so painful. I did that to myself two days in a row, and I won't make it again. That's a me problem though, not the food.

super low fat diet and daily doses of milk thistle. no alcohol, minimize any drugs as much as possible. eat as clean as you can to rest the liver from having to detox you. good luck!

I agree with everyone on the Greek yogurt or fruit. Sf cookies and Popsicles have sugar alcohols in them which can be just as bad sugar. Plus being as early out as you are, you could really cause some problems for your new stomach being eating cookies or wafers. Besides, not trying to be rude, but didn't the cookies and other stuff like that get us to point of needing to have surgery to lose weight. I'd stick with the healthy stuff.

Your post is timely. Last week, a 37-year-friend of mine (who had a RNY--gastric bypass--Sept. 30th), was slurring his words after having 3 drinks. Mind you, he's an alcoholic who had been doing very well until of late! Also, since he's lost 100 pounds and is looking good, feeling cocky, and noticing the "honeys checking me out," (despite being married), he now feels he can do what he used to do--hang out and drink. Being that he'd previously been in a car accident due to driving drunk, on Monday I actually contacted his doctor (who I met at Obesity Week last November), and I told the doc to contact his internist and get him in for new labs. Just a month ago, my friend said his internist told him his liver showed signs of him drinking again, and to stop! My friend then admitted to me that he said he'd only been drinking two glasses of wine, but in fact, was drinking a full bottle of wine every night. Addictive personailities really need to be careful with the alcohol, especially given malabsoprtion, or altered absorption post-wls. Thank you for your important post.