Search the Community

Thats awesome thank you. They also bought the food package that includes 1 alcoholic drink. Im curious as to whether i will even be allowed to drink it. I know someone who got a bypass and she gets drunk off 2 drinks, so i know if i do drink not to have more than 1. But can i even have 1, 4.5 months post op? Or is that different for everyone too? Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

It's totally individualized results... I don't consume alcohol so I can't help you there Generally you'll want to follow your post surgical plan to the letter and discuss any modifications to it with your team, but really wait until after surgery to consider the all of the details...

Well I had the sleeve done - This is the story. Left for Vegas on Tuesday got off the plane and headed for my appointment for Pre-surgery - everything was a go. So my wife and I hit the strip and I played black jack and won.... not much but still won. We ate normal and I did not drink alcohol. Went to bed on time for a 7:00am surgery at a surgery center. We had signed up on one of those package deals where the hotel is included. So we were up and headed to the center (by the way rent a car it is better to have the freedom to go) I went in and filled out some more forms and headed to the prep room. Met the anesthesiologist he went through a few items and the nurses were wonderful. Then I saw my Doctor (Thomas Umbach ) not long after that I was being wheeled to the surgery room. I was give something that made me feel very sleepy but could understand everyone. Then told to breath deeply two breaths and I don?t remember anything except being woke up saying surgery went fine and it is done. This was about 10:30 or so I think. Surgery was about an hour and recovery 2 . I took some pill for pain and they started me walking. It did not hurt to walk so I kept going after hearing everyone on this site telling me how walking really helped. Dr Umbach also installed a pain drip system that hung around my neck and had some small tubes planted around where the surgery took place, with a big ball that would dissipate in 3 days, this provided a pain free experience. I was released at noon to go back to my hotel which I walked and slept and drank water (very very very small sips) the fist night I had some small discomfort felt like acid reflux so I called the doc on his cell phone which was nice about 10pm and he said I could get some pepto or any over the counter acid reducer I wanted. My wife drove out to get it and also got liquid Tylenol which I recommend very much. I burped a lot and had to raise my arms when drinking water to get it down. The doc said for the first day my stomach would be swollen and until it went down it would be a bit tough. It was, but by the end of the next day it eased up. Sleeping and walking is the trick and the Tylenol made everything right as rain. On Friday we went back for a follow up with the doctor, and everything was perfect so we said our good bys and we headed for the Hoover Damn wanted to see it. I even drove ? I don?t feel the surgery hardly at all it is the drinking that lets me know it is there. So we got back from there and got our flight out back to Kansas City ? Because I have traveled so much we both were in first class so that was nice, bigger seats if you know what I mean. This is the first day back home and since the 2 weeks prior with the protein shakes to today I am down 27 lbs. I am just starting to feel hungry this whole time prior I have not had a desire to eat. I have force the drinking because I know that is good for me. I hope this helps with those who have not taken the plunge yet. I plan to keep you up to date on the progress. My doctor told me to walk everyday so my wife and I are headed to the gym in a little while, course I will be on slow mo for a while. Thanks for listening and hope it helps someone else.

Withdrawal headaches. Similar to alcohol & drug withdrawal. Your caffeine, sugar, carbs intake has been dramatically reduced as has your calorie intake. All things your body was used to relying upon. It reacts with your migraines. If your migraines were also caused by hormones, your weight loss so far could have effected your levels too. Estrogen is stored in fat. As you lose weight it’s released into your blood stream throwing everything out of whack.

A lot of the "rules" have to do with certain foods that are a) really unhealthy or b)can be trigger foods for other bad eating habits. Realistically, there isn't really a lot of foods that you "can't" eat. Carbonation can make you uncomfortable, high fat food and high sugar foods might make you nauseous. Alcohol and coffee are typically not great on a perfectly intact stomach, so a surgically modified stomach has more chances for additional problems, plus all the empty calories. All these things do not happen to everyone and a lot of these so called rules apply to those that had bypass surgery and may not necessarily lend themselves to the sleeve surgery. I really don't have a problem eating or drinking anything. However, I have made a commitment to be as healthy as possible, using the surgery as a tool to restrict my caloric intake. I might have a different mindset than a lot of people that feel that eliminating certain foods or drink, is denying things in their life that they must have. You are going to get a lot of answers to this question, just like you will get a lot of answers about diet, exercise, activities post op etc. Every Dr. seems to follow a different playbook. Really there seems to be no real fast rules to anything post op. My suggestion is to follow faithfully what you Dr and nutritionist plan out for you. That way you have the proper support system in place and they can answer your questions in a way that makes the best sense for you particular situation.

I can say that Ive never felt REALLY depressed about it but it is kind of a bummer. But like others have said, I haven't put in the effort. Even now my exercise stickers on my calendar get very lonely. I just haven't done it. I injured my ankle in February and just got back to normal the beginning of this month. Oh, and its been hot out...(excuse) so I haven't walked much,,,oh, and I belong to a gym but I find it really hard to fit into my 'busy' schedule (excuse). BUT!!! My fill is now where it should be...totally sweet. And I have been eating slowly and Protein first. AND!!! I've been losing real steady now. Like, I've lost 2 pounds this week. I think my sweet spot has been with me for 3 weeks and it just took me awhile to accustom myself to it. I work evenings and this seems to make a difference. When I'm home I don't need food as much. You'd think it'd be the other way around. Point is that HOPE is there. Don't give up. I was aggressive with my fills to the point that my doctor got sick of seeing me lol. He could see where he poked me the last time cus the mark was still there. Well, he hasn't seen me in a while. I'm one who stopped writing but never stopped reading. Especially here in our monthly forum. Slow or fast, to me it doesn't matter. I definately would have put weight on had I not done this. 2 other things have changed for me that is very significant. I was a binge eater and liked to eat out ALOT. Mexican, pizza, Pasta YUM. Can't go there much now. And I LOVED my beer. I can't tolerate carbonation so I'm pretty abstinate...that's a good thing because alcohol was a problem for me. This operation isn't completely about weight. My cholesterol was good before but my triglicerides have gone down significantly. This is good. So keep your chin up and pray for patience. Valerie

Your body is being deprived of the vitamins that we would normally get with the food we eat. I know it's tough but you should try to eat. I am surprised that you are getting sugar free pudding. There is actually a lot of sugar alcohols in the sugar free stuff which typically is a no-no. Can you have soft scrambled egss? try that with a dab of cream cheese to make it smooth and creamy. You'd be surprised how good it is. Good Luck.

I've tried several different bars, including Atkins, but think of Protein bars as more of a treat than a meal or healthy source of protein. I'm dubious about the hidden carbs and sugar alcohols except in moderation. Of course, you should follow your surgeon's orders, but I'd opt for real protein sources and eat the bars in moderation. I also love making 'powder pudding' with Protein Powder, sugar free pudding, and greek yogurt. Pudding isn't the greatest food on earth, but it's a wonderful treat. I understand they can be frozen also, but it never lasts that long.

switch your ice cream to sugar free fat free...it has so much sugar alcohol it will give you the poops if you eat to much ,,and that cured my ice cream habit

Gastric bypass equals malabsorption of everything including alcohol. I'm having trouble with malabsorbtion of my anti-anxiety meds and it's torture. But, this too shall pass.

Hi everyone! Does anyone else experience a high tolerance for alcohol after gastric bypass? I have a completely difference tolerance now than before surgery. I don't get drunk (not a bad thing). I can feel just a tiny bit tipsy for a very short period of time - maybe 20 minutes and then goes away. I even put it to the test this past week on our annual all-inclusive trip to the Caribbean when rum punch was flowing freely all day. Not that I need to be drinking and wanting to get drunk, but sometimes that relaxing fun feeling would be fine. Even my surgeon was stumped and said this is the first he's heard of a high tolerance as it's usually the opposite. So...just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same?

Oh and my uncle isn't losing weight, he's steadily gaining. But he's also an alcoholic, and we all know about the calories in alcohol, so I don't blame the system for it necessarily.

I was pretty much told none after surgery. My doc even went as far as to tell me to find a new alcoholic beverage because I was a bud light kind of girl. However, his nurse (who has been sleeved and is tiny) always has a Sonic drink of soda with her so I thinkit's more or less how tolerable it is to each individual.

what is the scoop with sugar alcohols? are they bad for you? okay in small amounts?

Wow...where do I start.... I up my workout game this week. Moved from 2.5 miles to 3 miles of walking this week. I am really loving this sleeve knowing that the fruits of my workout will reflect in my body transformation. I walked into my office yesterday and one of the ladies said I looked stunning. It did wonders for my inner self. In fact, a number of people are commenting on my weight loss. I went to a BBQ on Labor Day (dat was torture) and I girl I had not seen in a few months, told me I had lost weight and looked good...Made me feel all giddy..especially since I am still about 50lbs shy of my final goal...I can only imagine what that will look like. But back to the BBQ...There was so much food and drink...I think I missed the alcohol more than I did the food. BBQ is almost a synonym for drinking and all could have was my light pink lemonade...The compliments made it better though...lol... This week also represents the week, I put on a two pair of shorts I could not wear pre-surgery and a pair of jeans...One pair of shorts was actually loose...I have this lil dress that I wore in the day that I absolutely loved. I am not sure if I would wear it again as an outfit as it is dated but I kept it because I wanted to get back into it...The day that happens....I think I am going to hit the floor....(but I also plan on taking pics to mark that day). I told my mom about the surgery this week. I had not told her before because when I tried feeling her out about it, she had so much negative stuff to say so I left her out of one of the most important decisions of my life. I felt bad and underhanded but I needed to mentally prepare for this surgery and so could not deal with her opinions. She still had some stuff to say about it but now that it is done, I do not receive her comments as hard. This Sunday I am able to start soft foods. I am so happy...These last two weeks I have really begun to miss food. I have planned about 30 first meals...lol..My body is over the protein shakes so I need some natural protein. My stomach is upset with the protein shakes. As I begin to eat, I am hoping I can once again tolerate them as they offer a good influx of protein if you are struggling to get it in. I am still not having regular bowel movements without assistance of a stool softner. Driving me crazy as I went everyday so to be only able to go once a week with assistance gets me so out of sorts. But with all that said...where I am today...I think I am beginning to see some changes..I measure next Friday so I am excited to see what those numbers reveal. VSG 08/17/12 HT 5'8 HW 232 (08/13/12) SW 227 CW 208.8 (-23.6lbs) I will take it...I had a goal (one of many) to be 205 by 09/17. I am on target to make it happen...(Sleeve don't fail me now..lol)

Thursday, June 11, 2009 Goodbye to food---at parties:crying: I have at least 5 parties to attend over the next 3 weekends and I'm going to have to attend them without having food as a crutch. I'm going to have to bring food and not eat it. I have to talk to people without relying on food to allay my social anxiety and fear of putting my foot in my mouth in one of my impulsive, ADHD moments. I won't be able to gorge myself on foods I would never have in my home or buy for myself. That's the thing about parties. I love to go to parties because of the food, and I hate to go to parties because of the food. At my church we're into celebrating everything, and everything involves food--delicious food and lots of it. At school people bring special treats for everything. At weekly faculty devotions, the leader is supposed to bring a treat. If my husband and I want to do something special, we go to a cheap restaurant in order to stay within our budget. Family get togethers are dominated by food. I really don't know how to talk to people without food smoothing the way. Alcohol has never appealed much to me--its always been food. The food is killing me. More insidiously than alcohol or nicotine, it is still killing me. But unlike alcohol and nicotin and other addictive substances, I need it to live. How can something that God created so good, become so evil for me? Imagine a world that sin had never entered. Where genetic alterations that make some people prone to addiction had never happened. Where celebration never turns into debauchery--of any kind, either by choice or by uncontrollable compulsions and cravings. That's what paradise would look like, and what it will look like when Christ comes again to establish his new heaven and new earth. Party!

If Betadyne is on the skin then alcohol will take it right off. If it is on clothes then hydrogen preoxide will take it out and not leave a stain. After using the alcohol on the skin put some lotion on to soften the skin.

Alcohol is a depressant and could be contributing to your lack of energy. Maybe increase protein intake and stop drinking alcohol to see how your energy level.

I don't eat a lot of the SF stuff (all those ethyl...aren't great for you), but I'm a chocoholic, so I always have the individually wrapped SF Russell Stover's chocolates in the house. All kinds of insides; peanut butter, carmel, toffee, etc. and they come in dark chocolate as well. I have one most nights after dinner and it gives me a treat to look forward to all day. For me I can't make anything completely off limits or eventually I'm doomed for failure. If I know I'm allowed and I'll be able to have it soon, then I'm good. If you eat more than a little of any of these with the sugar alcohols you'll pay the price...gas and diarrhea (that helps me keep it to one LOL). SF fudcicles & popsicles help me out too. I also agree with the 'the more you have the more you want'. Try cutting sugars out completely for a few days and then see how it goes.

I went to Dr. Oh's seminar the other night - and I was not impressed. He spent the least amount of time discussing the lap band procedure. He spent more time discussing gastric bypass - which I am not interested in. Well, during the discussion he said lapbands are not good for "sweet eaters" because you can't have sugar, milk, or alcohol for the rest of your life. I asked him afterwards if that is true - because to me it doesn't seem like a way to live the rest of your life. He said this is a last resort - and no sugar because then you will have cravings for it. He also said his patients have fills every month for the first year. One question asked by someone at the seminar was regarding the amount of food eatten at each meal - the doctor responded 1-2 ounces! This just doesn't seem reasonable to me.... that's nothing. I am not sure this is the right decision for me... I was so nervous/excited about the seminar and then came home feeling this may not be the best option for me. Also, I posted the above under another thread and heard from someone on this site..the same thing about Dr. Oh. I didn't even mention his name in my post - she asked if I was from WA state...when I told her yes, she asked if it was Dr. Oh. She said Dr. Srikanth was better - but she cannot have hers done for about year either - per her insurance. I was going to look into Dr. Srikanth - but have not called yet.... I wonder what is unethical about him.... curious. Still not sure if this is what I need to do for me..but, I am checkin it out.

Well, thanks for the mention. For me, life is a wonderful journey. I had (have) so many obstacles keeping me from enjoying my life to its fullest. I have one go around on this experience we call life. I'm tired of not being a participant to its fullest. I'm happy to say the quest never ends, but at the same time, it does not monopolize my life, either. My usage of alcohol as medication robbed so much of my life, and I want it back. I'm happy to say, I am getting it back ... one day at a time.

Re: Sleeve. You may want to do some research on another board for the pro's and con's of this type of weightloss surgery. As far as sweets go, we CAN have them. But its usually the evil that got us into this situation to begin with... so thats why we are told NOT to have sweets. Alcohol ~ this is a stomach irritant. ANY alcohol (wine included) burns my stomach, so I avoid all alcohol. :phanvan The carbonated part (like beer) is something else to deal with. MOST bandsters totally stay away from all carbonation - it causes excessive burping --- VERY uncomfortable feeling. oh, and white items (like bread and pasta) are usually restricted form our diets because these things seems to stick to the band while passing through - thus creating a 'stuck' feeling. not a pleasent experience. But we look at these restricted foods as a good thing (white items are loaded with carbs and turn to sugar once consumed). Something else that comes to mind as far as restricted items go is ANSAID medications: ibuprophen. This is also a stomach irritant and should be avoided by bandsters. There's tons of LapBand info around here. LBT is loaded with facts of everyday living with the band. Good and bad. So, Happy reading! And if you have any other questions, just ask!

How long ago did you have your surgery? My program doesn’t have any restrictions on alcohol (which I don’t know that I agree with). Anyway, you do want to be careful - your new tummy is sensitive, you’ll feel tipsy or drunk a lot quicker, there are a lot of empty calories and (most disturbing to me) there are certain studies that have shown post WLS patients can have a higher tendency for alcohol dependence. Addiction runs in my extended family, so that is something I’m going to be careful and mindful of. I’d give it at least a couple months and then start with something easier on the stomach. I don’t even know what that would be - red wine ?

Elisabeth, you are so baaaaad. Who wouldve thought about this one. Im on my way to the store - Ive GOT to try this! Kelly, I share your choco-love! I dont even fight it - I just give in to the little brown demons. I cant drink alcohol. I dont do drugs. Cakes get stuck in my hole. So all I have is my m&m's. :nervous btw: my mom is a diabetic. When she has a sweet-fit, she'll show self control by eating some s/f chocolates made by Russell Stover. Eat too many and you'll die from gas pains. I guess its a type of negative reinforcement for eating too much of it. It does helps with the chocolate fix tho! Good luck

I was cleared for alcohol after 6 weeks. I regularly drink now with no issues.