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Just reading this thread today has been a journey with so many emotions. It just goes to show, everyone has a story. And as I read each response, especially about the fatsuit, the use of food, I think, "we sound exactly like recovering alcoholics or drug users" Avoid people and situations that we frequented in our "using" days, avoid triggers... fall off the wagon, get back on, abstinence ... This VST support group, you guys, are invaluable. So much awful has happened in the last year and a half; lost my job, broke up with my boyfriend, lost my father, lost my home, audited by the IRS, deployed to Afghanistan, death and destruction all around, fear, and now my health. There are 6 people in my world who know this, you will be the 7th en toto. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS. That is the real reason why I went to Germany, we don't have MRI capabilities here. I am 31. Devastated is a paltry word, not nearly covering what I have felt since the soft diagnosis July 17th or the confirmed dx on September 23rd. Bereft, grief-stricken, angry, depressed, hopeless, angry, sad, flat, scared shitless. While I was in Germany I had good commercial internet access, wifi, and I was able to spend a lot of time on YouTube, looking up people's video diaries about life with MS, treatment, etc. That is how I discovered Dr. Terry Wahls and her protocol. I encourage you all to look up her TedTalk on Youtube. It's not just that she started eating salads and voila her MS is gone. No. But being a Dr., and being willing to experiment on herself, and having nothing to lose, she started doing her research. She wrote a book called Minding my Mitochondria (god how I wish I could get that book). Long story short, she was confined to a tilt recline wheelchair and now rides horses through the rockies and rides her bike to work every day. So, I'm stuck here because if I were sent home, where would I go? I have no home, I truly am homeless. If I were sent to the US, I would be unemployed, which means no health insurance. Because of the IRS I now have no nest egg to fall back on. Bizarre as it may seem, I am getting better support and care out here than I would be in the US. And so I do what I can to attempt to follow the Wahl's Protocol. It calls for 9 cups of veggies a day, all colors, sulfurus. No wheat, dairy, soy, or corn. Obviously no sugar. Lots of omega 3 rich foods, B6,B12, and D, grass fed hormone free etc. organ meats, seaweed or other iodine rich foods, and electrotherapy for muscle stimulation. MS is a neurological condition which, more and more, Drs are starting to realize a link between neuro and autoimmune disorders, which in turn they are discovering are linked to gut health/permeability. So it may all have started with Leaky Gut Syndrome, I don't know. All I know is that at 31 yrs old, I had only just one beautiful year of living, post VSG. One year of being a real woman with potential and a future and life and beauyty. The song from Rent, "will I lose my dignity" keeps running through my head, ..."will I wake tomorrow, from this nightmare?"

With the change in the weather you can get away with warm drinks that have very little to no acohol in them and still be festive. I know that Eggface has an eggnog protein shake recipe, and you can have mulled cider. I personally do not care for the taste of alcohol except for mead, port, and this one rhine wine I had in Germany. When you said what's your poison, i thought this was going to be a discussion of our drug of choice, food. Mine was and is grilled cheese. I have zero control around grilled cheese, fresh bread with butter, and chocolate.

Alcohol has never played a big part in my life. Probably helped by the fact that I hate wine (don't stone me, please!) and that my driug of choice was food. So I haven't bothered to drink since being sleeved. However, with the festive season looming, it might be nice to have a non-fizzy go-to drink. I am slightly apprehensive about drinking anything (heard the horror stories of how quickly you can get wrecked) but what's your experience of introducing alcohol to your sleeve? And what's your favourite tipple now? Thanks...

My addiction was diet Pepsi. The thing that I finally was able to kick it with was orange flavored stevia drink mix mixed with about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. It actually does taste good and I think it gave me that sweet-tart and crisp feeling that the soda did. Interestingly I read that back in the day they used to use apple cider vinegar to help alcoholics kick.

i am still surprised that people go through all the steps of surgery, are advised what to do for best results, and then do just the opposite..and then tell people i did it and i am fine...well good for you..but telling and advising people the incorrect things (that drs say not to do) is just wrong in my opinion..but hey, whatever works. melan, if you want to know if it is okay to drink alcohol after surgery, 2 weeks out, call and ask your doctor..see what they say.. i love pink also btw...hope you have a great time.

I was also told no carbonation but my question is this: is drinking alcohol worth risking something happening to your band just two weeks post op? Your doctor gives you instructions for a reason and this is why people end up getting their bands removed because they don't follow instructions. I am sure if you ask your surgeon he is not going to say yes go right ahead.

As our bands get tighter, carbonated drinks, such as Beer becomes a greater risk...so be careful of that as your band is prone to be irritated, swollen from surgery still....you have to learn to "Listen" to you band with all things consumed... Have you had the surgery yet???? Two months, let alone 2 weeks after surgery I was nervous about doing anything risky....it was only after being a veteran and knowing my band on speaking terms that I can do certain things.... Alcohol can really irritate the band in a big way, I have found from experience...causing reflux at times, a true sign of irritation...I tend not to drink anything too harsh, and rarely straight....But I am also at the point that with anything I swallow, I get a certain feedback from the band and I know immediately to slow it down, and/or put it down entirely...

Check with your doctor. Your stomach has been sutured thus has deep wounds. Alcohol can not only aggravate those wounds but it's also a blood thinner. Get your doctor's approval before drinking.

I think you'll be alright I did a few shots 11 days after surgery and then a few beers the next night and i didn't have any problems .. Just keep in mind the alcohol might hit you harder/faster now

I'm not talking about getting hammered or anything, but I have a concert (p!nk) to go to 2 weeks post op and was wondering if that would be too early to have a drink or two?

It's difficult enough to cut back on a regular daily basis. I found that the closer to my surgery date the more I wanted to eat clean...wanted to shrink my liver. I won't miss alcohol and I think I can manage life with a bite of a cupcake instead of 1/2 a cake, but my weakness is cookies! So we shall see.... As for the drinking, so far I don't pour a glass of anything until I drop my plate in the sink. To date I've slipped up two times in 5 days. Straws are harder to give up, but I'm trying

I would question what they're using to clean skin with when operating and filling you? Is it something like scrub care or hibiclense that have germ killing properties for up to 24 hours after used? Or are they using something not as strong. The same would go for fills. I know alcohol swabs are used in fills, but some drs use stronger germ killing agents. You might want to ask about these. Are you seeing a wound specialist now. I know in my area they have wound care centers- mostly used by diabetics and others having problems healing. I had a friend with cancer with a wound specialist as she was getting vacuumed shut after a surgery. She also had type 1 diabetes so it was really hard on her body and took constant vigilance of keeping everything clean. To the extent that she had to get rid of her small dogs and cats. And had someone come in to declutter her house and deep clean it.

I tried my first drink 6 mo out... Vanilla rum in flavored crystal light. Was so yummy. Got a little buzzed with no issues... Until the next day. I was on the potty all day. I don't "dump" until the next day when I eat something I'm not suppose to... And this did it for me too. Evidentially I can't handle the alcohol sugar.

Good job Georgia! Brown OMG I could not be that strong! Chocolate anything would drive me over the edge. Ok she's gone!!!! OMG I took her to a two hour doctors appt today. It was very stressful and the doctor and I confronted her on her alcohol use (not what any of us expected especially her) She's an alcoholic but became clean and sober after my brothers death. But she's back to drinking every night and is pissed and says lots of normal people drink wine every night. Yeah... I tried to talk to her about my food addiction and that even though I'm smaller now I'm still an addict. I told her for instance I'm so stressed out I could eat a package of Oreos today and that after she left I will be fighting a secret binge. Even though "normal" weighted people can eat Oreos, I can't. She wanted to know why I was stressed Ok no binges today and I'm at 426 so far.. I might MIGHT make it...

Looked at your profile and you were sleeved in Jan of this year? You are far enough out that you shouldn't have a problem but I would highly recommend you try something small at home first such as a few sips of wine. Since you are just turning 21 I am assuming you don't have much alcohol experience? It will likely hit you fast you don't know how your body will react. Stay away from anything with lots of sugars such as premixed margaritas and the likes, they may go right through you and that could be embarrassing. Happy 21st! Be safe and you know the drill about drinking and driving. Sorry, it's the mom in me. Can't help it.

21st birthday is in about 15 days ... What drinks doesn't upset your stomach?

I confess that: 1. Ten days postop I ate (melted) a snack Reese cup; 2. I have become a nutrition a*****e with my poor (and healthy/fit) wife, and made her start using MFP; 3. I throw my fat clothes in the trash rather than give them away; 4. I feel superior to my fat friends; 5. I don't care one whit about never drinking alcohol again, but I started recreationally smoking (not tobacco) ASAP. It calms my stomach, makes me NOT hungry, and motivates me to exercise. Don't knock it until you try it; 6. Even though I've told everyone about the surgery, I'm not sharing/posting any photos because I want to milk EVERY drop of WOW factor from the first time they see me.

1. I confess that I am afraid of losing too much weight. I feel so protected by my fat, finally being able to see my collar bones reminds me that the weight is coming off. Plus, my dad points it out. A lot. SMH, I can't win, I'm first too fat, now to thin, what next? My heads too big? 2. I confess that I enjoy the attention from men that I get now a little too much. I would flirt with a pole if it had a penis. 3. I confess that I am afraid of finally being visible. When I was 300+ pounds, I could walk into a room and everyone would ignore me. I now walk into a room and I am greeted and pulled into conversations. 4. I confess that I often get depressed over the fact that the same people I knew preop treat me a lot better now. It really hurts to have the harsh reality of people treat you better based on the way you look thrown in my face. 5. I confess that I drink a lot. I am afraid of crossing my food addiction to alcohol addiction. When I go out, i tend to have the "go hard or go home" mentality and keep up with my peers as far as drinks go. However, I am drunk with 2 drinks. My peers- 5-7 drinks. A lot of times I get blacked out drunk and it's starting to freak me out as I've made some stupid decisions while drunk. 6. I confess that I monitor what I eat really closely and I have a fear of developing an eating disorder. The signs are all there.

I agree, we will probably all be put in situations where we question old friendships. Recovering alcoholics and drug addicts have to revisit the foundation of friendships too.

I eat out all the time and order everything except fried foods. i will taste a fried item but not as my meal. I never order a drink but have one in the car for my ride home and it will be after 1/2 hour after eating. I order according to the type of restaurant. Where I live the Chinese restaurants have combos all day and I bring 1/2 home and order brown rice with it. ​Italian the other day I had a salad, 2 end pieces of bread (I don't have the doughy parts) with butter or oil, meatballs and pasta. I took home most of the whole wheat pasta. I order salmon a lot with veggies and bring home 1/2. For burgers, I may have 1 to bites of the bottom of the roll and eat about 4-5 oz. I have pizza, thin crust 2 slices or 1/2 of a bar pizza, which is big in my area. They are very small and thin crust. I never have alcohol. That was a no-no I was told but talk to your doctor. Up to him/her. One thing I can't chew anymore and being from NE, is lobster. I can eat shrimp, though. Also for red meat, filet is the most tender and the only one I can chew real well. Hope I helped you.

Hi there, I'm starting the second week of my pre-op liquid diet so naturally I am thinking about what it will be like to go out to dinner once banded. Granted this is a fantasy for a couple of months down the line after I am healed up completely and understand how my band works, etc. Let's say I'm in the green zone. So, is this in any way what it's like to go out to a restaurant? We sit down, the waitress comes over and we order drinks. I am not eating and drinking together, nor am I having alcohol very often, so the drink is a big deal. Maybe it's a glass of wine or perhaps a cocktail. If it's a cocktail I don't chew on the lime or eat the slice of orange. I sip the drink and enjoy every moment of it because it's a big treat. My spouse orders an appetizer and I finish sipping my drink. I need to clock it so that at least twenty minutes have elapsed before I have anything to eat. I order something high in Protein and soft -- something that will absolutely positively not cause me to get stuck. Perhaps I have ordered an appetizer. If it is an entree I will likely need to divide it to take some home or pass it over to my husband or son who will gladly absorb the extra from my plate. When the food arrives, I take a good hard look at it to determine the best approach. I am only going to have 1/2 to 1 cup and I need to listen especially hard to my body so I don't overdo it. Plus I've had a drink so I need to be extra mindful. I have ordered something very high in protein but I love veggies, too. I may need to move things around on the little plate so I am able to go very slowly and be sure to put the fork down. Am I over-thinking this, LOL? I will still be able to eat out, I know, but I guess it's that week two pre-op and minor anxiety about upcoming surgery that is bringing up these little worries.....What's it like when you go out to dinner?

For starters, I have never believed everything I read on here. Don't think anyone should. Secondly, It seems like everyone has different instructions from their Surgeons and NUTS. After all, we trusted them enough to remove 80% of our stomach so why would we NOT do as they instruct? That said, I believe the different surgeons instructions come from this; first, medical fact, second, medical opinion, third, serving the lowest common denominator, and lastly, covering their asses. Caffeine is fine? No caffeine ever again? Straws ok? No straws ever? Alcohol ok? No alcohol ever? Carbonation ok? No carbonation ever? I think lots of surgeons say these things because lets face it, we didn't get morbidly obese doing all the right things so many think that there is no wiggle room in their patients and they don't want someone suing them because they used a straw and gained all the weight back and we not warned about it. I do follow my surgeon's and NUT's instructions but I also think they use a common sense approach. My only no no according to them is carbonation. I can live with that. Had I been instructed to never have caffeine, alcohol, use a straw, or consume a carbohydrate I would not have had this surgery. I got this surgery to live a long, healthy and normal life not spend the rest of it being afraid every time I put something in my mouth. I'm sure there are some WLS patient who need that strict set of rules but I think for the most part, we can all use our common sense along with our medical advice and make the right decisions that work for us.

Oh and the straw thing.. I was able to use one 6 weeks out. Dr says you get just as much air drinking straight from a bottle. It will not expand your stomach. I haven't bothered asking about carbonation because I know I don't need soda and beer. And alcohol he says just be careful and its empty calories.. but I don't drink either. I barely did before surgery.

Hi Tiffany, I am in the same boat as you - going through the pre-op stuff and hoping against hope that this works! I have been to other boards and have seen some absolutely amazing before and after photos. I would say that whether or not it works for you depends on how well you stick to your program. I've seen that some people have had slow weight loss or have gained weight back by drinking their calories (shakes, ice cream, alcohol...that sort of thing) or making poor food choices. I can't imagine you won't lose weight with the sleeve. I fantasize about shopping at Target for "regular" clothes and not needing a seatbelt extender when we go on vacation next summer. That helps to keep some of the negative thoughts away. Good luck with your process! Autumn

At the end of the day, you have to decide. I don't think you'll find a doctor that would say you were at low risk for all sorts of morbidities with a BMI of 35. When I started the process of getting approved, I only had mild hypertension and was 36. However, every time I went for a physical, I was terrified I was going to be told I had developed Type II diabetes. Every time, the doctor told me I was at high risk for it. I too had tried most diets: Atkins, medifast, nutrisystem, normal and regular dieting. All worked in the short term but eventually I regained my losses plus more to the point I had a BMI of 47. All without having anything that a low level blood pressure medicine couldn't take care of. After my last physical in which I was terrified of being diagnosed with diabetes and having gone through another post-diet regain, I decided enough was enough. I couldn't let my fear of diabetes motivate me to lose and keep off any weight and I was tired of letting my size be the first thing people noticed about me. I started looking at lap band and quickly realized sleeve was the better option for me. One of the big draws for me was that I was not a snacker or grazer; I liked large meals. And looking at many posts here and seeing what other sleevers eat in person, I don't think it would be a big deal socially. Many guys eat a 4-6 ounces at a meal, which would be a decent dent in a plate at a meal. It is tough for the first couple months as we ease back into normal foods and getting to the 4-6 ounces we can eat at a meal. I'm still in that process right now and it is still odd. The other night, I went to dinner with friends, ordered some bisque and ate about 3 ounces of the liquid. Same thing at lunch last week. I'm only 13 days postop though. I'm realizing that socializing and eating huge meals are completely independent on each other. In fact, I have enjoyed it more as I am less focused on devouring the huge plate in front of me and more on chatting up friends. I too am very social. In fact, my very first post on these forums was in the Man Room asking about socializing after the sleeve. I love going out to bars, clubs, concerts, sporting events, etc. I do it all still without any issues. I haven't started back on any alcohol yet and likely won't for a while because in my mind, if I made this huge decision, I'm doing it right. I enjoy alcohol like most of us, but I've enjoyed it plenty on my way to a high BMI. Many, many sleevers drink and I will again eventually. But I still go out and have fun at bars and whatnot. At the end of the day you have to decide whether you want it or not. It's a hell of a decision and one that everyone naturally questions during the process. Socializing is one that I think you will find ends up not being an issue folks worry about.