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Thanks Richard. You know I've had some good success so far. I have stuck to my program religiously, except for some occasional alcohol (guilty pleasure). Weight loss has been steady, but slowed as of the last few weeks. I think I have more weight to lose but not sure. It sure would be nice if we knew where the weight loss would end. I do track everything, but that works well for me. I dont think that maintenance eating will be very different than how I eat today. I have really tried to look at this as a lifestyle change that I needed to make and I am completely comfortable with avoiding some foods that are not good for me.

Anyone with information, please advise. I have two questions. 1.) For the most part, I can open gel caps and dump the powder in with Protein powder, but what about pills you can't dump out or find in a liquid? Like what if you are in an accident and you get sent home with pain meds? will a pill fill us up so we can't eat? 2.) Does medication effect us differently after surgery the way they say alcohol will? I take medication to sleep and now I wonder, am I allowed to swallow it and also will the dose I am used to seem crazy high?

Robyn, Could you please explain more of what you are looking for? There's several of us that have loved ones that are classified as "alcoholics".

My sperm-doner person is an alcoholic. I've hated him for years. I never got one card, one letter, one message my entire life. I didn't know he existed till I was 18. When I met him, I met this man with a wife and two kids that had everything. They were living my life, while I was stuck with a mentally ill, abusive, neglectful monster (Momster.) I got to know him more as I got older. He told me "I already screwed up one set of kids so I had to work extra hard to give the second set everything." Did he have any idea how bad that stung - and still does? So I've hated him, and I've thought that he could die and I wouldn't even feel a thing. Last week I found out he's probably going to die soon. He's got liver disease. He called me on my birthday and didn't even tell me - he just acted like all was fine. But my sister heard through the family grapevine. As much as I've hated this guy my whole life, it's killing me to know he'll really die one day, let alone soon. It's so weird. I don't even know the guy (have only been around him 4 times in my life.) But when I met him, we even freaked out my husband. I'm him in girl form. The way we move, our stuborn bullheaded nature - even the way we shake our salt. I know damn well I could turn into an alcoholic in my older years if I'm not careful. I'm addicted to sugar, and alcohol is a form of sugar. I'm not sure where you wanted this to go, but it makes me really sad. Alcoholism can steal your life - even if you've never touched a drop.

I know this is a very old thread but I just saw it pop up. My Brother is dying of alcoholism right now. He is living with my parents which isn't helping the situation. He had 3 drunk in publics against him. He drinks at least 2 5th a day. He is unemployed for at least a year or 2. My parents don't help the situation by letting him live with them. He hasn't hit rock bottom yet. He has been found unresponsive on side walks, parks and the like. He has crashed his bike. He is currently in driving school, which he is now missing to get his breath alizer removed from his car. He has a license but that will be revoked since he hasn't been going to his classes. What a mess. We think he needs to be homeless to get it together. The most sober he has been is 50 days. He went to rehab twice in the last year or so. My parents paid $17k for that and it hasn't helped. So this is my story unfortunately. He will probably outlive all of us. We call him the cat with nine lives. He has been in motorcycle drunk accidents, DUI, drunk in public, just about everything. He missed his court dates recently so maybe he'll be put away for a few months. That may help.

Anyone who says they don't have experience with some type of alcoholic "family" member would be a very rare person. We all gottem somewhere.

Hey Sabrina, and welcome to VST. You've had a heck of a journey thus far. As for my band complications, I had a flipped port from early on, and it caused a lot of pain and discomfort. The tubing was actually tugging on my stomach in addition to all the other wonderful "band" issues. So, I was able to revise to the sleeve. As for your concerns, I was not released to drink alcohol until my 3.5-4 month post-op mark. I have a glass of wine a couple times a week. It doesn't get me drunk faster unless I drink it quickly, then the drunk wears off, and I maintain a nice relaxed feeling. I'm 7 months out, and I indulge in a soda once a week, once every other week. It takes me 2-3 days to drink a soda because I don't drink it all the time. Some doctors are absolutely against them. Mine happens to believe that they are just wasted calories and that it will not stretch out the remaining. We do not have a pouch like RNY or band patients so it's a little different. My post-op diet for the sleeve revision was 2 weeks clears 2 weeks full liquids (I did a week doc progressed me to mushies) I did mushies for awhile with some soft Proteins for 2-3 weeks then onto regular food. You'll need to stick to the post-op diet because healing of the staple line is completely different than with your band surgery. Food particles, seeds, and chunks of stuff can get in your staple line causing infection, irritation and lead to a leak. I had a leak 2 days post-op revision, and it wasn't fun at all. I was in ICU for 5 days, on a ventilator, and had a slim chance of survival. The leak was successfully repaired, but I was on a pic lin in my arm being force fed 1800 calories a day through a TPN bag for over 2 weeks. I didn't have anything to eat or drink for 22 days. NOTHING no ice chips, no Water, nothing at all. Just my opinion, I think 6 weeks out is way too early to consume alcohol. Your stomach has been traumatized, and will still technically be healing. I've heard people talk about stomach burning, but wine (Riesling) hasn't bothered me at all. Keep us posted on your journey, and I'll be looking for updates.

I used to drink wine. I can't now because it is too acidic and gives me horrific heartburn. I do like a vodka/diet cranberry or diet pomegranate or a whiskey with Coke Zero. Now that it's summer, though? I love a cold beer or three. Sometimes the carbonation is uncomfortable, sometimes it is not. I do have a much better time of it if I pour it in a glass to allow some of the bubbles to some to a head. My doctor cautioned against alcohol for two reasons. First, it's empty calories. Second, people tend to eat more with less inhibition when they are intoxicated -- and usually not making good, healthy choices. Good thing about beer for me? After even one, I can't eat for at least an hour. I'm totally full. Two, I won't eat for several hours. Three, I won't eat for the rest of the day. A bonus? I burp like a sailor and it's quite awesome.

When I had my surgery I lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time and am now at the point where I am experimenting with fills and have hit a plateau. I lose about 3 lbs over the five day week, and then gain 3 lbs. over the weekend over and over and am so tired of it!! I am walking 2-3 miles almost every day and am trying to make good food choices but I do count calories on myfitness pal. It just seems like every weekend there is an event and I go a little crazy like an alcoholic in a bar. I can't just stay home but it seems home is the only place I am in control. Ugh sorry, I just had to vent.

Good luck to you, I am glad you didn't give up. Weight loss is hard, I put it right up there with other addictive problems like alcohol and drugs. Unless you have lived it no one can identify with what we feel and all the trials and tribulations we go through on our journey to try and be healthy. I wish you success and keep us updated on your success. Do not get discourage, seeking help is half the battle and we want to succeed.

I am having my surgery on Tuesday and had/have a lot of the same concerns but from reading posts on here and talking to my NUT I think we will be able to have a normal life after awhile. We will just have smaller portions and need to limit our alcohol a bit more but I don't think that we can never have a drink again. Mine NUT said a drink or two down the road will be okay just not carbonated. That is a biggy for me because i love beer! But I will love being thin and healthy more!

OK, here's the 411... you will not be able to eat (more than a couple bites and I mean a couple of bites!) or drink (other than Water or Protein shakes) for the first 2-3 months. After that, you will be able to eat about a palm size portion of food at one sitting but still will not be able to drink liquid while you eat or it will be very painfull for you. Drinking alcohol is not a good idea. After 3-4 months, maybe a small glass of wine once or twice a week but that's it. The thing is, you don't need to eat a lot or drink alcohol to have a good time, to relax, or to socialize. You need to realize this, really understand this, and know that if you do the sleeve you can still have a good time, relax and socialize ... it just won't include (a lot) of food or (much if any) alcohol. Life style change. That's what this is about. That's how we lose weight, and that's how we gain a new life.

You ask many questions that are answered in a number of posts. I would suggest searching. Additionally, depending on what procedure you are having the answers to your questions vary. Assuming you are having a sleeve or GB, I can answer many. Your first question comes up all the time. The answer is it's different for everyone. Search out some good examples in these forums. Second - Alcohol. Sleeve a GB are completely different. First, know this, alcohol is essentially a sugar, hollow empty calories and many of them. Sleeve people can probably drink in a similar fashion as they did before surgery, not beer, no carbonation allowed, but alcohol is still processed by the duodenum, jejunum and ilium as normal. Not even close to GB, I drank 2 shots of Seagram's 7. And was buzzed. We were taught that a guy with my build would take about 4 oz of alcohol to be fall down drunk. Here is the kicker, it lasts for about 1/2 an hour. You are still drunk and would fail a breathalyzer test. But the effects of alcohol go away quickly. Third - Loose skin, depending on age, how overweight you are, genetics, and speed in which you lose weight all factor into how your skin responds. That being said any cream with Cocoa butter is a good choice. Fourth - Exercise. Start walking while in Hospital. I got 12K steps the day after surgery and 13K the day after that in hospital. Make sure you are getting enough Water and you can walk pretty much all you want. The first week is a bit odd, as there is post op pain to deal with. As for resistance training, it depends on your surgery and what your surgeon says. I was taken off restriction at 8 weeks out. But told to go slow. I have yet to begin, as I am concentrating on walking. Fifth - What to bring to hospital. IPhone and a tablet/laptop, clothes to wear home (loose fitting, wear sweat pants) I brought headphones and had like 50 movies on my tablet, but I spent all my time walking. I was doped to the gills and just enjoyed walking. I made and took a couple calls, but I was so wasted no one called a second time. Sixth - Pre-op diet, follow the surgeons advice. They will most likely weigh you to make sure you have dropped enough weight, that is how they ensure you are following the diet. This is VERY important as it shrinks the liver so the surgeon can get it out of the way to work. Seveth - Post op phase one diet. Follow guidelines established by your NUT. It is a very limited diet. The big takeaway is to eat without distraction. No TV, PC, Radio, cell phone. Nothing. Pay close attention to what you are eating and savor every bite. This eating habit will hold true for the remainder of your life. Never eat while distracted. Chatting with someone is nice, and can help you to eat slower, which is good. And remember Protein FIRST! Start every meal, post op, until death, by eating the protein on your plate first. Advice - Two thing matter post op, really two. Protein and Water. Calories are important but secondary to Protein and Water. Sip sip sip. If they sell it in the UK, get Fairlife milk to make your Protein shakes. unjury makes a great chocolate shake. But they are pricey. I use Opurity Vitamins, as the No China trademark had me sold. I switched to Isopure low/no carb protein recently as it is less expensive, has the same 1.00 PDCASS score and a ton of vitamins in it. Remember this; only use protein supplements that have whey Isolate as the protein source, they will have a PDCASS score of 1.00. Take a probiotic, starting like now. Do NOT cheap out on this. The following link is to the one I use that you can get from Amazon, here. It's an amazing probiotic that my NUT went gaga over. Your surgeon will tell you when to start supplements. For me it was 4 weeks out. For more in depth answers to all your questions buy Alex Brecher's books here is the sleeve and here is the GB, both from amazon of here through the BariatricPal Store (I do not know if he'll ship to the UK) They are BIG books and answer all the questions you have asked and a shite load more you did not ask because you do not know to ask. Buy the book that relates to your surgery, NOW. And read it. Become an educated consumer. In doing so you will remove many surprises that you would have never expected. You'll also learn WHY your NUT is telling you what he/she/it is telling you. What is going on inside you. And what to expect. Best of luck and Happy Holidays!

My stomach was all sorts of messed up the first couple of weeks! Everything went through me. I can eat anything now no problems. Oh and watch the sugar alcohols in the pudding and such.

I was advised not to drink again. I rarely drank anyway. But there were a few reasons... because it will affect us differently because of the size of our stomachs . i.e. you'll get drunker, much faster. I know the no carbonation thing, but the bigger reason my NUT and Surgeon both had for not drinking after surgery, is that the likelihood of changing out addictions is high. food can be exchanged for many other things....gambling, alcohol, drugs, smoking, spending, etc.

Perhaps your friends who self-paid for their surgery in Mexico are more compliant at eating less post-op than the ones that had it covered by insurance in NY because they paid more money out-of-pocket. Or the ones who went to MX had lower BMI so less to lose, or do not suffer from Binge Eating Disorder, or didn’t go back to their old eating habits, or drink less alcohol, or lots of other reasons that could result in better weight loss & maintenance. Just because their bougie was smaller doesn’t mean that’s why they’ve maintained their weight loss compared to others.

Has anyone drank alcohol on the pre-op diet...I have a function and I'm wondering if would be ok to have a few drinks HELP!!

I was never advised of a time limit by my doctor, however I felt I would wait a year, to make sure my pouch was healed well enough before I took my first sip of wine. I have heard of many gastric bypass patients giving up the food addiction for another addiction such as alcohol, drugs, gambling. If shopping is my only addiction, then I'm a happy girl

Hi there and happy holidays all! Today I went for a follow-up appointment with the surgeon and had a second fill. The last one was a week ago today. I wasn't sure that I'd get another fill so soon as I am satisfied with a small amount of food. However I am hungry again after a couple of hours. My surgeon's goal is a serving the size of a tennis ball and not to be hungry again for 4-5 hours. We went for it, and, just like last week, it was very easy. I was glad to have him inspect the port site because it is tighter and harder now that it has some saline in it and I wondered if that is normal. Yep. He marked the site with a pen then cleaned the area with alcohol and gave me a shot. That is a pinch. Then he did the fill and, voila, I was drinking my little glass of Water to make sure it went down well. It did. I am not feeling hungry at all, but what I am feeling is GRATEFUL. And HAPPY! I am so relieved to be out of food jail and able to just make good decisions without the input of a committee in my brain telling me what I should and should not do. All that chatter has really dissipated. Yippee!

I got down to 175 briefly and wanted to lose another 10-20 (still not sure what will be ideal weight for me). Instead I promptly gained 12 or so pounds, which meant I needed to lose 25. That felt like "same old, same old" and I definitely wanted to nip that in the bud. I love my collar bones and hips -- and my size ten jeans, etc.! Friends (non-WLS) and spouse went on Whole30 program which is basically Protein and veggies, a little whole fruit, some nuts, etc. but easy on all that -- basically meat, fish, chicken and veg. It's how I need to be eating anyway and I have been able to get back on track for myself that way. Feels good. With a band it's really important to chew, chew, chew and to avoid slider foods. Of course it's easy to come to rely on those yummy things like yogurts, fancy cheeses, etc. Oh, and alcohol apparently does me no favors as far as the scale is concerned. Avoiding the constant wine & cheese party mode is very helpful. I am back in the jeans I had before and hopefully on my way to the next pair that are waiting.

I'm 7 weeks and had a salad at 5 weeks. No problem. My doc and nut says try it when u feel ready. I would go crazy w out salad/veggies! I have had no problems w any foods. My doc even said I could have alcohol when I had tried most all foods. I tried a beer-too bubbly! But than had a glass of wine about 4 oz and it was just fine.

Noooo! This is the General Forum There's just a lot of us women here. And I'm probably responding from a very female place. My apologies to you. I truly am not judging you. I really was curious to hear where you are in your head with processing this and what the picture of "life after WLS" looks like to you. "A pint and a steak" just sounds like a perfect guy meal. Which is why I said and meant what I said. The Guys' Forum seems much more relaxed and laid back about life after surgery--although it isn't very active right now, but there are some super guys there! I'm not much on "off limits" stuff, but some things will be off limits to me and some things will definitely be on a once-in-a-very-blue-moon rotation. I hope steak isn't on that list. Beer, wine and alcohol, and "bad" fats such as transfats will certainly top that list because of their effects on the post WLS livers. I wouldn't want to have a surgery that is supposed to help reduce my fatty liver, while then going and drinking and it makes me develop cirrhosis because of how hard this surgery/and quick weight loss is on the liver. Big irony, yes?

How long before alcohol consumption after lapband surgery?

I'm pretty sure you know what the answer is going to be.... Not being judgey at all, but you're 9 days out and want to drink alcohol? It's going to be ages before that desire gets entertained by anyone. Professional or not. Alcoholic beverages are nothing but empty calories and I'm not sure if you've had the sleeve or bypass but drinking that stuff can make you sick or give you stomach ulcers. You're fresh out of the hospital. Don't do it. Avoid alcohol like it's the plague for the next year or so. If it's something you really must know, then heed the previous person's advice and ask your surgeon. But I vote... Don't do it. Hw-273 Sw-226 CW-135 GW-130 Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made. Bra Size- 36C Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017 RNY "Only those who try will become" FFX

I have yet to figure out why people are so rude sometimes. I have read many posts about alcohol on this forum and they all have rude comments so don’t feel too bad. Use the search bar to find the other posts and you will see others have commented about having alcohol very soon after surgery and being fine. My surgeon said something about 6 weeks but I have been tempted. I’m 4 1/2 weeks post op. I have read that it is easier to become a binge drinker after surgery and some do actually become alcoholics so just take it slow.