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Just wanting to share my story and current status at 1 year in. I started the journey in June of 2020 after considering it for years. Having surgery was something that was in the back of my mind for years. I have a co-worker/friend who had gastric bypass about 3 years before me and quite honestly, she is the reason I ended up taking the plunge - Gastric Sleeve was the best choice for ME. Watching her journey and seeing her success motivated me. I appreciated the fact that she was willing to share her experiences both positive and negative. Prior to my meeting with the surgeon, she gave me a ton of insight on what to expect with both positives and negatives. Physically, I knew I was ready for a change. I needed to make sure I was also mentally ready for the change. I WAS! I started with a BMI > 40. I'm currently 80% complete towards my goal. I hoped that I would be at goal by now, but I'm ok that I'm not. Much of that is based on decisions that I've made with regards to how/what I eat and drink. I WILL get these last 20 off and hopefully another 10. I don't know how long it will take, and at this point, I'm not overly concerned if it takes another year. What's my life like now? I can move better,I can buy clothes anywhere, I'm confortable in my own skin (loose that it is!), and I have a newfound confidence in most everything that I do. I eat pretty much anything I want - Just in much smaller quantities. I've been lucky - So far, there's nothing that really upsets my stomach or makes me sick unless I eat too much (has only happened a couple of times). I drink alcohol when I want it - Some weeks I may have a drink or two a day, and then other times, I'll go weeks without a drink. Again, I'm ok with that - it works for me. Some weeks I gain, some weeks I lose. I've been horrible about tracking - However, if I see a gain, I start back just so that I become aware of exactly what is causing it. Again, OK with that. I DO get on the scale often. It works for me. Keeps me accountable. Every once in awhile I get frustrated with the restrictions (OMG, I ordered veal piccata the other day and it was AMAZING - I wished I could eat the whole darned thing at one sitting!!) - However, I choose to look at the upside now on this one - I ate it for 3 days!. Good food choice: NOPE - Worth it: YEP! For those just starting the journey, it isn't always easy - it isn't always fun. For ME, it's the best decision I've ever made for myself. It's definitely not a quick fix and I would encourage anyone who is using food as a coping mechanism to really look deep before you take the plunge. This surgery certainly doesn't "fix" anything like that. it's a tool (and a great one, but remember, the change is only to your stomach, not your brain) - I happen to be one of those people who just loves food, cooking, and the social aspect of it. Having the surgery has allowed me to continue that and still keep me in check with smaller portions. Hope this gives folks some insight into what CAN happen. We're all different and will have different experiences.

how about tracking what you eat (maybe with myfitnesspal), eat less of it and exercise more? Knock off the junk food, the empty calories, the alcohol. Get plenty of water and try to walk about 1 mile a day (or 10000) steps. You should be in good shape by the time you have your surgery.

Hello to all. I'm having pain under my left breast whenever I bend down. It's really painful. Also, the pain travels to my back on the left. Pain feels like something is ripping inside and its located on top of my major incision on the left. Called surgeon he ask if I had alcohol, aspirin, or anything that I'm not suppose to eat, thinking it might be an ulcer. I only chewed gum and had whole wheat toast. I am 8 weeks post op. Have appointment on Wednesday. Anyone had same pain. I am so worried. Thanks. Sent from my HTC EVO using RNYTalk

(CONTINUED...) 2008 I entered the local weight loss competition. I ordered Nutrisystem, worked out up to 2 hrs a day, and gave up soda and alcohol. After three months, I lost 50 lbs and won the competition. On top of winning tons of prizes, I lost 12 inches just around my waist! In 3 months, I went from a size 24 to 14/16. 250 to 200 lbs. Posters were made, the company sent out community flyers with photos of my before and after. And after all of this, after over 90 days of complete clean eating and exercise-mania.. I was STILL starving. Why was I STILL craving food? It wasn't like I didn't like to exercise. It also wasn't like I didn't like healthy food. I just wanted tons. I didn't just want one bowl of salad or veggies, I want three bowls. I was able to be thinner for about 2 months before everyone around me started noticing that I was getting fat again. Now, not only was I getting back to fat, EVERYONE in my community knew it. They had all seen the sucess flyer of thin me just recently. By the end of 2008, I was back to 250 lbs but in complete denial about it. Beginning of 2009 I gave up. I decided I was sick of it all and wasn't going to be miserable with food. By Spring I was 270 lbs. I had stopped working out completely because my knees and back hurt so bad. I looked at my daughter and thought I had to do something. I decided to go vegetarian because I had wanted to for a while and wasn't ever into meat anyway. I subscribed to eating clean. I told myself that despite always being hungry, I was only gonna eat healthy stuff. Mini diets followed since but I never really lost much this year because I didn't work out. My body is physically tapped by the end of the day just chasing after and taking care of my toddler. Last month I realized my neighbors (who all know each other) were talking about me- the hermit, who stays inside all day & night with her kid, eating. I weigh more than all of the men on the street now. My poor husband. I feel bad that I must embarass him. I went to my endocrinologist who told me the only long lasting weight loss solution was bariatric surgery. He thought I'd be a good candidate and that but for that- there's no way to "turn off" that hunger switch that always seems to be on in my head. An acquaintance also told me that she was getting Gastric Bypass. I realized I was jealous a bit. I wanted to change my life. I don't want to miss out on "life" and I don't want my daughter and husband to either. I went to a cardiologist and my digestive drs to see if I would even be a candidate and both agreed. It's time for an intervention. I'm borderline diabetes and my quality of life is definitely suffering. I called in mid September to two local drs to see about getting a consult and both require attending their seminars. This unfortunately caused me to have to wait three weeks for the next dates to come up. My insurance does not cover WLS so I will be a self pay. I had this convoluded idea (dream) that this would all happen super quick and I would be on my way to a new life. For the past three weeks all I can think about is getting surgery. I've researched, gotten mentally prepared, and studied aftercare information. Sites like this one has furthered my excitement and eagerness. I don't want to waste another day! So that is my story so far. I'm hoping I will be able to have surgery before the end of this year. The lap band seems to be the route for me as my drs have said GB is out of the question (due to my vitamin deficiencies already) and I plan to have at least one more child. I feel sort of bad like I bashed on my Mom on here. It's not that she's not fantastic and wasn't VERY involved in all of my activities.. she was at everything! It just seems like even today, all she wants to do is stay home and eat (which is consequently what I want to do too.) I notice even today how her awful eating habits have influenced me. It's NOT her fault but I see where I went wrong early. Had I had a different exposure to food early on it may have made a difference.. or perhaps not. Either way I wouldn't trade my life or my mother for anything! I just don't want my daughter to learn bad habits and behaviors like this from me. I want to change the pattern for our family and be a role model of healthy living. Thanks for reading all of this (or skimming ) I appreciate the support and advice here! everleigh Highest weight ever / Current / Goal 280 / 270 / 150 5'5 10/04/2009

Awareness of addiction is a huge step. Geneen Roth has written a number of books about addictive eating that I have found helpful. Mindfulness and DBT training can also be helpful in overcoming compulsive over-eating and replacing negative thought processes. Some people find 12 step programs helpful. For many, the answer really is eliminating the trigger foods such as white flour or sugar. It's important to realize though that an over-dependence on sugar substitute never quiets the longing and desire for sugar though. I don't think there is any "one size fits all" answer. I know that I come from a family with compulsive and addictive behaviors. I have never picked up cigarettes, drugs or alcohol but have definitely relied on food. For the first 25+ years it wasn't much of an issue because I could eat what I wanted and stayed close to a healthy weight (maybe 10 lbs heavy). By the time I finally got a handle on my compulsive over-eating, between my Hashimoto's which is difficult to control even with Synthroid, my metabolic syndrome and the pain that makes working out difficult, I know WLS is the only way to help me attain a healthy weight. If I hadn't wrapped my head around the food issue though, having the surgery wouldn't really help in the long run. I had my first WLS appointment Jan 2 and have lost 15 lbs since then. Such a struggle since my metabolism is so messed up. Do I still have an occasional candy bar and Coke pre-surgery? Yes. But I can't remember the last time I had a 16 oz bag of fun size Snickers bar and devoured them in an evening. If you are already post-op and still obsessing about food, please find a program, therapist, behavioral lifestyle class - something to help set you free. Best wishes, Chrystine

I'm 100% with Hazel on this. She covered it all..... Now that I'm 4 months out, there isn't any eating situation that concerns me. If we go out to a restaurant, I order a meal, eat what I can, and either leave the rest or take it home. The ONLY reason you would have a stuck episode, is if you take too big a bite, and don't chew thoroughly. Taking small bites & chewing well isn't obvious to anyone you eat with. You are eating.....that's all they see. As Hazel said, if your social life involves drinking on a regular basis, you will have problems losing weight. There is not a lot of room for regular alcohol intake on any weight loss plan, because there aren't any nutrients and your body can only store it as fat. That, and drinking brings on loose eating for many; it does for me! If you DO drink, count the calories, and make sure you don't consistently blow your daily allowance. Maintenance is another story, but it doesn't mean that you can throw caution to the wind. Relax, and take the time necessary to "reset" as Hazel mentions, and get re-aquainted with food, and what will ultimately be your new "normal". Good luck!

I don't really see why you can't have any alcohol ever, unless you know you are prone to addiction or something. I do agree that drinking it daily would be stupid, since it's empty calories. Soda has carbonation, which some believe can stretch the sleeve and I'm not willing to take that chance, so I avoid it 100% of the time. But I have had alcohol several times in the last 9 months. Maybe once a month or so once I was allowed. Just at social occasions and I'm very careful about it, because I have noticed I get drunk much faster post-sleeve, so absolutely NO driving the entire night, just to be on the safe side. I'm generally opposed to drinking my calories, but I don't see the harm in drinking in moderation on occasion. My program is very conservative and my team also said no alcohol ever. As already mentioned the cross addiction & empty calories being the main reasons. I hardly drank prior to surgery anyways so definitely not a sacrifice for me. Regarding the OP, if you were to honestly provide a journal of everything you are drinking & eating to your surgeon, what would he or she think?

All I can say is thank God I don't have to have the whole nation judge me! I hope she does well. Sounds like alcohol might be a problem too, this is not a surprise. we are compulsive about everything we do. hope she can beat them both!

The shrink says its the same tx as for alcohol or other addictions. We did fool around once trying to imagine not drooling over a hot pastrami sandwich (on rye with mustard!!) But i purposely aborted that one. EMDR does work,though for trauma andi wholeheartedly suggest anyone with ptsd try it. I need to accept that i am seriously addicted to simple carbs and must avoid them for life. No magic or surgery no mantra or mindfulness has been helpful in dealing with this issue. Still working on the batch of supplements the holistic med doc gave me but am getting thrown off schedule because i developed an unrelenting upper respiratory cold that stubborn ly kees getting worse no matter what i throw at it. Am grateful i did not have it the whole time i was in Israel.

How could food be stuck between the band and the stomach? I am confused! (not suprising though!) Anyway - re. alcohol - I have had flat beer. Not great but I'm not gonna lie about it. I went to Bunco and it's just sort of a habit I guess. I just opened a beer and poured it over ice and let it sit out about 10 minutes and I was fine. I know its not great for the calorie count but its my one night a month to be wild and since all the other girls were EATING taco salad, I had my little indulgence. I don't think wine would be bad. Or some something smooth with juice or water. Have fun and relax!

Try rubbing alcohol over the itchy parts, or benadryl. Even the Benadryl that you drink will work if you don't have the topical stuff. If that doesn't work, calamine lotion should do the trick.

my family has some obesity.. and diabetes, heart disease, etc. but I made the decision not to follow suit.. Alcoholism has shown to be genetic.. If you know that is a possibility you have to make the decision to not drink .. I think obesity is much the same... environment however plays a role as well. If your mama fries food and makes fattening food your whole life and tells you to clean your plate.. you will have a tendency to get fat...

The areas away from the steristrips I removed with rubbing alcohol. The rest just faded with time and it has been a week since my procedure.

@@Missbeauty16, Great idea to brainstorm for questions to ask! You might ask: -How do I contact you for an urgent question during office hours? How do I contact you for an urgent question during off hours? -What are your rules about caffeine/alcohol/certain foods (anything that you have concerns about in your post-op life)? -What are some of the most common mistakes you see your patients make? -Which support group will I be attending? -How will you help prepare me for maintenance as I approach goal weight? -What does the support system look like in terms of a nutritionist and psychologist or counselor?

Yup, what everyone else said. People who don't have food issues can't comprehend that food addiction is as "real" and consuming as alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling issues, etc. My BFFs at work are all skinny-minnies (with the exception of 1) and they were all completely worked up about me having this surgery. They didn't understand that the risks I was taking with my obese body were likely higher than the risks involved with the surgery itself. Keep it up with the training! I've got a stretch goal to train for our local mini-marathon too . . . I don't think I'll be ready by next May but for sure the May after that!

I haven't had my surgery as of yet (shooting for late Sept). I actually thought that of myself, I'm cheating by having this surgery done. However I have changed my mind on this, thanks to my husband (thin and can eat anything). He said, if an alcoholic or a drug addict goes to rehab, away from their addictions no one would dare say they were cheating. That "intervention" saved their life. How is WLS any different? Some of us have real addictions to food that are slowly killing us. We all are doing what is right for US not them. This isn't a walk in the park, this is still very difficult process to go through. You did all the hard work yourself, i.e. eating healthier and exercising. People will find something wrong with our choices no matter what. Give yourself the credit that you deserve and NEVER let anyone down play your success!

My first alcohol was a little over two months post-op. I tried a margarita (tequila). A few days later I also tried a mojito (rum). I had no trouble with either of them. BUT, there are alot of empty calories in those AND I can't really drink enough fast enough for it to have any effect. So, I've pretty much decided that I won't be drinking any more. I don't need the temptation to stretch my sleeve or the empty calories. Good luck!!

I still drink about the same amount as before, only I don't drink beer anymore. If I have a vodka and tonic, I add lots of ice to knock the bubbles out. Also, I put less vodka in (like only one shot) and more tonic, mostly so I can have more drinks. Haven't had any bad effects. Just keep in mind if you are drinking and eating, too, the alcohol could affect you food judgments. Just take care. And have fun!

lol... no alcohol isn't a problem and if I had to I could easily never drink again. Smoking, on the other hand, will be a challenge to quit. When I've dieted before I've always drank diet sprite and either bicardi limon or absolute citron vodka... but since soda is a no-go I'm still scratching my head on what to mix it with. juice wouldn't be a great idea since it's high calorie, would it? On the average Saturday night I'll have three drinks or beers and if there's jager we'll all toss it down until the bottle is empty... I <3 jager... puts me in a warm happy place :-). So in other words, 2-5 shots.... but that's just jager, not all liquor. I can't do a lot of hard liquor. Jager is just a lequer (sp?). I don't binge drink and would be fine with drinking a little less at a time. But of what? If all this sounds silly... lemmie explain a little more. I'm still considering the lap band and I want to do things the right way. I want to know that I can adapt my lifestyle to what it needs to be. I don't know many people my age who don't drink and I'm trying to think of a way to be able to take part in the festivities without overdoing it or killing my diet/restrictions. I'm not an alcoholic, I promise, just looking for what would be my best options.

I was a big beer drinker before the band. I now drink wine. Right now I have little restriction so I drink a beer every once in a while. I sip it slowly and I don't have any problems. It doesn't hurt and I don't burp if I don't gulp it. You can mix alcohol with crystal light or learn to drink it with Water. Jack and water isn't too bad. A shot of jager wouldn't be too bad just don't get too drunk as you might get sick. I occasionally have a margarita but that is a lot of calories. I drink a glass of water between drinks so that I don't drink too much. Now that I eat so much less and weigh a lot less I don't want to get sick. It doesn't take as much as it used to.

Any sugar free / calorie free "soda" and clear rum is going to be a low calorie, low carb drink. Any calorie free flavored water and alcohol... you could mix it up, get a pina colada flavored water additive and put some vodka or light rum into that. Straight up scotches, whiskeys and bourbons work.

Make sure you are with someone you trust. Apparently when that part of our stomach was removed the enzyme that digests half the alcohol went into the garbage with our stomachs. Normal stomachs "digest" half, we get the full %. As my nutrionist said, you are a cheap date now, one drink, and you'll be sloshing around. Sent from my Pixel XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Has anyone had a hernia and had WLS done before the hernia repair? Everything I have read says have WLS first and after you lose weight, take care of the hernia. I also know they won't do both at once. I am afraid that because of the hernia open WLS will be necessary. I had my Hernia repaired some years ago and a 1-2 hour surgery took over 4 hours. The doctor said there was little tissue to put the hernia back in and had to piece me back together inside. He wasn't sure if it would last and told me not to gain weight or get constipated. Well, it tore out again when I was going to the bathroom about a year after surgery and then I started gaining weight. I know they will not do another hernia repair as long as I am this heavy. I wear an abdominal binder 24/7 to keep it from coming out further. I also have scar tissue from it.Medicare here in TX will only approve open surgery for Bypass. Louise Oh yes ,the same doctor (general surgeon) did my Gall Bladder surgery. He discovered I have some liver damage from Non-alcoholic cirrhosis and that surgery took a lot longer than the hernia one. My incision from that one is probably 10" long. The scar looks like someone took a butcher knife to me. When he pulled the staples, pus and Water squirted out two feet in the air. (sorry to be so graphic.) I had to have wound care for several months till it healed. He cut so many nerves in the second surgery I had NO pain post-op and still have no feeling down there. WLS will be a piece of cake compared to the last two!! LOL This WLS I will be seeing is also a General Surgeon. He will do a tummy tuck for his WLS patients. Wouldn't it be nice if he could do the hernia repair AND tummy tuck at the same time?

i dont tell anyone about the surgery. so far all the weight i have lost except for ten pounds has been before my surgery. however when they do ask im gonna tell my truth, i worked hard, exercized and i ate right. all of which are true. about the surgery and being 'honest' about it. there is a reason there are so many hippa laws out there now. because it aint nobodys busness but your own. as for food being an addiction-that is sooooo true. i believe it is the hardest addiction to beat. the reason being is that we are all hard wired to eat as much as possible to stay alive. it is in our dna. the problem with that is now food is so available to us that we eat ourselves fat. the reason i think that it is the hardest addiction to beat is because when a drug addict or an alcoholic, or smoker, or any other addict is quiting they are supposed to totally avoid anything to do with the drug that they are addicted to. with a food addict they cant do that. you have to eat to survive. period. so how is one supposed to kick a habit that they have to go back to every day other wise they die. this surgery is not a 'cheat' it is like our rehab. it is proven that all diets dont work, eventually the person who succeeded in their diet will gain all of the weight back and then some, the reason...because they cant kick the habbit. i really feel sorry for anyone that thinks this is the easy way out, because they are only fooling themselves. people that dont have a weight problem are the lucky ones, they have good genes, or they struggle everyday to not over eat, or they exersize so much that they can eat what ever they want. however for the ones that are fat and simply believe that they can do it on their own will eventually change their mind and have some kind of surgery, or they wont and they will struggle with their weight until the day they die, which will be sooner then it should, because they could have been like us cheaters and kicked the habbit.... i hope i didnt offend anyone, this is my opinion, which everyone is intitled to, and also as well, anyone is intitled to disagree with me if they wish

@LilMissDivaIrene, hi! I didn't know you in the Bad Old Days, but ProudGrammy did. if she's said you're a good one, I may have made myself a new friend. Kathy's been a good buddy, keeping me from going bonkers while I wait and struggle to get to surgery day. You have had 3 surgeries?, Well this will,be my third(and I hope final) attempt to convince a surgeon my proper place is on his operating table. I have somewhat jokingly said I would do my own RnY. I already own a box cutter, fishing line, hair clips and a Swingline stapeler, that pretty much covers things except for the 3-way mirror on top of my dressing table. I don't have any drinking alcohol let alone any other anesthesia but maybe I could hold my breath,until I pass out? I'm 72, time is running out for me, I don't have time for somone to dither around or go play darts somewhere. So I sit here in Central Ohio,with a smile pasted on my face,waiting to see what happens next in my life. I have an important(to me) appointment April 25 with Staff Psychologist Dr Kramer at Martha Morehouse Pavilion in Columbus Ohio and hopefully he will clear me for Bariatric Surgery at OSU-Wexner Medical,Center. Kathy says I should stop saying hopeful, she bellieves in me. I ten to think in a defeatist frame of mind and she says that will get me nowhere. So like Don Quixote ,I go forward to tilt with my own windmills.. Answer back,of you feel like it, okay?😭