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I have done wine but nothing fizzy. Fizz scares me but I do have concerns that it is too soon for alcohol

It could. I would check with my doctor. We've gone through too much to mess it up with alcohol. I'm afraid to even have a glass if wine.

I believe that alcoholic and non alcoholic fatty liver are quite different and cirrhosis is far less common with non alcoholic. The fat is actually in our liver cells (though if we are obese we'll almost certainly have more fat than is ideal around our organs too), and the overall size of our liver increases. The Optifast pre-op diet is aimed at decreasing the fat in our liver cells and so the size of our liver. I believe we can decrease the size of our livers by diet, so VSG should really help. Amazingly it's low carb that is most important. Good luck. It's v common these days (due to growing rate of obesity) but far better to be without!

thanks. the dr did say that this could potentially develop into cirrohsis of the liver way down the line which struck a chord with me since my father past from that at age 42 (granted he was an alcoholic and i do not drink). so i have to take care of this immediatley

now my internal organs are fat. I had my abdominal u/s friday and the gastroenterologist called me like 2 hrs later to tell me i had fatty liver. awesome, just what i wanted to hear..... I know that this is pretty common with obesity. He advised me not to take any motrin/advil/tylenol and try to lose more weight and to not drink alcohol (which i dont anyway). So my question is does this affect the surgery in anyway? does the pre-op diet take care of all the fat around the liver? my surgeon didnt say there was a specific amount of weight that he wanted me to lose just that i would be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks when the times comes.

I'm a June post op, but have a question for some of you that are a little further out... Have any of you tried alcohol yet? If so, when? I'm 5 weeks and going on a sunset cruise with my fiancé. I would love to have one drink to celebrate my bday, but I'm scared. Lol

Yeah, its a good thing i got my scale too, what i thought was a small portion of turkey turned out to be 3.5 ounces. Guess i need to adjust more. A another thing- i knew it for a while but proved it on the preop diet- bread makes my stomach bloat- and the more i eat bread the more i crave bread. So i gave it up almost completely. Whole grain only once or twice a week, only once slice a day. So when i was doing my "breakup sex" with food (LMAO!) and had ff burgers x5 in last 2 weeks- i thought i gained 10 pounds, but was not nearly as bad as that. I had a boston cream donut and thought "that wasnt as good as i remember" . But unfortunately the Whopper burgers are still fantastic to me. And i always cheated with sugarfree russell stovers chocolate, but those sugar alcohols are no good for my diabetes either. I managed to give up diet pepsi the first 2 months of my counseling. But the nurse practitioner is a tough cookie and scolded me enough to do it. Now It isnt as good as i remember either. Gonna see the doc this week, tell him i am ready now, send in the insurance request for my RNY pleez. Hope my taste buds change re the sweet stuff and the burgers.

I wanted to post an update, even though it’s kind of difficult for me to share pictures this year. I’m three years out from my surgery. My start weight was 242 (I’m 5’1”) and my goal was 135 pounds. I reached my goal about 17 months post op. I was never really able to stay at 135 very easily but maintained almost effortlessly between 137-141 pounds. I was quite happy there and have no problems with that weight, even if it technically puts me in the “overweight” category. The BMI chart is a creation of evil, anyway. Two years post op I chose to get pregnant. I gained 35 pounds between hormone injections and pregnancy. I delivered my daughter almost four months ago. Today I weigh 143 pounds. I’ve been working to shed the baby weight. As before, the last 10-15 pounds just don’t want to come off. I know that my body will change a lot in the coming year as I get back to where I was prior to having my daughter. Right now I’m feeling pretty insecure about my hips/thighs and upper arms. I also don’t like that I feel “lumpy” – my smooth hourglass figure isn’t back yet. But I can't deny that it felt good to climb into my size 20 jeans today to snap a quick picture. The ruffled top I'm wearing doesn't really help show the difference but I'm pretty sure two of me could fit into those pants. Today I wear a solid six and a small in most tops (sometimes a medium) so I really cannot complain. I don’t want this to be a post about my diet or lifestyle; I’m here enough that you can easily search out what I have to say about those things. I do want to stress that my third year was harder than the previous years. For starters, going from maintenance into a gain was HARD, even if I did it to have a healthy child. Shifting into loss again has been a real challenge. I also find that the farther I get from surgery, the more I see that very little of my unhappiness stemmed from my weight. My weight was a symptom of the damage I had going on inside of me. Sure, I had some genetic causes to help me pack on the pounds. But the majority of it was all in my head. The sleeve was not my magic bullet. It doesn’t just work on it’s own. The only thing it does for me is keep me from burying my sorrows or my stresses in a tub full of ice cream (darn lactose intolerance) or from eating a pan of brownies. I can still eat ice cream (and suffer for it) or eat those brownies one by one. Working on ME and trying to find ways to not rely on food or alcohol in times of stress has become critical and while it's not a daily struggle, it can still be a challenge at times. I still feel no hunger. But I do get hormonal and have the desire to eat. I do get sad and have the desire to eat. I do sit and mindlessly do what other people are doing if I’m not paying attention. I say this over and over again and I’m going to repeat myself for the umpteenth time: If you do not work on the issues that made you fat in the first place, you are going to have a very difficult time with maintenance. Maintenance is by far the hardest part of this process and it DOES NOT END. There is no finish line, there is no “GOAL!” there is just the need to stay continually vigilant and to avoid slipping into those ingrained, years-old habits and feelings. This is not about food for most of us. This is certainly not about food for me. This is about me using food to self-medicate, to hide, for pleasure, as a cornerstone of socializing – as everything BUT fuel and sustenance. Removing my stomach only gave me portion control; it did not fix anything that caused the issues in the first place. I’m heading into my fourth year and I’m pleased to say that I would do my surgery again in a heartbeat. I’m happier than I have ever been in my life, even considering the small personal struggles I've had to face since surgery. This surgery didn't just help me lose weight. It gave me a chance to live a better life. I can beat myself up and be unhappy about little, minor things but at the end of the day, I’m 100 pounds lighter and once upon a time I would have given anything to look the way I do now. ~Cheri

I'm learning so much more on the internet than I am from my physicians! I received instructions from the hospital on how to take care of my drain, but they weren't the entire instructions (as per the instructions I found on the internet). Nowhere in my verbal or handout instructions did it say I was allowed or required to change the dressing - just empty, alcohol wipe, bend and close. I know this is gross, but I did sniff the output before flushing it down to make that it actually wasn't the fluid. The output didn't have a smell, so I deduced that the smell was the dressing. I walked to Walgreens and bought saline, gauze pads, and tape. Removed the film (which had been loosening due to my showers anyway), cleaned my wound, and redressed it. I feel so much better now (no smell, and the pain has decreased significantly). When any of you had it, did you get specific instructions in terms of the dressing?

It IS worse than quitting drinking... You don't need alcohol for survival, but you do need to eat. We ALWAYS have to practice our addiction, but we have to control it. It's a curse!

Eating is a survival behavior. We must eat or we will die. We are therefore hard-wired to find pleasure in food. It's the same reason we find pleasure in sex and find babies and children irresistibly cute - survival of the the species. The things that keep us alive and perpetuate the species are designed to be pleasurable so we will do them. Please don't try to overcome the love of food and pleasure you find in food. Abstinence works for drugs and alcohol because we don't need those things to survive. You will not be able to stop loving food - nor should you!!! If you don't find a way to enjoy your new life, you will either fail miserably, or succeed more miserably. Continue to enjoy cooking and healthy food. That's what we are supposed to do. All that junk food and unhealthy food we fed those cravings never satisfied because our bodies were really screaming for nutrition. When you find ways to give your body the nutrients it needs - that you can also enjoy - you will finally satisfy those cravings for good!!! I'm a foodie for life!!! Shelly

I have an occasional dirty gin martini but it is so rare. If I have one every two to three months that's a lot but I do indulge in an occasional drink. I gave up smoking 30 yrs ago and I was up to two packs a day. I gave it up cold turkey. That is one vice I'm glad to be rid of. So if my vice is an occasional cocktail every 2 or 3 months I'm fine with that. I haven't traded off food for alcohol at all. I still love my food over alcohol any day. I'm just eating smaller portions and savor inch every bite. I would never trade alcohol for food.

Phew I survived today and it wasn't bad. I have been avoiding social situations that involve food cause I'm newly banded and few people know and i need to get my grip on this and don't want to eat the wrong thing and cause damage to my stomach and my band . Im following the rules as best as i can. I was so anxious about this bridal shower only my best friend knows I was banded. Nervous wreck to be out in public not eating or drinking alcohol and u know what? It was all in my head. Nobody cared If I drank water all day or that I had very very little on my plate. I'm on mushies so I picked foods I could fork mash as recommended by my doctor and I survived. I ate the way I should with the band although I had 3 tiny baby spoonfuls of mouse but its ok . I have to live with this band and still be me. I did have a hard time waiting the 20 minutes to drink after eating and tried my best. It surprises me how little I can eat and be satisfied!!! The best part of the day was not being so horrified when we took a group shot down 26 pounds and such difference I didn't notice until the picture. June 1 I went to a bridal shower and hated the me in the photo we took because I couldn't believe it was me. 26 pounds gone and feeling great can only imagine how different I will look at the wedding in October. Even already committed to being the designated driver so I don't waste my calories drinking Just had to share no matter how supportive those that know are not being in my position I don't think they understand the feeling of being the new me. Trust me i have tons of emotions going on .... I'm different but I'm not but I am if that makes sense:) thanks for listening ....

My instructions were to avoid alcohol for one year post-surgery because it can cause an ulcer. However, I started having an occasional glass of wine, about once a week, about 1&1/2 months out. I don't notice that I get drunk or sober any differently than pre/-surgery. But I was always a cheap date! LOL! pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274; 4 month post-op 266.2

Sip! really! It can it you hard and make you feverish the first time.. Better to just try a wee bit at first. Have a good night Oh and alcohol will hit harder than before surgery!

Went out with the dance girls after class for a pow-wow at a sushi restaurant. Had this lovely roll called the Popeye... but all the rice and soysauce got to me.... up 1.7 pounds. Fingers crossed its just the salt. Skipped alcohol and just had water. Only went over my allotted cals by about a hundred, not too bad really. Tomorrow is another day!

I know it has been approved for many, but it wasn't approved for me (the only reason I chose to drink it is because I saw post from others that like you had their surgeon tell them it was ok.. so naturally I jumped on board because I LOVE my morning cup of joe) Buy anyhow, I was told that caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation in excess can cause ulcers... So that's where my mind was going with that. But this is not something I have researched, just through word of mouth. Thanks for the input though, I really hope it's not caffeine, but secretly I'm hoping that's all it is haha

How long did you wait until you drank?

The same thing happened to me. My suggestion is keep a food log and stay away from alcohol. I became an acoholic by restricting myself so much.

Yes I know someone who did. Although the volume of our tummys is drastically smaller, a person can still continue a high calori diet.the person i know drinks alcohol excessively and eats high fat/calorie foods Sent from my iPad using VST

Ditto, ditto, ditto! liquid calories is the most basic reason (and probably least important, in my opinion). The research is beginning to pour in about the VERY high rate of alcoholism among bariatric surgery patients. As others have said, there are very few bariatric patients who can honestly say that food was not a coping skill for them. I think I'm pretty well put together, but the transition from being able to drown emotions with food kind of messed with my head for a while. With the weight loss, it takes less to get a buzz because of body weight and metabolism. Plus, we don't/can't consume as much food to slow down the rate of absorption like before. Using this new body takes some getting used to and we really have to think about what we are ingesting like we never did before surgery. At least I know that eating was a pretty unconscious process for me pre-band. Habits, habits, habits. I quit smoking 3 years ago and I still think I should smoke when I'm drinking. It just feels weird because it goes together for me. Same goes for food. There's a reason people love bar food. It just goes with the alcohol. Plus, when I drink - even if I'm not getting plastered, I know that my judgment and perception are impaired. A whole plate full of appetitzer/bar food looks much different to me after a few margaritas. Suddenly it sounds like a great idea! (when I probably wouldn't seriously do much damage without the margaritas). I think, in general, that first year after WLS is all about learning a whole new way of life and adjusting to a healthy lifestyle. Unless the lifestyle changes, we stand very little chance for long term success. Limiting alcohol is part of that healthy lifestyle. (I never heard the thing about risk for erosion, but it makes sense). All in all - I think it's good advise to just avoid it for a while. Shelly

I wasn't told to avoid alcohol. I am Australian, we drink . I have learnt not to drink to the point of needing to hurl (did once and that was enough) but I definitely drink.

I was just told to wait 6 weeks post op. Obviously the empty calories are something you dont want to over indulge in, but as far as actually consuming alcohol, I was told it was fine.

Thanks for bringing this issue up as it's something I've been wondering about while I wait for a date to get banded. I guess the empty calories and potential for transferring addiction from eating to drinking are enough to keep me away from wine and spirits at least for the first year or so while I get myself in a new rythmn with the band. Maybe after I lose the weight I could have a very occasional glass of wine.....a reward for the journey ahead.....but in the early days I am going to want to stay very clear and be sure that everything I'm putting into my mouth is good for my body. Alcohol is just sugar, sugar, sugar.

They all have different aftertastes and after surgery may not appeal to you even if they did before. The types I know are sweet n low, equal, splenda and stevia. I find I can not enjoy the taste post op in most things now, mostly the drink powders. I know if products listed as Sugar Alcohols, it is a diet substitute...ex. is xyletol. I was told all of these products are fine to use by nutritionist. So, if you find one that is agreeable to you that will be an advantage.