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Are you allowed to have these after the lapband? ~Jodie

My surgeon's rules were NO DRINKING FOR ONE YEAR FOLLOWING SURGERY. But he also admitted it was the rule most commonly broken. However, I did it. I went 1 year and 1 week without ANY alcohol. Yep there were social events where normally I would have had a drink or two, but during that first year post-op I did NOT have any. I'm not saying you should follow in my footsteps, just telling you my experience. When I did have a drink (glass of wine) at 1 year 1 week post-op it hit pretty hard and pretty quick. So if you plan to drink early out be ready for it to affect you differently than it did pre-op.

I followed what my surgeon said to a certain degree. The fact remains, the sleeve is a lifestyle change. I adapted it to fit my needs, and I am seeing results to this day. I think to each their own. Obviously I don't advocate eating a burger 2 weeks out and then freaking out about the ability to do so. But certain touchy things, like alcohol, are something that you will have to make your own call on. I think of them as post op guidelines, not rules. Plus, being 100% strict will only hit you that much harder when you slip once vs allowing smaller portions of things. I've had different types of foods than what I am suppose to, though I am almost 6 months out. But, how would I know what I can tolerate and what I cannot without trying them? I think the basics, protein first, water, exercise, track, vitamins are a must. after that, its your call.

Ate those in the skinny girl brand?? I used to drink the skinny girl margaritas. They come all mixed up. Haven't touched alcohol in about a year.... I seldom have a drink but would love a skinny girl margarita when my 6 months comes... Just one drink but I'm afraid of the dumping... So anyone who dumps to sugar please let me know if this is a tolerable drink !!!

I know here lately I've posted and sounded down and maybe I am, I've got a lot going on in my life. Tonight I was watching an episode of I think it's titled "my 600 lb life and where are they now", well I live with my mom and have lived with her for the past year for several reasons, one she's 74 and needs me but for the main reason, I can't find a job and I need her as much as she needs me because I can't make ends meet on my alimony alone since my divorce 2 yrs ago and live by myself. Well, while watching this show I could really relate to these people who had had gastric bypass and their eating issues so I paused the DVR and said to my mom "you know I really need help with my eating issues". Just yesterday or last night I posted on here that I crave something sweet after meals and it is an awful feeling and I didn't know how to deal with it. Her reply was harsh, guess I wasn't ready to hear it and wanted her support. She basically said to deal with it. My feelings to the issue is, this is a real sickness, people are addicted to food as some are addicted to alcohol or drugs. I need to learn how to channel those feelings of wanting to eat at non-eating times to something else. I am paying for my own health ins and it costs a lot over $500/mo for me and my deductible is $2500 and I've had to stop going to my psychiatrist because each visit was going towards my deductible and I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. I'm crushed, I've been a patient of his for 7 yrs. I did find a psychologist here where I live but she keeps pushing me to do things that cost me, like hobbies and although that is fine and dandy I can't afford it. Now lets talk about exercise: Mom says tonight "I'll pay for a membership to a gym if you'll go", great I say but she doesn't understand that I can barely walk around the block here at home before I have to walk in the door and take a pain pill to kill the pain in my knee that I've had 2 surgeries on. I just feel like she doesn't understand or I feel all alone in this right now. Yes, I've come out of the closet yesterday on here that I'm Bipolar, I take meds for it and they leave me hungover the next day so I usually sleep in till 10:30 and cause insomnia so I'm up till the wee hrs of the night/morning going to bed and the one drug that knocks me out causes some weight gain and cravings but its the only thing that will put me to sleep at night and control my moods. Going back to my psychiatrist, he kept a close eye on me and my bipolar and all my meds, now my reg dr handles all my meds. I have a feeling some of this is mild depression going on, but I just don't have the money to make an appt with my old dr right now. sheesh. My Lap Band dr has me come in once a month for fills and that has been costing me over $100 a time, I'm up to my eyeballs in medical bills. No wonder my hair is falling out. Going back to exercise, I tried to do a Burpee, omg, I couldn't even accomplish that, couldn't squat because of my knee. I thought I was going to have to call the fire dept to get me up. Thanks for listening. Donna

I don't see what the big deal is. I tried wine at 4 weeks out. It didn't sit well so I stopped. Just take it slow and see how it goes. Be careful because you do get buzzed faster and make sure you've had plenty of water! Not everyone who enjoys an occasional drink is a raging alcoholic.

I'm really afraid to have any alcohol. I do not like being sick so I don't experiment. There r times I'm out and want to have a drink, but I don't. I understand being young and wanting to have fun. I'm soooooo glad I got the partying out of my system when I was young. Be safe whatever u decide!!! (HUGS)

I JUST asked my surgeon this question this afternoon...he is a board certified surgeon with over 1,200 sleeve and bypass surgeries with no leaks amongst his patients and he is fine with "moderate alcohol starting 4 weeks post-op"...now, every surgeon is different and every patient is different, and that is from a post-op medical perspective...has nothing to do with the empty calories or the change in the way your body likely metabolizes alcohol after bariatric surgery.

I don't think people are being judgmental at all. As for harshness...sometimes it TAKES harshness to get through to people. That said, I do NOT think this thread has been harsh at all. As for someone's leisure time or lifestyle being "not our business?" When you put it out on a public forum, then yes, that poster is "inviting" commentary on their lifestyle. In addition, alcohol is VERY much a lifestyle choice that often DOES impact others. So when someone says that they're like to go to a graduation party, one month post op, to do vodka shooters, I can't help but wonder how many of the other people at that party will be drunk that night? And of those, how many will choose to drive because they're not "that drunk?" And for this particular poster, it makes me sad. She's taken a HUGE step toward being healthy the rest of her life and instead of making plans to make the most of her surgery, she wants to drink enough to "feel it." There are so many other ways....and yes, in my opinion, BETTER ways, to enjoy life.

Wait until you get there. If you can get your 60-80g Protein and 64 or more ounces of Fluid at one month out by all means enjoy yourself. Personally, I think you're going to be more interested in moving out of softs and into real food than getting blotted. I'm just passing my second month and many in my cohort (including myself) are still not getting everything in. The thought of alcohol just really does not appeal

1 more thing.... I do not believe at all that your first bit of alcohol consumption should be at a college grad party.... Uncontrolled environment with college kids just wanting a kick ass party for their accomplishments.... People no surgery have died at these types of things from alcohol poisoning... If you should vomit or be sick you might just party through it and is their any one really going to safely help you monitor yourself and reactions???

This saddens me, you ask for help or answers and youre getting pretty much the same answers across the board.... Im not knocking your "college lifestyle" perhaps you should have thought the fact of sleeving is a huuuuge "life style" change that we all know about! Youre adamant on the 2 shooters.. But all drs. Are different... I have not heard of one that says alcohol is ok after only 1 month... You put yourself at a plethera of risks by doing so and setting a bad example... I have been dehydrated through the entire post op from April 30th and have been hospitalized a few times....just got out again yesterday... Over the week I said i thought I was finally just thought I was hungry. I informed him I had 2 teaspoons of lentil soup as well as 2 spoons of tuna... He told me as chief of surgery of the hospital... Which is actually 3 hospitals in one now... Not saying my dr knows it all or is above anything however. His point was although 3 weeks out can be frustrating with food I have to meet with the NUT and him for my 3 week post op to make sure youre ready for full liquids then a week for reg. food...you have no idea what your stomach can handle of youre only starting full food around now.. That food I ate to soon could have damages the work that was done or caused leaking... My issues is I get alot of dry heaving and my insides(major surgery and blow to all organs) swell because theyre not fully healed.. Most do better then me im down 39 lbs and not the healthy way... My point is the knowledge behind it is long term studies drinking eating eating certain foods can all cause ALOT of damage....poor choice all I can say is of you wind up back in the OR and that os VERY high risk of happening then you knew what you were getting yourself into... Also drinking can lead to sloppiness if you should fall or even pass out It would truley be a shame to wind up in the or!!!! Noone or nothing to blame but you

i just went to my first support group meeting last night (my surgery is June 11) and we went around the room and everyone got to ask a question. mine was "how soon can i have my whiskey and what kind of effects will i be looking at?" out of the 8 post-op people, 5 of them had tried alcohol. most said one or two drinks were fine, but the felt the effects WAY SOONER then they used to. the nurse there said once your stomach heals (3 months), you can have alcohol in moderation, but watch what you mix with it. my go to is a 7/7-i love them. but since we can't drink pop (which i cut out 3 months ago) i might have to mix it with some sour mix and have a whiskey sour. i don't want to get drunk, i just want to have a drink once in a while when i'm out with friends. so just remember, moderation is key!

I had my first alcoholic beverage 6weeks post op. WARNING, alcohol takes affect much quicker now. Pre op I could easily have 6-8shots before getting buzzed. At 6weeks 2shots & I was walking crooked. And it was a roller coaster ride. I'd be drunk 1 minute then a few minutes later feel nothing then buzzed again with nothing more to drink. It was crazy. Enjoy yourself, but even if you feel completely sober, do not drive,

Amanda, I in no way made it sound like I thought you're an alcoholic. I even prefaced my post with explaining WHY I have such a strong bias against drinking. But no, not practically every person in college drinks. It's NOT a lifestyle and it shouldn't be.

Just putting it out there I'm not some alcoholic that some of you are acting. I'm in college, practically every person drinks and goes to parties, it is just the lifestyle. I know I have a lifestyle of my own and I know what to do and what not to do. All I was asking is if anyone has consumed alcohol early on like that. I actually just spoke to my doctor and he said by that point I should be fine for a shot or two, but just to be careful. Seeeeesh

Personally I wouldn't want to find out how alcohol was going to affect me while I was trying to enjoy a grad party. Some people get violently ill with very little booze post surgery. One month after is pretty soon to try getting drunk. The real risk is possibly spending the night in/on the toilet.

When you researched and prepped for VSG what did your surgeon and NUT tell you about consuming alcohol?

I posted on this EXACT question 2 days ago: Now, with greater experience, and most than 1 year post-op, I feel I can elaborate a bit more. I would STRONGLY advise against drinking ANY alcohol so early after surgery!!!!! Alcohol dehydrates your body. At the moment, your everyday battle is staying hydrated and allowing your surgical site to heal. The lime in the margarita will likely irritate your stomach lining, causing great discomfort. The alcohol will get you drunk VERY fast in VERY small quantities, and you will not be in good control of your decision making regarding other foods, which could lead you to make dangerous decisions around what is safe to eat so early on. Feel free to go out with your friends, but take on the role of designated driver (if you don't want them to know WHY you're not drinking), or just tell them you are staying away from alcohol for a while because it conflicts with some meds or supplements you're taking. Of course that all assumes they don't know about your surgery. If they know, tell them the truth! Your surgeon and nutritionist have strongly advised....NO DRINKING for min. 6 months post-op. You surgeon may not have spelled that out to you (though hopefully it was discussed). The physical effects of alcohol are bad, but the psychological possibilities of developing a new dependency or addiction (alcohol vs food) are very real and serious and worse than the hangover and illness the booze might temporarily cause you. Even if the addiction part is not "in play" here, the possibility of your having less control of your decision regarding food at the concert is still very real if you've been drinking. You really can't afford to slip up and eat the wrong thing this early post-op. It could have serious repercussions and land you in the hospital with a leak or complication you could have easily avoided. You made a smart choice with this surgery. Keep up the good choices and stay away from alcohol until you're better healed and in a more normal eating/drinking routine.

Kime, couldn't agree more, I am the child of two adult alcoholics, I am 20 times more likely than the average person walking down the street to be addicted to something, but alcohol and recreational drugs have never been a problem, food has always been my drug of choice. I firmly believe that the pleasure centers of my brain light up like a pinball machine when I eat, just like a junkie shooting heroin into his arm. But I also believe that want/will power don't stop at just what I put in my mouth, they encompass using every tool at my disposal to try and beat this addiction, even pulling out old college text books, attending support groups and following the rules the Dr. gave me. Don't give up, don't give in, keep fighting!

This is going to sound judgmental and condescending, but let me preface it by saying that my husband is the child of alcoholics. His mom is in assisted-living because of one too many drinking episodes, his aunt (who raised him) essentially died from alcohol poisoning. I also encounter the negative affects of drinking alcohol in my job, so yes, I'm very ANTI drinking. You've just made a HUGE decision to improve the quality of your life by having sleeve surgery, and you're thinking about how much it'll take to feel drunk at a graduation party? Did it occur to you that, while drinking, you might not make the same wise food choices that you otherwise would? As in, eat something that you shouldn't and create a sleeve leak? What about the EMPTY calories in alcohol? Did you want the sleeve to limit your food while you continue to drink your calories and kill brain cells? Look, I don't have a problem with social drinking. But drinking to get drunk...yeah, I do. Because it's when you're drunk that you can make a lot of poor decisions and some of those can be life-threatening. So why not go, instead, with the thought of enjoying your weight loss, eat mindfully, and just enjoy the party?

be careful. It takes a few months for your new stomach to heal. You can easily have problems with alcohol. Ulcers for starters. Gastritis. Transfer addictions. The bad empty calories that will stall weight loss. The list goes on. I was in a hurry too to get back to my alcohol. but iam going to wait exactly 6months.

Even though I work in computers now with the school system, my college degree was actually Counseling with a concentration in Substance Abuse. While working at a drug treatment center I worked with patients on developing coping skills to help them deal with cravings to use. We would tell them, they must avoid people, places and things that are triggers; some to the point of having to live some where other than where they came from. During that time I was in denial that I myself was an addict, but my drug of choice was food. Unfortunatly, I can't avoid food. I must eat, but as I continue on the self reflective journey I have been on of late, I realize that I have food triggers. Cookies- I love them, they are buttery and chewy and oh so good. If I make cookies and eat one, I can't stop- I must eat more. Ice Cream is another problem, I love ice cream, any shape or form- cones, cups, shakes- yum. So I know, no ice cream should be kept in the house because I won't stop until it is all gone. Now you may say, where is you will power, where is your want power? I do want to lose weight, but there are times where it is like an out of body experience, I realize what I am doing is wrong and I will regret it, but I can't stop- this is classic addict behavior. If you are able to use your want power to prevent you from ever slipping up- awesome for you- but addicts many times can not rely strictly on that. I am actully going back and reading some of my old college textbooks to help myself with this addiction. While I have lost a little more than half of what I want to lose, in order for me to lose more and here is the key- keep it off- I must figure out my triggers and develop coping skills for dealing with these. Is this journey easy- heck no! Will it be worth it- heck yes. But, I feel I will be much more successful long term now that I am looking at this for what it is! Just like drug, tobacco, alcohol addiction is a life long battle- so is food addiction. For those of you who what I am saying rings true, take a look at yourself- what are your triggers- what can you do to cope with them. So with that- Hello, my name is Kim and I am a foodaholic.

Mine was an hour long conversation. She touched on multiple subjects.....she was trying to see if I had an addictive nature (cigarettes, alcohol addictions), mental illness, and did I fully understand what was involved, and that VSG is not a quick fix.......it's interesting to see how these appointments vary from dr to dr.

It's good to be going through all this angst now and get it out of your system.. My favorites that will go away are beer and champagne - no carbonated drinks, not to mention the alcohol. But the feeling of being finally at your proper weight will be so great, you won't mind the changes in your diet. I hate running, too. I walk.