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So I haven't posted in a couple of days. Here is the summary of my wacky adventures this weekend: Thursday- went out with a couple of coworkers to steak night. I managed to get by without completely blowing the diet. Friday- came down with a sinus/ear infection and went to the clinic in Walgreens to get some antibiotics. Had to get that cleared up before surgery which at that time was 10 days out (feeling much better now). Also I was exhausted from the aforementioned steak night and also having to make a middle of the night run to the ship yard for work. So I was in bed relatively early. Small victory- I did manage to find these protein shakes that taste yummy called Pure Protein at the Vitamin Shoppe. I had wanted to try the other flavors before making a financial investment by ordering a case of them. By the way, the banana and vanilla rocks!! Oh and stay away from the cookies and cream, it should be called yuck in a can. Saturday- AKA Day 1 of Hell- Up until this point I had managed to stick to my diet and was holding steady at 10 lbs lost. The day started out crappy with a wake up call from my boss at 730 a.m. to which resulted in having to call several members of my crew, waking them up and finally another trip to the fleet and then the ship yard. Luckily I was home by 930 and back in bed for a nap. My day gets worse. I saunter across the street to see how all the out of town family guests are doing and what they are doing. Of course, being the good time having people they are, they were all drinking and eating really yummy things!! I was able to stave off temptation for a while. But eventually gave in and tried a cracker with jalapeno jelly on it which led to a couple of chips with salsa. At this point, I decided that I was going to go outside and swim 50 laps in the pool so at least if I was going to have a few things I would at least have worked out. I swam the 50 laps and also treaded water for 5 minutes straight. This afforded me (in my mind) a spoonful of Spanish rice with dinner. I stayed away from the alcohol though, the whole not shrinking my liver enough for surgery thing really worries me. If I make it all the way to the operating table and the surgeon opens me up but doesn't do surgery, I will be intolerable. Saturday night was our fantasy football draft and I have to say probably the most annoying thing ever. Everyone was drunk, except of course me and very obnoxious. I guess when you are on the outside looking in, it is not as fun. On the upside, my new found hobby of not drinking has revealed another talent, designated driver! Sunday (today) AKA Day 2 of Hell- I woke up and weighed, and thanks to some miracle I was still at the -10 lbs I had been at all weekend. Part of me was really excited that I hadn't gained any weight but I was also really sad that the scale hadn't moved down either. I decided that the little cheats I had given into the day before were really stupid and that I needed to pull it together, turn the cheek to temptation and be motivated to see the numbers on the scale drop. We all went to Galveston to enjoy the "beach." I can say that I stuck to my diet very strictly. No cheats. I had my shakes and even on the way back from the beach, stopped to pick up my 2nd shake at a gas station, I had to settle for Muscle Milk, which I am not normally a fan of, but it did the trick of tiding me over. I also swam some in the pool and treaded more water. At one point I did have a melt down and attacked Nick over sampling some of the cucumber I was very deliciously enjoying while reading a book (book = distraction from copious amounts of drinking). It just sent me over the edge, that I had my small bowl of cucumber and that he, who could eat anything he wanted was "stealing," my allotment of cucumber. In my head it was no different than me walking up to his plate and stealing his potatoes. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I had been surrounded by temptation all weekend and was doing my best to ignore my growling stomach, the fun being had by all, and all of the bad food items around. It was like an alcoholic working in a bar or a crack head living at a crack house. I snapped and went off on Nick, telling him to pretty much F-off and go eat his own much more tasty food and to leave the starving girl's cucumbers alone. This resulted in me having to go home, have a melt down and refocus. I eventually rejoined the party, apologized to Nick and stuck it out on the diet. Tomorrow will put me exactly 7 days out from surgery. I am really really excited but nervous, the light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel. I feel like I am carrying around a very fragile expensive vase that I am trying to transport across country ensuring that it arrives in 1 piece. I don't want anything crazy to happen before the surgery to make it not happen, I just want to make it across that finish line. I am resigned to sticking to the diet, working out more this week, being very strict with my portion sizes and hopefully watching the scale move downwards. My goals is to be a total of 17 lbs down by surgery. So we shall see if I end up at my goal. My advice to any of you going through a similar situation, when surrounded by temptation, no matter how bad you want to give in and have something bad just remember, you are doing this for a reason and that reason and it's direct result is greater than a momentary lapse in judgement. Also the guilt the next morning is not worth it. Keep your eye on the prize. Until tomorrow, Amanda

Dude. I was told to stay away from alcohol for a full year and I'm a girl who loves a nice sweet red wine to relax at the end of the day. I've not had anything alcoholic since my surgery and plan on staying away from it from here on out.

Don't beat yourself up, look at it as a lesson learned and move forward. Most of us have found that while we can still drink alcohol, it only takes one or two drinks to get a buzz and anymore than that can be dangerous. Sent from my iPad using VST

Thank you all! I know they love me and want the best for me and that's what prevents me from getting angry with them...I'm just glad there are people who know to some degree of what I'm going through. Like I said in no way have I become an alcoholic... I don't like to be drunk very much, I just am enjoying being able to order a drink or go to a liquor store... I'm not going to be able to experience 21 like the rest of my friends and I have accepted that long before I had my surgery. I knew what I was giving up. But in comparison I am gaining so much more!!!! The almost 50 lbs I have lost has made me feel do much more myself... The self I have always been underneath and I wouldn't change my sleeve for the world!!!

I think you're completely right, but I also think that your family is probably scared/caring about you in a way that comes out annoying. I know when I was younger and on diets whenever I would eat something bad my mom would ask me if I should be eating it. She would also comment on portion size, types of food, sitting around too much, etc. It drove me nuts, and we would fight about it sometimes. Now that I'm older, I know that although she didn't go about it a way that would get through to me well, that she really did care and was concerned. Since I've gotten the sleeve she has been incredibly supportive and rather than critique my food (Which she couldn't really do anyway since I'm eating really healthy) she will try and prepare foods that I can eat that have a lot of taste. I much prefer this to the old style =) But I digress from the point, and that's that your family is being harsh, and probably not realizing how harsh it really is. I would try and brush it off - it was your 21st birthday and it sounds like you didn't go overboard or anything. If it keeps bothering you maybe sit them down and really tell them how you feel. That you wanna be successful and you're not planning on downing a kegger by yourself, but you also were allowed and able to enjoy a glass or two of alcohol while still being a responsible sleever.

Wow ladies the sizes are falling off you. I wasn't really sure what size I was, due to being in 26 but all of the 26's being different, I am now in the skinny 26's. If that makes sense. I already have a bag of clothes that are just too big also. Can't wait to fit into my skinny clothes. I have sizes all the way down to 16/18. Just wanted to let you all know, I had a glass of wine last night, was soooo good. Took me ages to drink it but I really enjoyed it. Usually would have done the whole bottle in the same time I drunk one glass. Has anyone tried alcohol after surgery?

I couldn't agree more. The fact is, the hypotheses they are making about lifestyle changes and so-called transfer addictions (even if they don't use those terms, I can't recall now -- I read that study a couple of weeks ago, but didn't re-read it today) from WLS patients in general are IMO entirely unsupported empirically at this point. The only evidence regarding the increase in alcohol abuse is the mechanical/physical change in bypass patients, where they absolutely metabolise alcohol differently than a non-bypassed person and this is very relevant to alcohol issues. I have not seen any convincing evidence yet that restriction-only procedures (ie, sleeve, band) lead to increased alcoholism (or drug abuse, etc.) in any significant way. I'm open to the evidence when they produce it, but I've just not seen it yet. The idea that newly thin people go off the 'deep end' and party too much and turn into big sluts is just as much a stereotype, IMO, as the stereotypes we've all had projected on us about being fat, lazy, dumb, etc. All that said, to the OP -- I think it's fine that you celebrated your 21st, happy belated b-day to you. I also first had a drink a month or two post-op (had to drink some champagne for a friend's birthday, oy bubbles on top of it LOL). I drink wine at least once or twice a week usually and I haven't had any problems with that. It's a personal choice, I think -- and unless there are health issues or addiction problems, it's not a 'wrong' personal choice. I chose to tell VERY few people about my surgery cos I don't like people knowing my personal business. That said, even if people did know about it, I wouldn't try to explain much or 'convince' them about it. That's often a waste of time. I'm fine for them to have their opinions, their perspective isn't relevant to my life most of the time, so I just keep the conversation polite and the topic brief. What other people think about me is none of my business anyhow...

Ok, enough, I'm on here to avoid my sociology statistics class!!! There's a forum for crossover addiction studies for this thing. The opening poster is only 21! She has probably given up a lot of her youth to obesity, having a social drink with friends seems ok, although I probably wouldn't only because even sips of alcohol give me anxiety issues... I agree with mjrevel, sometimes this concern is false but sometimes it comes from a genuine place but they don't know the suffering. Out of the blue my sister got breast implants. I was terrified for her safety and mental health but when she explained her situation I understood better. I hope jennapenn had a happy birthday and her healing is going well and pray her friends are genuine and come to understand her right to choose what she does with her body

I am sorry but I wrote, " 50% more likely to be alcoholics than they were before surgery." That is correct and does not mean that 50% of weight loss patients become alcoholics. Sorry if it could be interpreted the way you did.

Actually, I didn't read the study wrong. Per the study: "a relative increase of more than 50 percent compared to pre-surgical rates." Ten percent is roughly 50 percent greater than 7 percent. Also, the study defines alcohol use disorder as alcoholism. Yes, the study involved RNY and lap band participants. However, several factors tie it to sleeve patients. The study authors and other doctors suggested that the reasons WLS patients may turn to alcohol could be that they are tired of strict rules about what they eat and drink or that they may develop new social lives that include drinking after losing large amounts of weight. Another reason suggested is that extremely obese people lose some of their tolerance for alcohol consumption when they lose weight. Every one of these potential causes is the same for the sleeve as they are for RNY. Not one of the suggested reasons is related to the difference in surgical procedures for RNY vs. sleeve. The important thing is that we all be aware of these results so that we have information to consider it we choose to.

My doc said alcohol is ok just beware of the liquid calories and stronger effects. As for carbonation, he said that since the sleeve is still relatively new, we don't know what the long term effects are. Maybe stretching, maybe something else, we just don't know.

You have misread the article. It does not say that people who have weight loss surgery are 50% more likely to be alcoholics than they were before surgery. It says that prior to surgery 7% of patients showed signs of alcohol use disorder and one year later there was no change in this number. However two years after surgery that number had increased to 10%. The study was of mostly RNY and lap band patients. The sleeve isn't mentioned. Those with RNY metabolise alcohol differently than the sleeve.

I was wondering this myself. What am I gonna do on Saturdays??? We always have parties. Dips chips finger food. Oh my!! And lots and lots of alcohol!! But today I had a salad and water. It wasn't the best BUT as long as that sexy beast LES MILES is on my tv kicking. Butt. It's all good!!! When he crosses his arms or touches his hat, it means he's thinking about me!!!!!! Well that's what im going with!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

They seem to be concerned about you and your health and with good reason. NIH has sponsored a large study of weight loss surgery and alcoholism. The results are that people who have weight loss surgery are 50% more likely to be alcoholics than they were before surgery. The results were particularly bad for younger people. The increase is startling to me. Presumably, your drinking this time was a one-off, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of the dangers. http://www.nih.gov/n...12/niddk-18.htm

I just want to say for the record to anyone who will listen that I, at age 37, had TOTALLY OVER did it back in June. (I'm still pre sleeve). I swear I haven't been that sick since high school. I swore off drinking alcohol. It was over a month later when I tried again. Mainly to tell my brain that I'm overreacting. I wasnt. Lesson: pre sleevers go on a big bender and develop an aversion. Worked for me :)

No food bothers me and since I already tried it same with alcohol. I sort of wish it did. Now I couldn't drink it down like I normally would but still burn free.

I used it for 3 weeks after surgery. I also used it for 7 months twice a day during pregnancy. Some tips that I learned the hard way.....wait until the alcohol is completely dry.....insert needle quickly (less pain)......push plunger in very very very very slowly (decreases bruising), and do not rub the site at all. It was really no big deal for me, but if takes a little bit to get used to injecting yourself. Good luck!

The reason post surgery it is generally I inadvisable to drink is because alcohol thins the blood which can have a damaging effect on internal stitches and staples which take up to six weeks to heal. After this, there is no risks in drinking alcohol beyond what risks alcohol generally poses to everyone. My surgeon and my NUT recommended the occasional red wine as part of a normal and healthy diet. I have enjoyed an occasional wine since I was six weeks out. I continue to lose weight. A glass of red wine takes 8 minutes moderate jogging to burn off.

Oh the docs advise also included taking my PPI before alcohol

How far post op are you? With beer you have to be wary of carbonation, especially early postop. I've also heard people say that their alcohol resistance was much lower after surgery, so a small amount may have a big effect.

I Understand you shouldn't drink it but what if youre out with the girls and you want a drink? I understand that there is extra calories involved that you shouldnt have with your diet. PS I hate wine! I am a former beer drinker

Everyone's body tends to have a different tolerance level for alcohol. What is important to remember is when we drink, we do responsibly and with an understanding of our bodies limitations. If we know we plan on drinking in excess, then as responsible adults we should have a plan in place prior to doing so for safe transportation home. Sent from my iPad using VST

I didn't have a drain, but my doctor said I had a reaction to the glue from the butterfly tape used to close my incision. Caused me to have major itching. Alcohol on a cotton swab and Benadryl definitely helped relieve it. I'd say err on the safe side and go have it checked out. Good luck to you.

Of course always check with your dr but from reading these posts it seems like every dr has a diff post op diet plan. I had 24 hrs water only, 24 hrs clear fluids, 1 wk full fluids, 1 wk puréed and then 1 week soft and after that everything. There also seems to be a lot of variation with regard to carbonated beverages and alcohol consumption as well between drs.

Remember that alcohol irritates the stomach. I don't drink very often so it's not a big deal for me, but I think it would be a good idea to hold off as long as possible. You don't want to do anything to compromise your stomach, especially during the first 6-8 weeks. Maybe a sip of someone else's drink?