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- Tone! This can make quite a difference, though it won't get rid of all sagging skin. Start weight training as soon as your doctor will let you. - A week out and I have maybe twice. I feel kind of crude saying it, but it was liquid, since I'm only having liquids. My doctor told me if I hadn't gone 5 days post surgery to use a dulcolax suppository (But not the tablets) - My NUT said that Biotin is something I can start taking at 6 weeks to help decrease hair loss. I think the other two kinda hit the nail on the head that it's about nutrition. - I was not required to do a pre-op diet. The surgeon only required Clear Liquids for the day before the surgery and nothing by mouth after mid***ht the ***ht before. - I can't comment on this one. I am not a big alcohol drinker anymore and I've planned to pretty much quit alcohol completely now that I'm post-op. Haven't tried it yet.

I was worried about the same thing. I almost didn't Want to have the surgery becuse of the lifestyle change. I live in New Orleans. Food and alcohol are everything! We talked it out and by the time it came to schedule surgery, he was ready for the lifestyle change. I hope we both become active together. I also hope that eventually, we will be able to eat chargrilled oysters and bread pudding- even if it's just a small taste!

My husband and I just went to Seattle and took a cruise ship to Canada .. I made the mistake of thinking I would not get sea sick and guess what I did .. At first I was just feeling a little crappy but as we spent more time on the bus ride after the cruise it got worse .. I tried to throw up but also so afraid of the slippage .. Of course nothing came up .. I felt so bad .. We ended up going to a pharmacy and I got done stuff called gravol .. Which helped so much .. Got back ok .. But I gotta tell you .. My tummy still isn't feeling great ! I also feel so restricted can't seem to eat anything but a few bites of anything !! So I guess alcohol or just getting sick it's all so scary about slippage and what do you do ???

I had my first drink 3 months post-op, but the buzz lasted only about 5 minutes. When I try to drink 2 drinks I get sick - not like alcohol sick, but my stomach will hurt and I feel awful. I drink wine on occasion but honestly, the whole reason I drank alcohol pre-surgery in the first place was to get wasted. Since that's clearly not happening now, I just don't bother drinking it.

I wish I had not started drinking so soon, I waited 2 months after surgery. I was a big drinker pre-op lots a beer lots and lots, I realize now that was also part of my weight problem. I've now replaced beer with wine or champagne and yes I get drunk quicker which is a problem because I then just want to continue drinking and it could totally ruin my awesome efforts a a low carb low calorie diet. It is a bit hard, having drinks is just such a big part of our lifestyles, finding harder to not drink alcohol than to have given up Soda! One peace of advise, stay away from mixed grittier drinks those are a complete sabotage to our diets

1. Once you've had the surgery, I think you can start strength training like a month after. That should eliminate some saggy skin. 2. I didn't poop AT ALL during my pre-op liquid diet. I was super annoyed by that. Dr. told me to take a stool softener. Which I did and it worked wonders!!! 3. I don't know much about the hair loss thing. I do agree with the above post it is all about nutrition. I've also heard you don't start losing your hair until month 3. To avoid massive amounts of hair loss, I was told to take your multi-vitamins everyday. Some people are told to take a slew of supplements such as Biotin, Calcium, magnesium etc. So I guess that wouldn't hurt either. 4. It could be normal. Some doctors do not requir a pre-op diet at all. But again, you should ask your doctor whether or not he/she requires one and if so how long will it be. The time lengths vary greatly. Some people only do 1 or 2 day(s) of a liquid diet the day before surgery. Others have to do 7 days. Others do two weeks. I've even heard of one person doing 4 weeks!!! Which is insane to me. But, the point is is that each doctor is different and requirements vary. As far as the alcohol. I definitely think you'll need to stay clear from that for a while. You need to focus on getting in all your nutrients through your food & supplements. You shouldn't waste calories on alcohol. I've also heard that your tolerance level for alcohol is completely different. Some people get totally wasted off of one drink! So, again the answers will vary. But I'm sure one day you'll be able to indulge in a nice alcoholic beverage! Good Luck~!!

Alcohol will "feel" different after surgery for most of us in one way or another. I'm one of the ones who found it hit a lot harder than pre-surgery. I also discovered the hard way that it makes it almost impossible to tell how much is actually IN your stomach at a given time--it seems to make things relax to the point that my usual "I'm full" signals don't work very well... I'll leave the rest to your imagination, but it was not pretty and I didn't even get to enjoy a buzz!! LOL As with all things post-sleeve, caution and paying attention to your body are the keys--only problem is that it's difficult to do that with the alcohol working in you. :-) Slow is your best bet.

You were allowed to have alcohol 12 days after your surgery?

Just wondering what everyones experience was like. How much & what did you drink? Did you feel more inebriated than you would have before surgery? How long after surgery did you have your first drink? I'm only 13days post op but I'd really like to have some wine at a wedding in september....I haven't asked my doc how long I have to wait before drinking yet.

Beer actually seems to sit more comfortably for me than soda does. But I still prefer not to drink it because I get all burpy -- which is not hot at a college party! I would try some wine at home and take it slow. I used to be able to throw back 6 beers, 4 shots and then some to get drunk. Now it is 1 shot of alcohol and I am stumbling drunk, this lasts for 10 minutes or so and then I am completely sober. So now I sip mixed drinks -- sugar free of course! This is just like sweets -- some people choose to completely stop drinking and others don't. It is a personal preference and I would do what I wanted to. Everyone has a different answer.

liquids, Protein shakes with ff milk applesauce sf, sf Jello, sf pudding no diet soda or alcohol reg vitamins stopped vitamins a week prior to surgery per dr request (vit e reasons)

I feel compelled to also contribute to this conversation given my background in behavioral health. But first, I must say, I like to enjoy a drink here and there as well But I thought I would share some very interesting research that is out about the increased rates of alcohol addiction of those who have had bariatric surgeries. Something to think about (I know I do and will continue to think about). It makes sense with a smaller stomach. I don't have all the details on it but I find it absolutely intriguing as what we know is that there is a strong genetic factor but with those with bariatric surgery, your risk goes up - even without the genetic factors playing a role (so if they do, I'm sure that it's even higher). Anyway- that's my lil' lecture (actually not trying to be). I JUST told my husband I think one day when I'm ready to have a drink I'll let mine fizz down. I love the Schmirnoff's- Grape. Tastes like Grape Jolly Good pop. But again, I'm not a big drinker. Maybe a handful of times per year at best. The truth is: I'm such a freak and will probably follow doctor's order to a "T" because I'll be too scared to do anything else.

FYI, I found this great explanation of how alcohol is metabolized in the body. If you don't have any chemistry training or background, don't get too bogged down in the first part of the page, it's all chemical symbols, etc. There is a wealth of knowledge later in the page that the average lay person will understand and appreciate though. Some of my favourites (you learn something new every day!): Women: If a woman and a man of the same weight drink the same amount of alcohol under the exact same circumstances, the woman will on the average have a much higher BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) than the man. This is because women have much less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in their stomachs than men do. If the same man and woman are given an injection of alcohol instead of drinking it they will tend to have the same BAC. This is because when the alcohol is injected it bypasses the alcohol dehydrogenase in the stomach. Why You Shouldn’t Drink on an Empty Stomach The surface area of the human stomach is only a couple of square feet, but because the small intestine has protrusions called villi, the surface area of the small intestine is thousands and thousands of square feet. Because of this fact the small intestine is many, many times more efficient than the stomach at absorbing alcohol. If you want the alcohol to be absorbed into the bloodstream slowly so that your BAC will only rise slowly, your best bet is to keep the alcohol in the stomach for as long as possible. This actually can be done. There is a valve between the stomach and the small intestine called the pyloric valve, and when this valve is closed the alcohol will stay in the stomach. This valve stays closed when the stomach is full of food. So this is why eating a full meal helps keep you from becoming rapidly intoxicated. Fatty foods and heavy foods tend to stay in the stomach longer than vegetables or sugars. Bluesman Charlie Patton spoke the truth when he said "If you eat a lot of fat meat you don't get so drunk." This was his formula for maintaining when he played at parties where the booze flowed all ***ht long. Carbonation: Carbonation speeds the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. People drinking carbonated drinks will become intoxicated more quickly and achieve higher BACs than people dinking the same amount of alcohol per hour in the form of non-carbonated drinks. There is, however, a trade-off here because many people drink carbonated drinks more slowly than non-carbonated drinks. Diet Soda: Diet soda interacts with alcohol too, so people who drink mixed drinks made with diet soda will become intoxicated more quickly and achieve higher BACS than people drinking identical drinks made with regular soda. Researchers in Adelaide, Australia found that the stomach emptied into the small intestine in 21.1 minutes for the people who drank mixed drinks made with diet soda. When people drank drinks made with regular soda, the stomach emptied in 36.3 minutes (P <.01). Peak blood alcohol concentration was 0.053 g% for the diet drinks and 0.034 g% with the regular drinks. Alcohol and Blood Sugar Although alcohol may cause a slight rise in blood sugar levels when initially ingested--the overall effect of alcohol is to cause a drop in blood sugar. The more you drink the more the blood sugar drops. Eating before, during or after drinking can help to alleviate this blood sugar drop somewhat. Drinks with lots of carbs like beer or mixed drinks with sugary mixers can lead to blood sugar spikes preceding the blood sugar drop. Because of alcohol's effect on blood sugar people with diabetes are recommended to have no more than one or two standard drinks per day and to avoid drinks high in carbs. Untreated diabetes can lead to severe consequences including blindness, amputation of limbs affected by gangrene and even death--so diabetics are recommended to be especially cautious about their alcohol intake.

My surgeon said no more alcohol. Period. I tend to agree with him: it's empty calories and bad for your health. This whole process is about making lifestyle changes to get you healthy. And despite what the advertisements and the "studies" will have you believe, alcohol is no health drink.

At about 9 weeks out I ordered a glass of red wine. As carbs and calories go, it's about as good as it gets (which doesn't make alcohol a good choice per se!). I drank SUPER slow, and only drank maybe half in a couple hours. I was fine. A little warm at some point, but not falling over drunk. Since then I've had a glass maybe once a week of there's an occasion that calls for it (work dinner, celebration, etc) and no probs and I'm at 11 wks. I did have a ***ht this week where I had nearly three glasses and didn't feel wrecked...but felt crappy enough the next day that I wouldnt do it again. Made me dehydrated and felt like I was catching up on water for days

I'm not gonna make a suggestion about when to drink beer. Mostly because I have already had 2 mixed drinks & 1 bottle of Dr Pepper(well 1/2 of it). So my personal choices have precluded me from making a good recommendation here. What I will say however is, when you do decide to partake in an alcoholic beverage take it SLOW. Before surgery I could easily handle 6 mixed drinks & barely even feel a buzz. I had 2 drinks about 3 weeks ago and I could barely walk.

This is a lot of great information! I agree that it would not hurt to have an occasional drink, but I strongly suggest not drinking beer at this point. The carbonation in the beer would most likely be very painful. I don't drink beer, but I know things that are very fizzy like root beer, cause me a lot of discomfort still and I am 20 months post op. Also, just like bypass patients, alcohol hits our systems a lot faster and harder than a normal person, and it is very easy to get carried away. Through my plan, they actually suggest not drinking alcohol until you have reached goal because it is so high in calories.

My surgeons states no carbonated drinks. Will fill you up quicker, irritate the pouch and eventually stretch it out. . THIS IS what I found on the internet; Surgeons have differing opinions about alcohol use after gastric bypass. Some suggest that it is safest to avoid all alcohol because of the problem of alcohol addiction that may sneak up on individuals. Other surgeons feel that alcohol represents "wasted calories" with no nutritional value. Still others fear that alcohol may be one of the substances that could increase the risk of marginal ulcers. In our practice we have suggested that patients can have an alcoholic beverage once in a while as a treat, but avoid regular use of alcohol. I'm not aware of any research that has documented the percentage of patients who use alcohol regularly say five years after surgery. I think that any gastric bypass patient will realize that alcohol will hit their system much faster and harder than before surgery.

If you feel you are ready to consume alcohol at this point (I would wait, myself), it is strongly suggested that you don't have beer. The carbonation in beer will probably hurt due to the bubbles expanding your stomach, and the acidity due to the carbonic acid in the beer might also make your stomach upset. I tried a Sminoff Ice Light (that's a citrus vodka cooler sweetened with sucralose) a few days ago (I'm about 12 weeks post-op) and I could only drink about 2 sips before it was uncomfortable. It has carbonation and I thought if I took it very slowly, it would be okay. NOT! Plus, truthfully, I didn't really enjoy it at all. Maybe it was because I was feeling stressed that I was drinking something on the "do not do" list (alcohol AND carbonation), and maybe it was because my tastes have changed. And even from just a couple of sips, I felt the "buzz" very quickly and it wasn't a pleasant buzz........ If you really want to try something alcoholic, try something non-carbonated first and see how a few sips sit before you proceed any further. Make sure you're in a place where if you get a bit "buzzed", it's okay (like home or a friend's place). Make sure you don't have to drive anywhere after. Our alcohol tolerance is so low now that the standard 1 drink per hour and you're okay to drive rule doesn't apply to us anymore! And finally, alcohol will significantly contribute to dehydration (which is usually why we feel so bad the next day when hung-over!). Make sure you have lots of Water before your drink, and lots more water after your drink. The last thing you need to do is also get dehyrated, on top of getting tipsy!

I don't see my NUT anymore unless I really need a consult, so I thought I would ask here. I am 11 weeks post op. Feeling great. Off all restrictions. When did you have alcohol the first time? I am well aware that I will only probably be able to drink 1/2 a beer once I drink one, but how long did you wait. I really want a beer. I'm not a big drinker, but I would like to be able to enjoy the occasional beverage.

Soooo speaking of alcohol, I have a few concerns. I was told that I could have a 1/2 shot on my birthday (my 21st bday is aug 6) and that I would get super drunk from it. I tried drinking prior to that (a few days ago) to make sure my body could handle it and that I wouldn't barf on all of my friends. How many shots of 70 proof rum did it take for me to actually get drunk? 5 shots. I took 1 at a time to see what would happen and spread that out 20 mins apart. Every shot (until the 5th) got me kinda sorta tipsy for 5 minutes then I was stone cold sober again. Why didn't I get drunk off a 1/2 a shot like I was told? My alcohol tolerance has not changed AT ALL post op. Rather concerned. - Kaylee Ann ~ Surgiversary: 6/11/12

So sorry for that horrible experience! Yes, the Dr is correct, the band indeed is not meant for things to "come back up" especially from lower stomach. It's only happened once to me (recently) and it was very painful and a HORRIBLE experience, due to alcohol, so I've learned my lesson as well.

It must be very frustrating and disappointing for you knowing that other family members have done well and you are having problems. when you say you are having chicken and drinks... for starters... what sort of drinks? alcohol? have you done a daily count of calories, fats, carbs etc? it could be that you arent getting enough ? just off the top of my head... i would do this, start a daily diary, put down everything that id eaten and work out the food values. do that for a week. also.... if you are having drinks that arent alcohol and are sugar free then they arent the issue. If you are having alcoholic drinks and other drinks with sugar, then thats an issue.

I have only lost around 40 lbs but it drastically changed how I process alcohol which I figured out the really hard way the other night. I used to have very high tolerance for a lot of hard alcohol and every once in a blue moon I would drink quite a bit. I hadn't drank in many months and decided to try it. I only really remember the first few shots but after that things got pretty ugly. I was really sick to my stomach the next day but I was able to not throw up. I'm glad to hear it won't be the end of my band if I do throw up. But yea alcohol is out.

I read the previous post. My NUT does not count sugar alcohols. So I do total carbs minus fiber minus sugar alcohols. It might not make a huge difference in the daily total since not a lot of things have SA but if you eat any SF items on a regular basis it is going to greatly impact your count. I don't know if you use My Fitness Pal but many SF and NSA items you can search for the food with just net carbs, if that is what you count. Ex: ole tortillas net carbs