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So right now I'm post-op, But I've been reading a lot online here and other sources about the onset of acid reflux and GERD after Bariatric surgery. My concern is that my family (on my father's side) has a history of horrible heart burn and GERD, but they also have a history of bad eating habits and smoking/drinking too excess (lots of alcoholics), My grandfather also died of throat cancer and my father followed a year later due to lung cancer. Though I've never suffered any sort of acid reflux or heart burn related issue outside of "once in a great while" if I eat something specific. Is GERD as big of a problem for post-op patients as I hear it is?, or is the Internet just trying to scare me out of getting the sugery? Do any of you suffer horribly from GERD? Is it something you had before surgery or is it something that came with it?

How long did u guys wait to have alcohol? I really want a glass of wine.

This what I found.. I just don`t get Kaiser. NIH Requirements for Weight Loss Surgery The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is considered one of the world's foremost medical research centers. The NIH has set patient criteria for weight loss surgery which states that eligible patients should have a BMI of 40 or higher (morbidly obese) or a BMI of at least 35 with co-morbidities (obesity related health conditions) such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, high cholesterol, or hypertension (high blood pressure)and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.. Eligible patients must also have attempted and failed at previous weight loss efforts and need to pass a psychiatric evaluation to be recommended for weight loss surgery.

Well, keep in mind my experience was in Tijuana. My husband and I were met quickly at the airport and driven to the Marriott hotel without incident. Our room was not ready because we were early, which was fine, but as the hours ticked by, we were never approached by our coordinator who was supposed to meet with us. I had to continue asking hotel staff if they knew where he was as we needed to hear the arrangements for the surgery. Finally a hotel staff person pointed him out and we were able to connect. The next morning again I had to keep asking how/when/what shuttle bus was going to transport us to the hospital. If I hadn't been vocal and hadn't asked numerous questions, I am pretty sure we would have missed some or all connections. Again, the hospital staff was easy to work with and I did not feel nervous that mistakes would be made. (Except in the middle of the night I needed additional pain medication and had to hunt for help as the nurses' station was empty. I found her asleep in an unused room) The day we get back to the hotel, we needed to go down the street to Walmart to get Protein shakes and other items that my stomach could tolerate and was dropped off by our coordinator who gave us a time of his return and the spot that he could find us. We waited and waited and it was evening and getting cold and I needed to lie down in the room when we spotted Raul walking toward us in the mall with another woman that had surgery. Raul asked if we could wait longer as he was going to walk this woman to the local liquor store and back. My husband protested as he knew how tired I was, but I told them to go ahead if it would not be too much longer. (and aren't we not supposed to drink alcohol for 6 weeks?) By the time they returned we were exhausted and cold. The next day, I was tired and apprehensive to have Raul drop us in 'downtown Tijuana' so we asked to stay back at the room and rest that day if we could make the trip the following day and was told that would be just fine. But in the morning, we were told that there was only one morning van available to transport us to the airport. (consequently, we had a 9 hour wait for our flight home in the San Diego airport) Hope this helps, and again, I am glad I had the surgery and the Doctors were very professional and courteous.

Main reasons: 1) Empty calories- inhibit weight loss, leads to dehydration/water retention 2) Our livers are already working overtime in the rapid weight loss stage, why put more crap in there for it to process??? Your body has been through hell and is going through so many physiological changes that alcohol can contribute to even more issues during your weight loss phase. 3) Transfer addiction- Take away the ability eat through your emotions, pick up a bottle and start drowning the issues in a bottle I was only required to wait 3 months. However, I didn't drink until I was at goal. I knew going in that I was not willing to suffer any consequences from having alcohol early out. I was too focused on getting to goal, and getting healthy. However, many people start drinking earlier, and suffer no ill effects. We trusted our surgeons to amputate the majority of a major organ, I figure we should trust them on what we put in our bodies post-op. Here are some other topics that have been shared over time here on this subject: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/22739-another-alcohol-question/page__p__191944__hl__alcohol__fromsearch__1#entry191944 http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/22435-alcohol-carbonated-bevs/page__p__189205__hl__alcohol__fromsearch__1#entry189205 http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/19240-sugaralcohol/page__p__162127__hl__alcohol__fromsearch__1#entry162127

So just wondering why its so long to have a drink. I've been drying for just a small glass of wine. Work has been super stressful, well let me rephase that- LIFE has been super stressful. UGH. Any help would be great!

I used alcohol pads and that seemed to do the trick. I remember how bad that was. I had my surgery in August and thought it had something to do with heat but with AC on, that still didn't help. I feel for you. Try not to think about it. Sent from my iPad using VST

I think odds are you will be able to live a normal, if more moderate, lifestyle after the surgery. You're right that your 12 pack days are over though - my husband, though never a big drinker, will nurse a beer for about 2 hours now, it takes him that long as its filling becuase of the bubbles. The other thing with alcohol is that you have to be careful after you've had a few, you're attention to the way you eat lapses and its prime time for a huge vomiting episode if you shove something down your throat without chewing. Even though you've got a band, after four or five drinks a hot dog or kebab at 2 am still sounds mighty good. But you just cant do it. But I think at your age, you'll be able to fit in still wihilst being mature enough to know your limits.

I've posted in here several times about the equilibrium (vertigo like) issues I share with a VSG patient friend. Long story short, I called one of my doctors numbers to get a coordinator who said she experience the same thing and it turned out to be a stomach ulcer! No pain, no abnormal gas, just dizziness a day or 2 after having alcohol. I am wondering how common stomach ulcers are after VSG, what your experiences were like, and how common they are for us? I imagine a lack of pain could certainly be due to a lack of nerve endings- we now have scar tissues where our stomachs were cut! But the dizziness is an odd thing to experience all on it's own.

I've just seen something about no alcohol for 3 months after surgery. Is this true?

I'm a lot more nervous than what I had originally thought. I have been researching this, going to my pre-op appointments now and thought I knew a lot about the sleeve. From what I understood tonight... 1) I'll have to take B12 sub-lingual supplements 2) Must take 2 Multivitamins a day, possibly Calcium supplements as well 3) NO using a straw for a long time 4) I knew no soda or alcohol ever again, but I didn't know coffee was also restricted! This makes me most nervous...The nurse talked about having to drink enough to hydrate and with a cup of coffee it'll be 2 cups of Water just to replenish the coffee-dehyration. I can definitely give up coffee pre-op, for some time post-op but forever??? 5) You have to get in 50-70grams of Protein a day...but they can't be any kinds of Proteins. The only proteins that contain the full 7 amino acids needed by our body are fish, chicken, beef, pork and eggs. Other things like Peanut Butter have protein but not all "full" proteins. So does this mean only eat chicken, fish, eggs etc? And is it egg white or whole eggs? What about hummus? 6) Only able to drink an ounce of water at a time...but still need to get all that water in? 7) Not to graze, have 3 meals a day but eat slowly and you have to learn what real hunger and feeling full feels like--and while doing this you might eat too much or too fast and feel like you're going to have a heart attack... 8) If you eat fatty foods, you might not only have diarrhea, you could profusely sweat, heart palpitations etc 9) She said ice cream, chocolate, cake etc never again Those of you who are at least a few months or a year out, would you say this is all pretty accurate? I still want the surgery but really want to know what I'm getting myself into completely. Also, is it a good idea to cut off water while eating now while I'm pre-op?

I had been sober for 9 years before weight loss surgery. Everyone told me I had to be careful after surgery and really protect my sobriety. About 3 months after surgery I ended up relapsing and almost died. Like literally almost died, had to be taken to the ER in an ambulance. I have since regained sobriety but it has been very hard. You have two choices, continue to drink like an alcoholic and see where that takes you or get into a program of recovery. I got sober in AA and I know the program works if you are committed to it. Ultimately it’s your choice and no one else’s. If you choose to keep drinking then more power to you. No one can make you get sober.

Good warning. About 4months post op I had t the tiniest glass of wine at my sister's 40th wedding anniversary...oh it burned! Later, after getting to goal, I allowed alcohol as a social treat. I made a mistake one night, opened a nice red to have and essentially blacked out on 2 glasses. Yeah , I forgot to eat. I am 4 years post op and do drink socially but the key is food. Empty baby tummy plus booze is a bad idea!!

I’m heading to Juarez to get sleeved by Dr Rod next week. I’m a little worried, because I do consume more alcohol than I should, but I think I’ll be ok. I had the orbera balloon last year and lost about 20 lbs, but gained it back as soon as they took it out. I’m excited and nervous for this surgery! I’m just looking forward to getting my confidence back. Anyone else going to be at hospital Angeles next week?

I was banded Feb. 24th 2010 and I am down a total of 86lbs!!!!! I went in to the surgeon today and the nurse looked at me and looked at my chart and smiled, she said she has never seen anyone lose as much weight this fast before, I was grinning from ear to ear, and actually proud of myself. The kicker is as of this moring I have had only 1 fill that was last month and the only thing in my band is 1.5cc in a 10cc band, I was down 25lbs from the 27th of arpril until today. I started the surgery day at 338 and at the visit I was at 252 with 40 more to go. I really thought about doing it with no fills but I think as conservative as my Dr. is it will take awhile to get restriction and hopefully I can get all the weight off and by then I can use the band to "maintain" a normal weight for once. I am happy I made this decision and I can honestly say it has been tough not eating what I "can" or want but what I should eat and I have not had one piece of bread, tortilla, alcoholic beverage(heavy drinker before surgery) candy, or anything I would have eaten before. I cant believe it but there are days I eat an entire POUND of baby carrots and still lose weight the next day, I do work out very hard at the gym and I try to get at least 2.5-3 miles on the eliptical 5-6 times a day and weight training some. If there is a day I feel I have eaten a little to many pretzels or fruit I will burn a few more cal. at the gym. I want to thank everyone here, I did ALL of my research on this site and it mentally prepaired me for the journey I am on, I knew before surgery that it would not work with out effort and willpower from myself and thank everyone here again!!!!!!! It can be done:biggrin::biggrin:

You can have juice in moderation. No need to panic. The concern is the sugar content with juice. I was allowed juice in moderation during my losing stage, and I drank juice here and there when nothing else tasted "good". As for alcohol consumption, there are 100's of topics here on the subject. Here's a link with many topics that include alcohol, beer, soda, carbonation: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1 I was released for alcohol at 3.5 months post-op. Tried Riesling wine the first time (after 6 months out and at goal), got drunk hard and fast, it wore off fast. I drink soda every day without any change in my sleeve capacity and have zero issues maintaining my weight loss. It's what works for me. As for alcohol, you'll need to check with your surgeon on their guidelines. Some surgeons release early, others say "None until at or close to goal". It's wasted calories, and can cause dehydration. My alcohol tolerance is just like it was before pre-op so I can drink just like I did before surgery without hangovers.

Well, it gives a different view on things. The author herself had years of therapy that didn't do zilch for her bingeing. She refers a lot to "Rational Recovery", a book that was written for people addicted to alcohol.

I find the puree stage to be boring for me. I love my liquid (no alcohol or carbonated drinks). The food is not enjoyable. I prefer shakes and water. I try very hard to remember not to drink with my meals or after. I love my sugar free lime popsicles as we as other frozen sugar free. I feel kinda stuck on the food part. Is cheese ok?? Im a cheesehead-Wisc girl here. Im used to making sandwiches and now no more. I cant wait till I start using romaine lettuce in my diet. I now know what full feels like. Im good at stopping once Im full. I do soups quite a bit. Suggestions? Thanks, this board is very helpful and interesting. Im learning a lot from you guys!!

Lol. Alcohol is known for enlarging the liver..hmm can you have it when trying to shrink your liver and prepare for surgery? Glad you asked as its easy for no one to mention it in the pre op chat as it can be assumed as obvious. But good to ask. No drinking for a while. depending on plan.

In my arsenal at the moment is - a Feather all stainless razor Mitchell's Wool Fat shave soap. I'm addicted to this stuff. The best soap / cream I've ever used. It has icon status amongst wet shavers. It comes in a ceramic bowl with a loose cake of soap. I grate mine and then press it back into shape so it forms to the bowl. I have always used an alum block. I don't use it anymore, since starting to use Wool Fat. I have a pot of Trumper Coconut Oil cream that I use instead of Wool Fat sometimes. But I always got back to the Fat. Post shave I slap on some Trumper Sandalwood Skin food. It's a great as a soothing aftershave. I'm anti aftershaves containing alcohol.

Welcome! I just got sleeved on the 7th of June. These boards are wonderful and the people are amazing, supportive, informative and helpful! I gave up caffeine before also and soda...(didn't completely give up alcohol...). It is great you are getting in good habit now. A great one to start is to carry a water bottle and get to where you wouldn't leave it at home....I tried to make mine like my cell phone...don't be far from it. After surgery you will find it is the times you wouldn't think of to sip,sip,sip that helps you get it in...(in the car, line for groceries, waiting for kids...ect). Good luck! This is a great gift to yourself!!!

I'd be willing to bet that a lot of it has to do with insurance. I do also realize that food addiction is a real thing however no one's going to have a seizure because they didn't get their Ben & Jerry's. Where is a hard-core alcoholic going through withdrawal could have life-threatening seizures. So the physical dependence on drugs and alcohol does make medical rehab a little more necessary. I too used to think that weight loss surgery was taking the easy way out. Now that I'm going through it I think it is anything but an easy way out. Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevers!Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is officially underway! Filled with holiday shopping, festivities at work and spending time with friends and family, this time of year is can be the most rewarding. It can be hectic, too, so paying extra attention to your diet and health is even more important than usual. Use this newsletter as a reminder and some motivation to be extra cautious with your choices so that you can keep seeing the results you want from your weight loss journey. Here’s what’s coming up in this newsletter. Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! Member Challenge: Activate Your Party Action Plan! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends We know the hustle and bustle of this season make your life busy, but we hope you spend part of your holiday season with us at SleevePlicationTalk.com! Our members are what make the forums so encouraging and valuable. While you’re there, feel free to contact us about anything. We love hearing from members! Enjoy the newsletter. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Member Spotlight: Still Searching! Please post in the Member Spotlight forum if you want to be featured in the newsletter’s member spotlight section or if you want to nominate another member. If you prefer, you can also send Alex Brecher a private message telling us that you want to be featured. Everyone has a great story to share. Thanks! Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! The holiday season is challenging for all people who’re trying to control their weight, and it’s even tougher for weight loss surgery patients. You’re not just concerned about weight loss. You’re changing your lifestyle, and staying on track takes a lot of effort. If your surgery was recent, you’re still getting used to your new eating patterns and food choices. Holiday parties can interfere with your best intentions to stay on track. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, parties can be regular events at work and the homes of family and friends. Frequently overeating can not only derail your weight loss, but also lead to surgery-related complications, such as feeling overly full or dumping syndrome. Whether you’re a weight loss surgery veteran or this is your first holiday after getting the surgery, these tips can help you enjoy the holiday parties without doing damage to your diet. Eat before you go. You don’t want to go into the party on an empty stomach. If you’re starving when you get to the party, you might be tempted to grab whatever’s available – which probably won’t be that healthy. Enjoy the party. The holidays should be about appreciating people. Use parties as opportunities to spend time with coworkers and other people who mean a lot to you. Focus on enjoying the party, not on hiding yourself in the food. Take care of yourself. Make sure there’s something at the party that you can eat. One option is to pack a high-Protein snack or two for yourself and eat it when it’s time for your regular meal or snack. You can also take a healthy dish for the host to serve at the party. Sip Water. Carrying a glass of water around gives you something to do without adding any calories to your day. Another benefit of drinking water is that you know you shouldn’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking fluids. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a source of calories that you just don’t need. Worse yet is that it lowers your inhibition. That means that you’re less likely to resist unhealthy holiday foods. Member Challenge: Activate Your Holiday Action Plan! This newsletter’s challenge is related to our advice on holiday parties. The challenge is to choose a specific strategy designed to get you through the holidays without interfering with your weight loss goals. You can take one of the suggestions listed above, or choose your own. Some other ideas are to keep healthy Snacks at work so you’re not tempted by unhealthy snacks and to record each treat that you eat in your food record instead of pretending that it doesn’t count. Tell us in the Member Challenge Forum how you complete the challenge! Was it easy or difficult? What tips do you have for other SleevePlicationTalk.com members? We also want to know anytime you go back and complete an old Newsletter Challenge, which you can find in the archived Newsletter Forum. It’s never too late to try a Newsletter Challenge! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends As we close out 2012, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member. We truly appreciate your support. We value each member, whether you post many times a day and use all of SleevePlicationTalk.com’s many features, or whether you log in infrequently to read just a few posts. You, the members, are essential to SleevePlicationTalk.com’s success, so a heartfelt thank-you to each of you! 2012 has seen rapid increases in the number of members, the beginning of regular newsletters and the launch of mobile apps to access all of the forum’s features. Big plans are in the works for the coming year, and it promises to be an exciting ride. We’re glad to have you on board! Of course, we’re always open to member suggestions, so please feel free to contact any board administrator. That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it was inspirational and helpful. Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and take care of yourself and each other, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Sex - when you feel up to it. Alcohol - on your dr's advice.

I am still awaiting approval for my surgery but from everything I've read and heard is that you really dont want to waste the caloric intake on an alcoholic beverage. I could be wrong but they are rather high in calories. Good luck on your surgery.