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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 read on here (I think) that holding an alcohol swab under your nose helps get rid of nausea. I tried it in the hospital and it definitely worked for me. I keep a couple of the little swab packets handy and open one and wave it under my nose whenever I need to alleviate nausea. Now that I'm 5 days post op, the need to use them has diminished significantly.

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'm sure you hear this all the time, but let me start by saying you are an awesome parent to know you needed this surgery to be there for your babies. ((((HUGS)))) to you on that. With that being said, I currently have the Lap Band that I am having LOADS of problems with. My husband also has the band and has lost 20 pounds in 5 years, he can still eat the "old way". I believe once I recover he too will convert to this surgery once our insurance decides it's cheaper than all the problems associated with the Band or RNY. As far as your food issues. What really helped me when I was going through my "withdrawals" from food was to really tell mysel that "The Colonel", "pizza, Pizza Dude", "The Golden Arches and all of them had done me WRONG. Basically they were all slowly killing me and taking me away from my friends and family. Why would I stay with a friend who continually hurt me physically? I wouldn't and neither would you. So if food is your friend then why would it hurt you so much? I understand correctly eating food isn't like alcohol or drugs or cigarettes you have to eat to live. But that's just it, you eat to live not live to eat. They did surgery on your tummy not your head. And until you get to a point and you will that you realize all the awesome benefits you get from giving up the beast that has hurt you so badly over the years you will feel this way. You've lost 23 pounds so far which is amazing. Your ticker says you want to lose 95 more pounds. I would be willing to bet within the next few months you will be almost half way to the remaining goal of 95 pounds. Write down a list of things that you want to do that has nothing to do with your scale weight. Such as taking your kiddos on a roller coaster, fiting into a regular airline seat w/o an extention, bending over to tie a shoe without feeling like you can't breathe, etc. Basically write out all your Non-Scale Victories and put that on your refigerator. When you start "missing" food look at the chart and by all means mark through each goal as you achieve it. Doing that will keep you motivated. As a single parent I would be willing to bet if it came down to doing something for the kids or yourself the kids would win everytime! Well you are doing this for yourself but also for your KIDS. They will have an even more awesome and interactive dad than they have ever had. You developing a closer relationship with your kids will fill the "void" you my feel without that extra food. YOU CAN DO THIS. You may also want to write down a list of everything you hate about being obese. This will give you an actual list of how your old friend aka food has "done you wrong". Perhaps this will make you miss it all the less. Another suggestion is to take up a new hobby or two that has absolutely NOTHING to do with food. Also when you go to visit folks, be there for the company, NOT the food. You are there for adult interaction, not whatever is there to eat. That's a hard one I had problems with that one for a long time because nobody ever serves others nasty food. lol. Take care my friend and remember you are never alone here. I sincerely wish you and yours the best.

i still have it, i use sugar free breath drops, and trader joes has some great sugar free mint that are strong and i like em. i also keep mouthwash in my office as well as toothbrush etc. but mints and the sugar free drops help a lot. i use the mouthwash without alcohol, i dont need to burn my mouth out lol. good luck.

It's finally official- I've lost 100 lbs since November (60 before VSG and 40 after)! Buh-Bye don't care to see you ever again!!! Now I still have a long way to go but got to Celebrate big milestones like this! Woo Hoo! I want to reward myself with little things so I bought a nice watch to signify my 100lbs. Don't want to celebrate with anything food or alcohol related as I would've before and I don't want to buy clothes right now so a watch it is! What do you reward yourself with when you hit a milestone or once at goal?

I think you should go. You can put Protein powder in a Water bottle and even add the water to it for the ride. I think it will dissolve fine. Tea bags or crystal light can be added at the brewery. Beer was my choice of alcohol and at 3 months out I still don't think I would enjoy one. I may try a sip once I get the guts for carbonation. Maybe there will be a soup you can have or a mashed potato so you don't feel totally left out. Good luck and enjoy! It sounds like a fun outing! Sent from my iPad using VST

Food has been one of the main things in our society for many, many years. When people used to go visit they would take a desert or some dish. No matter when you went to visit they always had to get you something to eat. I guess the way I look at it is that most if not all things revolve around food and alcohol. If I am going to a party or out to dinner I try and plan on what I will be having or take something with me for the party that I know that I can have and not abuse my intake for the evening. When going out I always try and look at the menu online to see what I can order in advance. All of my friends know that buffet meals are out for me as I can not eat that much food and I am not paying the cost for a piece of meat, a veggie and a little potato. You need to get involved in different clubs such as a running club, kntting group. scrapbooking or something where you can keep your hands busy with something other than shoveling food from a plate to your mouth. I know that when I sit and watch TV and see all of the food commercials I try to have something to do with my hands like a crossword or putting photos into an album or emailing etc.

uh I think not.... but if it makes you sick, you probably won't try it again. All the sugar free products usually have sugar alcohols that act like sugar in your system........ I won't even try that and it's not low in calories either.. Now the question is.... could you just eat one..... I probably couldn't ....at least before surgery.

Does anyone know how long the effects of alcohol stay in your blood stream after gastric bypass? I can't remember and I am going out for an after work drink next week with some co-workers and wondering how long I should wait to drive. I know that normally it is a drink an hour, but not sure if that is the same after surgery. I am 8.5 months out and will probably drink a glass of wine which I have tried and can tolerate fine.

I was told no alcohol for at least three months. You are still healing from surgery; I'd pass on the wine.

What about nitequil. I know it has alcohol in it but can I still do that? Stephanie

I have been 'writing' my life's journey for a little over 47 years. Early this year (2015) I finally admitted to myself that I need help to get to a healthy me. I'm 5' 4" and 225 pounds, I just called myself thick and sexy. Truth is I have been the least healthy in the past 8 years than in my entire life. I am a married mother of 3 or 4 (31, 24 and 19 yr old children and a 22-month old Chiweenie). Retired USAF, after 24 yrs (1987-2011). I, like most on this journey, put everything and everyone before myself. Since my Mother's passing, in 2006 (she was only 57 and passed from obesity-related complications), I have totally lost the focus and drive that kept me moving forward. My life came to, what felt like, a screeching halt. My health plummeted ... migraines, sciatica, Fibromyalgia, Nueropathy, anxiety, depression you name it, i had it. Narcotics and epidurals for physical pain, antidepressants, alcohol and food for the pain one cannot see. I was not aware that once forward momentum halts, all those life issues that one had so far 'successfully' out run (and not properly dealt with) catch up with a fury. Don't get me wrong, my life is no more difficult nor easier than anyone else's. But this post, unlike anything else in my life, is just about me. My feelings about myself (which were always positive) began to take a negative direction. So when I realized I was avoiding photos, social media and sometimes reality itself I decided to deal with my issues and stop running in place. Luckily, my earlier life decisions (USAF) allowed me to easily access the medical and mental health assistance that I desperately needed and still use today. My decision to have gastric bypass surgery was all mine. No one else, in my life, (well maybe my Dr) even thought I was 'overweight.' I'm Puerto Rican - and culturally, we tend to accept thickness with age. (See, I still call it anything but 'obesity!) When I asked my Dr for the referral (April 2015) he was all for it. When I finally received the insurance approval, in August, I sat there with my mouth wide opened as I read the document that brought it all home for me. There were two words on that document that stood out as if the font size were different, in bold, underlined and followed with many exclamation points although that was not the case. 'Morbidly Obese' As the oldest living female in my family (at 47 yrs old), I was following in the same footsteps as all the strong, wise, loved (albeit unhealthy) women who died way before their time. That's when I knew I had certainly made the best decision for myself and my family. My 24 yr old got married last year (2014) after graduating college and moved away with her Army husband. My 31 yr old got engaged and moved away less than a month later. He just married earlier this month and blessed my life with news of my first grandchild due in Spring next year. My 19 yr old realizes how good he has it and will need to be put out of our home by brute force. (That goes for my Chiweenie too!) My husband is 6' 4" and loves me 'no matter what' he just repeatedly tells me, "You'd better not die on me! I couldn't take it." All of them are reason enough for my decision to have this surgery in 2 days. But the truth is, I am having this surgery for me. My health, my life, my happiness and of course my life's next great chapter.

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?

Last cruise I went on was in 2011. I was doing Atkins hardcore, but ate well during the cruise. Drank enough rum & beer to sink the ship. 7 days of this. I weighed in at my gym the day after I got home. I'd lost 5 lbs during the 7 day cruise. My secret was to avoid eating any carbs.....my only carbs came from the alcohol. Every morning......every single morning found me in the ships gym doing an hour of cardio and lifting weights. I was in BEAST mode and having a ball. Going on another in March-April.....obviously a post-sleeve cruise. Probably going to book it on the same ship since I know they have a great gym.

To help with nausea sniff alcohol pads.....I've been to the point it was just about to come up....sitting in front of trash can waiting and smelling those alcohol pads....works immediately Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

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!

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.

Going on vacation next week any suggestions?

This article was published in Prevention and I thought I would share it with y'all. Artificial sweetners - and the snacks and drinks that contain them are gobbling up ever more supermarket shelf space. Engineered to be much sweeter than sugar, these substances add flavor minus the calories. Here's the lowdown from the FDA and other sources. Name: Saccharin (Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin, Sweet'N Low Brown, Necta Sweet) What is it? Chemical derived from coal tar Caveats - FDA approved, but a study suggested a link to bladder cancer. Daily Limit? Yes: 12 packets Name: Aspartame - NutraSweet, Equal What is it? Combination of amino acids Caveats - None Daily Limit? - Yes: 74 packets, or 22 cans of diet soda Name: Sucralose - Splenda What is it? Compound of sucrose (sugar) and chlorine Caveats - None Daily Limit? - Yes: 28 packets Name: Acesulfame Potassium - Sunett, Sweet One What is it? Combo of potassium, sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen Caveats: FDA approved, but a few animal studies suggest a link to cancer Daily Limit? Yes: 20 packets, or 30 cans of diet soda Name: Sugar Alcohols - sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol What is it? Sugar combined with hydrogen, which hinders digestion Caveats - None Daily Limit? No, but large amounts may cause gas or bloating Name: D-Tagatose - Naturlose What is it? Milk-based sugar altered to hinder digestion Caveats: None Daily Limit? No, but large amounts may cause gas or bloating

Great info Betty! Name: Sugar Alcohols - sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol What is it? Sugar combined with hydrogen, which hinders digestion Caveats - None Daily Limit? No, but large amounts may cause gas or bloating How true. I ate some sorbitol in s/f turtles about a month ago - nearly killed me from the gas!

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!!

Oh yes!! Some even dump on sugar alcohols. It depends on your system how long it lasts. Be careful. :-)