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Here is a study that agrees with a another study I can't find. "The early postoperative gastric volume was 108 +/- 25 ml (80-120 ml) and 116.2 +/- 78.24 assessed with barium sulfate and CAT scan, respectively. The gastric capacity at the late control increased to 250 +/- 85 and 254 +/- 56.8 assessed with the same techniques. However, patients remained stable with a BMI close to 25 without regain of weight at least at the time of observation." So in other words it went from about 4 oz to 8 oz. Big fat hairy deal right? Some will call this significant, but even at 50% you still are left with 1 cup or 8 fl. oz. or so. Just don't overeat or eat around your sleeve (slider foods, alcohol, drink with meals, etc.) get your eating habits under control during the first year and make sure you are eating healthy. Oops, forgot the link: http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19533260 Here is another interesting study. I can believe that dilation would not lead to weight regain because there is still plenty of restriction http://www.weightlos...astrectomy.html

I can see how that would miff anyone that really wants this. Just consider: There are plenty of people out there who really are not good matches for this type of surgery. I see them in my doctor's support groups. People halfway or all the way to goal who have gained the weight back. The sleeve is great, but it still takes a gargantuan level of self control to not eat around the sleeve. I still want macaroni and cheese and bread and Pasta, but like an alcoholic I can't take the one sip or bite sometimes. Most of the time I am in control, but I have binged once or twice after surgery and it scared me. You can't eat as much, but there are foods called sliders that go right through. Alcohol goes right through and is loaded with calories. I DO get hungry especially when I hike, but I have noticed that I eat less, because I'm doing something. I have learned that I eat more when I'm reading or just sitting around. I wasn't hungry for the first couple of months, but it does come back in varying degrees. We want everyone to succeed.

Interesting read. ABC News video link at bottom of page. LA Times By Thomas H. Maugh II June 18, 2012, 12:11 p.m. A major new study confirms previous sporadic reports that weight-loss surgery increases the risk of alcohol abuse, researchers reported Monday. In the second year after having a gastric bypass, technically known as Roux-en-Y surgery, patients were 30% more likely to have problems controlling their alcohol use, a team reported online in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. and at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Previous reports have suggested that alcohol abuse could be a problem following bariatric surgery, but the studies have been small and generally involved collecting data at some point after the procedure. In the new study, a team led by epidemiologist Wendy C. King of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine began studying 2,458 adults before they underwent bariatric surgery at one of 10 hospitals. Of those, 1,945 could be monitored for one to two years after the procedure. The team found that 7.6% of the patients suffered from alcohol-abuse disorders (abuse and dependence) in the year before the surgery. At the end of one year after the procedure, the percentage was about the same, 7.3%. But by the end of the second year, the prevalence of such disorders had climbed to 9.6%, a 30% increase. Virtually all of the increase occurred in patients who had undergone gastric bypass, with no increase among the roughly 30% of patients who had a banding procedure. Some research suggests that the increase in problems arises because the metabolism of alcohol changes after gastric bypass. "Given a standardized quantity of alcohol, patients reach a higher peak alcohol level [in the bloodstream] after surgery compared with case-controls or their pre-operative levels," the team wrote. In other words, bypass patients get drunk faster and with smaller amounts of alcohol. The excessive drinking may be a greater problem for bariatric surgery patients because alcohol abuse can affect vitamin and mineral status and liver function, which are already potential problems for the surgery patients, King said. She urges clinicians to perform a better job of screening patients for abuse before surgery and to offer counseling to help them combat the problem. ABC VIDEO LINK: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/gastric-bypass-fuel-alcoholism-16600168

Alcohol is on my surgeon's list of things to avoid because it's empty calories. I think I had a little wine at about 3 months out and I've had a glass of wine here and there since then. Maybe 5 times since surgery? The odd thing is I feel slightly hung over the next day. Every time I've experienced this mild "hung over" feeling. I'm not much of a drinker so it's not a big deal to me to skip it but if someone's going to pour me a good glass of wine I'll probably take it! Six weeks out seems early to me though, but I'm not a Dr!

Before surgery, I committed to my surgeon no alcohol for 6 months. I am not a big drinker, but have had a few happy hours I couldn't have a drink. In my mind, it's worth it. But, I am counting down until Oct 24th!

I am six weeks out and my Nut sat not to drink because she has seen too many people, especially early in post op, that have had severe liver complications due to drinking soon after getting sleeved. This is due to an average higher alcohol blood count than usual which is harder for liver to process. I would say just because you think or feel you can tolerate it, you will end up taxing your other organs instead. Let your body heal and adjust before adding in toxins it has to try and filter on top of already trying to heal and repair tissue. It will also dehydrate you. I just came back to home town and was with all my old friends and family at the old hang out bar/grill and I sipped on ice water all night and I had a great time. It's not worth it, take control of your entire health and body. Take care of all your organs, not just the stomach.

Just curious ask to how long it is suggested to wait before trying a sip of a drink? One of my best friends is getting married in a couple weeks and I know I'm definitely staying from champagne.

I had the sleeve last November. I'm 22 and in college as well. It was a little hard at first because I had some issues but now I almost feel normal. It's weird sometimes because some people comment about how little I'm eating, especially when I go out with my friends. I never was a drinker before surgery, so it wasn't particularly hard to give up alcohol. Though, I have to admit that when I went down to New Orleans (I was more than 6 months post-op), I did have a (read: ONE) daiquiri while in a bar on Bourbon Street. How could I not fully enjoy the New Orleans experience? Granted I was way buzzed and giddy after just one and it took me an hour to drink it, but hey, at least I found out that if I want a drink every now and then, it's not going to kill me. That has been the only drink I've had since surgery. Let me know if you want to talk or have any questions!

You're not going to stretch your sleeve with liquids only, so long as you don't keep drinking until you're in serious pain. Then you wouldn't stretch it, the damage would be much worse. I keep saying that I think we should all be required to have some mental therapy before and after surgery because there is so much mental work to be done after any WLS. Not just about food, but about body image and how to deal with other people. I seriously ate my problems before surgery. Now that I can't do that, I'm getting feedback from some of the problem-causers that I have an attitude problem. I've been talking to a therapist about this, because I try to be pleasant. What I'm learning is that pleasant does NOT have to mean doormat. That's just as an example of what I'm talking about above. We don't have a lot of choice but to deal with the issues that we used food to self-medicate before, unless we want to step into crossover addictions like drugs and alcohol. I've always wanted a clear head, so I'm having to really work on my issues. However, the work is worth it in the long run. As for being successful, you'll be just as successful as you want to be. There is definitely work to be done post-op, though. There is nothing easy about WLS, IMO.

Ur 5 days out of surgery and consuming alcohol mixed with fattening coffee mix?

I'm not on any prescribed meds, therefore never really thought about this before...Do we need to decrease the doses of meds, such as over the counter meds (ie benadryl, tylenol, motrin)??? I know with alcohol the absorbtion rate is quicker, was wondering if anyone had input on this??

I am 7 weeks post today and just drank my first beer last week. I had a Guinness and tolerated it pretty well. It's not nearly as carbonated as typical beers, so gas/bloating wasn't an issue. I will say that even with it's low alcohol content, I felt it after just one glass. At this point I definitely wouldn't want more than one at a time.

I am a lite drinker, I drink vodka maybe once or twice a month and I was wondering if that would be a problem, I didn't want to ask my surgeon because I didn't want him to think I am a drunk lol.

TNT, does the fizzy-ness of the beer effect you as well as the alcohol? I've read on other threads that a lot of bandits have trouble with fizzy drinks. What is the consequence of this? Is it just gas or PBs?

I was pretty much told none after surgery. My doc even went as far as to tell me to find a new alcoholic beverage because I was a bud light kind of girl. However, his nurse (who has been sleeved and is tiny) always has a Sonic drink of soda with her so I thinkit's more or less how tolerable it is to each individual.

Just double check with your surgeon. I would think that as long as you are past the 6 week mark you'll be okay. But be really, really careful. Alcohol is absorbed WAY faster now! It will hit you faster and stronger than it did before! Plus, you won't really be eating much food. Have fun!

I'd recommend checking with your NUT or surgeon. Everybody is different so you want to make sure they're okay with it. Alcohol can be tough on the stomach.

I am 2 months out, and had alcohol for the first time this weekend. I turned 40, and wanted to be able to have a glass of wine....so I did. No problems fortunately.

I'll be a month out of surgery on Tuesday. And I was wondering is it possible to drink a little alcohol? I turned 21 about 6 months ago, and HONESTLY, I'm not a big drinker to begin with, truly. I would just like to sip on a frozen drink throughout the night of the 4th. What do you think?

aspirin, alcohol, sugar, B12 & whey Protein gets absorbed directly from the stomach thru the lining. everything else gets dumped into your small intestines and is absorbed in there.

Transferring of addictions. We go from food to alcohol. Or drugs, or sex. Just something to take it's place.

Its a personal choice for everyone as to what they eat, and with restriction the band will help with how much you eat. If u are happy to take a chance u might put on weight or lose but very slowly before u hit the green zone then u can carry on eating bread/ processed foods or junk foods like pizza . To me its food like that that got most people to the point where they needed a band .. Isnt it like thinking its ok for an alcoholic to have a small drink each day ? Some of you of course will be able to eat some junk food and not have any effects at all, but for others if u are gaining weight and dont want to then u need to change something like your diet or exercise till u can rely on the band a little more . Only a few people are lucky enough to eat everyday food including junk food in smaller portions and still lose weight, but for the most of us those junk and processed foods need to be eliminated from our food intake in order to lose weight .

Here is a June 18th article. Please click on LIKE in corner if you read this. Gastric bypass for weight loss increases alcohol use, study says: Patients who undergo a gastric bypass for weight loss are 30% more likely to develop problems with alcohol. (National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health / June 18, 2012) By Thomas H. Maugh II June 18, 2012, 12:11 p.m. A major new study confirms previous sporadic reports that weight-loss surgery increases the risk of alcohol abuse, researchers reported Monday. In the second year after having a gastric bypass, technically known as Roux-en-Y surgery, patients were 30% more likely to have problems controlling their alcohol use, a team reported online in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. and at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Previous reports have suggested that alcohol abuse could be a problem following bariatric surgery, but the studies have been small and generally involved collecting data at some point after the procedure. In the new study, a team led by epidemiologist Wendy C. King of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine began studying 2,458 adults before they underwent bariatric surgery at one of 10 hospitals. Of those, 1,945 could be monitored for one to two years after the procedure. The team found that 7.6% of the patients suffered from alcohol-abuse disorders (abuse and dependence) in the year before the surgery. At the end of one year after the procedure, the percentage was about the same, 7.3%. But by the end of the second year, the prevalence of such disorders had climbed to 9.6%, a 30% increase. Virtually all of the increase occurred in patients who had undergone gastric bypass, with no increase among the roughly 30% of patients who had a banding procedure. Some research suggests that the increase in problems arises because the metabolism of alcohol changes after gastric bypass. "Given a standardized quantity of alcohol, patients reach a higher peak alcohol level [in the bloodstream] after surgery compared with case-controls or their pre-operative levels," the team wrote. In other words, bypass patients get drunk faster and with smaller amounts of alcohol. The excessive drinking may be a greater problem for bariatric surgery patients because alcohol abuse can affect Vitamin and mineral status and liver function, which are already potential problems for the surgery patients, King said. She urges clinicians to perform a better job of screening patients for abuse before surgery and to offer counseling to help them combat the problem. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

i dont like alcohol at all, except for a strawberry margarita every month or 2(woohoo !!!!), but 3 months out i had 3 small sips of a margarita during a mexican food dinner, and (TMI ALERT) had to excuse myself to the bathroom where i lost everything............ baddddddddd slime........... i have had a couple of margaritas at home since then with no probs, so im guessing it was the type of tequila that triggered that very fast reaction (cheap resturant type vs good stuff ???) just say' in be careful of when, where, and what you drink as peoples reactions can be different after they're banded. Cheers !!!

I have surgery on Monday the 25th. I have been on pre-op diet for two weeks. I knew I was a strong person, but just didn't know how strong. We spent a week at the beach this past week. Let me tell you...it was hard!! This was the first time on vacation where there were no alcoholic beverages or sodas consumed. I had to watch everyone else indulge in processed junk foods that are so good on the beach! I kept strong and reminded myself of the big picture. Now I must push thru tomorrow because I will only be allowed jello and broth.