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Good luck to you. Not drinking alcohol is going to be a big thing. The thing about shrinking your liver is the most important part and of course, concerts, parties usually have alcohol involved. If you can get away with not drinking the alcohol, make sure you get your shakes in and drink a lot of Water. If it becomes hard, then head h ome. I do know that I was only allowed 3 shakes a day and it did something to my belly and I used the washroom a lot. It's also the time that I learned a valuable lesson and that's to never trust a fart. I locked myself in the house for 2 weeks and I exercised a whole lot. I wish I would have gone and done a few fun things, so I hope you enjoy yourself.

I would ask you NUT see what they say, I was told no alcohol for a minimum of 6months but everyone's dr and NUT are different...

My doctor said to stick to 1500 calories and keep it low fat. That's pretty much what I've been doing all along anyway. I did notice, however, that it said no alcohol for 6 months prior. Guess I'm going to have to fudge a little on that one. I drink very seldom, but I have had a very few drinks in the last 6 months. Anybody else been told this?

Hi, My guy friend had weight loss surgery in Germany. He lost alot of weight and he gained all of it back 2 years later. He's not as big as he was but he's pretty fluffy and admits he kept drinking beer and alchohol. The beer and alcohol did it to him...On your profile picture it shows you enjoying or holding a mixed drink...I would highly keep beer and alcohol to a minimum.

With any procedure over time it is more about food decisions than the actual procedure. You can gain weight back after any of them. For me logging my food always helps me when I feel off track. As pointed out by others the alcohol can add a lot of extra calories. It sounds like you are pushing yourself to eat more...if you are eating as much as your friends and cramping then you aren't listening to your body signals. If it were me, I would go back to the beginning. Do a couple of days of liquids. Then go back to the fundamentals of 60g of protein and 60 oz of water. Protein first. No liquids 30 min. before, during, or after meal. No alcohol. Reaquaint yourself with the fundamentals and then see where you are. Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

I am a 12/3 girl. I enjoyed my cream of mushroom soup for supper. No more clear liquids for this girl. Felt full of energy yesterday..not so much today..taking my anti depressant and anti anxiety meds is no fun..its like doing a shot of the worst alcohol but having to sip it..yuck

My NUT was kind of judgey and acted like you were an alcoholic if you ever wanted to drink again. I waited 3 months. I'm 6 months out now and I'll have a couple of drinks a month. Usually wine or sometimes beer that I let fizz out for a bit. I do get drunk super fast and also sober up super fast. I never get sick and I don't get a headache or anything. You're basically going to have to learn to drink again. I just pace myself.

When is it ok to have like wine, or light alcohol? Im 2 months post op and miss wine like crazy!

Are the cramps just at night? I found this information which might help: What causes leg cramps? Unknown cause (idiopathic leg cramps) In most cases the cause is not known. One theory is that cramps occur when a muscle that is already in a shortened position is stimulated to contract. As the muscle is already shortened, to contract further may cause the muscle to go into spasm. This commonly happens at night in bed as the natural position we lie in is with the knees slightly bent (flexed), and with feet pointing slightly downwards. In this position the calf muscle is relatively shortened and may be prone to cramps. This theory explains why stretching exercises may cure the problem. Secondary causes In some cases, the cramps may be a symptom of another problem. For example: Some drugs can cause cramps as a side-effect, or make cramps occur more often. These include: diuretics ('Water tablets'), nifedipine, cimetidine, salbutamol, statins, terbutaline, lithium, clofibrate, penicillamine, phenothiazines, and nicotinic acid. Over-exertion of muscles. Dehydration. Conditions that cause alterations in the balance of salts in the bloodstream (such as a high or low sodium or potassium level). Some people who have renal (kidney) dialysis get leg cramps. Pregnancy - usually in the later stages. An untreated under-active thyroid gland. Peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the leg arteries which causes poor circulation). Excess alcohol. Some uncommon disorders of nerves. Rare causes include: cirrhosis of the liver; lead poisoning; sarcoidosis. With the above conditions the cramps would just be one of various other symptoms. Therefore, if you are otherwise well, and have no other unexplained symptoms, then the leg cramps are likely to be idiopathic (unknown cause) and not due to a secondary cause. Note: leg cramps are different to a condition called restless legs syndrome. In this condition the legs can be uncomfortable, you feel creeping sensations in the legs, and it is relieved by walking about. See separate leaflet called 'Restless Legs Syndrome' for details. What is the treatment for a leg cramp? Stretching and massaging the affected muscle can usually relieve an attack of cramp. Most cramps soon ease off. Painkillers are not usually helpful as they do not act quickly enough. However, a painkiller such as paracetamol may help to ease muscle discomfort and tenderness that sometimes persists for up to 24 hours after a cramp has gone. What are the options for preventing leg cramps? If cramps do not occur often, then no particular treatment is usually needed. However, if you have frequent cramps, you may wish to consider ways of preventing them.

Hello this is refreshing, i have felt alone for the past 14 months so feel like i need to share my experiences !! In the first year I bearly lost a stone in weight following surgery, Bearing in mind I was drinking alcohol which doesnt help, however having stopped drinking alcohol for past 4 months things have changed and I have now lost a stone; I guess the message I would like to give is that gastric banding is a vehicle for loosing weight not a solution!! You need to be able to change your whole philosophy in terms of eating, lifestyle etc, the band helps so much and for some people is perfect but I am not perfect and have learnt that lifestyle changes are so much easier to make with the band and that is what it is all about:clap2: .

I had mine Monday. We talked a bit about my family support system and history. Why I wanted the surgery and what the risks are. About my eating habits and then I had to take a personality quiz on the computer which was 340 questions and I swear about 200 of them stated about alcohol,suicide and drugs in sneaky ways...you would think after the first few times I said I do not drink,I do not do nor have i ever done drugs and I do not feel like committing suicide they would get it lol

How long before alcohol ? Or simply one glass of wine ?

It's all about moderations. I had surgery on 11/7 three years ago & my doctor advised I could have a half of glass of wine by New Years Eve. She just told me not to drive & watch my surroundings since I was a "light weight." I took just 2 sips to bring in the new year & toast for my husband's birthday. I tolerated it pretty well with it being only almost 2 months after surgery. Now 3 yrs post op & I can tolerate one or 2 glasses of wine. Depending on how slow I drink it or my stress level. Often times, just one glass gets me a little tipsy & that will be my limit. & I'm ok with that. I've just been afraid to try beer because of the bubbly & yeast content. I heard it could be painful for some folks. I just didn't want to take a chance. I do miss having a cold one, but I've chosen to stay away from it. I have a close associate that has had WLS that replaced her food addiction with alcohol. And is having a difficult time coping. So you just have to be careful. Good luck.

My surgeon told me that it was allowed but to make sure to consume with moderation because it is empty calories and can affect overall weight loss. Alcohol is absorbed in the intestines, so after gastric sleeve surgery the alcohol also reaches your bloodstream faster. I've consumed some alcohol on occasion and learned that I can drink a light beer or two, but I have to pour it into a glass and let the carbonation fully exit. Pouring fast for a large, foaming head helps that happen. I can also tolerate uncarbonated mixed drinks like a vodka with cranberry juice without any issues. So far I've stayed away from anything carbonated other than the beer. Three things to note: 1) there is still carbonation in the beer which can slow consumpiton and possibly make for some uncomfortability; 2) the alcohol does affect me sooner - the feeling I used to get after 4 or 5 drinks pre-surgery now hits me after 1 or 2; and 3) I've found if I have more than one occasional alcoholic drink it does slow down my weight loss, as it is extra calories and since they are liquid they don't limit my hunger or solid food intake. To me it is basically a moderation thing - if you can have an occasional alcoholic drink or two worked into your nutrition plan and still maintain the weight loss targets you seek then you should be fine. If you have challenges moderating alcohol intake then it is probably best to stay away from it entirely.

Hi All, I wanted to share some of what I am going through and see if anyone else has had a similar experience. I am over 7 months out from surgery and my weight loss has ben fantastic. Let me start by saying my sleeve REALLY WORKS for me. I don't watch my carbs or cals or fat. I can eat about 5 bites of anything and then that's it. I always eat Protein first because I am afraid I will have bad nutritional repercussions if I don't. The following foods upset my stomach, so I don't eat them: bread, ice cream, alcohol. I rarely have room for any type of vegetable or fruit, but I do eat granola with my yogurt in the morning. I still eat 5 or 6 times a day. I have to or else I don't get enough calories in and I feel weird. I have never been on a workout regimen. Major problem because now I feel quite weak. I can walk at a normal pace for hours (much more than before). But, if I increase my heart rate, I can't do it for more than a couple of minutes. I know I need to work on it and I am slowly getting better. Feel like I am starting from zero... Here's my problem: I don't feel normal at all. If I exert myself, I get shaky. I have a lot of emotional weirdness about food - especially if I am out and about on my own and need to eat something. I can quickly stress out because nothing sounds good or I don't want to spend the money on something I will eat 1/4 of and then throw away. My hormone swings have been crazy too - last 2 months my libido disappeared AND my period changed again. Seems like every 2 months has a hormonal surprise in the form of sex drive or period or hair loss or bad temper. The overall affect is getting me down. Of course, life doesn't stop just because I am going through this. Work is laying people off next month, I am getting married in 3 weeks, the in-laws are already starting drama over Thanksgiving - you know, regular life stuff. I started lifting weights around the house. I figured I will work on one body part at a time and right now it is my arms. Easy to do in the living room. Anyone else feel a little "off"?

All I can suggest is to stay hydrated and keep using body oil, etc.also, put your body oil on over damp skin. One tip I learned from one of my doctors is to make sure your lotions and moisturizers do not come in a pump bottle. Apparently, the additives (alcohol?) they use to make lotion pumpable is in itself drying.

I've done a lot of research on how the body adjusts and adapts. I knew that I would not ever be "dieting" for life, but a lot of that has to do with me recognizing my weaknesses. I can also say that I had a couple of major driving forces behind me getting to goal quick, and then figuring out maintenance once I got there. 1) with the complications I had, my husband was deployed and I had to "get better", I cared about my weight loss numbers, but my main goal was to be healthy upon his return 2) We wanted a baby 3) I had the band, and it failed miserably even though I worked the crap out of that thing so failing with the sleeve was not even an option nor did I allow those thoughts to enter my mind. Rum/cokes are my arch nemesis, and I did see a true gain over the holidays because of copious partying, alcoholic beverages and every type of party food you can imagine. BUT, I didn't go back to dieting or even low carbing after my 3 month long binge, I just went back to my normal eating routines, and BAM lost those pounds pretty quickly.

I was banded in August and have little to no restriction and STILL can't drink carbonated beverages. They hurt. Not worth it. I have nothing against alcohol but can tell you if you can't go without beer don't get the band. If you can't do without your regular or diet soda don't get the band. Odds are HIGH that you won't be one of the few who "can" drink carbonated stuff. AND it can stretch your pouch etc. I know it's harsh. Personally I only drank maybe 6 beers a year and I honestly had to think long and hard about giving them up. I will probably always miss them a little but it's not worth it. When I thought "hmm, would I give up beer to never be fat again" it was a no-brainer.

I haven't tried alcohol since surgery. I was never much of a drinker. An occasional glass of wine when out to dinner, so I don't miss the alcohol. So, i have no stories to report on how drunk or not drunk post-op.

This is my first post, but I figured I'd reply since it was a concern of mine as well. I really, really did not want a tube up the junk. When I woke up, the foley catheter was in. It was stuck very securely to my inner left thigh (I still have some sticky residue two weeks later, need to get an alcohol pad on that). I was not remotely interested in seeing it (difficult at that point anyway) or touching it (infection is bad!). I have a very vague recollection of someone coming in, lifting my gown and doing an ultrasound on my bladder. At least that's what I think it was, I was still halfway out of it. I slept a bit than a doctor came by and said something like, "Two hours ago you didn't have any urine but now you do," referring to the bag. I guess they were concerned about retention, but I was just dehydrated a bit from not getting enough to drink (in my opinion anyway). The nurse and care partner came in a couple of times to do "foley care" where I think they just wiped around the urethra a bit to keep it clean. Any time they moved the bag from the bed to the IV pole and vice versa so I could get up and walk around, I felt a strange little twinge from the catheter. It's hard to explain; it wasn't pain, it wasn't discomfort, it was just weird. Finally, the next morning my nurse removed it. He first removed the saline injected in the balloon used to hold it in place, then told me to take a deep breath and then let it out when he said so. I felt him pressing down on my stuff just before he told me to breathe out; he pulled it out during that breath. He said something about it helping when the patient bears down a little. Overall, it was nothing really. Besides, I was tired, hurting a little, drugged up... I didn't give a damn who saw it, removed it, whatever to be honest. I was given six hours to pee on my own, came in just 15 minutes under. It stung just a little but wasn't bad by any means. Hope this helps!

I was told alcohol needs to wait until at least 6 months for any type of alcohol but to play it VERY safe because you will get drunk/tipsy SOOOO much easier than you did before. When you drink the first time drink a few sips and wait a bit, do it at home and do it while someone is there with you in case you react poorly to it. Just be really really careful, I'm a revision from a sleeve and I didn't think it would affect me THAT much more than before but I was very very wrong. You should be fine to start adding wine into your diet now though..

Just take it very easy, you don't want to exchange your food addiction for an alcohol one. Once you have had 1 addiction you're always vulnerable for others.[emoji37] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I know too many people who got really sick on Atkins to think about trying it. Plus, most of the Atkins meal substitute bars, etc., have really high sugar alcohol content, and I can't have that. I just follow the instructions my doctor and NUT gave me. That seems to be serving me well thus far.

I get hungry. I get thirsty. But honestly in a lot of people pre-sleeve the thirst mechanism is so weak people mistake it for hunger and eat. Often when I feel hungry I have a drink and realize I was thirsty. (Honestly I am not sure where I picked that nugget up from but it seems to work for me). I was only on liquids for two days in the hospital. I was put in purees for a week once I got home. Then soft solids for a month, then normal diet. The post op diet varies from surgeon to surgeon. I'm told to limit Pasta rice and bread but I can still eat them. A lot of people limit carbs because they are empty calories or they are sensitive to them. I had alcohol last weekend. I'm almost 5 months out. Sweets taste the exactly same to me. I don't dump.

I'm going to a Galentine's party tomorrow and I'm expected to bring something. I looked at the list of what others are bringing...all sweets and alcohol. The theme is pink/love/girls etc. Any suggestions on some healthy VSG-friendly Valentine's day related things I could bring to the party? I am 4 months out and do not eat sugar. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app