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There are several issues with alcohol, and different docs have differeing concerns about them. The basic initial concern is healing of the stomach, and that's where many docs come down to something around a three month limitation. Empty calories, too is a concern during the weight loss period, but that's no different than talking about Twinkies or any other kind of junk food. The biggie that some docs fret over is liver health - as obese patients, our livers are generally in pretty poor shape to begin with, and then they are further taxed with their role in metabolizing all of the fat that we are losing - they don't need any more stress from metabolizing the alcohol. So, that's where some docs come up with a no alcohol during the entire weight loss period policy - this is my doc's plan, and he's a bit more anal about liver health than most WLS docs as he also does liver transplants, and he doesn't want to see his bariatric patients coming back as transplant patients. The other concern is the prospect of transfer addiction - many of us were addicted to food, and with that taken away by the surgery, that addiction can be transferred to something else that was never a problem pre-op, like alcohol or gambling - so that is something to watch out for. The other thing to watch is that most find that their body's response has changed - usually feeling the alcohol's effects sooner and with less (things tend to go thru quicker, particularly liquids), but then they tend to recover quicker, too. Those are the major issues that influence the differerent surgeons' policies on alcohol and WLS, so take them for what you will. Overall, the occasional drink is not likely to be any more harmful than the occasional twinkie, but there are potential problems with it being a regular thing during the post-op period. Good luck, and may you have something to celebrate! Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

yes, each doctor gives you a list... you may qualify for free bariatric Vitamins (along with Protein shakes and scar cream) by filling out the form at InsureNutrition.com... I didn't qualify for the multi-Vitamin, but they sent me a bottle as a "sample"...a months worth!

Will all my test are finally completed :-) YAY!!!!! Waiting for my bariatric coordinator to submit to insurance (geez) wonder how long this will take been going thru this entire process since Feb 2014 please let me get a date in Dec I really see no reason not to (seems like around the holidays office tend to slack up on work ............... Guess this is the waiting game!!!! I need someone to chat with before I lose my mind LoL

How's everyone doing on vitamins? Still buying those expensive "bariatric" chewables, liquids or easily dissolved? My 6 months post op labs were good and all I was taking were the bariatric multivitamins

My uncle tried hypnotism. I think his version was aversion therapy where the hypnotist/therapist trained his mind to think food tasted terrible. He's in bariatric surgery counseling now!

Just learned today that my insurance is approved and that my surgery is scheduled August 4th! Thanks to you folks at BariatricPal, I learned how to navigate insurance requirements. Many of you veterans and newbies generously gave of your time to answer posts from people like me. You taught me how to find information about my specific insurance plan and how to follow the approval process on my own. You gave me a heads up about what might happen at the psych evaluation. When I look back at my last six months, I realized just how much you filled in the missing areas of information as well as prepared me for how quickly events occur at the end of pre-op visits. I live in a rural area and have received only the bare minimum of guidance from my bariatric center, although it is a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Maybe I needed to ask more questions. Spending time to navigate all over this site has led me to so many invaluable areas. I've been around here long enough to know that each day will have a new stall question and sheepishly admit to zeroing in to rants and raves when I feel the need for a bit of drama. Posts here can be sources of encouragement or annoyance, just like the rest of the population. The ignore option has proved very useful tamping down my repeated irritation with some folks. I am very grateful that one of my bariatric books led me here. My nutritionists, "lifestyle coach," psych evaluator and PCP did not know anything about it. (and did not show much interest when I tried to share information with them) My level of preparation is directly due to all the advice I've found here. Many thanks. You know I'll be here for the rest of this journey.

I have before and after pics in my profile. It's funny cause I wouldn't put the before until I reached my goal and could put the after pic. Kinda shows how the renewed feelings of self confidence washes away all the negative feelings and embarrassment we felt when we were fat But now it's all good...... You'll get there too. It's a fantastic feeling.

I like my fitness pal. I've used it for about 9 years (I haven't had surgery yet). I don't like all the ads, but it doesn't bother me enough to use the paid version. Some people on here have complained that it says you're not eating enough after bariatric surgery, but all you have to do is not mark your day "complete" and it doesn't care. They have a huge database of foods and the recipe builder is pretty easy to use.

I feel the same about the optifast chews, I ordered the bariatric pal multi gummies! Has anyone tried these?

I'm sorry you've gone through so much grief and distress. Several antidepressants have been linked to weight gain, so it's possible that could be contributing to yours. I gained 30 pounds quite rapidly from taking Zoloft for grief. I've had more success with a low dose of Wellbutrin (a higher dose caused insomnia and hair loss), though some people haven't been benefitted from it. I've started to read reviews of every medicine I take to better understand the experiences people have on it, so I can be aware of possible side effects. There's a bariatric surgeon named Dr. Matthew Weiner who has several videos on YouTube. In one of them he discusses common reasons for why people gain weight post WLS, and lists medication as a leading cause. Edit: This is the video: About 5-6 minutes in he lists reasons for weight regain, and talks about medication.

Kindle, the psychiatric and bariatric medical communities reinforce thise societal perceptions of us as lazy, fat, unmotivated and all the other unpleasant adjectives. I KNOW i am trying my hardest and have not returned to junk food or carbs but the damned binge eating has me snarfing baby carrots! And cucumbers and red and yellow peppers and thats why, I think my gains have been kinda mellow. Im just saying i also reject those negative appelations hate being told i haave the wrong attitude or eat the wrong food. I KNOW i dont. So i find so ething that reinforces my perception and then one of our own tribe tells me im mentally ill and etc. Bah. Humbug.

Ok lovelies! I have created a Facebook group after doing some Google research lol it is a private group and you will have to request to join. It is called "August 2023 Bariatric Surgery Support Group" There is also a group chat there so we can all talk a little easier 🙂

My surgeon's office had the ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates. I also got them online through Bariatric source. You might also check the new BariatricPal Store. I got a sample pack of the Syntrax nectar directly from the manufacturer. Drugstore.com also has it by the tub. Most GNCs and other health-food stores may have what you need, too.

Here is the perspective of one bariatric surgeon on how our meal volume progresses over time. In short, after a few years, we will typically be able to eat about half of what we could eat pre-op in a sitting or meal. This is consistent with my experience at seven years out, and my wife's at thirteen years out. There is still enough restriction to aid in effective long term weight control, but also plenty of capacity to go overboard on the wrong foods and see extensive regain. This doc is one of the few that I have seen that discusses this aspect of our surgery, and offers a prescription on how to mitigate the negatives of it. You may or may not get along with his prescription (I don't buy into everything he says....) but he does offer a model that we can use to develop our own approach to long term maintenance and weight control.

You don't sound like a d**k, and I get where you are coming from. Yes, I haven't been out of surgery long, and yes, I am aware of the "honeymoon period." My surgeon and support staff went over all that with me time and again before I made the decision to have the surgery. Nothing is a magical "fix-all" to obesity or weight issues, and yes, it will be constant work. A large part of my weight issue stemmed from a psychiatric medication that I was given, as I mentioned earlier. It is called Zyprexa, and this is a very well-known side effect. It made my appetite go through the roof, and though my psychiatrist stopped it after a meeting with my GP and my appetite went back to "normal," the weight wouldn't come off. I followed a medically supervised diet to the T and went through the whole "yo-yo" effect because yes, the body does get used to having a new "normal" weight when you are obese and as far as I have been told, surgery is the only thing that can actually have a true long-term effect. It has now been written in every medical folder I have, psych and physical, that I cannot be put onto weight positive medication again, so if this fails, it is all on me. I have a will of Iron...always have. It is one of the reasons I was so frustrated on my medically supervised diet where I was focusing on following it to the letter, doing what I was told, and having no success. I'm not saying I am better or worse off at anything than anyone else, but we are all different people with different backstories who have gone through different struggles. Most of the staff at my surgeon's office are bariatric patients themselves, many who have been post-op for a long time, and they have had success by following the plan given to them by their surgeon and using the tool they were given. I think that though it will be a struggle in the long term, and there is always the possibility of regain, it comes down to the individual and how closely they follow the lifestyle change they originally set upon and use the "tool" that is surgery. I'm not trying to start some sort of forum flame war and I appreciate your thoughts and advice. I'm in this for the long haul. I wanted to get back to the healthy and active lifestyle I had before my weight gain, and that is what I have set my mind to ensuring happens. If I regain 5-10-15 pounds in a year or two or three, I will work double time like hell to get back to where I am now. There is absolutely nothing worth eating good enough to give up my health for...NOTHING. I see people on my table every day who die from issues related to obesity, and I've made up my mind that will not be me.

I feel pretty great! Today is the first day I can actually eat food that doesn't have to be mashed with a fork, so I tried a little soft cheese and low fat ham roll-up. So far so good. They still don't want me eating bread or pasta, but I can have 3 saltine crackers a day (my nutritionist is very specific!). My bariatric vitamin contains calcium, but not enough vitamin D, and apparently I was really low on Vitamin D according to my pre-op labs. I started on OTC Vitamin D supplement about a week and a half ago and I do think it helped my energy level. I've been very fortunate to not have much pain. How are you doing?

Wanted to update everyone. I finally met with the Bariatric Dr, so my test results show, Dr language in parentheses (partial gastric outlet obstruction) proximal dilation of stomach with extream narrow area and tortous twisting body of stomach with reflux, Twisted Stomach the fix(gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy). By-pass, (approval from insurance on an urgent basis), will need surgery asap,

My bariatric surgeon was convinced that my band had slipped, so much so that last week he ordered, and I completed a repeat of the upper GI study I completed in June in a different state with a different surgeon (I have moved since my band was placed). The results showed a perfectly placed band...again. But I appreciated his wanting to be through with his medical opinion. My symptoms are only present at night after I am asleep, and otherwise I am able to eat without any adverse events. My surgeon discussed with me that even with slipped band, some patients are able to eat normally with few complications. With the symptoms I presented with he told me he would be surprised if my band had not slipped. I feel fortunate that it was still in place, otherwise he would have removed it. It will be best to discuss your concerns with your surgeon. I am not a physician, and only am able to share my own experiences!

The psych evals vary so greatly. I am a psychologist and conduct bariatric assessments. Mine take about 2 hours and I do give the MMPI...it is actually very relevant to the situation as it can screen for psychosis, substance abuse, easting disorders, etc. It's really for the surgeons to protect them from potential liability. Meanwhile...as a patient, I had mine done on Friday and it was about half an hour. I pretty much told the psychologist what I wanted and needed and it was really quick.

At the start of my bariatric journey, I bought, among other things, a vanilla cappuccino mix from my doctor, manufactured by a company called Health Wise. When I used it all up I wanted to buy some more, but when I attempted to call the company, which I located on line, they said that they do not distribute direct to the public....they only wholesale to the doctors. I thought I would have to find another brand, so I started looking and found one offered by Bariatric Choice called Bari-Wise and ordered two boxes. Guess what? The product is exactly the same, same packaging, same nutrients, etc. What kind of game are these folks playing? About a week ago, I ordered a product from a company called Diet Direct. Today, I get two separate e-mails from Diet Direct and Bariatric Choice, offering the same product, listing the same subject matter in the e-mail header, everything. Does this mean the competition among bariatric specific companies is being reduced and they are price fixing? Maybe I'm paranoid, but something doesn't smell right here.... I can understand the same product being offered by two or more separate companies in the distribution chain, but these name games seem to me to be an attempt to fool the public. Does anyone else have any input on this?

Do what is right for you. I just found that half of my co-workers have had some sort of bariatric procedure done. The one closest to me told me that I should go ahead and get a RNY becuase everyone else tried the VSG and Lap-Band and ended up having to get a revision. That is probably why his wife got one right off the bat (although I think she would have done just fine with a VSG because her BMI was a couple of points higher than mine). I just don't want any of the issues that come with RNY such as the very rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. I see VSG as more of a tool and not a cure-all. My main problem is not being satsified when I have a meal; after researching which surgery was right for me, I decided that VSG, as opposed to Lap-Band was the way to go. I'm pretty sure that I could have gotten a Lap-Band, but I don't like having any kind of devices in my body.

Hi everyone, It's been 2 to 3 months for us August sleevers, and I am wondering how everyone is doing? I wanted to post some questions to the larger community, but I'm not sure where to put them, so I thought, what better than to ask the folks who are at the same stage as I am? I lost 35 pounds in the first 2 months (including the 10 days pre-op), but then I plateaued and didn't lose anything for 2 full weeks. Of course, even though I've heard others say not to worry, I still worried! I'm at the point where I can eat almost anything now, so I wasn't stopped by the nausea and pains that I had at first. Then we had Canadian Thanksgiving, and I ate more than I should have for 3 days in a row. I didn't listen to my body's signals and was just trying to keep eating because it tasted so good. But then, I would get pains in my stomach which alerted me to being full and I stopped eating. But within 20 minutes, I would feel so full I felt like I wanted to throw up. Each burp would bring up food into my esophagus. Yuck! Has anybody else done this? Now I am trying to eat slower and listen to my body's signals, but some times I don't think about it and just eat like I used to. And guess what? I lost 3 pounds!!??!! What the heck? Anybody else find that? I used to be a weight watchers leader, and I remember that we were instructed that if people ate too little, their body's metabolism would slow down too, so we would tell them to eat a bit more to break a plateau. It worked! I am finding weight loss coming a lot slower for me now, but I am trying to only weigh once a week so that I don't obsess over it. I'm sad that the initial fast weight loss phase is over. Is this what everyone is experiencing too? Last thing I wanted to tell you is that Bariatric Pal has a new online store for high protein weight loss foods! Maybe you already know this, but I wanted to make sure you all know about it. Prices are a bit high, but you can find stuff there that I can't find in my local stores. I have tried a few things, and my favorite so far is the Decaffeinated Cappuccino mix. It's unbelievably yummy! 60 calories, only 2 carbs, and 12 grams of protein! I also am in love with the peanut and pretzel bars. Finally, a protein bar that isn't so sickly sweet! Here is the link, and I'm looking forward to re-connecting with you all and finding out what's going well, what is a problem, whatever you want to chat about. http://store.bariatricpal.com/ p.s. use this code to take 10% off your order: BPLAUNCH10

I had my sleeve done in Tijuana through Mexico bariatric center. Was treated far better there than any hospital where I live...and I'm a nurse. I honestly have nothing bad to say about the entire experience. They took care of everything. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have tried this and OMG delish! The mushroom is about 26 calories so once your cleared for full foods it is bariatric friendly and so good. I think I like it more than regular pizza!

I didn't cook one darn thing this year. I just couldn't. But I did enjoy some hot chocolate (the bariatric pal stuff in the store)! At least that's something I can enjoy. I tried to focus on the people and the events more than the food. It's a re-thinking of our holidays. I liked not having a bunch of crap around that I feel like I had to eat or it would go to waste!