Search the Community

Why it matters to me is that I worry about the people who are just reading the forums, and see someone saying "yeah, sure, there's no problem with eating tacos a week out from surgery" and they think that's coming from a place of knowledge and/or experience. It's flat out dangerous, is what it is. While I'm not responsible for anyone else, as a nurse I feel compelled to correct information that's flat out wrong because wrong information about something like this can actually be life threatening. Or at the very least cause complications that the patient doesn't need. And I'm not even a vet here. Sure, someone who says "my doctor says no alcohol forever, so that must be the truth for everyone" is wrong. But most of what I'm seeing people complain about here is when someone comes on wanting to do something very close to surgery - before or after - that has the potential to be very bad, and then gets upset when people say "hey, that's not really a good idea".

Thank you for sharing, I really do appreciate it. I am frankly in no way concerned about becoming an alcoholic but yes I did read several things about transfer addictions. I honestly was just wondering how long everyone waited because the surgeons recommendations are clearly very different on many issues and what if any adverse reactions anyone may have had. With Travel and Live shows opening up again I have a venue coming in in Mid June and will be dining with a few important customers. I am in all honestly just checking in with others in hopes of hearing about their experiences at which point I will make a decision if June is much too early for me to have a glass of wine at a customer dinner.

I had to take Maaloxx in addition to my Omeprazole for awhile. I've read about Many others having to go up to 40mg or switch to Nexium or Protonix. Stopping eating/drinking 2 hours before bedtime and/or sleeping with your head and upper body partly elevated can help too. I haven't need a PPI since about 3 months out, but I do take Rolaids occasionally (when I irritate my sleeve by eating crap and drinking alcohol) and have done a course of Omeprazole when I had to be on NSAIDS and then steroids for neck/spine issues. Your doc should be able to make whatever adjustments to your Meds you need to help. Reflux is probably the most common side effect of VSG.

Nailed it. As I've said before, my tolerance for a------s went down in direct proportion to my weight loss. Additionally, I do now recognize that my crappy marriage was made crappy by two people, not just one big jerk. I didn't speak up because it was easier to go along. I didn't speak up because I didn't want to fight. I didn't push for time spent on my interests and friends because I didn't have the energy to deal with his pissy reactions. I let the emotional and mental and financial abuse continue, even against my kids, because I was afraid I would be financially helpless without him, and too scared to make a change. I ate to make these realities go away for a few hours a day. I didn't go out and socialize because I was embarrassed about who I had become. When I put down the fork, everything changed. No more buffer. No more anesthetic. No more tolerance. No more self medicating. I got out and didn't look back. But I came with me. And I learned in this past year that not only am I stronger than I ever had to be before, but I also still have a deeply rooted drive to self medicate all scary and bad feelings away. Last month, I corrected an alcohol problem before it ruined me. I, too, see a therapist and go to CODA and OA and now AA. I go to a Christian divorce group weekly and just started a smaller women's-only divorce group as well. It's a lot of appointments and meetings, but you know what? It beats the hell out of sitting on the couch at 302 pounds every night and eating myself into a food coma.

some people become lactose intolerant - at least temporarily (although sometimes permanently) after WLS, and some people can't tolerate sugar alcohols (the artificial sweeteners they put in a lot of those things). SO maybe one of those??

We learned in class to beware of alcohol. While most of us use food as a soother, after surgery we turn to alcohol. Alcoholism jump a significant amount in post-surgery patients. Be careful...you didn't go through ALL THIS just to drink it back on! Plus...do you really need to? Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

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.

Same story as many of you. Years of dieting, losing weight & gaining more than I lost. I know it hasn’t been a long time compared to others & I’m in the golden time, but I have never been able to maintain as I have for the last 7 months since I hit my current weight. Almost 40yrs of skipping meals & dieting killed my metabolism. (And don’t get me started on the 15kg I put on with menopause.) Even though I ate home cooked, generally healthy food 80+% of the time, I’d always put on weight. Now I eat very regularly: smaller portions, reduced carbs & sugar, low fat, limited alcohol. It’s working so far & I haven’t had to compromise my lifestyle. The surgery isn’t an easy fix but it gave me a helping hand & made me examine how & why I ate. I know I’ll have to continue to work at my diet & develop strategies to survive the challenges life throws my way so I don’t sacrifice what I’ve achieved by having the surgery. Is it worth the effort? You bet. Every single day I’m glad I chose to do this.

Also, liquid NyQuil contains alcohol, so it would take effect quicker in a bypass patient. Just a FYI.

Well, I never 'drank' them.. I used the 42g, and I shot half at a time.. like you would do alcohol, and chased it with something pleasant (or just water). It tastes like a weirdo nasty koolaid if you actually 'drank' it.. but.. I wouldn't recommend drinking them. It's only 3oz in the whole thing, so 1.5oz is a shot.

Gotta replace the comfort habit....with a new comfort habit....while avoiding crossover addiction. Very easy to get in trouble with spending, intimacy addiction, gambling, alcohol, drugs, (obsessive dieting, obsessive exercize, obsessive internet use) Jaelzion has an awesome comfort habit...coffee, and a little alone time to think/relax/refocus. I like baths, walks, light funny TV, calling my bestie, playing with my pooch, gardening. I also love a cup of coffee and a sit on the porch. OP...it's a terrific question and the root of regain. It's a huge part of the work. Thanks for bringing it up.

Mine had me give up caffeine, alcohol and carbonation. Told me to practice "eating in order" protein first, then veggies and then carbs if still hungry. Make sure and include a fruit or veggie at every meal. Oh, and not to drink my calories and aim for a minimum of 64 oz of water a day. Also to practice not drinking with my meals.

I think what you mix alcohol with also makes a difference. About 3 1/2 months out I tried a prickly pear margarita when we were on vacation in Santa Fe. Literally one sip and I felt hot and nauseated so I put it aside. We then ate and I tried again after 30 minutes with the same result. Now, I only drink tequila over ice, bourbon and water or vodka martinis and I have no problems. It does affect my ability to lose though..... I was a daily drinker before surgery and pretty much back to that at this point.

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.

Hi all. I had my surgery on October 11th at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas City under the care of Stan Hoehn. Day of surgery: Surgery at 10:30 am. I woke up in a lot of pain in my abdomen. The original recovery room pain meds didn’t help. The next meds they tried caused an allergic reaction - rash, trouble breathing, inability to focus, nausea. It took hours to convince the nurse that the Dilaudid was a problem. In retrospect, as I am allergic to morphine, I can’t believe they gave me a morphine derivative and then denied I was having a reaction, but that is having a bad nurse vs. a good nurse, I suppose. For the record, all of my other nurses and CAs were the best and truly a great group of healthcare professionals. The Demerol that they finally put me on (about 7:30 pm) gave me a bit of itching around my eyes and nose, but was far more tolerable. I was able to suck on ice chips, take a walk around the unit, and sleep pretty comfortably. Day 1 Post-op: Felt great, was doing great with all tests and measurements. Able to start clear liquids. Every bite felt like I was filling my stomach with air – uncomfortable but not painful. Started taking Lortab Elixir. It tastes terrible, but it was nice to get away from the powerful drugs. Went home moving well and optimistic. Took my everyday meds (Wellbutrin,Kariva, and Zantac) and went to bed around 10 pm. Woke around 12:30 am feeling crazy nauseous and vomited repeatedly – very painful. Woke again at 3:30 am for another round. I was in so much pain and so nauseous that I could not get the Loratab down. Day 2 Post-op: Spent entire day in bed. It was almost too painful to get up to use the restroom. Too scared to take Loratab in case itmade me vomit again. Too nauseous to eat or drink, though I forced myself toget in 25 oz of water before bed. A frightening, dismal day. Realized that I was not supposed to begin taking the Kariva or Zantac right away, so that was probably the cause. Day 3 Post-op: Called the doctor because I was so sick thatI was barely able to get anything down, including water. They prescribed an anti-nausea medication that dissolves on your tongue – took one and haven’t been sick to my stomach since! Still sore from vomiting, but feeling 100% better after getting the script filled and taken. Easily get my water and protein minimums met. Took a 15 minute walk around the neighborhood and then took a nap. Day 4-6 Post-op: Energy is great and pain management is easy with liquid ibuprofen or Tylenol. Having soreness in my back, but probably due to too much sitting around. Was able to do household shopping and light cleaning around the house. Able to bend easily to scoop litter boxes, vacuum,and any other task that doesn’t require heavy lifting or pulling. Eating hasbeen an adventure. Protein shakes and liquids in general are no trouble. More solid things are hit and miss – pureed shrimp was okay, but salmon caused sliming. And sliming is no fun, but not painful, thank goodness. String cheese was fine once but not tonight. Hummus, eggs, avocado/yogurt soup, and refried beans have been no trouble. I find I am able to take one biteof just about anything and I am fine as long as I chew, chew, chew. And, ofcourse, I’m not trying anything outside of my nutritional guidelines. On the downside, I can’t tell when I am full, so I have been tying to keep all portions at about ¼ cup, as that seems to work without making me slime. Starting tomorrow, I need to really up my protein and water intake, so that might be a challenge as I feel like I have something in my mouth all the time already. LOL Hunger is mostly gone, but head hunger is alive and well. Dr. Hoehn prescribes a self-injected medicine called arixtra to help prevent blood clots. We must inject ourselves once a day for seven days following surgery. I was dreading this and was pleased to find that it is so easy and painless. Swab some tummy fat with an alcohol prep pad, pinch, and jab. The needle is so fine that I haven't felt it even a little. Believe me, super, duper easy. I see my doctor tomorrow to have the staples removed. I’m hoping to be cleared for a bath as I dearly love soaking in the tub. I've been showering, of course. I just miss my bathtub. Otherwise, I feel very much on track. I’m using myfitnesspal.com to keep track of every bite and that is so helpful. I am “hswelch” there if anyone would like to find me there.

If you don't bring it into your house you can't eat it. I have Outshine pop cycles, grapes, peaches, and almonds for snacks. I also use a calorie counter on my fitbit and stay true to my count. I have one "free" day and I have an alcoholic drink that day.

Seashell29's list looks good. My question is whether you've met with a nutritionist? Have you been given some paperwork by your surgeon's office? I don't know how far from surgery you are, but there are usually pretty specific instructions about pre-op diets--many people have to do all liquids; some have protein shakes for breakfast and lunch with a lean dinner. But you should definitely be receiving guidance from your medical team. And I'm pretty sure you know the alcohol and hotwings are not good choices . . .

I haven't been sleeved yet, but my surgeon's paperwork says no alcohol for at least 6 months. An apple juice toast for the new year would work though!

You all are amazing!! I will hold off on the alcohol and push through this stall. You are right about not comparing myself to others something i have to work on. (obviously!)

It's been over a year since I've had carbonated beverages, caffeine, or alcohol. It turned out to be much easier than I ever would have guessed.

Hello! I had my surgery done December 14th, and i lost 12 pounds pre-op, and 8 pounds the first week post op and now i have stalled. I have read that it happens but it is really annoying. My surgeon required me on a liquid diet for 1 month. I feel like i should have lost more than 20 pounds. This is going to sound really lame but so far i have regretted this surgery. I just feel like i should have gotten the RNY but i could not because i take coumadin (blood thinner) and the malabsorption would not have processed it correctly. I started at 238 and now i am down to 218. Who gets stalled the second week? I guess i keep wondering if my pouch expanded or what.. I can eat less then i did before but more then i imagined. People talk about *not being hungry* doesn't happen to me, i get hungry all the time. I just fear that since i started the puree phase that the scale won't move. My question for you longer sleevers- when is it okay to drink a bit of alcohol? I am not much of a drinker but with new years coming up i was just wondering.

No sermon from me. I had wine within 90 days of surgery and have enjoyed it, beer and even cocktails with no problems since. Notice I said problems but didn't say issues. I've noticed small issues. The following is my own weird personal experience. YMMV. Alcohol just doesn't bring the same effect as it did before the surgery, so the buzz factor is gone. Wine brings a very vague buzz but it's over so fast you almost don't notice it. Real beer containing alcohol: no buzz at all yet near beer, eg Odouls etc, causes a slight buzz! Go figure! Cocktails bring a buzz but it's weaker than before and not fully pleasant. The "fun" of drinking is gone, I think never to return. So if you drink alcohol for the buzz you might never get it. If you drink for the chill and taste like I do, you won't miss any satisfaction. Drinks are still cold and still taste good. But there's no more "there" there. No lie, tonight after a sip of lambrusco, I found myself thinking, you know, this tastes like black cherry juice so why not just start chilling and drinking that. That's how weak the buzz is with no more fundus. But again YMMV. Use alcohol with caution.

You are cool :smile: tommaney and as I've said before your "third eye" has much to do with it! Major survival skills dealing with two alcoholic parents let alone one!!!! That is quite impressive:thumbs_up: It is the shit as they say but the way you deal, I deal(t) and others deal(t) with having alcoholic parents is such an accomplishment and a credit to ourselves:thumbup:. If we "pat" ourselves on the back it's because we've finally come to terms of having to nurture ourselves because our parents were nursing the bottle and self medicating. I loved my father although this was a major problem that affected the whole family but he was a brilliant man. Because of that he fathered 5 brilliant kids. Everyone has their PhD or their Masters or both or me her MRS. (worked and sent hubby of 27 years through college) but who knows I may have enough self esteem to get that AA one day!:redface: (I'm referring to associates degree). I chose to move out of a crazy house and work when I should have been finishing college. That was a coping mechanism that worked short term for me. Can't go back now! The major coping mechanism my family members use is their sense of humor, which we all get from our paternal grandmother, the Irish side of the family. It has taken most of us through much pain. I use my sense of humor/sarcasm to get through most awkward situations and I suppose I attempt to use it when it comes to my personal wl journey especially after going to my surgeon's office every month or so and the scale is either moving at slow to dead snail speed. I'm not a super star in that area but I do exercise now which I've come to use also as a coping mechanism. brandy II has left the building to be PHATABULOUS somewhere else:thumbup:

It could. I would check with my doctor. We've gone through too much to mess it up with alcohol. I'm afraid to even have a glass if wine.

Hi everyone. I hope I’m posting this in the correct place. I just wanted to get some insight or any prior experience. I had RNY on 9/9/13. Down from 311 pounds to between 170-180 now for maintenance. Prior to surgery, I was on Metformin, Protonix, and HCTZ. I was off all three meds within three months of surgery. Surgically, I had to have my appendix out and gallbladder removed many years ago, so neither are causing my current issues. About a month ago, I started getting wicked heartburn and reflux. My appetite is diminished. No vomiting, but zero desire to eat. I have cut out spicy foods, I’m not a smoker or tobacco user, and I do not drink alcohol. I’m 38 years old and in otherwise good health. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. I have tried OTC Omeprazole, baking soda, Tums, and all the antacids. I started drinking decaffeinated chamomile tea in the morning as well. Does anyone have experience with heartburn, GERD, etc. coming back many years after RNY? What ended up being the cause? I have my annual followup with my bariatric surgeon on October 11, but I’m wondering if I should move the appointment up. Thank you in advance for any insight!