Search the Community

Had my surgery Tuesday the 27th. I guess I really did not prepare myself for the pain I would be feeling. I was so caught up on what I could and could not eat, it never occurred to me that I would be hurting like hell. Liquid percocet is my best friend right now. Surgery went well without a hitch. Having alot of shoulder pain. Having alot of heartburn, indigestion. Not hungry at all. Struggling to get enough protein and fluids in me. When I was in the process of all the testing, paperwork, preop, etc, etc...I thought that was the hard part. I thought after surgery it would be a breeze. Not exactly. Now the real fun begins. But I am up for the challenge. Sorry if I am rambling on. Blame it on the alcohol...no..no...the percocet.....

I had the same thing. As soon as the redness arrived, I removed the steri-strips that were elsewhere, and I'm glad I did. I put Neosporin with pain treatment on them and tried to let them open to air as much as possible. I washed the area daily and also used rubbing alcohol to help dry things up. It lasted just over a week, but it did clear up before my three week check up. It started after my drain was removed at one week.

Thanks! I am pretty happy so far, not a lot of pain, just tightness. There was one weird thing though. On the plane home, the gentleman next to me ordered a drink. The smell of the alcohol made me so sick. I drink and have never felt like that before. Anyone else have something like that? Laura

I am almost 4 weeks out and it just keeps getting better and better and better.This is the hapiest I have been in a long time just knowing that if I follow the ''rules'' and do as I should I actually have a chance to be thin and regain my heath! That to me means no more CPAP machinewhich =better sleep (God willing)and relief for my Osteoarthritis pain in my knee which = better motion/mobility.(God willing). Another benefit is I am no longer ravenously hungry to the point of feeling like a "bottomless pit"when I eat.I had a bad problem with emotional overeating that after I conquered that habit,I knew a band would further help me in that habit not returning because it will be ther to remind me that I may have pain if I overeat again ,for whatever reason.I handle my emotions differenty and I get out /express what is bugging me instead of destroying myself with food,cigarettes,or alcohol.; Newbie,if you do the best you possibly can to follow the band "rules" you will be very successful and over time you will not think of food the same way ever again.This may seem frightening for you now but over time you will look back and feel as if this was the best thing you ever did for your health and self esteem.I have lost 30 lbs already and that is from July 19th -September 26th,and I am feeling better every day. Yes,it is a complete lifestyle makeover but what you will gain in health,self-worth,and how others will treat you better is priceless.Good luck to you on your journey!

Wow, this one is a tough one because I can see it from both sides. I am 50, my husband and I lived for fun on the weekends with our friends. Alcohol was very much part of our social life. My surgery was January and I totally stayed away from any alcohol for 6 months per doc recommendation. It was very different being around the same group of friends, being out on the boat, or camping with our friends without drinking. I did it because I was determined to follow doc advise and like Tiff said above, I did enjoy just being with my friends and hanging out,,, the fellowship of being with friends! Then I tried crystal light with cherry flavored vodka and loved it.. Now I am “almost” at 9 month mark and I have allowed drinking to back into my weekend activities…not smart.. I regret it and my slow weight loss is reflecting it. Summertime boating and camping is done now where I live and I have vowed to get back on track of no alcohol until I reach goal… In hindsight I wish I had never touched the stuff until I reached goal because it does bring in sloppy eating habits as well. For me... although my doc said I could drink after 6 months.. I wish I never had.

It's really just a temporary situation. Once you lose your weight, and can tolerate the social aspects and behaviors with food and alcohol, an active social is an extremely realistic goal. I just didn't waste my "honeymoon" with alcohol and social life. I ate out with my friends, but I chose healthier options, and learned that I enjoyed the experience, friendship, fellowship far more than the food. Once I was at goal, I introduced alcohol back into my life. The first few times I drank, it did hit me hard and fast then I sobered up fast. Not a lot of fun, but a few months in, maintaining a good buzz was not difficult. I have a very active social life, and socially drink. Obviously, I haven't in pregnancy, but before pregnancy, I was a social drinker and would tie one on monthly with my girlfriends.

Just be prepared that alcohol affects us differently now with the miniature tummy. The first time I had a drink , I was really surprised how much I felt it!

I'm 55 and I love to eat out and have a few drinks. I'm waiting till the 6 month post surgery because that's what my Dr. recommends. I know many people have started having drinks earlier, but I'm most comfortable following my Dr's program. Also, I'm worried about transfer addiction and the way alcohol loosens me up to eat a lot of Snacks, so I'll be monitoring my drinking closely post-op. I do miss drinking, but I have something fun and I'm always the designated driver now :-) At first, I couldn't have caffeine, so I just had still Water with a splash of cranberry juice when at a bar. Now I have that, coffee, or an iced tea. For the food, I often order off the appetizer menu, but sometimes I order a full dinner and just take part home. Like others, I concentrate on Protein when eating out, just like at home. I can't eat the soft part of the bread (makes me sick), but I do eat a bite or two off the crust if they restaurant has good bread. some of my meals: PF Changs: Lettuce Wraps, Tuna Takati, Oolong Marinated Sea Bass Coastal restaurants: Crab or shrimp cocktail, clam chowder, grilled sardines, BBQ: Smoked chicken, pork ribs When you're hanging out on the boat with friends, just make sure you have stuff you can have and that you like and you won't feel deprived (at least I don't!). I like the Diet Lipton Citrus Green Tea when it's hot and I like having a Soy Latte when it's cold (can't tolerate milk since the operation). For snacks, I eat popcorn, beef stick bites, lite salami, watermelon or cantaloupe or something like that. I have also eaten a few chips or crackers. If everyone is having desert, sometimes I have a bite too. I'm not hungry like I used to be, so I don't eat as much snacks as I used to and I almost never have sweets. A few bites and I'm happy with that. Lynda

I am being sleeved tommorow and I am not afraid of the surgery but starting to fret over the loss of my social life. Most always friend get togethers are over food and alcohol or dinning out.. My husband and I are weekend social drinkers, we have a boat and drinks throughout the day have become a norm. Its a good thing that I am 53 for I see it would be more difficult as a young woman in her 20's in todays society. We like to travel and go to places that are all inclusive but it looks like that would be a waste of money. Please help me with some tips on how to drink and eat sleeved yet still be safe.. I know it will be several months before I will even begin to experiment but If youve had similar experiences I wold like to hear from you.

You might also look into aversion therapy, since smoking is a combination of chemical addiction and behavior/habituation. Aversion is what the Schick-Schadel centers provided 20 years ago or so and used a minor shock (like from a 9V battery) to replace the pleasant sensations you get from smoking with unpleasant ones. My wife went through it (a few sessions within a week) and has been smoke free for the past 20+ years. I don't know who does this these days as Schick Shadel seems to be into alcohol and drug addiction treatment these days, but it's something worth checking out if the chemical/drug based solutions don't work.

Queenmab - here is what I did in the last seven months. I did not do a lot of exercise the first six weeks. At six weeks, I started walking at work. (Huge building – large halls – organized walkers) and using my elliptical. At about 4-5 months, I started doing Zumba class once a week. I haven’t any exercise for the last 6 weeks because I have had a cast on my right foot and ankle. I just got out of it into an ankle stabilizer, so it’s back to walking and the elliptical – but no Zumba for a while. I will start physical therapy on my ankle in another two weeks and will find out when I can start back to Zumba. I am going to start working out with light weights and doing floor exercises (lunges, squats and ab exercises) and am looking to add a spinning class or two a week. From the standpoint of eating – I started out barely able to get 40 grams of Protein in a day. By about 3 weeks into sold foods, I was able to get my 60 grams of protein a day. (if I'm remembering right) I counted total calories, grams of protein, grams of carbs, grams of fat and ounces of fluids. I was tried to keep the carbs low – usually ranged from 30 – 60 grams per day – but wasn’t as adamant about the carbs as some on the forum. But my carbs primarily came from veggies, a few fruits, cottage cheese, yogurt, and the prepared Protein shakes. I do not eat white carbs – bread, Pasta, potatoes, crackers (except melba toast or flatbread) or cereals. I measured (still do!) my food – my food scale and measuring cup are my best friend. I kept my calories to around 500 from 6 weeks to about 5 months – then went to about 600. At 6 months I raised it again, and now eat between 600 and 800. I try to get between 60 – 80 grams of protein per day.. For Breakfast, I eat a protein smoothie made in my magic bullet, or drink a Protein shake. Once in a while to vary the monotony I will eat cottage cheese and fruit and may add a little extra protein into the mix. If I make a shake it is with nectar Protein powder – I like the fuzzy navel flavor – which I mix with part of a frozen bananna and frozen strawberries, or the chocolate flavor mixed with a low cal yogurt. For a snack – I might have 2 laughing cow wedges on melba toast, or a baby bell light cheese or an Activia light yogurt. For lunch – I make tuna salad out of the foil packages of tuna, mixed with 2 T of dill relish and 2 T of lite miracle whip. Or I have 3 ounces of chicken breast or 3 ounces of salmon (again from the foil pouch). I will usually eat a veggie at lunch – either cherry tomatoes, green Beans, sugar snap peas, carrots or cucumbers. For a snack – I will have one of the cheese Snacks from above, or another helping of veggies. Now that I’m eating 80 grams of protein, I might have 15 grams of protein from beef Jerky as a snack. For dinner – it’s usually 3 ounces of some kind of protein (the choices listed above) or beef or pork or grilled fish or grilled chicken. Sometimes I make an omelet with one egg, 2T of cheese, some sautéed mushrooms, and 1 ounce of protein. I have another serving of veggies with dinner – I love steam squashed or steamed asparagus or fresh sliced tomatoes. Sometimes for lunch or dinner, I go to a Chinese food restaurant or a Mexican food restaurant. If I eat Chinese food – it is chicken and veggies, beef and veggies, or shrimp and veggies. I get 2 to 3 meals from the meal. If I eat Mexican – it is chicken fajitas – no rice, no beans, no tortillas. Again – 2 to 3 meals from the meal. I also eat the fresh salsa like gazpacho – about ¼ - 1/3 cup. That restaurant also does steamed zucchini as a veggie – and I eat some of it. If I want a treat in the evening, I have a low cal sugar free pudding or a low cal fudgesicle. I don’t eat sugary or really fatty (fried) foods. I haven't eaten a real "sweet" since the surgery. I think my Calcium chews (like caramels) are a wonderful "treat" when I have them in the morning. I drink between 60 ounces and 100 ounces of Fluid per day. I don’t drink carbonated beverages or caffeinated beverages. I have sipped a little bit (2 mouthfuls) of alcohol 3 times during the seven months. It goes straight to my head. I don’t plan on having a real drink until I am at goal. M2G - Here is a picture of me at Christmas. I met with my doctor about January 10th, and started my pre surgery diet on February 9th. My surgery was on February 22nd. The second picture is of me on March 1st - while I was still home recuperating from the surgery.

My therapist talks a lot about having to learn new coping skills since food has always been it for me. I joked that I don't know anyone with good coping skills Seems like it always...alcohol, drugs, food, shopping, gambling, workaholic, sex addition etc. I asked if "real" people have good coping skills, lol. She insist they do. I'm planning on getting sleeved next month, and was wondering without food, what new habits have others learned for coping? Right now if I have a terrible day, I stop for fast food or ice cream....with an almost "I owe it to myself" mindset, for comfort. I desperately want to be successful after WLS and never want to be this large ever again.

I was on basically the same plan - nothing special until the day before. There is a lot of variation in programs - intensive pre-op diets or none at all; extensive Clear Liquids to normal liquids to mush to soft to normal over weeks post op to mush and soft from the hospital on out; no carb trendiness to basic good nutrition with hi Protein. It's mostly based upon what experience the surgeon has and what has worked for him in the past. With the VSG being relatively new, much of it is based upon the surgeon's experience with other procedures, so I suspect that a lot of the intensive liquid post-op diet is a holdover from RNY practice. I was one who was on mush/puree/soft stuff in the hospital, so if their program says that garden burgers, egg noodles, mashed potatoes, tuna, rice & Beans, oatmeal, etc are fine in the first month, they have a lot more experience with sleeves, some 20 years worth, than I do - who am I to argue? If the doc doesn't feel that an intensive pre-op "liver shrinking" diet is necessary, and he's a liver specialist along with his bariatrics, I figure that he knows that aspect of it better than most (I also won't argue with him about his no alcohol for the 12-18 months prime weight loss period policy, either - he knows our livers better than most docs.)

My dr. said her #1 rule is absolutely NO carboration. She said it stretches out our pouch, and can cause the band to slip, which means another surgery. She said the #1 lap band problem-maker is carbonation! So now, if I want an alcoholic drink, I sip a glass of wine, or a shot of bourbon over ice (both 100 calories). I didn't drink diet soda that often, so now I just don't.

I'm a firm believer that if the relationship is rocky pre-major life change, the relationship will only worsen. And, now he's accusing you, and projecting his guilt and insecurities onto you. For me, I would not stay. I just would not allow myself, or my children to endure the abuse and lack of a real marriage. I agree that exposing your children to this will forever imprint on their hearts and minds that this is the way "love and marriage" is supposed to be. Believe me, coming from an adult child of divorce(my mom finally left my abusive, alcoholic father after 23 years of marriage, I was 21 years old), I learned a lot from their relationship. I had my fair share horrible relationships(because that's all I knew), but something finally clicked and I realized that myself and my son deserved so much better. Love and marriage is a choice we make every day. It doesn't sound as if the marriage is repairable at this point, nor does it sound as if either of you have a true desire to make it work. It won't be easy, but getting out would be easier than living in and allowing your children to see/hear/feel the toxicity of your marriage.

I was married for 24 years to an alcoholic/drug abuser. He was very functioning and I didn't even know about most of his lifestyle, but that is neither here nor there A few things I've learned in life: Your kids see your relationship and will recognize it as they form their own......that means your sons will think this is normal behavior. How much do you want them to grow up this way? This behavior is not going to change. Your relationship is not going to change. He is not going to change. You COULD overcome it, but it will not change. It may deteriorate, but it will not change. This is a hard concept, but people are fundamentally unchangeable. I see the way I have grown since my divorce, and even though I look at myself and see this "change" that I mention above cannot happen, in my soul I know I've grown, I've mellowed, I've done a lot of thinking, but the part of me that knows me best knows that I am basically the same, I have just learned to recognize traits in others and myself that I wasn't willing to see when I was in my 20's and 30's. I had a 5-year plan prior to my divorce, and made it through 3 of those years before his addictions were beyond living with. I stayed together for the kids as so many do, and when it was all over I realized I didn't do anybody any favors. I wish I would have followed through when my kids and myself were younger. Starting over at almost 50 is not much fun, but it can be And it sure beats starting over in my 60's or 70's. Find a therapist, for yourself, your family, your marriage. They teach you exercises to help you recognize what you need and if you're getting it. Go together, go alone, just go.......it does help. I won't tell you to stay or go, but you already know what you need to do, its the doing that is hard. Its going to suck, but it isn't permanent. Today, life is pretty fabulous.........and a long time coming!

I think you'll be fine chickee ! ! ! They are mainly looking for trends in behaviors such as addictive personalities (previous alcohol, drug abuse), depression/anxiety, lack of coping mechanisms/skills, triggers for suicide and/or other mental disorders that could be intensified with the life-altering post-op lifestyle. My psych eval went fine, the personality test was a bit skewed and labeled me as an introvert which is the furthest thing from the truth. And, I agree, it is very intimidating to walk into an office and feel like that one human holds the key to your entire future. Hang in there ! ! !

I am not a beer drinker, but I drink soda. The carbonation is not going to stretch out your sleeve. There is zero scientific evidence to show that soda stretches anything. I drink mixed drinks mostly (not in pregnancy), but when I go out it's either wine or rum/cokes. I waited until I was at goal to indulge in alcohol mainly for 2 reasons; 1) Empty Calories that weren't worth drinking 2) In the rapid weight loss phase, our livers are working overtime, I didn't think it was worth it to throw alcohol in my body for my liver to process on top of everything else.

I agree with everyone else. Those "rules" just don't sound right. I do the sublingual B12, never used Protein shakes/drinks regularly because they made me sick, and I eat anything and everything. I drink soda, alcohol, through a straw, and I'm over 2 years out with zero issues. The pre-op diet (if yours is all liquids, mine wasn't liquids at all just low carb) yep that sucks, and the couple of weeks of liquids to allow your staple line to heal suck, but those things are temporary. So, by your program's rules, I would be the least compliant patient. By my program, I'm one of the biggest successes ! ! ! I would ask more questions, and really evaluate the "why" behind these rules/suggestions.

I haven't asked my Doc how long I could drink Alcohol. I just figured, it wouldn't do anything to help with weight loss, so i was content to just wait until i hit my goal. Coffee on the other hand.... For now i'm okay because of the B12, but I do miss the taste

Your dr. sound VERY similar to mine. I was told no alcohol until at least 1 year post-op (I'm 10 months now and haven't had a drop of alcohol or soda since before surgery) I was told to say goodbye to caffeine forever and now I do drink 1 cup of decaf a day (decaf still has small amts of caffeine). My dr. also doesn't believe in the liver-shrinking diet and said my liver was beautiful when he was in there...lol. I think follow your surgeon's guidelines and use your own common sense. If caffeine or alcohol are slippery slopes for you then maybe give yourself more time before partaking. While they are not slippery slopes for me (I truly had no problem giving them up, as I'm not a big drinker anyway, diet soda was harder than alcohol for me, but I did it anyway, cold turkey too!) I just felt it was in my best interests to not give myself tiny amounts of something that my body doesn't even need. You will figure out what works best for you and your sleeve.

I had my 1 week post-op follow up yesterday & they told me that I'm ok to drink alcohol again. They even said an occasional beer here or there is ok, but did highly discourage it because of it being empty calories. So, I had a small glass of scotch last night instead! It was so nice!

sometimes carbonation can make you throw up... also it expands your stomach, which is why you are suppose to avoid it. I dont know where you are at in your journey, but when yhou have a lot of restriction you may be more sensitive to it. I used to be a diet coke addict, now one drink makes me puke. Litterally. Dont stress it. Just do the best you can to avoid alcohol and carbonation so you dont stretch out your pouch or consume too many calories.

I think that the variation in advice stems from the differing experiences and backgrounds of our surgeons - some have noted their docs as not caring about the nutritional aspect of the plan, as they are the surgeon and that's the nut's job. My doc is one who is in the no alcohol at all for the 12-18 month (or whatever it takes) weight loss period camp (which also gets brought up in the psych eval - can you give up drinking for a year or more?), and that comes from his experience as a liver transplant surgeon, which he still does along with the bariatrics. Needless to say that he is a bit anal about liver health. His view is that being obese, our livers are in bad enough shape to begin with, add to that the load it has metabolizing all of the fat that we're losing, so you don't want to give it any more to handle in metabolizing alcohol. Other surgeons don't have that perspective, but may bring other experience to the table (hence, you find some docs heavily into the no carb trend while others stick with more classic balanced nutrition concepts.) I do find it curious, however, that my doc doesn't go in for the intensive "liver shrinking" pre-op diet that seems to be so important to some docs. These program variances may be disconcerting to some, but on the other hand, it does give us some choice in programs when choosing a surgeon.