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I was told to watch out for the sugar alcohols as well Sent from my LGMS631 using the BariatricPal App

Ladies! How nice to come home from work and find your messages. I don't know how to reply all--so I'm going to hop in and out of conversations. This is addressed to all! It's amazing how losing mobility will have you "two-stepping" it into the surgeon's office. Mo Grandma, I'm impressed with your progress both with weight loss and getting to the gym! Like Mo.Grandma, I had my "moment of clarity" when I was at my son's house, and I couldn't carry the baby up the stairs. Well, I could barely get my own big self up the stairs. I've been plagued with a bad knee, sciatica, and back pain which my orthopedist promises will get better as I lose weight. I lost about 40 pounds a couple of years ago doing Atkins. I regained about 15 of those after my husband died, and I could see the path before me, as pounds would creep up unbidden. This Christmas I had a marathon eatathon and ate enough candy covered pretzels to gain 8 pounds over a long weekend. I just plain got tired of it. Now, having had the surgery and returned to work, I think I can see the biggest stumbling block. Like an alcoholic, food was my addiction. What am I going to do with the time I used to spend, planning, shopping, preparing, eating, and cleaning up after dinner? So, I'm collecting recipes and cutting down the proportions to 1/2 to 1 Cup per meal. What are you guys doing? Oh, my name is Nicki. I've got to get one of those cute ticker things to put at the bottom of my posts! Cute--geeze, I haven't felt cute in a hundred years!

amillerjones, I struggle with alcohol too. Right now I am trying to not drink during the week. I haven't had a drink in a few days now which is really good for me. Try and just limit yourself.

Hi there. My name is Jess and I live in Oregon. I am 23 (24 next month). I am 5'5" and ~250lbs. This month I am going off depo prevera and eliminating all carbonated and alcoholic beverages from my diet. I already exercise three to four times a week (going to do more soon). On average I lose maybe a pound or two a month, but gain double that in muscle. I am considering lap band, and have been doing research on it the last couple weeks. I even got to watch it done through a streamed video. In the next week or so I'm going to be inquiring of my doctors a specialist I could get more information from. In the mean time I was wondering if there was anyone here from Oregon or the Northwest area who I could ask some questions of. Nice to meet you all, hope to hear from you soon. Jess

@@My Bariatric Life lol! I know they are processed. It's hard to cut out all processed foods...baby steps. I think I'm going to buy the variety pack of these. I like the fact that they are very high in fiber and no sugar alcohols. I was hoping someone tried them to give an opinion. I do eat a Quest bar from time to time but they are not my favorite. We will see what these are like. I'll keep you posted.

What are your go-to alcoholic drinks when out at bars after surgery? How do you tolerate them?

Redbull is carbonated as well. I personally have issues with carbonation, occasionally and I mean very occasionally can I handle a sip. It puts an extreme amount of pressure in my stomach and makes me honestly feel stuck. I loved a Red Stripe or Bud Ice before the band. It has been a year and a half now and I have yet to finish one whole beer. I am not a wine drinker unless they are sweeter and although carbonated, they are bit less than beers. I also let mine sit for a while, it bothers me less--warm. I will also drink, gin or vodka mixed with cranberry or OJ or whiskey/amaretto/ midori sours. Ever since banding, alcohol is harder for me to consume for some reason..good thing I am not missing out. Before I could handle at least a few with friends......I have not been drunk or barely tipsy since banding, so one drink can make me fuzzy or not.

My doctor told me I can if I want to. With that said I'm actually drinking a diet coke right now. my surgery was 2 years and 1 month ago. I have never had a problem with drinking sodas. Nothing has happened to my band. My doctor advised me that most doctors say no about carbonated beverages such as cokes/ alcohol just because they want you to change your diet and such and not really rely so much on the band. I've lost almost 100 pounds since surgery. Today I weighed in at a check up dr apt at 130.2. I'm not really the best example only because I haven't had any problems with band slipping or anything and I still eat everything except not much bread or rice, just smaller portions.

i know everyone is different but i'll be a year out in October and i drink and eat whenever i want (yes, even at the same time with meals). ive had carbonation, ive had alcohol, ive had carbs. now as a general rule i don't do the carbs, carbonation nor sugar, i keep it pretty keto, but i CAN if i want without issue. if you aren't very far out definitely listen to your nutritionist just letting you know things get easier and your tolerance gets higher for certain things. just be patient.

some of us get gassy when we eat carbs. Sugar alcohols (sugar substitutes ending in -itol, like xylitol) also cause G/I issues for some of us.

That is exactly what mine told me she was looking for. She really fixated on the fact I was bulimic in high school and my dad had been an alcoholic. She then drilled me on my 'addictive' behaviors. She also wanted to know about my support system. She even told me at the end that is was not really to look for conditions but to see if you are in the frame of mind to handle all that comes with the surgery. So, if you are fine on medication you should be OK. Good luck to you!!!

It will get better. I liked to keep ice on my belly. I would do it all day and night. I sucked down the liquid pain meds when I needed it. I just used a chaser like I was doing a shot of alcohol. Take it easy if your in that much pain! No need to rush yourself. Relax a little.

I know it must be very disappointing to hear that from someone and when I started my journey, I would have been devastated if someone said that to me. But they are professionals who have seen a LOT of patients and are really only trying to look out for your best interest. I am only 16 days post-op and this is tough. I am definitely a food addict and have been working with a counselor since beginning of February and it took me a while to admit that I was an addict, but once I understood it and accepted it, I am able to look at this whole process so differently (though I know this will be a battle the rest of my life just like an alcoholic is always an alcoholic but just in recovery.). My counselor has been my single most important tool in this process for sure. I am not sure if I am reading you correctly, and I don't want to assume, but if it is what I think (and it is real), please don't do this surgery yet. If you are not seeing a therapist, please do that first. The goal at the end of this is to be healthy - mentally, emotionally and physically. Remember they are not doing brain surgery, just stomach surgery and the brain is really the driving force behind it all. HUGS!

I'm eating way healthier and even with the Protein powders, etc. my food expenses are WAY down..... This includes grocery bill, alcohol, and restaurant tabs. When I used to get something from the deli I would sometimes get 2 medium containers of whatever and eat it all in one day. Now a small container of whatever lasts me 2-3 meals. At restaurants I either order an appetizer and still have leftovers or an entree and have 2-3 meals worth of leftovers. Preop I would order an appetizer, entree and a drink or two....with no leftovers. My clothes bill, on the other hand......

Sorry your husband seems so negative lately regarding your success with weight loss and just in general. Commenting on your last post I will say I can relate to your husband, as a man. . . I have a sarcastic sense of humor with my wife altho I would never let it get to the point to where she walked out. We kinda feed off each others sense of humors and sometimes mine comes off as assholish but really that's just my personality and she knows that. If I push it too far tho I generally tell her I am sorry and we make up. Are you perhaps over-analyzing everything now sense the intimacy of your relationship has become what you feel flawed to him? I know when my wife lost weight I can honestly admit I felt like I was going to lose her, at the same time I didn't attack her and just praised her for her efforts and hard work. . . but I can somehow relate with how he may be feeling deep within the sarcasm. As suggested perhaps some good ol fashion therapy is what you both need. You both need to lay out your feelings on the table and see what direction you both want to take your relationship. The last thing you want is to change for anyone but yourself. . . you only live once, make it as happy of a life as YOU can. . ya know? I wish you the best in all of this, and hope if it was meant to be. . that your marriage also heals over time and you both become one with the new you! As far as drinking goes, that's a bit of a personal opinion thing. . no one can tell you to stop drinking if it's something you enjoy, at the same time most of us can say when stressed it may lead to more obsessive drinking, and maybe he sees that you're stressed right now and perhaps feels you're turning to alcohol because of it? Once again, I wish you the best. . . if you need a man's perspective on anything or wish to ask me any question feel free to shoot me a message. I've been through a lot with my wife and if anything it has made us the incredibly strong union we are today. . very happy and blessed with two beautiful children!

ok, so here is the deal. i had the nasojejunum tube placed yesterday in IR....not as bad as i thought (way better than chest tubes and drains) but today my nose and my left face hurts. this is a temporary as i see the specialist wed and hopefully have an OR date for a jeujuostomy tube placed surgically like my last one. so i have to suck this up for about 2 weeks. i do not think i can handle much more than that. i bought a backpack and placed the bag, joey, syringes, alcohol wipes, etc so i can be on the go if i feel like it. not gonna feed during the night this time....will shoot for the 15 hours day time. yeah, the tube sucks, but i keep thinking temporary, and i know i will feel stronger and be able to socialize and beat this malnutrition thing. nice not to urp, vomit, etc.plus, with the 900cc of flushing, i can get hydrated even if i do not take much in orally. that said.....here's to protein and health!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH AND THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT!!!!

Thanks everyone who responded... good info. It's not that often that I'll drink to the point of feeling nauseous, but I just wanted to be safe and know, just in case. MeganA - the anti-nausea suppositories - you used it when you were already drunk because you were worried about puking, or the morning after? I wondered about that, because I know that there are people who purposely mix alcohol with Gravol, for a 'high' ... I suppose if you're on your way to just going to bed and will be sleeping through it, it would be ok? Greg - thank you - I'll remember those things. I planned to stay away from carbonated mixes anyways, but maybe now I'll make a point of having citrus-y ones and eat some cheese before I go out! Sleepyjean - I won't be jumping on you! - I don't know if it's a compulsion, especially when it's not something you do everyday (drinking excessively) (in which case, it would be being an alcoholic). I think we all *could* stop after a couple drinks, and do when it's called for, but I guess when you're having fun, and your drinks taste good, things can get away from you, and before you know it, you've had too much. I'm lucky in that drinking too much doesn't always make me feel like hell. It can be fun, and you never know how you're gonna end up feeling the next day, but I suppose if i KNEW for a fact how it would end up everytime I drank, I wouldn't drink that much. So anyways... thanks again everyone. I hope some more people respond as well, cause I'd like to have as much anti-nausea ammunition as possible. Mandi

I have posted on other sites a few facts on alcohol. 1st: before I retired as a police officer, alcohol enforcement and fatal crash investigations were my specilties. Since 1990 I have been involved at a local college as an instructor in what is called Standardize Field Sobriety Testing...I teach cops how to locate, field test, arrest and prosecute drink driviers. Part of our teaching tools is we actually pay people to come to the college and drink to the point of intoxication so that the police officer students can do the test on subjects who are intoxicated. In my career as an instructor I have dosed up over 3,000 people from sobriety to intoxication. I have also been involved in many studies about alcohol and its effects. Since I have been banded I have had to give up drinking any carbonated products. And I Loved my beer. I can't drink rum and coke unless I would flatten the coke out before drinking it. So I do straight liquor now. I have never found a wine I like. I don't drink to the point of intoxication and I haven't for many years. But I can give you a few hints about what you can do to keep from getting sick. Well # 1 don't drink too much. #2. Eat starcy foods a few hours before you start drinking. #3. Eat cheese before you drink and this will slow down the rate the alcohol passed thru your stomach into the intestines. It is in the intestines where 80% of the alcohol gets absorbed into your blood. But remember to eat and chew the cheese well as it has to get thru the stoma to the lower stomch so it can block the poloric valve. #4. After a few drinks drink a glass (8oz) of Water. Not only will this help the rate of intoxication slow down, but it will also help keep your brain hydrated and will reduce your hangover effect in the am. #5. Drinks with citris acid, Orange juice, grapefruit juice and the like will also slow down the rate alcohol gets into your blood strem. #6. If you eat cheese before you go drinking stay away from any coke or pepsi produces becasue they accellerate the rate at which the cheese breaks up and will counteract what you want the cheese to do. As Megan says your intoxication level is directly related to your weight so as you lose weight you will not be able to drink as many drinks. Men will be able to drink more then a woman of the same weight because a man's body is made up of more water then a womans. (this is not the case during menstration...the woman will be able to drink more). One 12 oz beer, one 6oz glass of wine and one jigger 45 ml (1 1/2 oz) of 86 proof alcohol are all equal and count as one drink. Basically a 150 man will have a blood alcohol level of .10 if he has 4 drinks in his system...Since you lose approximately one drink for every hour you drink a 150 man would have to drink 6 drinkS in a two hour period to be .10 There are other factors that can cause blood alcohol consentrations to raise like how much food you have eaten, stress levels etc. JUST REMEMBER FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK

You know, I definitely have food issues and consider myself an addict. I was raised by overeating non-drinkers who were raised themselves by alcoholics. Food addiction is all around me. I live with my mom right now, and it's a challenge. We don't eat together. She's a retired widow. I wanted to have supper together when I get home from work at 5pm, but we tried that for a few weeks after I moved in, and she got angrier and angrier at me. Finally I got the reason out of her. She said it's the "3 bites" of food I eat that makes it not worth her waiting for me. She eats "one big meal" at around 2pm each day. Ok. Not a problem. We will just eat separately. Well, one day I came home after half a day at work and let's just say I got between her and her food. Just by showing up, I interrupted her "big meal". Holy crap is all I can say. Seeing this flashed me back to my childhood. I haven't lived with my parents since I was around 21 years old. It all came back. Every one of us would hole up in our respective bedrooms with loads of food each night. We each had a tv as well. Now I literally can't eat with my mom unless we're at a restaurant or unless it's a holiday with company. And that's okay. It is what it is. I go to OA and I get what I need there. She supports my WLS for the most part, but we can't eat together peacefully. HOWEVER. My best friend has been a normal size her entire life until recently. She is cute, my height and wears a size medium top and has a nice waist. She has never. Dieted. A. Day. In. Her. Life. Never ever ever. I don't think she would even know what to do if she was handed a diet. Her older sisters have been both morbidly obese their entire lives. Not my friend. Small top, cute waist. Wide hips. She has her mother's build. "Birthing hips", they used to say. My friend has gained about fifty pounds since her wedding 28 years ago until today, going through menopause at age 55. Every ounce of it is in her rear. She's not happy about it, but she's never once expressed a desire to diet. Right now she weighs more than I do. She pointed that out because I've shared my WLS process and progress with her every step of the way. She's my number one supporter and always loved me, fat or thin. She does not have food issues. She has a fat butt. She'd like to wave a magic wand and make it thinner, but other than that, issue closed. So she's a person raised with obese overeaters, technically obese herself, but free of food issues and addictions and free of any desire to change her eating. So I'm a food addict. But my friend -- nope.

Hi everyone! I’ll be 62 in March. I’m almost 9 years post-op. Had RNY on 10/24/2008. My starting weight was 243.6. I lost 110 pounds and kept it off for a few years but then I started eating the wrong things and drinking alcohol. Before I knew it I had gained back {{{{ 60 }}}} pounds!!! I’ve lost ten and would like to lose another 40 or so.

I can't have an alcohol funeral until the end of the week when I've totally weaned off a fibromyalgia med. But I have my bottle of Cupcake Moscato D'Asti ready for Sunday. Lol

Yes, this is a drastic and permanent treatment. But for the first time ever, I don't feel like I'm on a "diet". That word brings up thoughts in me of what I can't have and honestly, I feel like I can have it all now, I just can't over eat any more. If I do there are consequences, (puking or dumping) and I'm not likely to repeat that behavior anytime soon which was my cycle before. When I fell off the wagon, I'd fall long and hard. I'll be 2 year out in October maintaining a 90ish pound loss for over a year, (longest ever). I exercise 5x per week first thing (stationary bike and some light strength training at home, not a gym rat by any means). I worry about regaining every day, but it doesn't control my life and neither does food anymore. If I gain a few pounds, I give up empty calories like treats and alcohol, eat a little smarter and bump up my exercise a bit till it comes off. I can MANAGE my weight now for the first time in my life. As far as a new metabolic setpoint, I kind of believe that, which is why I started exercising and building muscle and why I ate as many calories as my weight loss could bear, (about 1200 per day), because I wanted to land in a manageable place for long term maintenance. So far, so good. Good luck in your decision!

I know it's difficult for me sometimes to be good when my wife decides to diet. When she became pregnant it was difficult to cut back my alcohol and sucked that we couldn't both belly up at a bar like we used to. I still very much loved my wife. Maybe you focus more on your own intake and let him focus on his own. Sounds like he was supportive since he was there with you to get the surg and was considering it himself. Maybe you find you have a hubby 40 lbs overweight that still very much loves you. I'd go to Vegas. You battle the temptation, you got the tool. I would be a little more generous when he slips. He doesn't have the tool. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

UPDATE: We stopped in Vegas on our way to Utah to go riding. Didn't drink alcohol because we still had driving to do. We had an amazing time. He laughs at my portion size. We did eat out just about everyday. We chose his meal together from the healthier options, then he allowed me to take my share. Commenting along the way that he won't ever miss 2 oz of his meal. I think the biggest part of my dilemma was I thought he wanted to lose weight with me and I was supper frustrated that he wasn't willing to change. I am coping much better with the advice that I chose this surgery, My life will forever be changed. He didn't have this surgery so he doesn't have to tool. I was getting all stressed out trying to help him eat healthy, reminding him to not drink. SCREW that!! He is a big boy, if he wants things to stay that way, why should it stress me out. I now say "I am heading to the gym" and off I go. If he tags along fine, if he watches TV fine. Eventually he may get on board but for now it looks like life as usual at least for him. I am down 30 lbs!!!!

Hi Tiffy .. No dont have the old paperwork, but I am almost positive that it didnt say anything about alcohol. I only drink mixed drinks anyway, you know the girly kind. And even before the surgery I was a lightweight. Just dont want to miss out since I am having a New Years party. My BF just had his sleeve done on 12/15 .. probably not a good idea for him to drink then ha? LOL ...