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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.

There is a big difference between folks who didn't receive guidance, and need advice from others who have shared the same journey because they have no where else to turn. I think the first poster was upset about folks who were told what to do by their doctors (such as no alcohol for six months) and then come here asking for some sort of validation for doing exactly what their doctor told them not to do.

Alex: I had no problem eating and drinking alcohol at the Bachelorette party and did not experience the pain you mention. I still knew when to stop eating and did. The only reason I can imagine that would happen is if you get so drunk that you forget you are banded and do eat way too much. Then the pain the next day would be horrendous. I can't imagine the way alcohol affects the body chemically would make the band loser. THat just isn't feasible in my mind. But I might be wrong here. Yes, It can happen.

One last thought on alcohol. I still drink, but I don't get drunk. A comfortable buzz is the farthest I'll take it. I don't want to get so drunk that I have to puke. Vomiting is a no, no, no for banded people!

My rant for the night. Neighborhood Party tonight..Everyone is there. Except me. (kicking my teddy bear)lol I live in a small private subdivision. The neighborhood gets together for parties often. At the last party, A husband got uncomfortably friendly with me. A hello kiss and moving in too close. He demanded I have a shot with him. I avoided him for the night and chalked it up to alcohol. Now I have been taken off the guest list. Not a word or explanation. I am only speculating it was the situation at the last party...Who knows what other social faux pas I might have made. How did I become the bad guy here??? Damn it, We own our home.

It could also be gas. I find that when I eat SF popsicles or anything that contain sugar alcohols, a couple hours later I have horrible bloating/cramping/gas pain. Excessive gas can create a lot of pressure buildup in your stomach and intestines. Hope you feel better!

@@pixystix0116 - I can only share my experience, everyone is the same in that we are all VERY different. So with that said, let me tell you what I did to prep...I walked for at least an hour every day. I went to the gym 3x a week to lift. I was very faithful two weeks before surgery on the diet, got rid of alcohol, caffeine et. al. Surgery day came, because I was in as good shape as I could get. Surgery took less than 30 minutes. I was up and walking within minutes. The first day was rough only because of the dang IV and the drain plug. After both were removed I didn't need any pain killers. Would walk all the time. I had the surgery on a Tuesday. Flew home Friday morning (added an extra day, because I always plan for the worst case). But Saturday I went to an University of Oklahoma football game and my son's fraternity "Dad's Day" celebration. So pain on surgery day 1 - eh 5, after that 1-2. So much better than when my appendix burst. That took nearly six weeks to recover from.

I went to today for my 3rd weigh in/fill and was down another 10 pounds! Wooooo-hooooo! Every time I zip up a size 18, I still can’t believe it! It’s strange that I can pretty much predict down to the pound how much I’m going to loose every month…and yes, I only weight once a month. My mom asked me if I’d lost as much as I was hoping for, and I told her, “yes,” because even though I was hoping to loose 12-15 lbs, I knew that was unrealistic, and I knew going in that I was going to be down about 10 lbs. And really, when you think about it, what difference is two more pounds going to make? It’s not. It’s not like people won’t notice that you’ve lost 38 pounds, but they WILL notice 40? A steady loss of 2 lbs. a week is fine with me, hell, it’s more than fine; it’s GREAT! So, here’s what’s weird…and this is sooooo difficult to explain to people who haven’t been banded. At my last fill, I actually felt real restriction, so for the first time in my life, I don’t obsess over food. I don’t binge. I don’t eat and eat and eat and then eat some more. Food has become a non-issue. When anyone asks where I want to eat, I tell them I don’t care; because I really don’t. It’s just not a big deal. So, what’s the problem? Here’s the problem: For almost my entire life I’ve been an addict. My eating disorder had as much of a hold on me as heroin would have on a junkie, or booze would have on an alcoholic. Now, when I’m not hungry, or I’m satisfied…when I’m not “using” food, I associate that feeling with “binging”. Does that make sense? It’s just that it’s been that way for SO long, that my mind has trouble accepting that I’m satisfied and not hungry, and it’s NOT because I’ve eaten everything in sight…it’s because I’m banded. So, I’ve walked around these past 5 weeks thinking, “Shit! I can’t believe I did that! How could I have eaten all that food? How could I go back to “using?” Then, I have to actively remind myself that I haven’t gone back to my old ways; I haven’t binged. It’s just strange…a good strange, but very unsettling all the same. And, get this; I go in and tell my nurse that I don’t think I need a fill, but I’m not sure. She hooks me up and has me drink the “stuff,” and she says, “Oh yeah, you need a fill.” I ask her how she can tell, and she says that she can tell by how easily the liquid is going down. So, as I’m getting ready to leave, she reminds me that I won’t be back for three months, but if I need a fill I need to let them know. My thing is this; I won’t know if I need a fill. I didn’t know this time! I tell her this and she says, “Well if you find yourself getting hungry, then you know you need a fill.” O.K…I didn’t get hungry this time. And I won’t get hungry next time. I guess what I do, is just push it out of my head and ignore it. I joke around that I’m really good at being hungry, but I guess, it’s not a joke. It’s kind of pathetic in a way; I’m so used to being hungry that it’s normal now. Ah well, I guess that’s a concept only a former fat kid can grasp. At any rate, I will close saying this: My life is so GREAT that I can’t believe it’s MINE!

Sunday, June 14, 2009 Surgery as surrender Having once been married to an alcoholic and having attended Alanon for many, many years, I've learned a lot about addiction. I know that we are addicts because we are addicts. Environmental issues can impact the predisposition of our genes, but once our addictions are triggered, we are addicts because we are addicts. I also know that in order to recover you have to be willing to do whatever it takes. You surrender your will to God and become willing to do whatever it takes, to go to whatever lengths it takes. For an alcoholic or drug addict that may mean going through rehab, going on meds to treat depression that could drive them back into addiction, working the 12 steps constantly, going to 90 meetings in 90 days, calling a sponsor and being sponsored, and never ever touching another drop of alcohol because once they start they can't stop. In a very real sense this surgery represents my surrender. I will always have to eat to live. Everytime I pick up food it can trigger my addiction. Having attended many Overeater's Anonymous meetings, I can testify that very few people are able to permanantly keep their weight off. Only those who are capable of being really anal seem to succeed. Weighing, measuring, checking every ingredient, counting carbs, calories, points, filling out food plans. These may all be good things but I'm not capable of them--at least not for long. Just the thought of doing these things gives me a panic attack. I hire people to do my paperwork and attend to details because I'm so bad at it. I've accepted my ADHD as a gift and I no longer try to be good at what I'm not good at. I do what I'm good at, which is being a highly flexible, very creative, gifted teacher. I generate ideas like confetti. My lesson plans are barely a guideline. By having this surgery, my stomach will become the weigher and the measurer. I can follow the simple food guidelines which will take me from clear liquids to 1000-1200 calories a day of healthy food without having to make food plans the rest of my life. Unhealthy food and too much food will make me very uncomfortable. I'll experience satiety--a completely unfamiliar feeling. And I'll be reprogramming the addiction center in my brain. It won't be easy. I'll still be triggered by the sight, smell, and taste of food. The surgery will be a jumpstart on food sobriety, like going into rehab. I'll still have to surrender my food to God every day. But with my body cooperating instead of fighting it, I stand a much better chance of success. This is the length to which I am willing to go to acheive food sobriety and better health. This is my surrender to God. If your stomach offends you, if it causes you to stumble, if its an obsession that takes you away from being able to love God above all and your neighbor as yourself--tie it off.

@@labwalker said: There is a big difference between folks who didn't receive guidance, and need advice from others who have shared the same journey because they have no where else to turn. I think the first poster was upset about folks who were told what to do by their doctors (such as no alcohol for six months) and then come here asking for some sort of validation for doing exactly what their doctor told them not to do. @@labwalker, it's a bit of both. Yes, some people seem committed to recreating their pre-op lifestyle as soon as possible. I sense that some patients would never have been approved for surgery if they'd had to jump through any hoops at all. But I've been puzzled that people would commit to this surgery -- no matter where or at what price -- and not be prepared either by their surgeons or, in lieu of that, self-education about what they can expect and how they will live. As @@tkauhi has just confirmed, some surgeons simply don't educate their patients about post-operative behaviors even a little bit. Mind-boggling! I have to wonder how those surgeons' patients' complication rates and long-term success rates compare (on the whole) to those of patients whose surgeons prepared them better for post-WLS life.

You are committing to no alcohol your whole life time? Not even a sip? How far out are you?

I had wine after three months on a cruise - no issue. Keep in mind alcohol consumption will stop weight loss in its tracks. It also didnt take a whole lot to get loopy. A reasonable doctor will tell you that you will need to live your life. Its not reasonable to assume you will never drink alchohol, eat something fried, eat cake, eat something bad for the rest of your life. If you are reasonable about it you can do those things once in a while.

Alcohol is not supposed to be consumed for several months out. One guy said he got ulcers from alcohol. https://www.google.com/amp/guidedoc.com/8-foods-to-avoid-post-bariatric-surgery-diet/amp Tie Hill Samsung S6+

Tiffykins has a good point by point response to this list. I would further break down the list to those issues that are VSG specific and those that are general to all WLS procedures, or rapid weight loss in general. The chronic GERD and possible twisting of the sleeved stomach are the only ones on the list that are really VSG specific. When you start looking at procedure-specific side effects, the sleeve starts to stand out from the others, and it's easy to see why it's gaining popularity. Issues that may be important to some is the general requirement by most WLS surgeons that patients stop smoking and drinking alcohol before surgery and for some variable period of time post-op, and that alcohol tolerance may be reduced long term. Another "issue", of sorts, to note is that all of the WLS procedures take some lifestyle changes and committment, which vary some by procedure, to be really effective long term - none of them are cures unto themselves.

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.

Floridays,,, thanks for your response as Ive said to you before I often loo for your advice and input as one of an 'expert' becuase you are so far along in your journey. I am not much of a drinker, actually the last time I "drank to much" was over 2 years ago. Yes I do party, but it mainly consists of dancing, and talking with my friends.. no other activites much beyond that. Interesting to me that you dont like alcohol much anymore, I could absolutely live without it now, but I do enjoy it once in a while. I wonder if I will have the same feelings as you. Only time will tell!! Thanks for your advice!!

I am 18 and here in New Zealand that's the legal drinking age. Since alcohol is heavily in our Barbecue/backyard/laid back life style I know it's going to be IMPOSSIBLE to cut Alcohol out completely. I plan on counting every alcoholic calorie and allowing for it once a week or so (and of course nothing carbonated.) I know it's not ideal but its what works for me!

I haven't had one yet and I'm 3 months out. Talk with your surgeon. I believe alcohol can be irritating to a new sleeve.

My doctor told me no more alcohol period. It's going to be hard but you've already gotten this far. I'm not drinking anymore for myself, I've invested so much in this weight loss journey. I'll support and not judge any decision you make. Good luck. Sent from my LG-H901 using BariatricPal mobile app

From what I've heard, at least from my surgeon (not sure what yours would say), after a year, once in a while drinks are okay, but be aware that because you have a smaller stomach, the alcohol will hit you differently. You won't need as much to get a buzz. It's also calorie-dense and dehydrates you, so keep that in mind as well.

First and foremost, I want to apologize if I inadvertantly hurt your feelings. I did not bash you, I merely provided your post and highlighted what you said to show how destructive we can all be to ourselves (I'm including myself in this). I beg to differ that this is getting out of hand, this is what many people need to hear and read. See the post above yours. I know when someone esle wrote things similar to what we are writing, it helped me stay on my post-op diet. It helps to know why and sometimes it helps to have the point driven home time and time again. This is serious business, it could be your band. I know no one would EVER wish harm to another person here. And we who have been there do not wish harm to any of you, either. That is why we take the time (and believe me, it takes a lot of time for me to type what I do-I'm not that fast, nor am I very accurate) to write these things and point out the things that are said to you. We all want you to be successful. I want ME to be successful, I'm not right now and I could use a swift kick in the pants re: my simple carb intake but that's for another thread I'm sure I'll start soon. It is soooo easy to fall into the trap of complacency we were all in that made us fat. Simply put we didn't have to work at it. It was easy. We sat on our butts for the most part and we ate what we should not have (there are rare cases where it is something endocrine, but that is VERY infrequent). Lets face it, it is HARD to lose weight, even with this band. It is ESPECIALLY hard to be in Bandster Hell. Everyone of us who is posting about why you shouldn't ramp up your post-op diet has been there. We DO know what it feels like, we know what it's like to be all emotional and wonky and depressed. I know that it was very hard, I cried some days because I couldn't figure out why I wanted this band that I worked so hard to get, out of me. I was desperate to chew, I wanted something of substance, I am addicted to food. I am an addict. But I had to control that addiction for a few weeks to allow this tool that I now have to heal so that it can help me overcome this addiction. Like alcoholics or drug abusers, we will always have this addiction, we need to learn how to overcome it and use the tools we have to get a handle on it. One of those tools is the band and we all want new bandsters to keep theirs for as long as possible. That is why we will always speak out on threads like this. I know no one is saying to the OP to eat steak or taffy (thanks, Wasa), but a lot less can be just as destructive.

Just on a hunch, there was another person that had this issue, and ended up being allergic to whey protein. This could be why your nutritionist mentioned milk based protein drinks- sensitivity to whey protein is actually a thing. Find some not based on whey- look at ingredients. Do small amounts at a time- most people it takes about 2 hours to drink a single 11oz. premade shake. You also could have issues with artificial sweetners, which all of them have. Look for some with monk fruit, or stevia, or specifically try to avoid sugar alcohols.

1. I can tell my pouch is full when I start burping. I have to take small bites - about a teaspoon - to keep from getting overfull. I don't have a warning sign that I'm getting "close" to being full. It's take a bite, I'm okay, take a bite, I'm okay, take a bite, I'm full. 2. I don't know if you can get full on fluids, I haven't ever felt that way, but I am sure it can be done. Everyone's different. 3. It is normal for me to go 4 - 5 days and the scale not move. I don't worry about it. At 7 weeks out, I've gone through it enough times that I know it's just my body readjusting to the reduced calorie intake. 4. It might be okay to eat marinara sauce. Everyone's stomach is different. I still can't eat anything with sucralose or sugar alcohols - sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, G2 Gatorade. I created my own stomach test for new foods. I take a bite, about 1/2 teaspoon, wait 5 minutes for any signs my stomach doesn't like it, take another 1/2 teaspoon and wait another 5 minutes. If my stomach isn't rumbling in that 10 minutes, I can eat it. 5. I haven't had an pains around my incisions, but during the 1st week I could feel a pulling sensation inside when I lay the wrong way on the bed. 6. Didn't experience that, sorry I can't help with that one.

Rena- I'm 12 months post surgery and havent had issues with alcohol until recently. I could have 2-3 drinks over the course of an evening without issues. But I agree with everyone that I should stop all alcohol for now. That's not a hard thing to do (and if it is, then I have bigger problems!) I do enjoy drinking socially. Whoknows- I thought about that, but they didn't say it was a kidney infection and I've finished the antibiotic and the pain is still there. Mrs.RRn- I don't know if they ran the pancreatic enzymes. I'm going to have my doctor request the ER records. I'm actually in the waiting room now. I hope he can shed some light on what's going on. Thanks for all your responses. It really helps to get others perspectives.

i agree. definitely avoid things that trigger u to smoke i could not drink alcohol at all when i first stopped because i felt like smoking and drinking went hand and hand,