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I quit Testosterone Replacement Therapy, after 2 years on it. I was not on steroids !!!! Its testosterone replacement therapy, it makes a man at 40 years old, feel great, high sex drive, etc.. It is not pills and 5 different steroids going to you stomach. Its one low dosage intermuscular injection per week. I do not drink alcohol, or smoke nicotine. I quit cold turkey, ["weaned off, TRT with very low dosage weekly shot"], 5 weeks before my successfully , gastric bypass surgery , I am still currently off TRT probably forever. I am 40 years old, ex powerlifter. I am currently 6'3" 299 lbs , i lost 48 lbs as of today in 3 weeks. I only choose gastric bypass surgery because my insurance covered it 100%, i knew it was not reversible, going in. I was told I could continue TRT for life 4 weeks after post op. but now I read No NSAIDS and no Steroids , and they are to opposite things ???? because they can? cause ulcers in the new smaller stomach, and around the staple line. That being, said I am prepared to quit TRT forever !!! But I don't understand why ? It makes no sense. I know for a fact my natural testosterone will come back in a few months, being off TRT, I am not worried about that. *****These are some things that I cant understand and it makes no sense to me , during 4 week post operation. ******* NSAIDS is an appreciation for "NONSTEROIDAL anti-inflammatory drugs" but then it says you CANNOT take Steroids' either ????? Can someone please explain to me how that makes sense ? One is NON STEROIDAL and one is STEROIDALl ?????? Now on to the Clomid brand name drug name is clomiphene , it can be taken by men or women, i have read many posts about women using Clomid post operation to get pregnant !!! there doctors said it was fine but , as I did further research Clomid is a NSAID !!!!????? how does that make sense ??? Clomid taken by men post cycle therapy off TRT will help a man boost testosterone 200% i have done it before in the past it works bringing back natural testosterone levels. The Clomid comes in crushable form pills and liquid too, obviously because , after gastric bypass surgery, your body does not absorb medication like it did before. This is a serious post for people who know what they are talking about please respond with personal stories or any knowledge or insight that you have would be appreciated thank you.

I drink to excess every so often. I wouldn't recommend it but I did verify with my surgeon prior to surgery that drinking alcohol would be ok. If he said no, I would have either not had surgery or found a surgeon with a different answer. I take 7 pills every morning and 3 every night and have not had one get stuck yet in the 7 months since surgery. There is NO wrong stuff for everyone. I have no problem eating anything except soft corn tortillas. It all depends on the person, how tight their band is and if they chew enough.

CONSTIPATION.....not any easy subject to talk about. Let me tell you a little about myself first and how I came to post this. I am 52 years old and was sleeved Feb. 25, 2013, 83 days ago. I am down 42 pounds. I feel better than I have since I was in my 20's. I am off my cholesterol meds, high blood pressure meds and triglyceride meds. I am coming on here to tell you the mistakes I have made in the last 2 1/2 months that have brought me to tell you all this. I avoided some of the advice that we are given after surgery. For instance, no alcohol, I ate foods I probably shouldn't have before it was time to, etcetera. Why was I setting myself up to fail? I don't know why either. But please listen when I say there is a reason why there are rules after this surgery. Take them seriously. Now lets get to the constipation part. Actually my stool was impacted. And if you don't know what that is or how painful it is, count your blessings. I'm sure it all began right after surgery since you can't drink as much water right after surgery that you could before. Then I started drinking alcohol (a diuretic) about 1 month post op. I usually would drink a snifter of Grand Marnier almost every night because for some reason it made me feel like I wasn't giving up everything. Then I started eating soft foods before my doctor said it was ok because I got sick of only having protein shakes and soup broth. I would vomit if I ate too fast or too much so I slowly learned that lesson. But nothing could have prepared me for the constipation I have been experiencing since surgery. WARNING... HERE IS WHERE IT GETS GRAPHIC. Before surgery I was "regular", once or twice a day actually. Since surgery I have a bowel movement maybe every 3-4 days, sometimes longer. When I was able to go it would come out like grape sized rabbit turds. Then they started getting packed together making it a little harder to get out. But I'd sit on the toilet until it came out. Sometimes I would be in there for over 30 minutes, sweating and cramping until it was over. But today was the worse it has ever been. I felt like I had to have a bowel movement so I went upstairs prepared to stay in the bathroom for awhile. 45 minutes later....nothing. I knew I had to go but it felt like I was trying to pass a football and it was NOT going to come out without a fight. I came down and Googled "severe constipation". A lot of suggestions would only help AFTER whatever was in there came out. I was in so much pain I called the hospital and explained what was happening. They told me that it sounded as though I was "impacted" and I had two choices because at this stage the "plug" has got to I wish I wouldn't have taken his direction so lightly.

Hi all-- Cindy, when I do the individual freezing, I usually just use a double zip lock bag, so I can get in and out of it easily. But for things like the green Beans Betty told me how to do etc, I use my food saver all the time! I use it for leftovers---then I can just pop them into Ricks lunch, or into our cooler when we go camping. I buy meat in the big Value Packs, and break it down, into smaller packages. With them, I actually lay them all out, pierce them with a fork, mix up my marinade, and put 2 steaks to a package, (Rick eats one, I eat part of one, and make him a sandwich out of the other part for work the next day!!!) pour in the marinade, and seal...by the time they are thawed they are ready! When the apples on the tree are ready to freeze, I will do the same with them, add the butter, cinnamon, and a bit of flour to the bag, and seal. Ready to thaw, mix a bit,a nd dump in a pie crust. With our green chile we put up. I do half of it whole but cleaned and peeled, and the other half I will clean and dice before freezing, then when I freeze it, I freeze it in the wide bag, and flatten it out, so when I need some, all I have to do is pop it against the edge of the counter, and it breaks off a section, then I just seal it again and put it back in the freezer. Back when I froze it in chunks, you had to thaw the whole thing to use it. Plus using wide bags, and freezing things flattened out, you can store it in less space, and it stays more organized on the shelf. I prefer taking a day to do the work, then when I am in a rush cooking, most of the tedious work is done! We also used the food saver once to make these ice packs, we used them for a long time too!!! You fill a food saver bag with some Water, and freeze it--we stood it up in a bowl-because the top is still open. When it is froze solid, you pour in half a cup or so of rubbing alcohol. With the frozen ice, it allows you to sit the bag in a way that the liquid does not all run out---and then seal. When the ice thaws, it them mixes with the alcohol, and will never freeze solid again---it remains fairly flexible, and can be ice cold in the freezer for use. We eventually ended up sending them all off with kids, and friends---hadn't thought about making more, until telling you!!!! With my daredevil grandkids, I better make some more!!! Well girls I went to the Dr. yesterday, my DH was having a conniption fit. I have had a headache for several days. I attribute it to sinus issues. But I do have a tumor in my mastoid, also one in my fibula, they have been there for many years now, but I have a yearly bone scan to keep them monitored, and see if more ever develop. They were discovered when they did my work up following my cancer diagnosis. They are not real serious---more than a simple bone dysplasia, but not malignant at the last biopsy, and there has never been a change in them through the last 5 years. My scan was due several months ago, but with the year we had with Ricks health, and no obvious changes I put it off, as well as my mammogram, and all the other fun checks. Not really intentionally, but time just kept going by.... Then I was whining for several days about the headache, and Rick freaked out when he found out I missed my scan. So I went to the Dr. yesterday. He thinks the tumor in the mastoid feels as though it may have grown. I don't agree. It sounds silly---but I swear it is weight loss!!! Anyway...I now am scheduled for my bone scan on the 6th, mammogram on the 10th, and yearly physical on the 18th! Doesn't that sound like a fun month to everyone!!! The bone scan is NOT my favorite thing. The body scan is not an issue. When they bring that monster ass machine down onto my head, it IS an issue. I had them so frequently in the begining, and one woman, Julie, did them always, she would tell me when it was coming down, and when it was going to touch me, and would tell me every step of the scan, count it down, etc. Then time before last another lady did it. I ask her if she was going to warn me when it was coming down. I am on my side, and cannot see anything other than the side arm of this beast machine. Overall the scanner part is really not that huge, but when it is pressing on your head---it seems gargantuan! She kinda sighed and said yes she would tell me. The way she said it, I mistakenly assumed that the way Julie did it was standard, and was lying there, she told me "coming down" and it was there immediately, pushing HARD on my head. MY claustrophobia kicked in--I pulled out from under it (scraped the hide off my head doing so!), tried to get up---keep in mind I am on a table about a foot wide, and I am at my heaviest, and my feet are taped together to keep them upright and still. I managed to heave myself into a sitting position---this is all happening in nanoseconds, I am in full panic mode, and hyperventilating---and I puked all over her legs and feet! So.....it took serious effort to get me back last year, as well as a good dose of Verced! This year, it is a new neurosurgeon, my old one left, and she does not prescribe relaxants unless she sees you first, and there is no appointment open with her until October. So....I am going to self medicate...and try to get the scan done so she will have all the results when I see her in October. For the scan, I go it, and they start inject radioactive isotopes interveiniously, and I leave for 2 hours, over which time I have to drink minimally 36 ounces...then the contrasting isotopes, are spread throughout the body, and they can detect if there are new hot spots, and how the already noted hotspots react to them. In the film---I could see the tumors, as well as the injection site, and my bladder---all full of the glowing junk---but you could see my fat blob body in pale outline, I was excited to see it this time, and found out it will all be on the computer only, I will not have films to compare myself...dangit! Anyway----I come home, with my head continuing to pound---and said to heck with it, I dug into the medicine cabinet for the only thing that EVER took these sinus headaches away, and come out with a box of Advil Cold & Sinus. Just before dinner, when I knew I would have food in my belly, I took one...it passed without issue, and lo and behold----no headache! No one ever listens to me!!!! I am NOT worried over this testing. They have biopsied my leg 2 times, never the mastoid, due to the tissue make up of the mastoid, sometimes disturbing it causes over growth of the honeycomb type of bone tissue it is made of. So while it is not changing they have left it alone. If ever this causes me problems, or if they were to end up keeping me in the hospital with issues over it, I will have DH, or DD or someone come in and let everyone know. Promise. Cindy, your Dads gift sounds great! I bought my girls birthday gifts Monday. Lord of the Dance is coming, right between their birthdays in October and November....so that is what they are getting. Amanda will love it--without any question. I am hoping Abbey will too. Well I have a list of things to do today, none of which I am wanting to do----oil changed in the van, to take my Dad to ABQ Friday...banking, laundry, sorting things to pack if we get to go camp at the rally Sat. & Sun. Lotsa fun!!! Eileenie, I am glad to see you pop in---just like old times!!! Betty---I printed the recipe--going to try that. I am usually not a big eggplant fan, but DH likes it....so we are going to try it!!! So I better get busy, or another day will go by with me not getting these things done!!!! TTYL Kat

hellllllloooooooo out there :wave: Hope everyone is doing well today and was able to rest a bit. Went to one of DH's coworkers cookouts today at their summer home. Man...small but very nice cottage by the Water and his friend did it all over inside. Very very nice...beautiful peaceful place. I can see why they love going there on weekends. DH did some fishing off the dock and I relaxed with a nice frozen Margarita :shade:. I haven't had alcohol in so long that after two I was feeling prrreeetty rrrrrelaxed :guess:wacko:. The only problem was it took people so long to get there that they held off grilling anything so my freakin hands were in the chips, dips, cheese, crackers ya know all the stuff you try to stay away from. :hurt Oh well. Before we went, I had to bring something so baked a batch of brownies and put toffee chips and chocolate chips on top of them. Good thing they stayed there and we left right after we each had a burger cause I would of eaten those too haha. Got home took a 2 hour swim in the pool. Burrrrr the water was soooo cold but, I did it anyway. Had to burn off those margaritas ya know lol So I won't feel so guilty if we go for ice cream later hahaha. After the pool I decided to try a recipe I found called chicken and Veggie Couscous. It allowed me to use the fresh basil I've been growing not knowing what to do with it hee hee. Well, it tastes ok but it's missing something to me. I can't put my finger on it either. But ya know it's good and different. It called for 1 cup couscous and 1 cup chicken broth but honestly I had to use 2 cups broth so I wonder if it was a typo. I found the recipe on SparkPeople which has mostly healthy recipes so probably why I feel somethings missing...like BUTTER lol. I can bet it would be good cold too. If you want the recipe you can find it on SparkPeople.com under Chicken and Veggie Couscous. Now DH is sound asleep on the couch with the Harry Potter book on his lap haha. The pups are sleeping, son is working during this Sales Tax Free weekend here in Massachusetts and I'm bored out of my mind. I should be studying my reiki stuff and will probably do that after I finish this post. My tattoo is finally done. Looking kinda funky because it's healing. So I'm kinda scaley haha. Lets say the planets Saturn and Earth are looking rough along with the shooting stars. I'll post a picture as soon as it starts to look like it's suppose to. Sounds like everyone has been keeping busy Eileen - Work week was HELL this week to say the least. I really am looking forward to the day I'm doing ONE job only. Personality clashes are making things tense and moral seems to be down...hopefully it will turn around soon. My boss was in a bit of a funk this week too but, she's been under alot of pressure home and work so I can understand why. She's cool to work for so at least I have that part going for me Sorry to hear your boss was being a turkey this week. Like you said...maybe he needs a bit of fun then he'll be better on Monday Did you go in your pool today? Man ours was so cold today, took a while to get used to it. Cindy - You really look great in your picture with your daughter. They've been working on alot of roads here too. One of which I use to get to work and found myself going around town to get passed it. You really do feel like your car is getting ripped apart going over it. Speaking of Cars...UGH....my stupid engine light came on so I had to bring it in. *GASP* $600 later and I'm back on the road grrrrrr. Stupid air sensor, a small part about 3'' long cost $250 for the part alone. Geeeepers! Patty - Funnel Cakes huh? Do you make flavored ones or plain with powdered sugar? Do you use cinnamon and sugar? Been Years since I had one of those or Fried Dough. My mom used to make us donuts by using the pilsbury biscuits and deep frying them. They puff up and she'd take them out and roll them in cinnamon and sugar. OH BOY they were yummy! Easy to make too but, I don't make them now cause I'd eat em lol. How are you feeling with your band? Chrispy - Did you go to that family cookout thing today? How was that Friday date? I miss ya We gotta get together again soon! Ya know before Disney cause I need to do some shoppin! and you are the gal to shop with cause you help me pick out nice things...cause you know me. I HATE everything I try on lol. I need someone to nominate me to be on that TLC show "What NOT to wear" I think it's called? MAN I'd love help picking out outfits to compliment my body......I have no confidence in that. Mandy - Ya know I won't even pack until the night before we leave lol. I just never do for any trip because I use all the stuff I take with me. I will have to pick up some sun block too I guess. Hey...question for ya....did you say you have Staples deliver water to your room? I'd heard someone doing that to save money on the water since it's so expensive in the park. Just curious. Betty - WOWZA you've had some high temperatures there. Ya sure you don't want to come to New England for a visit to cool off? You're more than welcome to stay here if you'd like I think the hottest we've reached so far here is maybe 90....not sure on that as my weather man is sleepin on the couch right now lol. He's the weather guy...Hun whats the temp today is what I usually ask him before I dress for work lol. He's got an entire weather station set up here at the house and his webpage has our local weather and results from his stations so friends can see it. Hmmmm I don't even go to the site...my bad huh? Kat - Are ya saying we're old if we have to scroll back to remember what people said here. RUT RO...I'm in troubl then cause I have to do it all the time hahaha. I think that's a great idea on the concert tickets for birthday gifts. Pretty cool! You're right...I can't even remember what my mom used to give me for my birthday....now she gives money for everything. She doesn't really shop at all. She said this way she knows everyone likes it. EH I'm fine with it but, I find if I get money....it ends up going toward house stuff versus if she gives a gift certificate to a restaurant it gets put to the use she intended ya know? But of course I'm thankful for anything I get Sounds like things have toned down a bit for ya...shhhh that's great Darcy Darcy Darcy - I've missed ya girl! I'd love to see pics of your new place. I can bet it's looking so nice I hope you're enjoying it and the peacefulness around it. Sounds so nice. Thinking of ya! Well I think I got everyone...well at least as far as the scrolling will allow me hahaha. Hope everyone is doing well and shrinking cause my freaking scale needs to hit the road. Hmmm if I give it a swift kick do ya think it will move? probably only from kicking it huh? hahaha Oh if anyone is thinking about seeing Bourne Ultimatum...do it...it's awesome!

I think we would be best served leaving our curbside psych consults to the professionals, that's why there is a multidisciplinary approach both pre and post sleeve. I have had some wine post op (I am two months out), but have lost my gusto for it. I used to enjoy a nightly glass with dinner, and a few more on weekends out with my BF. Since my sleeve, my tastes have changed and I don't enjoy it as much. I would not begrudge anyone from doing what they decide to do. That being said, we do have to be careful overindulging in anything to excess. That is what got us here in the first place. I am trying to be cognizant of that on a daily basis, whether it's carbs, chocolate or alcohol.

I will check to see if there are any sugar alcohols. Are there any protein shakes you would recommend or do you make your own? Thanks

I have Binge Eating Disorder which my surgery helped half way with. The other thing that helped was Rational Recovery, a book by Jack Trimpey. It's actually about alcohol but replace the word alcohol with food and you're there. It's an addiction.

Betty... Have they told you how far out they are booking surgeries???? Not that this will give you an exact date... my surgeon and his office staff told me they were booking two weeks out and my surgery was booked over a month out... but it might give you a better idea of the time frame. I am so sorry that you are paying out of pocket for the whole procedure... but you are right... it will be worth every penny! Miss Lisa... I think a lot of us have an addictive nature... at least I know that I do. I have used food as a cure-all for everything! What I am learning is that I have to deal with the problems that lead me to self-medicate with food or any other substance. It seems easier to get that quick "feel good" response from food... alcohol... shopping... sex... etc... but in the longrun it makes our life so much more difficult and doesn't provide longlasting happiness. (((hugs))) I hope this will become a journey to a less self-destructive way of dealing with stress and core issues... I know it really has become that for me. Darcy

Oh, some sugar alcohols like malatol can have a bad digestive effect on people. If you ever want a giggle read the reviews on amazon.com for Haribo sugar free gummy bears.

liquids, Protein shakes with ff milk applesauce sf, sf Jello, sf pudding no diet soda or alcohol reg vitamins stopped vitamins a week prior to surgery per dr request (vit e reasons)

It's 4 days until my sleeve and I'm anxious. I've been so disciplined in my week of liquid diet it's hard to believe I couldn't do this without the sleeve....but I know better. So, I'm just curious if there's anything that you can't tolerate after surgery. Not post 6 weeks, I mean once on normal food. What about alcohol? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm thinking of going to AA meetings. I don't want to, but my party life has gotten out of control. I don't think I'm an alcoholic, but once I have one drink, I end up staying up drinking till 2:00 a.m. Not good. I had a 50 pound weight loss but have gained some back. I'm too tired to deal with it tonight, but maybe I'll start hitting an AA meeting just for sport. I love my nightlife, going to clubs, dancing, bands, but there's always drinking. Where are those dry clubs?

Beer... hmmm... I miss that stuff from time to time... heck... the times I've had alcohol since my banding could be counted on one hand. I've thought about going back to school for my RN... but the truth of the matter is this... after all of these years working in healthcare... I just don't want to anymore. I wish I could figure out something that would allow me to use the expereince I have without going back into healthcare. Becky... looking forward to those pics! I like your new avatar. I'm not getting emailed with new posts anymore! I went and checks my preferences and it is still set to be notified of new postings... is anybody else having this problem???? I'll be calling the doc as soon as the office opens... I'll let y'all know what happens. I was up most of the night with the cramping knot in my stomach... eating used to help but know it just makes it worse... you'd think I'd quit eating... but nope. Have a good week everyone...

I am wondering the same thing. I am in the medical field, and that makes no sense that the liver would react differently to a larger vs. smaller stomach. Alcohol passes from the stomach and intestines into the blood. It is then metabolized by enzymes in the liver. That process doesn't change.

What does your surgeon's office suggest? I am coming up on six weeks. My surgeon said it was fine for me to have small amounts of alcohol, and to just take it slow to find my tolerance and most importantly, be sure not to get sick. I had about two ounces of wine over dinner tonight. Dinner lasted over an hour. Vodka with some V-8, or even better, Snap E. Tom, is a nice drink for me. I never drank that combination before. I just sip it so slowly. I feel a slight effect from the alcohol, but it doesn't put me over the edge like it does some people. Of course, like I always say, call your surgeon's office and see what they say.

Thank you for sharing your story and to keep updating! the last fill i received was in July 2014 and i was pretty happy with where i was, i also learned the quirks and was very slowly losing/maintaining the weight. About 3-4 days ago, i couldn't get any food down and Water was uncomfortable. I have a herniated disc and the pain was more bothersome than normally so i attributed my tight band to that. Well then band pain came, a different kind of "stuck" feeling that i cant even explain. That same night i woke up coughing/vomiting. i started freaking out thinking my band slipped and got back to my doctor's office the next day (yesterday). She took out all the saline to let my stomach rest and i have an upper GI Friday to check the position of the band and if there is any damage. I never had reflux before so i dont understand how this can just happen out of nowhere and so aggressively. I dont understand how the band can just magically become too tight and show symptoms now. Anyhow, i am afraid to eat!!! i feel like a recovering alcoholic in a bar. Just one drink and im going to spiral. I've been trying to stick to a liquid diet but the hunger is REAL! Not to mention my i am in my brothers wedding June 6 and my bridesmaid dress currently fits right now... I'd be mortified if the day comes and i cant get into it. When you were unfilled, did you have this fear? I dont know what to do about it. I'm scared i'll end up gaining lots of weight.

Try sparkling water instead of soda. All the bubbles but no sugar or artificial sweeteners. The artificial sweeteners in the zero sugar drinks could be what’s upsetting you @naynay77. The sugar alcohol ones (any ending in ‘ol’) are the usual culprits.

I avoided alcohol for about 6 weeks post surgery, but have drank like I did pre-op ever since. I'm a bit of a drinker (and don't apologize for it), and despite drinking I'm basically at goal. I will say that it took a while to get back to my old tolerance, but once I got past six months or so it wasn't an issue. I'm glad for those who don't drink, but moralizing teetotalers need not try to sway me.

I was allowed wine since six weeks post-op (well, alcohol in general, but for me that's mostly just wine). I don't have any problems drinking it, doesn't make my stomach hurt -- but it DOES make me drunk way faster and I get worse hangovers than I ever got before and from far less alcohol. Good luck!

I've found the question of alcohol consumption and vsg posed before on here, but most of the responses were lectures on empty calories or "I don't even like alcohol since the sleeve"- good for you! But I'm not interested in hearing from non-drinkers or about the empty calories. I have dinner with my European family every week, and wine is a huge part of it. Can your stomach tolerate alcohol on the sleeve? Is it painful? When in your journey (how many weeks) were you ok to have alcohol? I have no intention of abusing alcohol, but I would like to have a glass of red wine with my dinner once or twice a week, and occasionally have a vodka martini when I'm out. I do not enjoy sweets or soda, alcohol is my only empty calorie thing I want to enjoy. I don't mean to sound hostile about people that proudly have not had a drop of alcohol since VSG, I think it's great to abstain from something that can become easily unhealthy. However, I want to have some answers about alcohol and VSG!

Im 7 mths post opt and alcohol has never been an issue for me. im a social drinker. i have a drink @ least once a week. the only problem i have is that my alcohol absorption rate sucks now. I feel tipsy after a glass of wine. thats the only problem i have ever had with alcohol and my sleeve. so I say have your wine :smile1:

I'm getting mine on the 17th. I'm so disappointed on myself. I cheated yesterday with alcohol on my pre op diet

I must say that I am almost a year out and had my first drinks about 3 weeks ago. Never has alcohol hot me so hard. I've never been a big drinker. Maybe a beer once every 6 months. Well needless to say I went out with some friends after a funeral and after my third beer I don't remember much. I thought ok if I do it again I'll be able to just drink a couple...but again I drank more than I knew and as well blacked out. I've learned that if I am going to go out which will be fairly rare I need to make sure I have a friend with me to make sure I stop or ask the bartender to cut me off. This was never a problem for me before but after much stress lately I found it relaxing. Bad habit I need to break.

Thanks for sharing. I love wine and I can't wait to have my wine back in May 2014. Coming from a family of alcoholics I don't drink much - 5 out of 7 of us are alcoholics and three are dead because of it. My biggest fear is to become one myself. I do love my two glasses of wine on a Saturday night! I'm a cheap date - I have a very low tolerance to alcohol even before surgery. I hear it'll be even worse so my two glasses of wine may have to be cut to one. I only drink at home so I'll be safe enough there. If we go out I'm the designated driver. :-)