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Start keeping a list to keep your sanity! Like the bumper sticker KILL THEM ALL; GOD CAN SORT THEM OUT LATER! Keep muttering This Too Shall Pass! And it will! I knew I had NASH, let's see, non alcoholic Steatohepatitis, is what it really means, in lay terms a Fat Liver, so I did a Liver-shrink the entire month of August 2018, for every week you do it your liver shrinks 4%, so mine was between 12-16% smaller for my surgery. It worked, it worked, and my surgeon complimented me on my mini-liver, told me it was as smooth, small and healthy as a new-born calf, once I was certain he didn't plan to sell me for veal, I was complimented for my hard work. But you do turn into a Stormin' Norma foe awhile. Tomkitten, my son, said like the lepers in the Bible he should have been in front of me carrying a sign" DANGER-STARVING MAMA-BEWARE EVERYONE! But it worked, I lost 15 pounds, felt I had done something to be prepared, and it ended well on Surgery Day! And those are lofty goals.

So very sorry for your loss. It's awesome that you realized food is not the answer. Just don't be like me and turn to alcohol like I did when my mother passed a few years ago. It is truly a hard thing to go through life without finding some way to numb the pain. We just have to remind ourselves that they are in a better place and no matter how much it hurts we still have a life to live. Very good that you are not tempted by their junk food, I don't think I could handle that. So glad to live alone. Good luck and keep your head up. I won't say the pain will go away but it does fade with time.

Thank you. How was drinking alcohol for you post op? Sent from my VS995 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have just got back from a months holiday overseas and am really pleased that in spite of not eating very healthily I still lost weight. Down approx. 1.8kg and almost at goal. The main reason for the not eating as healthily as I should have should have is that for most of the holiday we were staying with other people so restaurants were selected that suited the larger group. We started off in California where we ate mainly Mexican or burger/ribs. I have to say that I like the fact that your restaurants allow and encourage meal sharing as it meant I could have some of hubby's food instead of having to order a huge plate of my own. I know the US has a reputation for huge meals but some of them are so oversized its not surprising so many people struggle with their weight, 4 sliders is not a starter and a sandwich is supposed to be 2 slices of bread not 4 plus chips! It was great to be able to eat ribs without spending the rest of the night in the toilet throwing up which is something that happened to me on countless occasions when I had my band. Then it was onto the UK home of the pub and pub meals. They are fine the first or second time but pubs are like Mexican restaurants - all the same once you get to no 3! We also ate a lot of lunches at store and stately home canteen style cafes. So I was sharing sandwiches with hubby and also sharing cake! One place I loved in both the UK and Hong Kong was Pret a Manger - they had lovely quick easy healthy options like Bircher muesli, yogurt with fruit, sandwiches etc. Our final destination was Hong Kong. This was the only part of the holiday where hubby and I were on our own. We should have had lots of lovely Asian food but we were so busy we mainly ate on the run. The "pasteis de nata" in Macau probably weren't the healthiest breakfast choice but they were fabulous. So essentially I ate a small portion of whatever I wanted without worrying about weight gain. Poor hubby did have lots of leftovers to eat and his relatives in the UK kept commenting on how little I ate although I thought I was eating heaps! I drank alcohol but not in huge quantities. The serves of wine and cider in the UK are huge, they would never allow that much to be served in 1 glass in Aus. I ate cake and I ate chocolate and even had an icecream. I ate that very cautiously as I was terrified I would dump but luckily I didn't. I did have 1 or 2 minor episodes of dumping ( nausea, shakes and palpitations) but that was when I deserved it for doing something stupid like eating chocolate first thing in the morning! Prior to my op I was very concerned as I kept reading about people that had accidents post op.I had visions of having to always carry spare undies or wear adult diapers. Luckily that hasn't been an issue although when I need to go I need to go - sometimes I had to find a loo in a hurry and the hardest place to do that was Hong Kong. Travelling with the bypass has been so much easier than travelling with a band and the variety of food I eat is so much greater and healthier.

Yes, I am panicking and am a bit depressed as well. I think I have researched too much. I've read medical abstracts about complications, bulletin boards where people list all their bad experiences, etc., etc. I am questioning whether I picked the best surgeon. Another one in my area has done 2000 bariatric surgeries and has never had a single death. I only have very basic information about my own surgeon. He said one patient died from alcohol poisoning after drinking large quantities of alcohol early in his healing process. Hope I can calm down and be more optimistic before my surgery.

I took a two-week cruise two months post-op sleeve and it was easy to watch what I ate by focusing on staying hydrated and making good choices of protein before anything else. I don't drink, so alcohol wasn't an issue for me. I think you can do this!

I had surgery in March last year and went to Vegas that August. Eating was according to plan, I mostly shared with my wife, went to a buffet (it was $5) and had egg whites and a little ham. I only went to that one as it was cheap, otherwise I would not have done the buffet because of the waste of money. Alcohol I hadn't tried yet as i waited for 6 months before having a sip. 👍

Thank you! I was just thinking maybe having one drink per day of vodka and lite cranberry hopefully that is not to bad. Did your alcohol tolerance change much post surgery? Sent from my VS995 using BariatricPal mobile app

I did drink alcohol early post WLS. My job actually involves a lot of drinking (entertaining customers). But a coupe of months in I decided to stop drinking nearly entirely. It just wasn't worth the added calories. I might eat 500 calries for the day, but then have another 500 calories in alcohol. It just seemed like a waste. I was working too hard and didn't want to undermine my weight loss. So while I doubt it will do you any physical harm, it will most likely negatively impact your weight loss in the short term.

Thank you. What are your thoughts on drinking alcohol? Sent from my VS995 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello All my VSG family. Hopeing I can get some advise here. I will be goint to Vegas in July and I will be 13 weeks Post op then. How did you handle eating and alcohol over there.

I was never a big drinker but decided post surgery I'd never consume alcohol again. Just my choice. Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

I am almost a full 7 years post op. Since we aren't supposed to have carbonated beverages with bypass I haven't...but I have had mixed drinks...it hits me super quick....I get really really buzzed....and move to water and sober up pretty quickly. I don't really care for Alcohol regardless but I tried it and it hits me quick personally Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Pretty funny I get trashed immediately and people around me think I’m nuts! This starting happening after my surgery with any alcohol!

And you could also be holding Riley like he was a security blanket against it all. My surgeon found I had NASH,let's see if I can spell it right Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatisis, well that's pretty close. Means obesity has made your liver fatty, a fat liver needs more retraction, a person on BP about a year or so ago, surgeon went ahead, accidentally tore her liver and she DID NOT have a pleasant recovery. Okay I was given a choice of 2-3-4 Weeks of his liver-shrinking diet, I did the whole31 days of August, call me an over-achevier but I wanted that critter SHRUNK and it did work, I had a slender, smooth and pliable liver for him on surgery day. I got to Have a Lean Cuisine type dinner entree, just had to be 130 cal or under. And there are actually many tasty ones there. O I do believe they will get better, I am a survivor in a sea of wimps And Give It Up people, I came into this world, red-headed, kicking and screaming and I suspect I will leave the same way! In the meantime, in between time, HERE I BE!

My wife definitely has addiction transfer. https://scienceline.org/2015/01/alcoholism-after-gastric-bypass-is-it-in-your-mind-or-gut/

i only told my family and one trusted co-worker because i needed some cooperation with work schedule changes to accommodate the surgery date. My co-workers noticed and a lot of people asked about what I am doing. I told them "major lifestyle and diet changes." If they press, I tell them, "A lot more exercise, no wheat, no sugar, no alcohol, no snacks, no soda or coffee, no processed foods, no artificial sweeteners/coloring, low carb, intermittant fasting..." Somewhere between the sugar and alcohol their eyes glaze over and they change the topic. I don't want to lie, but the truth of the matter is that if someone is not willing to make lifestyle and dietary changes now, they have no right to any additional information. If someone actually told me they have been doing all those things and still struggle with weight loss, i would ask if they had considered WLS as another tool. But so far, no one seems willing to actually make serious changes. Everyone wants a magic pill. Since then, I have changed departments, and NO ONE says anything because they didn't see me before. I FEEL LIKE A NORMAL PERSON! And it feels great! I'm not the biggest gal at work anymore, and it is kind of weird, actually.

@boldilocks me too. I had a high tolerance before surgery and it seems that hasn't changed post surgery. What has changed is that I can't take in as many ounces of liquid though. So now I order doubles. Still, I don't often get to the point where I feel intoxicated. Very surprising because I have read that post surgery the alcohol usually affects patients faster.

RS, thank you so much for explaining this to me... "Transfer addiction - we can no longer satisfy whatever addictive tendencies we have with food, so it is easy for transfer that addiction to something else, like alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, etc. What was a casual habit of a glass of wine with dinner occasionally can easily turn into full blown alcoholism." I would have NEVER thought of this, yes, I am looking for something to fill in my snack time!! WOW! but more importantly, when I do go out I more than anything want to be able to have a glass with my friends when I go out, which is maybe once every 2 months. Thank you again!

I worked to get my RNY surgery for almost a year. As the date approached, I got more and more nervous. It is a big deal - choosing an elective major surgery. As I was lying on the pre-op bed, I started crying and thinking maybe I should get up and leave. My surgeon came in and assured me that it would be OK and that none of his patients had ever come back regretting the procedure. My PCP previously had told me that if I had been able to do it on my own, I would have by now, Both doctors were right. This is about the best thing I have ever done for myself. Yes, I had a complication of a blood clot and am still on a blood thinner, but after 70+ pounds gone I feel like a new person. I am doing things I have not done for decades. I wish I had done it sooner in a way, but I really did need to come to a place in my life where I was willing to make the needed lifestyle changes first, and for the right reasons - health. And my commitment needed to be total. My life slogan now is "I AM NEVER GOING BACK!" If that means no more sugar, wheat, soda, coffee, alcohol, or processed foods, then so be it. My health is worth more than any of those things. Yup, my skin is getting saggy - but I am 63 years old, and the collagen just aint what it used to be. But so what? I am happier and healthier and saggy skin is just a badge of the journey. Haven't lost any hair yet, but again, if I do, so what? It will grow back. (have been taking Biotin 10,000 mcg since week 2 and nails are super strong so I hope it will also prevent hair loss). I have so much energy and stamina, my mental health is better, my sleep apnea is nearly gone, asthma improved, no GERD, my back and joints don't hurt anymore, I am not embarrassed in public, and I actually feel cold instead of sweating all the time. What's not to love? Being scared is normal for a lot of people. It just means you realize the risks. But you will never realize the benefits until you get to the other side. And this is the chance you have to take. If you could have done it on your own, you would have, It is still going to be a lot of work. This is not easy, but WLS is a tool that can give you the jump start you need for health and happiness for the rest of your life.

I'm 4.5 months out and am going to have my first drink tonight while watching the Eurovision Song Contest (most Americans don't have a clue what that is, but it's a big deal for us back home, LOL). I'm going to be in Ireland in 8 weeks (I go home for the summer every year) and my brother and I like to go out for a drink, so I'm looking to see what my reaction is to alcohol now and what my tolerance is. I have a friend who had the sleeve 2 years ago. She gets buzzed very quickly, and then sobers up equally quickly (like in 15 mins). It's pretty funny to watch. I'll report back tomorrow, LOL.

Doctors' philosophy on this vary from a few weeks to never again depending upon their experiences. The basic issues are: Healing - alcohol is somewhat corrosive to the stomach lining so one needs to give things a chance to heal first, Alcohol tolerance - rapid stomach emptying means it tends to hit faster, and with less (i.e., a "cheap drunk") so care must be taken there, Transfer addiction - we can no longer satisfy whatever addictive tendencies we have with food, so it is easy for transfer that addiction to something else, like alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, etc. What was a casual habit of a glass of wine with dinner occasionally can easily turn into full blown alcoholism. Liver health - starting as morbidly obese, or worse, our livers are not usually in very good shape to begin with (hence the "liver shrinking" pre-op diets that are often prescribed) and the liver is further stressed from its role in metabolizing all that fat that we are rapidly losing. It doesn't need any more stress from ingesting a known liver toxin like alcohol (not a judgemental thing, just our physiology at work). My surgeon is also a biliopancreatic (livers and pancreas) transplant surgeon, so he is in the no alcohol as long as we are losing weight camp (and ideally forever) and indeed we sign a contract to that effect - he doesn't want any of his bariatric patients coming back onto his transplant table! Those are the issues in play, and some aspects bother different surgeons to different degrees, so they have different policies. Check with what your surgeon's policy is, and decide for yourself - we are all adults here.

My doctor hasn't said specifically, only that it'll cause you to get drunk faster and to be careful. I don't drink alcohol so it's not an issue for me.

It is always so interesting to me how much programs vary. Mine said to avoid alcohol for the first 3 months, though in general it's not recommended after that. I really enjoyed my wine before surgery and don't expect to stop drinking it. But I do think when I start having it again, it will be on fewer occasions and in smaller amounts.

Hiring one I am one month post-op and I would like to know when did you all start drinking cocktails and wine after your procedure? My doctor said that I should avoid alcohol for one year... I respect and honor my professional doctor's recommendations. Thoughts?!? Sent from my SM-G935T using BariatricPal mobile app