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I had my first glass of wine about 4 months post. Have since had a Bloody Mary, margaritas, vodka cranberry, and whiskey water. Unfortunately no change in how alcohol affects me. I'm NOT a cheap date...I could drink my date under the table. So for me, it's just empty calories....no different than ice cream (and I've had that, too )

My surgeon advised 3 months, 6 months and then annually. My 3 month was perfect, but my Calcium and Iron were elevated at 6 months so I decreased those supplements. Here's what I have tested.... • CBC, platelets • Liver, Kidney,Thyroid Function • Electrolytes • Glucose • Iron studies/Ferritin • Vitamin B12 • Lipid Profile • 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D . Zinc . Folate

You should post this in the Don't Sweat the Small Stuff sub forum. But my advice is to eat more and stay off the scale.

filtered Water, portobello mushrooms, potatoes, onions, celery, tapioca starch, expeller pressed canola oil and/or safflower oil and/or sunflower oil, sea salt, roasted garlic, mushroom juice concentrate, garlic powder, onion powder, natural flavors, organic spices. Where? As far as I can tell it's the canning process that preserves. Maybe other kinds add preservatives.

I'm looking at my cream of mushroom soup.... filtered Water, portobello mushrooms, potatoes, onions, celery, tapioca starch, expeller pressed canola oil and/or safflower oil and/or sunflower oil, sea salt, roasted garlic, mushroom juice concentrate, garlic powder, onion powder, natural flavors, organic spices. What chemicals are you talking about?

Why do you need to see a surgeon? Are you having problems?

Have you tried capsules instead of the chewables? My mom has a super sensitive GI tract and she's the one who turned me on to whole food based vitamins, because she can take them without upsetting her stomach. I'm currently taking Garden of Life Vitamin Code for Women. I took Source of Life Gold prior to surgery, but the chewables tasted too sweet to me postop so I switched to the GOL capsules so there's no taste to deal with. The levels are better than a lot of bariatric vitamins and they also contain probiotics and digestive enzymes.

As long as you are getting complete vitamin assays done at least annually and your levels are good, there's nothing wrong with "eating" your vitamins. However, many vitamin deficiencies in gastrectomy and WLS patients don't manifest until years after surgery. Iron, B12, Vitamin D, calcium, folate and zinc seem to be the biggest culprits. So just keep up the healthy eating and continue to have your levels checked year after year and you shouldn't have any issues. BTW, congrats on your weight loss!

Drain for 3 days.

I can fit so many more clothes in my carry on luggage!

Jess, you look great! Good job.

I, too, have blown past the "20%" chance column at 6 months out. Guess I'm an overachiever . But it's probably good that the numbers are conservative so as to not frustrate and disappoint patients that rely on numbers to gauge their success (which drives me crazy, BTW). IMHO, we see a lot more of the "success" stories on these boards than what the statistical norm for all WLS really is. For example, I've lost 106% of my excess weight. That means someone else out there has to have lost only 34% of their excess weight in order for the 70% average to be acuate. The people on here are the ones that actively seek out help and support and do research and are exposed to all our different stories and ideas. Who knows whether the "seeking" causes success or the motivation to succeed causes the seeking...or they both enhance each other. Sorry to be rambling....

I decaffeinated myself before surgery. I did a gradual taper like efierke suggested. I didn't want to be going through caffeine withdrawal while recovering from surgery. I stuck with decaf herbal tea for two months postop. Sleepytime tea at bedtime has become a new habit. When I first tried coffee, it was too irritating to my stomach. Even decaf is very acidic. I was finally able to drink it again around 4 months out. Now I have a big travel mug of decaf coffee everyday. I even use Premier protein vanilla or chocolate for creamer. Never bothered to switch back to caffeine, although I'll have regular if that's the only decent kind available when I'm on the road.

I had my last drink the day before I started my 16 day preop diet. Alcohol was not included on my list of approved liquids . It was several months before my sleeve could tolerate wine or liquor postop.

The Reglan (metoclopramide) increases GI motility. (anesthesia, pain, pain meds and surgery trauma can decrease motility). It increases upper GI contractions so things pass through the stomach into the intestines better. It can help decrease nausea and reflux. I was given a similar drug to take for 2 weeks postop.

I added Unjury unflavored to everything I could in my full liquid and puréed stages.....broth, strained cream soups, bisque, mashed potatoes, guacamole. Made Popsicles with protein powder and juice or flavored water. Even at 7 months out I still add it to casseroles, quiche, pancake batter, homemade protein bars, soups, etc.

So are liquids causing the spasms? Is she vomiting? She really needs to figure out how to get more in or she will end up in the hospital for dehydration. Pedialyte? Crystal light? Jello? Milk? Different flavored Popsicles? Has she tried warm liquids? Maybe chicken broth? Camomile tea really helped sooth my tummy early on. Sorry she's having such a hard time.

Can't you contact her surgeon? She really shouldn't be taking ibuprofen. And there may be something more appropriate for her muscle spasms. And What is her issue with liquids?

I gained 3 pounds and then stalled between weeks 6 and 10. I was taking an antibiotic that made be very nauseous so I wasn't eating/drinking as much as I should. As soon as I stopped the meds and felt better, I started eating probably double what I had been and had the biggest weight loss since preop. If you have upped your exercise, you need to up your calories and Water. You've lost a LOT of weight in a very short period of time. Be grateful things have slowed down so your body can catch up. And if you are doing everything "right", my motto always is....trust the process and stay off the scale!

Since I hit goal, I'm always looking for ways to add more whole grains and fiber to my diet. I also like adding something crunchy to my Greek yogurt, but granola is way too high in fat and sugars. But I finally found a cold cereal that isn't too bad....Kashi GoLean. There's lots of varieties, but this one is the plain one with "fiber twigs, soy protein Graham's and honey puffs". 13g protein, 10g insoluble fiber and only 9g sugar per cup. Made with soy grits, red wheat, brown rice, yellow corn, wheat bran, oat fiber, rye, buckwheat, sesame seeds, barley, honey and cane sugar. I mixed about 1/2 cup with plain Fage Greek yogurt, Torani SF pumpkin spice syrup and YUM!

I'm a Premier chocolate and strawberry fan. I don't like the vanilla as well as the Syntrax Matrix vanilla powder, but it works great as creamer in my coffee. Muscle Milk also has a lot of good flavors and I think I've seen some of them at Walmart.

If it's liquid, it's all the same and counts as drinking...water, juice, protein shakes, coffee, tea....

You are a grown adult. You can do choose to do whatever you want. But if it's a matter of sleeve-related safety, your surgeon is the only one that should answer that question.

Ask your surgeon...everyone is different. I had a 25 pound limit for 3 weeks, then I was back to lifting 50-60 pound dogs and wrestling livestock. In contrast, the vet I work with had an 8 pound limit for 6 weeks after her hysterectomy.

I had my surgery at OCC in TJ.... Arrived at the surgical center late because my original flight was cancelled. Filled out paperwork, had blood drawn, consult with nutritionist, went over health survey and had an exam/ECG with cardiologist. Went back to private room with my sister where I changed into a gown, had an IV catheter put in, chatted with the surgeon, and hung out with my sister until my surgery time. Since I was late, I was the last surgery-about 2pm. Walked to the OR and talked to the anesthesiologist about any allergies and concerns before lights out. I let him know I've woken up from anesthesia very nauseous before and he said he'd make sure I was OK this time. I kind of remember waking up, being moved from recovery to my room, talking to my sister and then going back to sleep for a few more hours. Woke up around 9pm. No nausea or pain - yeah! Face timed and email friends and family. Spent the night walking, watching TV and dosing. The nurse kept checking to see that I was comfy and gave me Water to sip. Discharged with take home meds around 9am and went to the Marriott. Walked to Starbucks with my sister so she could get a "fix". I sipped on herbal tea. Took a nap back at the Marriott and then walked to Walmart. Spent the next 2 days shopping, walking and daily rechecks at the surgical center. Flouroscopy barium swallow, drain pulled and flew home 3rd day. Other than the missing tequila shots and chowing down on good Mexican food, it was a great "vacation" south of the border!