Elizabeth21again

I found help with Smart Recovery. It is a free program and assists with any addictive behavior. Here is the link to their website: https://smartrecovery.org/.
I also found this information helpful:


Best wishes.

I was a bit nervous too. I think any time we going into a major surgery it's worrisome.
But here's the thing for me: I know I how miserable and painful it is to remain so overweight. I am already in pain and on a course to be trapped in my body forever. So, if, I'm going to have pain, I'd rather it been in pursuing a solution to my entrapment.
Fortunately, my surgery went well. So far recovering from this surgery is a lot easier than my hernia surgery some years ago. The first few days I was tender, but take the pain meds, use ice packs and rest. Everyday I felt a bit better.
Best wishes!

Follow up: Surgery went well. Doctor was very pleased with it and my post-op. Tomorrow is the one week mark and I feel pretty good. Following the protein and water intake rules. Using a medicine cup to drink from so that I remember to sip helps a lot.
Anyway happy to report that surgery at 60 is going even better than it was at 50 so far!!

I was a bit nervous too. I think any time we going into a major surgery it's worrisome.
But here's the thing for me: I know I how miserable and painful it is to remain so overweight. I am already in pain and on a course to be trapped in my body forever. So, if, I'm going to have pain, I'd rather it been in pursuing a solution to my entrapment.
Fortunately, my surgery went well. So far recovering from this surgery is a lot easier than my hernia surgery some years ago. The first few days I was tender, but take the pain meds, use ice packs and rest. Everyday I felt a bit better.
Best wishes!

you're in the infamous three-week stall. Happens to most of us. It's not ALWAYS the third week, but that's the most common (hence, the name), but most of us experience our first major stall within the first month or so after surgery. Best way to deal with it is to make sure you're following your clinic's plan to a "T", and stay off the scale for a few days. As long as you're following your program, the stall WILL break, and you'll be on your way again. It usually takes 1-3 weeks. It's basically your system recalibrating - and this will likely be the first of many stalls.
re: bowel movements - constipation is a common issue after WLS. It's because of the high protein diet and supplements some of us take (iron and calcium are particularly notorious for this). It should improve once you start eating fiber again, but many of us have to take things like Miralax, magnesium tablets, or stool softeners daily to keep on top of it.

Follow up: Surgery went well. Doctor was very pleased with it and my post-op. Tomorrow is the one week mark and I feel pretty good. Following the protein and water intake rules. Using a medicine cup to drink from so that I remember to sip helps a lot.
Anyway happy to report that surgery at 60 is going even better than it was at 50 so far!!

I found it hard the first 3 -5 days but once the internal swelling calmed down i kind of focused on feeling drinks or food going down. I’d spend 30 minutes mentally following the mouthful and trying to identify what i felt. In the end i’ve notice a sort of tension in the stomach as the first sign of being full.

Then there were other random signs : hiccupping is the strangest one, and for the first week i’d get a runny nose if i’d eaten too much

It’s all so new but we’ll work it out - good luck ?

Hi yall! I had my surgery on Monday (4/22). I’m going well at home. The gas pains are starting to subside and my soreness is beginning to lessen. I’m struggling to figure out my fullness cue vs what is just gas. Any tips on how to determine the fullness cue as I advance to full liquids tomorrow?

Just wanted to update everybody. I did it! I did have some pain right after the surgery, but the nurses gave me something that really worked. I haven't had a ton of pain since. I'm doing good with my fluids and am now 411. I was 429 on the day of surgery. It's awesome!

Hi gang! I had my RNY surgery on Tuesday, 04/16 and it went awesomely! I was super sore initially as well as swollen. Now at day 3, I have deflated greatly, and my pain is being managed pretty well. I don't think it could have been any better. One night in the hospital. I have a friend staying with me because my surgeon said now bending, lifting >10 pounds, and no driving while on narcotics. I have cats and can't feed them with those restrictions.

forgive me, i thought that was what we were doing.

Thanks for the clarification as to me it came across in an accusatory way but I see now in your later posts where you are coming from. I just read it that you were accusing anyone who even had an infrequent drink as to be ashamed of themselves and I think in life being on the larger size we have probably had enough shame thrown at us.
Anyway, as I already said, we are all adults and the choices we make are on ourselves. Everyone has different levels of likes, dislikes and tolerances.
I can't stand the taste of rum on its own but that goes back to it being the first drink I ever had that I got drunk on at 13yrs of age - a mistake where I was given my mothers rum and coke drink at a party multiple times during the day instead of just my own coke as the barman thought I was being a good child and getting drinks for my mum! Yuck, I still remember being so ill that evening - I was the same green colour as my parents lovely avocado coloured bathroom ?
Personally I have gone through a lot with this surgery that there is no way I am messing it up by drinking to the extent I would have before (just a good social life or bottle of wine at home, no mad benders etc). I will just have the occasional drink when out socially, like Friday I had 2/3 of one glass of red wine and that took two hours to drink and was enough for me.

So...
I could have written your same entry 10 years ago. I lost 120 lbs with VGS. At six months post-op I resumed my weekend drinking. Mind you I could drink like a master before surgery. I had NO doubt I could handle it fine post-op. Aaaand that "worked" until it didn't. My body processed alcohol so differently post-op but I didn't realize it until too late. I wish I had remained alcohol free.
I found this information below helpful. Best wishes.

So...
I could have written your same entry 10 years ago. I lost 120 lbs with VGS. At six months post-op I resumed my weekend drinking. Mind you I could drink like a master before surgery. I had NO doubt I could handle it fine post-op. Aaaand that "worked" until it didn't. My body processed alcohol so differently post-op but I didn't realize it until too late. I wish I had remained alcohol free.
I found this information below helpful. Best wishes.

Hi guys. Just came across this thread and wanted to say thank you for all the supportive words you've shared here. I'm currently on my way to quitting alcohol, so I really appreciate your help. Actually, I'd also be grateful if you shared more of your experience on giving up that ****.

I want to also add that I’m 9 years out and while I am not an alcoholic (I can be around alcohol without the urge to drink), it scared me how quickly alcohol hit after surgery and how often one glass hit like 3 used to. I quit pretty much all alcohol about 1.5 years ago now and am loving the growing mocktail and Non-Alcoholic Beer scene. If you feel out of control, it is not your fault and you can get help.

Thank you for sharing. Sadly I am in the same position and today is my 3rd day without alcohol and the withdrawals have been so bad that I needed medication from the doctor to get through it. My blood pressure raised at such high levels it was dangerous. All this is such a shock to me and before my bypass back in December 2017 I was never really interested in alcohol but over the last few years my drinking has increased so much so it had taken over my life…I seemed to look forward to the joy it gave me and the quick fix that food no longer could give me. I am hoping I can keep going and start to feel better soon. I hope to learn to live my life without alcohol and the extra weight gain from the late night snacks and start to enjoy eating healthy and to feel alive again! ??

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I read it a few months back and revisiting with a reply and saying out loud that I have a problem. I've been transparent with my BF, fam and close friends that I'm struggling...but hiding how bad it can get. Last night was a sure sign of transfer addiction and will be seeking help.
I'm 5.5 years out and over the last two years have gained 50lbs. I stopped working out and have been holding around the same weight the last 6 months. I can't seem to get the ME back that was so focused.
My Dad passed away in 2019 and to cope, I started leaning on wine and drinking (as did my Siblings) Then during 2020 covid, I was drinking during the week, sometimes alone when my SO was at work and often a bottle of wine all by myself.
I was able to get back some control in 2021, but find myself sneaking drinks and hiding my evidence. Last night, for no good reason I had wine delivered and drank 1.5 bottles of wine after BF went to work.
I know the next steps will be therapy to figure out the triggers and coping skills. Again, thanks for posting your story to inspire me to address this problem before it's too late. I worked so hard to be healthy and I'm sabotaging my future self.

I share this story in hopes that it may help someone to never pick up a drink after VSG or to at least be hyper-vigilant about the dangers of drinking post weight loss surgery.
I was sleeved in August of 2015 @ 310 lbs. Quickly lost most of the weight needed and began running 5k. Not really setting the world on fire, but it was really good for me. Prior to surgery, I had always enjoyed drinking with friends. Typical guy stuff - couple beers @ a football game or watching the game on Sunday, meeting for drinks after work, etc. Never an issue or problem. Never anything that i had to have.
My doctor warned me against alcohol, sodas, and transfer addictions, but I thought "never me". WOW, was I wrong. I remember the first couple times I had a beer after the surgery (I waited 6 months), it was very fizzy and uncomfortable. I convinced myself that it would get easier, and unfortunately it did. Next came the rum and coke zero. Wow, that tastes great, and I get a buzz very quickly.
That fast buzz turned into getting very drunk, very quickly. Our new bodies absorb the alcohol in 1/2 the time that a normal internal system would. Over the last couple yeaars there have been many episodes of drinking way to much, blacking out, and not remembering what happened. I have had to apologize for my behavior more than once after a night of drinking. I even started drinking every day. I would make a drink as soon as I got home each day. 1 turns into 2 or 3. Just like lays potato chips you can not have just 1. Alcohol consumed my every thought. When can I have a drink? How can I make sure I can get a drink? It amazed me how I was able to justify that if creamer was good in my morning coffee, how great would Rumchatta be (it's damn good, by the way).
I am living proof that transfer addiction is a real thing. I am now in counseling for my alcohol addiction.
Transfer addiction is definitely a real thing. Prior to VSG surgery I was over 300 pounds because I had an addiction to food, and all the wrong kinds of food. My new addiction is alcohol and it's best friend is food addiction. what goes with beer = chicken wings, or nuts and pretzels, what goes with a margarita = tacos, etc.
Alcohol also makes it impossible to lose weight. So if you are really dedicated to clean eating but you drink, your weight may stay the same, but it surely will not go down. I have packed on 60 lbs of the 120 that I lost. And, I am slowly changing behaviors to get back to where I want to be.
It is a journey,, but I am worth it. I will overcome.
Addiction is sacrificing everything for that one thing !
Recovery is sacrificing that 1 thing to have everything !

If you follow your plan, you won’t put on weight. You are consuming so few calories & even when you progress to purées, soft food & then solid food, you’ll still be eating so few calories & such tiny portions, that again you won’t put on weight.
Not consuming calories, not meeting your protein goals (or at least being close to it) will actually be doing you more harm. Affecting your recovery & healing, putting your body into starvation mode, being nutrient deficit, etc. These will impede your long term health & weight loss.
May be get in touch with your team & ask if you could see a therapist to work through this fear of eating. You don’t want to swap one set of poor eating habits with another & create new health issues.
Trust the program. It works.

hmmm...you could always try it, and, if it doesn't work for you say, after 3-4 weeks, then just go back to what DOES work?
or, if it's causing you too much angst, and your current M.O. is not causing you any issues (which sounds like it isn't), why fix what ain't broke?
there is no one-size fits all prescription...find out what works for you and go with that.
good luck! ❤️

I had my surgery in July last year and waited until Christmas to have a few drinks over the holiday period, albeit I was in hospital until Nov so not even able to contemplate drinking sooner. My surgeon said to stay away from champagne (except a few sips if toasting something) as the bubbles would not be good for my reflux but I was ok with a glass of wine etc,
I had was drooling over the thought of having a glass of red wine after my Christmas dinner and sadly hated the taste after a couple of sips. I was assured the wine had not gone bad, others drank same bottle, but I just couldn't face it and was so disappointed. I then tried a Baileys instead and it was no problem I had a couple of Baileys over the holidays but it was just one each time as I took my time to enjoy the drinks plus having to wait 30 mins each side of eating meant I couldn't go mad. ?
Since then I have gone out with friends and had a glass or two of red wine, thankfully all tasted fine.
I used to drink wine at home which then became a slipply slope as I always found a reason to open a bottle so now I am just trying to stick to a rule of not drinking at home unless it is a special occasion.

well...funny how reading about others' drinking frequency seems to make me think i'm not that problematic after all?
i was under the impression that i drank alot...but i guess daily drinking is not that uncommon????

This is amazing. wow

I can honestly say I’ve never felt better. You leave the old habits and build new ones! I was never nervous about the surgery, I was more nervous about being successful. Trust the process it WORKS!