My surgery date is 09/25/17, and I do not have a lot of support. I am 29 and do not have any medical conditions except for asthma and the fact that my BMI is 44. My parents feel like I should not have to be "cut open" in order to lose weight, but they do not understand my every day struggle. My dietician (outside of the bariatric program) reminds me that if I get this surgery I can possibly develop esophageal cancer because you apparently get GERD after gastric sleeve. I only have one supportive friend, and she's sad because she feels like I'm going to become a different person because of hormones and that i won't be able to drink anymore. I just support from someone and some assurance that I am making the right decision. I don't want to die and I don't want to regret this surgery and develop more diseases as a result of this surgery. Is this worth it? Did anyone have regrets?

I WAS the parent who objected to surgery so I know how your parents feel (I am not a patient myself; I joined here after my son's surgery so I could learn things I didn't know without having to always bug him). My son was an adult at 25 so I didn't really have a say, and it was really hard as a parent to toe that line between worrying and letting him be in charge of this. The way I described my feelings back then was that it broke my heart that he was taking a drastic step that would affect the rest of his life. I didn't want to express any of my fears to him so I told him there were so many questions I had and I really didn't want to have to subject him to them so could I have his permission to talk to his surgeon and his therapist about my thoughts. He agreed and so I got to share all my fears with others and get reassurance. What were my fears? That he would die on the table (his docs went through the data and also reminded me of the. very real health risks that come with doing nothing). That he hadn't tried hard enough to do this without surgery ( they walked me back through all the things he had tried, for nearly ten years, and how for some people it becomes a near impossibility to do this without medical intervention). That he had not thought through the complications. (They assured me they had all talked about them in detail). That he was just plain too young. (As his doc said, better to do this at 25 than to wait 30 years and then wish you had done it at 25). That I had somehow failed him as a parent for allowing him to get to this point in the first place. (I still feel that way even though al his experts tell me not to) He is now about six months postopband it is the best thing he could ever have done. As his mother I feel like I have my son back. The one who I hadn't seen in years as he got sadder and lonelier and more defined by his weight. He is down by about 50 percent of his body weight. He goes out with friends and has a drink or two and enjoys his life And basically does everything he always did but with smaller portions, no constant hunger, far fewer fatty sugary foods (he just doesn't want them) and wearing a far smaller size. I don't know if any of this helps, but maybe it would help to have your parents do what I did and talk to someone who knows your journey and who knows the medical literature, but who isn't you?

I'm 3 months out from surgery and was cleared for alcohol a few weeks ago. One glass of wine or a vodka and vitamin water zero.


Mich W
Hw 223, SW 217 CW 184 GW 135

I'm 3 months out from surgery and was cleared for alcohol a few weeks ago. One glass of wine or a vodka and vitamin water zero.


Mich W
Hw 223, SW 217 CW 184 GW 135

Do you notice any slowing of your weight loss? I am 3 months out as well. I just started having a vodka with Vitamin Water zero as well! I usually just have one and that's plenty. One time I did have two and I felt a little icky afterwards. I got a headache.!

I only just started doing this so I'm not sure if it is going to affect my weight loss or not. What have you noticed? Did your doctor clear you? I hear many different things about when it is safe to introduce alcohol back into your life. At 3 months post-op I would think that our stomachs are pretty much healed and that one drink here and there would not heard it. But I'm not positive! I have not asked my doctor yet.

Do you notice any slowing of your weight loss? I am 3 months out as well. I just started having a vodka with Vitamin Water zero as well! I usually just have one and that's plenty. One time I did have two and I felt a little icky afterwards. I got a headache.!

I only just started doing this so I'm not sure if it is going to affect my weight loss or not. What have you noticed? Did your doctor clear you? I hear many different things about when it is safe to introduce alcohol back into your life. At 3 months post-op I would think that our stomachs are pretty much healed and that one drink here and there would not heard it. But I'm not positive! I have not asked my doctor yet.

My starting weight was also 223! I'm five-six, five-seven. My surgery date was June 7th. Right now I weigh 168. My goal weight is 145. We are on a very similar path!

I had my gastrologist and my surgeon confer because I had really bad GERD, had Barrett's, which is pre-cancer cells (which I had been treated for and have been clean of for three years). In addition, I had a hiatal hernia. We weighed all the options and the risks. My surgeon recommended the bypass, which I would not have done. Why? A good friend had a bypass and she constantly dumps, is as pale as a ghost, 80% of her hair has fallen out and she just looks sickly all the time. My gastrologist cleared me for the sleeve. The issue with the sleeve and esophageal cancer is one way to remove the cancer is they have to cut out the cancerous portion and pull up the stomach to meet the healthy esophagus. Since they remove a lot of your stomach, there won't be enough stomach to pull up. Someone may think I'm crazy for having the procedure done, but I have committed to yearly scoping and to stay away from the triggers.
Not everyone develops GERD who has the gastric sleeve. You just have to be diligent and follow your surgeon's plan - most have you taking something for the acid for the first 3-6 month. At my six month check up they told me to stop taking my ppi. I'll admit, I was terrified. Before surgery if I didn't take it I couldn't even drink water. I weaned myself off of it and I have had zero problems and have never felt better.
I do believe a lot of it had to do with my diet change - no eating until I'm stuffed, minimal alcohol, no diet cokes, no chocolate or sweets, no fried foods, minimal spicy foods. Also, I quit eating after 7:00 p.m. Of course the huge weight loss helps a lot too.
I only told one friend about the surgery. Has my life changed? Absolutely! My entertainment isn't going out eating and drinking anymore. I thought I would be sad about it but I have found other things to do now. Hiking, biking, gym, kayaking, which are way more fun than eating and drinking and you feel good after doing them.
Is this surgery worth it?!?!?!? A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y! My regret, as many others will say, is I didn't do it sooner.

Can you drink any alcohol at all or does it just made you feel sick? I'll miss my glass now of wine

9 minutes ago, sandypolly said:

Can you drink any alcohol at all or does it just made you feel sick? I'll miss my glass now of wine

Yes, I can drink alcohol. I didn't have any until I was 4 months out. I will not drink any alcohol after I eat because I do not want it sitting in my esophagus. I will have a glass of wine before a meal or an hour or two after a meal. I'm surprised how much I do not miss it. I think the weight loss has helped me focus on other things. I only have 1 or 2 drinks a month at most, as I am still trying to get to goal. I plan on still keeping the alcohol to the minimum after I reach my goal, so I can stay at goal.

Yes, I can drink alcohol. I didn't have any until I was 4 months out. I will not drink any alcohol after I eat because I do not want it sitting in my esophagus. I will have a glass of wine before a meal or an hour or two after a meal. I'm surprised how much I do not miss it. I think the weight loss has helped me focus on other things. I only have 1 or 2 drinks a month at most, as I am still trying to get to goal. I plan on still keeping the alcohol to the minimum after I reach my goal, so I can stay at goal.

Thank you for the reply. You're doing great.. I know it sounds stupid but I love to socialise over a few glasses of wine.. I'll miss it so much, I'm very shy too without a drink so it helps calm me down.

I didn't go through with my surgery & I regret it. I'm back to my old bad habits & have reached out to my surgical group to get the ball rolling again. I have delayed this long enough. Thankfuly I don't have to do anything but blood work pre op & get scheduled for surgery.

On 9/15/2017 at 11:43 AM, sandypolly said:

Thank you for the reply. You're doing great.. I know it sounds stupid but I love to socialise over a few glasses of wine.. I'll miss it so much, I'm very shy too without a drink so it helps calm me down.

I'm almost 4 months out and I have a drink several times a week. I only have one per day. One time I had two and I felt icky. So I keep it to one, and I feel relaxed and satisfied with that! It hasn't slowed my weight loss. I drink gluten free vodka with vitamine water! I tried a glass of red wine but it gave me a hella headache!

Edited September 18, 20178 yr by MauiLolly

I hope everything turned out well for you.

I was sleeved 7 years ago. I have no regrets. I have maintained well. My lowest eight was 68kg. I am currently 71kg. I have no GERD. Zero complications. The only dumping I did was dumping people who judge people who choose gastric surgery.

3 hours ago, PrayingForWeightLoss said:

The only dumping I did was dumping people who judge people who choose gastric surgery.

TA DAAA! There it is folks. Dump toxicity. In whatever form it comes in.

My mom said the same thing, she told me i could do it on my own. I kept telling her I could not and would not lose 110lbs on my own. I finally had to be blunt with her and tell her to get over it because i was doing the surgery. She has been supportive now. Don't let anyone else tell you what to do. You know what you have to do and if that is surgery as a tool to help you lose the weight then go for it. We are all very supportive so if you feel like you do not have a good support system then just come here to this forum. We will support you!!!!