My sister-in-law had this surgery several years ago and has become an alcoholic...and gained about 50 pounds. Tragedy for everyone but she was really looking for "pain medicine," the place that food used to fill for her. She drinks, however, a great deal because as quickly as one gets "buzzed" it seems it goes away just as quickly. I'm sure you'll hear from many people who have good thoughts and suggestions but I'd go back to my doctor and ask him/her what s/he thought. Judith

I can't belive where I am today. Sitting on pillows at the moment recovering from a thight lift, butt lift (of which there isn't any anymore!) tummy tuck and arm lift I am just floored every time I walk past a mirror. I see this trim figure ghost by and it take 5 seconds before I realize that's me!! Total loss to date (esp after surgery and getting rid of all that hanging skin) is 190 lbs Top's are a loose xl to comfortable L and I'm betting pants will now be a 14 since they were a loose 16 before surgery to get rid of the saddle bags on my hips. The total just amazes me 'cuz from day one I've been a "slow looser" dispairing that I'd ever come close to any sort of goal. It's been a day to day struggle and a meal by meal choice to stop when I feel full and not keep plowing onwards. Protien shakes and lots of water along with consistant cardio and weights are what's gotten me where I am today. The WLS is *definately* only a tool..not a magic pill. If anyone goes into WLS thinking they're in for an easy ride they really, really need to take a step back and think again. Katz

I wish I could say I've done as well as all of you. I lost 62#, then went up 10, back down 9, and keep struggling in there. From a tight 26/28 to an 18/20/22, but I do look much better. All my pre-surgery complications are gone, though. Surgery was in July - November went on a family vacation and it was so terrible I practially had a nervous breakdown. So I didn't loose any weight after the trip, lost all motivation, stopped exercising, stopped caring about myself - everything. A year later and I'm still at the same place. I'm finally back here on the boards - I hope that's a good sign, maybe I'm ready to fix this problem.

Hi Carmen. I also had gastric bypass surgery 7/03. Drinking has been reduced a lot since surgery and I do find that it goes to my head faster. I do not thing that one glass after dinner makes an alcholic. Just make sure that you get all the proper nutrition first!!!

I have a question for you...do you still eat small amounts or can you eat as much as you like? I started out at 276 and now I'm down 135, I'm really happy about my weight loss, but I don't want to lose anymore, I don't even mind if I gain maybe 5lbs but no more. I'm also afraid that I may gain more, I still get on the scale every week. I think subconsciously in the back of my mind I'm afraid that I will gain some of my weight back. I know what to do not to get back to that size, but saying it and doing it is two different things. We will just have to pray that we can maintain the size we desire to be.