Having Second Thoughts...

I have been trying to get WLS for some time. I have spent the last year finally getting into a program that will allow me to get the VSG and be covered by my medical. So cost is not my hang up. My hang up is all the things I have to give up that are a big part of my social life like Coffee and Alcohol. I just met with the nurse yesterday from the hospital as I have been accepted into the program. But I am all caught up in these things that she said I would have to stop. I understand I will have to give them up if I want this to work, but how many really struggled with giving up coffee, and beers with the guys, or carbonated drinks?

On the middle and the latter no problems.  Have not had a beer in way, way over 20 years by choice not chance.  ETOH and I had to split the sheets.  Main two reasons for no alcohol for at least a year are the additional wear and tear on your liver while you are in ketosis - the rapid weight loss stage - and risk of a transfer addiction.  I will on occasion to clear my pallet take a swig off of a carbonated beverage if nothing else is available.  Coffee off limits?  May have to let go of the caffeinated variety for a while but can go back to the leaded variety after your stomach heals.  I never had a Starbucks addiction till after surgery!

Shaun, I am almost exactly one month post surgery (sleeve), and have lost 34 lbs in the last month. 

I had EXACTLY the same worries about the same things, and here's what I have found.  Alcohol.  I drank too much pre surgery...two or three V&T's every night. Come 5 PM I really craved one.  Since surgery, I don't like the taste. I can't drink tonic anymore because it makes me feel bloated (as will carbonated drinks and I would assume beer), so no more craving.  Last night I had my first alcohol, and left a vodka on the rocks half drunk on the bar after an hour.  I have never left a drink on the bar in my life.  I had my fill, was able to participate socially in a business function, and did I mention, have lost 34 pounds.

I have not been at this weight since before 2005.  I feel awesome, and still have a long, long way to go to graduate from morbid obesity.  I encourage you to talk to a counselor.  My program has one, and he was very open with me about his worry that I might be one who substitutes even more alcohol consumption for my food addiction, (and maybe I still will).  He gave me some tools to monitor myself and cope. 

Caffeine is a 3 day headache that you should get through a couple of weeks before surgery.  I am back to 1 cup a day after being off for 2 months.  My decision.

The surgery is not a end-all.  It takes work.  However, the feeling of accomplishment from success is liberating.  Talk to someone, and don't throw away the opportunity without getting some informed advice from a pro.

Onward!

I also had similar reservations, especially once everything fell into place for surgery to actually happen. I'm a little over 7 weeks post op and down just shy of 50lbs. I used to be religious about my 1 cup of coffee a day before surgery, I was cleared for 1 cup post op by NUT 2 weeks post op but find I don't have the same taste for it, so it's usually a treat a few times a week. As far as alcohol, I won't lie and say I don't miss a good blue moon with an orange, but I did have a weak scotch and water over the weekend at an unexpected family get together, I felt absolutely nothing at all so I'll continue to not touch it for a long period of time. Being almost halfway thru my weight-loss already is motivation enough to stay on track and embed these habits as permanent. 

Dan

My 2 cents...8+ years out.  If you decide to go with surgery you will need to change your habits...That is part of the reason for the surgery.  You want to get healthy.  You probably need the surgery to live longer.  If that means giving up (for a time), some things...Well, so be it.  My doctor told me I was dying.  Well, that woke me up quickly.  I asked if there was anything that could be done.  We "tried" WLS and I am alive today.  I should have died 5 years ago!!  A few things about coffee and beer.  I didn't touch any sugar, coffee, or alcohol for 1 year.  I wanted to make this thing work.  I started going back to sugar (big mistake) and regained 40 pounds.  A second heart attack woke me up and I dropped more weight again (dying is a great motivator).  Fast forward 8 years.  Every day I drink about 3oz of coffee.  I put sugar, milk, Splenda, and Equal in it...Yeah, strange but that is me.  Your tastes will change after surgery.  You will notice bitter taste more (coffee and beer).  My first few taste of beer I ended up hating it (bitterness).  Two days ago a friend gave me an oz of Coors Light.  It was the first time in 8 years that beer didn't taste bitter to me (maybe because it was hot and I was thirsty).  Many times will have an oz of wine in the evening...Boring (just me).  You still can and should be at the social events...You just eat and think different.  I remember going into a sports bar a few months after my surgery (RNY).  I don't have cable and the Raiders were playing (yeah, it's been awhile since they were worth watching).  So I go in there and everything on the menu is deep fried!  So I order some chicken something, eat a few bites, watch the game, and take a doggy bag home.  Does it look strange...Yeah, who cares?  Those who have had the surgery understand where I'm coming from.  When I ride my bicycle (I'm retired) to the local coffee shop I will get either a cup of soup or two poached eggs (with salsa)...And a hot or iced tea.  The waitress knows me and my routine. I tip good, but the bill is less than $5.  I will read the paper there, watch the news or sports on the TV...Then off I go to run errands.  Anyways, you can go back to these things slowly (if they don't become and issue...Addiction).  But you need to get the weight under control or there will be other major issues that will only make it worse (heart, kidneys, diabetes).  Later, Brian   

I have those same reservations. However, for me to be able to function and live I need to lose weight. I made up my mind long ago that things were going to have to change.

I am still in pre-op insurance approval land but the post op aftermath is something that I think about. It is going to take a lot of work and one day at a time.

I have have found some people that I talk to...you could call it a support group and believe me the help helps.  

I drink coffee whenever I want, and I drink low carb alcohol. I'm not sure where you got the information/idea you can't drink either after surgery. Everything in moderation of course. Coffee is fine with heavy cream instead of milk and splenda instead of sugar. Alcohol I am only an occasional drinker but stuff like Vodka, Gin, Rum, Cognac, Tequila, Whiskey, Scotch and Brandy are all low carb. I have ****tails made with those and sugar free additives. Of course you don't want to drink too much alcohol because it is pretty devoid of nutritional value outside of calories but occasional social drinking won't hurt anything. Bonus, after the surgery it seems to take me way less alcohol to feel the effect!

I've always hated beer so I guess I dodged a bullet with that. Carbonated drinks I still have occasionally, I really don't miss them to be honest though. The only time I drink a soda is when there is no option that I prefer like powerade zero. Always diet soda of course, my favorite currently being coke zero. I don't experience any discomfort from drinking carbonated drinks, maybe if I really went out of my way to drink a lot of it it would? But with just regular drinking habits I've never had an issue, besides the fact that I can't finish a small coke zero from the local movie theater, always a quarter to a half of it left by the time the movie is done! They really should have an extra small option.