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I had surgery in 2010 and did not drink prior to surgery, but after I lost weight I would drink from time to time and it gradually became a habit to do when we went out to eat or had get together events. Over time, my weight started to creep back up and I realize that the alcohol was the main reason. In my opinion, steer clear of it. We are very susceptible to trans addiction after surgery that it can become a major problem for us. I am dealing with regain at this time and I wish I had never given in to the need to have a glass of wine, which turned into the need for more and more.
My suggestion, don't drink your calories EVER!
Been having the same problem!! To the OP:
Calm down and breathe. A lot of people have regrets after surgery because the beginning seems tough. And it is. But if you hold the course, and follow your surgeon's plan, you'll be fine. I don't know what you've been reading, but nobody I know can only eat 2 or 3 teaspoons. You would die if that is all you could eat. At the end of my "healing phases" at 9 weeks post-op, I was eating 1/4-1/3 cup. As you heal and the swelling goes down, you will be able to eat more. Everyone is different but I was told my new sleeve would hold 8 oz by weight (not a cup measure, that's volume not weight). At about 18 months post-op I was eating 3-4 oz of protein, and another 2 or 3 ounces of veggies or whatever, depended on the day. Now, at 3 years out, I can eat 8 oz at the most, but stay in the 6-8 oz range. I can eat half an 8 oz steak and a serving of broccoli when I'm out, and that's plenty. Not 2 or 3 teaspoons.
Personally, I don't go for the low fat stuff. I did or the first 4 months, following my plan to the T. But at 4.5 months I switched to the Ketogenic way of eating and I am still Keto today. I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT for right after surgery, you can't eat enough to do it properly. But by 4 months out I was able to eat about 4-5 oz at a time.
The thing to remember is protein first, then good simple low carbs. And DRINK DRINK DRINK!
What steps have you taken to diagnose and treat the GERD, particularly things that would be documented to the insurance company (prescription meds, tests - EGD, upper GI, etc.)? I can see them denying surgery if this is the first that they have heard of the problem. They often have some kind of stepped therapy they require first to verify that simpler, cheaper treatments aren't effective before jumping into surgery. They often do the same thing with drugs, covering basic generics in favor of more expensive name brands and newer on patent meds unless it is demonstrated that the cheaper drugs don't work.
I would certainly exhaust the simpler treatments first as well, as the bypass is no guarantee of being GERD-free (as HALA and others will attest); it merely doesn't have the predisposition towards it that the sleeve has (it has its' own predispositions that aren't any fun, and it's much harder to revise should one run into one of those problems.) I have minor GERD that is well controlled with basic OTC meds, and is improving (moving to lesser drugs - H2I vs PPI) with minor diet/life tweaks.
By your BMI and comorbidities, you do normally qualify for revisional WLS on weight alone, assuming that the insurance company doesn't have on of those "one WLS per lifetime" limitations - that makes it harder but not impossible to get what you need. But if the GERD is documented as severe enough, that should do it, though it may take some appeals to get it.
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
I also use Dexilant 30 mg and occasional zantac and tums when needed. It controls the Gerd for the most part. I thought if you had RNY you would not have Gerd, so sorry.
I am scheduled for VSG in late October. How painful was the surgery and how long did it take your stomach to heal? Any unwanted after-effects? I'm both scared and excited.
I tried 3 times to no avail. I am little over 2 years post op VSG and can eat 3 to 4 oz of dense protein depending on what it is and maybe a few bites of veggie, rice or, potato. I know the rice and potato are not for everyone but it works for me just fine in small amounts.
Ugh! so its not just me...I typed a huge reply to that thread and it was all for nothing. I wanted to scream!
HW-430
SW-372
Day of Surgery-347
CW-246
Something is broken on the original post.
I am almost 12 years out. Yesterday I had a steak salad for lunch. It had six ounces of grilled steak over a huge bed of greens. I asked for a takeout container so I could bring half of it home for supper. But I easily ate every bite of the salad and gave the takeout container to a friend.
Your new sleeve is like a new born baby. You feed it tiny amounts of food while it is a baby. But it quickly becomes an adult sleeve and by six months you will be able to eat fairly large portions again. By the end of eighteen months you will be able to eat as much as before surgery.
Just because you can eat more does not mean that you should. Use this honeymoon period to lose as much weight as possible. I would love to be back in the days when I was completely stuffed after eating on ounce of meat. Now I eat small meals because that is the only way to keep from regaining.
Learn how to eat to lose and maintain the loss. Dense protein first, then non-starchy vegetables, then a small amount of fruit if needed. Avoid or completely eliminate flour, sugar, rice, potatoes, corn, and cereals. Alcohol carries the risk of liver damage, transfer addiction, and weight gain.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
You did something to your thread making it unanswerable, at least for me. Here's my reply. If it is just me - mods feel free to move into thread.
Chill. While my meals are very much smaller, they aren't tiny. It starts out that way the first year, but normalizes over time. There are significant changes and you better get your mind right and right now. You might need therapy, I did and it makes the difference. You need to change your relationship with food, but the tiny food thing isn't life long. But and this is a real but - the core changes are!! Good luck
HW 510 / SW 424/ GW 175 (stretch goal to get 10 under) / CW 160 (I'm near the charts ideal weight - wonder if I can stay here)
RNY November 2016
PS: L/R arm skin removal; belt panniculectomy - April, 2019
I am sorry you are dealing with GERD. I know that is horrible.
I had RNY and unfortunately for me, my WLS contributed to me getting GERD long term post-op.
I am currently on Rx PPI, Dexilant. That is the only one that really helps. I have been trying to get off that one, and most days I can take 30 mg to control it. But I still have weeks when I need 60 mg and zantac and Tums.
If you have not done that - please ask to be checked for Barrett Esophagus. Precancerous condition of cells in Esophagus. Unfortunately I had some changes already.
Also - sometimes GERD is caused by food allergies - intolerances or sensitivities.
Eating some foods can cause severe burning in my throat for days. Avoiding that food helps clearing up the burn and pain.
Good luck finding an answer.
BTW: looks like you are 4 years post op, not 5 if your surgery was in 2015.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
