Sugar, alcohol specifically - ThinnerTimes

Princess J · 04-21-2004, 02:46 PM

I have several friends who have had WLS from various doctors in various parts of the country. I am always surprised when I find out that even at 3 or 4 months out they are drinking wine.
I know that the smallest amount of sugar has made me so sick that I would not even want to try wine. What is with that.

Another sugar thing is this: an employee of mine offered me a piece of candy today. Of course this is just after I saw her do a McDonalds thing in about 3 minutes. (it hurt my pouch to watch). Her father had WLS a couple of months before I did.

I asked her if she was kidding and told her no, it would make me sick. More importantly, why would I risk screwing all of this up? I don't want to know if I could tolerate candy. She says her dad can have small peices of candy. Perhaps so, but how good could that be.

So, any thoughts on wine? On sugar in general?
Julianna

JWheeler · 04-21-2004, 07:24 PM

Sugar, sugar, sugar.... it's such a nasty word and conjures up so much guilt. I'm happy that you've defied every temptation to take just a little taste. As for me, well, I defied it for a while, but ended up giving in to the nasty little guy.

The bad news is that my system can tolerate some amounts of sugar. The good news is that I can't tolerate the amounts I used to. Fortunately, this surgery has given me a renewed sense of control, so even though I know I can tolerate sugar here and there, I have more control over the choices I make when faced with a sugar dilemma. Plus, because an overload of sugar gives me odiferous gas,

I am motivated to make other choices when having to choose between a sugary item and a just-as-satisfying piece of fruit.

As for the alcohol... well, that was a little bit harder for me to give up because my social environment includes BBQ's, sports, and the accompanying drinks. It was no fun always drinking water, since carbonated drinks are out. I asked Dr. C about the prohibition against alcohol and his response was that while he doesn't prefer it, moderate consumption will not adversely affect the effects of the surgery. Because carbonation is bad, my new favorite social drink is a cosmopolitan. ...but again, we're talking maybe 1 drink every other weekend.

So again, while I commend your will power to defy the temptations of sugar and alcohol, every person's body reacts differently to the surgery. Some can handle sugar and alcohol, while others can't.

Hope that helps to answer your question.

Suzanne-photog4fun · 04-22-2004, 07:45 AM

Hi Julia,
You're smart to STAY AWAY FROM SWEETS if that was an issue for you preop as it was for me. I know a few people who tolerate a glass of alcohol now and then. If fact they got drunk on an extremely small amount. But be careful, everyone. They have been people that have switched addictions from food to alcohol. BE VERY CAREFUL.

jeanmarie29 · 04-22-2004, 03:54 PM

[font=Comic Sans MS]Hi J and everyone. This is an interesting thread. I am one of the few (I think) to never have vomited or dumped...though eggs have a NASTY affect on me, I do not think it is actual dumping. I have had one glass of wine on Easter, and have not had one grain of sugar and no simple carbs at all, other than .. literally the occaisional cracker. I am 9 weeks out and feel fine. I little episode w/dizziness over last weekend and the last few days. My pulse is way too low, but bp is normal/high. My pcp is changing my meds. Went from 2 bp's a day down to a 1/2 in about a week. I love weight loss oxoxoxoxoxo
Anyway, I am a little worried about the vino thing. Though it did not bother me, I really don't want to drink anything. I have no desire for anything w/alcohol, sugar, carbs.....I live on chic and veggies...always fresh and that is the truth. I can eat real lean pork but not any beef real well yet. Suzanne hit the nail on the head...we don't want to trade addictions. I also quite smoking in February right before my surgery....strangely I do not feel deprived. The decision to do this was to major to do anything to screw it up. I don't want anything in my little stomach that will hurt it. Believe me, being dizzy and nauseated for all those days made me question my decision...thank God it was really a no brainer and I am already better. My advice....take it real slow and easy...if you question whether you should really have it....don't.
Jean

mspookie007 · 04-24-2004, 08:32 PM

I am so glad I am not alone in the sugar situation. I am 8 months out and can pretty much eat and drink what I want. I still haven't tried alcohol but I will have the occational sweet treat. Like you, I can have the taste and the craving will go away and that is fine with me. Having the "tool" to now not over eat and know when to say when has been a GREAT help for me. I thought I was alone out here with trying the sweets here and there, don't get me wrong I don't eat them all the time, just around "that" time of the month. I know someone who had the surgery April 2003 and she was out drinking heavy about 4 months after her surgery and she dealt with the "dumping." That was sad to watch, even though she lost the weight, she couldn't stop drinking. I am afraid to try a fruit cocktail, but I am back to drinking my diet cokes again.

Again, thank you for being honest.
Melissa
296/250/194

deblaff · 04-25-2004, 11:08 AM

Please, please do not drink carbonated drinks! Here you are so concerned about sugar and alcohol and being very very careful, and you could ruin the whole thing with those Diet Cokes! Big, huge no-no! Carbonation can stretch the pouch and the opening to the intestines. Real problem there is that if you stretch that opening, food goes down much faster, pouch doesn't stay full as long, and you will be hungry sooner. As Kelly put it to me when I asked about diet sodas, "Well, the one thing our patients who fail have in common is that they continued to consume carbonated drinks. Now, not everyone who drinks them fails, but all who fail drink them. You choose."

Deb
1/14/03
333/181/150

emineee · 05-02-2004, 10:05 PM

Let me start off by saying that I, age 24, am kinda in that "drinking" age. Sadly, all social activities are centered around going to the bar. I have learned little tricks however if you're willing to push the envelope a bit.

I am 4 months out now and can have a little bit of extra light beer--like Mich Ultra or something like that. And yes, I do get a bit of the dumping syndrome in the morning--but it's not that bad actually in limited amounts. I'm not telling you to try and drink by any means...my own surgeon (I'm actually from ND) said I probably wouldn't be able to drink again, but did specifically tell me to stay away from mixed drinks with added syrups or regular sodas in them. So just go with things that have less sugar in them if you still want to have an occasional drink.

Another thing you can do if people are asking you why you aren't drinking--just get a water/Diet Coke in a regular glass, put a stir straw/lemon in it and tell people there is alcohol in it. I personally would have drunken people come up to me and ask why I was in a bar and wasn't drinking...this was just the easiest thing I could come up with because they didn't like the answer "I don't drink, thank you." Plus, the bartender will usually give you the soda for free if you're the designated driver.

And for the whole carbonation thing...just leave your Diet Coke out on the countertop for awhile. Mine usually goes flat within the first few sips since it takes me forever to drink a can--and it's better than nothing!! However, my surgeon's nurse told me a trick to speed the process. Put the soda in a glass and then add about 1 tablespoon of tap water. It goes flat in seconds and keeps all the tastiness of a Diet Coke. I don't have an alcohol problem, but I was addicted to Diet Coke--I figure it's not THAT bad of a habit.

Bigbaldbuddie · 05-25-2004, 02:06 PM

I know a few people personal who have had WLS and they told me that if you put the diet soda in a glas and put it in the microwave for 5 seconds, it will kill all the carbonation. then just add ice and, Ta-Da you get your soda fix.

Mary W · 05-25-2004, 03:17 PM

I will try not to preach here, but soda is a slippery slope.

We are told to give it up because for unknown reasons it seems to be something that people who regain their weight have in common. Therefore, it is a habit we should break. It is not healthy for us, it leaches the calcium from our bones which is a concern after WLS and it takes up valuable pouch space that should be used for water. I will say no more!

melanie hirschorn · 05-25-2004, 03:51 PM

I say stay away from the diet soda. Forget letting it go flat. I have read that 80 percent of people who have WLS surgery who gain back weight is because they have gone back to carbonated drinks. I know two people who are less than 2 years out who started with carbonation and one of them never finished loosing her weight due to it and the other one has gained back 20 pounds.
melanie