Ok my post-sleeve friends, what's the deal with alcohol? When did you start drinking again? I don't mean to sound like an alcoholic! But I really love my Captain and diet so I know I'm going to be missing it for those post-op weeks.

 I don't intend on ever drinking carbonated drinks again. For the alcohol, I had a sip of wine at about 8 months out. 

No alcohol for me.  Not something I need in my life.  Too much risk of addiction transfer.

It's one of those things that varies from surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient.

My husband's surgeon told him no alcohol preferably ever, but at least for a year. Mine said 30 alcohol for 30 days, and after that to make sure and have a PPI before and after to protect the stomach.

Honestly, I'm in no hurry to drink. I used to enjoy a margarita on special occasions, but right now I don't want to experience that feeling alcohol on my still-healing stomach. I may have something when we celebrate my husband's birthday in October, but I doubt I'll have any before then.

Of course, alcohol has never been a big deal to me in the first place, so maybe I'm no help.

I'm about 7 month out and I have a few glasses of wine occasionally on the weekends, weddings, social gatherings, nothing carbonated. Remember the empty calories count against you.

 My doctor told me a year out and even then two drinks with 24 hours.  I really don't need it.  I will miss my glass of wine here and there but I am willing to give it up for a new me.

 In 6 months I have had 2-3 ounces of wine on 3 occasions. I enjoy wine, but there is too much chance for injuring my tiny stomach, and just as importantly, too many calories. Definitely check with your doctor in advance; it's probably going to be a long while.

 gave up booze for awhile haven't had a drink since before surgery. my surgeon prefers we don't drink for at lest 6-12 months and to remember it's emty calories.

Eye on the prize, my dear.

There are MANY things you will miss for a bit, including alcohol but the sacrifice is totally worth it.  I would wait at least 6 months, if not waiting until you hit goal to add in things that will hinder your weight loss, like alcohol.  

This was my thought process:

1) Alcohol is wasted, empty calories, and since I had ****pots of weight to lose, did I really want to waste calories on alcohol when I could fill my body with nutrient and protein dense foods to lose the weight.

2) During the rapid weight loss phase, our livers are working double time. Why would I throw alcohol in my body making my liver work even harder.

I waited until I was at goal. It's easy to drink calories when you take away a fat girl's food (which should read transfer addiction). I admit drinking at first was boring, one glass of wine, I was buzzed super fast, and it wore off. No fun, no lasting buzz which led to more consumption then I was super drunk, definitely not fun. I was able to build up a nice little tolerance but it took several months and I was in maintenance so I could afford the calories. And, I've drank soda for 2 years of my 3 years post-VSG with zero change to my restriction. Not advocating for anyone else, but it's my one thing I have almost daily.

Captain and Diet will be there once you hit goal. They won't quit making either of them! ! ! 

My plan called for no alcohol for a full year.  I had a glass of wine at 4 months post-op, but I didn't enjoy it much.  Even at 16 months post-op, I am very careful about how I drink for a couple of reasons:

1)  Risk of alcohol poisoning -- you have no idea how fast a glass of booze hits you until you try it post-sleeve.  I'm about the cheepest date, ever, and I know the risk. Without a stomach to partially digest the alcohol, it goes rapidly to your intestines which are much more absorbant than the stomach itself. The booze goes right into your blood.

2) Empty Calories

3) Lowering of food inhibitions & relaxing the sleeve -- not only are you less inhibitited, but I find my sleeve seems 'looser' which stands to reason given the stomach is a muscle and booze is a relaxant.  It can  lead to grazing on a bunch of useless calories while you can't really even enjoy them. 

It's hard to get an honest reply without people quickly throwing in their 2 cents of how they feel about liquor/alcohol...I always try to read articles about alcohol but never can get a good answer...but what i can conclude is that you can basically drink anything at about 3 months out...yes you will get weird affects but everybody is different so you need to slowly ease into your drinks...you should know the risks but you didn't ask that you wanted to know when we started drinking...I personally started on my 13th week, Cranberry and Vodka...and all it took was one glass and i did feel light headed...and i am weighing in at 298 so that shocked the heck out of me.

My 30th birthday is 6 months post surgery, that will be the first time I have a drink. Drinking has never been something important to me, I only drink on special occasions, and I've only ever been drunk 3 times in my life so I can take it or leave it.