Question:
Why is it forbidden to consume alcohol?
— LauraMarie (posted on December 30, 2008)
December 30, 2008
My surgeon puts it like this: Someone that has not had surgery and drinks
alcohol, only half of it gets absorbed because of an enzyem that breaks
down the alcohol in the stomach and is released slowly over a couple of
hours. After surgery when alcohol is drank you absorb all the alcohol is a
shorter period of time and it takes longer for it to leave your system.
Also, some will get addicted to the quick buzz and develop issues with
drinking too much, let alone the calories in the alcohol. So please be
careful. Paula
— Paula K.
December 30, 2008
There are a multitude of reasons why you shouldn't, especially this soon
after your surgery.
1) Empty calories, 2) Sugar content when you should stay away from sugar as
much as possible, 3) Carbonation, 4) It can damage the lining of your new
stomach, 5) Some people fall easily into alcoholism now that food is no
longer an option for comfort, and 6) You're a VERY cheap drunk now! I'm 10
months out after surgery and have passed my goal already, so I had a glass
of wine at a holiday party. I was only halfway through it and felt dizzy,
and that was over a hour of sipping. If I had finished that glass of wine,
I would not have been capable of driving. It's no joke, it will hit you
HARD. Do not jeapordize your head-start in weightloss by having alcohol
now--that little bit of a buzz isn't worth what you might lose in momentum.
— suezahn4me
December 30, 2008
After surgery you have no filtering system - the alcohol goes directly to
your liver. Ouch. The quick buzz can be addictive - you could trade one
obsession for another. I have a 1/2 glass of wine once a month (if that).
BUT NEVER drive. It will affect you VERY strongly. There are many noted
stories, documenting people who had WLS, drank and killed people on their
way home, etc. Be careful of OTC's like Nyquil that has a high alcohol
content - cheap drunk is right. Just be responsible.
— jammerz
December 30, 2008
No it is not ok. 2 months post op. Give yourself some time to heal and
follow your program. You didn't say if you have comorbidities-diabetes
Type II, etc but the alcohol breaks down into starch which the body stores
as fat. Therefore you have basically defeated the purpose of that surgery
you just worked so hard to get. My advice is to try sparkling grape juice
or something like that and get all the effects with the exception of
alcohol. I know its difficult at times but you can do it. Good Luck and
God Bless,
vinnigirl
— vinnigirl
December 30, 2008
Ummmm....I hate to sound like a jerk here, but...what does your doctor say?
If he says "No", then the answer is "No". I'm seeing
some people on here who are taking other people's advice instead of their
own doctor's advice. Your doctor went to school to study this and he knows
what he's doing (or she). Also, think about this....in the whole scheme of
life, is drinking alcohol really that important? Why do you want to drink
alcohol?
I'm sorta rambling so just call your doctor and ask.
P.S. Sorry if I sounded like a jerk! :)
— [Deactivated Member]
December 30, 2008
I know that New Years eve is tomorrow and everyone is talking about the
alcohol going directly to the liver. I understand if you had gastric
bypass but what if you have had lap band. Does that information pertain to
those who have had this type of surgery?
— susangielda06
December 30, 2008
First of all, you had this surgery to lose weight right? If you're not at
goal, you don't have any business consuming empty calories. You went
through a lot to have the surgery, why possibly screw it up now? That
being said, THERE IS ALSO A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PROBLEMS POST OP. Most of us were using food to make us happy preop.
We can't do that anymore. It's really easy to replace one bad habit with
another. The practice I went to requests a one year abstinence from
alcohol to give you time to establish and firmly entrench new healthy
habits. As far as your friend, I'm not going to offer an opinion, and no,
there is no "preferred alcohol". Think carefully about what your
purpose here is.
— Shirley D.
December 30, 2008
The biggest reason why is because at two months out you should be strictly
following your doctors orders. This is major surgery you had to lose
weight - drinking something filled with calories and sugar that provides no
nutrition whatsoever is not something you should be doing. As has been
mentioned many people swap their food addiction for other addictions - it's
not worth it. At two months be resolute - it gets harder, not easier.
— kathcar
December 30, 2008
I see your RNY, having Lapband and being two years out, which I am, is a
whole different thing. At your stage I would not be vernturing into
alcohol or anything else off your doctor's program. It could be dangerous
for you and it will get you off track quickly. My husband and I have a
glass of red wine every once in awhile, truthfully we kind of lost our
taste for hard alcohol, things change as you go down the road to become
healthy, stay with it awhile and see if that doesn't happen to you as
well.
Carole M in Austin
— carolem
December 30, 2008
First, alcohol is NOT forbidden. Second, your surgery was to recent to be
even thinking about having any empty calories. Third, you should always
follow your surgeon's instructions. I had alcohol a year after surgery. I
am 2 yrs post op and I drink once in a blue moon. It i true that you get
buzzed very quickly. I also noticed that after a couple of drinks the buzz
goes away and it doesn't come back, no matter how much I drink. Anyway you
slice it, it's not worth it. Good luck.
— maria09elena
December 30, 2008
I am 2 1/2 months post op and wanted something for Christmas becauseit is a
family tradition. Doc and Nut said to sip and make sure I take my antiacid
and I could not have a glass full. After about a shot glass full I knew
why. Be careful.
— tonitoot
December 30, 2008
Lots of good answers here already - I'll pipe in a couple more.
First alcohol IS a sugar, so with booze you are always drinking a pile of
sugar with other additives - empty calories for starters, and dumping risk
of course for those who have RNY.
Second, alcohol causes deydration, so post-RNY diets normally discourage
anything that causes loss of water (e.g. alcohol, caffeine) until your body
is stable with the new insides LOL.
Over the long term you should be able to enjoy a few sips or even a
half-glass of wine maybe - IF you think you really can't do without it.
For me there will always be a million alternatives to booze, even though I
do now (pre-op) enjoy an occasional glass of wine or even a great martini.
I have just decided that booze is a very low priority in "the decade
of ME" which begins with my RNY surgery and 50th birthday in February
09.
Best of luck and Happy New Year to ya!
— mountainmike
December 30, 2008
Hi! I am 6 months out and had a teeny tiny sip of wine and felt light
headed. I kid you not. It couldn't have been more than an 8th of a teaspoon
or maybe a 4th, but I knew it was bad news nd haven't done it again. Good
luck! Hugs, Kim
— gpcmist
December 30, 2008
Yes, you should follow your doctor's advice, but every doctor is different.
Some poeple on here will blast your for asking questions because they feel
you should follow your doctor's advice. I'd rather know what other doctors
out there are saying - each one is different. My surgeon told me at one
month out that it was ok to have a glass of wine with dinner if I wanted
to. I will occassionally have a drink if we are out to dinner somewhere -
I'm 4 months out. Yes, you get drunk much faster, but it wears off much
faster. Its like getting drunk without having a hangover. I've had wine
with dinner, and when I went to the islands a month ago I had several rum
drinks.
— Ursie77
December 31, 2008
great answers here -- i am over 2 yrs out now and i have had alcohol -- you
will be a very cheap drunk -- but alcohol contains caffeine and you will
get dehydrated -- that is not good at 2 months out -- you will have no food
in your stomach to absorb anything -- so all the answers are correct --
sugars -- carbonation -- dehydration -- drunk too fast -- have a smart yr
and keep with what your dr says --
— RCassety
December 31, 2008
I can tell you from experience, that alcohol in a person who has had WLS
has a VERY big impact on the person's body!! My cousin had RNY 3 1/2 years
ago, and last summer we had her bachelorette party. Well, she had one shot,
not even an actual drink, just a shot, and she was already drunk!!! Mind
you, 10 minutes later she was fine again, after she had eaten something and
drank some water, but every time she had a shot, she would end up drunk all
over again!! It was quite funny, but this is a big reason why drinking is
frowned upon for WLS patients.
— mommydragon2
December 31, 2008
I feel MUCH better and enjoy the party MUCH more by just drinking 1/2 of a
5 Hour Energy than I EVER got from any alcohol.
Booze is just not that important. Who really wants to risk the liver
damage over a BEVERAGE?
— Launa N.
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