I have a question about drinking

I was told you should not drink to much cause we are not like everyone else and the alcholo goes right to the liver. I have a friend who had this surgury and he drinks mixed drinks, and he drinks cola and with his meals also has a beer in his hand all the time, whats with all that, isn't is bad for us?

YES, YES, AND YES. Your friend wasted time by having this surgery. Sorry but my friend was still eating and drinking sodas too and it burns my butt. During my nutrition class, we were told that if we drank...to stop immediately. The same went for caffeinated and carbonated beverages. Lisa

Hey Mags, In terms of alcohol, most doctors tell you not to have it at least for the first year because of several factors: 1) the liver is already working overtime because of rapid weight loss and alcohol puts extra stress on the liver 2) alcohol is very high in simple carbs and can slow down weight loss. If you had the RNY alcohol can make you dump, and in general if you had any malabsorbtive surgery alcohol will hit you a bit harder then it did preop (lap banders too ...don't forget you'll go from being a heavy weight to a light weight in a short period of time too). As for your friend, just because people had WLS, does not mean they are going to follow the rules. Really people do all kinds of crazy things after WLS, like drinking sugary beverages, or eatting candy everyday, the question is what are you going to do? Are you going to take this opportunity to change your eating habits and regain control of your life? or are you going to wait to the inital shock of the surgery is over and go back to the way you were? Lots of people have WLS, almost all of them lose weight initally, many people (depending on the sugery) regain weight back after their inital loss because they refuse to change. I'm not saying you'll never be albe to enjoy a glass of wine or drink an ice tea ever again, but at the same time why would you want to start habits again that made you fat in the first place? As a DSer, I do not dump, but i choose to eat lower carb because simple carbs slow down weight loss. Also because i have a bigger stomach, i could drink soda, but why would I want to? Soda (regular kind) is full of sugar, and the diet kind has so many chemicals in it that it eats holes in your brain and can cause neurological damage. Plus both regular soda and diet soda have enough acid in it to eat through steal nails in 4 days if left to soak, why would i want that touching my pearlly whites??? Anyway i'd say forget about what your friend does, and follow your surgeons and nut's advice. Scott

In our program they recommend avoiding alcohol for 1 yr postop. (The reasons: alcohol is a gastric irritant, can add to dehydration, empty/non-nutrative calories stalling wt loss/assisting in possible regain, risk of dumping as many alcohols or mixed drinks are HIGH in sugar, others are carbonated (beer/champagne) so they ask us to void that as well, risk of intoxication could be higher sooner due to rapid absorbtion, the alcohol may loosen one up to eat foods they normally wouldn't, it can interfere with vitamin/mineral absorbtion also which we are already at risk for deficiencies in B12, thiamine, vit A, zinc, magnesium... etc...and finally we are taxing our already most likely 'fatty' livers with the rapid wt loss, risk of chirrosis is greater early on), so 'I' haven't tried alcohol in my 4 yrs postop, but it never was a big issue or deal for me preop, what I liked was a daquiri or pinacolada, neither would I try postop due to the sugar content in mixes. Now there are lo carb mixes out there. I have a friend 10 yr postop, she cant stomach any liquor, she gets immediate red face, flushed feeling and severe headache. Of course there are people who drink early on and OFTEN! (one reason I started an OSSG ADDICTIONS group!) many many post wlsers trade addictions! Your right ther eis now info on switching addictions postop 2% people (now that last yr 170,000 had wls we will see more issues!) switch, alchol is one way to defat the surgery and cause great illness for sure, your friend may be struggling, I hope they find support for the issue, carbonation is another issue (stomach irritant, stretch the pouch many feel etc) eating/drinking together as well can defeat the tool sadly.... ~~~~~~~~ Here is an article I have that explains things better...for anyone who is interested... http://www.bbvitamins.com/research_Article_5.aspx Alcohol Use in the Bariatric Patient Cynthia Buffington, Ph.D. or this one: http://www.bbvitamins.com/research_Article_4.aspx Precautions When Using Alcohol after Bariatric Surgery? Cynthia Buffington, Ph.D. ~~~~~~~ http://www.wlscenter.com/NLArchive/may_1_2006.htm In This Issue: * Alcoholism Following Weight Loss Surgery ~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.wlscenter.com/NLArchive/sept_15_2006.htm In This Issue: * CNN: Trading Addictions Maybe provie gentle nudges of supportive education for your friend!? Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"