Question:
what is the time frame as to when you can drink alcohol after surgery.
what type of alcohol is safe to drink ie wine coolers ect. — BARBARA A. (posted on May 24, 2002)
May 24, 2002
My surgery was 08/28/01 and I am giving myself one year to not have a drop
of alcohol. What I heard was wine coolers have tons of sugar in them
(which can cause you to dump). Also remember that it's going to only take
a small amount of alcohol in our system and we're going to feel the effects
almost immediately. A surgical sister of mine could not even finish 1/2
beer without feeling pretty fuzzy. My favorite alcoholic drink is kahlua
(I make my own), but it takes about 8 cups of sugar (bummer) so I have to
find an alternative (when I can drink again). I hope this helps. (Tina
Torrey 60" distal RNY 08/28/01 -90 lbs gone forever!)
— trtorrey
May 24, 2002
Keep in mind that everyone is different...I drink socially...atleast one
day per week and I just could not imagine going months without having a
drink. I checked the site and found that alot of members mentioned that
vodka did not bother them. At 4 weeks post op I went out for a work related
dinner and I ordered a vodka with cranberry and pineapple juice. I was
about to consume about a third of the 12oz glass. I took slow sips and made
sure that there was alot of ice in the drink. Keep in mind that I have a
high tolerance for sugar and I was on regular foods just days after my
surgery. Also, since that time I had vodka again...always mixed with juice
with lots of ice and i again tolerated it just fine. Most recently I sipped
some chardonnay and I found that went down pretty well.
— Maria A. M.
May 24, 2002
Hi, I waited until about a month ago to have my first alcholic drink, I am
10 months out. I had a Margarita, and before surgery I could proably drink
three before feeling a little buzzed, but after two sips of this one I was
feeling quite bizzare. My friend though it was funny and said I would be a
great cheap date LOL. I would say just be careful and take it slowly when
first taking a drink to see how it will affect you. I could not finish the
Margarita, if I had I probably would have been crawling out of the place.
LOL
— Carey N.
May 24, 2002
I've had a couple margaritas and a couple bahama mamas (both real sugary,
but I have a high tolerance for sugar - darn it!) and was fine. One of the
margaritas gave me a little kick, but I hadn't really eaten much that day,
so I think it was able to get into my system faster. I had my first drink
at about 6 weeks post-op - drank it very slow - over the course of about 2
hours and was fine. Enjoy!
— Katy B.
May 24, 2002
I am following my surgeon's advice and waiting 3 months to have an
alcoholic beverage. With this being Memorial Weekend, I know it will be
hard not to have a beer with my husband out on the back deck while grilling
out, but I don't want to hurt myself. I am just 2 months post-op so I have
one more month of this abstinence. At least I'll be able to drink
(hopefully) 4th of July. Good luck!
— Tparker
May 24, 2002
I had to add my 2 cents worth here. I was very scared to drink alcohol. I
finally decided to try it about 2 months ago. My husband constantly tells
me I am a CHEAP date, luckily for him I have a sense of humor. I found
that after just a couple of drinks, I am feeling warm and fuzzy, one full
drink and I am ready to spill the beans...haha....but after a VERY short
period of time, I am once again sober. Which is just fine with me, I
prefer being the sober one in a ggroup, it is always funner to laugh at
then be laughed at when someone is drunk :>) God Bless all!
— Katrina M.
May 24, 2002
My doctor advises staying away from alcohol for one full year! That is not
really hard for me, because I'm not a big drinker. I had been avoiding it
previous to surgery, because it can make sleep apnea worse. However, I am
going on a cruise in late July (I will be four months postop) and what is a
cruise without a pina colada! I'll pack it with ice and slip it
slowly......
— Lisa N M.
June 30, 2002
I discovered that "Mikes Hard Iced Tea" is the easiest to
tolerate because it has no carbonation. I discovered one night that if I
drink it on an empty stomach I can drink quite a few and become incredibley
intoxicated with little effort.
— LG_Ramone
August 28, 2002
My surgery was 03-21-01. I tried to drink a Strawberry Marguarita. About
4 ounces and I was feeling it. I stopped there. I got really sick before I
got home. I have drank Blue Skyy several times since with no problem. And
Zima Citrus with about 2 oz. of orange juice over ice with no problem. I
don't drink often so, I don't drink a lot.
— Cheryl G.
December 28, 2002
Why would anyone want to ruin your good surgery that you went to all this
trouble and pain to have with alcohol? Give it up and live a little better.
I gave up smoking earlier this year, I have quit drinking alcohol and now I
have quit carbonated drinks also. I plan on living a lot better life after
this, I am having this surgery so that I may live longer and enjoy life
better with out all the junk like alcohol and cigerettes.
— Grady E.
December 28, 2002
I would definitely ask your surgeon or dietician... that said.. I had
surgery about six months ago.. and in that time, I've had about 2oz of
champagne, 2 oz of beer (two times) and last night 2oz of wine. I never
drank much to begin with.. but the key to anything is moderation. I
wouldn't have a martini every night.. but a little bit of alcohol every so
often is ok.. for ME... check with your Doc.
— Lisa C.
December 30, 2002
I had the RNY surgery and my surgeon informed me that after having this
surgery you probably should not drink alochol at all. His reasoning was
that when you had the full attached stomach it produced an enzyme that
helped process the alochol in your system. After the surgery you do not
have this ability anymore because this comes from the bottom half of the
stomach. Therefore the alochol will go directly through your system and
could effect you liver in very bad ways. The liver can not break down the
alochol like the enzyme from the stomach did. So therefore it is harder on
the liver and could cause damage. But definetly speak with your surgeon
and/or nutricinist. It is better safe than sorry.
— Elaine B.
December 30, 2002
My doctor told me that I should not drink alochol at all after having this
surgery. I had open RNY. His reasoning was that before the surgery your
stomach produced enzymes that helped break down the alochol so that your
system could handle it better. After the surgery your stomach no longer
has this ability since it is the bottom portion of your stomach that
produces these enzymes. The new stomach allows the alochol to pass
directly through it. The liver has a hard time handling the alochol and
could cause damage to the liver. I agree it is best to ask your doctor or
nutricinist. It is better to be safe than sorry. Good Luck.
— Elaine B.
January 16, 2003
I did not touch alcohol in any form until 10 months post-op. At that time
I did a little test before going out on a very special date. At 2PM I
sipped on 2 oz of a good Pinot Grigio. I took a full 15 minutes to finish
the wine. I drank it on an empty stomach to see if I would dump or have
any ill effects. (I fugured if I got sick, I'd still have several hours to
reciver and make my date)! Slick, eh? ;-)I did not get sick, but did get a
bit of a buzz.
That night I ordered a glass of the same wine, and sipped it over about 20
min. to 1/2 hr. and then enjoyed a dinner of grilled beef and a bit sauteed
vegtables. I did not get sick, or dump BUT I will tell you that one glass
of wine (about 4 oz) kicked my butt! It effected me like 2 glasses would
have when I was 292 pounds! So, I too am now a 'cheap date', which is fine
at $6.50/glass. I do enjoy an occasional glass of wine with dinner at
home or out on the town. I order it with a large glass of iced water and
always drink the water as soon as I finish the wine. I have been called a
'light weight' and really get a kick out of that term in more ways than
one, as you can imagine!!
I stay away from anything that has a sweetened base or mixer like pina
colada's or the like. On occasion I will have a rum and Diet Coke or Diet
Dr. pepper, or a vodka and Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale. That's it. I also
stay away from fruit juices. Just too many carbs...Oh, and remember
"PLEASE, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE" OK???
Diane N
— DianeN
June 9, 2003
Hi there! Well maybe I am just a bad egg, or a little too curious about
things. I am just over four weeks post op and I had a VERY small sip of
someone else malt beverage about a week or two after my surgery. It was
less than at communion, I promise. Then about a week ago I had a coke and
malibu with lots of ice. I sipped it for a LOONG time let me tell ya!!
Didn't feel much from that, suprisingly. Lots of ice.. and a long time I
guess did the trick! Then last week I had a hot chocolate and peppermint
schnapps, just to try it. I had about two tablespoons of it..maybe
more..probably only like 8-10 small sips and my best friend had to drive
home cause I was tipsy! So there you have it. I probably broke all of the
rules, but my surgeon also didn't say anything about alcohol to me. I am
not much of a drinker anyway, so I don't think it will be a problem for me.
All I know is is that liquor is bad for your liver to begin with and with
a smaller stomach it is even worse. My advice would be to try some as you
feel comfortable! thats the only way you'll find out! Good luck!!
— Amy K.
October 8, 2004
I have a mother who had wls done in 1982 and a dead husband who had it done
in 1997, both were told not to drink alcohol of any type because their gall
bladders were removed. I still have mother. Husband died in 2003 from
drinking beer, the only fiber he could keep down, or so he said.
— gracie39328
October 8, 2004
My surgeon seemed to take a realistic approach to the alcohol issue. I
don't remember a timeframe being given, he said it is better to not drink,
however, he said it is really ok to have a glass of wine with dinner, just
remember that it will affect you differently now than preop, and to be
careful not to get into an unsafe situation. personally, I try to save my
calories for food and rarely drink anything with more than minimal calorie
content. It doesn't fill me up and my judgement is impaired on food
choices if I drink. Also 1 drink I am tipsy, 2 and my husband has to hold
on to me to get me to the car. there is a difference between an occasional
social drink and problem / daily drinking.
— **willow**
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