Alcohol and Bariatric Surgery: How Risky is the Mix?
December 18, 2024Have you had alcohol since your surgery? Did you notice that you got a buzz from just a few sips? Is alcohol a risky mix with bariatric surgery? How much can you drink, and how fast will you become intoxicated? This is must-know information for your journey.
Alcohol and Bariatric Surgery
The answers all depend on how far out you are from surgery. The general science-based guideline is that you should not drink alcoholic beverages until at least six months up to one year after surgery, with one year being the desired period of time. It’s important to consult your healthcare provider about drinking alcohol after your surgery, as each of you is unique and surgeries vary. Alcohol absorbs much faster after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), especially if you had gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve.
For example, with a gastric bypass, the upper stomach is made into an egg-shaped pouch. Called a bypass because most of the stomach, along with the pyloric valve that separates the stomach from the small intestine, plus the first part of the small intestine, are bypassed. The small intestine is then attached to the small stomach pouch, bypassing the pyloric valve entirely. What does all this medical lingo mean to you? The lining of the stomach is where the enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase breaks down alcohol. After surgery, you have less of this enzyme available, so you are exposed to alcohol that is not metabolized or broken down. Some alcohol is metabolized by the stomach, but most of it heads into the small intestine and then into the bloodstream. BOOM! Alcohol buzz! Drinking alcohol after a gastric bypass makes you feel intoxicated more quickly as blood alcohol levels peak higher and faster, which leads to extra-high blood alcohol levels. One single drink can elevate the blood alcohol level to the point of legal intoxication.
Must Know Information
One Single Drink can Elevate the Blood Alcohol Level to the Point of Legal Intoxication
What about alcohol with a sleeve gastrectomy? Approximately 80% of the stomach is removed during surgery, leaving a banana-shaped tube. The pyloric valve does slow down the passage of alcohol from the small, banana-shaped stomach to the small intestine but still causes that intoxicated feeling quickly.
During the early months after surgery, you follow a lower-carb diet and rapidly lose weight, which can lower your blood glucose level. You‘ll be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Let’s dig a bit deeper into this big change referred to as alcohol sensitivity. These effects of alcohol include hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Alcohol consumption further depletes stored glucose or glycogen. Drinking alcohol also reduces the supply of glucose to your brain, causing a loss of coordination and balance, slurred speech, poor vision, and confusion. These are all conditions of hypoglycemia that mimic and look like those associated with intoxication. The result from a drink or two could be both hypoglycemia and intoxication.
Low blood sugar can cause dizziness or even loss of consciousness. All of these changes are the reason that you want to avoid alcohol until six months to a year after your surgery.
In addition, you may consume less food when you drink alcohol, which also speeds up the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream. Couple that with the suggested rule of not drinking and eating at the same time and you can become extremely sensitive to alcohol. It could take you only part of a drink or one drink to become intoxicated enough to not be able to legally drive.
On top of low blood sugar, alcohol inhibits the absorption of B vitamins such as B12 and thiamine. Even without alcohol, you may already be struggling to get enough of these vitamins. Deficiency of these B vitamins can make you feel weak and have less energy.
I’m often asked about weight regain after surgery. Alcohol can definitely affect weight regain. It contains a lot of calories called empty calories, which is the opposite of a nutrient-dense calorie. Basically, it’s a lot of calories and no nutritional benefit to your body, which can lead, first of all, to vitamin depletion, then to slow weight loss, and then to that dreaded weight regain.
Did you know that issues with food prior to surgery could transfer to addiction with substances such as alcohol or shopping, gambling, or even sex? This is called transfer addiction.
Having surgery alters your lifestyle, but it doesn’t take away the enjoyment of life. Someone is always throwing a party or celebration with various food and drinks. Mocktails are a terrific option. However, if you decide to include alcohol, have an action plan.
Here’s What You Need to Know to Navigate the Bariatric Lifestyle for Your Next Celebration Should You Decide to Include Alcohol:
- Never drink on an empty stomach. Enjoy your drink after finishing your meal to help slow down how quickly the alcohol is absorbed.
- Drink slowly. Since alcohol absorbs very fast, make sure you take sips over a long period of time.
- Know when to stop and opt for non-alcoholic beverages instead. Limit to one drink or less and see how your body handles it.
- Be sure to take your bariatric vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Have a designated driver since your balance and brain function can be affected by very small amounts of alcohol, like one drink.
Remember, you and your surgery are unique. It generally takes very little alcohol to quickly change how you feel. Be aware and have a plan.
Bariatric dietitian Dr. Susan Mitchell is host of the podcast Bariatric Surgery Success.
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bariatric dietitian Dr. Susan Mitchell is host of the podcast Bariatric Surgery Success. Selected as one of the Best 35 Dietitian Podcasts, Bariatric Surgery Success was chosen from thousands of podcasts on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority, and freshness. With a focus on nutrition before and after bariatric surgery, I help you eat for success while you conquer cravings, emotional eating, and weight regain. |
