I drink alcohol - do you?

A lot of surgeons require that patients stay away from alcohol for the first six - eighteen months. Have you stayed away? If not, what are you drinking? I won't lie. I've been drinking again since 8 weeks out. I work for a very "social" company and we do a lot of traveling. I knew come first trip it would be impossible for me to say "no". Sure enough - it was. I started drinking wine again (red - Pinot Nior is my favorite) but I also drink things I shouldn't such as bay breeze's (malibu rum, pineapple juice and cranberry juice). Although I do get "drunk" quicker - I don't stay "drunk" very long. It almost comes and goes rather quickly. Anyone else noticed that? I drink usually once a week. Either at a work function, happy hour or if I hit the clubs with my girlfriends. I'm down almost 70lbs since surgery 13 weeks ago - so I'd say it's not effecting things much for me.

No, I have not. I went to Vegas last month and just had Virgin Bloody Mary's (and ice water and ice tea) . I went for my 3 month check up this week and the nut gave us a slip on the calories in alcohol so if we were going to drink, we could make wise choices. And she said just like you have experienced - it affects you faster but leaves quicker too. I am not really a drinker but it is nice to know that I can have something if I want it. A strawberry dacquier (sp) sounds pretty good or so does the rum, pineapple juice and cranberry juice that you mentioned.

I have only had a few taster mouthfuls, but I don't tend to drink much anyway, as I used to react badly to it (headache, bad stomach in the morning etc, ha ha no only kidding!!!!) - Seriously though, my liver didn't 'process' the alcohol properly so I did get sick from it. I also didn't know if it would cause me to dump. Do you get any bad reaction to drinking? I think the thinner I get the easier my liver will find things so I'm hoping to be able to drink again soon :cheers:

Unfortunately, no alcohol makes me dump. Many many many foods make me dump - but NOTHING alcoholic does. Isn't that odd?

I must confess I am glad to see I am not the only one. I have drank about 5 times since surgery. The last time I got very drunk, I had watermelon Vodka with diet sprite. Also I have gone out to clubs and had different kinds of drinks and don't dump. I think I get buzzed just alittle bit quicker. Its almost the same as before. I don't plan on drinking much anymore. I feel sick the next day its not worth is. I think I was just trying to relive a part of my youth because I look more like I used to. Weird mentall stuff.

Not yet, not a bug drinker maybe with friends at get togethers. Planning a anniversary trip to Jamaica in November~~DEFINITELY plan to drink then.

I tried red wine several weeks ago with absolutely no problems. The first glass, I felt the alcohol, after that I didn't feel too much. Just a couple of days ago I tried white wine, again no problems. I tried one mixed drink, made very very weak, had no issues. I haven't been brave enough to try a drink made in a public bar yet.

Hey Megan Yep I drink alcohol and haven't had any problems. I have had several different wines, beer, and even Captain Morgan & Diet Coke. Oddly enough the Captain drinks don't bother me. I was told that it had too much sugar in it and the carbonation was a bad mix... well I haven't had any problems at all. I tried beer at about 7 weeks and it didn't go over well then but it doesn't bother me now. Kristen

Not one drop, but I didn't drink much before I had surgery. My hubby drinks enough for both of us.

I have four times since surgery and two of them were within the past week! The first time was while I was in Vegas in early July. I had my first beer their while at a dinner party at a pharmacy convention. I had a bottle of beer but was worried how it would affect me and only could handle about 1/2 a bottle. I started catching a buzz on that so I wasn't sure how a whole bottle would affect me. My second was bout 3 weeks ago at a pharmaceutical dinner presentation. I had two glasses of beer but it was with a full dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - well, obviously it wasn't a full dinner, just a few bites of steak, salad and broccoli but it was a full dinner to me. Anyway, the 2 beers didn't affect me like the first one did. My third time was earlier this week. I was at a party and had almost a full bottle of beer again. It didn't do much but I had eaten a couple of hours before. My last time was the night before last while out for dinner. I had a glass of Miller Lite and this one did give me a buzz too but it was before dinner. As you can see, I haven't had anything except but I never have been a heavy drinker anyway. I do notice I will 'feel' the beer much quicker and on less than before but mainly only when on an empty stomach. I really didn't think about it until your email but now that you mention it, I do notice that it doesn't last as long at all. I guess with the small amount of food I eat now my liver must have an easy job and able to metabolize the alcohol much faster. That's interesting. I wonder if that's why it clears faster? That's a good thing if you're out I guess.