Need to enter the "no judgement zone" Topic: Beer

So, I did the pub crawl thing yesterday and I learned a lesson

1.  Just one wheat beer doesn't stay just one (felt fine)
2.  Just two wheat beers doesn't stay just two (felt a little giddy, but still fine)
3.   Just three wheat beers makes me feel a little green.. 

I got a horrible headache and felt so nauseous - I slept for 10 hours last night and I still feel like I was run over by a truck..

What kind of move was that????  DUMB, DUMB, DUMB
Was it worth it???   NO, NO, NO
Do I regret it???  YES, YES, YES
Do I say right now that I won't do it again? Yes
Do I believe myself?  No

I did well food wise, I kept in line - we ate at two restaurants and I was very careful. 

So, how do you all find the post surgery bar scene?  Too tempting to try to feel normal?  

P.S. - I did start off the day feeling good though - we met up with bunch of people that haven't seen me since surgery, so there were a lot of nice comments made. 

I used to be a party girl.  Always up for one, always the life of it.   Rarely drink now and don't get invited because I'm a buzzkill and can't keep up.    Beer - you can jus****ch my stomach blow up like a helium balloon and then, OMG, the pains.   Wine, I'm asleep after 1/2 of one glass and it comes on QUICK so no driving heavy equipment for me.  The best is just crystal light in vodka on the rocks or something similar.  I catch a quick buzz, I have a blast for about .5 hour and then wham, sober as a judge, like I never drank at all.   I'd have to start the cycle over and over to maintain that buzz, not worth the effort IMHO.  However, NOTE that alcohol is concentrated in our systems so it is possible to test on a breathalyzer OVER the limit with only a little bit.

I agree with Jackie - beer in my system = agony. I do enjoy a glass or 2 of wine from time to time although it knocks me on my butt!! And not while I have been pregnant of course. My tolerance is low and I "rebound" quickly. I will drink vodka in 100% cranberry or cran peach juice over lots of ice and nurse it. I also like vodka in crystal light. The alcohol also hits my bladder hard so if I am going to drink it's usually at home because I have to keep running to the bathroom! lol.

I had my first alcoholic beverage on vacation just over 6 months out and it did knock me for a loop. I never did get hangovers and still don't - unless I drink rum which is basically pure sugar so I don't drink it post op.

Hope that helps!

Liz

I used to be a big beer drinker.  At about 9 months out I tried wine and find I really enjoy a glass or two  of red wine during social occasions.  I try and stretch it out so its more for the social aspect and not the tipsy feeling aspect. 

So, I went with Beer instead of wine figuring that sugar would impact me more than the carbination & carbs would....  I think I'll wait a while before tring again and need to keep myself in check with only one.. I'll have to try the CL & vodka thing - I never really drank liquor - Primarily a beer girl

The first trip my husband and I took together was a beer tour of belgium.

Oh well - I'll take the sacrifice - people will just have to love the au naturale me :)

And by the way Liz - How are you feeling?  This was your first 1/2 day right?

I was never a beer drinker...hard liquor...another story

I too feel like CRAP after I drink now...I firmly believe it has to do with dehydration because alcohol is a diuretic.

If I drink...I make sure to load up on water before and after.  And a LOT of it.  With the exception of some VERY rare occassions..I also try not to drink the drink quickly...I milk my drinks well over a whole time frame..think like two mixed drinks over the course of 4 hours or so. 

Have I done more than that?  Absolutely.  Will I probably do it again?  AT some point, yea.  But for the majority of the time...I'm quite content not drinking most of the time

Ok, no judgement, right? 

I drink beer.  Can't do more than two or I feel lousy.  I can drink beer from a glass better than I can from a bottle.  It takes me a while to drink one though too.  One beer lasts me at least half a baseball game or more when we go watch the IronPigs.  The carbonation is tough.

Hard stuff, I'm with Pam when it comes to loading up on water.  When we were in Aruba, I drank a lot of water. 

I do enjoy wine also but generally go for a dry red wine, less sugar too. 

While I now sound like a lush, alcohol is an exception for me, not a rule. 

No Judging Eric - Since we are in the total non-judement zone, I used to drink a 6 pack without blinking - and I would also drink the "big beers" - the real malty, sweet, 10+ % beers...

My husband is Mr. Beer - we have a fridge in the garage that is dedicated to beer - probably  ~ 40 different varieties and two whole cabinets in the kitchen dedicated to beer glasses from around the world and to sets of shelves in the basement full of his coveted collection of bottle conditioned beers. On our first trip together, we went to Belgium on a beer tour..  10 days 16 breweries... 

Well - you get the picture - honestly, I feel melancholy about it - I am glad it makes me sick so that I don't waste the calories and carbs... but it is part of our lives together that we enjoyed and that is gone... so now we work out together instead of flexing beer muscles...

I too used to be a BIG BEER drinker - I mean I could slam /em all day - of course I would get toasted, but I could drink most men under the table. Took me a very long time post-op to try beer due to the carbonation - I drink it occasionally now, but not often - sometimes it's okay and tastes really good - sometimes the bubbles just bring it right back up. I never get drunk from beer anymore, tho - I'll start to feel a buzz, and then suddenly I'm full and can't drink another drop.

I was on a vodka/diet cranberry juice (with tons of ice) thing for a while and I still do like those but these days I've found some wines I really like, so when I do choose to indulge I will normally pick that. The key for me is (a) drinking large glasses of water along with the alcohol to stay hydrated at least a little and (b) eating. Oh man, if I don't eat when I drink it's not good.

I know some people have 'transfer addictions' and now that they can't have the foods they used to love they turn to alcohol, so that's something to watch out for down the road. I think my transfer addiction is clothing shopping!

No judging here - the surgery didn't magically turn us into perfect people and it's a constant learning process - hey, we still live - we're social - we're going to encounter situations where we'd like to have a drink with friends or family - it's called life - the key is finding the moderation in it.

Used to be a pretty big drinker back in the day.  Before my divorce, I hardly drank at all.  After my surgery, I started doing the bar thing to meet people as I live in a small town now.  Drank 5-6 beers a night when I went out.  I then discovered wine and just can't do more than a beer or so now.  I can drink 1-2 glasses of wine over the course of the evening and feel fine, comfortable, and satisfied. 

Like anything, it's a matter of control.  I think people deserve to have some "fun" in their lives, especially after their life change.  But again, it's control and moderation.  I learned the lessons with regard to drinking.  I don't have a cross-addiction or anything.  I am responsible for my actions.

I think you learned some lessons about what your body can do and tolerate and will make sound decisions based on that.  Just don't forget where you came from and where you're headed!