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Wendy Brydges 7:50am Jun 12
Alcohol is quite dangerous to people who have have gastric bypass surgery. Because the surgery bypasses the pyloric valve in the stomach, any alcohol that is consumed does not have the chance to mix with digestive juices in the stomach. Therefore, the "raw" alcohol flows directly into the small intestines (just as any fluid or food that is consumed after gastric bypass).
This has several negative effects for the bypassed individual.
First, this unprocessed alcohol is absorbed very quickly by the intestines. People report feeling an almost instant "rush" of intoxication (or that buzzed feeling) after drinking alcohol. It has been shown in studies that a bypassed person's blood alcohol level (BAL) goes up higher and quicker than their non-bypassed counterparts. A higher BAL has many poor effects on such things as judgement, emotional control, and motor control. If someone could drink one drink and be "fine" before their surgery, this may not be true at all after their surgery.
Second, the unprocessed alcohol hits a person's liver like a ton of bricks. The liver can only process about 1 oz of alcohol per hour whether it hits it fast or hits it slow. This means that the quickly absorbed "raw" alcohol just hangs around in a person's liver waiting its turn to be processed. While this is happening alcohol is doing the damage that alcohol does to ones liver, just at a quicker pace.
Last (at least for this answer), the alcohol that goes to the brain so quickly, doesn't get cleared out nearly as quickly as normal because the liver is working so hard. Therefore, a person's brain can be damaged much sooner than a non-bypassed person's brain. Intoxication literally has the word "toxic" in it for a reason. Alcohol is a toxin to the brain, the liver, and many other organs in the body.
I think that alcohol is a source of empty calories that a gastric bypass patient should simply bypass permanently. People have a gastric bypass to improve their health. Throwing alcohol into the mix does not help a person work toward that goal of a healthier overall quality of life.
Comment History
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
IdaMae
I am not a drinker before or after surgery, but I often look at risk factors through this lens: Do I personally know someone who has had this experience?
And for this, the answer is yes. More than one person, in fact. Good people who had no idea that this was happening....although others saw it unfolding.
Thanks Nicole!
Nicole,
Another good post and something people need to open their eyes to.
As many people know, I am in recovery and will celebrate 25 years of one day at a times next month, I am open about it, so that anyone who wants to can feel free to talk to me and I DON'T have the answers for anyone, I can just share my own experience, strength and hope and someone in support group pointed their finger at me when I was a pre-op and declared, "you have to watch out for transfer of addictions" to which I was able to reply, since getting into recovery 20 years ago and staying actively present in it, I will have to watch, but so long as I live my program of recovery, I believe I can avoid the temptation of alcohol and will remain aware of other such addictions and thusfar I have been able to do so. I am addicted to wanting to help others based on my own strengths and/or weaknesses, because I am neither better nor worse than any other person walking this earth.
Thanks again for providing valuable information!
Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Just saying. . . try and focus on the healthier you that is coming to pass as a result of your willingness to change.
Best wishes, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
