Approaching 4th surgiversary (pt 2) ... "I like wine and soda, but you don't have...

A few thoughts going through my head this week as I approach my 4th surgiversary on Oct. 24. So I thought I'd toss them out there. Your mileage may vary, and you don't have to agree... but as I have so far done OK, I figure my words are of some worth (although I will lay it all out there, the good and bad...):

Thought for today:

I drink wine. Not a ton, maybe a glass after dinner, or a few on the weekends, but I drink wine. Alcoholism is a common transfer addiction for RNY patients. So I understand why some doctors make a blanket "no alcohol after surgery" proclamation. I just wanted to put it out there, judgement-free, for anyone who chooses to try alcohol after surgery:

1. Alcohol is empty calories and carbs. So if you choose to drink it, this is a treat, not an every day thing. And certainly not right after surgery... ideally not until you have reached some sort of goal weight that allows some wiggle room for calories and carbs.
2. Alcohol absorption is altered by RNY. Maybe you could kill a bottle before surgery without even twitching. Believe me, those days are over. Don't drink alone, don't drive even if you feel OK, and plan a few test-runs at home first. You never know how it will affect your new anatomy. Even now, there are nights where the boyfriend and I can have a few glasses with nary a giggle, and other nights where half a glass puts me into a coma.
3. The buzz from alcohol after surgery is different. Shorter, but more intense... at least for me. The temptation is to keep drinking to keep the buzz going. Don't do that. Again, empty calories and carbs... not good for the body... alcohol should complement meals and social occasions, not dictate them.
4. Part of the path to alcoholism post RNY, I am told, is that a lot of times we have never truly resolved the issues that led us to overeat to begin with. If you find yourself drinking to forget, or to deal with life, or to numb feelings... that's really no different than why we used to eat. Maybe some other posters could comment on that with their own thoughts.

And while I am talking about drinking, let's chat about soda/pop/Coke whatever you call it in your neck of the woods. Several people have posted on this forum that their doctor gave them a BS story about how fizz in soda will stretch the pouch. They may have even given a popping balloon demonstration to prove it. I am here to tell you as a healthcare professional that anatomically speaking, it's impossible. Fizz in soda will NOT stretch your pouch.

Sugar in soda will make you fat though... and chemicals in diet soda will mess with your head... and caffeine in soda can be absorbed differently after surgery... and maybe that is what the doctors are trying to say. Why they just can't come out and say that though is beyond me.

Having said that though, for the first two years after surgery I had to shake bottles of (sugar free) pop to get rid of the fizz because it made me incredibly uncomfortable. Sometimes even painful. I still do it now out of habit. But I drink lots of (probably too much) Diet Mountain Dew... my caffeine addiction...

And now a real mountain, with no dew :)

Hiking in Albuquerque, July 2015 :)

Audrey

Well said. I just want to add that alcohol doesn't actually contain any carbs. It's the mixers and additives used when making beer and wine that add empty carbs. But your body burns alcohol before it turns to protein and fat, so it is like carbs in that way.

While some wines are practically carb free, yes, the jury is still out on how our body deals with alcohol, wine in particular. From what I have read, it depends on sweet-vs-dry, certain fermentation processes leaving sugar behind, whether your liver is storing it as glycogen or not, etc.

It's not a lot, but for someone like me who strictly watches carbs, it matters... so to be on the safe side, I count it.

But yes, adding things to wine and booze (Coke to Jack for example) does not help the carb and sugar count at all :)

Audrey

I agree with you. I was merely stating that alcohol itself doesn't have carbs. Wine generally has at least a few for the reasons you discuss, but plain spirits have zero carbs. So there are some carb free drinks, such as gin and tonic. I agree that if you are going to drink wine, you should count the carbs.

Wait, so you are saying that I should just take straight vodka shots if I want to drink??

Kidding, kidding! I have never been a drinker, and have no desire to drink now

Lol! Well it still has calories and there are calorie free mixers such as tonic water.

I don't drink any alcohol at all, but I drink large quantities of diet soda. I do let most of the fizz out. I didn't like most of the fizz before surgery either. It didn't expand my pouch, or create cravings for sweets, or hinder my weight loss in any way. It works for me.

A well thought out and rational post about alcohol. These are rare.

I don't tolerate alcohol but I do remember a period about 5 months out I really wanted that kick of alcohol. It was weird but I felt that strong allure.

Congrats on your success.

Deb T