I remember the TASTE

OK Guys, I was never much of a drinker. With that said I probably drank a case of COORS Light a year and a Bottle "Uncle Jack" also. Over the last couple of weeks I've had an itch to take a swallow of my wifes' beer when we're out for dinner. What do you guys do?

Sounds to me like, unless you had surgery within the last few months, you are being WAY over cautious.

I have been told it's a good idea not to drink for the first few months, partly to heal, partly because your liver is under a lot of stress during rapid weight loss.  I personally began wine tasting, once a week for a few ounces total, after a couple months.  After about five months, I've removed the restrictions, and I've had a few beers as well as a few glasses of Scotch. If your concern is the bubbles in the beer, then I can say that I haven't found them to be too much trouble.  I do drink it slowly now, and I wasn't able to finish a second beer one night.  But the annoyance level was minimal, other than some quiet belching.  I also wouldn't recommend putting food on top of a whole beer without waiting an hour or so, as that would prevent the bubbles from escaping upward and could cause discomfort.  I still don't drink much past mild intoxication or more than once or twice a week, and wouldn't recommend doing so until you are near goal weight.  But a sip or two of someone else's beer shouldn't be a problem under any cir****tances. Of course, this is just how the surgery has affected me. YMMV.

Hi Gerald - The only advice I can give is to be proceed with care. It's good that you weren't much of a drinker before WLS though.  WLS patients have a high risk of trading one addictive behavior (food) for others like alcohol use.  To compound that, it's also far easier for WLS patients to get drunk. Stanford just published a study on this. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/19/BAGHNQHKS51.DTL Not everyone's experiences are the same but mine definitely are consistent with those in the study. One drink of any kind affects me a lot.  I know you are just asking about taking a sip here and there but given the empty calories and negative potential risk, I'd say avoid it if you can. JP

Obviously I was never much of a drinker for personal reasons but i was wondering what others have experienced.

Gerald, When you first try a sip or two? make it at home and not in public… Just in case it has adverse effect. For me, a glass of wine causes my face to flush quicker Than it would have in the past, and I’m “buzzed” On much less than Pre-Op. I rarely drink at all, but will have the occasional glass of wine or even a scotch as part of a meal/evening. The Stanford Study is the best so far, But even it is not completely conclusive. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/558345 With Beer? That tends to make me a little gassy and bloated feeling. Pre-Op, I could be well into a second pitcher with a pizza And have no ill-effects. Now?  My belly feels uncomfortably tight after half a beer. Sort of lost it’s appeal for me… That’s my experience… Best Wishes- Dx