Does alcohol actually cause more liver and brain damage in late stage RNY?

Covered in Canada too lol

Sorry, just now realized you had responded. I was placed on heavy-duty amounts of Lasix, Aldactone, Lactulose, a Fentanyl patch for pain (wish I had NEVER agreed to that, it has been unpleasant to get off of and a long process), multiple rounds of various anti-biotics (not necessarily liver related) and high dose potassium. Due to the extreme fluid retention (due to liver failure) the Lasix and Aldactone were key, however my kidneys became very confused and also shut down at a couple of points. The Lactulose basically draws fluid into the bowel allowing the body to expel toxins (that attack your organs and worst of all your brain - at some points I appeared as a stroke victim would, no memory, unable to string together 3 word sentences, etc. I still don't remember all of 2013. Pretty sure I don't want to.)

With all this said, I still take all of those medications in high doses daily to maintain liver function. Small price to pay, considering the alternative. ;)

Karen

I'm not an expert on what a moderate amount of wine really is. I guess in my un-educated mind, its about 1 - 2 glasses once in a while. Given the chanages in our plumbing with RNY, I think the best people to ask would be your physician or surgeon. best of luck, and let us know what they have to say. My surgeaon hasn't told me expressly to avoid wine, but that I would be a cheap drunk. I was told to be very careful with it. I haven't had anythng more than a sip of wine since I had surgery, and am looking forward to cracking open a nice bottle of Pinot Nior in a couple of months to go with a juicy red steak. 

Qajohn,

I just mailed my surgeon to ask told me to cut back to the current textbook quanity, 1-1.5 glasses a day with two spaced (non-consecutive) days off a week. He said it may not be a problem now, but that if I kept on, it would get me sooner or later. Bloods don't show any problem yet, but they often don't until liver problems are advanced. So I may get an MRI. CT would be better, but I've already had three of them in prep for surgery and a Peterson't hernia and another way back for a kidney stone. The biopsy sounds awful and is a little risky.

Dave

Looks like barring biopsy, elastograpy is the only way to tell: http://www.ccjm.org/content/77/8/519.full

Just in from the surgeon. He's the head of a major bariatric surgery organization for the Asia/ pacific region and believes that there's actually less strain on the liver post RNY! He didn't say this, but obesity is a big risk factor in/ for inflammation and cirrohis. 

It seems his biggest concern is weight regain and maybe full blown alcoholism, brain, heart, social problems, etc. He doesn't seem to think that as much alcohol is actually reaching the liver.

Dave

More toxic to the body in general, but the toxicity to the liver remains unchanged (perhaps?) However, an overloaded liver either pre-or post-op is bad.

Anyway, Kicked it, but only after about 3 weeks of lethargy. I'm down to your textbook quantity or less. Results may vary. I'm 52 with no prior history of regular drinking. Best not to try this one at home.

Dave

One more on alcohol and B deficiency.

http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_and_nutrition/page6.htm

Hey Dave, no doctor here...Just been on this site for years.  Don't come on here as much.  When we first had our surgery (RNY) it was so new, we were looking high and low for current (valid) information.  I just had my RNY type labs done a few weeks ago...The Bs and calcium, all were good.  A few things come to mind with alcohol and RNY.  As you know WLS patients are 30% more likely to become alcoholics.  I think that has been double blind studied over the years...Some may say higher, some lower...I've heard 30% and it sounds right...Substitute addiction.  As you know the wine enters the small intestine quickly.  It then is absorbed quickly into the blood stream.  You get a quick buzz, but it is not lasting.  The alcohol exits the blood steam though the liver quickly too...Since nothing remains in the stomach. A few things from out in left field about this...You probably know (not gospel...But I think I'm correct).  If you get cirrhosis because of drinking, you are less likely to be awarded an partial (or full) liver from someone else.  The doctors would not feel you are a good candidate because of the past drinking.  I also believe you need 1/4 of a liver (liver transplant) from someone else to function properly.  You also mentioned kidney stones.  I for one have had both kidney and bladder stones.  I have high uric acid.  I should not drink any alcohol at all because of this.  I do have a 1 or 2 oz of wine or beer sometimes, but it is not good for me.  If you have or had gout, you have high uric acid...High uric acid causes gout.  You can look online on what a low ash diet would look like for this issue...It's the same issue that dogs and cats face with their urinary problems.  One last thought from way way out in left field.  When I had my surgery (lap RNY), my surgeon looked at my liver (the outside of it with the scope).  He took a small node off of my liver when he was doing the surgery (no cancer).  Just saying when the surgeon is in there, they can look around at the vital organs and make sure all the plumbing looks OK.  Later, Brian

Dave if I recall...Don't you do Bikram or Hot Yoga??  Just wondering how alcohol and the 105 temperature mixes when it comes to rehydrating your system...