alcohol comsumption after bypass

I'm curious what affect drinking alcohol has on your body after you have had gastric bypass. I had my surgery over 1 year ago and have lost approx. 90LBs (close to my goal weght).  I do enjoy having a drink (rum and diet coke). I don't seem to have any ill effects from having 2 or 3 (2 or 3 times a month) but am wondering how this might me internally.  Does anyone have information on this? Thanks,  Cheryl

not sure but will enjoy the hell out of my campagne tonight --a little or a lot of bubbly at New Years never killed anyone (of, course, as long as there is no drunk driving involved) Cheers and Happy New Year

I had a few glasses of White Zin the other night at a Christmas party and even though I spaced them out and drank a bunch of water inbetween, my intestines are still killing me. The problem with alcohol is that it is sugar and makes you go up on a high real fast and then you dive back down and that is super hard on your body. I think it made me realize I'm not set out to be an alcohoic. Diona

the only prblem i have is i get drunk realy fast

I'm probably not a lot of help here, but for me, I became an alcoholic post op (addiction transfer) and the alcohol started damaging my liver FAST. I was drinking heavily under a year and a half total (with 3 months sobriety thrown in the middle of that time frame) and when I went into detox and quit in August I already had alcoholic hepatitis, which thankfully is reversible as the liver repairs itself after sobriety. So, I know for a fact alcohol can damage the liver very quickly for WLS patients, I just don't know how much it will take or how long it will take for any damage to appear on your blood work. I would definitely recommend asking your surgeon or PCP, I would think just a couple of social drinks a month will be  fine, but it's a good idea to check with one of them.

Personaly, I am 3 years out at Dec. 22nd of 2007 and I still cannot handle anymore than a few sips of any kind of alcohol. Past that I get queezy, start dumping and become violently ill...so...anyway... VB.

 Hi Cheryl...I read your story and I am in the same boat.  I did drink before my surgery, and then nothing for over 5 months after my surgery in Mar 06, but after that, I think sometimes I have tried to drink myself to death.  For the most part, I have very little ill effects afterwards.  There have been times that it has put me down the next day but very few of those.  New Year's Eve I bought a 12 pack of Widmer and drank it ALL.......between the hours of 7 and 9:30.  I barely remember the night.  I felt a little tired yesterday but nothing more.  My husband cheated on me during the Christmas holidays last year and we separated in May until October last year.   I still have a terrible time with it and when it gets too much, I bury myself in alcohol.  Even he can't believe that I am not sick as a dog from it all.  We are working on rebuilding our marriage, but I can't seem to stop the alcohol.  Beer is become my "drug of choice".  I know it is killing me, and I know I have to get help becasue after RNY, I am sure our bodies can't break it down like it did before surgery.  You are an inspiration and to know that as of that last post I saw on your profile, you were at that time 65 days sober, it is huge for me, I can't hardly get past 2 days and I am back at it again. I didn't drink yesterday, but I wonder........Will I drink today???? I am going to get help before I kill myself as I am all my kids have left since their dad passed away 5 years ago.  He and I were divorced for 10 years, 5 before his death and now 5 since.  I hate my life this way.  I look so good and can fit into just about anything I want to wear for a 54 year old woman, well 54 on Saturday.......I don't want to lose it.......I just want to stop drinking.

Patricia... your post hits home. I know exactly what you're saying and what you're feeling about your drinking. I am still sober, 132 days today. I truly think if you get some help you can kick this and kick it hard. Look how much you've already been through in your life! I only say get some help to do it because the more help you have, the easier it is in the long run. Support, therapy, doctors, meetings, any or all of it... just find what works for you. Check out soberrecovery.com... they have a message board and lots of people that have been through the same thing. If I can help at all, just let me know, feel free to shot me a message on here, I log in daily. Take care of you!

Patricia, another really useful site for couples trying to heal after infidelity is marriagebuilders.com -- especially the discussion boards.  Good luck.