Question:
HAVEING A DRINK
Okay, I have been post op for 7 months and have tried that first mixed drink. My wife thinks I'm gonna be in trouble doing this. I know that when some people have the surgery they tend to give up one thing (food) for something else (drinking). I just want to know how is drinking bad for you? I have been drinking vodka and watered down o.j..................... been thinking of changeing the o.j. to crystal light thou due to the sugar content in the o.j. . will drinking 1 to 5 drinks a week cause problems? — JOHNNNYRAY (posted on July 3, 2007)
July 2, 2007
HI
As an answer to this question, I do not know if you saw the show oprah had
on this subject.After having the surgery when you drink you get drunk
quicker you have to be very careful.
— miss-350
July 2, 2007
I am not coming down on you, I just want to help you to remain a success!
but I am really surprised that you don't get sick from drinking. Alcohol
turns into starch or sugar(stored as fat)--which (starches and sugar) is
supposed to make us sick, about half a mixed drink gives me a large buzz,
I can't even imagine what drinking a whole one would do, but then everybody
is different. If I were you I would limit the drinking to 1-3 a week, if
you build a tolerance for it--the more you will probably drink, the weight
loss will probably start to slow or you could possibly start to gain. I
would like to know that you are using the tool to your advantage because in
a few years you will likely put some of the weight back on. A word to the
wise this road is a mind thing (try not to do the things that got you in
trouble--which cause the weight gain) and now is the time to re-train your
mind to eat and drink wisely so that you will not have problems in the
future. I am telling you this because I am 4 years out and gained 10-15
lbs back and am in the process of trying to lose it...Good luck!
— Vivian K.
July 2, 2007
Im almost 6 months out and I tried a mixed drink this past weekend. It
fill me up quickly so I wasnt able to eat my dinner and I got very tipsy
after three sips of it.
— barfiep01
July 3, 2007
Johnny, please listen to your wife on this one. Alcohol is something we
can do without. It will only cause you trouble, you will regret. Why risk
your health when you have worked so hard for it? You asked for my
opinion.....sry its not want you wanted to hear. ........Listen to your
wife, she has YOUR best interest at heart.
— ka11e
July 3, 2007
thank you for your responces and i knew i was in for it when i asked the
question. but no one has told me what i wanted to know. i want to know what
problems it can cause (if any) seeing my insides are rerouted? im not
drinking to where its a problem by anymeans. i look at it like before the
sugery. working in the yard on a hot day and grabbing a beer. only now its
vodka and o.j.. i dont come home everyday after work and make a few drinks
and pass out drunk. i just want to know if it will cause stones or
gulbladder problems or kidney failure things like that.
please remmebr i dont drink like a fish, just socially. everything in
moderation.
— JOHNNNYRAY
July 3, 2007
Hi Johnny,
Just keep it to a minimum. Watch the calories sugar etc...
MaryLyn
— Kriola
July 3, 2007
Johnny: I have heard that it stretches your pouch. My apolgoies, but i
have a drink on the weekends and have not had any problems at all. I do
notice i can't drink as much as i use to, but no other issues. I know that
everyone has told you it is not good for you, but neither is the few snacks
i read others having. It is in moderation is how i do it. Everyone
deserves a break and my break is having a drink on a hot summer day after
working. It is relaxing to me. Remember you don't have a problem just
because you want to have a drink and relax.
— missyheffelfinger
July 3, 2007
What does your surgeon say? Mine told us everything in moderation. But,
you need to remember that alcohol is empty calories, they will not make you
full. Alcohol, if consumed on a regular basis, can also be a gastric
irritant and cause ulcers.
— anyce
July 3, 2007
Ace, I am not advocating the consumption of alcohol but you deserve to have
full information about making the decision that is best for you. First, my
drink of choice is either a Mike's Light (which has just a few carbs) or a
gin and diet coke with a twist of lime (no one ever orders it, but it is
crisp and refreshing with no carbs and if you do order it, please refer it
as a "Steve").
My own drinking aside, and the fact that I have not become an alcoholic, I
would start by telling you that it is only a minority of bariatric patients
who switch addicitons, because it is only a relatively small percentage of
us who were true food addicts to being with.
Secondly, alcohol, even if it is mixed with diet soda, will not stretch
your pouch. However, if you dip into the bar snacks while drinking and do
that habitually, the combination of eating with drinking will stretch your
pouch.
Third, because your insides have been re-routed, the alcohol hits the
receptors in the duodenum much quicker, and without any of the breakdown or
absorption that occurs with peopel with full-size stomachs. As a result,
you do get buzzed quicker. Also, because we tend to run around with a lot
less food in our pouches, we might get a little more lightheaded than we
remember.
Fourth, if you are drinking, your inhibitions are reduced and you might do
that which you might not otherwise do--- like eating. So, you do need to
be careful.
Lastly, if you feel that you migh be turning to alcohol to fill a void that
you once filled with food (not that you are necessarily switching
addictions, but because you might feel that alcohol is a safe food that
helps you forget that you miss pizza and ice cream), talk to someone.
Hope some impartial guidance helps you make the choice which is best for
you.
Bottoms up.
— SteveColarossi
July 3, 2007
Our surgeon's office had us sign a letter stating we would not drink for
one year post-op. The issue is this - with thing re-routed - the liquor
goes straight to your liver - it is not broken down or altered in any way.
So when you drank before by the time it got to your liver it had been
diluted, etc. So it would take a lot of drinking and years to erode your
liver from drinking. NOW, the process is it is straight liquor to your
liver. My suggestion would be to drink every now and again. I haven't tried
drinking anything and probably won't for the year as promised. After that,
I don't know. When I think back to the discussions we had about how bad it
is for you and your liver and the stats they gave about it.....I don't
think I will drink. If I do decide, it will probably be once in a blue
moon. I would suggest not drinking. Killing your liver in a quick and nasty
fashion over a few drinks as week seems a bit silly. But that's just my
opinion.
— jammerz
July 3, 2007
OKAy Johnny,-`Here's the scoop. Drinking is trading one addiction for
another. Color it anyway you want, that's a fact especially when you are
talking 1 to 5 per week. That is more then having 2 glasses of wine on the
weekend. Be realistic. Alcohol is SURGAR, sugar causes dumping, dumoing
makes you sick, alcohal makes you drunk. The more you drink the more you
want. I liked your idea of having Crystal Light, but, not with booze. Put
it in a cool highball glass add some garniushing and pretend you are
drinking, or, drink a watered down wine spritzer. You are a big boy don't
try to blow it off. You just spent thousands of dollars on an operation now
you are bending the rules.
— bderuiter
July 3, 2007
The question you should be asking yourself is this. Why would you WANT to
drink alcohol up to 5 times a week? Granted you claim yr not getting drunk
etc, but are you aware what alcohol can do to your liver? Since your
stomach is different and routed differently, alcohol goes directly through
your liver. Keep up the drinking and you will damage your liver quite
quickly and then since your liver won't be able to filter, it will go and
do damage to your kidneys. Sounds like it's time for AA dude. Realize
this is only a tool, and you HAVE to change your eating/drinking habits in
order for it to continually help you! God Bless!
— crystalsno
July 3, 2007
Hi There, First of all I am 5 years post op and have been drinking alcohol
since about 3 months out. There are some drinks I can tolerate and some
that either make me terribly sick or so tipsy. Like food, different
combinations react differently to your new digestive system. I have about
3 drinks a week. Usually a glass of wine, maybe two if it is a Saturday
night and I am out. My social life jumped up after I lost weight and I
wanted to blend in as much as possible. Never a heavy drinker, I saw no
reason not to have one every now and then. I have successfully had bourbon
with diet coke, and peachtree madras (orange and cranberry juice with peach
liquor), and molsen beer (2/3 of a bottle) and it is 3-5 drinks total per
week. I did not find the alcohol losened my food morals, it usually kept me
from eating because it is so filling. I used to be able to drink two drinks
and feel normal, but the surgery does make you get drunk quicker on very
little alcohol. White wine always reacts fast with me, as opposed to red or
blush wines. I have no idea why, but I stay away from whites. I have to
agree with an earlier poster and ask you the same question... why are you
planning on 5 drinks a week? Why not 7 or 10 or 14? If this is a real issue
for you, maybe you HAVE transferred an addictive habit... I wish you the
best on your journey, but caution you please DON'T BLOW IT after 6 months
...over alcohol. Take care, Kathy in Massachusetts. :0)
— Kathy A C.
July 3, 2007
Hi Johnny, thanks for writing. Run, don't walk away from alcohol. You can
drink it if you want, you are a grown man, but while you are drinking it,
you may want to purchase additional supplimental medical coverage to take
care of your medical and mental issues that will come, and pick out some
additional life insurance to leave your family when you go, and be sure to
plan your funeral and pick the place where you want to be buried. You
might think I am just being a smart alic, but I am just trying to make a
point. You want to know what is wrong with drinking. Besides trading one
addiction for another, it will kill your liver, quicker than prior to wls
surgery. You are gonna have to fight to be a success with wls, and for
some that means a food fight, and for others it means staying away from
other stuff to be addicted to. I am sure you love your family, and really
encourage you to take this advice seriously and not drink. It is not only
bad for you, it can ruin the rest of your life, and help you cut it short.
You don't want that for you or your family. You might say that you will
only drink so much or do so much or rationalize it any way you want, the
think is, the alcohol goes right to your liver, once your liver is damaged,
you are gonna wish you never picked up a bottle of anything. It is not
worth it, or worth the risk of losing my family over such stuff. I hope it
is not worth it to you. In case you are wondering, I have seen this with
my own eyes in wls. I have seen someone ignore this advice. Yes it ruined
her life, and she has currently moved away, but I am not certain at all
that she is still alive. Take care. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
July 4, 2007
It's funny, I posted a similar question a few weeks back and got the same
stream of "dire warnings" that you received (tho admittedly not
as many). My question was very similar to yours. First, I wondered HOW
exactly does drinking affect your liver/health now - as opposed to before
(I mean strictly in the biological sense) and second, knowing that after a
sip or two of wine I am feeling light headed, would my blood alcohol level
measure the same as it would have before? Of course I'm not planning on
drinking and driving or anything like that - but am just curious as to how
it affects us now (again - biologically speaking). Is it true that it's
harder on your liver? I don't know... there is lots of information about
how it affects you pre-op, but I couldn't find anything about post-op.
Maybe it's the same, maybe it's drastically different... but we don't
REALLY know (or at least I don't) so that's why I was curious in the first
place. I'm sure you already know this, but just because you want to have a
drink now and then, does NOT mean you are "Trading Addictions!"
(words accompanied by a booming clap of thunder).
OK - so trading addictions is a real thing, but golly gee.. it really
doesn't apply to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US! Some people have addictive
personalities and some don't. That doesn't make any of us better or worse
than anyone else, but just different.... (much like everything else we
do/say/feel/need/hate/love/desire/crave, etc. etc. etc.)
I think a glass of wine here and there is not tempting fate (I'm almost 7
months out). Plenty of people become alcoholics who have not had an RNY so
I'd also be interested to know if that number really DOES drastically
increase with post-op people.
Gambling, sex, and shopping can also be addictions, and people who are
prone to trading addicitons could just as easily trade to one of those, but
I still don't feel like I'm pushing my luck to spend an afternoon at the
mall.
The definition of addiction is being "compulsively or physiologically
dependent on something habit-forming". If that doesn't describe you,
then it probably isn't you.
Having a drink now and then (yes, even one or two a day, every single
flipping day) does not, in itself, qualify you as an alcoholic.
I didn't mean to go on for so long - I realize it's a hot button topic for
many people, but still, I would really love to hear from a bonafide
scientist/doctor/researcher about the true BIOLOGICAL impacts of drinking
after an RNY.
:)
Marilyn
— [Deactivated Member]
July 4, 2007
You can get a DUI on as little as one drink, that happened to a friend:(,
the level climbs fast, and reportedly goes down faster than pre op. but
theres no hard fast numbers since we are all slightly different. It tends
to hammer your liver, and addiction is a real danger as a suupport group
member once reported. It nearly cost her her spouse and her life. All this
info directly from my srgeon dr Philip Schauer president of the ASBS
— bob-haller
July 4, 2007
I have been at this board approaching 8 years. I remember someone else
raising the same issues here. They were cautioned about daily drinking, and
claimed no problem at all. Later they returned looking for help, the
drinking packed on the weight, they had a DUI, on reportedly one drink, and
their boyfriend left, after the gal lost her job which required driving.
She only lost her license for a short time, but couldnt afford insurance.
It was very sad, and the poster e mailed me privately apologizing for her
earlier attitude. I suggested she go for councling and AA after admitting
her problem she had a better chance of getting her life together. I add
this to help others in a informative manner, so you know the risks. We are
all free to make our own decisions and own mistakes.
— bob-haller
July 4, 2007
The alcohol enters your bloodstream muc more quickly. Why ask for trouble?
I do have an occassional drink, but not too often. You ask how is
drinking bad for you. The answer is that it makes you drunk, and drunks do
not act rationally. It also damages your liver. Alcohol also dehydrates
you, and you need to take in more non-alcoholic liquids to make up for it.
You mmight also not get enough protein in, because alcohol is a lot of
empty calories, and high in sugar as wwell.
Listen to your wife.
— Novashannon
July 4, 2007
According to my doctor, an occasional drink is OK, as long as it's not made
with a carbonated beverage. In my opinion, any more than one drink a few
times a month is overdoing it. To be honest, though, I wasn't much of a
drinker before surgery and have not changed since. If you really feel that
you have to have a drink, maybe you can try using half the alcohol you
normally would. I think your idea of using Crystal Light to mix with is a
good idea.
— packrat
July 4, 2007
Johnny,
I am 4 yrs out, and I'll have a drink every now and then...it will not
kill/hurt you nor send you back to the "beginning" - sorry, but I
disagree with the ones that said that. One thing I would caution you on is
the sugar content. OJ is loaded - the orange crystal light that you
mention is the perfect answer. Enjoy life - use the tool that we have
been given!
danette
— Danette C.
July 9, 2007
not only will you get a DWI with one drink, but the alcohol is suagr, and
the OJ you already know is sugar, you have not lived until you have had an
insulin reation from alcohol. YOu will wish you were dead and you could be.
You drink the booze then your insulin rises to rid the body of it ,the
booze has flowed down the pouch and the insulin has to do something so boom
your blood suagr ends up in the toilet and so do you, make you dump, sweat,
nausea, want to lay ion the floor and die. You may get away with it for a
while but sooner or later it will get you, and all ther while you are
messing up your panceaus and you will wish you hadn't later on. I am the
voice of experience.
— DonnaB.
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