Question:
When can I drink Alcohol?

I love a glass of wine with dinner, or heck even an occasional ice cold beer - when hot out - or watching my LSU Tigers play. Do I have to resign to giving up alcohol forever...please someone help me?    — LeeDugas (posted on April 27, 2006)


April 27, 2006
Sorry Lee, Your drinking days are ALL done. You are allow approx. 10 grams of sugar per meal, plus you will get dehydrated.
   — Steve Cohen

April 27, 2006
I am 3 years out and I enjoy a glass of wine or two and yes I do drink beer. I must say I didn't drink beer until now and I only drink Michelob Ultra (low carb beer). I had my first drink when I was 6 mos. post op. I found a no carb margarita mix and made margarita's. Be very careful, you go from sober to drunk in a blink of an eye. There really is no "buzzed" anymore.
   — KellyL

April 27, 2006
My mom is 3 yrs post-op and i know that she ocassionally as a drink. I'm not sure when she was actually able to start drinking but she does.
   — phranny19

April 27, 2006
Lee, I am glad you are asking legitimate and good questions. In the beginning specially the first year you must follow your doctor's instructions without manipulating any of it for your safety and long term success. Then when you are done with loosing the weight and you are maintaining successfully and you know how to eat with moderation and not depreviaton. You have under control your life issues and you are practicing healthy and positive new behavior then you could have once in a while a glass of wine with your dinner. I do have a glass a wine sometimes with my dinner and it was OK'ed by my MD. You have to remember I am 10 years post-op and maintaining weight loss without the mental and emotional struggle. If you have an emotional struggle then you could be trading a food addiction to alcoholism. You must be very careful with what you are doing and how you are doing it. No carbonated beverages allowed, at least with most doctors. You must consult with your surgeon regarding that. But if I am you, I will stick to a glass of wine once in a while and forget about all carbonated beverages for good. They are not healthy even for normal people who did not have any wt problem and/or WLS. Dani
   — Dani96

April 27, 2006
I will not lie, I do drink alcohol. I am almost 9 months out and actually had my first drink when I was about 3 months out. Although I do not drink all the time, I do enjoy having a few beers with my friends. Yes, a few. I can drink about 3 and then I am done. I can also drink wine, but that hits me really fast. Just be careful. Malena 329/194/160
   — *Malena* M.

April 27, 2006
HI again Lee ~ ditto Dani above. Excellent advice!!!!
   — patgels

April 27, 2006
If you do drink alcohol - be very careful until you know how it affects you. With WLS, alcohol is absorbed VERY quickly. I get tipsey off of one drink and it hits me before I'm done drinking it. This caught me off guard and I had to sit and wait for the effect to ware off. This, along with the calorie absorbtion, just means I rarely drink now.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 27, 2006
I am still pre-op but had this discussion with the nutritionist I saw a few weeks ago. He told me that if I wanted to try it after about 4 months, it would be okay, and to just see how I felt with it. I don't drink a lot, but drink when we have cookouts or have friends over.
   — sarahp1101

April 27, 2006
My doctor says no alcohol for 1 year after surgery. Remember that the alcohol will go striaght to your liver post surgery. I saw talk to your doc about it.
   — Jenney

April 27, 2006
My doc says a year
   — KristalGerou

April 27, 2006
Your profile doesn't say which surgery you are choosing. There are different restrictions for different surgeries. As always, when in doubt about food, ask your nutritionist. Good luck.
   — Jeanie

April 27, 2006
I am 5 months post op LAP RNY and had my first beer about 2 weeks ago.....I opened it and let it fizzle out some to avoid as much carbonation as possible. Still tasted good....No problems at all....
   — mmcphee1

April 27, 2006
Hello . No your drinking days are not over. Yes it is a lot of sugar but I even eat a pice of chocolate every once a while and I know peepz who had an RNY and eat cake and all. So the sugar of the alkohole is not a problem . My doc said to wait at least 6 month to 1 year to drink some . But take it slow and drink at home first becasue you stomach is mcuh smaller now and you get drunk really fast.
   — Babylove05

April 27, 2006
You will get tipsy VERY easily if your a RNYer. Just ONE drink can get you a DWI. Be sure to discuss this wth your surgeon
   — bob-haller

April 27, 2006
First, it's always twelve o'clock somewhere so you're drinking days aren't over. Secondly, be careful about the sugar content of your drinks-- try to stick with the low-carb beers (Mich Ultra has an Amber beer which is good), plus there is always Mike's Light and diet sodas mixed with gin or vodka (I prefer Gin and Diet Coke with a lime). Lastly, heed Bob's advice wisely--- one drink can make you impaired, so please be careful. Also, remember that some of us are sometimes tempted to replace food with alcohol, so be mindful that low-carb drinks are not necessarily "safe". But, in moderation, alcohol can be incorporated provided it does not impede your staying hydrated and provided it is not a trigger for grazing on those typical bar munchies.
   — SteveColarossi

April 28, 2006
Bob is incorrect about the DWI situation regarding 1 normal beer. I had this discussion with an expert DUII trooper before I had my surgery and then with others later to make sure I was getting consistent information. This is what happens: You get just as drunk off 1 beer as you normally would, but it just happens instantly. Your blood alcohol content does not go higher than it would without the surgery, but instead of it going up slowly, it spikes quickly. Now the other thing to consider is that you can handle much less alcohol as you lose weight. So what wouldn't make you drunk before, will make you drunk post op after you lost weight just because you have reduced your body mass. Now, what determines legally drunk is your state's bac level, which for Oregon is 0.08. What is impaired is a whole other issue. You can have a BAC of 0.05 and be impaired. If in doubt, just don't drive. Now, onto the other subject of drinking: You can but I wouldn't make it a regular habit because your liver is going to have to process a more pure alcohol than it normally would, therefore it can damage your liver quicker than pre-op. Proceed with caution.
   — Dinka Doo

April 28, 2006
Hey, Im going to be honest I drink alcohol.. Im about 9 months out and I had my first drink at about 3 months... Tips to drinking: Wine will get you drunk fast like after 1-2 glasses Liquor: The best is vodka straight (least sugar alcohol and calories) or with natural fruit juices Beer: Stay away.. the bubbles from the carbonation and all the sugar, no good! Just like drinking soda... ouch...
   — Magick676

April 28, 2006
My surgeon says wait 6 months, an if you are still losing weight rapidly..wait until it slows down. We were alo told no carbonated drinks for 6 months. It seems every surgeon is different, but i don't believe nor do I plan on no alcohol forever!
   — nurse442

April 29, 2006
using alcohol will help u GAIn weight
   — beckyjo

August 31, 2006
I just started drinking wine again, started after one year for about 6 months and got drunk very quickly, quit for about a year and 1/2 and find myself liking it a little too much, dry red one. No hangover as far as vomiting like my old days when i was heavy but it's obviously not good to over induldge like I have been and it's hard to stop once i start...also been getting severe muscle spasm in my feet since i started again but i'm reading up on that and i've been slacking on my calcium since day one and the web sites i've visited say that is the number one source not potasium like i've been thinking...good luck and try to keep it under control Amy
   — agrandone




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