Question:
how much alcohol is too much? As far as being unhealthy and harming the liver?
— doreenb (posted on May 29, 2006)
May 29, 2006
Steven, I'd HATE to be a part of your support group if THIS is the type of
support you give!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for the answer, I don't know the medical answer to this, but you should
really keep the drinking to a minimum. It's not good for your body, and
from what I understand it hits your liver HARDER and FASTER because of your
new tummy and can cause liver damage.
Sorry I can't help more
— cedsangel
May 29, 2006
I believe it takes quite a bit of alcohol over a fair amount of time to
damage the liver. I drink a few beers at the end of the week socially and
I'm not concerned. If it were to be a daily habit then as an addictive
personality (obviously food) I would be concerned and stop.
— SJP
May 30, 2006
Wow, I guess support can be hard to find... Since you have already decided
you are going to drink, you DO need to do it in the least harmful way
possible, and good for you for asking the question. Shame on people that
are just going to judge. *sigh* First off, carbonation isn't good. If
you can avoid it, you should. Second off, try to drink things that are as
low-cal as possible. For me, a flat Smirnoff Ice Ultra 1 with only 1 gram
of carbs and 1 gram of sugar works just great. By Moderation Management
standards (moderation.org), a woman should only drink 3 drinks in a sitting
and no more than 9 drinks in a week, or it begins to harm your health. So
I guess that would be my recommendation... -- Jennifer
— j_coulter
May 30, 2006
Doreen -- Hugs to you! First, I'm sorry that people who are supposed to be
helping can be so cruel. That's sad. I notice that you are a spouse of a
WLS patient... so you may be asking out of love for your hubby? Anyway,
during the initial weight loss phase, the liver is severely tasked. So
actually little to no alcohol should be consummed. After the initial
weight loss phase, you (or your hubby) should be able to drink normal
amounts without doing major harm. If you are concerned that your DH is
drinking too much, you may need to get some help for yourself to help him.
I know that AA has a sister group for family. Also, many WLS patients turn
to other addicitve behaviours when their 'drug of choice' (food) is taken
away... it's all very complicated. You and/or your hubby should seek
counselling if you think this is the direction that you are headed.
Blessings.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 30, 2006
Hi sorry you are being attacked, I noticed some folks are very very
arrogant on th e Q&A board. However, we should always ask our Doctor.
Mine does not restrict alcohol but states you need to be cautious for your
health etc. Also we can become intoxicated real fast so beaware of how
much you are having. I had 1 and a half glasses of wine when I went to
dinner this week end and was pretty high. Go slow and Best Wishes.
MaryLyn
— Kriola
May 30, 2006
Hi Doreen, I would suggest asking your surgeon about this, many times they
don't want you to drink anything after surgery and sometimes they will
allow it, but want it to be very little. Once you've had surgery many
times alcohol will absorb a lot quicker and cause you to dump sometimes or
even make your have effects of being drunk quicker. I don't drink so I
can't speak from personal experience, but some people I've read about got
sick from drinking because of dumping or becoming drunk off 1 drink.
Please seek out your surgeons advice on this.
— Amy Williams
May 30, 2006
Most of us had this surgery to have a normal life and for some of us having
a drink once in a while is normal and for someone to ask what are the
alcohol limits is also normal.
— Patty.W
May 30, 2006
As the wife of a bariatric patient, you should be commended for doing
research of your own on a topic that confuses many. Your husband is truly
blessed to have you in his corner. Studies show that patients who are
surrounded by knowledgeable and supportive friends and family will do
particularly well (which, of course, leads us to all question the success
rates of some groups lead by frequent posters).
But, alcohol is perfectly acceptable in small amounts, only if it does
hinder weight loss or maintenance, only to the extent that it doesn't
hinder hydration and protein intake and only if it is not being used as a
substitute for food. There is a chance of switching addictions from food
to alcohol, so caution is always the best option.
As for strident advice often given with what appears to be a sanctimonious
tone, I can only speak from my past experience. At times, when I was
struggling with abiding by the rules for my new post-operative
relationship with food, I found that those questions which spoke to my
struggles were the ones I might have answered in a rather condescending
fashion, in part because I was probably really writing to myself and giving
myself the shot in the butt that I needed. Of course, I am a former
defense attorney so it could have also been that being mean and
condescending was a part of my personality. But, in any event, although we
all wish to find on this site a healthy balance between being the OH
versions of Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, we should all try to appreciate
that sometimes those people who are harshest might be the ones who need our
support the most.
— SteveColarossi
May 30, 2006
once in a while I have a glass of wine with my meal. However to sit down
and drink every day and have one or more glas of any type of alcohol
including beer you will definately have some dmage to the liver even if you
did not have any WLS. It is part of life for any human being. We all must
be carefull regardless if we had WLS. Access alcohol in unhealthy to any
individual. US me must be careful not to trade the food addiction the the
alcohol addiction. Take care and I hope I answered your question.
Dani
— Dani96
May 30, 2006
I have MY opinion (any is too much, but I'm biased ;-) ), but I'll give you
the stats. 34% of us will become alcoholics, 27% will become addicted to
shopping, 22% will seek in appropriate sex and so on for gambling and
drugs. Add that to the reality that sooner or later, most of us have
elevated liver enzymes, and well, it's just not such a good idea. Of
course, alcohol is sugar and as such is metabolized instantly. It can pack
on the weight before you knew what hit you. Some ppl do fine with the
occasional drink for events. But too many to mention will be in trouble
and not sure how they got there.
— vitalady
May 31, 2006
The cross-addiction statistics seem very high. My own anecdotal evidence
(just drawn from the attendees at the support group meetings I've
facilitated for three years) would have the alcohol and "inappropriate
sex" numbers closer to about 5% (and, many of those people with whom I
have had this discussion would acknowledge both issues). However, there
are a large number of us who are simply addictive in nature, or who turned
to food as self-medication for any number of troubling situations; as a
result, those problems do not dissipate after surgery and the addictive
tendencies persist. The issue, however, is to evaluate the total
percentage of bariatric patients who transfer addictions and how many of
them develop multiple addictions to replace food.
But, with the potential for an addictive tendency present, Michelle's
advice to use caution in using alcohol is well-heeded.
— SteveColarossi
May 31, 2006
Steve, I was surprised at these numbers, too. Presented at 2005 ASBS
conference, but my anecdotal estimates were not far off. 30% alcohol
(34%), 25% shopping (27%), 20% sex (22%) and the balance in drugs &
gambling--couldn't put a finger on it. What is most horrifying is that
people who get wrapped up in these often had NO interest in them before. I
HATED to shop, but shopping is what got me. Fortunately, it was thrift
store shopping so I didn't bankrupt us. Even today, I can barely pass one
without salivating at the potential goodies hidden within. But better to
just not go there.
— vitalady
June 1, 2006
any during rapid wt loss phase!
— vickig
June 3, 2006
Boy, how judgemental people can be! I am obviously not a doctor, but my
surgeon told me a drink is ok in moderation. I drink about 3 beers a week
with my boyfriend. I do good after 1 beer, feel pretty good too, but much
more than 1 does not work well for me personally. Hope it helps. By the
way, I am 10 months out and down 140 pounds, so, I would just follow your
doctors advice, it works well for me.
— TraciB06
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