Question:
ALCOHOL AT 9 WEEKS?

I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks and I will be just about 9 weeks post op, do you think it woud be okay to have a drink or two? I usually drink beer or white russians, I know I shouldn't have the carbonation in the beer and I shouldn't have the calories in the white russian and I'm not much for wine. What the heck is left???    — Kelly* P. (posted on March 3, 2003)

March 3, 2003
I'm by no means an expert on the topic as I'm still pre-op, however, there is a considerable amount of sugar in alcohol which could cause dumping. I would think that nine weeks out is really early to be trying alcohol so you might take some flavored water just so you don't have to drink "plain" water at the wedding.
   — Carolyn M.

March 3, 2003
From what I was taught at the US Bariatric Center in Ft. Lauderdale, you should not have any alcohol until you are at 75% weight loss goal. Even then 1 beer will make you feel very drunk. The effects of alcohol are very high after surgery. As for the White Russian, I think you will become very ill at the party if you drink it. I would just enjoy water and bring some Crystal light. Sorry I could not tell you what you wanted to hear. I am 3 weeks postop and I have lost 26lbs. I had open RNY and I would not even think of drinking even a year later.
   — Robyn W.

March 3, 2003
I think this is what people mean when they say WLS is a change of life and how we live it. We are going to be losing a lot of things, and consuming empty calories should be one of them, at least in the short run. Make a game out of finding things to replace the things we must lose. It may be a difficult game, but one with lots of rewards. Sorry I can't give you a better answer than that. RNY in 10 days. Blessings to you, Robin
   — rebalspirit

March 3, 2003
I definitely wouldn't be trying something new at the wedding. You could get very ill and not be able to enjoy yourself. Why not just drink some water on the rocks with a lime twist. It'll look like a drink if you want to fit in but I think you'll be much better off if you don't try something you've never had before post-op in a very public place.
   — Dee ,.

March 3, 2003
I am now about six months post op. I have been enjoying a beer or a glass of wine for some time now. Not every day! Of course check with your doctor, but maybe try a small glass at home. I always think everything in moderation. A glass of wine makes me feel drunk much faster than before, then the effect passes really quickly. Have a good time at the wedding.
   — Tinadelve

March 3, 2003
I think I had my first alcholic beverage about 12 Weeks out and was very careful to keep it in moderation not only because of the empty calories but because after RNY the effects of drinking are generally intensified. I only drink approx Once every couple of months and seem to be doing fine at 8 months post op and at 175lbs. Just be carefull and let your body be the judge of what and how much you can have. And don't be the one in charge of driving! Good Luck
   — Rebecca B.

March 3, 2003
I'm 6 weeks post-op and have been enjoying Ceaser's. It's vodka and clamato. Or cranberry juice and vodka are very good also. Have fun at the wedding!
   — kb0lqx

March 3, 2003
Its true that you will feel the alcohol much faster than you did pre-op. We are cheap dates now-one drink and your feeling pretty good, 2 and your drunk, 3 and they are carrying you off! My first alcohol was at 3 months post-op, a small glass of champagne. 1 small glass and I felt pretty good. Since then I have had a few glasses of wine-do not have a problem with dumping, just make sure that I don't drink too much or too fast. 9 weeks may be a bit early for you to try alcohol, but if you do, sip gently as you won't know how it will effect you at first. And be sure you have a designated driver just in case.
   — Cindy R.

March 3, 2003
Honey, do what's you feel is right, unless your surgeon has specifically advised you against alcohol. I had a drink at 6 weeks post op (on New Yeasr). It was a cosmo, and let me tell you, it kicked my butt. I couldnt believe how drunk I was from 1/2 of one drink. However, I threw caution to the wind because I was in a comfortable place and I knew if it made me sick, I would be ok. I dont think I would have tried this out in public. Perhaps you are too newly post op to have had a REALLY sick experience. I ASSURE you it is not something you want to expereince in public. Good luck and have fun.
   — LMCLILLY

March 3, 2003
Kelly - I'd limit yourself to a sip of champagne or wine. One White Russian cocktail - according to Fitday.com - has 257 calories (1.26g fat, 16.64g Carbs and 0.332g Protein along with 26g of Alcohol at 7 calories per gram)...JR
   — John Rushton

March 3, 2003
I drink fuzzy navels...usually I only drink one and I am done, but the other night I had THREE...I didn't feel very good the next morning so watch out!!!
   — fropunka

March 3, 2003
I forgot to add that I also think 9 weeks is too early to try alcohol. Wait a little bit longer if you can!!
   — fropunka

March 3, 2003
I had alcohol at 5 weeks and had no probs what so ever..if you do it and it disagrees with u hey at least then u will know!~
   — christine S.

March 3, 2003
At 4 weeks I had a white Russian with no problems. Tried a little sip of wine and thought I was going to be sick, a couple of weeks later, after that. (I was at a wedding reception.) I think if you have one drink and nurse it along, you will be fine. (I do think my husband asked the bartender to go easy on the vodka.)
   — koogy

March 3, 2003
Enjoy the wedding and your new weight loss. Let me see, I was about 12 weeks out when I tried my first glass of wine, not red wine, but white. At about 15 weeks out, I tried Buttery Nipple and vodka and orange juice. I did just fine, but I do listen to my little pouch. It can just sense this is not going to settle too well, and will warn you in time to stop. At least mine does. If I were you, I think I would try alcohol at home first just to see how you do. And if you do okay, you will probably nurse the same drink at the wedding, for a lonnng time! At least I do. If you find you can't do alcohol, try water spruced up with lots of lemon and lime. This is really a pretty "party" drink! LOL This is what I did my first three months out. I would not do beer or anything with a fizz to it, such as coke.. Good luck at the wedding and do enjoy. Lap RNY Oct. 16, and -65 lbs.
   — kd

March 3, 2003
I didn't try alcohol until about a year after surgery (I was never a drinker to begin with) and all I can say now is...I'm a totally cheap drunk. LOL One mixed drink (even a weak one) and I'm goofy as all get out. :) However, my friend Lori went to a wedding several weeks out of surgery and she had some champagne I believe, and it sat well with her. I think she also had some tequila, and that was ok too. I think it really all depends on the person, what kind of surgery you've had and how you tolerate alcohol pre-op. Good luck to you, and have fun at the wedding. : )
   — Emily W.

March 3, 2003
I went to my hubby's company picnic about 5 weeks post op and tried to drink a Mikes Hard Cranberry Lemonaide. I could only sip about 1/3 of it and it was hard to get down so I stopped trying. By the time I was 3 months post op my sil came over and her and I drank between us 3 bottles of wine. Well actually two bottles the first bottle was split between several other people as well. It was fine and it was fun, lol. I was so drunk! I'm not a big drinker and I don't drink all the time but every once in awhile I like to have a drink or two and so far no problems ever. I'd try what ever you think you will have at home first though so you don't dump at the wedding plus you'll know then if it is just to soon. My surgeon says no to alchohol because he says no to all beverages with calories. It's wasted calories with no nutritional value and slows the metabolism.
   — Carrie D.

March 3, 2003
this is just my opinion, I figure you go through all of the trouble of getting approved just to have the surgery, then the post surgery loosing all of that weight and keeping fit, and trying to avoid all of the things that would hurt you, I dont think I would want to do anything that might possibly hurt myself. I would much rather not drink rather than take the chance that my body will not like it and spend the night in the emergency room.
   — harleigh2002

March 3, 2003
An earlier poster said "Honey....do what YOU think is right". In your original posted question you state <i>"I know I shouldn't have the carbonation in the beer and I shouldn't have the calories in the white russian"</i>. I think you know that you've answered your own question. Don't take the advice of others here on the group. Do what YOU know is right based on YOUR surgeons recommendations. Good luck to you.
   — Lynette B.

March 3, 2003
I personally would not drink. They are doing studies right now that are showing people who have this surgery (Gastric Bypass) and drink as little as one drink a week are developing chirossis (sp?) of the liver in as little as one year. Why would you (we) have this surgery to get healthy just to die by another ailment that we brought upon our selves. I personally have chosen life and to live it fully without the risks of other things. Good Luck - James
   — James M.

March 5, 2003
Hi. I haven't had WLS yet, but I'm going to put my two cents worth in anyway. From everything I've learned about WLS, alcohol is a NO-NO!! Yet I see an awful lot of people that indulge themselves with it... WHY on earth would you wanna put yourself thru such pain and life altering changes, and then do something that you KNOW is not good for you? ( I know this will sound snotty, but here goes) Once I have my WLS, I'm not going to do ANYTHING to jeapordise(misspell) my chances of success !! I've been too fat and unhappy for too long. I will forever be a 'recovering food addict' and I know that if I slip once, I'll do it again and each time will be easier. I hope you make the right decision. I know that one or two drinks don't seem like a big deal, but it could very easily lead to similar thinking concerning other things...A couple bites of this won't hurt, well maybe just a little of that etc, then where will you be? I know that I can't do, and I'll have to stick to my guns about it or I'll be in big trouble. I'd like to see everyone healthy, happy, and successful...good luck on your journey!
   — Alisa Sheets

March 6, 2003
I am currently 9 weeks postop from open RNY and had to travel for work last week. Since Im a nervous flyer, I usually have a glass of wine on the plane (or before I get on) to calm my nerves. I did and have to tell you the wine really "burned" when it hit my pouch. I drank it anyway and actually decided to have a 2nd glass (stupidity for sure). BIG mistake. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I was so buzzed off the wine I actually couldnt walk straight by the time I got off the plane. Then for the rest of the night I was terribly sick and had awful dirrereah until almost 3 in the morning, then burning the whole next day. That is the end of that for me. I dont think trying alcohol for the first time at a social event is a good idea at all. You dont know how you will react, and the idea of being sick and missing most of what could be a wonderful evening just isnt worth it.
   — Jennifer J.

March 7, 2003
Hey -- this question is for the poster who referred to studies showing liver damage amongst WLS patients in as little as a year -- can you refer us to the studies? I'd be really interested in looking at those....thanks in advance.
   — Tamara K.

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