Question:
Do you really have to wait so long before drinking alcohol?

I mean I am no lush, but I like to have maybe 5-6 beers on the weekend. Is that going to still be possible after my VBG surgery?    — P F. (posted on February 25, 2004)

February 25, 2004
I am almost 5 months post op, and I just tried drinking. I can only drink one glass of wine. It wipes me out.I get so tired, quickly. You will have to just try it and see, just start out slow, cause it will hit you alot faster.
   — Jan R.

February 25, 2004
Before surgery I enjoyed a cocktail, beer, or wine every now and then. After surgery, I didn't even think about it for months. It was probably 4 months before it ever crossed my mind in a good way! At about 6 months, I tried wine and I was fine with it. I now drink wine or beer and I don't have any bad reactions. With the beer, I have to drink the first 4-5 sips very slowly because I'm very sensitive to the carbonation but after that, I don't notice it at all. I still can only have about 3 drinks, which is about the same as pre-op. I don't notice that I get drunk faster but I don't seem to have hangovers either. Go figure. But, the rule of thumb I've followed with just about everything is that I don't try it until I really think about it a lot and really, really want it and then I try just a bit. You'll do just fine. p.s. I still haven't had a soda! 9.5 months without coke is amazing to me!!!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

February 25, 2004
I was a lush before surgery and was very concerned that after surgery I would still be able to drink wine. Well much to my surprise I could care less about it. In the beginning like 6 months post op I could sip 1/2 glass of wine and that was all I wanted! I have gone from 2-3 glasses per day to no more than one drink 2-3 times a month! My liver is a whole lot happier. Don't be surprised if you just don't want those beers post-op. Good luck with your journey finding the thin person inside. RNY 11/02 300/148
   — cathy G.

February 25, 2004
Hi I no this is gonna sound dumb, but...............I have friends over almost every weekend and we have a few beers and some other coctails like vodka and(LIGHT) cranberry juice and I have no problem at all, I no it sonds bad but I make saturadays my treat day! I do not drink during the week and NO Iam no lush, I guess to each is own. But It seems to me alot of people get sick on wine, not the fact it is filled with sugar. Iam 6 months out and 104lbs lighter and 71 lbs to goal, so it doesnt seem that Iam killing myself having my few saturaday night cocktails. Thanks and GOOD LUCK! :)
   — blainejrjeni

February 25, 2004
P.S I HAD MY FIRST DRINK 1 1/2 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY :( BUT DID FINE GOTTA A LITTLE BUZZED, BUT IT WENT AWAY, BUT ONLY HAD 1 DRINK THAT NIGHT.GOOD LUCK
   — blainejrjeni

February 25, 2004
At 4 mos, I had one glass of wine and it got me so drunk someone had to give me a ride home. Man, oh man! Is VBG the lap band? I guess it doesn't matter with the band, except for the fact you'd be ingesting another 800 calories or so.
   — mrsmyranow

February 25, 2004
I am 3 years post op. I didn't drink for about a year afterwards,I drink probably once a week now. I have no problems with it. If I drink without food I feel it,otherwise it doesnt affect me anymore that it did before hand.
   — Vel K.

February 25, 2004
With my Dr. it was not so much about the Alcohol and it's effect on you but the fact that the purpose of these surgeries is to limit caloric intake. Alcohol is FULL of empty usless calories that you just don't need.
   — danagates

February 25, 2004
After 22 months post-op Lap RNY I still cannot handle any kind of alcohol - and actually, beer is the worst of all, mainly dur to the carbonation. Last weekend I tried two sips of it, and THAT did not last long at all. Boy, I miss wine. But, I like being able to run A LOT better!
   — kultgirl

February 25, 2004
you'll just have to test the waters and see if you can even drink. Try taking a few sips first and see what happens. If you feel fine than try with just 1 beer and than you could probably drink more. Some people can't at all. I am 3 years post-op and I have drank before and have no problems at all. I wouldn't suggest it for the first few months though. Kelly [email protected]
   — Kelly T.

February 26, 2004
VBG is probably different than the RNY, and if you can handle the bubbles, IMO, it should be OK. The RNY is a different story though. It's much more difficult on your liver (my doc says 5 times!!!). Having 5 or 6 drinks on the weekend then would be like consuming 25 or 30. I recently found out that I had elevated liver enzymes just by consuming 1 glass of wine on the weekends at almost 3 years post-op. Yikes.
   — mom2jtx3

March 1, 2004
Hi there, I had RNY, so I know it's a different surgery, but I also enjoy a few drinks here and there. I was drinking a few beers about 3 months after surgery. I had to drink slower at first, but I never had a problem, and I wasn't affected faster, like everyone said I would be. I had my labs drawn last week..6 months out, and my surgeon said I had the best liver enzymes he has seen in a while. I am not saying go out and get trashed..haha, but I didn't have a problem. GO slow, if your body doesn't like it, you'll know. Good luck =)
   — sara P.

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