Question:
Alcohol
Hello All! Okay so I'm 23 and tend to go out quite a bit.. This going out usually entails drinking.. I'm worried for my liver... I know I could avoid this problem and just stop drinking, but I'm young and this is what we do. (or it least my group of friends) I know there are pills that can be taken to increase healtly liver functions. Has anyone ever heard or do you think that it is safe for me/us to take.. Thanks a bunch! — Kristina P. (posted on July 24, 2002)
July 24, 2002
— Amber L.
July 24, 2002
I am also 23. I have drank about 4 times post-op (my surgery was 12/11/01).
I get drunk really fast! I try not drink though, I know it can't be good
for me. I don't know of any vitamins/pills that can be taken to help the
liver though, sorry :( Just be careful...one shot and I'm drunk. Good luck
:)
— Trishonda L.
July 24, 2002
Hi...Just a thought... Coenzyme Q10 is something that has gained some
attention in repairing damage to organs such as heart, liver, etc. You
might check it out and see if this supplement could be helpful.
— AJC750
July 24, 2002
I have heard that people take Milk Thistle to maintain a healthy liver.
I've seen it at Wal-Mart and GNC. It's with the vitamins and I think it is
in pill form.
— Tanya B.
July 24, 2002
Kristina: I am now 41 but I have definitely been where you are. I won't
preach because preaching sure didn't help me then either. My biggest
problem with getting ready for this surgery has been to quit smoking. It's
been very hard --- it's now been a month and I have until 9/16 for my
surgery. I wanted to quit for many reasons but one of the main ones was
because it seemed fair that I try to be and act as healthy as possible in
order to deserve the surgery. There are many, many people on this site
that are trying to get the surgery that can't for many reasons and it
seemed fair to me that I should somehow "earn" the surgery others
can't get as easily. That was my decision. You have to make yours. But
perhaps you'll be forced into one as another poster just said about not
being able to drink like before. I sure wish I suddenly found I couldn't
drink when I was your age!!! Would have saved me a lot of hangovers and
blackouts (which I'm sure isn't your problem --- but was mine!). Great
luck with your surgery!
— Nell C.
July 24, 2002
Dear Kristina,
Your liver is only one potential problem. A normal stomach is tougher
tissue and can deal with the toxicity of alcohol. Your new tummy tosses
the booze right into your small intestine which is not able to handle the
alcohol like your old stomach could. Heavy drinking with WLS could put you
at risk for cancer of the intestine. It also dumps the alcohol into your
system quickly which means lots of sugar and stress on your liver.
I would suggest you avoid the surgery until you are confident that you can
make the lifestyle adjustment.
Good luck.
Tom
— Thomas M.
July 24, 2002
First off- what does your Doctor say? If I were you I would ask your
Doctor. If he suggests avoiding drinking, then that is what I would do. I
mean you are talking about your liver here- and what if you were given the
wrong advice- and your liver failed? So- ask your Doctor, because at this
site, youw ill get a thousand opinions- and while that is good- 999 of them
may be wrong. Including mine. Otherwise, I do feel that if you practice
everything in moderation (like everything else in the world)- I think you
should be fine. However, just realize that the days of slamming shots are
over. No more beer bongs. Your stomach is too small. DO REALIZE that you
will become drunker faster, and it sneaks up on you. This is not a good
thing to find out in public- especially at a bar! You need less alcohol
than everyone else- so be very careful. I also posted the calorie/sugar
contents a while back on alcohol. It is a shocking amount in some of those
drinks! Expecially mixers- and it adds up. I myself stick to light beer.
If I do have hard alcohol, I mix it with diet soda or diet cranberry juice.
— Karen R.
July 24, 2002
Seems to bad that someone would go through WLS (for their health) then want
to chance stomach and liver problems for a stupid drink. I'm not trying to
be nasty. Honest. It's just that alchol destroys so many lives. You are
young and have a healthy body. We never appreciate a healthy & strong
body when we are young. We just think we will always have it. It's your
life. I just hope as someone else said, you don't drink and drive. It's one
thing to "possibly" destroy your life, it's quite another to hurt
someone else. But do know, you may be hurting your surgery and liver. You
sound like someone who drinks and parties. Quite frankly with all the
phycological crap they put us through pre op, I'm surprised they let you
have WLS IF you like to go out and drink alot. Is it worth it to chance
hurting your pouch and liver? Only you know.
— Danmark
July 24, 2002
Well the empty calories from alcohol will sabotage your surgery, while
hammering your liver. You need to talk directly with your surgeon, he is a
GREAT guy and I know him he was originally in pittsburgh. He will probably
recommend counseling. Be VERY careful drinking, a member of our support
group got a DUI on one drink, could of ended up in jail and nearly lost her
husband. She told her story to our entire group, as a word of warning to
others. You have your entire life ahead of you, please dont risk it in this
way.
— bob-haller
July 24, 2002
I just don't get it allot of us have health problems and are desperetely
trying to get surgery and then why would anyone want to mess it up with
alcohol. if that is all yours friends want to do for fun then I would seek
out a different bunch of friends, so why would you want to sabotage
yourself for a drink. YOU ARE LUCKY YOU DON'T HAVE MY SURGEON, MY SURGEON
TOLD ME HE WILL NOT DO SURGERY ON ANYONE WHO DRINKS ALCOHOL BECAUSE OF THE
DAMAGE IT CAN DO POST OP,
— Grace H.
July 24, 2002
Hi Kristina,
I would suggest talking to your surgeon to see what he thinks about
drinking. I was told as long as it is in moderation you can have a drink
every now and then. Just be careful. Where I used to be able to drink 5-6
drinks before feeling any effect..I now feel it after 1 or less...2 drinks
and I'm pretty much looped. Needless to say, I don't do that very often. I
do know that it is hard at times to not drink in social situations,
especially with people asking you if you want a drink. Here is my
trick...I order a club soda with lime...it looks like a drink..no one asks
you if you need a drink, cause you are holding one...also...it's no sugar,
no carbs, no calories and no alcohol. My other trick...virgin bloody
mary...looks like the real thing without the effects and I'm getting in
some potassium. Just a way to be out with your friends and have a drink in
your hands without drinking and I'm sure they would like having a
designated driver to make sure everyone gets home safe!! Just keep in
mind...with this surgery comes a lot of choices and a lot of changes...make
sure you are ready for them before you go thru it!!!
— Jaynismile
July 24, 2002
Ok first off....who said she was going to drink and drive...ranting at her
for that is just silly. Secondly, you guys are acting like she has a
drinking problem and needs counseling. Give her a break! She's 23 and
she's doing what most people do at that age. And to suggest she get new
friends is just mean. Sweetie..just like everything else...moderation is
the key. Talk to your doctor and see what he says.
— Monica H.
July 24, 2002
I have to agree with the previous poster...I think most of these responses
are way off track. Counseling? Drinking and driving? Come on people. I
went out last Saturday with my husband and we drank captain morgan and coke
(diet) all night. Yes I was really tipsy for a while. And yes I had
blast. Granted, the last time I did was back in February when I got
totally drunk. We were adult enough to ensure someone was a designated
driver and I can assure I DO NOT need counseling. I realize alcohol has
caused people a lot of problems...but let's not judge the entire world
because of it. My mom was almost killed by a drunk driver getting chased
by the police. Does it make me stay away from alcohol? No. Does it make
me ensure I don't drink and drive. Hell yes. But I don't think many of
these responses were really fair. My opinion.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 24, 2002
My comments were a word of warning, since she asked about pills to protect
her liver. I attempted to send them by E mail, hers bounced. In any case
drinking sabotages WLS, because of the empty calories, and cause numerous
health problems, espically in those who have had WLS. The warning about
DUIs is because she can now get intoxicated on a very small amount, and
thats bad when driving. EVERYONE needs to be aware of that given the
possible consquences. I wasnt trying to attack her just inform her of the
risks.
— bob-haller
July 25, 2002
Geez you guys, you are reading way too much into what Bob was trying to
say. He said that that particular surgeon may recommend counseling. Bob
wasn't recommending counseling. And he was also just stating the fact that
it affects us a lot quicker on less and to be careful. He was talking
about one persons story that was meant to inform others, not condemn.
People are way too sensitive on this board sometimes and read too much into
responses given. You sensitive ones need to get real.
— Cheri M.
July 25, 2002
I should say that I wasn't attacking Bob. I just happen to disagree with
they way SEVERAL people posted their responses. Someone mentioned
counseling, another about DUIs. My point is that wasn't part of the
question and we should be careful about making assumptions about people. I
happen to agree that drinking too much - pre or post op - can make you gain
weight. I just happen to disagree with the assumption that this person
isn't going to be careful about drinking and driving. A word of warning to
someone can never hurt. But there were several remarks made, none even
happened to be from Bob, that I thought were a little judgemental. And as
I stated - it was just my opinion.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 25, 2002
The "pill" is the herb Milk Thistle. I know a lot of Hep C
sufferers who can't or won't take the accepted medicines (or for whom they
don't work) take it and it does work to protect the liver. It also allows
the liver to recover from some damage. <p>Did you know that the
liver is the only organ that will grow back if a part of it is removed?
The important thing is that there is enough healthy liver left to take care
of the blood filtering without being damaged by the toxins in the blood.
— NoraNora
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