Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

21, Liquor, and a Lap Band



Recommended Posts

I am in the pre-op stage. And i was wondering how does the Lap Band affect drinking. I will be 21 after I get my surgery, and 21st birthday means drinking! :-D so how do i combine these two safely. I dont drink and dont plan to drink alot, except special occasions, like my bday!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doctor allows some alchol with limits - no beer it is carbonated - wine and mixed drinks with no sugar mixers or carbonated mixers- Carbonated drinks can make you very uncomfortable - and remmebr you are eating less so the effects of alchol will hit you very very quickly

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not banded yet either, but for a good drink without carbonation, is cranberry and vodka.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

thanks! this is exactly what i wanted to know, what to drink and how alcohol effects u after.

My doctor allows some alchol with limits - no beer it is carbonated - wine and mixed drinks with no sugar mixers or carbonated mixers- Carbonated drinks can make you very uncomfortable - and remmebr you are eating less so the effects of alchol will hit you very very quickly

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

ok great, ill have to try that after wink.gif

I'm not banded yet either, but for a good drink without carbonation, is cranberry and vodka.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ive had the band for about 5-6 weeks now. Ive had 2 nights since where I drank and just stuck with wine. I did do a tequila shot once. Didnt have any issues- no vomitting, and it didn''t stall my weight loss either. So i think in moderation its fine. Just stay away from mixed drinks with added sugar!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Definatly stay away from carbinated beverages I have learned though after a few months you will become a light weight at drinking so know your limits. Every now and then I'll have a wisky and flat dr. Pepper and that will give me the desired affect of drinking. But, something else to keep in mind is that your body converts alcohol into suger, so definatly count it as an ordinary soda.

Best of luck and have fun on your birthday.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just don't drink so much you start to vomit. Vomiting can cause band slipping and swelling. Happy 21st!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just turned 21 in February and was banded on January 10, 2011. I personally have not been able to drink beer -- it's too heavy and carbonated. I stick with either wine or vodka whenever I have an occasional drink. If you're just starting your weight loss journey I would be careful since there is a load of sugar in alcohol and mixed drinks. Your body is going through a lot of changes physiologically and you basically need to learn how to live life all over again. I wish you the best of luck !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was warned by my psychologist that drinking at night before bedtime was dangerous because of possible reflux aspiration into lungs which could cause death. She must have meant if I drank a large amount and went to bed drunk. I never do that but she is intense and likes to scare people. Because of this warning I have just had one glass of wine one time early in the evening...no problem.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you like margaritas, skinny girl cocktails has a good one. It's got like 600 calories in the whole bottle (but don't drink the whole bottle in one night! Lol). She has a bunch of other things like sangria and a few wines. But bars probably don't have it, so if you are going to a house party or something you can bring your own!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You might actually need to play it on the safer side rather than the '21 shots' side if you don't know your limits at all yet.

Puking can be a bit more damaging with the lapband than without.

From what you said though, you don't really sound like you're that into heavy partying and would probably be satisfied with a few drinks, so you shouldn't be too bad off.

If you're not the type to even get drunk (you just want to get tipsy), then carbonation would be the most major issue. It's easy to work around that for mixed drinks. And don't drink Smirnoff Ice.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Crystal light is a great mixer with Vodka.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Crystal light is a great mixer with Vodka.

have you tried the mocktail mixes with vodka? I've been wondering if that tastes good but haven't tried it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was banded a day before my 21st birthday so I know the feeling of wanting to drink right away. I also wanted to Celebrate my 21st bday partying and drinking but instead i was in bed recovering. But I did attempt to drink like 3 months after surgery and let me tell you the truth, that was the first time I ever got drunk. I guess since i was eating less and on liquids I would get drunk so fast with just one cup!. Besides that the best way to drink with out the calories is to drink straight vodka or tequila. No chasers!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • BeanitoDiego

      I ordered the Barbecue Protein Crisps here from BariatricPal, and find them quite tasty. The Ranch flavour, not so much. They are very filing and have a satisfying crunch.
      I continue to shrink, and am amazed at the changes all over my body. Visually, it is striking to me. In the mirror, I look thin to my eyes, but I don't feel thin, although I can see more bones and veins and tendons and floppy skin. Cardio-wise, It takes a lot more effort to get my heart rate up and I'm now monitoring which heart zone I can get into and for how long. My resting heart rate is the lowest it's ever been.
      If I think about it, and I left myself feel it for a time, I weep (like, boohoo cry) with joy. I am so grateful to myself, and proud of myself for having the courage to have taken the leap to better health.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Yearofme43

      Well round 2 fight, second attempt at this sleeve surgery.  First attempt found out i have situs inversus that was a year ago, so after another long journey i received a new date for December 1, 2023 for the sleeve. Started pre op diet Friday going well just waiting for the big day, for any tips for newbies look at my prior post alot there of what not to do under temptation,  lol 😆 😅 😀 hope everyone has a great outcome
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • NickelChip

      Feeling a little sad today because a few weeks ago I had a call from the surgeon's office and they had a last minute opening on November 20 because of a cancellation. I am not scheduled until December 27, which is way later than I had expected when I started all this. My "ideal" date in my head had been November 13. I was so ready to jump at the chance, but I just couldn't make it work. As soon as I mentioned it to my mom, instead of being supportive, she had all sorts of reasons why I shouldn't move the date. Some were valid, like my teen daughter has a special (but not super special) thing going on later in the week that I would probably have to miss, and others were less valid, like she didn't feel ready and it might ruin everyone's holidays. Um, excuse me? It's not about her! And how would I single handedly ruin both Thanksgiving AND Christmas for my entire family by having a surgery? But she had informed me when I first got the December date that she planned on getting a hotel near the hospital and staying that night to be nearby, despite the hospital only being about 40 miles away from home. I didn't ask her to do that, but that's her plan, so there you go. She didn't ask me if I felt ready now, or what the wait through the holidays felt like for me with the surgery looming. So that was the part that hurt. I felt like I was having to make sure everyone else was okay with my choices instead of me, which is a theme in my life for sure. Don't get me wrong, my parents have been there for me so many times, and I don't want to sound ungrateful. But this really made me sad that what I wanted simply didn't factor in. Basically, I passed on what felt like a dream come true to get that call, and I've had to reconcile myself to it as best I can. I've found some silver linings, like more time to clean my house and test some recipes. But if I hadn't, I would be on my pre-op diet now (my surgeon only does a short liquid diet beforehand, so a Monday surgery starts the pre-op diet on Saturday morning). Instead, I'm getting ready to make dinner for myself and the kids, and I still have 39 days to go...
      · 2 replies
      1. New To This23

        I can relate to the parent's situation. I am 42 and still struggle with pleasing them. Yet they do whatever they want with no concern for how it affects anyone else, so why do I feel so obligated to them? I wish I had some advice that could help. One thing I have tried to do is stop sharing things with them that I really don't want to hear their opinion on. (like the business I am starting)

        Like with this surgery, I knew I was going to need their help getting to the appointments and back from the surgery, so I knew I had to tell them. But I did not tell them until I was almost at the point of getting surgery that I was doing this.

        I got hard judgment from my father, which I expected, I made him promise not to share this with his brothers (who are assholes) I told him whether he likes it or not I am an adult and I deserve respect and privacy especially when it concerns my health. (he begrudgingly agreed)

        My mom on the other hand was supportive, but she has the tendency to add some dramatic flair about everything. her typical M.O. is to pop onto social media and rattle on about how something that is not happening directly to her, is affecting her ( I get it there no talking to the man she married about this stuff, so it's nice to have someone to listen).

        I know they both struggled with trying to respect my wishes, they looked shocked when I told them that if I lived somewhere else, I would not have even told them I was having this surgery.

      2. NickelChip

        I'm glad your father did agree to respect your privacy by not sharing with your family. And I guess I should be glad my mom keeps the dramatic flair off of the socials!

        I'm both lucky and unlucky that my brother had VGS 15 years ago. On the one hand, my mom understands the concept and has seen my brother's good results from it, (we inherited the obesity from my father's side, and Mom has never dealt with more than those pesky 10 lbs average weight people always want to lose). On the other hand, my brother took exactly the opposite approach from me. He didn't live near family and told no one, had no support. He went to Mexico as self-pay and didn't say a word until about 4 weeks after when he was having some serious emotional struggles, living alone, and compounded by the fear of realizing that to get family support, he had to "confess." So his recovery was very different than what I anticipate for me. But because of all that, my mom definitely sees this as a "REALLY BIG DEAL." Which it is, but not the level she's at with it. Like, it's not an open heart surgery being performed in 1982, or experimental cancer treatment. I've also noticed that as my mom ages, she takes change a lot harder. She doesn't have the mental flexibility anymore to make an instant change of plans and roll with it, whereas I do that probably a dozen times a day.

        I'm grateful for their help, but it comes at a price.

    • Heidi911

      Has incorrect surgeon but won’t let me fix
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Chevygirl

      Gastric Sleeve Journey.
       09/07/23 Consult with Dr. Amir Aryaie of BMI Surgical Institute
       09/11/23 Cardiologist (EKG) Piedmont (Dr. Don Rowe)
       09/11/23 Labs done Labcorp
       09/18/23 Pulmonologist Piedmont (Dr. Zolty)
       09/27 1st Nutrition Appt Telehealth ( Paige Espenship)
       10/4 Home Sleep Study 
       10/9 Stress Test
       10/26 EGD done by Dr. Aryaie (Northside Hospital)
       10/27 2nd Nutrition Appt Telehealth
       11/6 Psychology Consult (Beal Wellness) 
       11/7 Psychology Evaluation
       11/17 Waiting on nutrition progress notes to be sent over to submit to insurance company
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×