Hi everyone, does anyone know how many weeks after surgery i will have to wait before having any non-carbonated alcoholic beverage ???

With lapband surgery it is recommended that you don't consume any alcohol. I know many people here do drink alcohol but you might want to check with your surgeon. There are a lot of calories in alcohol and it stimulates your appetite.

I would be interested to know this answer also...............especially as the with the lapband you should be able to eat/drink most things but now in moderation..........................I was told nothing was forbidden...............also anyone drink champagne? I want to have a glass in 2 weeks for mom's b-day but not sure what it will do..............

Thanx all!!!!

I was told not to drink any for 1-2 months after surgery by my doc and you can drink but know that its a lot of calories and can make weight loss a lot slower.

Although I'm not sure of the exact recommendation, I'd probably wait until I had transitioned into a regular diet. At least then you'd know that you'd healed for the most part and the alcohol wouldn't have any affect on your surgical healing.

Remember that not only does alcohol have a lot of empty calories, it also relaxes your inhibitions meaning you would be more likely to break the band rules, overeat, drink with your eating, etc.

With lapband surgery it is recommended that you don't consume any alcohol. I know many people here do drink alcohol but you might want to check with your surgeon. There are a lot of calories in alcohol and it stimulates your appetite.

It's not recommended by who? Where did you hear that?

This is what's in the Inamed's FAQ

Q: What about alcohol?

A: Alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down Vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weight loss².

²Dixon J., Dixon A., O’Brien P. Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. Am J Bariatric Medicine 2002; 17(4): 11-14.

I don't thing there is anything wrong with alcohol, per se, but it does have a lot of calories. IMHO, a glass or two of wine a week? No problem.

Don't know about the champagne. It's bubbly. Could be uncomfortable. I guess it is your call.

My doctor said I could have a glass of wine after 4 weeks. :eekB:

With lapband surgery it is recommended that you don't consume any alcohol.

In all my years of banding (just over 5 years) I've never seen this blanket recommendation to not consume alcohol. Empty calories? YES. But forbidden? NO. After 4 weeks or so, few Bandsters have absolute 'forbidden' items - including an occasional drink.

Most long term and successful Bandsters I know can have a glass of wine or two with dinner (depending on your own individual tolerance and habits) with no problem. Do remember that with the band encouraging less food intake - this can mean that a smaller amount of alcohol can affect you faster, so I think with all things moderation is key. My friends who have lost 60-168# with the Band do drink now and again - and I know I clearly told my surgeon at my initial consults that I like a glass of wine (and an occasional and rare margarita) and he thought it was acceptable and might make the band a better choice than the RnY bypass (although my close friends with RnY can drink in moderation, too.) If I know I'm going to have a glass of wine once in a while, I cut my carbs elsewhere. It works for me.

So it's all about what works for you.

Happy Band Journeys To All...

I drank a margarita like 3 weeks after surgery. My doc has no restrictions on drinks (other than avoid high calorie drinks generally). My doc even said I could have carbonation after 5 weeks but I cannot tolerate carbonation at all and now I've gone so long without it I can't even stand the way carbonated drinks taste. Anyways, I drink margaritas and cosmoplitans and wine all the time! Spare me the lectures on how it's high calorie - I'd rather drink than eat dessert and if anyone out there can get through law school without drinking on the weekend I'd love to know HOW!!!!

I say CHEERS and happy drinking - just remember, as with everything in life, "in moderation"!

Yeah, I reckon a glass or two of wine a week is no problem, I find if I drink daily (even just one a day) it just doesnt come off. That's because my husband FILLS the wine buckets (oops glasses) and they probably contain three standard drinks, not one. He has no class that one, lol, doesnt realise you dont fill a wine glass full to the brim.

I waited about 3 weeks or so and had a drink at Christmas. Ok, more than one, but not all at once.

I try not to have anything more than a glass with dinner when I'm out or I start nibbling. It just loosens your resolve a bit much and if there's dips, nuts, chips about, look out!

That's because my husband FILLS the wine buckets (oops glasses) and they probably contain three standard drinks, not one. He has no class that one, lol, doesnt realise you dont fill a wine glass full to the brim.

My DH, too. Ok, Me too! We like wine, but have no wine class. Good wine is wasted on us. Hooray for 3 buck chuck!:clap2:

So, I'm guessing that after being banded, I cannot have my ice cold beer as I float in my pool! that is sad, but I guess I can drink something else, that is still refreshing but not carbonated.

Patti

Don't rule out carbonation! Try it first and see if you can tolerate it. Many of us can.

As far as never drinking again...well, I've never heard that, either. And I'm with Laura - law school without drinking just isn't worth it.

And as far as alcohol making you eat more, I can agree with that. It does make you forget what you are doing and eat quickly. But I can honestly say that the best PB of my life happened when I was tipsy from 2 margaritas. It was almost a pleasant experience - I went to the bathroom, leaned over the toilet, and the PB just flowed on out. I think being so relaxed helped me not to fight the PB, which I usually do.

So, it's good, it's bad, whatever...but let's not write anything off completely!