Alcohol post op:it's possible? When, how much?

[ZillyNa 16]

Hi guys.

I would like to know if after sleeve we can drink wine or other alcoholic beverages.

I think I will not eat and drink anything interesting for a long time after the surgery, but after some months can I think to go a party and have a drink for a toast? (e.g. Wedding, birthday, various celebration...)

[sharonintx 1,275]

Of course you can.

[ZillyNa 16]

Nice to know.

Many people say me that is better avoid sparkling and gassed drinks, preferring plane and dry beverages.

It sounds like I will never have a beer again.

It's ok, it's nice to think that in mid summer I will toast for my birthday with a glass of wine in a smaller shape.

[Cape Crooner 589]

I have endured many slings and arrows on this forum, so you can check out my posts if you'd like.

Here's what I know:

1. The number one issue early on is preventing ulcers. The sleeve is fairly well healed after 6 weeks and that seems to be the earliest point any doctor suggests a return to alcohol consumption.

2. Transfer addition is the number 2 issue. I think it's very serious for people who were food addicts, not so much for people who became obese for other reasons. My test for addiction syndrome is to ask yourself the question:

" ...after I start [eating/smoking/drinking] the thing I'm addicted too, do I almost mindlessly consume more?"

If this is your mindset, you could be at risk for alcohol transfer addiction.

3. Alcohol has calories that can easily cause obesity along with the slider foods we tend to go to once we get drunk. My advice is to avoid high calorie (sugary) drinks, plan what you're gonna eat after you've had a few, and log it all so you can figure out why your Weightloss failed - if it happens down the road.

Me, I started back slowly after week 7. I followed my guidelines above and since then, I've gone from 225 to 182 (8 lbs below goal).

What you drink and eat matters greatly. You can easily consume thousand of calories in a few hours drinking sweet cocktails and washing down chips!

Like everything, there is no free lunch...

Edited May 11, 2016 by Cape Crooner

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

For some people, alcohol is problematic post-op or even a serious no-no.

For others, it seems to be OK.

@@Cape Crooner laid out the issues above pretty well, I think.

In my case, I stopped drinking completely 2.5 months pre-op and didn't have a drink until 6 months post-op. During that time I also made many other changes in my life so I could build a new post-op lifestyle and maximize the odds that my new lifestyle changes would stick.

I do have one alcoholic drink now most days (5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of scotch). That's my limit and keeps me within the behavioral definition of a "female social drinker."

Please know yourself and respect what your body and you can and cannot tolerate. And respect that to be successful long-term you'll have to change some things in your life. Your relationship with alcohol may (or may not) be one of those things.

[ZillyNa 16]

Where I live, the social evening life without alcohol is very difficult, but i have already adopted a fake gin tonic as aperitif; tonic Water, ice and slice of lime...

Looks great and is good.

[JamieLogical 8,684]

I was cleared for alcohol at 3 months post-op. Some surgeons recommend never drinking alcohol again because of the risk of addiction transference. The rate of alcoholism among post-WLS patients is higher than the general population.

One thing you should consider is that, while you physically CAN drink alcohol post-op, it will likely affect you differently than pre-op. For me, I get drunk VERY fast, on very little alcohol. And I also sober up extremely quickly. It's like the whole process is much quicker than it used to be.

I have read some accounts from people who are post-op who can't get drunk at all. No matter how much they drink. That seems like something you should be very careful of! Alcohol has a lot of empty calories and if you feel you need to drink more to get a buzz, it may not be worth it.

[Onmywaytothinagain 29]

Every person I know that put alcohol back into their diet after surgery gained weight back. It's just not worth it to me.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Every person I know that put alcohol back into their diet after surgery gained weight back. It's just not worth it to me.

Raising my hand and adding my data to the database!

I have "put alcohol back into my diet after surgery."

And I have not (yet) gained weight back.

Most days I have a single drink. (Am sipping my evening's single-malt scotch 1.5 ounces right now.) I've been doing this most days since 6 months post-op. I've lost 100 pounds and been at or below goal for 13 months now.

[Dub 9,922]

Yes, it's possible.

All things in moderation with the sleeve is what I've found to be the case.

Note: The sleeve may offer restriction with food...........not so much with drank. You've been warned.

Proceed with caution and enjoy yourself. I didn't lose the weight to become a monk...............yet I don't want to lose control of myself, either. Balance in all things.

Yes, it's possible.

All things in moderation with the sleeve is what I've found to be the case.

Note: The sleeve may offer restriction with food...........not so much with drank. You've been warned.

Proceed with caution and enjoy yourself. I didn't lose the weight to become a monk...............yet I don't want to lose control of myself, either. Balance in all things.

[KristenLe 5,979]

Everyone is different and what works for some may not work for others. This is not a One Size Fits All situation. If you have a concern that alcohol will be a trigger or problem for you - it doesn't automatically mean it will be for others. Most who gained weight back because of drinking probably didn't continue eating healthy either. It's the same as assuming every fat person is a soda/pop addict and must abstain forever. You can't generalize in these situations.

[Onmywaytothinagain 29]

I wouldn't call it a generalization. I belong to a support group where half have gained weight and they have all put alcohol back in their diet. Four of them have taken it back out and gotten back to the rules the doctor gave them and they are losing again. That seems more like a control group to me. There is a reason why doctors tell you to abstain from certain things. After WLS you do not metabolize food like you used to. Alcohol is empty calories. 1.5 ounces of hard liquor has about 100 calories, if you are only eating 1000-1200 calories a day that's a big percentage of your calories. Alcohol is basically a type of sugar and it slows down a patient’s weight loss and may cause dumping syndrome. It contains lots of calories and is no nutritional value. After surgery, alcohol enters the blood stream more quickly than before surgery. The intoxicating effects of alcohol occur sooner than before surgery and after smaller amounts are ingested. A patient who has had the sleeve or bypass surgery absorbs FOUR times as much alcohol from a given drink versus before surgery. And lastly it can be irritating to the stomach pouch and cause ulcers.

Again, knowing what we know, for me, it's not worth the risk. Been through too much to get where I am.

[myrizzy 41]

I had a girls weekend and sipped on a daiquiri, doc approved of course. It lasted all day because I took my sweet time. No problems here. Other that that I'm on my grind working to get down but I plan on having a nice drink in moderation ever now and then. Btw... lost two pounds that weekend!!!

[bellabloom 2,467]

I could drink fine after surgery although it was about 6 months before I did. Now at 1.5 years out I can barely have a glass of wine without getting drunk. Also the hangovers are brutal. The further out I get the less I can handle alcohol.

I've pretty much stopped drinking.

But a sip or two is okay.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Cape Crooner 589]

I had a girls weekend and sipped on a daiquiri, doc approved of course. It lasted all day because I took my sweet time. No problems here. Other that that I'm on my grind working to get down but I plan on having a nice drink in moderation ever now and then. Btw... lost two pounds that weekend!!!

As @@Dub says, it's all about moderation during drinking and remediation in the days after.

I only drink sugar free drinks that are all around 100 calories. If I'm in a situation where I'm drinking for a long period of time (all day on a boat, followed by dinner with friends), I might get to 500 calories of alcohol on such a day. This might get me up to 2,000 total that day, which is more than normal, but will not break my diet.

When I see it show up on the scale, I go back to my post opt diet and get back under goal in a day or two (remediation).

That said, if you think you've been a food addict or may have alcoholic tendencies, I'd steer clear.

Btw, unlike most of the women here, I don't find it hits me any harder than it did when I was on a low carb diet back in the day.

If all you have in your stomach is Protein and veggies, you will feel the booze faster.