Drinking

[jess_18 12]

I'm 2 months post op, has anyone drank hard liquor? Would I be okay to do so?

[Berry78 4,259]

It is usually recommended to abstain for the first 6 months to a year. There are several reasons.

1. Your liver is likely not the healthiest yet since obese people tend to have fatty livers. Then, as we are losing weight quickly, the liver has a bigger job to do as well. When we drink, our blood alcohol levels get quite a bit higher than non-bariatric folk after drinking the same amount. Higher blood alcohol levels means more work for the already-taxed liver.

2. Addiction transfer is a real thing. People with food addictions need to be extra cautious about this one. Those of us with addictive personalities would do best to not ever start drinking postop.

3. Since we can't eat much, it's hard to not drink on an empty stomach. Which means more drunk faster, and possibility of passing out, injury, and accident goes up. Also hypoglycemia.

4. Alcohol may irritate the stomach, and in Bypass patients it has been shown to cause ulcers.

5. Most of the alcohol-related posts made here are people asking about drinking, followed up by people having had a problem after drinking. One or two passed out cold (after a single serving), several have addiction transfers, me personally.. I had a single glass of wine after 6 months, and almost couldn't walk. (I hadn't done the research at that point to know to stop after 1/2 the glass.. oops.)

If you still decide to indulge, drink only half a drink after a good meal, and have a designated driver.

[nativenm 11]

I have not. I am deciding to skip for at least 1 year. Working too hard to mess up now.

[CiKaylaBug 0]

My friend had her done a year ago and she has been drinking since around 6 months and she still tries to drink like she use to and after 1 drink she is like blackout drunk.

[elforman 234]

I'm actually allergic to alcohol, so it's like having a built in two drink limit and I rarely exceed one. It has made me prioritize quality over quantity, and I can make a shot of good scotch last two hours. (Bartenders hate me.) I'm sure I'll be able to do without for as long as necessary after surgery since I only drink for flavor, not effect.

I appreciate that it's very hard to kick for those who do drink for effect, as I have a sister who gave the local CVS a brand new drive thru window, but I thought alcoholic tendencies were something they screen for during the required psychiatric evaluation.

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[Msdooloo 102]

I'm actually allergic to alcohol, so it's like having a built in two drink limit and I rarely exceed one. It has made me prioritize quality over quantity, and I can make a shot of good scotch last two hours. (Bartenders hate me.) I'm sure I'll be able to do without for as long as necessary after surgery since I only drink for flavor, not effect.

I'm allergic to alcohol too!!! Never met anyone else who is allergic to alcohol like me. At least you can manage a small shot of scotch. I would be sick and all itchy red.

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[Chris_FL 16]

I’ve been drinking since 3 weeks post surgery. My work is very social and I️ tend to have an outing at least once a week or so. I️ asked my surgeon and he was comfortable with alcohol consumption as long as it was in moderation and not sugary sweet drinks, like daiquiris, piña coladas, or sweet mixers. No issues here.

[elforman 234]

12 hours ago, Msdooloo said:

18 hours ago, elforman said:

I'm allergic to alcohol too!!! Never met anyone else who is allergic to alcohol like me. At least you can manage a small shot of scotch. I would be sick and all itchy red.

I just get very congested very quickly and past two drinks my throat starts to constrict. I'd likely die of suffocation before I got drunk. Although I did experience a hangover once not from too much alcohol, but stupidly mixing wine and scotch in a short period of time. I'll never understand how anyone who goes through that even once ever drinks to excess again.

Edited November 5, 2017 by elforman