When can I have alcohol? I’m 5 weeks out and scared to ask my dr. I’m by no means an alcoholic just wondering when I could have a small drink?

I think this is definitely a question you need to ask your surgeon. I asked mine that question and she said to wait one full year before doing it. It's a perfectly fair question to ask. I like wine and beer but I only drink one or two at most. I like the taste, not being sloshed.

Q: Can I drink alcohol after surgery?
A: Alcohol is not recommended after bariatric surgery. Alcohol contains calories but minimal nutrition and will work against your weight loss goal. For example, wine contains twice the calories per ounce that regular soda does. The absorption of alcohol changes with gastric bypass and gastric sleeve because an enzyme in the stomach which usually begins to digest alcohol is absent or greatly reduced.

Alcohol may also be absorbed more quickly into the body after gastric bypass or gastric sleeve. The absorbed alcohol will be more potent, and studies have demonstrated that obesity surgery patients reach a higher alcohol level and maintain the higher levels for a longer period than others. In some patients, alcohol use can increase and lead to alcohol dependence. For all of these reasons, it is recommended to avoid alcohol after bariatric surgery. (American College of Surgeons, 2011)

Think of alcohol as being in the same catagory as soda. It does you no good and it has the potential to cause problems.

If you think having soda every so often is ok..... having alcohol every so often is ok, too. It's the same thing.

If you wouldn't do one...don't do the other.

Every surgeon is different on the answer to this question. I was allowed to have a drink at 8 weeks. I was told I could NEVER have anything carbonated again and that includes beer. This month (March) is my 1 year anniversary since I have had anything carbonated.

I did have one drink the other night. I usually only ever had one. Vodka and crystal light. It didn’t do anything, I didn’t feel buzzed or anything and pre-surgery this was my go to drink. I never had more then one b/c that’s all I ever needed. I was surprised when I had it post surgery and nothing happened. I didn’t count it towards my liquid for the day but still.? Weird.

My advice is to ask your surgeon.

In my case, I abstained from alcohol for the entirety of my six month pre-op diet program and the first three months post-op. I brought it back with the okay from my surgeon (whose only advice was to "try" anything at home before I went public with it).

I pretty much only have red wine, and only when I am traveling or having dinner out. And I monitor those calories very carefully. I haven't had one issue from it. I met my goal at 1 year and 4 days post-op, and have been maintaining at 10 pounds below goal for 5 months now.

Do keep in mind that I am insanely particular about what I eat, so that factors into the situation. Wine is my one indulgence (if you can call it that)...

I was told six months. It's supposed to hit you more quickly and stay in your system longer, along with slow down weight loss. Interestingly, the literature shows that having gastric bypass is more likely to increase your risk of being an alcoholic.