Hi I'm going to a big wedding and really want to have a drink there. I am 3 and half weeks post op. Also my social gathering amount all my friends I've had for over 20 years all gather for drinks on weekends and I'm being to feel left out of my social group. Would I harm myself by having just 2 gin and orange every Saturday at this stage? In 2 days it will be 4 weeks post op.

For what it's worth, all my friends are big drinkers. Social events are always boozy. I was a bit unsure how my first social gathering post-surgery would go being the only sober person and... I still had a great night! I sat on fizzy water with fresh lime all night, felt like I was having a "fancy drink" because bubbles, and I honestly didn't miss the alcohol. Friends got drunk around me, and I laughed along with them.

So the dry route isn't a terrible one.

Somebody needs to do their sociology PhD thesis on this thread "The Transatlantic Divide: Examining Cultural Differences Through Attitudes to Alcohol Consumption After Bariatric Surgery"

Fascinating.

26 minutes ago, Pollito said:

Somebody needs to do their sociology PhD thesis

Indeed. But that would actually be helpful and interesting, so that's not going to happen in any 2022 sociology department

1 hour ago, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

Indeed. But that would actually be helpful and interesting, so that's not going to happen in any 2022 sociology department

But of course it's nothing at all to do with alcohol per se.

I think it really is more a question of whether your stomach is healed enough to tolerate alcohol. My surgeon advised to wait two months before consuming alcohol as their belief is that the stomach should be completely healed first.

That being said, I did start drinking again a few months after my sleeve, which I believe was one of the reasons I never reached my weight loss goal. I was in a similar situation to yours in that alcohol was a part of my social scene at the time. Along with drinking came poor nutrition decisions and between the two I stopped losing weight 30 pounds short of my goal.

I'm two months post revision to bypass and haven't started consuming alcohol again yet. I'm determined to get to my weight loss goal this time (only have about 25 lbs to go) and have now adapted my social scene enough so that alcohol isn't such a big part of it.

On 04/15/2022 at 10:39, Donna zariya said:

Hi I'm going to a big wedding and really want to have a drink there. I am 3 and half weeks post op. Also my social gathering amount all my friends I've had for over 20 years all gather for drinks on weekends and I'm being to feel left out of my social group. Would I harm myself by having just 2 gin and orange every Saturday at this stage? In 2 days it will be 4 weeks post op.

Honestly? Go to the wedding, trust your own instincts coupled with your doctor’s instructions, and have a fabulous time. Take it one step at a time…be comfortable with what you are doing!

26 minutes ago, Mariann812 said:

Honestly? Go to the wedding, trust your own instincts coupled with your doctor’s instructions, and have a fabulous time. Take it one step at a time…be comfortable with what you are doing!

Yeah all of this.

I would trust my teams instruction on the timeline (whether they think you are healed enough), but if I did decide to have a drink I would try it at home first (same mixer and all) to make sure it doesn’t make you sick. We are all different and our bodies react differently. For me, I can’t stand the taste of rum anymore and I used to drink it often enough. I can’t drink it fast enough to get a buzz so it seems like a waste of calories. I have tried a few times and it just tastes awful to me now. I have heard others who dumped and some it just made them feel sick while others got beyond inebriated so make sure you try it at home first and have a plan for your ride home.

Have an edible instead.

The Transatlantic Divide! Very interesting comments here. I dig it.

Yikes, anyways to OPs question, I’d recommend against it, if for no other reason than it has a reasonable chance of making you sick. No way to spend a fun event. If you do decide to do it, do a practice run at home first to make sure you know if it makes you sick, and if not how much you can drink now without taking an express train to embarrassingly drunk. ?. Remember you won’t have food to “soak up” the drinks, and you just absorb alcohol different now.

Also think about sugar content in drinks (more likely to make you sick at this stage) and carbonation. If you do decide to drink you might try a dry white wine, or a Bloody Mary, or something similar. Trying to think of low carbonation/lower sugar drinks.

But yes, after a few months I’d say to your question on the regular gatherings there is no reason you wouldn’t be able to join in again. Again, I’d give it a few months, but if you want to start sooner that’s obviously up to you.

On 04/17/2022 at 19:27, LilaNicole20 said:

Have an edible instead.

I’m down with that but wouldn’t that be empty calories too? I say hit the pen. Just my opinion ?

2 hours ago, Edmira said:

empty calories

They're the best kind!

On 4/15/2022 at 10:07 AM, Guest said:

It'll depend if you ask for the US view or the global view. US view = no.

I agree with this statement. I am a US citizen my husband is not. He is from England and the times I was in England with him the socializing and drinking blew my mind. It is a different culture abroad. I just went with it. I was there to spend time with him and I did not drink alcohol (this is several years ago, no WLS). I did not drink for two reasons, 1. no way I could keep up with a Brit

2. I didnt want to be drunk off 2 drinks and miserable for him to deal with lol

Like another poster said, you dont have to drink to have a good time with friends but Id definitely try something lighter just to see how your able to tolerate it. Maybe try something at home first before the wedding in case you have an adverse issue at least you can deal with it and know how it will affect you ahead of time.

21 minutes ago, Crisscat said:

It is a different culture

It is. And people saying "just have a coke" don't really understand. It's like going to a waterpark and someone telling you to just stand by the side wearing a ball gown and watch the fun, it's just as good.