I am curious if all alcohol consumption is forbidden after you've had surgery. If after 6 months post op are you allowed to have a couple sips? I know a whole cocktail is not possible. But a couple sips?

It DOES impact anesthesia...here's an article I found. Just google it. Trust me...almost an RN here....and a former smoker. It impacts oxygenation and that definitely impacts anesthesia.

1: Anesth Prog. 2000 Winter;47(4):143-50. Links

The effects of cigarette smoking on anesthesia.

Rodrigo C.

Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 substances, some of which are harmful to the smoker. Some constituents cause cardiovascular problems, increasing the blood pressure, heart rate, and the systemic vascular resistance. Some cause respiratory problems, interfering with oxygen uptake, transport, and delivery. Further, some interfere with respiratory function both during and after anesthesia. Some also interfere with drug metabolism. Various effects on muscle relaxants have been reported. Risk of aspiration is similar to that of nonsmokers, but the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting appears to be less in smokers than in nonsmokers. Even passive smoking effects anesthesia. Best is to stop smoking for at least 8 weeks prior to surgery or, if not, at least for 24 hours before surgery. Anxiolytic premedication with smooth, deep anesthesia should prevent most problems. Monitoring may be difficult due to incorrect readings on pulse oximeters and higher arterial to end tidal carbon dioxide differences. In the recovery period, smokers will need oxygen therapy and more analgesics. It is time that anesthesiologists played a stronger role in advising smokers to stop smoking.

Either way, the safest course for the OP is to tell the surgeon and let the pro decide what is or isn't important to that surgery.

I had pre-op today for my gall bladder surgery which is next week. I was asked THREE times if I smoke, and made to initial that I understood I was not to smoke within x hours of the surgery.

Oh wow. Thankyou for all the responses !

It really helps me to get an idea on my life after being banded and things I need to do in order to be banded. Afterall I'm only having 1 or 2 a day, i'll just have to see if I can totally get rid of it for the sake of my health.

Now alcohol, anyone? Anyone knows whether I can have 2 3 coolers a night once a month? ( Let's say 3 months after surgery ) I do love to drink.... :thumbup: