Alcohol...how long did you wait?

[sleeve16]

I've seen a variety of timeframes my doctor recommended waiting 6 months. I'm curious how long did everyone wait and what was the tolerance?

[Melissa888]

Had alcohol at six weeks out, no problem at all.

[cne1030]

I'm 2 1/2 months out n tried last week n it torn my stomach up. So I'll wait a couple more months b4 I try again.

[RehabNurse]

I had a glass of wine 12 months after being sleeved, on my first sleeviversary. The one glass of wine left me sloppy drunk and stumbling for three hours afterward.

Keep in mind that the liver stops all fat-burning processes to filter whatever alcohol you consume. Therefore, drinking too soon after being sleeved might slow down your rate of weight loss.

[Blod]

I waited 3 months, then tried a small glass of wine, but I found that it affected me quicker than pre op and one small glass is usually enough for me to feel GREAT! and join in with friends socialising - It's fantastic feeling normal and in control! 0ver 2 years since my op and feeling wonderful still.
224lb>147lb. I was the greediest person alive pre op, so I really do know what it's like to always feel hungry and hating my greedy ways and hating my looks. This op is magical, so enjoy the process and remember that it's a privilage to have it and take advantage of how it reduces your need for food and quantity of food and keep looking in the mirror and relishing the compliments that you'll endoubtedly get.

[Kindle]

4 months glass of wine, no problems. 5 months Bloody Mary, too acidic, couldn't finish it. 6 months vodka cocktails, no problems, discovered I can still outdrink a football team and alcohol doesn't affect me any differently than preop. 2 1/2 years out I have a cocktail a couple/times/month. Too much alcohol (like several drinks/day for several days in a row when I'm on vacation) will give me bad gastritis/heartburn and I need to take famotidine and Rolaids.

[Ann2]

I waited six months post-op. Did NOT want to waste ANY of my "honeymoon" months.

Had wine.

[Belle2]

My surgeon said one year. I have had a few sips, but my stomach feels it. I also didn't want to drink or eat something that would sabotage my new sleeve. If I drink alcohol, I get hungry and my guard goes down. Give me a cocktail and I want snacks. Better to stay away from alcohol as long as possible.

[Pam G]

I used to drink alcohol the same way I ate food...lots of it and fast!

I worry that if a drink, I'll go overboard, so I'm going to try to avoid it as long as possible.

[luckygirl]

My Dr says six weeks,I've already decided that when the time comes I'll either drink a white wine spritzer/little wine lots of diluted juice in a pretty little wine glass. I'm having a party and don't want to ruin my mojo,but I also don't want questions. Anything looks pretty good in a martini glass. I'll wait till I"M hanging at home to really try my tolerance.

[densol]

I waited two months. I do drink more wine than I want to, but massively less than before. I ONLY enjoy wine before I eat or two hours after- stomach has to be very empty. If I even attempt to drink wine or any drink straight after eating - its a no no.

[Sunshines4u2]

I waited 6 weeks & had red wine & shots of tequila (that I brought home from Mexico)... No problems at all��

[luckygirl]

Actually,hubby and I made a hobby of eating out and cocktails after the kids grew up,I'm sure the alcohol increased my appetite. I was drinking a lot of wine almost everyday. I've read so much on how bariatric surgery can really fuel a drinking problem. I'm afraid!!!I feel like were changing our patterns and for myself I'm refraining because I want this sleeve to work.I know how easy it would be to fall into old patterns. I'm on this journey and I can't be worrying about being derailed.I know myself. Besides were saving so much money eating home.

[Muted_Tummy]

My Center has us sign a form that we understand the risks of increased rate of alcoholism in post ops, low tolerance for alcohol (drunk fast) and will abstain for one year.

We are advised in classes to have ONE drink, with someone we trust, at home, when the time comes to see how we do with that first re-entry.

We are advised that if we begin to have to have a drink several times a week, or daily, this is a red flag and we need to check in with them (if within 5 years) or a counselor or doc if after 5 years (especially if that is a new behavior for us...never really drank much before surg)

We are advised to just be alcohol free if we have ever had an addiction (besides food) or a history of addiction in family members.

For me, alcohol is such an occasional thing that I don't care. After a year, if the spirit moves me, I'll try.

We are also warned to learn or relearn about sugar in many cocktails. Some of "our" favorite drinks tend to be high in sugar and can cause dumping on top of inebriation.

[tomigyrl]

My Doc gave me permission two weeks post op to have one glass of wine for 4th of July. I handled it well, and used that as a license to continue drinking "responsibly" to-date. I drink about 2-3 drinks a week, and have consistently over the past year.

That said, had I not received that permission so early on, I'd have taken the initial recommendation and not drunk at all for 6 months. In hindsight, I wish that had been the case. I probably could have avoided a few stalls - the sure-fire way I've found to break a stall is to stop alcohol. As RehabNurse pointed out, you kill your fat-burning capacity while your body processes it, something else I wish I'd realized early on. Even though my caloric intake and micro-nutrients were spot on with the drinks, it probably wasn't the wisest move. Despite this, however, I've had great success, am below goal weight and just purchased a couple pair of size 2 (yes, SIZE EFFIN' TWO) jeans...so...yeah...