alcohol advice

[griz9112]

not that I am having withdraws from alcohol but my dr did not advise on anything about this, no beer or carbonated drinks, just curious what the safe time frame is to maybe enjoy a glass of wine from time to time?

[anderspv]

Hi. In talking with my dietitian they suggested at least 2 years with no alcohol if I could do it. Most alcohol produces a lot of acid in your stomach. Put simply, alcohol irritates your digestive system. Drinking – even a little – makes your stomach produce more acid than usual, which can in turn cause gastritis (the inflammation of the stomach lining). This is not a good thing after stomach surgery. I find that now 5 months out from surgery and attending many parties in that time I do not miss it at all. Not to mention you will feel so much better the next day. Just remember that this surgery that you just went through is not a diet it is a LIFE STYLE CHANGE. Embrace it, Love the new you and Get drunk on life.

[Christie13]

I have been out twice and had some alcohol. I drank maybe half a drink each time.

[Luna354]

My paperwork says not to have it for at least 4 week and if you do have it after that to stay away from sugary & carbonated options.

[ghost_ryder]

Your stomach is now missing the part that creates the enzyme that breakdowns alcohol. If you drink, you are sending straight alcohol to your system. Then of course there is all the sugar in the alcohol that will fight against your weight loss. Then there is the fact that most people going through this surgery are addicted to a food and the likelihood of replacing your addiction is very real replacement is too dangerous.

[Shirl]

My surgeon said "No alcohol for 1 year!!!"

But of course during the Holidays I partook on some "toastings."

I've been on the longest stall since soooooooo maybe it wasn't a good idea for me lol!!

[RehabNurse]

After my surgery, the first time I drank an alcoholic beverage was 12 months postoperative on my one-year sleeve-anniversary. The glass of wine left me sloppy drunk and stumbling. Thank goodness I was at home.

Alcoholic beverages are not ideal during your active weight loss phase. Whenever you drink alcohol, the liver must divert attention away from fat-burning activities and immediately start processing whatever alcohol you have consumed. In plain English, drinking alcohol might result in a slower rate of weight loss and/or stalls.

[tinman]

First off, to dispel a myth, there is no sugar in distilled liquor. The only sugar is the sugar that is added when making a mixed drink, or a hybrid of the distilled liquor. The best example of the hybrid is Kahlua or any of the flavored vodkas.

The alcohol content is derived when the yeast converts the natural sugars from the item being distilled into alcohol. For whiskey, it's usually corn. Vodka is potatoes, Tequila is cactus, etc. When the mash is distilled (boiled), the alcohol turns into a vapor and then is condensed back into 100% pure alcohol, and the stuff with all of the carbs is left behind and discarded.

With beer, the sugars used in making the wort are converted into alcohol as well, but, the alcohol is not distilled from the wort. So, the carbs that are left are essentially sugars. That's why beer is inherently fattening.

So, please don't let the "sugar" myth get in the way of you having a drink now and then. If you don't use a mixer with any sugar, then your cocktail will be sugar free. As for when to drink, that's strictly up to you. I decided to wait for three months and that seemed to work fine for me. First thing I did was drink a beer. I love beer. I found my sleeve could not tolerate the carbonation so I put it down. Over the years, my sleeve has built up a little tolerance to carbonation, but, I have to choose a beer that is lightly carbonated. My choice is Stella. I love Belgian beers. I can drink one, but, that's it. It's an indulgence. I cannot drink sodas and haven't had one since 2012. Every so often I'll get a taste for a Coke, or a regional soda down in Texas called Big Red. When I get the urge, I go get an Icee or Slurpee that's Coke or Big Red flavored and that does the trick for me. Having said that, I do not believe that carbonation is bad for the sleeve once it is completely healed. It tends to blow me up and burping is a problem, but, I'm not sure why some surgeons say to give up carbonation for ever. Doesn't make sense.

However, I do partake in a margarita or three every day. I couldn't drink them prior to the procedure because they tore my stomach up. Not anymore. As with all things tinman, I make sure my four pillars have been served before I do the margarita thing. Without the four pillars, the margs would add weight pretty quickly.

So, set a goal for abstaining from alcohol and then have a drink and see how you do. If you can tolerate it, you're good. If it causes you any problems, then give yourself some time and go back to it later.

Peace

[sraebaer]

I started with a glass of wine once in a while at about 6 months. It does not bother me at all.

Just be careful. ONE TIME I drank too much (maybe 3 glasses over the course of an evening), and actually can't remember what happened. Or stomach is small and can't tolerate what we used to drink. This is the first time in my life this has happened and scared me to death. (Yes, I was not a wild college student.)

[griz9112]

Appreciate all the input! I went 10 months alcohol free when I was pregnant so I can manage to wait for sure. I was just curious what other surgeons said since mine did not mention it!

[Sandra3]

Mine said one year. I had a bite of a sauce "flambée" around month 6, didn't know it had alcohol since it was not in the description and I felt awful. Had one sip of white wine around month 11, still bad. Then I had some red wine a few days ago and it was fine. I was never really a drinker before, one glass three times per year may be, so I didn't miss anything, but for sure my body was only ready at one year. Doc was right!

[bndjones]

My doc said a glass of wine every now and then was OK after 4 weeks but warned I'd be a cheap drunk. I've had a few glasses of wine over the last month and don't think I feel much from just a small glass but I can tell the next day on the scale is usually 0 loss. It seems it makes a difference for me in weight loss.

[holly012879]

I have to sign an agreement saying I wont drink.

[griz9112]

Hmm, that's the first I've heard of that but I guess they want to make sure people are serious I've decided at this time it's not worth it!

[holly012879]

im not a drink except once in a while.. less than once a month.