Is it okay to ask about a horror story related to this type of surgery?
I’ve heard that alcohol is forbidden after these surgeries, because it can’t be processed normally – the effects are enhanced. That makes some sense to me. I always eat when I’m drinking (which isn’t often), and it seems that eating lessens the effect of the alcohol.
My husband’s best friend had the surgery, and he drinks a lot. We’re worried about him, but I’m assuming that if there was any danger, his doctor would have told him.
Has your doctor said anything about avoiding alcohol after the surgery?
My doctor told me to drink only “in moderation” and I do drink, sometimes get drunk, and have never had any ill effects from it. It effects me about the same as it did before surgery. (I get a lot more effect on an empty stomach now, same as then, so I usually eat before/during drinking). I had the same surgery that Norinew is having… (the DS) you say that your “husband’s best friend had the surgery” but I wonder what surgery he had? The DS is a fairly uncommon one, with the RNY gastric bypass being by far the most common, and it has totally different restrictions and health implications, as well as permanently restricting the amount of food you can eat–which would of course affect how you absorb alcohol.
Thanks, Opal. We don’t know what kind of surgery he had – he just said he had a “gastric bypass”. He did say that it took a lot less beer to get him tipsy, after the surgery.
With a shorter small intestine, the alcohol is absorbed faster into the blood, but also metabolizes faster. The upsho is you get sloshed faster, and you come out of it quicker.
I had a single beer with dinner in February, got half sloshed on it, and was clear 2 hours later.
Occasional alcohol won’t generally hurt, but if you’e a heavy drinker, it can cause ulcer problems, as well as interfere with medication. Alcoholism is a big health risk here…
With a shorter small intestine, the alcohol is absorbed faster into the blood, but also metabolizes faster. The upsho is you get sloshed faster, and you come out of it quicker.
I had a single beer with dinner in February, got half sloshed on it, and was clear 2 hours later.
Occasional alcohol won’t generally hurt, but if you’e a heavy drinker, it can cause ulcer and other problems, as well as interfere with medication. Alcoholism is a big health risk here…
Opal inspired a lot of people, no doubt about it. I thought the slide show she put up on her website was great- you could watch her shrink right before your eyes!
My surgeon requested (OK - he demanded - lol) that I refrain from alcohol for at least a year. I had a glass of Veuve (go figure!) on my 1 year surgery anniversary. I had one glass and made it last about 45 minutes. I was fine with it. Other times, I’ve had a glass of white wine & felt it immediately. Things like alcohol & sugar hit the body as you said - not processed normally. I wasn’t a big drinker before surgery, so it hasn’t been an issue for me. Experiences vary, though, and some people can drink with no (apparent) ill effects.
Oh, that’s not fair. In addition to Jello, I never want to eat sugar free popcicles, Wendy’s chili, and chicken broth ever again if I can help it. I’ve had enough of it for many, many lifetimes. My recovery was longer than expected, so that was my diet for about 3 months.
My mother also had RNY almost 4 years ago and we both drink alcohol occasionally. We both get tipsy a lot more quickly and don’t have hangovers anymore. Three glasses of wine will get me hammered these days. We call ourselves “cheap dates”.
Even though with the RNY surgery, we aren’t supposed to have a lot of sugar, I can get away with up to about 18 grams in a sitting (less, if my stomach is completely empty beforehand). Anything more than that and I’m a very unhappy person. I’ll have to take an hour long nap after I’m finished sweating and being sick.
I believe she was to be released today or tomorrow; however, her daughter’s monitor had gone kerblooie and she wouldn’t be able to update us. I can call the hospital again tomorrow if I remember.
I can’t wait to see her posting again. I remember the first month after mine… a lot of it sucked, but I lost something like a pound a day and it was just so exciting! (Didn’t I go to your Christmas party like 10 days after my surgery or something, Ginger?)
In addition to Jello, I never want to eat sugar free popcicles, Wendy’s chili, and chicken broth ever again if I can help it. I’ve had enough of it for many, many lifetimes. My recovery was longer than expected, so that was my diet for about 3 months.
