Post-Op Alcohol

Kalah7Renae12Vera

I will be having my RNY Gastric Bypass surgery in a week and with Christmas coming up I am feeling somewhat discouraged because I know that my pouch will not be able to handle piratically any of the foods being served, but I was wondering if there was a light at the end of the tunnel.. I am a HUGE cheese & wine fanatic...

is there any way I could have a small amount of soft cheese and wine?
How long did all of you wait before having a drink? What we the experience like?

I'm not trying to hurt my body by giving it anything it can't handle so I wanted to hear from fellow patients how their first post-op experiences were with food and alcohol.. I want to hear the good bad & ugly... thanks in advance!

annwyatt69

I think guidelines are different per different surgeons/dietitians, but I did one week clear liquid, one week full liquid, one week pureed foods, one week soft foods, then the full low fat diet. I am not a drinker, but was told no to any alcohol. It absorbs much quicker after surgery, so just a little is a lot. The light at the end of the tunnel for me was that after a month I got to eat regular low fat, low cal foods, just mainly focusing on protein and veggies. Restrictions were alcohol, carbonation, drinking thru straws, no celery, no popcorn, no tough meat. Basically, it was easy to follow. I know some people have issues with different foods than they did before surgery, but everything has been o.k. for me.

Kalah7Renae12Vera

I think guidelines are different per different surgeons/dietitians, but I did one week clear liquid, one week full liquid, one week pureed foods, one week soft foods, then the full low fat diet. I am not a drinker, but was told no to any alcohol. It absorbs much quicker after surgery, so just a little is a lot. The light at the end of the tunnel for me was that after a month I got to eat regular low fat, low cal foods, just mainly focusing on protein and veggies. Restrictions were alcohol, carbonation, drinking thru straws, no celery, no popcorn, no tough meat. Basically, it was easy to follow. I know some people have issues with different foods than they did before surgery, but everything has been o.k. for me.

I'm not as much worried about having to eat liquid or puree foods (I make my son's baby food myself so its really no hassle) I have gone this long without meat and carbs so that should be easy. However I was a wine drinker before (havent had a drop in weeks and weeks) in moderation of course... I knew about the straws, carbonation etc. but I didn't think i'd never be able to have wine again, it seems to me some people could after a few months as long as they knew they could only have a very small amount

ErinShannon

I was also told no alcohol after surgery, period.

"A gastric bypass patient has a small pouch [for a stomach] so alcohol goes straight into the intestine and is absorbed rapidly," said Roslin. "When it is absorbed rapidly, there is a high peak and rapid fall."

The higher absorption rate makes alcohol more addictive, he added. (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/weight-loss-surgery-increases-risk-alcohol-addiction/story?id=16582225#.ULBDbYf_l8E)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57455416-10391704/gastric-bypass-surgery-may-double-a-patients-risk-for-alcohol-problems/

In many ways, doctors say that consuming alcohol defeats the purpose of the surgery. One, Dr. Julie Ellner of Ellner Bariatric in San Diego, Calif., spells out why. Alcohol converts readily into blood sugar that can slow down a patient's weight loss and can cause something called dumping syndrome, which is when food is emptied into the small intestine too soon and can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Alcoholic drinks also don't include much nutritional value.

Read more: Facts of Drinking Alcohol After Having Gastric Bypass | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5389845_drinking-after-having-gastric-bypass.html#ixzz2D6nT5AUL

If I am correct, you'll only be about 3 weeks out at Christmastime - I know three weeks post op you probably don't want to be indulging in lots of cheese - I was specifically told no fat cheese. Cheese can be high in calories and fat.

Honestly, these are things I'd talk to your surgeon and dietitian about now. It's hard giving up so many things but honestly, you'll do better in the long run if you don't try to jump back into eating all the things that helped get you were you are at now. WLS requires lots of sacrifices. There are things I miss but when I look at pictures of myself down 81lbs now, I wouldn't trade that for all the cheese, wine, cake, cookies, pies, soda, candy bars (and all the other things I was gorging on) in the world!

miss_erynn

You say this now, but after the surgery, you will not even WANT to attempt to try it. Your body will still be in shock after 3 weeks and your whole mental state regarding foods and drinks will change.

I had my surgery March 23rd and had my first drink post-surgery on May 21st (my birthday). I can stomach about half a drink/half a glass of wine at a time and then it starts to hit me. I recently went to Chili's and ordered a margarita...........and was SMASHED after it. It was way too much to handle and after that I decided I don't even want to bother with any alcoholic drinks now. Besides..... you don't really want to be drinking your calories, you get much more satisfaction and full from food.

As for cheese - I LIVE on it!!!!!!! I started eating cottage cheese and cream cheese about 1 month 1.5 months out and gradually worked my way up to soft cubed cheese. I'd say I eat 1-2 servings of cheese DAILY, because it is great for protein (get Babybel Light - 50 cals and 5g of protein, NOM!).

I wouldn't worry about the fat content in foods, or how much you'll be eating or what you will be eating much after surgery - your body is going to be so restricted for a while and, even being 8 months post-op, I get full so fast and have anywhere from 1000-1300 calories a day!

grim_traveller

I still have some cheese, but not as much as I would prefer. I've had a problem with constipation ever since surgery (8/21/12), and the cheese I like would only make matters worse. That may or may not be a consideration for you too. But for those that can't tolerate or choose not to eat meat, cheese can be a good source of protein.

Jamielynn_77

I know I had a different procedure than u, but that soon, I would have to say NO to the wine! lol you will find that any tolerance you had will be significantly less than before. I am a cheap date now lol...but as far as cheese goes....here is my suggestion:

as long as the cheese is small and you are almost letting it melt in your mouth, i dont think it should harm you. i know i did that with little things like that. graduating from diet to diet is tricky so you want to be careful. i would definitely not do much either. i dont know about the RNY but my sleeve could hardly take a bite of anything then i was stuffed.

I went thru my christmas on a liquid diet, so i am feeling your pain! :frown: hope this helps!

Kalah7Renae12Vera

I was also told no alcohol after surgery, period.

"A gastric bypass patient has a small pouch [for a stomach] so alcohol goes straight into the intestine and is absorbed rapidly," said Roslin. "When it is absorbed rapidly, there is a high peak and rapid fall."

The higher absorption rate makes alcohol more addictive, he added. (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/weight-loss-surgery-increases-risk-alcohol-addiction/story?id=16582225#.ULBDbYf_l8E)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57455416-10391704/gastric-bypass-surgery-may-double-a-patients-risk-for-alcohol-problems/

In many ways, doctors say that consuming alcohol defeats the purpose of the surgery. One, Dr. Julie Ellner of Ellner Bariatric in San Diego, Calif., spells out why. Alcohol converts readily into blood sugar that can slow down a patient's weight loss and can cause something called dumping syndrome, which is when food is emptied into the small intestine too soon and can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Alcoholic drinks also don't include much nutritional value.

Read more: Facts of Drinking Alcohol After Having Gastric Bypass | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5389845_drinking-after-having-gastric-bypass.html#ixzz2D6nT5AUL

If I am correct, you'll only be about 3 weeks out at Christmastime - I know three weeks post op you probably don't want to be indulging in lots of cheese - I was specifically told no fat cheese. Cheese can be high in calories and fat.

Honestly, these are things I'd talk to your surgeon and dietitian about now. It's hard giving up so many things but honestly, you'll do better in the long run if you don't try to jump back into eating all the things that helped get you were you are at now. WLS requires lots of sacrifices. There are things I miss but when I look at pictures of myself down 81lbs now, I wouldn't trade that for all the cheese, wine, cake, cookies, pies, soda, candy bars (and all the other things I was gorging on) in the world!

These are all pages I visited before posting the topic... I wasn't told I could never have alcohol again, just that it would always have to be a small amount and i could never drive the same say. & I am aware this Christmas wont be possible, I was thinking more in general than immediately after surgery ( I'm not that stupid) Wine wasn't what "got me here" I just turned 21 last year so that wouldnt make much sense, though I do know that it was the quantity of the food I was eating not the food itself that got me here... for this reason I reached out for surgery, to help with the quantities I eat, I already had a healthy diet before

Kalah7Renae12Vera

You say this now, but after the surgery, you will not even WANT to attempt to try it. Your body will still be in shock after 3 weeks and your whole mental state regarding foods and drinks will change.

I had my surgery March 23rd and had my first drink post-surgery on May 21st (my birthday). I can stomach about half a drink/half a glass of wine at a time and then it starts to hit me. I recently went to Chili's and ordered a margarita...........and was SMASHED after it. It was way too much to handle and after that I decided I don't even want to bother with any alcoholic drinks now. Besides..... you don't really want to be drinking your calories, you get much more satisfaction and full from food.

As for cheese - I LIVE on it!!!!!!! I started eating cottage cheese and cream cheese about 1 month 1.5 months out and gradually worked my way up to soft cubed cheese. I'd say I eat 1-2 servings of cheese DAILY, because it is great for protein (get Babybel Light - 50 cals and 5g of protein, NOM!).

I wouldn't worry about the fat content in foods, or how much you'll be eating or what you will be eating much after surgery - your body is going to be so restricted for a while and, even being 8 months post-op, I get full so fast and have anywhere from 1000-1300 calories a day!

I have a feeling that may very well be the case, that I may not even want those things for a very long time, and I am okay with that. I know drinking your calories is unacceptable but just like when youre dieting and you have one bad day I dont see how a christmas cocktail (a small one) perhaps a year or so from now would kill me. I've never been a super fatty eater in the first place but i do enjoy cheese at times (not american & cheddar, real cheese like goat cheeses and Limburgers) Congrats on your surgery I am happy to hear you've been successful this far and youre getting your protein in

Kalah7Renae12Vera

My apologies, I just re-read my post and it does make it sound like I am talking about having a glass of wine 3 weeks from surgery... I'd be giving myself the evil eye too... LOL What I was referring to is that will all Christmases be this miserable, make me feel so left out or will I be able to fall into a few things eventually. I thank you all for your responses, your advice truly helps and I will be carrying it with me throughout this experience

imakimm

I was allowed alcohol at my six month mark. Of course it was in small doses and effected me very differently! I had half a glass of wine and was pretty much drunk. Every program is different though so you should talk to your surgeon about it. Good luck!

mommycline

I was told no alcohol for 1 year. I think the sugars alone would kill you.

pal00ga

I'll be totally honest. I was told no alcohol for 6 months, and to have it sparingly at that. I had half a little bottle of hard cider 2 months out though, and it got me wasted (I didn't have much of a tolerance before surgery, and it got worse after). I do now drink from time to time ( maybe once a month or so). When I drink now, it's usually just one glass of whatever wine I can find with the least amount of sugar (which is usually around 13g per serving). I don't get sugar sick from wine like that. Notice a glass of orange juice is around 25g of sugar generally. And orange juice gets me seriously sick if I drink it. But I think as long as you try to find the healthiest wine and drink it seriously in moderation, you should be able to still have it at times. But like many have said here, I would try to stay away from it in the beginning. Your body is working overtime to get back to normal, burn fat, and just function on the little amount you can take in at one time. Consider making sure you can eat a solid meal before thinking of sipping on wine. And if you do drink, try to do it over time. Done guzzle it down or all that sugar will hit you so fast and make you sick as well as drunk. But unless your surgeon tells you otherwise, you shouldn't be restricted from drinking for the rest of your life.
Do make sure you talk to your surgeon/dietician first about anything you have questions about though.