I am just starting my research on having either lap bad or gastric bypass... Can you drink alcohol after having these kids of surgeries? I've heard that you cannot...

The short answer: Any time you have a surgery that involves opening and/or closing any part of your digestive tract, you run the risk of developing a marginal ulcer VERY quickly. On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend alcohol at all if weight is an issue. If I changed the way I ate without not drinking alcohol, I might as well eat a half gallon of ice cream every night for dessert. But if I want to have a small drink every once in a blue moon, I don't have a problem with it. But my ulcer does, lol.

I'm 8 months post op. RArely i have a glass of wine or a whiskey on the rocks
sipped very gingerly and only 1 for 2 reasons 1 It gets processed a LOT faster so 1 drink and I'm more than tipsy and 2 its still a lot of calories
I don't do mixed drinks or anything mixed with soda. too much chance for Sugars and other yucky things to mess me up

According to the paperwork that I got from my surgeon, a glass of wine here or there isn't a problem. This is with Lap-Band surgery mind you, so I wouldn't have any info regarding gastric bypass patients and alcohol.


I had information about a study that was done and it showed that a glass of wine here or there actually aided in weight loss...I need to go through some files and see if I can find it.

what i've been told: an occasional bit of wine is no big deal, but it's a SIP think, not a GULP thing. because of the stomach surgery, we're at a real high risk of ulcers. so we have to be VERY careful.

the other thing is that, with the bypass, alcohol is absorbed VERY VERY quickly, so you feel the effects almost immediately.

I actually know a woman who had the band surgery and drinks irish car bombs with her friends. Keep in mind you have to drink that fast, and it's more than a shot of alcohol. She is about 3 years out now, although I never asked her how soon she started drinking casually after the surgery, or what quantities she consumes at a bar any given night, or how often she goes out drinking. I always thought that was crazy, but she insists that it does not hurt her tummy. She also drinks alot of guinness, which is lower in carbonation than other beers.

Wow I couldn't do a Carbomb Pre-Op I wouldn't think to have one now! I do love guinness tho but won't have any until I go back to IReland

I went out for my birthday a few months ago and had one drink of Captain Morgan with Cranberry Juice (it was juice and not cocktail, I called the bar before I went so I knew my options) and I was hammered. I was to have three hours of dancing fun and my hubby had to practically carry me out of the bar after only one hour. I also had a lovely hangover the next morning. I now know that I have zero tolerence whatsoever. Yet my MIL who had Gastric Bypass 5 years ago can down three beers when we go out and not even think twice.

I had gastric last September and my doctor made me swear that I would not drink for a year. They warned that I could become a "very cheap date" after one glass. Apparently the alcohol gets into your system quickly. I haven't had a drink and don't plan on having one until after the year is up. I was primarily a two drink limit on wine anyway- so I don't miss it.

Wow, when did Irish Car Bombs become a casual drink? lol Kidding. The whole alcohol thing and stomach damage: if your stomach or intestines have never been opened up, you are not at any higher risk for developing an ulcer or anything of that nature with a lapband, as if you never had any kind of surgery on your stomach to begin with.
Actual by-pass patients...... Different story. I developed a bleeding ulcer from taking 7 mg of mobic every day. I'll never be "safe" drinking alcohol again. Oh well, lol. I'm not going to shed any tears over it.

I'm an almost 3yr post op and I am an avid wine fan. I love fine wines and do drink 3-5 glasses a few times per week (love my wine tastings especially). Currently, I have no issue, but of course everyone is different. Go with what your body tells you! I notice if I have a meal with mostly protein, I can't even think of having a drink for an hour or two after, because I'm so full.

Best,
Brando

My doc told me with the band, no beer b/c of the carbonation... anything else was fine.

I happened to run across the paperwork with the alcohol thing I mentioned in my above post. It is as follows:



"Alcohol has a lot of calories, but an occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not harmful to weight loss. One expert surgeon has experienced that those who drink a glass of wine in the evening have better weight-loss results than those who don't drink at all." (Dixon J. et al. Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. Am J Bariatric Medicine 2002; 17(4): 11-14.)

Ok, not to sound like an alchy or anything, but I have a drink or two every weekend with the neighborhood gals. It's not been a problem. I'm about 6 months out and had my first drink I would say at about one month out.

However, I see a lot of people saying wine here or there is OK. I cannot touch the stuff. I don't know what it is. I get very sick if I even have one glass of it.

So I think you have to be careful and slowly test yourself to see what your body will tolerate.

I do agree that the effects of alcohol are much quicker after surgery!

I'm nearly 3 years post op and do drink on occasion. Now...I'm not a wine person...so I'm not sure about that stuff...but beer is out for RNYers because of the carbonation (although I do know a few longer term post ops who can)...for me...I can't do the mixed drinks because of some pretty stiff sugar intolerance. I can handle about 10g of sugar at most before I dump...so I guess you've figured out that I'm pretty much left with shots. And let me tell you...I go from stone cold sober to numb face drunk in 1 shot & about 60-90 seconds. Alcohol hits you very fast and hard with the RNY. Plus you sober up rather quickly (effects start to wear off after about 1 hour) eventhough the alcohol is still floating around in your blood...so if you continue to drink more to continue the "buzz" you're at risk of alcohol toxicity. Needless to say when you do drink as a post op...you have to be more careful than before surgery. Not only due to the toxicity & effects of the alcohol...but also for the sugar. If you're pretty sugar intolerant...try a drink at home first. Last thing you want it to be out at a club/bar, try something and dump.

Good luck....