Risks and Changes Post-Surgery

A lot of what you read online advises against alcohol after gastric sleeve surgery due to the increased risk of alcoholism. Post-surgery, the way your body metabolizes alcohol changes. The reduced stomach size means alcohol is absorbed more quickly into your bloodstream, leading to higher blood alcohol concentrations. This rapid absorption can increase the risk of developing alcohol dependence or alcoholism, especially since the surgery can alter your body’s response to alcohol, making it more potent.

Reintroducing Alcohol

However, for us, continuing to enjoy alcohol in moderation was important for maintaining a sense of normalcy and supporting our mental health. When we started this journey, we knew things would be different, but we wanted to continue doing the things we enjoyed. We reintroduced alcohol about two months post-op. In our group chat, some people started drinking wine just a few weeks after surgery, demonstrating that tolerance varies widely. Wine, being non-carbonated, is generally less problematic in the early stages of recovery.

Avoiding Carbonated Beverages

Carbonated beverages are discouraged in the early stages of recovery because the bubbles can expand in your smaller stomach, causing discomfort, bloating, and even stretching of the stomach pouch. This can impede the healing process and lead to complications.

Our Experience with Different Drinks

We are not wine drinkers, so our preferred drinks include apple Sourz with apple and raspberry J2O, as well as beers from Brewdog and Beavertown. We tried cider like Kopparberg but found it too sugary, feeling almost as if the sugars were scratching our throats as we swallowed. The biggest difference with alcohol post-surgery is its impact and how much you can drink. For both of us, it can take 2-3 hours to finish one large can of beer or a glass of Sourz.

Changes in Alcohol Effects

Surprisingly, we no longer get tipsy. One large can of beer can make us feel drunk, but it takes about an hour after finishing the drink to feel the effects, and there is no gradual increase—it’s a sudden shift from sober to drunk. Additionally, we haven’t experienced hangovers, whereas pre-surgery, hangovers were common.

Key Points to Remember

The key to reintroducing alcohol after gastric sleeve surgery is to be mindful of what you are drinking and when. Avoid carbonated beverages too early in the recovery process, and be conscious of your intake. For example, before surgery, James’ typical drinking habit included 12 ciders, two large cans of Brewdog, two large cans of Beavertown, and some Sourz. Post-surgery, this has been reduced to a glass of Sourz and a large can of beer, but he gets drunk faster than before.

Summary

Increased Risk: Faster alcohol absorption post-surgery increases the risk of alcoholism.

Mental Health: Maintaining normalcy, including moderate alcohol consumption, can support mental health.

Reintroduction Timing: We reintroduced alcohol two months post-op, with some in our group starting earlier.

Carbonated Beverages: Avoid early on due to discomfort and potential complications.

Drinks: Apple Sourz with J2O, Brewdog, and Beavertown beers work for us. Ciders were too sugary. We are not wine drinkers but have heard good things.

Consumption Rate: Drinking is slower, with a quicker onset of drunkenness and no hangovers.

Key Points to Remember

• Monitor how your body reacts to alcohol post-surgery.
• Be mindful of portion sizes and types of drinks, especially avoiding carbonated beverages initially.
• Understand that your tolerance and the effects of alcohol will likely change significantly.

By sharing our experience, we hope to provide a balanced perspective on alcohol consumption after gastric sleeve surgery, emphasising the importance of moderation and mindful choices. Please remember, this is our personal experience and not medical advice. For medical guidance, always consult your GP.