How soon or can one drink after surgery
A special occasion has come along. I know everyone will wxpect to
toast in with the chanmpaign drink. Should I or should I not? Will
it be alright to do this or should I just make excuses?
4 Responses to “How soon or can one drink after surgery”
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March 27th, 2007 at 7:23 am
My surgeon told me no alchohol until at least three months, and then only a
small glass of red wine. It goes right to the head and you get drunk FAST! Red
is lower in sugars than white and is healthier for you.
Nona
March 27th, 2007 at 11:55 am
how far out are you? How much did you drink before surgery? Are you driving?
Here is the thing — after surgery if you have had a bypass, drinking alcohol is
just like freebasing — it hits hard and quick. A simple drink (like one) can
put you over the line and get you arrested for DUI. If you have ANYTHING to
drink you should not drive after surgery. And if you are driving then you should
definitely not have anything to drink. Its that simple. As for if you can –
well, be aware that as posties we are at an increased risk for cirrohsis and
alcoholic pancreatitis because our intestines that breakdown alcohol so the body
can handle it have been bypassed. Hence, the alcohol hits our liver and other
organs hard.
Can you have a drink? Yes. Should you? That is up to you.
But I would also offer sparkling cider or nonalcoholic drinks as an alternative
and put them in the champagne glass. Diet ginger ale, seltzer water are also
good subs. Because really — it is not the alcohol that makes the toast special
but the occasion.
Denise Ferguson Rasley
mailto:dferguson@…
March 27th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Just had to comment on your alcohol reply - it was about the best one I’ve
read so far. It makes it clear what happens and leaves it up to the individual.
Surgeons around here don’t recommend drinking after bypass but many do-some
with tragic consequences. A friend developed liver trouble 2 years after
bypass-was aware of the alcohol hitting the liver at full strength, but didn’t
think it would be a problem for her.
Had shunts in and now is fine but went through two more surgeries because of
something she could have lived without. Thanks for the reply. I’m keeping it
in mind when I’m asked the question again.
Jen
March 27th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
***Years ago I stopped drinking. It is just fine to hold the
champagne, raise your glass in a toast, touch the rim of the glass to
your lips, and NOT drink any! LOL!
It is the GESTURE that honors the guest/occasion, NOT the alcohol.
Our local Docs x 4 do NOT want their patients drinking at all!
Personally, I’ve even stopped the pretending, and ask the bartender
for a chamgane glass of water, and toast with THAT! No one cares,
except to occas tell me what I am missing (alcohol, good
champagne)…and I could care less about missing those things!
Have a nice time at your special occasion!
Hugs
Haze