Lactose Intolerance
05/08/2024
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Obesity Surgery or any bariatric surgery is an important turning point in a person’s life. In order to be successful and achieve goals after the surgery, it is necessary to make significant changes in the person’s lifestyle, especially in eating and drinking habits.
It may be difficult for some people, especially to adapt to changes in their diet and to make changes in their eating and drinking habits. “Can I drink alcohol after surgery”, is a frequently asked question. We will consider this question.
One of the obesity surgery, Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastroctemy, is an operation in which 80% of the stomach is removed and the stomach is left in the form of a tube. Since the stomach is greatly reduced, the amount of food to be taken in one meal is also reduced.
After gastric sleeve surgery, the way the stomach digests food changes. Alcohol tolerance was significantly reduced. Since the stomach is greatly reduced, alcohol gets into the blood more quickly. For this reason, you can now experience the effect experienced in 3-4 glasses of drink before in 1 drink.
If the rapid absorption of alcohol is not taken care of, it can even cause a sudden increase in the amount of alcohol in the blood and alcohol poisoning.
Rapid weight loss and low carbohydrate consumption reduce glycogen levels. With alcohol intake, glycogen consumption increases further and can cause low blood sugar, ie hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a dangerous condition that, if left untreated, can lead to unconsciousness, brain and nerve damage, and even death. As a result, it’s important to be aware of symptoms that include loss of coordination and balance, slurred speech, poor vision, and confusion.
Alcohol is high in calories and low in nutrients, so excess calories from alcohol can slow weight loss and even contribute to weight gain.
Alcohol consumption after sleeve gastrectomy may increase the risk of alcohol dependence in those with a previous history of addiction. Since food and beverage consumption is significantly reduced after surgery, some patients may refer food addiction to other addictions such as alcohol.
Alcohol consumption can also increase your risk of developing stomach ulcers by damaging the lining of the stomach and causing internal bleeding if this condition is left untreated.
In general, it is not recommended to use alcohol for the first 6 months after sleeve gastrectomy surgery. If you prefer to drink alcohol later, it is recommended that you do it on special occasions and in small amounts. It should be kept in mind that the intoxicating effects of alcohol appear much earlier than before surgery, due to the aforementioned reduced alcohol tolerance, and that alcohol can slow weight loss.
In addition to the fact that alcohol itself is high in calories and has low nutritional value, low-calorie drinks should be preferred, especially fruit juices, alcoholic cocktails made with added sugar and carbonated drinks.
Since the absorption of alcohol is faster, alcohol should be drunk with meals to slow the absorption. Be sure to eat before drinking. Never drink on an empty stomach.
Be careful not to overdo it. Decide how many glasses you will drink beforehand and drink slowly and sparingly, making sure you allow enough time between drinks.
If you think that you are addicted to yourself and you notice that you start drinking alcohol too often to cope with stress, you should definitely seek help from your doctor.
The information, images and comments on the surgical operations mentioned on this website are for informational purposes only. The decision on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up methods will be made by the doctor.