Alcohol

I am 2.5 months post op and am not planning on having alcohol yet but was wondering when is a good time. My surgeon doesn't really give a timeline of when it's okay to try. I know I won't be able to drink much, and I know I shouldn't do any carbonated stuff. Please spare me a lecture, because I am a nurse, I know what alcohol can do to you, I see it everyday. I know I am healing and alcohol is toxic to my healing cells. I'm just thinking socially and on rare occasion. I've seen some say 6 weeks, some say 6 months, and some a year. What are yall's thoughts on when it is ok to start?

I think I've seen 6 months on here more often than anything else.  I've chosen to stay away from it until I'm in maintenance, just because I know it's empty calories.  Although I have had the occasional communion wine at church since a couple months post-op.

My sister has the sleeve and she started having a glass of wine every now and then at 3 months she is at a year now and doing fine,no complications.

My surgeon says a year. I wouldn't bother at all until I'm at goal - too many empty calories. 

My surgeon says min 6 months preferably 1 year.  I did take a few sips of vintage port about 6 weeks out just to get the taste.  It was too hard to pass tasting a 100 point port.

No lecture.  You can have anything at any time.  It all comes down to choices.  Just be careful when you do have that first drink because just a little can have a stronger than expected effect on you so either be at home or have a designated driver.  Also depending on what you are looking at drinking, think about the effects of the sugar on your body.  If you have not been having any kind of fruits and/or sugars in your diet then this could be a shock that might make you sick.

As a nurse, you know that the rapid weight loss is a big strain on the liver.  Alcohol adds additional stress, potentially causing significant damage.  Once the rapid weight loss stops you're back to the normal everyday risks of alcohol.  This period of loss is usually around a year, so use that as your base for alcohol avoidance.

Six months minimum and I would tell people there is never a "good time" to start.  The longer you can stay away from it, the better.  I've seen too many people on here and in my real life substitute booze for the other stuff they can't eat any longer and it gets away from them MUCH faster than it does for "normies".  Basically, I don't drink anymore and I don't miss it.  I'd much rather eat those calories. 

I had a half glass of champagne at 7 months out to celebrate getting to goal...and was flying high on that amount.  As in, I would have been arrested if I was behind the wheel.  Fortunately, I was at home and not out in public.  

I was told 6 months out but limit amount.  First time I tried a little wine and it made my tummy burn after a sip or two.  Have since drank 1/2 a glass or less on 2 occasions with no problem  I don't miss it as much as I thought

I would ask your doctor.  I am a little over a month out and at my 2 week follow-up I explained to my doc that I was going to a friend's bachelor party in mid-august.  I said I would like to have a drink.  He told me that it wouldn't be a problem.  I assume he would have said something different if it wasn't one drink and wasn't a special occasion.  The party was last weekend.  I had a scotch.  I enjoyed it.  I got buzzed quickly but not drunk and it seemed to wear off quickly too.  When I had to log the calories of the one drink I had I decided I am not going to drink for quite awhile.