Alcohol consumption after gastric sleeve surgery
After bariatric surgery, have you also noticed that alcohol affects you differently? While you were comfortable with having 2-3 pegs of your favorite scotch before going under the knife, now does even one peg make you feel the same as 2-3?
You can take a moment to find some comfort in the fact that you are not the only one feeling this way!
One survey found that nearly 90 percent of patients who underwent gastric bypass or gastric sleeve are now more sensitive to alcohol. They, like you, can feel the effects of alcohol after taking a few sips. Many also claimed that they lose muscle coordination after one or two drinks and cannot regain balance even after two or three hours.
If you think something is wrong with bariatric surgery, let us assure you that it is just a myth. It is important to understand that the body undergoes many changes after bariatric surgery and ultimately it all comes down to how the body absorbs and metabolizes alcohol in a bariatric patient.
When you drink alcohol, or any alcoholic beverage with a normal intestinal anatomy, it first enters the stomach and is metabolized through a process called gastric alcohol metabolism, where the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase works its magic. However, gender, age, medications, etc., can affect blood alcohol levels and their effects here. Alcohol absorption also depends on the rate at which alcohol empties into the intestines. Another factor that affects the whole process is food. Having food in the stomach slows gastric emptying and eventually reduces the rate of alcohol absorption by the intestines. In contrast, an empty stomach improves absorption and also increases the risk of poisoning.
Almost 95 percent of the stomach is missed in patients undergoing gastric bypass, and this includes the pylorus. In such a condition, alcohol passes directly from the stomach to the intestines, where it is rapidly absorbed by the intestines due to its larger surface area. Add to this the post-operative rule of not eating while drinking, and you can imagine the rate at which alcohol is absorbed in bariatric patients.
Furthermore, the liver also plays a role in the metabolism of alcohol that enters the body. But relatively common conditions among morbidly obese people, such as steatosis and fatty liver disease, make alcohol metabolism somewhat difficult. Also, bariatric patients follow a low-carbohydrate diet, which means they have a low amount of glycogen. When alcohol enters the body, it further depletes the body’s glycogen and also reduces glucose homeostasis. This puts the bariatric patient at higher risk for hypoglycemia.
Although all of this may sound scary to you, however, you should consult a bariatric surgeon before planning to drink alcohol again. In-depth knowledge and a few precautions can help you enjoy your drink without affecting your health.