Drinking?

[Beeracuda]

So I just had surgery for small bowel resection a little over a week ago. For the most part, I'm feeling pretty good.

As my screen name would imply, I'd like to sit back with a few beers soon, but I'm afraid of what effect alcohol might have on my digestive system right now. I'm progressing pretty good, and I wouldn't want to take a giant step backwards by having a few drinks.

Can anyone enlighten me as to when it might be ok to have a few beers?

Thanks.

 

[kossy]

I would say six weeks after surgery and you're off pain meds.

 

[Bill41]

I had a few once I felt better and got off the antibiotics...no problems.

 

[Jennifer]

Depends on the meds you're on and how well you're healing. Everyone is different but for me I didn't drink anything until a month or so after.

 

[Beeracuda]

Depends on the meds you're on and how well you're healing. Everyone is different but for me I didn't drink anything until a month or so after.

Well, I'm prescribed Oxycodone 5 mg, but I rarely take it. I'm not a big fan of pills, so I only take the meds when I REALLY need them. I certainly wouldn't drink anything if I had already taken any Oxy that day. Do you still think I should wait a month or more if I don't take the pain meds?

 

[Jennifer]

It depends on how you're doing health wise as well. Are you eating normally with no problems at all? When you do decide to try it out drink only one or half of one and see how it makes you feel first rather than carrying on your normal routine. The healing process varies from person to person. I'm not telling you to wait a month or any length of time, I was just telling you how long I waited and the reason why I waited that long is because my surgical site got infected a week after surgery. Possible signs of infection are heat, drainage, redness, swelling/hardening coming from the surgical site, fever, vomiting, malaise and/or an increase in pain. http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/qt/SignsInfections.htm You're gonna want to watch out for these signs your first few weeks after surgery because if you do have an infection they will treat you with antibiotics and alcohol and antibiotics don't go well.

 

[LOSTnut]

I don't really remember how long it was after surgery but I do remember that, just like coffee, the beer didn't taste as good as before.
So, every once in a while I had a "test sip" from my daughter until I noticed a difference. Now, I even like my coffee again.

 

[silvermander]

A week or so after one of my SBRs (I think I was 22 for that one) I went out with my friends to our local bar hang out. My surgeon had told me no drinking, no driving and no sex.

The next week I saw my surgeon to get my staples out and asked what restrictions I had. He asked what I meant so I reminded him that he told me those three things, so I walked to the bar, had soda and didn't get lucky.

His response? 'Have fun getting lucky!'


Sorry, had to pass on that fun little story. It really is dependent on your guts, the meds you're taking and what your doc says. I've never had any problems with drinking, but I know a lot of other Crohnies do.