Can I drink alcohol after surgery and in what cases should I refuse?

Surgical intervention is a serious manipulation that must be completed properly. All suggestions on this issue should be given by an expert.

Particular attention should be paid to diet and alcohol intake after surgery. Indeed, in some cases, ethanol in small doses contained in alcoholic beverages can endanger a person’s health as well as life.

In order not to damage your own body and contribute to early recovery, you must follow the advice given in this article.

surgery and subsequent alcohol intake

Are anesthesia and local anesthesia compatible with alcohol?

Everyone should understand that anesthesia and alcohol are incomparable concepts. And there is a good reason for this. For starters, let’s find out the types of anesthesia - these are local and general anesthesia.

Anesthesia is the introduction of a drug into the human body that induces a temporary loss of tissue sensitivity. There is a blockage of nerve impulse transmission, as a result of which the signal does not enter the brain, and there is no reverse reaction. Therefore, one does not feel a painful sensation during surgery.

Local anesthesia has a specific duration of action. As a rule, this is the time allotted for the operation and an additional 2-3 hours after that. A person departs from anesthesia gradually, but alcohol after local anesthesia can lead to the fact that the effects will end immediately. And this can cause pain, which is quite difficult to get rid of with the help of medications.

Can I drink alcohol after anesthesia (general)? This should not be done, as this could lead to more serious consequences than in previous cases:

  • Severe pain at the site of surgery performed.
  • Tension or weakness of muscle tissue.
  • Headache.
  • Nausea, vomiting and, consequently, dehydration.
  • Anaphylactic shock.
  • Disorders in the work of the nervous system.

Drinking alcohol after surgery and possible consequences

Doctors do not recommend drinking alcohol after surgery for no reason. And this is not about the first day or week after the procedure. The abstinence period can last for weeks, or even months. The duration depends on the complexity of the procedure performed and the state of health of the patient.

Before the operation or at the end of the operation, the attending physician gives specific recommendations to the patient. They relate to lifestyle, nutrition, alcohol intake and more. And he gives them not just like that, but to avoid unwanted consequences and complications.

Why drink alcohol after surgery:

  • Using anesthesia that is incompatible with alcohol. Otherwise, a big blow will be given to health, which can affect the functioning of vital systems and organs.
  • Prescribe antibiotics for recovery after surgery. They are also not compatible with alcohol. Moreover, even at the end of its intake, you should drink alcohol for at least a week. Otherwise, the effect can be reduced.
  • Weak tissue healing. This can be provoked by beverages that cause the fermentation process in the body. This might be beer. Therefore, it is better to reject it.
  • Weakens the body's immune defenses. If you start drinking alcohol the next day after surgery, you can attack your immune system. The result is a latent disease or exacerbation of chronic pathology.
  • Blood clotting disorders. Small doses of ethanol that enter the body can cause internal bleeding, severe and long -term skin healing.

In addition to all of this, some surgical interventions involve the complete rejection of the use of ethanol in any form. Because it can cause great danger to the body and affect the quality of human life in the future.

Experts agree that after surgery, the body needs time to recover. And for this, it is necessary to create the appropriate conditions - to adhere to a proper diet and completely abstain from alcohol for at least 30 days.

illegal alcohol after surgery

Estimated time of alcohol intake after surgery

As already mentioned, the time at which alcohol can be consumed depends on the patient’s state of health and the complexity of the operation performed. Therefore, it is difficult to clearly define the period after which it can be used. And doctors should give recommendations on this matter, to whom to contact with this question.

How long after surgery you can drink alcoholic beverages (approximate terms):

  • Alcohol after laparoscopy - it can be banned altogether in some cases. This is due to the fact that after laparoscopy, in order to keep the body normal, people have to take certain medications throughout their lives. Almost all of them are not compatible with alcohol. It is necessary to abstain from alcohol completely if the gallbladder is removed. After a laparoscopy is done on the gynecological department, you can get a little alcohol after a month and a half.
  • The time of drinking alcohol after laparotomy was the same as in the previous case.
  • Beverages containing ethyl alcohol should be treated with extreme caution after heart surgery. You should not abuse it, as this can lead to serious problems - heart failure, stroke, heart attack. If there are no postoperative complications, then alcohol can be given no earlier than 3-4 weeks after surgery.
  • The optimal period of alcohol abstinence after eye surgery is 3 months. This time is enough for full recovery or pain relief. Why exactly 3 months? The fact is that in most cases the recovery period lasts from 1 to 3 months. Currently, patients are prescribed to recover drops or tablets, and almost all of them are not compatible with alcohol.
  • Plastic surgery - recommended to stop alcoholic beverages for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. If there are complications or the patient is given a course of rehabilitation, it can take up to several months.
  • After removal of the pancreas, drinking alcohol is not recommended at all. Especially in the first 2-3 years after surgery.
  • Removal of appendicitis - alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited for 3 weeks, as are some foods.
  • Surgery to remove the tumor - alcohol is only taken with a doctor's permission. Indeed, to restore the body, drugs can be prescribed that are forbidden to take with alcohol.

All conditions given above are conditional and set exclusively by the attending physician. Before taking another dose of alcohol, keep in mind the risks to the body. After the operation, he was weak, needed to be rehabilitated and the recommendations given by the specialist were followed. Therefore, do not overload it with ethanol, which will significantly prolong the recovery period.