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

Surgical intervention is a serious manipulation for which it must be properly prepared. All recommendations in this regard should be given by an expert.

Special attention should be paid to diet and alcohol consumption after surgery. Indeed, in some cases, even a small dose of ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages can cost a person or even a life.

In order not to harm your own body and contribute to its early recovery, you need to listen to the advice given in this article.

surgery and alcohol consumption after it

Are anesthesia and local anesthesia compatible with alcohol?

Everyone should understand that anesthesia and alcohol are incomparable concepts. And there are good reasons for that. To begin with, let's understand what types of anesthesia are - local and general anesthesia.

Anesthesia is the introduction of a drug into the human body that promotes a temporary loss of tissue sensitivity. There is a blockage in the transmission of nerve impulses, which is why signals do not enter the brain, and there is no reverse reaction. Therefore, the person does not feel painful sensations during the operation.

Local anesthesia has a specific period of action. As a rule, this time is provided for surgery and an additional 2-3 hours after that. The person gradually leaves the anesthesia, but alcohol after local anesthesia can lead to the fact that its effect will cease immediately. And that can cause pain, which is quite difficult to remove with the help of medication.

Can I drink alcohol after anesthesia (in general)? This is not worth doing, as it can lead to much more serious consequences than in the previous case:

  • Severe pain at the site of surgery.
  • Tension or weakening of muscle tissue.
  • Headache, dizziness.
  • Nausea, vomiting and, as a result, dehydration.
  • Anaphylactic shock.
  • Nervous system disorders.

Alcohol consumption after surgery and possible consequences

Doctors do not recommend consuming alcohol after surgery for a reason. This is not the first day or week after the procedure. The period of abstinence can last for weeks or even months. Its duration depends on the complexity of the performed procedure and the health condition of the patient.

Before the operation or at the end, the doctor who came gives the patient certain recommendations. They relate to lifestyle, diet, alcohol consumption and more. And he gives them not only that, but to avoid unwanted consequences and complications.

Why it is forbidden to drink alcohol after surgery:

  • Use of anesthesia that is not compatible with alcohol. Otherwise, a huge blow to health will be dealt, which can affect the functioning of the system and vital organs.
  • Prescribing antibiotics for rehabilitation after surgery. They are also not compatible with alcohol. Moreover, even at the end of taking, it is worth giving up hard drinks for at least a week. Otherwise, their effect can be minimized.
  • Poor tissue healing. This can be caused by drinks that cause fermentation processes in the body. It could be beer. Therefore, it is better to reject it.
  • Weakening of the body's immune defenses. If you start drinking alcohol the next day after surgery, you can hit your immune system. The result will be latent disease or exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
  • Blood clotting disorder. A small dose of ethanol that enters the body can cause internal bleeding, poor and prolonged healing of the affected skin.

In addition, some surgical interventions involve completely rejecting the use of ethanol in any form. Because it can cause significant damage to the body and affect the quality of human life in the future.

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

illegal alcohol after surgery

Estimated time of alcohol consumption after surgery

As already mentioned, the time after which alcohol can be consumed depends on the health condition of the patient and the complexity of the performed operation. Therefore, it is difficult to clearly define the period after which it can be used. And the doctor should give any recommendations on this issue, who should be addressed with this issue.

How long after the operation can you drink alcoholic beverages (approximate dates):

  • Alcohol after laparoscopy - in some cases it can be completely forbidden. This is due to the fact that people after laparoscopy, to maintain a normal body, are forced to take certain medications throughout their lives. Almost all are incompatible with alcohol. It is necessary to completely give up alcohol if the gallbladder is removed. After laparoscopy on the gynecological part, you can afford a small amount of alcohol after a month and a half.
  • The time of alcohol consumption after laparotomy is the same as in the previous case.
  • Drinks containing ethyl alcohol should be treated with extreme caution after heart surgery. You should not abuse them as this can cause serious problems - heart failure, stroke, heart attack. If there are no complications after surgery, alcohol can be applied at the earliest 3-4 weeks after surgery.
  • The optimal period of abstinence from alcohol after eye surgery is 3 months. This time is enough for complete recovery or pain relief. Why exactly 3 months? The fact is that in most cases the rehabilitation period lasts from 1 to 3 months. At this time, patients are prescribed restorative drops or tablets, and almost all of them are incompatible with alcohol.
  • Plastic surgery - it is recommended to give up alcoholic beverages in the period from 2 to 4 weeks. If there are any complications or the patient is prescribed 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.
  • Appendicitis removal - alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden for 3 weeks, as well as some foods.
  • Surgery to remove the tumor - alcohol is taken only with a doctor's permission. Indeed, drugs that are forbidden to be taken along with alcohol can be prescribed to rebuild the body.

All of the above conditions are conditional and are set exclusively by a physician. Before you take another dose of alcohol, it is worth remembering the risks to the body. After the operation is weakened, it is necessary to restore it and follow the recommendations of experts. Therefore, do not overload it with ethanol, which will significantly prolong the rehabilitation period.