Alcohol and Pain Killers

[dan777]

Have had several people tell me to reduce / eliminate alcohol consumption prior to surgery. Question is, when I have a week to go before my surgery and just celebrated my 58th birthday and wonder if it is at all helpful to stop for just a week prior....

 

[geebee]

You want all your organs to be in the best shape possible to get you through recovery. You do not need them sidetracked by getting rid of alcohol. I would try to go ahead and stop but that is just my opinion. Hope your birthday was great.

 

[Bina]

I don't think alcohol in your system is very helpful going into surgery. Your body will have alot to deal with, tons of meds and having your heart stopped.

 

[Jkm7]

I totally agree. There is enough assault on your body and organs. Why create any unnecessary added stress?

 

[Marguerite53]

I think it is ridiculous to worry about a drink or two prior to surgery. If "a drink" really means 4 or 5 then probably not.

Honestly....this is a question for the surgeon. Please call their office and ask specifically what their guidelines are.

I should think you could celebrate your birthday any way you want!!!!

Marguerite

 

[Cooker]

Moderation is the key....to most things Your body will detox itself in about three days of alcohol. It is a good idea to be as "clean" as possible before surgery.
If I still drank I might have had a couple of doubles just prior to walking through the hospital doors

 

[dan777]

I guess my brief question prompted a number of concerns. I have consulted with my doctor and although he did not advise me to stop drinking (moderately), he did say it would be a good idea.

My question was really meant to address whether there would be any impact if a moderate drinker stopped drinking a week before the operation versus, say three days. Probably a period of time that would not make a significant difference.

Other family members experience was that stopping even three weeks in advance did eliminate the fact that they required additional pain killers, anesthesia versus the norm.

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions and concerns.

 

[WayneGM]

I had surgery on a Tuesday morning and had a couple of beers and shared a bottle of wine with my wife at dinner on the Sunday before. I'm a moderate "weekend" drinker and I don't think these few drinks two days prior to my surgery made any difference on my surgery or meds.

 

[lieb2101]

Well,
My 2 cents. I'm a little more than a "causal" consumer. I consider myself a "connoisseur"

I'm going in on the 22nd and my doc said no alcohol after new years...

Here's how I see it:
Alcohol stays in your system a day or two before it's gone for good. Any amount, even a trace amount, can cause kidney and liver damage when combined with NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory type pain killers). The combination also can do some funky things to your blood.

I'd say, do your own research and ask your doc. Personally, I'm not touching it until I'm well out of surgery and off the pain meds.

 

[Philip B]

Drinking before Surgery

Drinking before Surgery

This is really a question your surgeon should address. Many of us have had different experiences and have different opinions, but I would defer to the medical professionals you are counting on to bring you through the surgery.

I spent the week before my surgery in Mexico and my surgeon didn't feel I needed to avoid alcohol while I was there. I had a few beers every day while I was there and suffered no ill effects when I had AVR surgery when I returned. As I didn't drink any alcohol during the four days before surgery, my system had probably cleared itself out.

My surgeon and his staff were very clear about not wanting me to drink in the weeks immediately following surgery. Alcohol doesn't mix well with the medications they use during and after surgery.

-Philip

 

[dan777]

Results

Results

Made it and will post my experiences in the "After Surgery" section.

Stopped alcohol 4-5 days before surgery and it did not seem to be a problem. According to the doctors, I was given average levels of post op meds and was taken off morphine sometime early on day 2.

Thanks for all your support !

 

[Cooker]

Dan ..... Great news!!! I hope all continues to go well.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

I don't post often anymore; but this one interested me a bit.

The night before my surgery I had a couple or three beers with my dinner.
I never discussed it with my docs, just didn't figure it would matter since they had given me so many specifics as what to do and what not to do going into the procedure.

Secondly,
I was released from the hospital after four day and asked the cardio if it was OK to have some beer. She said "I don't want you drinking a twelve pack a sitting, but some is OK" So on the three hour drive home we stopped at a sports bar to eat at; and guess what......I had two beers.

Zero side effects in both situations.

Just my $0.02 worth.