Surgery is serious manipulation that must be properly prepared. All recommendations on this issue should be given by a specialist.
Particular attention should be paid to diet and alcohol consumption after surgery. In fact, in some cases, even a small dose of ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages can cost a person's health and even life.
In order not to harm your own body and contribute to its early recovery, you need to follow the advice given in this article.
Are local anesthesia and anesthesia compatible with alcohol?
Everyone should understand that anesthesia and alcohol are incomparable concepts. And there are good reasons for this. To begin with, let's find out what the types of anesthesia are: it is local and general anesthesia.
Anesthesia is the introduction of a drug into the human body that promotes the temporary loss of tissue sensitivity. There is a block in the transmission of nerve impulses, due to which the signals do not enter the brain and there is no reverse reaction. Therefore, a person does not experience painful sensations during surgery.
Local anesthesia has a specific period of action. As a rule, this is the allotted time for the operation and another 2-3 hours later. A person gradually moves away from anesthesia, but alcohol after local anesthesia can lead to the fact that its effect will end instantly. And this can cause pain, which is quite difficult to remove with the help of drugs.
Can I drink alcohol after (general) anesthesia? It is not worth doing this, as this can lead to much more serious consequences than in the previous case:
- Severe pain at the site where the surgery was performed.
- Tension or weakening of muscle tissue.
- Headache, dizziness.
- Nausea, vomiting and, consequently, dehydration.
- Anaphylactic shock.
- Disorders in the work of the nervous system.
Drinking alcohol after surgery and possible consequences
Doctors don't recommend drinking alcohol after surgery for a reason. And it's not about the first day or week after the procedure. The abstinence period can last for several weeks or even months. Its duration depends on the complexity of the procedure performed and the patient's state of health.
Before the operation or at the end of it, the attending physician gives the patient some recommendations. They relate to lifestyle, nutrition, alcohol consumption, and more. And he gives them not only so, but to avoid undesirable consequences and complications.
Why it is forbidden to drink alcohol after the operation:
- Using an anesthesia incompatible with alcohol. Otherwise, a severe blow to health will be dealt, which can affect the functioning of vital systems and organs.
- Prescription of antibiotics for rehabilitation after surgery. They are also not compatible with alcohol. In addition, even at the end of the intake course, it is worth giving up strong drinks for at least a week. Otherwise, their effect could 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 refuse it.
- Weakening of the body's immune defenses. If you start drinking alcohol the day after your surgery, it can affect your immune system. The result will be latent diseases or exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
- Blood clotting disorder. A small dose of ethanol entering the body can cause internal bleeding, poor and long-term healing of the affected skin.
In addition to all this, some surgeries involve a complete rejection of the use of ethanol in any form. Since it can cause significant damage 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 - adhere to the correct diet and completely abandon alcohol for at least 30 days.
Estimated time for alcohol consumption after surgery
As already mentioned, the time after 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 the doctor should give any recommendations on this matter to whom you should contact with this question.
How long after the operation can you drink alcoholic beverages (approximate terms):
- Alcohol after laparoscopy - in some cases it can be completely prohibited. This is due to the fact that after laparoscopy, in order to maintain the body normally, people are forced to take certain medications for life. Almost all of them are incompatible with alcohol. It is necessary to completely abandon alcohol if the gallbladder is removed. After a laparoscopy performed on the gynecological part, you can afford a small amount of alcohol after a month and a half.
- The time to drink alcohol 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 it, as this can provoke serious problems: heart failure, stroke, heart attack. If there are no complications after surgery, alcohol can be given no earlier than 3-4 weeks after surgery.
- The optimal alcohol withdrawal period 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 for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. If there are complications or the patient is prescribed a rehabilitation course, it can take up to several months.
- After the pancreas is removed, it is not recommended to drink alcohol at all. Especially in the first 2-3 years after the operation.
- Removal of appendicitis: Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited for 3 weeks, as are some foods.
- Surgery to remove the tumor: Alcohol is taken only with the doctor's permission. Indeed, to restore the body, drugs can be prescribed that it is forbidden to take along with alcohol.
All the above terms are conditional and are set exclusively by the attending physician. Before taking another dose of alcohol, it is worth remembering the risk to the body. After the operation, it is weakened, it must be restored and the recommendations given by the specialist are followed. Therefore, do not overload it with ethanol, which will significantly lengthen the rehabilitation period.