Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy - My Story
I celebrated the 3-year anniversary of my weight loss surgery about five months ago, on January 19th. I spent a lot of time that day reflecting on the changes that occurred in my life in those three short years.
This surgery was the best thing I have ever done, and I do not regret it one bit. I would do it again in a heartbeat - and I would (and will) whole-heartedly recommend this surgery, and my surgeon, to anyone considering weight-loss surgery.
This life-changing event did not occur without some drastic and sad effects.
I have been an addict since I was born. My drug of choice was always food. I rarely drank, and other than an occasional incident at a party here and there over the years, I never used any drugs.
After my surgery, after I had lost the entire 115 pounds, I very quickly became addicted to Vicodin, which I began taking innocently enough, for migraines which I've had all my life. Initially I was taking them as-needed, but soon I was taking a Vicodin here and there to "relax" or "take the edge off". Needless to say, within months I was hopelessly addicted to Vicodin; taking absolutely enormous numbers of pills every day - only to keep the withdrawal effects at bay.
I was purchasing this medication from Web sites. It started with one site, but soon I needed so many pills every day that I was buying them from 15 or more sites, so I could be sure I never ran out. I managed to go into credit card debt to the tune of approximately $25K to facilitate my addiction.
In October 2006 I quit the Vicodin cold-turkey, which is far and away the hardest, most painful thing I have ever, ever experienced.
About six months later, I began drinking. I fell very very rapidly into the pit of severe alcoholism. I started drinking in mid June 2007, and by October, I was near death. I was drinking around the clock, not ever leaving my bed. On October 11th, I fell off a ladder in my apartment, and hit my head on a piece of furniture. I was so intoxicated that I bled profusely for hours before I awoke and realized that I had even been hurt. It took 17 staples to close the gash in my head.
On October 19th of that year, I went to my first AA meeting, and I am pleased to say that I am clean and sober for almost one year.
In the months following my surgery, the term "Addiction Transfer" began to pop up in various places, the first time I heard the term was on "Oprah". It is EXCEEDINGLY common for patients of stomach reduction surgery to transfer their previous food addiction to a new substance... If you're reading this and are planning surgery, please be aware of your cravings for food or other substances after your surgery - if you have a need for comfort that you feel you can no longer satisfy with food, please seek some kind of therapy before turning to something worse.
-MoonChild
This surgery was the best thing I have ever done, and I do not regret it one bit. I would do it again in a heartbeat - and I would (and will) whole-heartedly recommend this surgery, and my surgeon, to anyone considering weight-loss surgery.
This life-changing event did not occur without some drastic and sad effects.
I have been an addict since I was born. My drug of choice was always food. I rarely drank, and other than an occasional incident at a party here and there over the years, I never used any drugs.
After my surgery, after I had lost the entire 115 pounds, I very quickly became addicted to Vicodin, which I began taking innocently enough, for migraines which I've had all my life. Initially I was taking them as-needed, but soon I was taking a Vicodin here and there to "relax" or "take the edge off". Needless to say, within months I was hopelessly addicted to Vicodin; taking absolutely enormous numbers of pills every day - only to keep the withdrawal effects at bay.
I was purchasing this medication from Web sites. It started with one site, but soon I needed so many pills every day that I was buying them from 15 or more sites, so I could be sure I never ran out. I managed to go into credit card debt to the tune of approximately $25K to facilitate my addiction.
In October 2006 I quit the Vicodin cold-turkey, which is far and away the hardest, most painful thing I have ever, ever experienced.
About six months later, I began drinking. I fell very very rapidly into the pit of severe alcoholism. I started drinking in mid June 2007, and by October, I was near death. I was drinking around the clock, not ever leaving my bed. On October 11th, I fell off a ladder in my apartment, and hit my head on a piece of furniture. I was so intoxicated that I bled profusely for hours before I awoke and realized that I had even been hurt. It took 17 staples to close the gash in my head.
On October 19th of that year, I went to my first AA meeting, and I am pleased to say that I am clean and sober for almost one year.
In the months following my surgery, the term "Addiction Transfer" began to pop up in various places, the first time I heard the term was on "Oprah". It is EXCEEDINGLY common for patients of stomach reduction surgery to transfer their previous food addiction to a new substance... If you're reading this and are planning surgery, please be aware of your cravings for food or other substances after your surgery - if you have a need for comfort that you feel you can no longer satisfy with food, please seek some kind of therapy before turning to something worse.
-MoonChild
Thank you so much for sharing your story with all of us. You have been through alot
and have some through strong.
Congradulations on your sobriety keep it up. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Thanks Again
Best Wishes
Mo
and have some through strong.
Congradulations on your sobriety keep it up. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Thanks Again
Best Wishes
Mo
SW - 223 CW- 130 GW- 140 Start Sz 18 Current Sz 4 Ht. 5'6"
BA- LBL/TT 11/3/09
Thank you for sharing such a private story. As the daughter of an addict I know all too well the struggles you face on a regular basis and want to say congratulations for all your hard work. You are clearly an amazingly strong and brave person. Thank yo for bringing up such an important topic and I hope that other pre and post op learn from your experience and keep their eyes open for this in their lives! Thank you!!!
I am 5'4" HW 273 SW 255 CW 162.4
First Goal(s): Weigh less than hubby(DONE) and One-derland(DONE)!!!
Second Goal: Weigh 170 (what I weighed when hubby and I dated and got married) (DONE)!!!
Third Goal: Reach a normal BMI (145 lbs)
MoonChild,
Thanks for sharing your story. I've worried about the same thing...either finding a way to deal with the reason I ate in the first place or risk falling into some other addiction.
What I'm surprised about is that this site does not get deep into issues like this. It is pretty wonderful seeing the success stories and the advice on eating, but I don't see enough regarding the issue of eating itself and what has been driving us to overeat in the past and now, for some, risk our future success with the band. I've begun talking to one other woman in my area via PM and talking about some of my food issues, but I really wish the group would talk more of that here.
I appreciate your warning and applaud your successes in dealing with all you've dealt with. You are one strong woman.
Thanks for sharing your story. I've worried about the same thing...either finding a way to deal with the reason I ate in the first place or risk falling into some other addiction.
What I'm surprised about is that this site does not get deep into issues like this. It is pretty wonderful seeing the success stories and the advice on eating, but I don't see enough regarding the issue of eating itself and what has been driving us to overeat in the past and now, for some, risk our future success with the band. I've begun talking to one other woman in my area via PM and talking about some of my food issues, but I really wish the group would talk more of that here.
I appreciate your warning and applaud your successes in dealing with all you've dealt with. You are one strong woman.
You story will touch and has touched someone who has read it. Addiction transfer is a HUGE possibility and I'm holding onto knowing that and finding other alternatives besides alcohol when I feel the need to eat or drink.
Be blessed as you continue your journey in life.
Ms Shell
Be blessed as you continue your journey in life.
Ms Shell
"WLS is only for people who are ready to move past the "diet" mentality" ~Alison Brown
"WLS is not a Do-Over (repeat same mistakes = get a similar outcome.) It is a Do-BETTER (make lifestyle changes you can continue forever.)" ~ Michele Vicara aka Eggface
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is quite a story. When you had your surgery they probably didn't even talk about therapy or addiction. Everyone needs a little help or someone to talk to and I think therapy is a good thing. We all are addicted to food but with the VSG, we can't eat as much as we did in the past but we do have an addicted that either has to get fixed or transfers to something else. Thanks for the insite.
Linda
Linda
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