Drinking problem

I feel my drinking is getting out of control. I use to have a drinking problem and stopped for many years. Lately I have been drinking and getting drunk 2-3 times a week. Do you guys think I need rehab? Thanks Barb

Barb, Hard to say without really assessing the problem(I am a substance abuse counselor) BUT if you are worried an assessment might help you. Remember too, That in our situation, aLcohol is not recommended. I mean, I have had a glass of wine or two since sept 16th surgery, but to actually drin****il drunk 2-3 times a week? NO WAY. I have come too far to let those wasted calories in my body. Take a serious look at how often, how much and why before you chose to go to a treatment program. Go to a local AA meeting, the contact numbers for local ones are in the book. Also, If you have had a problem before that could spell trouble for you. AGAIN, I AM NOT SAYING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!! But the fact that you are asking says something is not right for YOU!! Get an assessment from a local substance abuse counselor. Try to stop alcohol use for a week to see what the result is: Can you stop? How hard is it? Support is available and please feel free to email me if you want/need more info. Take care of yourself Barb, Cause you gotta come first in your life: Nothing else: Food or Alcohol!! Please take care of you : You have come too far to let stupid stuff get in the way of your happiness. ALL THE BEST< Jacqueline

I agree with Jacquelyne. prior to WLS, I got drunk at least once a week, but when I first started researching this in November 2004, I read enough aobut the effects of caffeine, carbonation and alcohol on the 'pouch' that I weaned myself from all 3. Now, at 10 months out, I will have 1/4 of a margarita and it nearly makes me ill, so I'm going to stop even that. I'm still off caffeine and carbonation. Good luck...can you substitute something for it? you've come such a long way on this journey..don't let the alcohol screw you up. Pam 5'2" 282/159/145

Barb, I know that your life has had a lot of changes going on in it in the last several months. Sometimes, when we're under such stress, we tend to need some kind of crutch to get us through these tough times. At one time, it was food (and drink) for you. With surgery, you cut out the food part, so, it's very easy to transfer one addiction to another. Try to do without the drinks (if you can) this week. If you can do without them, then clear out all liquor from your house and everytime you go to take a drink, think of it as leathal and can kill you (It can because of your gastric bypass)...YOU DON'T NEED THIS JUNK. We here on the Sept board care TOO much about you to have you go off the deep end and zone out on us. I've noticed that you've not been around here too much and have been wondering where you've been. A while back (about month 8 out) I "tested" myself with some alcohol drinks, and I have to tell you, because I got buzzed SO quickly (and it went away as quickly as it came on) that I loved the feeling. I had never felt that "buzzed" feeling so much and so nicely before surgery. It took so little to get me that feeling. I could see myself liking it...UNTIL, I dumped really bad one night and haven't really had too many drinks since. Try to make yourself dump on a really sugary alcohol drink. Maybe that will gross you out enough to not want it. I have a friend who had RNY 2 years ago and he's transferred his eating addiction to alcohol addiction. I cannot believe how he thinks about liquor now as much as he used to think about food. He plans his drinks like he used to plan his meals and snacks. His liquor cabinet is stocked SO full it takes up five cabinets in the kitchen. We've tried to intervene (his wife had RNY all from the same surgeon) and she's mentioned it to the surgeon to have him mention it to her husband. The surgeon told her that he can go into a coma from the sugar and alcohol entering into the small intesting too quickly. Our new revised bodies can't take it if we drink too much. I don't need it..and I want you to not need it too. You've come SO far and look so fantastic to have something detrimental happen to you due to alcohol poisining. If you feel you need rehab, then go. Only you can make that decision. Talk to your counselor (if you have one) or your surgeon and tell him everything that's been going on and how you're leaning towards the drinks...maybe he can help. Hang in there. Know that we all love you very much and want you to post here daily (if you can) to keep us posted on how you're doing. I'll be your watchdog! You post that you want a drink (or email me) and I"ll tell you NOT to or I'll come on out there and smack you one! You don't want to lose that six pack ab due to too much drinking. You'll get a fat belly again! Too many empty calories and sugar. Paula

Hi Barb, I think Jacqueline has given really good professional advice, especially since she is a substance abuse counselor. The other replies are good sound been there done that type advice. Me - I am not a counselor and I have never drank, even before surgery, so I can't give that advice. What I can tell you is that if you are questioning your behavior that means you know something isn't right. To me getting drunk 2-3 times a week sounds like you might be dealing with the stress in your life right now with drinking. The fact that you used to drink though, I think you know the signs better than anyone. Listen to your heart and your head on this one, and don't let it get out of control. We love you Barb. love donna

Barb, From being around the board, I know you've been going through a lot lately and it is possible that drinking is a problem. I really don't know and guess only you can decide that. As a RNYer who drinks occasionally, I can tell you that alcohol hits me like a ton of bricks. If I drink one glass of wine, I am very drunk...if I drink 2, I'm wasted. Although I don't do this all that often, I feel terrible after I do--physically and emotionally. I mean 2 glasses of wine before surgery was nothing and would leave me feeling fine--maybe a little buzzed. But 2 glasses now is like a bottle and a half before and I would have felt ashamed of myself if I drank a bottle and a half... For me it is a really big difference. It has taken some getting used to, and I'm really not used to it yet. Every once in a while I want that pre dinner glass of wine -- but just get a little too much. I'm not sure there is a happy medium--lately I'm just abstaining. Anyway--I think post bypass drinking is more complicated than pre surgery. Good luck and hang in there. I know you will sort it out. Courtney

Thanks everyone. I have been going threw alot. and I have not had a drink today. Not that I dont want one because I do. But I know I need to get out of this rut. I wiull try to get on here every dasy. I cant wait to get my laptop back. I really need it back bad. I hate the desktop. With all that is going on here It has triggered my drinking again. I will take control. Thanks Hugs barb

Hi Barb, I don't know alot about it myself, but you know what? This morning on "Good Morning America" I saw a couple of women dealing with this EXACT thing~so weird. One of them had written a book called "I drink what I ate". Both of these women had had gastric bypass surgery and afterwards, since not being able to pig out on food, they turned to alcohol. One lady said she would sit and drink at LEAST 12 shots at a time or something like that! The doctor said in close to 30% of gastric bypass patients, they exchange one addiction for another and turning to drugs or alcohol could be common, as well as other things, like spending, etc. Anyway, I don't know if that helps at all, but I thought it was quite interesting. Maybe this address will send ya there: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2210783&page=1 We all have demons that we have to conquer because this surgery sure doesn't cure all of our underlying issues. I know I do! Take care of yourself. We're rooting for ya! Kelly

Honestly Barb, it's probably everything that is going on with you. I would try to slow down maybe to 1-2 times... but I would try first on my own.

Barb, I went through the same thing very recently. I started drinking 4 months out and at first it was just once a weekend. Then it became every weekend. Then it became 2-3 days a week and soon it was almost every day. I did some really stupid things under the influence of alcohol. I finally took a step back and did some reevaluation of what I wanted. I am happy to say that my drinking is under control. I still drink a little beer and the occasional shot. I just don't do it every day. Only once or twice a weekend and only in very limited amounts. Some weekends I don't even drink. I stick with diet soda or coffee. I don't miss the hangovers. It is so easy to replace one addiction with another. Especially if we had a drinking problem before. I used to drink all the time in my early twenties and was seldom sober. Stopped when I found out I was pregnant and never drank again until last year after my surgery. I am working on completely stopping again. If you think you need help get it. Do whatever you need to get this under control before it really gets to be a problem. Good luck. Cyndie