I do not plan on drinking alcohol...  

I have fatty liver from the non-alcohol side.  I am NOT willing to put my life in danger with having the possibility of fatty liver from alcohol.  I am getting a 2nd chance at LIFE and I am not going to blow it.  

 

Many of you know that I am often very outspoken on a certain topic, that being Alcoholism. . .  I wish to put this out there because I feel that there is more going on then people readily admit to.  Recently someone I know and care about went for treatment, while they were in treatment there were 8 out of 24 people who were also in treatment and they were all post-WLS patients. . .

People this is no joke, there are physiological changes that go along with how our bodies process alcohol, making us more subject than others to becoming alcoholic.  What you need to realize is that many surgeons up until now have only give this a cursory glance, telling us about the possibility of transfer of addiction, but until recently, it would appear there was not enough evidence on the statistics.  Our population has grown over the past decade and so information on this is just really beginning to surface. . .  but think of the odds, 8 out of 24 people in treatment. . .  that is one-third, which to me are pretty scary odds, not to mention the fact that many are not in treatment but are living their lives on the edge of disaster because they don't realize they have this going on. . . 

Please if you do drin****asionally, just be smart and stay aware of the facts. . .  we don't metabolize alcohol the way a normal body does, so a little gets us going and the effects also leave quickly, enabling us to create an environment for dependency over time. . .  another fact is that you can be stone cold sober but could fail a sobriety check, as it does not really leave our system and registers 3x higher than the normal person.

I am not saying you will become an alcoholic, but you need to be aware of the dangers of such a thing given our changed bodies.  Besides, alcohol is a lot of sugar and empty calories to boot. . .  If you are having an problem, don't hide from it, get help, there are many people ready to help you through it.  There is no shame in admitting to having a problem and do it before you lose all that you value!

Laureen

Jackie,

Your sister's concern is genuine but her facts are FAR from true!! The surgeons take every precaution before surgery to make sure that you are at your best!! If you are not, they won't do the surgery!! I have known hundreds of people who have had this surgery and done very well with little or no complications.  I was very lucky and didn't have any complications, but I followed what the nurses at the hospital told me to do even when I didn't feel like it!! Although I have had some weight gain I am no where near where I was presurgery!! I firmly believe that you will be very glad that you did this surgery!!

Keep us updated!

Beth

Waiting is definitely a pain.  I remember it very well.  

As for your sister, her statistic is off by a huge amount.  When I told my grown children I'd be having the surgery, the older two were positive and supportive.  My baby boy, who was in his early twenties kept saying, "You know, Mom, one in a hundred die from this surgery."  I took it as he was afraid he'd lose his Mom.  I reminded him that I love him, and then pointed out that I would definitely die if I don't have the surgery.  I reminded him that I was pre-diabetic, and also on cholesterol medication.  I came out of the surgery fine.

I know that in the early days of RNY, people died from blood clots in the lungs.  That hs changed a lot because the nurses got me out of bed exactly four hours after I was brought up from post-op.  I was walking laps every four hours, even in the middle of the night.  I made sure to push myself.  My baby brother would visit me, drag me out of bed, and walk the laps with me.  We'd stop by my room door, and he would go get my water so I could take some sips, and then we'd keep walking.

I do know of a gentleman who died a few years post op, because he was experiencing some complications and did not seek medical attention in time to save his life.  I don't remember exactly what was wrong.  I just know he failed to seek medical attention.  I have my surgeon's cell phone number, and have had to call him post -op.  I developed ulcers in my pouch during my first year post-op.  

Well, the best I can say about your sisters comment is that she is concerned for you.

But she is WAY out of line on her statistics. Ask her where she got that info. Specifically. The answer is that she didn't get it anywhere because it is ridiculous.