Statistic Your Surgeon Does Not Give Pre Surgery But Could Save Your Life

Hi,

For everyone considering R N Y surgery there is one thing that's come out over the last several years which directly affects us but our it is usually not one of the most shared facts or warnings before or after surgery.

So they don't warn us that potentially we are at risk of becoming alcoholic after the surgery How do they back up the data??? Well in 2012, the American Medical Association published an article that the percentage of patients abusing alcohol before the surgery was 7.6 and then after the surgery it was 9.6 two years after. That's an increase of about 2,000 more alcoholics. The longest running study suggests that the effect persists even a decade after the surgery.

But, as always the psychologists and the surgeons are arguing over the why? Is it addiction transfer?? Well know that can't be because it doesn't happen to lap-band patients.

Other researchers are looking into a link to how changes in our metabolism from the surgery might have affected our dopamine receptors. These metabolic changes are predisposing us alcohol abuse

HOWEVER, UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT THE WHY WHO CARES. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE KNOW THE WHAT.

BE CAREFUL AND MINDFUL OF HOW MUCH AND FREQUENTLY YOU DRINK ALCOHOL.

You see I was not told and my drinking was socially at first. But, it seemed to hit me faster and harder (like the studies show), but then it would also metabolize quicker too. So slowly but surly my intake became more and more. Then I started drinking alone. Then I got depressed so I drank more. Oh, and did I tell you it was 2008 when my drinking began to take wings and fly.

By 2011, I was drinking every day all day. A gallon and a half of vodka with two shots of kool-aid for looks. It ruined my successful career. Got me two DUI's. I was arrested for a third one but I was not drinking yet. This was 8/4/2013. I was on my way to get alcohol. I had been trying to get sober for sometime by then but I was so depressed. I was not working, I resigned before I lost my job. I worked so hard to climb the ladder and get to the top and it seemed like with the snap of two fingers it was gone. I had built my home two years before. I had two kids and a husband to be worried about and I had not worked by this time in almost a year. I got two job offers that were rescinded because my criminal background was just too recent for them. They were both companies who sought me out but I still have not figured out how or when to bring it up in an interview. You also have to understand that I was very high up in the federal government in a demanding position. Which, normally would mean I could go anywhere before alcohol. But now, no. Anyway back to what is important on 8/4/13 I was arrested for a DUI but I blew 0.00 on the breath machine. However, I was out of it. Tired, loopy and confused. So the cop asked what drugs were I on. I said drugs, I'm an alcoholic not drug addict. I don't take anything addictive or habit forming. But he took down my mess the one sleeping pill ambien I took the night before, neurotin, and topamax. Arrested me for the DUI and driving on suspended. They take your license for 3 yrs after 2nd in my previous state.

But it was God all along looking out because I was only in 20 days and collapsed. See you don't get bond on 3rd offense of anything. My tibia came out of my leg and I was rushed to hospital. My hemoglobin was 4. Had blood transfusion 9 1/2 pints of blood. Had rod and four screws put in leg. It was a mess. My potassium tanked. I was in ICU and to top it off my family had no idea. I was not allowed to contact them and they were never notified. My husband came to see me and they told him I was in class. My blood pressure at one point was 50/40. It was scary. I spent 10 days in hospital with an armed guard cuffed to the bed. Then when I got back to the jail they immediately took me in hospital clothes still to video judge with District Attorney to ask for emergency PR medical bond. I guess I was too expensive. Then they called my husband to tell him to come get me.

After all that I've literally destroyed my body. I have not touched a drink since then and yet I have Osteoporosis. I have broken my pelvic bone, my L1 and L2 bones in back have concrete in them (kyphoplasty surgery), Tib/Fib fracture (rod and screws). However, bone was so soft the rod and screws slipped and went into ankle leaving a hole in ankle cartledge so it had to be removed. Broken wrist, broken ankles 4 times.

Stomach Ulcers, anemia, Vitamin D deficiency. Recently I just found out that my liver enzymes our out of whack and my Endocronologist thinks it could be fatty liver. Have to go get a couple of other panels to rule some other things out first.

Moral to the story. Follow all the rules, no short cuts and don't drink if you don't have too. Regardless of the why there is definitely a What for us. And I'm not saying this like the skinny kid whose never had a weight issue telling you to just go on a diet. I've been there and even for me I can't put my finger on the exact cause for the why. It now just is. Just like when I was little I did not say, "Gosh, when I grow up I can't wait until I get so big I can no longer by my clothes in a store anymore and have to order everything online. That's just the greatest ever."

I never had drinking issues before RNY. I woudl drink socially - but even that not that often. I had to be in a mood to even have a glass of wine . When I bough a bottle of nice brandy - i had it for 5-6 years?

Alcohol affects me differently now... one drink can make me feel drank... Alcohol also affects my blood sugar balance. Even one glass of wine drank before or during dinner can cause a severe RH app 1-2 hours after dinner even if my dinner is "RNY" appropriate. I learned that the hard way..

I advise anyone not drink... like never...

That is so great ? you warn everyone. I had my 1st surgery over a decade ago. The second one which was not by choice or for weight loss just 3 years I have not had any follow up with my surgeon. That was the last gift, I was able to stay out long enough to get all the necessary surgeries then boom ð?'¥ away I went. So now I see real Drs and everything is worse or still not good?? I don't know. And my diet was horrible I barely ate and then it was carbs. No special diets. They don't care.

Boy, if you ever want to see fireworks on this board, wait for the posts where someone asks when they can drink again after surgery. Most of the people on here will tell them NEVER and then the fur flies, usually resulting in the original poster calling the respondents "meanies" and deactivating their account.

I do feel that programs don't place enough emphasis on the dangers of alcohol post-op. My program advises no alcohol for one year, but that's just not enough. I don't think they even mention the danger of cross addiction, which is huge. Along with that, there's no discussion on the toll that excess alcohol consumption takes on one's health and let's be honest--those of us going in for WLS are already in terrible health and don't need an extra stress. I grew up with an alcoholic and have never drank in my life and I am incredibly grateful that I don't even have that temptation.

I'm sorry you had to go through your trials and tribulations, but I'm glad you seem to have come out on the other side. I sincerely hope you're able to recover some of your health and thank you for posting your cautionary tale. Hopefully someone thinking of drinking post-op will see it and be steered away.

Jen

If my surgeon told me the chance of me becoming an alcoholic was 2% greater after RNY I wouldn't have given it a second thought.

Who would?

I was told I'd have a 1 in 200 chance of being dead in 6 months and I was still like "Sign me up!"

Oh man, I hope my message was not coming off that way. I don't want anyone to be discouraged about the surgery. Hell if you would ask me today if I do it all again tomorrow the same way I say yes because my life has had so many amazing things occur as a result of these events. I have been humbled by these experiences. I only want other future people considering it to know what can happen from the horses ? mouth. I guess I forget these studies about alcohol and other drugs were not out in 2004 like they are today. When I did mine I went to one nutrition meeting, one group meeting, two dr consultants and operating table. Shoot, one psych evaluation. Whole process took me a month.

The title sort of makes it sound like it's a deliberate act not to tell you about the risk but I didn't take your words as an anti RNY rant at all.

I was familiar with the study but it was through my own curiosity about consuming alcohol post RNY. I was told to avoid alcohol by my surgeon/nurse practitioner/ nutritionist but I don't recall any reference to alcoholism. If they did mention it my brain must have filed it under "whatever"

Regardless I do think your story is very important and I thank you for sharing it. I have tried alcohol since surgery and have noticed a difference in the kick it delivers. Moderation seems to be more important than ever. Your tale amplifies that.

Thanks I appreciate that.

The prep classes I attended at my surgeon's center made a point of warning all of us about drinking alcohol post-op, as did the nurses and nutritionist. I hope that most if not all pre-ops receive this info now. Some of the bariatric surgery videos on Youtube discuss the dangers of this, as well, for instance those By Dr. Matthew Weiner. I've never cared that much for alcohol, thank goodness, but I know that it is a terrible struggle for some, and I could see some folks embracing it once their drug of choice, food, was no longer easily consumed. The singer Carnie Wilson battled alcohol abuse after her bariatric surgery (we share the same surgeon), and has written about her struggle. It can happen, and people do need to be aware of the risk.

I'm so sorry you went through this.

My centre most definitely warned us to stay away from alcohol. People who smoked, drank alcohol or caffeine had to quit for 6 months before given the OK for surgery. We were also told to avoid those things after surgery, and given the reasons why. We were warned of the danger of alcohol addiction post surgery, and how drinking would hit us harder and affect us more. I'm very lucky that I've always hated the taste of beer, wine, hard liquor, etc. Food was always my addiction of choice.

I'm so sorry you weren't warned about this.

Good luck.