drinking after surgery

I will have to see if I can find it but at my program they shared some really fascinating stats on percentage of the US population that has had WLS and the % of people who have been in alcohol/drug rehab who have had WLS. I can't remember the exact # but it was something crazy like maybe 4% of the population has WLS but 26% of rehab patients have had WLS. I remember it being 5 or 6 x difference and it, literally, was sobering for me!

This is the best recent research I could find-- 20.8% of RNY patients were found to have an alcohol use disorder within 5 years of their surgery (source). In the general population, only 6.2% of adults have an alcohol use disorder (source).

I will see if I can find the materials when I get home next week, but I think it was probably just another data point on top of this one, in that iadded the stat of % of overall population (US) who have had WLS to show that post RNY, we are definitely over represented with alcohol issues and it's not just a linear progression.

I know my friends probably cringe every time this subject lines comes across, knowing I can't ignore it. It is a subject very near and dear to my heart...

Yes, I know the stats/science...but mostly I know the PEOPLE...good/decent people...who had WLS to improve/save their lives...and now some of them are DEAD...directly linked to drug/alcohol addiction, as a result of TRANSFER ...

I thought transfer addiction was a load of crap...I thought it was an excuse for people to have sex/drugs/booze/etc and not be responsible, for their actions...

I was wrong...

This is/was Liz G...She was an active OH member, and one of my best friends. She died, a few months ago, from alcohol/drugs combo, directly transferred from not being able to have her former "fall back", FOOD...

Transfer Addiction is REAL...as real as Liz WAS

Thank you Gina for sharing what must be a painful memory. I know that you do this as a warning to others that you don't want to see suffer the same consequences.

When I was at my Bariatric Centre in Guelph in July, they told me that because of the overwhelming evidence of alcoholism after WLS they are advising all future and current patients to abstain for life from alcohol. I know that I was a food addict - hell I probably still am a food addict because I deal daily with trying to make the right food choices. Throwing in alcohol addiction would undo all of my hard work in the gym, making food choices, and going through surgery. I have come too far to risk any of that for a drink. This is my decision and I make it because I know myself and how easily I could become one of the statistics.

I am sorry for your loss. I know a WLS patient who is now in the liver transplant list. She had to go into therapy and stop drinking to be allowed on it.

RIP, Liz. I know she was loved by so many people and I am sorry her loved ones are hurting. I know sharing her story will help others.

I knew for me I needed to stay away from alcohol. I did this for my health and do not want to risk hurt my kidneys or liver. I also know too many people who have had trouble drinking "moderately" so I gave it up completely.

We are free to make our own choices. I hope people here will heed the warnings so that their loved ones do not have to deal with the aftermath of their possible alcoholism.

Off the top of my head, I know of at least 6 people from here who have died because of alcohol.

I gave up alcohol at the beginning of this year because I felt uncomfortable with how regular it had become and I believe it was a big factor in my regain.

Same here. This year I gained lots of weight when I suddenly was able to drink beer.

I also started hating how often I would reach for beer ot a drink to make me feel better.

Im so glad my friend said what he said because look at all the stories I'm hearing now. So sad what I am reading but also very informative.