Addiction Transfer/Alcohol
Hello to any of us old timers,
I've been a been a member of this forum since I had my surgery in 2000. At first I gloriously posted about my weight loss success. But about two years after my surgery things changed.
I've since learned that has been the case for many people with Roux-en-Y. For me it started with an uneasy feeling about 18 months after surgery that progressed to panic to insomnia. With my husband it was the same and he treated with alcohol. He rapidly became an alcoholic. I took my supplements regularly, him not so much. He had his surgery in 2001. By 2003 he was in rehab after rehab after rehab to no avail.
I divorce my husband sadly. I've moved on and vowed to figure out what happened. I'm an engineer by trade and I was working at the Kennedy Space Center when I had my surgery, and have focused on what nutrients the duodenum and upper jejunum were responsible for. Over the last eight years I have worked with many doctors and counselors trying to come up with a plan that compensates for what we have lost surgically. Many many doctors have no clue, as they did not learn this in medical school. Some doctors will admit this, many will not.
The regimen I finally came up, with the help of multiple professionals, that keeps me healthy and keeps my brain functioning properly is a far cry from what the bariatric surgeons are recommending, which to me is a crime. My bariatric surgeon recommended a Flintstones chewable (maybe two if necessary), a Caltrate, Zantac, B12 injection. That's it. That is SO NOT IT.
I probably take 30-40 vitamins a day now, but I'm back to the fully functioning happy person that I was before the surgery. If anyone else is having trouble or know someone that is, email me at [email protected] or check out my blog at www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com to get an idea of what I take on a daily basis. If you only knew of the tragic stories of alcoholism, peripheral neuraphathy, mother with gastric bypass whose baby was born blind, suicide,... all from malnutritrion from malabsorption.
I've been a been a member of this forum since I had my surgery in 2000. At first I gloriously posted about my weight loss success. But about two years after my surgery things changed.
I've since learned that has been the case for many people with Roux-en-Y. For me it started with an uneasy feeling about 18 months after surgery that progressed to panic to insomnia. With my husband it was the same and he treated with alcohol. He rapidly became an alcoholic. I took my supplements regularly, him not so much. He had his surgery in 2001. By 2003 he was in rehab after rehab after rehab to no avail.
I divorce my husband sadly. I've moved on and vowed to figure out what happened. I'm an engineer by trade and I was working at the Kennedy Space Center when I had my surgery, and have focused on what nutrients the duodenum and upper jejunum were responsible for. Over the last eight years I have worked with many doctors and counselors trying to come up with a plan that compensates for what we have lost surgically. Many many doctors have no clue, as they did not learn this in medical school. Some doctors will admit this, many will not.
The regimen I finally came up, with the help of multiple professionals, that keeps me healthy and keeps my brain functioning properly is a far cry from what the bariatric surgeons are recommending, which to me is a crime. My bariatric surgeon recommended a Flintstones chewable (maybe two if necessary), a Caltrate, Zantac, B12 injection. That's it. That is SO NOT IT.
I probably take 30-40 vitamins a day now, but I'm back to the fully functioning happy person that I was before the surgery. If anyone else is having trouble or know someone that is, email me at [email protected] or check out my blog at www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com to get an idea of what I take on a daily basis. If you only knew of the tragic stories of alcoholism, peripheral neuraphathy, mother with gastric bypass whose baby was born blind, suicide,... all from malnutritrion from malabsorption.
Hello - I not an old timer but scheduled for surgery on 5/17 and interested in what you have found out. I am concerned about malabsorption and have been researching this area in order to set up a good after-care for myself. Thank you for posting and I will check-out the resources you have referenced! Sounds like you have had quite a journey.
Hello,
I wish that I had known this information at the point you are in your journey. Now that you have a surgery date, you have to realize that you have to commit to take many many supplements every single day, and consider giving up alcohol as this has become a dangerous issue for so many. A single multi-vitamin or Flintstones chewable isn't going to cut it.
I would recommend reading the following books even if you don't have any problems: "The Magnesium Miracle" by Carolyn Dean, "The Omega-3 Connection" by Andrew Stoll, "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross, "Change your Brain, Change Your Life" by Daniel Amen, "Seven Weeks to Sobriety" by Joan Mathews Larson, "The Vitamin Cure for Alcoholism" by Abram Hoffer.
I would recommend taking Centrum liquid multi-vitamin post-op. It tastes awful, but force yourself. Also, look for a brand of ice cream called "Clemmy's". It's the only one I've found that is actually "Sugar Free", not "no sugar added" . I use it for my protein shakes with whipped cream and sugar free caramel. It really makes them more palatable. And if they are good you are more apt to drink them.
Now that you know what to look for, watch out for signs to hit perhaps around the 18-24 month mark. Some of the symptoms may be racing heartbeat, unexplained/uncontrolled snacking, muscle twitching, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, aggressiveness, "feeling not right". If you are vigilant, it may not happen to you, but it will take work. You will probably need to take 2-4 multivitamins a day, iron (less if you are male - recommend Ferretts Iron Supplement by Pharmics which is ferrous fumarate), magnesium taurate (I recommend the oil and spraying it for transdermal absorption), calcium citrate (liquid form if you can find), B-12 injections, Vitamin D3 (> 4,000 IU) and strongly recommend at least 20 minutes sunshine a day first six weeks post-op (it will lift your spirits), filtered Omega 3 Fish Oil (1-3 TBS), Vitamin A, Non-Flush Niacin (500 mg x 2), Multi-Mineral capsule. Once your iron stores get low it's really hard to build them back up.
You must drink your protein shakes post-op, as much as you may not want to - force yourself - you will heal faster. My doctor wanted me to mix them up stronger and and put 2-3 scoops in a serving. The term he used in explaining this was a "bolus". He wanted a single strong "bolus" of protein to hit my system, rather than multiple weak doses of protein.
I wish you all the best on your surgery and will be thinking of you. I'll put it on my calender. Please send me an email after your surgery! None of this was meant to scare you or discourage you - you will have the most successful outcome with none of side effects because you have all of the knowledge now and know what to do!
Take Care!
[email protected]
I wish that I had known this information at the point you are in your journey. Now that you have a surgery date, you have to realize that you have to commit to take many many supplements every single day, and consider giving up alcohol as this has become a dangerous issue for so many. A single multi-vitamin or Flintstones chewable isn't going to cut it.
I would recommend reading the following books even if you don't have any problems: "The Magnesium Miracle" by Carolyn Dean, "The Omega-3 Connection" by Andrew Stoll, "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross, "Change your Brain, Change Your Life" by Daniel Amen, "Seven Weeks to Sobriety" by Joan Mathews Larson, "The Vitamin Cure for Alcoholism" by Abram Hoffer.
I would recommend taking Centrum liquid multi-vitamin post-op. It tastes awful, but force yourself. Also, look for a brand of ice cream called "Clemmy's". It's the only one I've found that is actually "Sugar Free", not "no sugar added" . I use it for my protein shakes with whipped cream and sugar free caramel. It really makes them more palatable. And if they are good you are more apt to drink them.
Now that you know what to look for, watch out for signs to hit perhaps around the 18-24 month mark. Some of the symptoms may be racing heartbeat, unexplained/uncontrolled snacking, muscle twitching, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, aggressiveness, "feeling not right". If you are vigilant, it may not happen to you, but it will take work. You will probably need to take 2-4 multivitamins a day, iron (less if you are male - recommend Ferretts Iron Supplement by Pharmics which is ferrous fumarate), magnesium taurate (I recommend the oil and spraying it for transdermal absorption), calcium citrate (liquid form if you can find), B-12 injections, Vitamin D3 (> 4,000 IU) and strongly recommend at least 20 minutes sunshine a day first six weeks post-op (it will lift your spirits), filtered Omega 3 Fish Oil (1-3 TBS), Vitamin A, Non-Flush Niacin (500 mg x 2), Multi-Mineral capsule. Once your iron stores get low it's really hard to build them back up.
You must drink your protein shakes post-op, as much as you may not want to - force yourself - you will heal faster. My doctor wanted me to mix them up stronger and and put 2-3 scoops in a serving. The term he used in explaining this was a "bolus". He wanted a single strong "bolus" of protein to hit my system, rather than multiple weak doses of protein.
I wish you all the best on your surgery and will be thinking of you. I'll put it on my calender. Please send me an email after your surgery! None of this was meant to scare you or discourage you - you will have the most successful outcome with none of side effects because you have all of the knowledge now and know what to do!
Take Care!
[email protected]
Wow, thank you Lisa, for taking the time to share your research and experience with me. It is too bad you did not have guidance beforehand... I can see where that would have been difficult and frustrating. I want this to be as successful as I can make it. The program I am part of has a series of classes that are mandatory before WLS. They discuss addiction transfer, divorce rates, supplements etc. at length...but we also got the "Flinstone options" among others. Your experience makes sense in term of what I will need to put in, that can no longer be absorbed/produced from food intake so, thank you. I think the more I learn pre-op and post-op the more successful and healthy I will be. Alternately all the medication I am on for the weight related co-mobilities have done a number on my body as well.
I wanted to ask you where do you get the Vitamin B-12 injections? Do you get thees through a doctor or a specialty vitamin store?
Thanks, and thanks for keeping me in your thoughts through my surgery, that is very kind!
I wanted to ask you where do you get the Vitamin B-12 injections? Do you get thees through a doctor or a specialty vitamin store?
Thanks, and thanks for keeping me in your thoughts through my surgery, that is very kind!
hi Jody,
I get most of my vitamins mail order from Swanson Vitamins. It was just so much cheaper than the store and with as many as I take just couldn't afford not to. Can't get the Ferretts Iron but Target has it behind the pharmacy counter.
Just had appt with dr to go over results of blood work and everything was spectacular. Feeling better than I have in years (no addiction, no heart palpitations that I thought were panic attacks) D3 good. Cholesterol 143. Triglycerides 76. Blood sugar fine. Iron fine.
He did tell me that they have a B12 nasal spray by prescription now. You do one nostril one week, one the next. I self inject so it's super cheap and effective but if you are needle phobic
ask your doc about this.
I asked my doc if he had seen an increase of patients with addiction or other problems after gastric bypass and he said he had. I told him about the increased rate of suicide and he was surprised at that. He didn't know that.
Best of luck to you.
I get most of my vitamins mail order from Swanson Vitamins. It was just so much cheaper than the store and with as many as I take just couldn't afford not to. Can't get the Ferretts Iron but Target has it behind the pharmacy counter.
Just had appt with dr to go over results of blood work and everything was spectacular. Feeling better than I have in years (no addiction, no heart palpitations that I thought were panic attacks) D3 good. Cholesterol 143. Triglycerides 76. Blood sugar fine. Iron fine.
He did tell me that they have a B12 nasal spray by prescription now. You do one nostril one week, one the next. I self inject so it's super cheap and effective but if you are needle phobic
ask your doc about this.
I asked my doc if he had seen an increase of patients with addiction or other problems after gastric bypass and he said he had. I told him about the increased rate of suicide and he was surprised at that. He didn't know that.
Best of luck to you.
(deactivated member)
on 4/26/11 3:06 am - North Brookfield, MA
on 4/26/11 3:06 am - North Brookfield, MA
Lisa, I am truly identifying with your post right down to the alcoholic husband and feeling horrible.
I just sent you an email to your yahoo addy explaining my situation to see if I might gain some insight from your knowledge... Thanks for posting, Lisa
I just sent you an email to your yahoo addy explaining my situation to see if I might gain some insight from your knowledge... Thanks for posting, Lisa
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