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Hi Lisa,
It's been a long time since I came out of lurking on the OH forums, but your post really struck me.
When I was in nutrition school, one of my areas of research was WLS patients and alcoholism. We are at a 60% greater risk for developing alcoholism than the general population.
The main difference is metabolic. An average adult can process one drink per hour and bring their body back to a normal BAC (blood alcohol content). However, in gastric bypass patients, one standard drink (a 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. wine, 2 oz. liquor shot) will bring the BAC above the legal limit for driving, and will also stay there 3 times as long as an average adult.
So basically we get drunk faster and stay drunk longer. The hardest thing for me to understand about this was that I didn't feel that drunk. It was like I was fine drinking a glass of wine, then I'd wake up the next day and my husband would have to piece the evening back together for me. It was very frightening. We tried setting a drink maximum, but even with that, some days one glass of wine was still wayyyy too much alcohol and sugar for my body to process.
Cutting calories to lose weight will help you, but the problem is that if the alcohol intake remains the same, I wager your tolerance for it would go down even more and those dizzy spells would get worse.
My advice would be to try going alcohol free just for a short time (2 weeks? 1 month?) and keep an open mind. Journal how you feel each day and if your symptoms are improving. There is no harm in trying, and my weight has stayed far more consistent. I've been sober for 2.5 years now and it was the best decision I ever made for keeping myself at a healthy weight and having better mental health.
I hope you find something that works for you. Have a great day!
Long-term post-ops with regain struggles, click here to see some steps for getting back on track (without the 5-day pouch fad or liquid diet): http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/bananafish711/blog/2013/04/05/don-t-panic--believe-and-you-will-succeed-/
Always cooking at www.neensnotes.com!
Need a pick-me-up? Read this: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/10/it-will-be-sunny-one-day.html
I weight 189 need to get back down to 145 lbs... Surgery was 2010. Since then I had a year of chemo and total hysterectomy last July with 13 tumors gone! So, had a little hiccup.... On this journey... But now I am here ready to get back on track before I am back to where I was 330 lbs. THAT IS NOT HAPPPENING..... So, I am looking for some peers that need to lose I am in 14s and want back in my 6s, HELP... PLEASE :-). Know the struggle.... Let's do this... Who is in?
Go to amazon and search for Biotech D3 50k unit. Start taking one a day. Docs prescribe those 50k a week crap vites which just doesn't bring up the numbers very quickly, probably because you still malabsorb at least some fat - prescription D is oil based (fat basically).
on 8/14/16 7:09 pm - east falmouth, MA
I have almost exactly the same issues 8 years out.... I have begun transdermal supplements and it's such a struggle. I find magnesium and b12 are pretty well absorbed this way .. cant seem to get D over 8 no matter what I do orally even with the prescription levels. Some days i just cant hardly even move.
With this knowledge I wish i had been more selective and maybe waited to get the sleeve surgery. The malabsorbtion from the bypass is probably making me need a lot more vitamins if orally is how i take them.... never seem to be well.
One thing that helps me that i can do is sal****er swims at the beach. Fortunately I can do it in the summer here after I work. The minerals seem to absorb and relax the twitching.
I have consulted a naturaopath and we are working on ways to improve the absorption but its a big science project and going to take some time. Not at all convinced I caused this because i have been loyal about supplementation over the years. i seriously believe the bypass is the reason for my deficiencies although it is also my saving surgery.
In retrospect I wish i had the chance to have the sleeve instead. It wasn't even approved then but my Husband had his done 5 years ago and is a much worse eater than i and has no deficiencies . His vitamins work orally, mine dont seem to...
that said, good luck and try some transdermals ( i got mine on amazon from a place in texas)
My surgery date is September 8. I was told they no longer require you to stop drinking 30 minutes before your meal. You can drink right up to the meal.
waiting 30 minutes after the meal remains the same.
Thank you! I have thick skin, no worries, or I wouldn't have posted to begin with. I do know its my problem, I am just wondering how I can balance it with weight loss and my job. And my boyfriend has zero problem with it -- he thinks I look fine, he likes to go out with me and he is a social drinker as well....that makes it even harder. We belong to several winery event clubs and go to tons of athletic events and alcohol is always the center of everything. I am well aware that I have just shifted my excessive behavior with food to alcohol, no brainer. I am thinking of trying to impose a "Drink maximum" on myself per event or per week, and when its done, its done.
Lisa, you have certainly been on a roller coaster ride with your highs and lows. You know what your problem is.....alcohol so work on eliminating that. I have never cared for alcoholic drinks but I am the mother of an alcoholic. My son lost jobs and was arrested for DUIs. He quit getting drunk but lately he has been having a drin****asionally and I think it may be becoming too many drinks.
Sounds like you aren't willing to work on eliminating alcohol but maybe you should. Is your boyfriend okay with your drinking?
When I'm stressed, I go for sweets although if they are sugary, I know I will feel sick if I eat too much, but I do it anyway. This week I've been staying away from sweet and concentrating on protein and healthy choices.
I'm not being judgmental or critical of you. You were a success story and you can be again. I with you the best.
~Jo~
RNY: July 8, 2008
Dr. John Price
Kansas City, MO
What an encouragement as I wait for my surgery!
RNY Jan 12, 2017 Lost 137 lbs but regained 60.
77 lbs lost and counting!
Losing the regain! I got this!
My fainting episodes were directly related to dehydration and not eating. All of them occurred after busy work days when I was traveling and not eating; not drinking water, etc. The one that landed my in the hospital was after an entire day of meetings and no food, drinking diet coke, sugar free red bull to keep going, then going to a two hour workout class straight from work. REAL smart. Once I started eating again every 3-4 hours and drinking a ton of water, all of that subsided.
