My mom thinks I'm an alcoholic and I'm not.

I was able to really knock them back before surgery - I was have about 12 or 13. Now I drink two and I KNOW that I'm drunk. The problem is I'm not the type to "nurse" drinks. I'm a guzzler and I drink water between my drinks when I'm out... But when I've had too much, I want more. I've blacked out way too many times, and that's the scariest thing. Because I don't see it coming, and then BAM! I don't remember anything. I've been very, very, very lucky and very fortunate to have great friends. My mom thinks I'm an alcoholic because I do go out a lot. But I feel like ever since the surgery, I've felt a lot more comfortable with myself and now I always want to go out and be social. Has anyone else had problems with alcohol? Experienced black outs?

are these blackouts leading to dangerous or threatening behavior? from what i understand, blackouts are indicators of serious drinking issues. but i'm not gonna get all AA on you. that's for you to decide. i'm not surprised that you want to party now that you've got the energy and body. i say celebrate, girl! but be careful and maybe space out those drinks. you don't want to ruin your lovely new self while on such a temporary high. i haven't experimented that much with alcohol yet (and i'm only 5 months out) but i've noticed my tolerance level is waay down. one drink and i'm flying! but, that high doesn't last long! i'm curious how you "stay" drunk enough to black out even. are you just chugging drink after drink? -kari

I am not judging you as I have done my share of drinking. As far as drinking after WLS I am no help b/c I am still pre op. However, I had come across this article written by a Dr. about blackouts which is interesting to read. Good luck and be safe! "Blackouts" are chemically induced periods of amnesia, which can last for seconds, minutes, hours and even days. They are caused by blood alcohol levels high enough to interfere with normal brain function (in this case, the formation of short-term memory). They can occur "en bloc" (blackouts with a beginning and an end, containing "lost time," which can themselves be recalled as events) or as "fragments" (memory lapses about which the drinker remains unaware until someone reports them back). Although they can occur in normal, healthy drinkers who have over-indulged, blackouts are always and unquestionably a warning sign of problematic drinking. The appropriate response to your first blackout should be to be frightened, and to re-evaluate your drinking patterns and habits. Recurring blackouts are considered early, high-risk indicators of alcoholism. Some drinkers experience them early in their drinking, others later. Blackouts are definitely associated with binge drinking, extended drinking over long periods of time, drinking while fatigued, and drinking on an empty stomach. Researchers have proposed a genetic basis for increased risk of blackouts. Some people seem simply to metabolize alcohol less efficiently. Others may have a greater neurologic sensitivity to the toxic effects of alcohol. Both groups are thought to share some of the genetics and neurobiology that underlie alcoholism. Whatever their longer-term risks, blackouts are a clear sign of immediate danger. If inhibitions are lowered and judgment impaired by more moderate drinking, imagine how much greater your risks are when drinking to blackout levels. Though conscious, you are operating at a level of intoxication where your brain is literally incapable of processing information. You will certainly do things you won't remember. You may well do things you wouldn't want to remember.

blacking out has nothing to do with being an alcohlic. its just from over drinking. lets say you have 5 drinks but it only feels like you've had 2 because your not drunk yet, just buzzin'. 30-45 minutes later you will be head over heels drunk with the 5 drinks. it takes time for your body to absorb your alcohol. My mother died Od'ing on alcohol(no one believes me, cause they think it cant happen) she had 12-13 shots(very small framed gal), she told people she was going to go lay down, and they found her the next morning in her truck, dead. my personal opinion.... have 1 drink. make yourself have only 1 drink. if your drunk with 2 drinks, then you will probably have a nice buzz with only 1. If you think you cant handle having only 1 drink, tell the bartender to make them very weak. so then you can have 2-3. if you know what i mean. hope that helps. Cheers- Chloe

I totally know what you mean. I'm now at the point where I'm starting to drink again and I used to have like 8-10 margaritas and be buzzed, now it's more like 2 drinks or any liquor and I'm far beyond buzzed. I've also had a few shots since my sugery and I've GOT to sit down after that for at least 20 minutes! The only advice I can give is maybe slow down? Just remember, when you black out, you could lose bodily functions. My friend blacked out on St. Patrick's day and pissed on herself, yuck! We had to clean her up and take her home. -Lynn Lap RNY 8-16-05 297/207/140

This comes from a quarterly newsletter from the hospital where I am planning to have my surgery Memorial Health Bariatrics in Savannah GA. Some gastric bypass patients wonder if they can drink alcohol after surgery. Research has shown that gastric bypass surgery significantly affects alcohol absorption and can lead to high levels of intoxication. One study compared patients who were at least three years post surgery to a group that had not had the surgery. Each person was given the same amount of alcohol and their blood alcohol (BAC) levels were measured over a period of time. The BAC of the gastric bypass patients was higher in a much shorter time period than the other group. After gastric bypass surgery, alcohol goes almost directly to the jejunum, where it is rapidly absorbed into the body. Gastric bypass patients eat less than other people. Studies have shown that consuming alcohol on an empty stomach results in higher BAC levels. This is especially true in the period right after surgery, when calorie consumption is very low.

I haven't drank since my WLS, but in my single pre-op days I went out a lot. I had a friend who would black out, she'd hardly remember anything the next day. It then became our problem as her friends. We would make her stop when we saw she had too much. This was not a fun or easy job. I would go out with a trusted friend and ask them to help you not drink too much. Ask him/her to cut you off if it comes to that. Also, try sipping. Try stopping yourself. Blacking out is not healthy. Best Wishes, Amy