Question:
has anyone else developed an addiction to alcohol after gastric bypass surgery

   — kathleen M. (posted on July 25, 2005)

July 25, 2005
You are not alone Kathleen...I too became an alcoholic after surgery. A pretty bad one too!! It started with a small bowel obstruction I had 14 months after my original surgery. Once they took my pain meds away, I turned to alcohol to deal with it. It progressed into full blown alcoholism. I almost lost everything. My daughter, my boyfriend (we split for 4 months), my family, 2 jobs, almost my apartment, I went into debt but most importantly, I lost myself. Not to mention that the surgery changed my body chemistry so much that I got drunk faster and more obnoxiously. I was like a light switch. One second I would be riding the buzz and enjoying myself, and then the next I would be drooling on the bar! People say that they can see it happening right before their eyes and it is instantaneous. I come from a family of alcoholics so I am sure that plays a part in it as well. I am happy to report that I quit drinking. I get my 60 day chip next week. My life is starting to pick up and I feel soooo much better. I am actually afraid to drink now and I don't dare to try. I found a great website for support. It is www.soberrecovery.com . There are chat rooms and message boards there with tons of people to help and give advice. The first week was the hardest. The withdrawels were aweful. I didn't think I was gonna make it!! But I stuck it through and am now doing GREAT!! I also attend AA and have a sponsor that is helping me. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you need support. Good luck!! (((HUGZ)))
   — skennedy

July 25, 2005
I'm not an alcoholic (yet). But one thing that I do see when I drink is that the buzz I get is a lot quicker than it use to be before WLS but it also doesn't last as long, so I can see where the tendency would be to drink more and drink often to keep up the effect of the alcohol. Not a good thing. If you really see yourself losing control, please get the help you deserve dont let this control you. You had WLS to improve your life dont let another problem tear you down!!!
   — SARose61

July 25, 2005
Thank you so much for this question. I too feel the buzz and have been drinking way tooooo much post rny. I am so embarrassed to admit this to anyone. I don't feel I can admit this to anyone. I will try and solve this problem on my own as I have solved all the other problems in my life. Please don't judge me. I have had enough of that. However, I want to thank you for asking this question. God Bless.
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 25, 2005
Yes. It's so embarrasing to admit it, particularly because I've been surrounded my whole life by alcoholics whom I've been very condescending towards. My attitude was always "just don't drink...it's not like eating...we HAVE to eat to survive."<br> I think that overeating is an addiction, and once I broke that addiction, my personality needed another addiction to latch on to. It's been alcohol. I've been struggling to maintain control. I'm such an all or nothing personality, that sometimes, I know that if i just stopped thinking about it and stopped buying the wine (that's my addiction), i'd be fine. Other times, it's nice to be able to relax and stop the constant worrying.<br> Sorry there are no clear answers here...just that I sympathize with you and know where you're coming from. Good luck, and feel free to keep in touch. (OPEN RNY, 7/7/03, 226/122/115)
   — sweetmana

July 25, 2005
Definitely not judging, but as one of you mentioned... you've traded one addiction for another. And if you know that it's becoming a problem, please do anything you can to resolve it. What worries me, in addition to the obvious problems this addiction brings to one's life, is the physiological issues: There is no stomach to digest the alcohol, so it's practically going straight to the liver (hence the quick buzz). I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like we are MUCH more susceptible to developing liver problems :-( That's my take on it... Take care of your bodies and your hearts, because you, me... all of us... we are all precious beings :-) Angie http://www.geocities.com/tiger_angie
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 25, 2005
As I am sure others will post, some people are looking for ways to replace one addiction for another. Some shop, drugs, alcohol or whatever may fill their time from what they used to do. The first step is to be aware that you might be replacing one addiction for another. The next step is to get help. Good luck - michelle
   — Michelle S.

July 31, 2005
I'm not a drinker, never was. I had a problem with shopping about year 2. At the ASBS conference this year, the stat given was (sit down) 34% will become alcoholics. (My personal guess was 30%), with shopping coming in at #2, but I don't remember the exact number. The other addictions are represented, but nothing like alcoholism. I cannot tell you how to handle it, but your question was does it happen? Oh yes, it happens, and far more often than we realize, often to people who were not drinkers pre-op!
   — vitalady