Question:
Hi this is so hard to ask,but has anyone abused alcohal after wls.
I am 6 months out down 62 lbs .I feel it should be more, but o well. In recent weekends I have had up to 8 bloddy marys,made strong and on onther night 8 aplle martinis...anothe night about 12 margaritas...I AM SCARED. I don't get sick. I don't dump...I don't have terrible hang overs...Actually in the past hangovers were worse before after consumming all that. I do get wasted fast, but i continue to drink...I realize it may be a problem. I can only image what it's doing to my other organs. Have any of you had a battle with alcohal after wls. I know i should probly meet new friends who dont engage in drinking binges, but I am 25 years old single and having a hard time learning how to socailize...Any suggestions, advice, or words of wisdom are appreciated. I AM so scared!!!!!! THANKS — christina L. (posted on November 11, 2003)
November 11, 2003
Sometimes obese people are obsesive and compulsive :( sounds like you
traded obsesions ..one is as deadly as the other . Think back ..why did you
have this surgery ? To get healthy ? when socializing .. try one drink then
sip sater with lime or lemmon .. you still have something in your hand :) I
know its hard I just stopped smoking 3 days ago .. and I am soon to be 8
months out .. Good luck hun .. Praying helps too :)
— ruthie
November 11, 2003
Dear Christina, Please get to a treatment center asap. You are damaging
yourself a lot. the alcohol is basically being main lined into your blood
stream and your liver can fail. Please know that there is life after wls.
all the trouble you have gone through to improve your social life, cant be
sacrificed for drink. Best wishes.
— Loretta R.
November 11, 2003
Exchanging one dependency, food, for another one, in this case alcohol, is
not uncommon among WLS patients. You need to make a beeline to your doctor
and ask for a referral to someone who deals with these problems. Also, for
the social anxiety there is medication now - Paxil and several others - to
help. Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step, asking for
help is next and then helping yourself get the treatment you need to quit
is the most critical.
— Ro R.
November 11, 2003
I say congrats on admitting you have a problem, I would advise you go to
AA, I have alot of people who are alcoholics in my family and I only wish
they would go.
I know how much my local Weight Loss support group has helped, I could only
imagine how much AA whould help someone with an alcohol problem.
Do it now before it gets any worse!
GOOD LUCK!
— Saxbyd
November 11, 2003
Iam 6 years sober and 3+ weeks post-op. You have to remember food can be an
addiction. After I stopped drinking I found myself eating alot more. Be
careful you don't substitute one addiction for another. I give you credit
for recognizing there's a problem. Joann
— Joann W.
November 11, 2003
Hi, Christina. I know many will not agree with me on this, BUT I fully
understand the 20's social single scene. I've been there, done that. I'm
7 mos out, single and do go out for drinks with friends, as well. One
thing that helps me is to drink water in between every drink. If I feel I
may not be "strong" enough to remind myself, I ask my friends to
remind me. 8 drinks is a quite an amount to drink before surgery, so think
of it as doubling 8 making your drink intake at 16! And you get high
really fast, too. Remind yourself when you're out that you don't want to
get wasted and you don't want to destroy your body, and make those
adjustments. If, as you said, you need new friends, go for it. I tend to
stay away from my drinking buddies now. I don't really care what they
think. I find something else to do with them (in the day time) and other
people to do something with at night. I hope this helps. Trust me, I'm no
saint...I was out over the weekend having drinks, myself. But I did the
every other drink water-thing and that keeps me in check (and hydrated!).
Only you know what you need. Good luck!! Mary
— msmaryk
November 11, 2003
My surgeon told me 2 of his patients died from drinking alcohol after the
surgery. Your body absorbs the alcohol a lot faster after bariatric
surgery. You say you don't feel drunk, but does someone who is drunk really
have the capability to know if they are drunk.
Please seek counseling either at AA or one on one. I want you alive !!!!
Good luck & God bless you,
Cathy
— catleth
November 11, 2003
I have been sober for 15 months now and I have to agree with Joan on this
one. I traded one addiction (alcohol) for another (food). I thought I
would lose weight after I stopped drinking but it never happened. I just
ate more. Also think about the empty calories you are consuming - what a
waste. You are young and you have a long life ahead of you - but if you
continue to drink to excess you will die sooner than you can imagine. I
still go to bars once in a great while (my husband is a drinker) but I
order water. Please take care of yourself and get help if you need to. AA
is a great program.
— laurab
November 12, 2003
Hi! I think you are wise to take this seriously. It's very easy to trade
one addiction for another. Alcohol, exercise (the healthiest one :), and
shopping are a few things that come to mind. I have an addictive
personality, and if it's not food (carbs), I'll find something else. I
started having a glass of wine here and there post-op, which led to me
WANTING it every night. I felt it could easily go to addiction, so I felt
I better quit drinking all together as alcohol is 4 times harder on your
liver post-op. I didn't want to trade being MO for cirrhosis of the liver.
I haven't kicked the shopping habit though. My friend pointed it out to
me one day when she was in my room... "What are you doing with all
these purses? Are you trading one addiction for another?". Wow, was
she on the money. I now have to avoid E-bay like the plague!! Be careful,
get help if you need it, and good luck! Being aware if half the battle.
— mom2jtx3
November 12, 2003
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK...I TOOK EVERYTHIGN IN TO
CONSIDERATION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME...I NEED SO MUCH SUPPORT AND
TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME...
THANKS
— christina L.
November 12, 2003
I know that I used my weight (318 lbs) as a shield for social situations.
This surgery doesn't make are old problems go away. In fact, what does
happen is it makes you feel feelings that we have not felt in a long time.
Anger and joy. I would strongly recommend joining a support group and/or
see a counselor. These are real issues and can lead some real problems
down the line. Don't be afraid. Sometimes we just have the coping skills
to deal with some issues. You will be in my thoughts.
— Linda R.
November 13, 2003
Hi! I am so glad you asked this question. I thought I was alone. Yes, I
started abusing alcohol about 9 onths to a year out. I am now 22 months
out. I am now seeing a addiction counselor. I am working the first step
of AA, admitting that I am powerless over alcohol and my life has become
unmanageable. It is so hard. I probably would not have even went to the
counseleor if had not been for my poor wife insisting. Anyway, I could
sure use help if you or anybody else wants to talk to me. My email is
listed in my profile, but, just in case, its [email protected]
— David T.
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