RNY and alcohol abuse recovery?

Aug 12, 2013

I had a RNY 18 months ago and have lost almost 100 pounds. But in the past year and I have picked up an alcohol abuse disorder (AUD). I drank 1-2 times a month prior to surgery but it slowly increased starting about 10 months after surgery to a point where I rarely go a day without a drink.

This past weekend my family held an intervention for me which was painful and embarrassing. So I am heading off to my first rehab meeting this afternoon. I have read a lot of research & articles about RNY patients in a similar situations but it doesn't seem exactly right. It seems like I struggle more to get relaxed (to rid myself of the day/work anxiety) rather than alcohol itself.  I don't drink first thing in the morning and of this post it's been 5 days since a drink - but that isn't to say I haven't thought about having a drink every hour of every day.

So my question is - if any of you have gone through something similar - what is it like on the other side? Does my AUD and RNY mean I will have to abstain from social drinking for the rest of my life. No judgments please, its just that being a very social person I would miss having a beer on the boat or at happy hours on a Friday afternoon every now and then (1-2 a month). 

I will let my doctors/therapists tell me how to handle the day-to-day battle but I wanted to know from someone who lives/lived it what will life be like in another year. I find it ironic/sad/scary that now that I can do all the activities I've wanted to do (skiing, swimming, hiking) the post event celebrations (parties, picnics, apres ski) might be what I have to avoid because of the food/alcohol. That is a life I didn't expect to face.

Ann

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