Any Heavy Drinkers Pre-Op?

I have a friend who is considering VSG and he is a heavy drinker (4-7 days per week and at least 3 to excess). A big part of his weight problem is the drinking and the subsequent eating that results from drinking as well as some bad fast food habits.

Were any of you heavy drinkers before you had VSG and if so what happened after the surgery? What were the first couple days like and what were your transfer addictions? Did you return to drinking? Did is have any affect on your weight loss? What else should I be asking here? I am concerned that this could be disastrous but I also think VSG is just what he needs for the weight loss.

This isn't about someone I know personally, but about someone of whom I've heard.  It's a relative of my husband's co-worker, who I consider to be a very reliable witness, and this woman had an RNY, not a sleeve.  All that said, I don't know how useful this will be.

This woman was a drinker before her surgery, but quit for a while pre- and postop.  She lost a good amount of weight, but when she started drinking again she gained a lot of weight back and, from what I last heard, she is still drinking and still re-gaining.

Hope that helps somehow.  Hopefully you'll hear from/about others who had more commitment and success in that situation than the woman who I described.

Is this "heavy drinker" an alcoholic? My program wouldn't take alcoholics/drug addicts until they'd been in recovery for at least 10 years. I'm not sure how many programs have rules like that, but if your friend disclosed his usage at a consult he might be turned down for the procedure altogether. Not sure how I feel about the rule, but I understand the concept. Just something to watch out for. 

I grew up in an alcoholic family so I recognize the problem. I don't think this person has an actual dependency to the alcohol as to the social environment that comes with it. He is planning on going to Mexico and they don't much care if you are a booze bag or not just as long as the cashier's check clears.

I would think he would have to address his drinking before considering WLS. Anyone who drinks that much that often has a drinking problem.

I drank a lot many years ago, but I had to give it up/cut it down to once every few months when I quit smoking. No way I could do both. I think it would be the same for me had it been drinking and losing weight.

I hope it all works out for your friend.

Hey Keith,

I agree with others in saying that I believe he is an "alcoholic". I grew up with both parents being alcoholics and if anyone consumes this much it is def a big NO NO.

I don't think he would be allowed to have WLS if he is honest about his drinking. 

Have you talked to him about joining AA or some other organization so he can get a handle on his behavior?

Good luck to him.

Hugs,

Rita

I grew up in an alcoholic family so I recognize the problem. I don't think this person has an actual dependency to the alcohol as to the social environment that comes with it. He is planning on going to Mexico and they don't much care if you are a booze bag or not just as long as the cashier's check clears.

Is this going to become "My Alcoholic family can beat up your alcoholic family" LOL.

Its clear your friend has some sort of addictive or compulsive behavior going on.  That needs to be addressed in some way as part of his overall treatment.  This is why transfer addictions are so common after WLS.  The surgery doesnt cause addictive behavior, it was there before.  It just takes a different form after surgery if we don't address whats behind it.

LOL No, my alcoholic family is too drunk to fight!

Whether you call your friend an alcoholic or not, its clear that he has some dependency on drinking - be it emotional or physical or both.  That issue needs to be addressed before the weight loss surgery.  HE at least needs to be in therapy or some sort of support system to develop tools for dealing with whatever is going on.

IF he goes back to drinking after WLS - two things are likely to happen.  First his increased sensitivity to alcohol will cause him to make poor decisions - see Kelli's DUI post from yesterday.  Second, he will sabotage his own weight loss.  Alcohol is very calorically dense.  Going back to point one, when drinking he will want to eat and probably not make wise food choices.

I was a social drinker before surgery, Drinks with dinner with friends, special occasions, and the like.  I didn't drink at all during weight loss and have only had a few sips once since entering maintenance.