From the DUH Files: Study -Gastric bypass weight-loss surgery increases risk of alcoholism

So, are the findings the same for the DS and VSG? I would think since the pyloric valve has such a huge effect on the absorption of alcohol in a typical physiology, it's absence would have a major effect on possible alcoholism.

We have had a number of folks come back on the vsg board and tell the same sad tale.  I think if you had a junkie tendency before you need to always watch it, because it always shows its head in ways we think are benign, until we are its *****  :{  

I know drinking hits me much faster than it used to and since it's harder to eat myself into a stupor I really need to watch it.

so far, so good but I agree: people need to talk about this and warn pre-ops.

It's not the physiology that makes you an alcoholic though. After all, plenty of people without WLS manage to be alcoholics. Also, even with a pylorus valve, we have faster gastric emptying than pre-op which contributes to alcohol hitting us faster than before.

I have a lot of addicts in my family and I see it as whether or not you like the feeling that abusing whatever you are addicted to gives you. So, some will drink after WLS and it hits them harder and sooner and they figure out how to drink more within the limitations of their new altered anatomy because they like that feeling of being drunk. Some else will drink after WLS and it will hit them harder and sooner and they'll think "that sucks" and either stop drinking or cut way back because they don't like that out-of-control feeling.

Wow, never realized how serious and common this is.

Personally can't drink much. Anything carbonated bothers me. I'll do a glass of wine every couple of months out w/ a girlfriend and that's it. Maybe the holidays.