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Topic: Increase Rate of Suicide after Gastric Bypass
Hello All,
I have started a blog to try and get the message out about the startling increase in the rate of suicide and related problems with nutritional related deficiencies post-gastric bypass that many surgeons aren't telling their patients. The stories that people tell me are absolutely heart breaking. The sad thing is, they are blaming the patients (they call it addiction transfer) when it can be avoided if given the right information. I won't go into the details here, but those of you who are interested or who are experiencing problems or know what I'm talking about can find my blog at http://www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com
I've looked on this site and have seen very little about people with problems with alcohol and addiction. So either people aren't admitting it on this site or they aren't talking about it, since as many as 30+% of post-gastric bypass patients are having these types of problems. Admittedly, when you are in the depths of despair, you probably aren't going to be on a site like this chatting about how terrible things are - you are probably in denial and hiding it. Most people go to a site like this to rave about how happy they are. I know that's what I did my first two years. These problems usually hit between 18-26 months post-op when your reserves have been ultimately depleted, and you are no longer posting on this site.
I promise this is not to sell anything, I am just trying to get the word out and help people who are having problems and hopefully prevent others from developing problems. Many of you already know this, but I link to the latest studies on nutritional deficiencies, increased suicide rates, by the scientific publications, etc. And to all you who are just fine - kudos and congratulations, this is for those who aren't. If you know of someone who has developed a problem after surgery and they are interested in further information they can email me at [email protected].
I have started a blog to try and get the message out about the startling increase in the rate of suicide and related problems with nutritional related deficiencies post-gastric bypass that many surgeons aren't telling their patients. The stories that people tell me are absolutely heart breaking. The sad thing is, they are blaming the patients (they call it addiction transfer) when it can be avoided if given the right information. I won't go into the details here, but those of you who are interested or who are experiencing problems or know what I'm talking about can find my blog at http://www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com
I've looked on this site and have seen very little about people with problems with alcohol and addiction. So either people aren't admitting it on this site or they aren't talking about it, since as many as 30+% of post-gastric bypass patients are having these types of problems. Admittedly, when you are in the depths of despair, you probably aren't going to be on a site like this chatting about how terrible things are - you are probably in denial and hiding it. Most people go to a site like this to rave about how happy they are. I know that's what I did my first two years. These problems usually hit between 18-26 months post-op when your reserves have been ultimately depleted, and you are no longer posting on this site.
I promise this is not to sell anything, I am just trying to get the word out and help people who are having problems and hopefully prevent others from developing problems. Many of you already know this, but I link to the latest studies on nutritional deficiencies, increased suicide rates, by the scientific publications, etc. And to all you who are just fine - kudos and congratulations, this is for those who aren't. If you know of someone who has developed a problem after surgery and they are interested in further information they can email me at [email protected].
Topic: RE: Alcoholism
I forgot to post the link to the Crossing to Transfer Addictions page on OH. There are a few posters there that are faithful to it, and might be able to help you as well.
I hope you are checking out AA, and seeking medical help for your drinking.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/crossingtotransferaddiction s/discussion/
I hope you are checking out AA, and seeking medical help for your drinking.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/crossingtotransferaddiction s/discussion/
Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too.
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Topic: RE: Alcoholism
Hi,
Well I used to drink once in a while too, now I find myself drinking every day, started with the gym once a day, then twice a day, then three times a day on weekends.. now well, yeah its wine.. never saw this coming
Well I used to drink once in a while too, now I find myself drinking every day, started with the gym once a day, then twice a day, then three times a day on weekends.. now well, yeah its wine.. never saw this coming
Topic: RE: Having This Surgery Destroyed My Life
Ginny,
You are absolutely right. It is not your fault and you are absolutely right it is a malabsoprtion issue. I am contacting anyone and everyone I can think of. I have contacted Dr. Oz, Dr. Judith Hagedorn who worked on the study confirming what we all already knew which was alcohol made us drunker, trying to get a study done. I think if they would do a statistical study comparing Roux-en-Y patients with Lap-Band patients to see which population has a higher population of this "addiction transfer" then they could identify whether it was a biochemical of psychological phenomena. Though I am sure we are all positive it is a biochemical because we can "feel" the difference. We all know how we felt before and we know we are different now, and no one seems to believe us.
I am writing a book and would like to gather as many stories and details as I can. If anyone is willing to send me their story, please contact me at [email protected]. I am serious about this. Dr. Hagedorn has agreed to talk with me in person about this so hopefully we can get some traction and if we can scream loudly enough.
It is bad enough people are becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs, but even worse when they cannot deal with the addiction and depression they are then committing suicide. So all the health benefits are going down the drain.
I have personally made a lot of head way by taking about 40 vitamins a day. Of course that isn't what my surgeon told me to take. I had to learn that the hard way by becoming so deficient and anemic and taking months and months to build myself back up.
The list of what I take is on www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com
Best Regards.
Lisa
You are absolutely right. It is not your fault and you are absolutely right it is a malabsoprtion issue. I am contacting anyone and everyone I can think of. I have contacted Dr. Oz, Dr. Judith Hagedorn who worked on the study confirming what we all already knew which was alcohol made us drunker, trying to get a study done. I think if they would do a statistical study comparing Roux-en-Y patients with Lap-Band patients to see which population has a higher population of this "addiction transfer" then they could identify whether it was a biochemical of psychological phenomena. Though I am sure we are all positive it is a biochemical because we can "feel" the difference. We all know how we felt before and we know we are different now, and no one seems to believe us.
I am writing a book and would like to gather as many stories and details as I can. If anyone is willing to send me their story, please contact me at [email protected]. I am serious about this. Dr. Hagedorn has agreed to talk with me in person about this so hopefully we can get some traction and if we can scream loudly enough.
It is bad enough people are becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs, but even worse when they cannot deal with the addiction and depression they are then committing suicide. So all the health benefits are going down the drain.
I have personally made a lot of head way by taking about 40 vitamins a day. Of course that isn't what my surgeon told me to take. I had to learn that the hard way by becoming so deficient and anemic and taking months and months to build myself back up.
The list of what I take is on www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com
Best Regards.
Lisa
Topic: RE: Alcoholism
Many Many people have struggle with drinking after this surgery. Some estimates are 30% or higher. My husband never drank before this surgery except socially and then after this surgery he became and full fledge alcoholic. My co-worker got the surgery after I did and then he had a problem with drinking as well. My blog is at www.itsnotaddictiontransfer.wordpress.com
If you are having trouble I can tell you what has helped me. My email is [email protected]. I take a lot of vitamins to compensate for bypassing the duodenum and jejunum. If you want to read some heart breaking, yet eye opening stories from fellow gastric bypass patients go to http://calorielab.com/news/2006/07/18/bariatric-surgery-trad es-obesity-for-alcoholism/. I hope you are doing well. How much weight have you lost? When did you have your surgery?
If you are having trouble I can tell you what has helped me. My email is [email protected]. I take a lot of vitamins to compensate for bypassing the duodenum and jejunum. If you want to read some heart breaking, yet eye opening stories from fellow gastric bypass patients go to http://calorielab.com/news/2006/07/18/bariatric-surgery-trad es-obesity-for-alcoholism/. I hope you are doing well. How much weight have you lost? When did you have your surgery?
Topic: RE: Alcoholism
I had my surgery in 2002 and never thought i would become an addict. It started with alcohol and moved on to cocaine, pills.... I'm a nurse and never had a problem with addiction but the key words are EXCEPT AN ADDICTION TO FOOD. Its been a hard road but i have 18months tomorrow. Also check out Narcotics Anonyous, look it up in google. Runs on the 12 steps just like AA, only they dont just deal with alcohol, but any mind altering substance. I use both AA & NA.
Topic: RE: psych eval should i tell the truth
Of course you should be honest about your meds and the reasons for them. The reasons for the psych eval are to determine if you will be able to be compliant with the regimen of the lifestyle changes after the surgery. You can't go back and undo the surgery, but you could do harm to yourself if you do not follow the rules of having RNY. The post-op diet is strict, especially the first six weeks, during the healing process. If your mental health issues prevent you from following the rules of the diet and other guidelines, you can do serious harm to yourself.
That being said, I am on a variety of meds, and have bipolar disorder, and am a recovering alcoholic, and that did not prevent me from getting RNY.
If you are not already in therapy, I suggest you start, so that you can start working through the emotions that will be coming up post-op, because eating disorders don't go away with surgery. The surgery is a tool. Like they say around my neck of the woods, I didn't have surgery on my head, but my stomach. My thinking and emotions contributed to my morbid obesity.
Hugs,
Trish
That being said, I am on a variety of meds, and have bipolar disorder, and am a recovering alcoholic, and that did not prevent me from getting RNY.
If you are not already in therapy, I suggest you start, so that you can start working through the emotions that will be coming up post-op, because eating disorders don't go away with surgery. The surgery is a tool. Like they say around my neck of the woods, I didn't have surgery on my head, but my stomach. My thinking and emotions contributed to my morbid obesity.
Hugs,
Trish
Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too.
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Topic: psych eval should i tell the truth
ive already had the lapband for 3 years and i am revising to rny. My surgeon has his own psych that is mainly a bunch (175) questions. Some of them have to do with meds, depression, memory, panic, and anxiety, I take all kinds of meds for those. Im not sure I should tell them because I dont want to get this close to my revision andfail because I gave the wrong answers. My depression hasnt really been about my weight but recently I just want to get the weight off because I cant stand being fat anymore. What do you think?
lapband 7/08 revised to rny 7/11
Topic: RE: Alcoholism
My grandmother had roux en Y in the 70s. Prior to the surgery she was a social drinker, but after the surgery she became a full blown alcoholic. I think she probably found that she got drunk really quickly and maybe didn't understand how or why - keep in mind that back then there weren't psych evaluations, support groups, message boards, etc. You just had the surgery and went home.
She never got sober and died from complications of alcoholism. That said, she managed to live a long life (86). And interestingly enough, she restricted her calories so much the last few years of her life that I believe she was actually exhibiting anorexia. Of course, doctors aren't really looking for signs of anorexia in an 80 year old woman, nor are they looking for signs of alcoholism. She could have lived much longer.
She never got sober and died from complications of alcoholism. That said, she managed to live a long life (86). And interestingly enough, she restricted her calories so much the last few years of her life that I believe she was actually exhibiting anorexia. Of course, doctors aren't really looking for signs of anorexia in an 80 year old woman, nor are they looking for signs of alcoholism. She could have lived much longer.
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