Help needed. *FULL* blown transfer addiction happening.
I knew it before I even read it! hahahahaha! I knew you were going to say that!!!! 
I don't know what to tell you! I shop like a full blown maniac Jill, so I have no advise. i support Amazon by the way, without me they would go out of business. Clothes? Holy crap, get me into a 12-step program. Good luck and never, ever take me shopping with you. We would be doomed. Jane
I can certainly see how it can happen.... You feel better, have more energy...... want to spend money!!! I remember during the presurgery psychological exam the psychologist kept coming back to certain things like drinking, smoking, drug usage, impulsiveness, etc. I asked her about it and she said that it is so common to transfer addictions. Glad you are sharing about it. Keep coming back for support. I am in the presurgery phase of the process so I don't know how much wisdom I can share!
Assuming this is a new behavior, and you did not have spending issues prior to the surgery, it is likely related. You do need to address your spending and ask your husband for help, but more importantly you have to address why you are doing this. I write a blog and have a Facebook page dedicated to debunking the myth of Addiction Transfer. I call it a myth, not because it isn't happening at alarming rates, but the reason most psychologists and even surgeon is simply wrong (that its the psychological transfer from unresolved emotional issues or an eating addiction to a substance or behavior).
Studies show that people who get a type of bariatric surgery that bypasses the intestine and thus has a malabsorptive component (RNY and DS) quadruple their risk of developing alcoholism, substance abuse, mood disorders (depression, bi-polar), and suicide attempt. While the study didn't look at behavioral addictions (gambling, shopping, sex), there is no reason to think that the results would be terribly different. However, in restrictive only operations (lap band, gastrectomy) there is no such associated increase. Another study shows that problems (such as your shopping) typically manifest themselves around the two year mark (give or take a few months). In fact the author of that study, Dr. Wendy King, came right out and said the current notion of addiction transfer is false.
So, if the malabsorptive component is the common denominator, I would suggest you think back on when it first became a problem. What did it feel like? Were you anxious? Just feeling 'off'? Many nutrient deficiencies can cause brain chemistry changes that cause psychological and behavioral changes. More importantly, patients often get a false sense of security if their blood work comes back fine. Many nutrient deficiencies are not tested for nor are they detectable on the standard blood panel. Often, a tissue analysis is required, but that is rarely done. Blood work is decent at detecting deficiencies of Iron, B-12, vitamin D, ferritin. But not good at all for magnesium, calcium, micro-nutrients and minerals. Copper is rarely tested for but is associated with the increasing instances of painful peripheral neuropathy.
Magnesium deficiency is extremely common in gastric bypass patients and symptoms include agitation, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, etc. There are similar psychological and physical symptoms associated with deficiencies in other nutrients. In fact we now have Bariatric beriberi. There is also pellagra.
The intestines are not uniform (you probably already know this). The duodenum is responsible for nearly all calcium and magnesium absorption. So, no matter how much extra you take, you simply no longer have access to that absorption mechanism. You have to rely solely on the small amount of passive absorption that can take place in what is left of the proximal jejunum. But I have yet to find a doctor to say exactly how much calcium supplementation is required to compensate for the loss of the duodenum. Just to take double the dose of calcium citrate.
This likely holds true for more than just calcium. I suggest you up your multi-vitamin, calcium, magnesium (do not take mag oxide - take mag taurate or mag chloride solution), D3, B-12 and B complex, etc. See if you do not begin to feel less anxious and agitated after a month of doing this (magnesium can work wonders and very quickly - in fact hospitals give it to pregnant women to slow down premature labor).
My guess is your shopping is a self-soothing mechanism, but not for any unresolved emotional issues you supposedly used to use food to address. You are likely experiencing physical and psychological symptoms of malabsorption which you have been temporarily assuaging with shopping. A puppy sure makes you feel good....at least for a moment.
I'm curious. Did you have the RNY? When did you first notice symptoms? Do you recall feeling any physical symptoms?
Good luck to you and take care.
Lisa
