childofnite
Alcoholism Q&A... ALCOHOLISM part II
Jan 07, 2011
(Post 1)
How do you know if you have a problem with alcohol?
If I were to drink before surgery it would be a binge drinking night about 6 times a year or so. Now that I've had surgery I will have about 4 to 5 glasses (normal sized glasses that are not full to the top) of wine a week. It's always after the kids are in bed, and I only drink to the point of relaxation, not inebriation. On rare occassion I will become inebriated, but it's always the intention for the night (girls night out, NYE) and I'm responsible about it (the kids have a sitter, I don't drive drunk or have important plans the next day).
So while I can say that I drink more post-op, I believe that if someone told me that I would die if I ever touched alcohol again I could stop (I would whine about it, but I could do it). I'm not making light of the subject at all, I'm just wondering what the definition is. How can you tell? I'm making an attempt to be cautious without being drastic, I guess.
Obsessions and drastic measures are what got me into overeating.
(Post 2)
I suppose using terms like "always" isn't very honest. I can remember one time during the summer that I had two mid-afternoon glasses of wine while the kids were still awake. But I do remember these things and I don't pretend they didn't happen. It's such a tricky subject to ask about. :-/
My answer:
The fact that you are asking, and feel the need to justify your useage to me and others here is cause for concern, actually.
I can tell you once again that alcoholism is a progressive disease. People do not wake up from surgery and have to drink a case of beer - it doesn't work that way. But you said yourself that you are drinking more than you were prior to surgery. That should be a red flag to you that you should monitor as closely as you do your children.
While the general public may not think what you say you are drinking is much, we are not the general populace, are we? We get drunk faster, have a lower tolerance than most anyone else on the planet, and lack the digestive enzymes necessary to properly break it down. That and we are already addicts at the starting line...
Every alcoholic has their line to draw in the sand. I am a rather financially secure, happily married (D.I.N.K.) woman in my 30's with a brand new house and a great new body post-surgery. I lost none of that while drinking - I am not homeless lying in a gutter, or getting into fights or engaging in other dangerous behaviour. I lost a majority of the weight I put on during an 18 month binge while I still continued to drink. Does that mean I should have kept drinking? NO!
I obsessed over when I could get home and drink. I hid it from my husband and peers. I thought about it constantly - how to funnel money into my addiction, how to find a place to drink, and I drank ALONE most of the time. My line in the sand was a hallucination I had after having some vodka-laced Pepsi Max first thing in the morning, and a handful of Jelly Belly jellybeans. I had experienced an attack of SEVERE hypoglycemia. I realized that if I didn't quit, I would likely die from organ failure before I started showing any real outward signs.
I am telling you all of this because it is *my* truth. You can continue to think you're okay, and FWIW, you *may* be. But only *you* know your truth. And I can tell you for the longest time that rationalizing a possible addiction away is never a good sign. I also 'only' had a glass of wine. Until it became two, then three, then a bottle. Then another,. You get the picture.
You are the only one that can decide whether or not you are an alcoholic. It took me well over a year to speak it, own it and truly believe it. And I am glad every day that it did not cause irreversible damage to me - like *death*. Unfortunately, sometimes that is the first warning sign.
May you find your truth.
Good luck
0 comments
How do you know if you have a problem with alcohol?
If I were to drink before surgery it would be a binge drinking night about 6 times a year or so. Now that I've had surgery I will have about 4 to 5 glasses (normal sized glasses that are not full to the top) of wine a week. It's always after the kids are in bed, and I only drink to the point of relaxation, not inebriation. On rare occassion I will become inebriated, but it's always the intention for the night (girls night out, NYE) and I'm responsible about it (the kids have a sitter, I don't drive drunk or have important plans the next day).
So while I can say that I drink more post-op, I believe that if someone told me that I would die if I ever touched alcohol again I could stop (I would whine about it, but I could do it). I'm not making light of the subject at all, I'm just wondering what the definition is. How can you tell? I'm making an attempt to be cautious without being drastic, I guess.
Obsessions and drastic measures are what got me into overeating.
(Post 2)
I suppose using terms like "always" isn't very honest. I can remember one time during the summer that I had two mid-afternoon glasses of wine while the kids were still awake. But I do remember these things and I don't pretend they didn't happen. It's such a tricky subject to ask about. :-/
My answer:
The fact that you are asking, and feel the need to justify your useage to me and others here is cause for concern, actually.
I can tell you once again that alcoholism is a progressive disease. People do not wake up from surgery and have to drink a case of beer - it doesn't work that way. But you said yourself that you are drinking more than you were prior to surgery. That should be a red flag to you that you should monitor as closely as you do your children.
While the general public may not think what you say you are drinking is much, we are not the general populace, are we? We get drunk faster, have a lower tolerance than most anyone else on the planet, and lack the digestive enzymes necessary to properly break it down. That and we are already addicts at the starting line...
Every alcoholic has their line to draw in the sand. I am a rather financially secure, happily married (D.I.N.K.) woman in my 30's with a brand new house and a great new body post-surgery. I lost none of that while drinking - I am not homeless lying in a gutter, or getting into fights or engaging in other dangerous behaviour. I lost a majority of the weight I put on during an 18 month binge while I still continued to drink. Does that mean I should have kept drinking? NO!
I obsessed over when I could get home and drink. I hid it from my husband and peers. I thought about it constantly - how to funnel money into my addiction, how to find a place to drink, and I drank ALONE most of the time. My line in the sand was a hallucination I had after having some vodka-laced Pepsi Max first thing in the morning, and a handful of Jelly Belly jellybeans. I had experienced an attack of SEVERE hypoglycemia. I realized that if I didn't quit, I would likely die from organ failure before I started showing any real outward signs.
I am telling you all of this because it is *my* truth. You can continue to think you're okay, and FWIW, you *may* be. But only *you* know your truth. And I can tell you for the longest time that rationalizing a possible addiction away is never a good sign. I also 'only' had a glass of wine. Until it became two, then three, then a bottle. Then another,. You get the picture.
You are the only one that can decide whether or not you are an alcoholic. It took me well over a year to speak it, own it and truly believe it. And I am glad every day that it did not cause irreversible damage to me - like *death*. Unfortunately, sometimes that is the first warning sign.
May you find your truth.
Good luck
ALCOHOLISM.
Jan 07, 2011
January 7, 2011
I am an alcoholic - I was fooling myself to think I could control it.
I am on day 102 of sobriety, and am finding it easier now to concentrate on my health and nutrition now that I got that monkey off my back.
There is a lot of theory out there and research to that effect that having gastric bypass surgery can 're-wire' people's systems enough so that they more quickly become alcoholics. We don't have the digestive enzymes to break down the alcohol as effectively anymore - much like the studies that were done that show native Canadians or Americans don't have - and I don't know about south of the border, but alcoholism is RAMPANT in the native population up here.
I have also recently found out I was using alcohol to regulate my insulin and blood sugars - I am Hypoglycemic. And, I had a previous addiction to nicotine in the past. Getting surgery was - for me - a guarantee that I would develop alcoholism. It was just a matter of time, and unfortunately I took that first drink 3 months out.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and gastric bypass puts it into warp speed.
1 comment
I am an alcoholic - I was fooling myself to think I could control it.
I am on day 102 of sobriety, and am finding it easier now to concentrate on my health and nutrition now that I got that monkey off my back.
There is a lot of theory out there and research to that effect that having gastric bypass surgery can 're-wire' people's systems enough so that they more quickly become alcoholics. We don't have the digestive enzymes to break down the alcohol as effectively anymore - much like the studies that were done that show native Canadians or Americans don't have - and I don't know about south of the border, but alcoholism is RAMPANT in the native population up here.
I have also recently found out I was using alcohol to regulate my insulin and blood sugars - I am Hypoglycemic. And, I had a previous addiction to nicotine in the past. Getting surgery was - for me - a guarantee that I would develop alcoholism. It was just a matter of time, and unfortunately I took that first drink 3 months out.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and gastric bypass puts it into warp speed.
My advice would be to NEVER *NEVER* pick up a drink after surgery. Ever. And if it's too late and you already have, never take another. And if you even THINK you're drinking a 'little too much' stop NOW. You could be one drink away from that slippery slope of alcoholism. I am just glad I stopped before I hit rock bottom. Because with our new system post-surgery, rock bottom could be 6 feet under.
Please take this to heart.
I wish the medical community could really start warning people what could happen regarding alcohol. Simply asking someone if they drank a lot prior to surgery isn't enough. We can lie, or you can tell the truth like I did: "I am a once in a while party binger, or a few drinks with company and nothing for weeks/MONTHS after". But nonetheless, 3 years post-surgery I was a full-blown alcoholic.
Good luck to all of you.
Diana
Long time, no post!!!!
Nov 05, 2008
Well, I just spent the last hour crying as I looked at my before photos. I just posted my most recent pics this morning (around the 18 month mark).
After losing 150 pounds, one loses perspective and gets nitpicky about the little things. Like arm skin, excess tummy skin that has to me held in with spanx with EVERY garment now, and still larger legs that cannot fit into skinny jeans or tight knee high boots and the like. Wahhhhhhh!!!! 
What I forget sometimes is that I am now solidly in a size 8-10 or medium in EVERYTHING. Including jeans! I WAS a size 28-30W when I started this process. I have never been this size in my adult life. Ever. And that in itself is an amazing thing, only 12 days before the big 3-5... 
I am proud to have gotten this far, and although I still need to lose 30 pounds and remove my excess (approximately 25 pounds of) skin, I WILL get there. Progress is progress, and looking back at my before pics, I can't even recognise me!!!!
Thanks OH and thanks to all the oldtimers (especially my sweet T!) who made this possible!
I don't hang around much anymore... (DUH!) But I will promise to check in from time to time to remind myself of where I came from. 
Diana
WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!
May 23, 2008
Topic: Who's at ONEderland?!?!?
| Author | Message |
|
childofnite Winnipeg, Canada Nicolas V. Christou, M.D. RNY (04/17/07) Member Since: 01/31/07 [Latest Posts] |
Post Date: 5/23/08 8:48 am ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, a "1" in front of my weight - something I have been desperately waiting for for over FOURTEEN YEARS!!! And that's a long time for someone my age to have to wait to be in Onederland! It seems like yesterday that I had my surgery - it's only been 13 months and a week, and it has flown by! I started at nearly 340 pounds, and now here I am - somewhere I NEVER thought I would be again. Before my surgery, my PCP basically told me that if I stay on the same path, I would be DEAD before I was 40. And due to this miracle of a surgery (and a LOT of hard work and determination) I am within spitting distace of my goal! What's 60 pounds when I have lost that more than twice over?! I just wanted to share with all of you this milestone in my life, in the hopes that someone out there is thinking about having this surgery and wondering if it will make a difference. Guess what? IT DOES!!!! Love and hugs to my OH family (without whose help and guidance - even in lurk mode! - wouldn't have gotten me to where I am now.  Diana |
GREAT post from Jen!! :)
May 20, 2008
| Jenny R Wade Barker, M.D. RNY (03/16/07) Member Since: 02/06/08 [Latest Posts] |
Post Date: 5/19/08 10:14 am Who hasn't compared their weight loss here to someone else? If you haven't you're in a very small percentage of people who actually understand that comparing YOUR success with someone else is caustic to what success really is. Let's think this through for a moment, and why comparisons should be left behind. We have 3 people sitting in a room. All are 300 pounds, five foot six, wear a 26/28, and have RNY on the same day. Person A loses 34 pounds in the first month. Person B loses 28 pounds. And person C struggles with a 2 week stall and loses 20 pounds month one. Why the 14 pound difference between A and C? Well - maybe it's because person C lost weight from 330 pounds before they had surgery at 300 pounds, where person A lost nothing pre-op thus showing a larger loss of body weight percentage. Six months go by. All three are closing in on 100 pounds lost and have shrunk obvious clothes sizes and are dealing with some excess skin. BUT person C is wearing a 10/12 where person A is in a 14/16 and person B is still in a 18/20. How is it possible that 3 people starting at the same weight, height, and date have SUCH a different variance on size? BODY SHAPE. All 3 bodies held their weight in different areas, thus causing this major difference. A square is not a circle or a triangle or a rectangle. It's a SQUARE. And that square isn't going to be able to take on the atributes of rectangle no matter how much it wants it! One year passes and Person B has shot ahead of the pack losing consistently, experiencing little stalls, and gets closer to goal before person A or C. How is it possible that 3 people with all similar variables have such different success rates? Well person B hadn't killed her metabolism with yo-yo dieting for years before WLS. She was consistent with her effort and let her body do what it was going to. Where persons A and C had struggled with pre-op weight loss for years, had several spells where they've lost 100 pounds and gained it back plus some, and eventually turned the well oiled machine their bodies were into less efficient, sluggish, stalling machines. Your body didn't go unscathed when you yo-yo dieted for years pre-op. You will eventually pay the price not only from obesity, but from years of inconsistency. Does this logic ring true with anyone? Does the point that comparing YOUR success or lack therof with someone else seem moot? Every single person is too individual to have comparable success. If you choose to base YOUR success on someone elses then you're setting yourself up for heartache, and possible failure. Because there might come a time where you're so close to goal you can taste it, see someone FLY past you and get to goal, and it makes you filled with resentment and anger. That resentment and anger can cause a change in behavior and a breakdown of your commitment to get to where you want to be because it obviosuly just doesn't work for you. So in closing if I haven't gotten my point across - STOP COMPARING YOURSELF! There isn't one type of apple. There are Red Delicious, Green Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala, Dorsett Golden, McIntosh, and about 200 more varities! Although they all are apples they're too different to be considered the same! Your success is no different!!! |
My one year post!!
May 17, 2008
Topic: "How To Get Your Life Back in One Year O...
| Author | Message |
|
childofnite Winnipeg, Canada Nicolas V. Christou, M.D. RNY (04/17/07) Member Since: 01/31/07 [Latest Posts] |
Post Date: 4/21/08 11:23 am For those of you who know me (As I have been a lurker more than anything lately...) I am usually a day... (or four!) late with these types of postings.  For those that don't: I am *THE* PK's Angelette, and I had RNY performed on April 17, 2007 with Montreal's premiere weight-loss surgeon, Dr. Christou. This past year has brought forth many changes, not the least of them the change in my health, outlook on life, and my happiness. Oh yeah, and losing 135 pounds and getting into SINGLE DIGITS (in dresses) doesn't hurt either...  Personally, I may have gotten smaller,but still I don't know how to be the person I have become. I move out of the way when I see people coming so as not to inconvenience them by my size, and get strange looks. I STILL pick up too large of a size at the store first, I still wonder if people are looking at me because I'm fat. Like everyone always says: "They don't do surgery on your brain!" That is very true - to be nearly 340 pounds and somehow INVISIBLE, and then all of a sudden (and it seems this year has FLOWN by!) you are VISIBLE; a normal size! And people start coming out of the woodwork to hold doors open for you, smile at you in the hallway, begin conversations with you, and even get hit on or whistled at - it's a lot to handle. Feelings ranging from embarrassment from the whistling or getting hit on, to complete confusion as to why you have suddenly become visible to these people - to anger at why you "weren't worthy" before. So what does one do with the new "you"? For me, it has been to LIVE. I was nearly housebound with my co-morbidities, as embarrassing as that is to tell you all. I couln't walk far, and another shame: I had to use a wheelchair in Orlando for my 2006 trip. I just couldn't do all the walking in the parks. I had so much joint pain from arthritis and breathing issues from asthma that I felt 65. And the final indignity? The proof of what I had done to myself was completely visible to all: I couldn't "hide" it anymore: I couldn't fit in the largest pant size at my Plus-sized store, so I wore yoga/stretchy pants for the better part of the year prior to my surgery. Considering how much I love fashion, this KILLED me inside. I had no self-esteem left. I can't begin to put into words how much I have changed from the sad, MO, depressed, and ultimately pitiable person I mentioned above. I still love her and embrace her - after all, she made me who I am today. But I am not her anymore. And in my case, that is a good thing. I didn't like what the obesity was doing to me, my husband, my family, and myself. So I made a decision to change my life for the better. There are no guarantees with this or any surgery, but I had to try, or not only would I never carry a child to term - I would be DEAD before I ever hit middle age... The decision was not forced on me - it is ultimately up to each individual how they choose to lose their weight. I just knew that after trying for over 20 years to reach and maintain a somewhat normal weight that the only thing that would work was surgery. And for me it was RNY. This last year has not been easy - I have had complications and food and sugar re-addiction issues (there, I said it! *whew!*) BUT I have always sought out help from PK, OH, my husband and my family when I felt I needed to. It is a struggle for me, as it always will be. At least now I know I will need to be vigilant for life to keep it reigned in. A sobering thought, but nonetheless: Lesson learned... I will wrap this up, as I'm sure all of your little fingers are tired from all the scrolling... Just one last thing: I am so grateful for all the help and advice I received early on, and the little kicks in the butt - may there always be someone here that can hack it - just by hanging around longer than I or some of the other oldbies - to be there to teach and to lead the newbies. Where would we be without you? Love and hugs,  Diana 1 year, 4 days post-op RNY   Rest of the pics in the profile if you are interested! |
9 months x-post from RNY...
Jan 17, 2008
| Author | Message |
|
childofnite Winnipeg, Canada Nicolas V. Christou, M.D. RNY (04/17/07) Member Since: 01/31/07 [Latest Posts] |
Post Date: 1/17/08 6:27 pm Last Edit: 1/17/08 6:31 pm Let me just start by saying that the 17th of the month is a very special day for me... I was born on November 17th 1973. I quit using nicotine on July 17th 2001. My hubby asked me to marry him on August 17th 2001. My RNY photos and paperwork were sent in for approval on February 17th 2007. And on April 17th, I was REborn through RNY. While I don't normally find myself to be into any sort of superstitions or anything like that, these occurances and the way they impacted my life are undeniable. I overcame an addiction. I got engaged to my true love. I made a hard choice to permanently alter my body. I underwent major surgery to change my life. I started this whole process not really believing that I would ever be "thin". I would pour over old photos of myself and yearn to even be just 250 again, because I was afraid I was going to die. I was only 33!! Never in a MILLION years did I think that I would ever see below 220 on a scale again. But this morning, I weighed in at 218.4. Meaning I have lost - to the exact fraction of a pound - 120 pounds. Coincidence? Perhaps. But more importantly, I have attained a new low - during all of my previous weight loss attempts as an adult, 120 pounds is the most I have ever lost in succession. And it is the lowest I have weighed since 1996. Now, I am living my 20's again. I think I deserved a "do-over"...  So.... Oldbies: Thank you all for having the courage to go before me, for the wonderful advice and unwavering belief in my ability to really DO this, and helping me to dust myself off when I fell. Newbies: Thank you so much for being around. The farther out you get, the easier it is to slip into old habits. You all keep the early days of my surgery close to me, and help me to remember where I came from. And thank you for the PM's and posts telling me that I *ME?!* am an inspiration to you. This simple thing just boggles me. I am so excited for all of you to be where I am and even smaller.  And last but definitely not least, to my sweet angel  PK: I am a person who believes wholeheartedly in quality over quantity, so I make very few friends, and tend to shy away from becoming close to people. But to you, I feel a close kinship and friendship that will withstand the test of time. You have been one of the most influential people in my life, and I consider you to be one of my best friends. Love and peace to all, and VIVA LA RNY!!!!!!!! PS: New pics in the profile too!  Diana
|
An epiphany about my loss today...
Nov 05, 2007
I made a post today that I want kept for posterity in my blog. It really shows why taking measurements (as well as weighing yourself) is such an important tool in this journey. Enjoy!
| Author | Message |
| childofnite Winnipeg, Canada Nicolas V. Christou, M.D. RNY (04/17/07) Member Since: 01/31/07 [Latest Posts] |
Post Date: 11/5/07 4:48 pm Hello everyone!!
|
Yep, it's been a while!
Nov 05, 2007
Just wanted to post this in my profile. I swear I'm getting cramps typing this out everytime someone asks about quitting smoking, LOL!:
"If you are willing to join a support group in order to make your journey to goal a little easier, then why not join a support group that will help teach you and support you when weaning off the most addictive and most readily available drug in the known universe?!
Please, do yourself a favour, don't write off "cold turkey" because you have been told taking nicotine to quit nicotine is the way to go (Like patches, gum, etc) I liken it to an alcoholic taking a sip of whiskey here and there throughout the day to "quit"... Pointless!!
Please - go to www.whyquit.com. I have been a member for nearly 6 1/2 years, and quit that long.
Thanks, and good luck."
THERE!!
"If you are willing to join a support group in order to make your journey to goal a little easier, then why not join a support group that will help teach you and support you when weaning off the most addictive and most readily available drug in the known universe?!
Please, do yourself a favour, don't write off "cold turkey" because you have been told taking nicotine to quit nicotine is the way to go (Like patches, gum, etc) I liken it to an alcoholic taking a sip of whiskey here and there throughout the day to "quit"... Pointless!!
Please - go to www.whyquit.com. I have been a member for nearly 6 1/2 years, and quit that long.
Thanks, and good luck."
THERE!!
My post on sugar and food labels...
Jul 21, 2007
If it has corn syrup in it, it has sugar... Companies like to use all sorts of different names for SUGAR, so people who don't know any better are fooled into eating it. You would be surprised how often this happens, and how many labels have a pseudonym for sugar rather than just saying sugar!
Labels lie - that's the sucky part of learning how to eat post-surgery. It's often better to steer clear of processed foods altogether. You could buy an ice cream maker and make your own with Splenda. That is yummy!
There should be stricter guidelines about how food is labeled. For instance - all you hear when a McDonald's ad for their burgers comes on is: "100% beef!" Um yeah... whatever small portion of the burger that *is* beef is 100% beef. So it's not *really* a lie, is it? The rest is filler and injected SUGAR! There is SUGAR injected into, or sprinkled onto - NEARLY EVERYTHING that "restaurant" sells. But that's not in the nutritional info at all...
Be your own food advocate and become as informed as you can - and don't always trust labels! Check ingredients too!
Labels lie - that's the sucky part of learning how to eat post-surgery. It's often better to steer clear of processed foods altogether. You could buy an ice cream maker and make your own with Splenda. That is yummy!
There should be stricter guidelines about how food is labeled. For instance - all you hear when a McDonald's ad for their burgers comes on is: "100% beef!" Um yeah... whatever small portion of the burger that *is* beef is 100% beef. So it's not *really* a lie, is it?
The rest is filler and injected SUGAR! There is SUGAR injected into, or sprinkled onto - NEARLY EVERYTHING that "restaurant" sells. But that's not in the nutritional info at all... Be your own food advocate and become as informed as you can - and don't always trust labels! Check ingredients too!
About Me
Winnipeg, MB
Location
37.9
BMI
Surgery
04/17/2007
Surgery Date
Jan 31, 2007
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
