Question:
Has anyone become an alcoholic since surgery?
I was just wondering if anyone feels that they've become an alcoholic since having had their surgery? I seem to be drinking a lot more frequently since I had my surgery. Not only am I drinking more frequently, but I'm also drinking a lot more, quantity-wise. I've embarrassed myself on more than one occasion by getting too drunk. This weekend was the last straw. I feel so terrible about my drunken behaviour. I feel that I may have actually ruined some good friendships. Has anyone else gone through this experience? How did you deal with it? — Vanessa L. (posted on June 16, 2003)
June 16, 2003
I wouldn't say I've become an alcoholic, but, I have found that I drink
more when I do drink. Not more often tho. I think the reason is that I
get drunk quicker and then can't pay attention to what I'm drinking. If
that makes sense. If you do feel you have a problem, its probably best you
seek counseling or an addictions group. I can certainly see how trading a
food addiction pre-op with an alcohol addiction post-op could easily
happen. Good luck to you.
— Monica H.
June 16, 2003
Vanessa - What courage on your part to come here and admit this and ask for
help!!! While I rarely drink and don't have this problem, I lived with and
alcoholic husband for 12 years and come from a family where there are
several alcoholics. My dad tells me all the time that it's easy to not eat
when you are hungry, but he deals with his hunger by drinking. Not a
pretty sight. Anyway, the upshot of this is that the behavior and concerns
you have shared here suggest that you may want to seek counseling and
perhaps attend AA to deal with your drinking. It is quite easy to trade
one addition (compulsive overeating in my case) for another (gambling,
alcohol, shopping, etc.) unless you are actively and intentially exploring
the reasons for your addiction in the first place. About losing a friend
over your drinking behavior, it is not too late to repair any damage you
may have done, so long as you sincerely make an effort and show your
friend(s) your changed behavior. I wish you all the best and strongly urge
you to seek out help for this problem now. You are not beyond help and it
is a good sign that you are concerned about your behavior. Many blessings
to you. Robin
— rebalspirit
June 16, 2003
I'm almost six months post op and I thought we weren't supposed to have
alcohol after surgery and if we did, only a small amount. I don't know if
you're depressed about anything right now, but I would immediately get some
professional help. Best of luck to you. Marilyn
— Marilyn C.
June 16, 2003
Dear Vanessa..I commend you for asking for help! That is the first
step...recognizing that there is a problem. As the previous posters said,
it's VERY EASY to trade our food addiction for another. AA is a very good
group to get involved with, and also there is help through your physician
and therapist, if you have one. It's best to stop and find out WHY this
problem has come about....understanding is the key to change. True friends
will support you and help you if you go to them and apologize for your
behavior. We all make mistakes in this life, and being post-op is a
learning experience for everyone on so many levels. I pray you can find
the proper help. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
June 16, 2003
I understand where you are coming from as I really miss my wine and going
out with my buddies. My nutritionist made it very clear to me that alcohol
could only be consumed on a very limited basis after the surgery. She
explained that alcohol is broken down in the first part of the small
intestines. Since we don't have that anymore, then the alcohol is going
straight to the liver. She had a patient die because of his alcohol intake
and that is why she spoke to us in the class and individually about it.
Please seek help now as you are much more at health risk post surgery than
pre!
— Sharon B.
June 16, 2003
I agree with all the previous posters. It's hard to actually get out there
and find a professional to talk to, but it really helps. If you can't
afford to just pick someone out of the phonebook, call any counseling
office and ask them to direct you to someplace where you can get some help
at lower or no cost. They should be able to provide you with some
information, every town has places that help people without charging them
hundreds of dollars per hour. Also, I don't know if this will help you but
this is what I have done in the past with food addiction. When you decide
you are ready to stop drinking or seriously cut it back, tell everyone you
can -- family, friends, coworkers, etc. This works with me because
mentally it makes me more accountable for my actions after I've told
everyone I'm going to quit doing something, then it motivates me to not do
it because I don't want them to think I lied or that I'm not strong enough
to try to exercise some willpower. And that's not to say that drinking is
something one can just "decide not to do" because it's very hard.
I just think that telling people helps build a support system of people
who are looking out for you and trying to help you not drink (or overeat or
whatever your addiction). Maybe now that your friend "food"
isn't there to help you stuff your feelings your brain wants alcohol to
take over food's job. Talking to someone may help you get to the root of
the problem. Drinking only covers up the symptoms. Many of us are fat and
overeat because of emotional or self-esteem problems from the past.
Drinking and alcoholism are no different. Talk to someone -- it's hard at
first but when you start making progress and gaining some control over your
life it feels so good. Good luck. We're all here for you!
— beeda
June 16, 2003
Vanessa, AA will be a great help to you. It's free & if you don't feel
like talking just go sit and listen a couple of times-I guarantee you'll
hear things & meet people that you can identify with. There are
locations all over. Just pick up the phone & make the first call to
find a meeting. Allison
— j A.
June 16, 2003
I just wanted to say a few things about this touchy subject:o) First of
all, I really think you should only consider the "meetings" if
you REALLY need it. We all know that addiction is such a strong word. I was
wondering if your addicted or losing control? I have a brother and other
family members that strugle with true Alcoholism and I know a few that are
on the way. Now myself, I do social drink and ya maybe more than I should
now after having WLS, but im far from addicted, I can live without it, but
I like to go dancing and out and next thing I know....I've had enough! For
me it is the enviorment and I know I have gotten silly and even mean at
times, but that was not the real me! I am still young and I know myself
after losing weight I did get a little carried away acting like I was a
teenager again, but I just feel so good and I wanted to go out and have
fun. Alcohol can grab you just like any other drug, but I would just slow
down or even stop if your scarring yourself. Myself I feel like OK I had my
fun, now it's time to get back to reality b/c I will never be that addicted
person, food was bad enough for me! I know all the problems it can do and
what it does to your families. I have seen alot of bad things and if you
really feel you are addicted then you should get some real help and not
from whoever b/c someone that does not drink or is aginst it will mark you
as a alcoholic even if your really not. People are very judgemental over
other's lifestyles. I wish you all the best, good luck to you and you can
e-mail me anytime!
— Sandy M.
June 16, 2003
I have to admit I drink too much also. I've embarrassed myself on several
occasions. I don't have any answers for ya on this. I am starting to
consider that maybe I need to give it up altogether. I mean after 2 drinks
I get a little loose and the party is on. I should know better but for
whatever reason I don't stop at 2. I promised myself I would certainly
take better care after my surgery. Drinking certainly isn't helping.
Ed
— Ed S.
June 16, 2003
I'm a recovering food addict, alcoholic, drug addict, former smoker,
shopper you name it "I USE IT". I believe my drug of choice was
food. I've been in recovery for 11 years now and what I've learned is that
it doesn't matter what you use to alter your mood, whether it be a for a
long period of time or short period of time, something is being used to
take you away from feelings or situations that you don't want to deal with.
I didn't think that I was an alcoholic because I never had an addiction to
alcohol, meaning I didn't crave it or need it to stop the shakes. Or I
wasn't falling all over the place, because that would mean I didn't have
any control, and I could say that someone else was WORSE than me. The fact
remained for me, is that I was using something, anything not to be with my
true feelings, or that I could'nt have a good time without alcohol, which
is not true. The toughest addiction that I have is food and that's why I
had the surgery, because it was affecting my health and I don't want to
doing anything else to my body that I haven't done to it already.
If you are drinking to alter your mood, I would get help now before, you
have that problem to contend with.
— janice L.
June 17, 2003
Vanessa, you are very courageous to bring this problem out into the open.
Now is the time to take action, to help yourself, before you try to repair
relationships with your friends without some change on your part. What is
going to prevent you from getting drunk at the next social occasion? Your
post does not say that you intend to stop drinking, just asks if anyone
else has experienced similar behavior and how they dealt with it. I hope
the intent of your post is to ask for advice on how to change your current
behavior. After WLS, with our shortened intestines, alcohol is not
absorbed in quite the same way, so it hits us harder and we get drunk much
faster- it is also harder on the liver that has to process the alcohol.
Knowing that, if you can, try to set a limit on yourself- something like 1
drink every 2 hours, and no more than 2 drinks. I know that for me, I
start to get drunk/dizzy on less than 1/2 a glass of wine or champagne so
my limit is the one glass and sometimes I cannot even finish that!
— Cindy R.
June 17, 2003
Vanessa,
I wanted to comment on your drinking issue. I have the SAME ONE!! :) You're
not alone! Before my RNY surgery, I drank, but it took a lot more to get me
buzzed or drunk so I would stop sooner because I basically got bored. :)
Now when I drink, it only takes about half a glass of wine and I'm buzzed
and feelin' great and I don't want to stop. For some reason, it seems that
the intesity of the buzz is different and BETTER now that we've had the
surgery. It makes me feel so happy and free and I LOVE that feeling! I know
the buzz will start wearing off in about twenty to thirty minutes, so I'll
drink another glass to make sure I'm buzzed for a while. Sounds crazy, but
I think you can relate. Now, I don't do this often, maybe once or twice a
week and usually just with red wine chianti which is supposed to be good
for women anyway :) I don't want to damage my liver, but I do enjoy the
occasional "special" buzz that I get now - and my hubby does to
because for some reason it puts me in a wild & crazy mood so when he
sees me with a wine glass, he gets excited! :) ha ha! I'd say if it becomes
(or is) a problem and you feel out of control, then get help. I still feel
in control because it's not something I HAVE to have. I do enjoy it but I
won't fall apart without it. Maybe that's the difference. Take care!
— michelle T.
May 17, 2004
My name is Jocelyn M. and I am recovering alcoholic. I have been a sober
member of AA for 16 months. My surgery date was June 28, 2001. I believe
that I was always an alcoholic and that my surgery acclerated the
progression of my diease. Alcoholism is a progressive illness. It also runs
in my family. Once I was unable to eat as much food I drank more alcohol.
I found that it filled that "hole" just as food once did. Quickly
after my weight loss I began to notice that I was unable to stick to the 2
drinks that I was told to limit my self to. This lead to daily drinking
binges . Drinking and blacking out became the norm for me. I lost friends,
I lost trust in myself. I want anyone who has had the surgery to know that
I attend AA meetings all over the country and have met more women than I
can count that have exhibited an inability to control their drinking post
op. I want to let everyone know that I would have this surgery again in a
heart beat. I would have it once a year if I had to! I believe that I would
have exhibited all this behavior at some point in my drinking career even
if I had not had the surgery. It just got me to AA sooner rather than
later. I have learned that I did not just have an eating and drinking
problem, I have a THINKING problem. If anyone has any questions or would
like to know more about what happened to me and what my life is life now,
feel free to contact me at [email protected]
— Jocelyn M.
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