Alcoholism after Gastric Bypass (WLS): Another Part of My Story
There is another part of my story that I haven’t really shared with others and it has to do with the gastric bypass surgery I had several years ago. I had surgery to lose weight so I could safely have another child. And I did. But after Abby’s birth my social drinking turned into a full blown problem that almost destroyed my family (not to mention packing back on 2/3 of the weight I’d lost). Although alcoholism does not run in my family, I realized fairly quickly that I had a severe problem. I got treatment and I found AA. Now I’m working on all the issues I needed to confront and deal with so many years ago. I never really shared this part of my story because I was afraid the AA fellowship might accuse me of making excuses. I’m not. My gastric bypass and my accelerated trip into alcoholism is part of my experience. Maybe I’m luckier this way. Because drinking after WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) was like injecting alcohol directly into my bloodstream maybe I’m lucky that I had to stop now and start on my spiritual journey in my 30s instead of drinking for another 20 years and trying to clean up that much wreckage. Anyway, I’ve discovered that I’m not the only one who has taken this path. Below are some links that discuss the issue of alcoholism after WLS. I would love to hear from other women (and men) that have become alcoholic after WLS so please email me privately at zenrusty at gmail dot com or leave a comment. We’re always stronger together.
- Beyond Change: Recommendations on the use of alcohol after WLS
- Carnie Wilson and Alcoholism after WLS - here, here and here
- After Gastric Bypass: Drunk Faster?
- WSJ article: The New Addiction
- Personal Stories from alcoholic woman who’ve had WLS
- Alcoholism and WLS
- Patty’s Story
- WLS Center Newsletter
- ObesityHelp’s Message Board Topic: alcoholism
- ABC News: After Gastric Bypass Surgery, Women Battle Alcoholism
Edited 10/22/07: I have received many emails and comments from people in the middle of the struggle I found myself in not so long ago. Your story does not have to have a sad ending. There is help, if you’re willing to get sober at all costs. Let go of your preconceived notions about recovery groups, realize that it is not going to get better until you get help, and then ask for help. Find out where an AA meeting is and GO! Find a local or online WFS meeting NOW! If I can do this thing, so can you.
BTW, I don’t consider my alcoholism a transfer of my addiction. This is a physical disease (with psychological characteristics) that may be tied to, but not caused by my “issues.” I don’t believe that I abused alcohol and then became an alcoholic. I believe I had surgery, had a glass of wine and experienced a completely different reaction to the alcohol almost immediately. I guess the question now is how do we spread the word of the dangers of drinking alcohol (even a small amount) after weight loss surgery? Obviously, it does no good to try and get doctors to discuss this with their patients with so much money at stake….who will care enough?
Please read my letter to post operative WLS patients that think they might have a drinking problem.
Tags:aa, addiction, alcohol, alcoholism, bypass, gastric, gastric bypass, recovery, rny, sobriety, surgery, weight loss surgery, wls Filed under aa, general, recovery, wls |42 Responses to “Alcoholism after Gastric Bypass (WLS): Another Part of My Story”
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Have I told you often enough or recently enough “how very proud I am of you”…your decision to stop drinking has so changed the dynamics of our entire family. Even though we are seperated by several hundred miles I feel “closer” to you than ever before. I no longer worry about my grandchildren, but instead rejoice in the knowledge that they have the loving mother I knew you were and that they deserve.
Aw, shucks! Thanks!
Your awesome and I am glad tat you have stopped drinking, I have missed you..
My daughter had gastric by-pass in 2001 shortly after the birth of her 2nd child. First all was good but then the “what do I do with this new me” question set in. She was an occassional social drinker prior to surgery, but started drinking more after she lost 170 pounds in 1 year. She left her husband, thinking that she could quit drinking if she wasn’t around it. It has know been 3 years of drinking (rehab didn’t work) and at this point she has completely abandoned her two small beautiful children, who she so wonderfully cared for previously. She is in a tail spin with another man who has drug addiction issues and has absolutely no contact with any of her family. She drinks huge amounts of alcohol daily. Not unusual for two bottles of wine a night or a qt of hard liquor. That was when she was still working. That amount would be consumed in a matter of one -two hours. She can no longer hold down a job is on the street. We do not know where she is. I heard she vomits on a daily basis. This concerns me as I have heard this could be a sign of severe malnurishment. We pray for her daily, hour by hour. Please realize that you need to deal with the underlying issues before you choose surgery, otherwise you may end up trading addiction for addiction. lots of folks still do not consider overeating an addiction, but it is. She has other medical issues which produce a lot of pain. She started drinking more and more just to get to sleep at night. Now we don’t know where she sleeps at night.
We fear for the safety of our grandchildren. They are suffering severely. They do not understand at their young ages (5 & 9) how come mom never calls or why we don’t know where she lives. When speaking with me on the phone, the youngest refers to her “your daughter” not “mom”. They are currently with their verbally and emotional abusive father and we are trying to get custody.
Lee, I am so sorry for your pain. Thank you for sharing your story and your daughter’s struggles with her weight and her alcoholism. I think that it’s important to note that the issue of alcoholism after gastric bypass is a growing problem. Not only is the condition arising from unresolved issues, but it’s a medical condition accelerated by the reconfiguration of a person’s body. For me, AA and the 12 steps help me cope with my disease (and my issues!) and help me live a life worth living. I got lucky. I found help. I pray that your daughter will, too.
I, also, became an alcoholic after gastric bypass surgery. I was amazed at how quickly I went from being a “social drinker” to not being in control. I did so much research before my surgery about the complications of bypass surgery, yet I never saw any mention of the difficulties with alchohol. I saw things that said not to drink because of the effects of the sugar. If I had known the risk of alcoholism after surgery, I don’t know if I ever would have taken that first drink.
Wow! Thank God I’m not alone in this. I’m am now struggling with alcoholism. I realized recently that I never had a problem with drinking before my surgery and qickly spiraled out of control afterward to the point that now I have been to detox 3 times and have done it (painfully) several times on my own. I have recently been to a 21 day detox, but relapsed soon after discharge. While I was there I met three other people who also became alcoholic after gastric bypass and made the connection so I decided to do some research. Again, it’s good to know there is a connection and it’s not just some weakness on my part. Are there specific support groups for this or just AA?
No, you’re definitely not alone. I am a member of AA and it works for me. Women for Sobriety is also a good program, but doesn’t have nearly as much of a presence. Once I stopped fighting and starting realizing that I was out of control and would do ANYTHING to get off the train I was on, I asked for help. I don’t blame my alcoholism on my gastric bypass and I try not to do a lot of “what ifing.” What’s done is done. I just try and move forward and get better. And, honestly, I’m not sure that if I had the chance I would do anything any differently. I had WLS and I am an alcoholic…but I’m also so much more and so are you. I will tell you this, though, you’re drinking will never be what it was; it will only get worse. Forever. It sucks, but it’s true.
I too, have lived the hell of alcoholism for the past year. I took my first drink last October after a medical problem. I selected alcohol for numbing the pain because I did not want to get “hooked on pain medication” A lot of good that was. I have been in rehab twice & hospitalized 3 times. I am 6 days sober and finally seeing what I have done to everyone I love. As stated earlier, if I had any idea what it would lead to, I’d never have touched that 1st drink.
Wow, it was nice to stuble onto this site. I had surgery seven years ago. I have been an alcoholic 4 years. I went into rehab about 2 years ago and stayed sober 14 months. I relapsed about 4 months ago and have not found my way back although I have short periods of sobriety and attend meetings I am fooling myself. It is getting worse and my wife and kids are fed up as they should be. I am tired and lost and not thinking right but will lose my job if I go into rehab again. I just want to stop.
Mike
Michael, I’m so sorry for struggle. I can hear the pain in your words. I don’t want to sound like a dogmatic AAer, but honestly, get yourself back to meetings…especially if you can’t go back to rehab. Go now. The booze will take everything from you and then it will kill you. If I can stay sober, so can you. We all feel alone, but we’re not. Sometimes we just have to force ourselves to ask for help. If AA worked for you then you need to go back. Do what works. You know what you have to do, now go do it.
I am so scared. I have loved a glass or two of wine for all of my adult life. Trips to Napa Valley and Italy were all about the love of food and wine. My WLS was Dec. 2004, and for a year I consumed no alcohol or sugar.I acheived my goal and feel very proud of this accomplishment. Gradually I started having a glass of wine. Last night I polished off 2 bottles all alone, eating no dinner, and taking 2 sleeping pills. I made it until 7 pm watching the clock like a hawk, until I gave in and started drinking red wine. My hands are shaking, I feel nauseous, and am so glad to find this site. I suppose the answer is obvious. I have become an alcoholic and I must get help. I can’t even get through one night now . I am desperate
Wow, I never knew until today that I am not the only one. I have always been able to handle drinking, never NEEDED to until about a year ago. I used to love to have a few glasses of wine with my husband on Fridays after a long work week; but now I cannot do that cuz I want the whole bottle plus another if I can get away with it. I have turned a man that used to love me very much into someone that has to struggle to find that feeling for me. I am ruining my family and my marriage. I am thankful that everyone has shared their stories, it will help me get thru this it is nice to know I am not the only one.
These stories sound so familiar. I got so out of control with alcohol…binges to be specific…that I ended up in legal trouble with a DUI on my record and forced treatment. I was never a problem drinker prior to surgery and was able to have a glass of wine on occasion without going bonkers.
Now I go bonkers. And it makes so little sense to me why I continually subjected myself to it when it made me so miserable. A very strange phenomenon. At least there is some pleasure involved when you eat. Drinking very rapidly became unpleasurable to me and is actually PAINFUL. My binges put me in dangerous situations and always ended in some type of ridiculous, humiliating disaster.
I’ve gotten a handle on it now after a little soul searching and some therapy.
I wanted to also ring in and say that AA is NOT the answer for everyone. It’s really great if that’s an approach that helps you, but there are other forms of help out there that can be more positive and have better results for some people. Try looking up http://www.peele.net/ and http://www.smartrecovery.org. 12-step theory is a disaster for me because of my previously held belief system and because of the reasons I drink (they tend to assume everyone is the same and treat each person as though they have the same exact problem…from chronic nail-biting to heroin addiction).
So if you’re having trouble in AA or feel it’s not working, it’s NOT because you’re not doing it right…it’s because it’s just not the answer for everyone and you may need a different approach. Don’t take it out on yourself!
Laura
I’m so glad you made it to the other side, Laura. I’m hearing over and over from people that are still in the middle of their struggle. It’s refreshing to hear from someone that is now in recovery.
I think I made it pretty clear that AA works for me, but may not be the answer for everyone. I do, however, want to point out that I was a horrible failure at the Smart Recovery program. I also tried Women for Sobriety and still couldn’t quit drinking. I do use many of the principles from both of those programs in my daily routine of recovery. I think that I am so likely to discuss AA because the sheer fact that someone like me can find success in a program like AA is a fricken’ miracle. Really. And, as a practicing Buddhist, I find the program fits with my evolving belief system very nicely.
I can not believe I found this web site! I have been alone for so long and couldn’t find anyone to understand what I am talking about. In October 2003 I had my WLS and did great. I would have the occasinal glass of wine before and after for a birthday and/or anniversary and now I can’t seem to to put the wine down. It started off as a stress reliever and now I can drink two bottles a day and I have gained 50lbs of the of the 140 lbs I have lost. I feel like a total loser. My husband who has been so supportive and also a WLS patient for 1 1/2 years has been going out of his mind trying to help me and trying to get me into rehab. I am driving everyone crazy. I am now drinking during my lunch hour becasue I am under constant watch at home from my husband and my parents who are also worried sick. I have a 7 year old son and when I drink I don’t spend any time with him and alot of the time I don’t even remember the night before. Drinking problem was mentioned before surgery but I really didn’t pay attention to what my doctor was saying becasue I didn’t drink before surgery. What the heck is going on with me?!! I am afraid I am going to lose everything important to me. I can’t seem to put it down! I am reading everyone stories and they all could be me. I feel like the greatest thing in my life has turned on me. I am sooooo depressed again and don’t feel like doing anything. The only thing that gets me out of the house is going to work. I just can’t seem to forsee any of this crap getting better.
Oh, Dana, I’m so glad you found my site and now know that you’re not alone. Maybe this can be the beginning of a new life for you. You’re story sounds so much like mine. I know it may sound trite, but you really don’t have to live like that anymore. It won’t get better until you choose something else. I know that I was on the way to losing everything I cared about and I just couldn’t stand living with that horrible feeling all the time. It was death or life for me. Dana, choose to change your life. I know that you can do it. And you’re not alone. Get past the “whys” and move on. One step at a time…
Well it seems tonight that “it” hit the fan tonight. I thought I was hiding things well enough that my husband couldn’t tell if I was drinking but he could and I finally just broke down and told him what was going on for the past couple of weeks. I have been drinking on my lunch hour and have been sneaking it in the house and making excuses to go with my husband different places. He has been really supportive and I am driving him crazy with all my stupidness. He keeps asking why and I don’t have any real answers for him. I always feel bad and so depressed. I take medicine for that but it doesn’t seem to work. I am completely emotionally and physically exhausted. I have a beautiful 7 year old boy and I am ruininig everything. I totally suck! I do have to find something of interest and keep myself busy. The holidays are coming and I so want them to be really great for my family. I think right now just me being better will be enough for my husband. We just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and I thought we would be in such a different place right now. I feel like I have no control over anything. I feel like I am rambling on but things are just spilling out. Rusty, I hope you know what I am talking about. I am praying that God will help me and forgive me for my mistakes. God know I have made a ton. I think if I get back to being a spiritual person and rely on Him everything else will fall into place and the desire to stop drinking will come.
I meant to say in the beginning making excuses NOT to go with my husband different places.
I had surgery May 2000, I started drinking OUT OF NOWHERE the following year. IT HAS NOT STOPPED. I AM ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING.I AM VERY ANXIOUS, DEPRESSED..AND USE EXCUSES TO GET DRUNK. I NEED HELP!
Dana, I was watching the Ben Kingsley movie the other night called “You Kill Me” (about an alcoholic hitman) and his sponsor tells him that the “alcoholic’s god is a forgiving god…because he has to be.” I believe that with my whole heart. Don’t think anymore…just do. Go get help. It will not get better until you do. I’m sorry, it just won’t. I see so much of me in your story and I just know that you can do it. I did. For me to put the drink down during the worst period of my life (finance-wise) and to go to friggin’ AA is really indescribable. People like me don’t go to church and they don’t go to AA. But I just wanted to stop so bad that I would do anything. Anything. If you’re willing to go to any means necessary to get sober and save yourself (and your family) then do it.
You are in my prayers.
Angel,
Pick up the phone and find a meeting. Seriously, hon, just do it. You sound terrified…I can hear the fear in your writing. I was the same way…consumed with terror. Just call. Please.
Rusty,
Thank you! November 2004 I had WLS and within a year and a half was a raging alcoholic. I went to a 28 day program, found AA and have started the journey to address my true opportunities. I have fallen, beat myself up emotionally, dragged myself back to a meeting and pick up where I left off. Life gets better and better the key for me is to keep moving forward positively. The journey of self discovery is enlightening and the best thing to happen in my life - ever. I have given up wishing it happened years ago to being thankful for the experience.
I have at least 4 other WLS friends who are struggling with the same issues however have not “come out”.
What are your recommendations for bringing more awareness to these issues in my area?
Hi Terri. I’m so glad that you got help and are fighting back. I completely agree with you: the key is to keep moving forward. And when you fall, get back up and dust yourself off. Try not to beat yourself up…we’re only human.
Honestly, the only way I know how to help anyone is by being open about my experiences and my recovery. That doesn’t work for everyone. The thing is that it seems like post-WLS alkies put way too much thought into how/why they became alcoholic. The truth is that it doesn’t matter - it is what it is. I’m an alcoholic and the only way I know to not drink myself to death is AA. It was only recently that I really started to explore the link between alcoholism and my gastric bypass surgery. The thing that frightens me most is how brutally and suddenly the disease manifests in our bodies. For us, there is no going backwards, there is a physical change in us that will only get worse and worse.
I wish you luck with your friends and hope you will contact me privately and let me know how you’re doing.
http://www.rustykeller.com/blog/2007/11/19/dear-alcoholic-post-wls-patient/
Hi Rusty how wonderful for you to put this out there. I don’t have experience with this but have struggled with bulimia first before I became allergic to alcohol. I still am active in bulimia but am attempting to conquer each disease one at a time. So far I have an abstinence date from cutting/self injury and a sobriety date. These foundations must be strong and I am doing all I can to remain in the middle of AA as suggested by m y sponsor and grandsponsor. They too are recovered bulimics. I am grateful that they put their stories out there just as you have. This is so important, some may feel so alone and that they are insane. By sharing your story, what a gift (to not only them but yourself as well).
I had my surgery in August,2004 I went about 8 months without drinking and then I became more and more obsessed with drinking I have never had a problem with drinking! I was never told that this would or could be a problem after I lost all of my weight 150lbs….Why don’t they tell you beforehand? I have been to rehab and tried to kill myself twice while under the influence I was a much happier being before I had the surgery. If I had been informed I might have chosen another route for myself. Is there any way that people can be more informed of the fall out after the surgery? I drink two bottles of wine a night and I am sick in the morning with diarrhea and fever but every night I need it. I can’t live like this anymore I am done with it!
Well, Melissa, I hope you mean that you’re choosing a life without alcohol. You can stop. Do whatever it takes and get yourself sober. You’re not alone anymore. Your comment takes me right back to where I was 3 years ago…in pain and wondering how I could have possibly drank a second bottle of wine. It sucks.
And, honestly, I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to let people know about the real risks involved with wls. We’re certainly not going to get the doctors who are getting rich to start warning patients about the very real and unexpected dangers after gastric bypass surgery. And most researchers aren’t looking at the real medical data behind addiction and alcoholism. I don’t buy the whole “trading one addiction for another” mentality. It’s a cop out….an easy answer to a very complex problem. I’m not sure what the answer is, but I know that sharing your story with someone else helps. I thought I was the only one, but I’m not. And you aren’t either.
Soberchick, I can’t even tell you how totally thrilled I am that you’re sober and working your program. I just adore you and know that you can have a wonderful and rewarding life in sobriety…free from alcohol, bulimia and cutting. Stay strong, hon, and keep doing the next right thing.
Drinking too much s not a good habit. If you really want to stay fit and healthy you should discipline yourself. Especially when you undergone a Gastric Bypass Surgery. Have you heard about Julianne Kennedy’s report? Well, she has all of this informations about Gastric Bypass Surgeries. I hope this will be a big help to you. http://www.weight-loss-surgery-secrets.com/controversial/free_wls_report.htm
Don’t be afraid, just click and visit her site.
“Drinking too much s not a good habit.” Well, no fucking duh. Uh, Ashley, I’m thinking you didn’t really read my entire post or the comments following. If you really have something of value to add to the discussion, please do…otherwise go sell your stuff elsewhere.
Hi, Dana. As I was reading your story it felt like I was reading mine. I realize that I still have everything, but that soon I am going to lose it all. The desire to drink is so strong, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.
This morning I promised myself no drinking today.
If “God” or who ever is up there would just spare my health I would not drink today.That was the deal I made. I tried to keep busy and distracted. Around 7 PM I poured a glass of wine and left it on the counter. Just left it there and kept walking past it.
Then I decided to google alcoholism and gastric bypass for the umpteenth time to remind myself of all of the deadly health problems it can cause. I am really terrified of the physical damage I may have already done. I’m already suffering a great deal from the personal damage. I read some more to scare myself and then went in and poured out the glass of wine without drinking a drop. Good for me I guess.
I’m gonna try to get through tonight but I don’t know about tomorrow. My boyfriend loves me but doesn’t understand.
I didn’t have a single drop of liquor until about 8-9 months after my surgery. I was actually encouraged by another patient to “try a little vodka”. I was shocked and quite hesitant and told her I thought we weren’t allowed hard alcohol. She assured me with a wink and a giggle that there was no harm in it and told me that she had cocktails every weekend and she was one of the bariatric programs biggest success stories. Trusting her (she is actually a leader in the support group and the same person who introduced me to my surgeon! She is very active in the Post-op community and that is why I trusted her) I tried it. Now I want to go find her and slap her silly for the horrific advice that she gave to me and who knows how many others. After what I have been through and am now experiencing I would NEVER pressure or even suggest drinking to any one post-op. NEVER.NEVER. NEVER.
I know I made the choice to take that first drink but her reassurances that it was “fine” did factor into it. (Fear can be a healthy thing, remember?)
Well, thanks to my poor judgement I now have a whole new set of fears.
I want so desperately to be happy and “normal”. I hate my butchered -looking ,sagging skin and stretch marks and it deeply affects my self image and my ability to be intimate with my boyfriend but there are worse things right? I know logically that drinking won’t help these issues. It only makes things worse. Much worse.
II have no real support system but I am strong and tough and have always gotten by on my own so I guess this is no different. It just gets lonely sometimes. I just need to get a handle on this stupid drinking before it kills me or something terrible happens.
Well, that was probably way more than you wanted to read but this was a huge step for me as I am an extremely private person so it must be pretty bad for me to admit this stuff in a forum. Even if it is anonymously, it is at the same time very “public”.
I basically just announced to the world my greatest shame and now there is no denying it.
Please don’t judge me for my weaknesses. I’m not here to get into a debate. Desperate for help I broke down and called called AA’s local hotline and tried to explain to the counselor about the surgery being a special circumstance that factored into my drinking and he basically went off on me saying ‘I don’t know anything about this surgery you say you had but a drunk’s a drunk you don’t have any special needs and are no different.” I tried to explain that I was in fact physiologically different and therefore my disease in relation to alcohol needed to be addressed differently. I made the mistake of asking if there were any specific AA groups formed especially for people who had WLS. He became very abrasive saying that I was no different than anyone else and insisted that my surgery not be factored into it. I was not making excuses, and was not in deniaI, I was only desperately looking for help and trying to explain how my drinking began.He made me feel even more alienated about my surgery. For those of you that AA works for I am really happy for you but the counselor I spoke too really turned me off to it when he said we should not address my surgery when it is so obviously something that needs to be dealt with in my recovery.So I decided that wasn’t the place for me.
I guess maybe here is the place for me? At least , for me to take my first real steps toward helping myself by relating to other people with similar issues instead of trying to do everything totally on my own and in secret. Because it isn’t working.
I just saw your stories and finally felt like I was not alone. I guess that’s really the most important thing that I had to say.
Thank you.Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories and private pain. You have helped me a great deal. I hope I can give that back somehow.
Glad I stumbled upon this, had WLS three years ago, my drinking started about a year and a half ago. Finding it harder and harder to make it through the day without alcohol. I’m a single mom with four little kids. They have figured out that I have been drinking. I have a bf that adores me, although I often push him away because then he would realize I’m drunk all the time. I have been seeing a counselor, but I have been lying to her telling her I don’t drink much. And then I wonder why my kids are out of control. I know why, I can barely get up in the morning. When I go to work it is because I can’t wait to get home and drink. I’m scared and I’m lost. Would have rather been fat, at least my life was somewhat in control. Plus I am gaining my weight back due to my drinking.
Chris, if you really want to stop then you need to talk honestly with your counselor about how much you drink. Then you need to figure out how to get help. A lot of people (like me, at one time) have a lot of preconceived ideas and negative feelings about AA so it doesn’t always work. It does for me. I wanted to stop drinking so badly that I was willing to do anything…are you? Get help, hon. Stop now and you have your whole wonderful life in front of you.
I do still struggle with my weight, but I’m working on myself more holistically now. My health is a package deal. And that works for me.
My husband had WLS 3 yrs. ago with many complications
which are now under control except for some heart issues. We love to drink & have fun, but it all gets out of control so fast. Like last nite we went to dinner with friends had some drinks and I don’t even know what time we got back home. My husband falls down after a few drinks, loses his balance, I am so afaid he will hurt him self badly. At this point, I don’t know what to do………….
He needs to get help, I fell six months ago. Had a black eye, ended up herniated discs in my neck. In constant pain now. Was taking pain pills, on top of the drinking. Which made it that much worse. The pain has to stop. Looked up AA meetings yesterday. Planning on going Monday, the only one that worked for me. Hopefully, it will help. Cause lord knows, I don’t see a happy ending with this picture.
I’d tell you the story of my life but you would never believe it. I still don’t believe it. But I didn’t drink for ten years, the first few I woke up sober and without a hangover, life was good. Don’t know what got me back here.
I had gastric bypass almost 5 yrs ago. I weighed 360 lbs and I had dropped to 144 but I’m back up to 168. Since surgery I have lost almost everything. I started drinking heavily around 3yrs ago and it has grown into a full blown problem. I’m ruining my relationship with my boyfriend, family, what few friends I have and most of all my 3 beautiful children. I’ve even had to spend a week in a mental hospital. I’ve tried to OD several times. My latest attempt last night after not working yesterday and drinking a half of a gallon of cheap rum. My Mother who was bringing my 11 yr old daughter to me found me passed out and naked on the couch. She took my daughter home with her but it scared my little girl to death. What kind of person am I? How, can I be doing these things. I didn’t use to even drink. I hated it! Now, its all I want to do. Even sitting here typing with my own words about my daughter, I just want a drink. I took almost 40 asprin and sinus pills last night. At some point, I remember talking to my Mom and her saying how could I be doing this to my kids. I remember saying I was doing them a favor. I black out, don’t rem anything most of the time. On top of all this, In Feb, I was found passed out in my car at the local grocery store and spent the night in jail!WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?
I am so glad I found this site. I too am struggling with the same thing. Is there a place we can go to talk about this, like a chat room or something? I had WLS 3 years ago as well and am struggling with the alcohol. I am not saying it is transfer addiction or anything else but all I know is that it hits me fast and hard and I wish there was a group or something with other WLS patients that I could talk to because even though I know there are programs like AA out there I dont feel like they associate with me because they haven’t had the surgery. Their bodies are different. I am not saying AA will not help but I just feel like others that have been through the WLS and become heavy drinkers will have more in common with me. Do you know of anything? I would definately appreciate it. I tried to post on ObesityHelp but they never posted my bulletin. Thanks, Mel.
Hello Rusty…
I’m so greatful to hear your story.
I had WLS 5 years ago.
I had always drank, when I went out or at a social gathering. I could go weeks, months without drinking. I thought it strange that people had a drink at home (for no reason). I was married to an alcoholic. Never understood why he drank like he did. About a year and a half after WLS I discovered those boxes of wine, coming home from work & enjoying a drink. Fast forward, I can now drink a half gallon in a 3 day period. Or sometimes a fifth in one day. I had 2 DUI’s in a 3 week period last year. I am so very ashamed, I could have killed soemone. I wouldnt (or wont) admit my problem because I DONT WANT TO BE AN ALCOHOLIC. Kind of like my friend who refuses to admit she’s a diabetic (LOL)
So here I sit, I have lost SO MUCH (and yes gained back 50 of the 176 pounds I lost) Since my sugery, I had cervical cancer, divorced my husband, recieved 2 DUI’s, was carjacked & sexually assaulted, lost my job & finally losing the man I love.
Alcohol affects me a little different than some of the people I’ve read about. Rather than it hitting me fast, I can drink ALOT & then it will all hit me at once.
I have looked up AA meetings for tomorrow & will finally face my problem. This past weekend I embarrassed myself terribly. I Thought about hurting myself. I’m grateful that I was strong enough to get thru that.
I will use you as an inspriration & I will get thru this.
Peace,
Gigi
Alcohol abuse affects millions. This site has a lot of useful information. Alcohol Abuse
Hey Everyone…
So, I wish I had the words to say what I am thinking/feeling right now. But, I don’t know that I do. I guess I will start off with saying that Alcohol abuse runs in my family. My grandfather… and mother were all drinkers. It did not kill my mother… cancer did. But, it would have it the cancer had not gotten to her first.
I had a gastric bypass in Oct 2003. I like most people drank alittle before hand. And, yes indeed there were times pre-surgery that I did drink to much and I have alot of funny stories about those times… being that it was college and all. After my surgery I dropped 180 pounds and went down to my lowest weight in my adult life. And, it has been great…!
But, there is the darker side. The side that scaries the hell out of me. I don’t know if I drink alot or not. But, drinking now hits me like a ton of brinks. I can drink on average about 2-3 glasses of wine and I am good… and the world is not a bad place. But, I think my addiction comes in… when I hit the 4th drink… and then I start mass inhaling of all alchol in the local region. It is like I am a crazy fiend and I MUST have more… then the bad part… I become very mean… I have thrown bowls at my loving boyfriend (soon to be husband in 10 days!…) and I swear there is this other person who is NOT me that comes out.
I grew up with this around my house. I am the alcoholic that my mother was. And, yes I know at this point I could stop drinking. I don’t always feel the need or desire to drink. As a matter of fact it is not usually till I others around me or drinking that I feel the need or want to. The problem now adays is that I want to just because…
Anyway, I don’t know if I am an alcoholic or not. I do know I have done and said some pretty mean and hurtful things to the people I love when I hit a certain point. ….
Thank you for letting me share my story…
[...] more information, my story, and links to articles and programs, please see my original post on this topic. Alcoholism, [...]