alcohol

[adamsandle]

ive been doing alot of research on the sleeve and am really excited about my up coming journey...except i have come across a page that said alot of wls patients turn into alcoholics.

[Ann2]

Well, actually, that's not quite true.

What all the best research I've read actually finds is that less than 10% of WLS patients have issues with alcohol abuse post-WLS. However, nearly 7% of WLS patients already had a history of alcohol abuse pre-op. Therefore, about 3% of WLS patients develop problems with alcohol for the first time post-WLS.

These 3% who develop these issues for the first time post-op suffer from something called "transfer addiction." Transfer addiction happens when those who used food pre-op to soothe their emotional or physical discomforts, who after surgery can't or don't use food any longer numb these feelings using food, turn to alcohol to do so. Transfer addictions also include the use of other substances (e.g., tobacco, Rx drugs, street drugs, etc. -- again, they're likely to choose these if they used them pre-op), as well as out-of-control behaviors like shopping or sex.

Some WLS patients seek psychological counseling to address the root causes of their food (and other) pre-existing addictions. (Note that the majority of WLS patients are not addicts, pre- or post-WLS, although most of us would benefit from learning how to manage our stresses in life without turning to food; counseling can help with that.)

The best predictor of alcohol/substance abuse post-WLS is having had a prior history of those problems. That's why (for those bariatric surgery programs that require psychological screening pre-op) prior dependence on alcohol/other drugs is explored in those screening interviews. For those of us who took pencil and paper tests prior to the psychological interviews (I did -- 3 tests, 600 items - whew!) there were lots of questions about prior use of alcohol/drugs (both Rx and illegal).

Check this out: https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric...misconceptions

[Joe Poppa]

Ann very succinctly explained this.
I would be careful of any study unless it was done truly scientifically and contains enough diverse samples so that it is statistically accurate. Especially since many of those people already had an alcohol problem before the surgery or an addiction disorder.

Be careful of the numbers presented, I read a study where 50% of the people agree, 40% disagree and 20% aren't sure.

[Ann2]

Lol!

[Belle22]

I've heard that on Dr. Oz months ago. I agree with Anne. I think a lot of people start abusing something else. That's why I plan to continue to go to my nut because he is a psychologist who works with addictions. I have always been one of those people who eat when I drink more than one drink. I let my guard down. This was a huge last ditch effort for me. I'm not going to not screw with the plan. My doc wants us to wait 1 year for any alcohol and keep it at one glass of wine.

[cowgirljane]

I think Ann gave a very accurate overview.

My perspective now (I will be 4 years post sleeve in Dec - my sleeve was Dec 2011) is that there is something different about the sleeve say compared to the band. I was never a heavy drinker (well at least since about age 22 - ha) and being banded in 2001 (late 30s) I would say I became an even lighter drinker. I would go months without even a glass of wine and usually those were business dinners.

My first year or 2 post sleeve I was very diligent about no drinking/minimal drinking not due to fear of becoming alcoholic but rather the calories and carbs and worry about protecting my new little tummy. I believe that in my first year post op I had about 2 oz of wine in that whole year - at my sister's 40th anniversary and it made my tummy burn so I didn't want it anymore.

Like alot of people, the further i get into maintenance the more my habits slip into the "normal" of people around me. Since I am around alot of single, middle aged, fit people we tend to socialize, dance and enjoy going out - wine is first choice over food focused events. So over time I drink more than I used to. I keep an eye on it because it is alot of calories and carbs.

The main difference I notice is that I am way sensitive to alcohol if I haven't eaten. This is always true, but post sleeve it is much more extreme for me. If I am careful to have a snack before having a glass wine it is no problem. If I have wine first, it is like I get buzzed from 2 sips.... I can see how a person might drink INSTEAD of eating post sleeve which could definately lead down a path of drinking too much/becoming alcoholic. I had that experience when visiting a friend in Mexico (I joke about the day I lost in Mexico, but in truth it was scary that I drank before we ate ANY food that day due to the slow start of my friends - no access to breakfast even and I actually don't remember parts of the day even though I did not drink huge amounts). I do not know if the science bears this out, but it is my personal experience - there is something different post sleeve, it is not just "addiction transference" it is that your body handles alcohol way differently, at least on an emtpy stomach.

[cowgirljane]

Ann,I just read that article, it is a great summary.

I think one of the key points is the "regain" topic. It is true that not everyone gets "skinny" - many morbidly obese people lose a high percentage of their excess weight but may not be as thin as a never obese person. They may regain 5% of that loss, but they are STILL WAY better off. Misunderstanding on this point was one of the key reasons I was hesitant to get the sleeve - i had that all or nothing thinking. Truth of the matter is even if I regained enough to weigh say 200# (which I haven't, I am still in 5# of my goal) it would still be way way way better then being in the 308 (my starting weight when sleeved) or 330-350 (my lifetime high weight range). We all need to measure success in a way that is "fair" to ourselves and recognizes the progressive nature of the disease of obesity. Good article.

[Kindle]

I was a bonafide function alcoholic before surgery. I drank every single day, drank with friends, drank alone, drank to celebrate, drank when I was sad.....there was never an event that didn't call for a drink. I quit drinking alcohol cold turkey the day I started my preop diet. Jan 1, 2014 (11 days postop) was the first New Years Day I wasn't hung over since I was a teenager. Jan 1, 2015 was the second one. I'm now 19 months out and I may have 3-5 cocktails/month. So if anything, VSG "cured" both my obesity and alcoholism.

In the end, it all comes down to choices. And seeking help if you have trouble making "good" choices.

[SomeGuyJeff]

Be careful of the numbers presented, I read a study where 50% of the people agree, 40% disagree and 20% aren't sure.

i read that 84.6% of all statistics are made up on the spot

[Joe Poppa]

i read that 84.6% of all statistics are made up on the spot

LOL. I hate it when people state numbers or percentages on the spot based on what they think they should be and pass it off as a fact, even though they don't know and are way off.
I call those PIROOMA (Pulled It Right Out Of My Ass) numbers.