Anyone's alcoholism start after bariatric surgery?

[toMYhealth]

Mine did and I am fighting it. WLS in 2006, lost 90 poinds Started drinking in 2007... Have gained 60 pounds and trying to get sober.

[childofnite]

Yup - count me in.

Had my GBS April 2007, started drinking 3 months in, but didn't start really experiencing problems until September/October 2008. Been drinking progressively more ever since, until the past few months when I finally realized I am an alcoholic. It took a while to get that truth to *stick*, but now that it has, it isn't something I can 'unlearn'.

Maybe we can help each other out - glad to know there's others out there whose alcoholism was accelerated by GBS. Mental health screening doesn't really work - I was not an alcoholic before surgery, just a very infrequent sometimes binge drinker. So I was telling the truth when they asked. It just *feels* different since after surgery - it is not a transfer addiction, it's like mainlining alcohol for us, isn't it?

Anyhow, glad to meet you, hope you're still hanging out here.

[SisHopeful]

Hi! Not alcohol, but prescription pain killers-and I am going to guess it is the same beast with a different dress! LOL!

I hope to see this thread keep going. There is SO much about weight loss surgery that "they" have not figured out yet. The true emotional effects are just now starting to be looked at.

For lots of us-we slowly spiral and end up with a new addiction and when it all gets to be too painful it hits us "OMG-I STILL need something..something..something-to make this pain go away ..to make me feel happy..to make me feel normal..to make me not hurt"

I am with you both. I have put my pills down-it's been a few months now. I DO indeed feel exposed..but I am working on it..one moment..one day..etc

SO glad to see you both!!