Alcoholism after Bariatric Surgery
Here are a few old threads:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...s-surgery.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-drinking.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-sobriety.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...lcoholism.html
It seems, for some, there's a correlation - but the treatments the same I think for every alcoholic - stop drinking.
D
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...s-surgery.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-drinking.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-sobriety.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...lcoholism.html
It seems, for some, there's a correlation - but the treatments the same I think for every alcoholic - stop drinking.
D
Are you talking about transfer of addictions? If so, that's fairly common I believe.
The problem is that addicts tend not to have heathy ways of dealing with life on lifes terms for whatever reason. So, they use 'stuff' in excess to make things better. So, someone with food addictions might eat to exceess. Presumably due to surgery that is not a option any more, but if the addictive thinking is still prevailant then chances are that person will act out in different ways.
I know that when I stopped drinking then other behaviours started becoming more problematic for a while. Then, eventually, once I got a sponsor and really started focussing on my step work and applying it to my daily life, things started getting better because I was more able to cope with dissapointments and celebrations and life generally.
People act out with all kinds of stuff - Relationships (becoming obsessive / compulstive romantically); Sex ; Gambling; Shopping; Eating; Ilegal drugs; Prescribed drugs; Thrill seeking (dangerous or illegal behaviour for the thrill of the adrenaline buzz presumably); and of course, Alcohol.
Wishing you all the best for your sobriety and recovery.
BB
The problem is that addicts tend not to have heathy ways of dealing with life on lifes terms for whatever reason. So, they use 'stuff' in excess to make things better. So, someone with food addictions might eat to exceess. Presumably due to surgery that is not a option any more, but if the addictive thinking is still prevailant then chances are that person will act out in different ways.
I know that when I stopped drinking then other behaviours started becoming more problematic for a while. Then, eventually, once I got a sponsor and really started focussing on my step work and applying it to my daily life, things started getting better because I was more able to cope with dissapointments and celebrations and life generally.
People act out with all kinds of stuff - Relationships (becoming obsessive / compulstive romantically); Sex ; Gambling; Shopping; Eating; Ilegal drugs; Prescribed drugs; Thrill seeking (dangerous or illegal behaviour for the thrill of the adrenaline buzz presumably); and of course, Alcohol.
Wishing you all the best for your sobriety and recovery.
BB
It's an interesting question
Alcoholism after gastric bypass: Is it in your mind or gut? » Scienceline
D
Alcoholism after gastric bypass: Is it in your mind or gut? » Scienceline
D
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
This is interesting .
BB great explanation which explains a lot in my case . I can overspend ,overeat then feel guilty and become depressed , I get what happyface is saying .
As ive read over and over being sober doesn't mean life is perfect but it is a dam site easier than being drunk .
Happyface its good that you came here and I wish you well .
BB great explanation which explains a lot in my case . I can overspend ,overeat then feel guilty and become depressed , I get what happyface is saying .
As ive read over and over being sober doesn't mean life is perfect but it is a dam site easier than being drunk .
Happyface its good that you came here and I wish you well .
It is extremely common.
It's also extremely common for food addiction after bariatric surgery to be transferred to sex addiction from what I've heard and read.
Unfortunately, the medical community is not set up properly to deal with this. You could have the most reputable surgeon and medical team to get you through the surgery and aftercare, but that's not enough when it comes to addiction. Food is an addiction just like drugs or alcohol. There are too many people who think the only real addictions are drugs and alcohol. I wish psychologists who specialized in addiction were required to be a part of the health care professional team of bariatric surgery.
Without psychological/addiction counseling to solve the root cause of your food addiction, it makes sense that take away the food, and the addiction is transferred to something else.
I've also read that alcohol is metabolized much quicker after gastric bypass surgery. I had thought some doctors were saying "no alcohol ever" after bariatric surgery? Also the fact that you have to drink on an empty stomach makes it metabolize quicker, too.
I found this from a google search. It has some very interesting information on the subject:
http://bariatrictimes.com/alcohol-an...ypass-patient/
My heart goes out to you.
I hope you get the help that you need. Good luck.
It's also extremely common for food addiction after bariatric surgery to be transferred to sex addiction from what I've heard and read.
Unfortunately, the medical community is not set up properly to deal with this. You could have the most reputable surgeon and medical team to get you through the surgery and aftercare, but that's not enough when it comes to addiction. Food is an addiction just like drugs or alcohol. There are too many people who think the only real addictions are drugs and alcohol. I wish psychologists who specialized in addiction were required to be a part of the health care professional team of bariatric surgery.
Without psychological/addiction counseling to solve the root cause of your food addiction, it makes sense that take away the food, and the addiction is transferred to something else.
I've also read that alcohol is metabolized much quicker after gastric bypass surgery. I had thought some doctors were saying "no alcohol ever" after bariatric surgery? Also the fact that you have to drink on an empty stomach makes it metabolize quicker, too.
I found this from a google search. It has some very interesting information on the subject:
http://bariatrictimes.com/alcohol-an...ypass-patient/
My heart goes out to you.
I hope you get the help that you need. Good luck.
Very common. I know many people with the same story. You just shifted addictions. I am an AA'er and what I believe, is that addiction is addiction - whether you eat it, drink it, screw it, snort it, shoot it etc. We use substances to get out of ourselves and our feelings and to deal with/cope with life. You switched from food to booze. I suggest a 12 step meeting, centered around the big book of AA, to help you.
The person I described in #10, supra, developed a sex addiction too. I guess she's on top of the Bell curve, based on what I'd read in this thread. Tragic story. She's looking at serious jail time if she gets another DUI, and her son is embarrassed by her behavior and wants nothing to do with her.
Side note: her son is showing signs of alcoholism too, at age 21. Very sad outlook for this family.
Side note: her son is showing signs of alcoholism too, at age 21. Very sad outlook for this family.
It is a thing. There is lots on it if you Google it.
My friend had the surgery, became an alcoholic and died from it. Her Dad also had the surgery and the same thing happened years before her.
Jules
My friend had the surgery, became an alcoholic and died from it. Her Dad also had the surgery and the same thing happened years before her.
Jules
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 41
I most certainly have, as I have experienced this as well. My Bypass surgery was in 2005, started drinking heavily a few years later and have steadily increased each year thereafter. It's a defect in me, or I know some will call it a disease that I happen to have.
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