QuilterGal

I, too, became an alcoholic post-RNY. I am five days into my second detox. I went to an AA meeting today and realized they way they talk about craving alcohol is exactly how I used to crave food. I don't crave alcohol in the same way. I wouldn't even call it a crave. I use it to self medicate when I have anxiety, just as I used to use food. After I stabilize, my doc and I are going to look at changing my anti-anxiety meds because, clearly, the ones I'm on now are not doing the trick. Until then, I am keeping very busy with my hobbies and work to keep my anxiety down. I'm going to have a fantastic garden this year. 🙂

I, too, became an alcoholic post-RNY. I am five days into my second detox. I went to an AA meeting today and realized they way they talk about craving alcohol is exactly how I used to crave food. I don't crave alcohol in the same way. I wouldn't even call it a crave. I use it to self medicate when I have anxiety, just as I used to use food. After I stabilize, my doc and I are going to look at changing my anti-anxiety meds because, clearly, the ones I'm on now are not doing the trick. Until then, I am keeping very busy with my hobbies and work to keep my anxiety down. I'm going to have a fantastic garden this year. 🙂

I, too, became an alcoholic post-RNY. I am five days into my second detox. I went to an AA meeting today and realized they way they talk about craving alcohol is exactly how I used to crave food. I don't crave alcohol in the same way. I wouldn't even call it a crave. I use it to self medicate when I have anxiety, just as I used to use food. After I stabilize, my doc and I are going to look at changing my anti-anxiety meds because, clearly, the ones I'm on now are not doing the trick. Until then, I am keeping very busy with my hobbies and work to keep my anxiety down. I'm going to have a fantastic garden this year. 🙂

So here is something I just discovered after going to an AA meeting. The way non-WLS alcoholics talk about craving alcohol all the time is how I felt about food pre-op. However, that's not at all how I react to alcohol post-op. Since I stopped drinking last week, I have not craved alcohol once. I've found other ways to deal w/ my anxiety, and I'm also on additional anti-anxiety meds right now. I'm really thinking that the alcohol has to do with my previous anxiety meds not being at full strength due to malabsorption. Fortunately, I found a psychologist who works w/ bariatric patients with alcohol and anxiety issues. And I'm meeting with my doctor Friday to try to straighten out my anxiety meds.

I, too, became an alcoholic post-RNY. I am five days into my second detox. I went to an AA meeting today and realized they way they talk about craving alcohol is exactly how I used to crave food. I don't crave alcohol in the same way. I wouldn't even call it a crave. I use it to self medicate when I have anxiety, just as I used to use food. After I stabilize, my doc and I are going to look at changing my anti-anxiety meds because, clearly, the ones I'm on now are not doing the trick. Until then, I am keeping very busy with my hobbies and work to keep my anxiety down. I'm going to have a fantastic garden this year. 🙂

I'm preparing myself for admission to a 45-day rehab for alcohol addiction post RNY gastric bypass. This is not the first round of treatment. I had my gatric bypass 10/1999 in San Diego CA at the facility operated by Drs Clark and Wittgrove. By nine months post op I lost 106 pounds and maintained that loss through 2008. However, during that time I also began experiencing and struggling with a dependence on alcohol.

Dr Clark explained that once I physically adapted to my new physiology, I could re-introduce various other foods and drinks, determining whether they would compel the infamous "dumping syndrome". Sugar was a definite "no consume", but when I went to my family's traditional Sunday brunch several months post op and slaked my thirst with a flute of champagne, I did not experience dumping syndrome. All I felt was a "super high" from the sip I took. After that, the game was on. My addiction began in earnest. Dumping Syndrome I was warned about. There were no flags waved before me about the possibilities of alcoholism and alcohol addiction. I am waving those flags now!

I first went into treatment April of 2008. I did not complete the relapse segment of treatment because I had scheduled reconstructive surgery for a work related injury. The surgery schedule overlapped that final stage of rehab. I think God walked with me through those years because I remained sober until my mother began dying in late 2016. It was then I began drinking volumes of wine that increased to the equivalent, on average, of 4 bottles of wine a day. Occasionally, I thought drinking vodka a better alternative than drinking wine. Don't ask me why. The mind of an addict. I returned to wine. Drug of choice. Drug of self-destruction.

One day I decided to try and find out why and and how my "take it or leave it " attitude toward alcohol became a "can't live without it " condition. On the internet, I discovered that, as gastric bypass patients, we are unique. In the same way that we each do not necessarily experience dumping syndrome, we do not experience the effects of alcohol the same.

Post gastric bypass, my physiology became hyper receptive to the effects of alcohol, particularly the initial high produced from its consumption. I believe there is no way on this planet that I am unique in this experience. I want others to know, as I now seek treatment a second time on June 13, 2019, that if this is happening to you, don't wait, don't blame yourself, it's your body reacting to the changes made. Be totally honest with those treating you. Only then, hopefully armed with what I'm writing here, can you get the medical help, psychological treatment and ongoing care that will make you whole.

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Just be careful how much you eat. SF candy can give you diarrhea and bad gas.

Don't listen to him. And if you encounter any other naysayers, say directly and firmly, "This is the decision I have made in consultation with my primary care physician and surgical team. I believe it is the right choice for me." Opinions are like a**holes -- everybody has one.

Don't listen to him. And if you encounter any other naysayers, say directly and firmly, "This is the decision I have made in consultation with my primary care physician and surgical team. I believe it is the right choice for me." Opinions are like a**holes -- everybody has one.

Don't listen to him. And if you encounter any other naysayers, say directly and firmly, "This is the decision I have made in consultation with my primary care physician and surgical team. I believe it is the right choice for me." Opinions are like a**holes -- everybody has one.

I don't miss any foods that I can't eat. And when I say I "can't" eat them, it's much more of I don't want to eat them. RNY has completely changed my interest in certain foods. I have zero desire to eat anything sweet: Cookies, ice cream, candy, cake, brownies, etc. I also am very careful about high fat foods since they make me feel terrible.
I am so happy that I finally had RNY. It has saved my life.

Husband and I have a motorhome. Before surgery, showering in the motorhome shower was uncomfortable. If I didn't stand a certain way, my butt would hit the side of the shower. And washing certain parts was a challenge because I couldn't contort my body in the right way. Well, now that I'm down 106#, I LOVE the motorhome shower. No hitting the side of anything with my butt. I can move around and wash everywhere with ease. Now I just need to get out of there and end my spa-like motorhome showers before we run out of hot water!

I took three weeks. I could have gone back after two, but that last week really helped get me into a daily routine.

This is my experience with RNY:
I have heard that you can never take NSAIDS again. I have also heard they can be taken but with an acid reducer. Which is true? I started taking NSAIDS about six months out. I have no problem with them and do not need an acid reducer.

I have heard that the surgery fixes reflux and GERD. I have heard that people who never had heartburn pre-op now have it daily. RNY fixes reflux and GERD. The sleeve makes it worse. If you have reflux and GERD, do RNY.

I have heard that there are some foods you can NEVER eat again. I have heard that in time you can eat anything again just in moderation. Which is true? There are foods you will never WANT to eat again. They will be so unappetizing. With RNY, my taste buds and craving changed dramatically. For me, I find anything sweet (Cookies, cakes, brownies, candy) totally unappetizing, to the point of being nearly revolting. Fatty foods make me feel yucky so I have an immediate reaction to not wanting to eat them. I now crave "clean" food, and I've eaten more watermelon in the last 1.5 years than in my entire life. But yes, you can still eat them, eventually.

I have heard that there is a high percentage of addiction transfer. I have also heard that simply isn't true. This is true for some people.

I have heard sugar and fat cause dumping. I have heard neither of these things cause dumping or ymmv(your mileage may vary) They absolutely cause dumping. And it's very, very unpleasant.

I have heard everyone is constipated all the time. I have heard there is chronic loose stools. Again, this varies by person. I have the range, but I also have food allergies that can trigger different responses from by bowels. You really need to just see what works for you.

I drink post-RNY as I did pre-RNY. food is another matter.

I waited six months after RNY. Thing about alcohol is yes, you can feel the effects more quickly, but you also experience them going away much, much faster.

I waited six months after RNY. Thing about alcohol is yes, you can feel the effects more quickly, but you also experience them going away much, much faster.

If he doesn't want to eat them at his house (insist they are removed from your house), I'd toss them. If he asks why, tell him that they make you very, very sick, as does all sugary and high-fat foods.

Erin and Shar, thanks a ton. Everyone's advice and comments really helped. I was at a support group meeting last night and they said the same thing. This has really made a difference. I know people say that all the time but it is true. Thanks.

Ed

I am 4 months postop RNY 10/24. Down 80 pounds today!! What shocked me was how drastic my tastes changed. I am not craving foods I used. I don't even want it. It doesn't even sound good. It's hard to explain but the hunger not being an issue and cravings being gone are a game changer for me. It has made this so much easier.

Good luck!!

The biggest change for me, in addition to the food restriction and lack of hunger, is the hormonal change that comes with RNY. Your tastes for certain foods actually changes with RNY. I am completely grossed out by anything sweet: Cookies, cakes, baked goods, candy, sweet drinks -- anything. In addition, I am grossed out by high-fat and heavy foods. What I crave is clean and fresh food. This change in cravings due to hormonal changes was totally unexpected, but it has been FANTASTIC. We went husband's family Xmas part last December, which is a feast of Desserts. NOTHING appealed to me. In fact, I had to stay out of the dessert room because it grossed me out so much.

I took three weeks. I could have gone back after two, but that last week really helped get me into a daily routine.

Don't listen to him. And if you encounter any other naysayers, say directly and firmly, "This is the decision I have made in consultation with my primary care physician and surgical team. I believe it is the right choice for me." Opinions are like a**holes -- everybody has one.

I waited six months after RNY. Thing about alcohol is yes, you can feel the effects more quickly, but you also experience them going away much, much faster.

This has been a permanent side effect of my RNY. I am revulsed by sweet foods. Watermelon is about as sweet as I can take.