disco stu

I encourage you to do some research on the connection between alcohalism and Bariatric patients. For some reason, it's not something people seem to want to discuss much around here, but it's a major problem and something you should be on the look out for...

Pros: It actually works, even if you're lazy and cheat./
Cons: It makes you poop a lot.

Hey guys,
This may be a tough subject, but if it can't be discussed on an anonymous forum where we regularly discuss our bowel movements and farts, were else can it be discussed? I've kind of hinted at this in a couple of my previous posts, but four weeks ago, my issues with alcohol had gotten to the point that I finally had no choice but to start attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, as well as various addiction treatment options provided through my health plan. For background on what I'm talking about, see:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/popular-weight-loss-surgery-roux-en-y-gastric-bypass-linked-to-alcohol-problems/
According to some studies, the odds of a post-bariatric patient having alcohol struggles goes up 28%. Wow.
I've done a couple of searches on this board for alcoholism, and come up with basically zilch. Given the increased odds, how can that be? I can't possibly be the only one on here who can directly correlate my increased drinking to the date of my surgery.

I bring this up, mostly because it's what I'm living right now, and I have a lot of information to share and well as unanswered questions. NOTE: I'm 13 days sober since making a few key changes in my vitamin intake, which has me very excited. Would love to start a discussion and share with anyone out there who is struggling. PM is fine as well.
-ds

Thanks to all of you for this discussion. I had bypass, but am having some real issues with fat malabsorption and low D level which was 15.1. Doc prescribed 50,000 units twice a week of the green capsules, but it looks like maybe this is not what I should be doing. I'll check out the dry form.

Pros: It actually works, even if you're lazy and cheat./
Cons: It makes you poop a lot.

The struggle is real. I just had my first 'slip' after 54 days of sobriety. Sucks.

I would recommend speaking to a psych about anti-depressants...specifically an SSRI. You have to play Russian Roulette a bit to find what works for your brain chemistry, but it's worth it. Made things a lot lot easier once I found the right combo. (low dose Celexa for me, but everyone is different)

"transference" in an interesting notion, but based on my current experience, I've become convinced that there's a brain chemical explanation for my alcohol increase post-bariatric......
First off, let's acknowledge that heredity has a lot to do with addiction. Some of us are just born wired to fall prey to over drinking. Study: If neither of your parents were alcoholics, you have a 1 in 10 chance of developing alcohol issues. If one parent was an alcoholic, your odds move to 1 in 2, and if both parent were alcoholics, your odds move to 4 in 5. ack!! Guess who drew that last lucky straw! AA calls it being born 'allergic' to alcohol.
Second, alcoholism is a scientifically provable brain chemical disorder; not some kind of moral failing or weakness of will-power. Here's a snippet from a great video that really helps explain.

Third: There have been studies which link vitamin deficiency with an increase in alcohol abuse. I'm describing this study from memory, but it goes something like this: Back in the 50s, they did a study where they placed rats in a cage with a bowl of water and a bowl of alcohol and then fed them Puppy Chow. About 10% of the rats turned into alcoholics, which is in line with the general US population. Next they re-ran the experiment with a new set of rats, except this time, they extracted all the vitamin nutrients out of the food. About %85 of the rats turned into alcoholics. Finally, the re-ran a third time, but with Puppy Chow mega fortified with vitamins, specifically B and C. None of the rats turned to the alcohol.
When I read this study - true or not - I was inspired. It made a connection in my head. What is one of the major issues facing post-bariatric patients? Vitamin deficiency. And who hasn't been a very good boy about taking his bariatric vitamins for the last two years.... the exact time frame where my drinking went from the occasional bender, to daily drinking? Me!!
So two weeks ago I started getting really serious about my vitamin intake, including getting B-12 injections every two days.
Wow! what a difference! My craving went from a scream to a whisper. This last 12 days of sobriety has been a piece of cake compared to all my other attempts (none of which lasted more than seven days before giving in to the cravings).
Your milage may vary, but if you are struggling with managing your alcohol cravings, give b12 injections a try. Hopefully it makes the same difference as I've experienced the last two weeks (knock on wood)
I'll keep this post updated and honest.

Best decision ever. It's a little tricky to talk about actual number of lost lbs for me, since I'm a dude and I started working out on weights a ton, and getting semi-jacked. but what a difference this has made in my life. Transformative. You should feel confident.
I deleted most of my "fat pics", but I attached something that should give a general vibe...

I probably don't count as 'long term'....I'm at 18 months.... but I eat pretty shitty and haven't regained.

I'm sleeve to DS (SIPs, actually.) . The recovery was a breeze. 1/10th that of sleeve. I was walking the same day and eating solid food two days later.
Best decision I ever made.

Well maybe some of us just don't assimilate things as well as others. I have been on prenatal vitamins with iron from the very beginning, take additional Ferrocite, long past menopause and still required an Iron INFUSION in March. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? One of the ways I can tell when I am getting low is I feel sluggish and complain that I AM COLD!

@disco stuThat is such great news. You really did it! I’d continue it. Generally, once you reach the level you need to be that’s where you stay dosewise. If your numbers go too high or too low then you adjust accordingly.

Pros: It actually works, even if you're lazy and cheat./
Cons: It makes you poop a lot.

Pros: It actually works, even if you're lazy and cheat./
Cons: It makes you poop a lot.

I encourage you to do some research on the connection between alcohalism and Bariatric patients. For some reason, it's not something people seem to want to discuss much around here, but it's a major problem and something you should be on the look out for...

I do think transference of addictions is a legitimate thing. Addiction issues usually aren’t limited to just one thing. You see people quit smoking and develop gambling or food addictions. It happens all the time.

It is super common for post ops to develop alcohol dependencies.

As someone who previously went through some dependency issues, I’m incredibly aware and sensitive to being at an increased risk. I think the worst thing people can do is think it can’t happen to them. If you don’t think you’re susceptible to addiction transference, then you’re less likely to recognize the signs.

Hey guys,
This may be a tough subject, but if it can't be discussed on an anonymous forum where we regularly discuss our bowel movements and farts, were else can it be discussed? I've kind of hinted at this in a couple of my previous posts, but four weeks ago, my issues with alcohol had gotten to the point that I finally had no choice but to start attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, as well as various addiction treatment options provided through my health plan. For background on what I'm talking about, see:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/popular-weight-loss-surgery-roux-en-y-gastric-bypass-linked-to-alcohol-problems/
According to some studies, the odds of a post-bariatric patient having alcohol struggles goes up 28%. Wow.
I've done a couple of searches on this board for alcoholism, and come up with basically zilch. Given the increased odds, how can that be? I can't possibly be the only one on here who can directly correlate my increased drinking to the date of my surgery.

I bring this up, mostly because it's what I'm living right now, and I have a lot of information to share and well as unanswered questions. NOTE: I'm 13 days sober since making a few key changes in my vitamin intake, which has me very excited. Would love to start a discussion and share with anyone out there who is struggling. PM is fine as well.
-ds

Yup It's real, but it gets better with time and management. Management equates to mostly avoiding Gluten and other carbs. You may discover other 'stink bomb' foods as well - avocado for me - so there's a bit of trial and error for the first few months.

The good news for me is that most of the bad stuff happened at night; during the day at work I was mostly fine. I do carry Poo-porrie in my backpack just in case though...

Vegas? Was it Blossom? They're good, but they're a high volume bariatric farm; the "love 'em and leave 'em" school. If you want them to take responsibility and help, you're gonna have to get pushy\aggressive. i.e. Threaten to blast their name all over the bariatric forums and Yelp. maybe even get a lawyer involved.
Unless you make noise, they will not help you, which is BS. Whatever is going on with you, it;'s not normal. They need to step-up and help you through it.

Yup It's real, but it gets better with time and management. Management equates to mostly avoiding Gluten and other carbs. You may discover other 'stink bomb' foods as well - avocado for me - so there's a bit of trial and error for the first few months.

The good news for me is that most of the bad stuff happened at night; during the day at work I was mostly fine. I do carry Poo-porrie in my backpack just in case though...

The pain will be a fleeting memory a week from now. Grunt through it.
The more interesting questions will come in a week or two...

Why are you focused on salad ? That's a coping mechanism ur gonna wanna save for months and months from now. Right now should be protein, protein, protein ,protein ,protein ,protein. My fav at this point? Clear Chinese: like sizzling rice soup ... minus the rice.
More than a month out: grilled salmon with a side a butter. Hell yeah I said BUTTER. The least you can do to stay away from wheat carbs. Trust me. There is no amount of BUTTERED fish that will hurt you more than traditional carbs. You will be OK. Have patience. A watched pot never boils.

One trick I've read about and tried myself is to go back to a "day after" post-op diet for a week (or two if you can do it.) Remember the liquids only, followed by puree'd baby food? Yum!
But honestly, our stomaches are weird. I have noticed multiple times that if I go ham the night before, I wake up ravenous. But if I tone it down - or even fast - the night before, in the AM I can barely finish a meager breakfast. Weird, but true.
So maybe give it a try. GO back to your Dr.'s post-op diet for a week and see what happens....

Why are you focused on salad ? That's a coping mechanism ur gonna wanna save for months and months from now. Right now should be protein, protein, protein ,protein ,protein ,protein. My fav at this point? Clear Chinese: like sizzling rice soup ... minus the rice.
More than a month out: grilled salmon with a side a butter. Hell yeah I said BUTTER. The least you can do to stay away from wheat carbs. Trust me. There is no amount of BUTTERED fish that will hurt you more than traditional carbs. You will be OK. Have patience. A watched pot never boils.

Why are you focused on salad ? That's a coping mechanism ur gonna wanna save for months and months from now. Right now should be protein, protein, protein ,protein ,protein ,protein. My fav at this point? Clear Chinese: like sizzling rice soup ... minus the rice.
More than a month out: grilled salmon with a side a butter. Hell yeah I said BUTTER. The least you can do to stay away from wheat carbs. Trust me. There is no amount of BUTTERED fish that will hurt you more than traditional carbs. You will be OK. Have patience. A watched pot never boils.