Hi, I am eight years post-op. I went looking for this site last year when I was at a pretty low point in my life. I had my surgery, I had lost weight, I was successful in my career and I was wallowing in alcohol abuse. I was at a point where I was pretty much drunk all the time. I want to warn everyone..I know you (or maybe some of you) want to feel "normal". I wanted to not be the lady who had had the surgery, I wanted to be like everyone else. I went to parties, ate what I wanted (after all, I couldn't eat much) and also, drank what I wanted. The weight started to go back on. I told myself that I would lose it tomorrow. Tomorrow never came. I put on half of the weight I had lost before I sobered up enough to realize how self destructive I had been. I called and made an appointment at a new surgery center with a new doctor. My previous doctor had never been supportive, the company had closed and changed hands etc...etc....etc. My new center sent me to a new PA (who is fabulous..by the way!) and she sent me to de-tox. I have been sober for a year and three months...something new to count. I have been losing the weight I had gained-slowly but steadily. I want to tell everyone...alcohol is something to really avoid. You may think you can handle it but, with the surgery, there is no way. I know that there is no one to blame but myself, no one made me take that first drink. Maybe I would have experienced this anyway, I don't know. What I DO know is that...there is no "normal". I will always have to follow the rules and that is the only path to success. My hope is that someone will read this and NOT take that first (or next) drink. You don't need to be numb and you can get help if you have gone down that path. Thank you for giving me the forum to put this out there, Deena
