I Became A Drunk After My Gastric Sleeve Surgery

[YearningToBeThin 0]

I lost 120 pounds in 6 months with 80 more to go. I started drinking wine and all the depression and anxiety became suppressed by that. I didn't regain any weight but I stopped losing. Everything snowballed to the point I hit the bottom of the barrel and now I have been sober but the depression and the anxiety is hitting me big time although I am on tranquilizers and an anti-depressant. I feel so overwhelmed and guilty that I messed up my weight loss for 7 months.

Can anyone relate and give me some advice?

Thank you!

[TijuanaPlication 87]

I can totally relate. You've replaced one addiction with another one. For some people it's smoking, others it's shopping, drugs, sex and other stuff I've not even thought of.

Are you still drinking? Maybe AA could help. I'm sorry to not be able to help more, but I think most of us on here can understand where you're coming from so you shouldn't beat yourself up about it - you just need to continue what you've started with this thread actually get some help.

Maybe your PCP can refer you to someone re the tranquilizers and anti-depressants. At least you're admitting that you have issues and that's at least the first step, you just need to speak to someone that can help you further.

All the best and I'm sending a big hug your way.

[Caliblonde 25]

First off, congratulations on your 120 lb. weight loss!!

Though I haven't had surgery yet, I have experienced crossover addictions in the past with other large amounts of weight loss, so I can definitely relate. I'm so sorry to hear that you are experiencing horrible depression and anxiety and that your medications are not providing any relief. Have you talked to a psychiatrist about other possible medications? I know that there are a lot of different options out there and that it can take a long time to find the one that works the best for you. Also, participating in 1:1 talk therapy can be useful as well to help figure out the root cause of your depression and anxiety.

I agree with Tijuana that maybe AA could be helpful to provide you with another outlet to discuss things in your life and to find other outlets for stress relief.

I know you're beating yourself up about going off the wagon, but on the positive side you haven't gained any weight back which means that you can pick things up and continue losing. Maybe you could write down some positive things about yourself and otherwise surround yourself with support.

Good luck and if you ever need to talk, I am always willing to listen

[Lila21 36]

Wow, I'm so sorry you are going through this! I hope you keep working with a psychiatrist to find the right medications for you. I've heard that finding the right combination can take some time, so if your first try isn't working, you can definitely try another!! Also, please don't beat yourself up. You are suffering enough without adding shame and blame to the situation. I'm sure if you could have avoided the situation you are in, you would have. Please have some compassion for yourself! Sending you big cyber hugs!

[MICHELLE LEE 19]

Exercise is a HUGE anxiety and depression reliever. Way better than any meds..

[Puppylovemommy 8]

All I can say is that you should pray, pray, pray, and then pray some more. I was hit with that dreaded disease of alcoholism for many years, but with lots of prayers I finally overcame it. I don't even like the stuff anymore!

[rsr53 1]

Don't use the alcohol as your crutch. Find ways to remove yourself from any stressors. Get a hobby! Yes, the 12 Step Program can also help you address your issues with foods and addictions to them. Congrats on your loss and that you did not regain what you have lost--make this a good starting point to regain your nutritional program habits again. I am not one to rely on pills to heal feelings--exercise, activity and support systems are vital to your health and wellbeing.

[ranchersdaughter 9]

I cannot relate to crossover addictions as per POST SLEEVE, as I chose to stop smoking 2 weeks before my surgery and thanks to my e-cig have not touched a cigar (yes, I said cigar.....omg I loved grape flavored swisher sweets!)since. However......

I CAN relate to PRE sleeve crossover addictions. I gave up food in order to drink and work. 2 jobs, 3 hours of sleep, a pack of cigs and enough cheap whiskey to pickle me from head to toe, not just my liver.

Was I thin? Oh hell yeah! Was I healthy? Oh hell to the no! Was it obvious I wasn't healthy? Yeah, I was 35 years old and looked 50. Sweet lil side effect of addictions.

I must give you a HUGE cyber hug and congratulate you on recognizing what is happening to you and doing something about it, because you're obviously making changes for YOU and THAT is the only way to succeed!

I wish you the VERY best, you are in my prayers and if you ever feel the urge to just dump a load off, my shoulders are big!!

Christal

[Jensharley 9]

I am not yet sleeved but have been trying to work through some eating and self-destructive issues I have had for many years prior to the surgery so that I keep these behaviors from sabotaging my weight loss. I am not saying that it won't creep in at times just as you experienced. The truth is many of us got fat due to other factors and may have used food to self-medicate that pain. You take food away and there the pain still is and it is absolutely normal to try and find some way to self-medicate to ease that pain again through whatever means, shopping, gambling, drinking or drugs.

We aren't used to dealing with the pain and feelings and not having something to insulate us from that means we have to feel it, experience the pain and try and work through where it is coming from to heal that part of ourselves. I am specifically worried about how my marriage will weather through this. My husband is also overweight and tends to use alcohol as a crutch. When we don't have eating out or grabbing a beer or two together in common I am not sure what we will do. I talked to him about this last weekend and he is saying all the right supportive things but I am still concerned it may open up underlying issues that will have to be addressed.

I am hoping I find stress relief through exercise. I have never been a consistent exerciser but expecting a life filled with self-confidence issues, abusive relationships and passive/aggressive behavior to magically be all better because I am thin is not realistic.

YearningToBeThin, I hope you seek out someone to talk to that can help you put things in perspective. You are not alone. So many people struggle but keep it in. We just wear our struggles on the outside.;o)

[italianlady13 80]

I can say to you that i'm definately a food addict. I have been sleeved for almost two weeks now and I have had the most stressful time of my entire life. The first thing I have wanted to do is grab something and stuff it in my mouth. I know if I do this that I will feel so so sick and might even harm myself so it's the only thing stopping me and when i can't eat I'm urged to go and spend money shopping at the mall. I know that i"m definately moving into a cross over addiction with shopping but am aware of it which is the first step, SO, congratulations on the first step of realizing and admitting that you have a problem. Seek professional help, get to an AA, get a sponsor and get yourself back in the swing. you should be so very proud of your weight loss success! Kudos to you!!!!!!!!! Now, keep your chin up, get addicted to working out, and see if your doctor can do an analysis to see if your anti depressant medications are the right ones for you. Sometimes you have to try several before you get "the right fit". I wish you so much luck and happiness in your future because YOU DESERVE IT!

[Luanne 32]

I'm a recovering alcoholic of 10 years and have cross-addicted to many things in my life! Whatever I do, I do "alcoholicly" and that is that I know no end until I "Let Go, Let God" and work through the 12 Steps to find a solution.

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

hi luanne

i decided to tell you i do care.

i'm not sure what i can say - but i wanted to say hi so you don't feel left out. I hope you are around to see this.

congrats on being a 10 yr recovering alcoholic. That must take a lot of strength and courage.

you sound like a religious person - so let God be your guide in your battles.

as far as the sleeve goes, looks like you are doing very well, great weight loss, which i'm sure you will continue to do. I know its very hard for all of us sleevers, but how rewarding it will be to continue your journey to success.

Good luck, hope to hear from you - take care

best of luck

kathy

[topper12345 19]

I lost 120 pounds in 6 months with 80 more to go. I started drinking wine and all the depression and anxiety became suppressed by that. I didn't regain any weight but I stopped losing. Everything snowballed to the point I hit the bottom of the barrel and now I have been sober but the depression and the anxiety is hitting me big time although I am on tranquilizers and an anti-depressant. I feel so overwhelmed and guilty that I messed up my weight loss for 7 months.

Can anyone relate and give me some advice?

Thank you!

PLEASE VISIT: toomuchonherplate.com they offer excellent advice and free audio therapy sessions. They also deal with the emotional effects after weight loss surgery. All of us that had or is going to have GS must realize that the surgery does not cure emotional eating. We must address the underlying factors. You can lose 200 lbs. and still me miserable, unhappy, and depressed. Now that you have taken care of yourself physically, take care of your emotional health. Extremely important for us ladies!

[4ALongerLife 329]

First off, Celebrate your joys and stop focusing on the negative. Holy guacamole you lost 120 lbs. JEESHHHHHH that is awesome!

But why the self destruction? I can relate.... I'm a child of an alcoholic ... but then again if I had had to live with my father.... All I can say is counseling counseling counseling.... WLS is a tool but some of us have an addictive personality that takes over and rears it's ugly head in so many other ways. That's a fear for me, that I will cross over into something else.

Just remember to take everything as one day at a time. Tomorrow is never promised for any of us. But on a bright note, every day is a new day... and every day you have to meet that challenge and overcome it. So you didn't for a while. Let it go, the past is gone... now pls forgive yourself. Get that critic out of your head... the best thing you can do is be kind to yourself and get tough on the addiction and destruction that you are doing to yourself and your success. You need to KNOW that you are worthy of being successful.

Get a good counselor and get on some good antidepressants and antianxiety pills (not benzodiazipines) if possible. Benzo's are addictive, so watch it (i.e. xanax, valium, etc.). I got my masters in social work with an emphasis in mental health and substance abuse, so that's how I know (no, I don't know drugs from my own experience). I've always been 'worried' that my addictive personality would take over in destructive ways. And I told ya, child of alcoholism, so yeah I tried 'curing' myself whenever I was too embarrassed to tell others of my issues. But know this, you have nothing to be embarrassed of. What life has brought to you, God has seen you through. Don't listen to the internal critic, wherever you learned that voice from, just stop that lil pain in the arse/voice in your head pls.

Stop the thought in your head about I screwed up for x months. Instead, think of it as ... ok so I fell off but guess what? Today's the day that I'm back on and I'm gonna keep trucking and lose those pounds! But definitely get on good meds & get into constructive counseling... it DOES help.

I am pulling for you... and praying for you as well. Sincerely, xoxo

[Go Kart Mozart 44]

I too became an alcoholic after being sleeved - I used to suppress my anxiety and depression with a big bag of potato chips, and then once that went away due to surgery I turned to alcohol. I'm rebounding from rock bottom (I'm talking 1/2 a liter of vodka a day) quite well, but I'm not honestly where I want to be with it either.

That said, I'd still get the sleeve done knowing what would happen.