Addiction Transfer?

[DBAGuy 0]

Poking around on the net (one of my favorite ways to fill a few minutes of down time), I'm seeing information about bariatric surgery patients and what they call addiction transfer. Carnie Wilson (of the group Wilson Phillips) became an alcoholic two years after her gastric bypass surgery. Since she no longer used binge eating as a coping mechanism, she turned to martinis (up to 10/day).

There's arguments between professionals as to whether the dramatic weight loss following surgery essentially 'starts' the other addiction or whether it is only folks with predilection toward addiction that are affected.

Anyone have any experience or knowledge of this? My nutritionist mentioned it almost as an aside during one of our pre-op classes, but I don't know how 'real' a phenomenon it is...

Here's some links:

InteliHealth:

The new Addiction

while some of the data focuses on alcoholism, others talk about gambling and 'over shopping' as substitute addictions.

(edited by DBAGuy to add links and line of text after links)

(edited again by DBAGuy to get rid of a bunch of odd character combinations that appeared after the first edit...)

[Alexandra 55]

There's arguments between professionals as to whether the dramatic weight loss following surgery essentially 'starts' the other addiction or whether it is only folks with predilection toward addiction that are affected.

I don't even think it's as easily categorizable as this. Dramatic weight loss can lead to emotional and mental upheavals, sure, but there are probably just as many people who find health through bariatric surgery and DROP their addictions without replacing them with anything. Is someone who became morbidly obese because they ate too much an "addict"? Not necessarily, of course. So someone who loses a lot of weight and later on becomes an alcoholic isn't necessarily "replacing" one addiction with another.

Sure, there may be people who can point to their bariatric surgery as the start of an addiction. But any significant life event can trigger that sort of thing in people who are vulnerable--childbirth, divorce, winning the lottery, losing a job--whatever. I don't think there's anything special about bariatric surgery that creates new addicts.

[susansilver 0]

I am reading a fabulous book book on addiction called (I think - I don't have it with me at work) The Heart of Addiction by a psychiatrist who (I think) is Lance Doddes - or something similar.

It is a really different look at addiction because I explains the difference between addictions, habit and physical addictions. Also explains why 12 step programs often don't work.

His premise is that addictions are a coping mechanism for psychological issues - be it anger or rage or loss of control etc. Therefore, when one stops abusing the object that they have chosen (ie. drugs or food) but has not dealt with the reason why they need a displacement in the first place, then they will often turn to another substance or behaviour which will serve the same purpose as the original one.

It makes so much sense to me - this book makes so much sense to me as one who has chosen (for whatever reason) food to deal with my issues even though he barely talks about binge eating of food in the book. I mainly focuses on drugs and alcohol - but that just proves his point that it could be anything used.

I will try to post later tonight when I am home so that I can give you the proper information.

[jbtullis 0]

I can identify with some of the transfer additions but not to something bad so much. I sure enjoy shopping more now. I still have to go to the big and tall section but now I can look around and complain because everything is too big as I have gotten to the lower end of their ranges.

Also I have become addicted to weighing. I drive my wife crazy with it as I weigh almost everytime I walk pass the scale. It can be 2 to 3 times a day. But for me it is better than looking for something to eat and it keeps me motivated or spurred on if it moves up.

Some would argue the scale addition is unhealthy but better than going for alcohol or something to me.

[losingjusme 12]

i have transferred my food addiction to both shopping (only moderate) and exercising (quite active). as long as they are not destructive and my spending does not get out of hand, i am ok with those behaviors.

[areellady 1]

I agree..my addiction has gone to exercise...I can't get enough and think about it all day long, when I am going to do it next, what I am going to do next...on and on...I really hope that it stays like this because this is a much better life than before...Deanna

[nursinggal 1]

What a stimulating and debatable topic. I would have to say that a lot of times, someone will trade one addiction off for another. That is why it is a good idea to when doing something drastic like weight loss surgery or quitting smoking, etc., that we trade it in for something healthy..., Like EXERCISE! In my opinion, we all need to find something that provides us "comfort". I have used food for too long. Rather than turning to food, I have pick something else. Something I am still struggling with.

[tonijo 0]

I realize at this point that maybe there is some truth to this addiction transfer. I am having a great deal of trouble with this issue and have kept very quite about it because of fear. I know about addiction and though the t-shirt was to small, it fits now. I am having old desires that I thought I have surpassed years ago. I have not even thought about "it" in years but I ran into an old friend and the subject came up and I sort of slipped. Though I am strong I cannot get the thought out of my head that I was that stupid and slipping was so easy. I am so glad for this post, this has been eating away at me . Thanks friends

[giveyouthemoon 4]

As a recovered bulimic, this issue was one of the first things my therapist brought up with me when I was going down the road for this surgery.

She works with patients a lot to recover from destructive addictions including eating disorders, drugs and alcoholism.

She told me, in her professional opinion with over thirty years in the business, that an addictive person does not stop being addictive. Where you can make great strides, however, is to find another way to channel your addictions.

She told me of a woman, a recovered alcoholic, who will stay up night and day making quilts. It keeps her hands and mind busy so she doesn't drink, and gives her the benefit of having completed something.

For most, not all, overweight people, eating is a way of coping with life's issues. We turn to food in time of crisis, in time of joy, in time of boredom, etc....that is our addiction.

By having this surgery, you are physically limiting your access to that comfort. If you don't find a way to get that comfort, you will turn to *something*, and not always a productive or healthy something.

It's why you see many RNY patients become alcoholics. It's the "next way" to deal.

And for me personally, to say, "oh I'll just become addicted to exercise!!" WILL NOT WORK. It may work nicely for a few, but I doubt it. I know this, I will never be addicted to exercise. I have to force myself to exercise...I don't enjoy it and it brings me no comfort.....

So what, might you ask, have I substituted? Unclear. It's an issue I still struggle with and I find now, over two years out, the band *might* have made my food obsessions worse, not better. Now that I can't have certains foods, I yearn for them.....

It's a sticky road.

It's why I've said here, on these boards, over and over....NO ONE should go down the road to bariatric surgery without the help of a trained therapist. There are a LOT of issues that come up on the road to weightloss.

All of us are fighting our own set of demons. It's having tools in your toolbox to fend them off that is the dividing line between those that are successful and those that fall prey, again, to the demons.

Just my opinions, don't have to be yours......:eek:

[MMS 0]

I have only the last few months have been reading a womens blog who was an alcoholic. I don't think she ever said to what degree, but admits she had a big problem.

She now runs ULATRA MARATHONS Like 3-4 a year. That is anything over 26.2 miles. Her latest was 103. She does a couple a year like that. When you read her blog, you can tell she is addicted. She trains every, every day no matter what. Gets up at 5:30 to trail run 8-10-12 miles a day. Hitting the gym while her kids are at activities. Bike riding 14 miles a day also. I can't image having the mental fortitude to do that let alone the physical.

I think that's a heck of a transfer!

[Leona06 0]

I have definitely changed my addictions- I am SO not the exception. I have switched my habits though - continously and sometimes am not conscience I am addicted- which is worse... I binge drink 3-4 nights a week with friends, can blow $700 in one week, exercise HARD CORE 6 times in a week, and can go through guys like no tomorrow. But I am also 22, a graduate student, and finally enjoying a real social life in New York City. So sometimes, I'm not sure if I'm doing it as an addiction, or as a young adult.

I have talked to my therapist about this and she says that it will probably happen, and as long as it doesn't get TOO far out of control, it's ok. I do love dating now though!

[Leona06 0]

Oh and I go through periods of COMPLETE control of what goes in my mouth and body. Some weeks- its like my body is a temple, and some times its like I couldn't care less. Right now, I am in control and I like it!

[cazulay 0]

I gave this a lot of thought before entering bandland. I have a major adictive personality and come from a family of addicts. Now that I can no longer eat, I spend most of the time on this board! I also go out and exercise every evening, but I feel I still need to find something else, like a hobby, that I enjoy and that will fullfill me.

[tonijo 0]

Jack,

I am certainly glad to hear your take on this subject because my very own dragons seems to take a post and run with it... "Maybe you do have a problem"... Says my dragon, but i need to accentuate the positive and remember what I have accomplished. I think it is the truth we try to replace habits to some degree, just because it is the right thing to do. I do not miss the things that go along with overeating. But I do love the size 8 jeans that now fit. Hopefully I can just learn to leave me alone and quit trying to find a problem and go for the solutions.

[BigHarleyGuy 0]

I have a friend who in a recovering alcoholic, when he hit rock bottom he spent 90 days in rehab. He came out and has never looked back. . . at alcohol. When he got out of rehab, he dived headfirst into exercise. He was not obese by my estimation, but he has lost a ton of weight, and gotten into what he admits is the best shape of his life. He runs marathons and competes in Iron man competitions. He admits that he had transfered his addiction for alcohol to exercise, but says in rehab they were told to expect this, and as long as the new addiction was not self-destructive, it was positive. He looks great and says at 40 he has never felt better.

Jim