Alcohol after RNY

[dawn678 0]

Please don't judge, but I am looking for help. I drank a lot of alcohol before surgery and unfortunately have been drinking alcohol since about a month out and now I am almost a year out and at a stahl. I understand why and I would like to quit completely!!! It's very hard and want to know if anyone else is having this problem? What did you do to quit ? Thank you for not judging.

[Dub 9,942]

No judging here.

I was what I'd call a heavy weekend drinker until April of this year. I work rotating shifts so I have odd weekdays off during the week. An 18 pack or a fifth was usual fuel for a good day off.

Seems crazy and out of control now that I reflect back, but it was quite normal at the time.

I was never loud or obnoxious.....just "relaxing".

I say that to say this.....I'm in no position to judge.

In April I screwed up something in my back that knocked the wind out of me. It stopped me dead in my tracks. For the first time in my 46 years I was scared of my inability to do something. I missed six weeks of work and spent a bunch of time sitting around......thinking.....trying to heal up.

The doctor said weight was a contributing factor. I began doing what I could to lose it.......while sitting around pumped full of meds.

Pain is a powerful motivator for me. I quit drinking the day of my first visit to the doctor for my back. Didn't need the calories and didn't need the booze mixed with the meds.

Six weeks of doing nothing kept me from going out to bars, clubs, restaurants..

It kept me away from a lot of temptation,

So the back injury probably saved my life because it opened my eyes. It forced me to take inventory.

Had I been mobile I would have done some AA meetings.

[dawn678 0]

Yes that is about what I would drink on a weekend prior to surgery. But now I know that I have a problem drinking nearly daily. I'm tired of this life, just want relief from the desire. I am the bread winner in my family so rehab is not an option for me.

My other problem is hubby. He drinks also. Can't quit when he is drinking too hard. In such a tough spot. Sorry to vent.

[dawn678 0]

Did you drink after your RNY surgery?

[Dream4tc 192]

@dawn678. I am a nurse and actually worked for 5 years on a voluntary unit for patients who wanted to stop drugs and alcohol. I have never been judgemental with any of them. We are all human and we make choices that are good and not so good. I was inspired by many of them because they took the biggest step by admitting they had a problem. I loved working there, but my unit moved to a different hospital and I have been a nurse case manager ever since. I am by no means an expert and I am not providing medical advice, but I can tell you what I learned from my patients. Alcohol dependency is a very serious disease. Withdrawal symptoms can occur from stopping. After drinking for a period of time, a body can become dependent from the alcohol and adapts and it gets to the point where you drink just to function to avoid the withdrawal. Physical manifestations, irritability, confusion, fall risks, neuropathy, tremors, sweating, electrolyte imbalances, and abnormal cardiac rhythms. I took care of patients who were 1 bottle of wine a day to gallons of hard liquor per day. The patients who drank the heaviest would have the worst withdrawal and needed to be medically monitored with a heart monitor. Most of these patients would be treated with medication for the withdrawal for 3 days usually a benzodiazepine like Librium, or Arivan, and then started on Naltrexone, and then go to an inpatient therapy program for 21 to 30 days, or on going outpatient therapy. Inpatient is better, but outpatient can be successful if you have a good support system in place. AA is also a place to go for help. It depends on your insurance and also depends on what is available in your area. I have seen many patients be successful with treatment. It does work! If you don't have insurance, there are places that will take sliding scale, but keep in mind if you do go to any treatment facility, there will be people there that are not there for the right reasons. Don't allow anyone to distract or prevent you from getting better. The hardest part is making the call and just getting started. I truly wish you the best! You can do it!!!