In 2006, I underwent gastric bypass surgery, expecting that losing 150 pounds in two years would be a life-changing achievement. However, the reality was far from what I anticipated. The surgery led to numerous complications; I required at least 10 blood transfusions due to severe iron deficiency, as my body could no longer absorb iron properly. This resulted in multiple hospital stays and a deep depression that set in eight years post-surgery. My battle with depression became so overwhelming that I turned to alcohol to cope, leading to three years of severe alcoholism alongside my bipolar depression. This self-destructive cycle culminated in a stroke, which impaired my eyesight and led to the loss of my driver’s license. Despite attending rehab twice and even voluntarily admitting myself to a psych ward, I continue to struggle with extreme depression and frequent suicidal thoughts. The gastric bypass surgery, which I believed would save me, has instead inflicted immense suffering over the past 15 years. My life feels like a never-ending hell, and the impact on my physical and mental health has been devastating.

I had gastric bypass in 2003. One year after y developed manic depression and started drinking heavily right after, to the point of becoming an binge drinker and gotten several times in trouble. Finally after over a decade i did managed to get a hold of my drinking, and my psychiatric informed me of how the bypass had a lot to do with me becoming a binge drinker, I was never informed that this could’ve happened to me.

I had gastric bypass in 2007. I drink for over a decade. I tried rehab many times, lost everything. I felt like I was dying. God blessed me in 2017 with the help I needed. I wish someone had informed me this could happen.

I had gastric bypass in 2007. I drink for over a decade. I tried rehab many times, lost everything. I felt like I was dying. God blessed me in 2017 with the help I needed. I wish someone had informed me this could happen.

It’s been at least 5yrs or more since my fast by,l was in hosp,2days and1day in I.C.U. For one day.?They never said anything to me? All l could remember was wakeing up to two nurses one on each arm holding me up walking dragging me down the hall after surgery,I was out on my feet when l came too feeling sick as hell in a lot of pain saying to them what are you doing to me leave me alone put me back in bead i felt like my body was in rejection,shock even,!? I remember thinken to my self,your gonna die tonight.? And l remember wakeing up to a nurse praying next to me,she obviously was thinken the same,saying to me with a big smile and a sigh off Releef Rudy I pray for you last night, I felt calm worn out and confused.?I remember two of the tree days ? After a couple weeks ,I could eat solids,just a couple bites, feeling nausea and dehidreded all the time and week,never really hungry. I was around 290 ortho ped doc suggested l drop 100 or so lbs,befor knee replacement,I was very comf with my wt at timel happy healthy,two French frys for exsample an one drink or swallo,no more,cause it would come up Malken me feel naushes and drowsy an lathargic, like when you. Over eat on thanks giveing ,stuffed,wanting just to lay down and sleep even.? Been that way ever since,it’s been 5yrs 1st yr went down to 140lbs started loosing my hair and teeth and my eye site and my looks.? All sucked up looking frail,Sick,cheek bones ,an temples poking out,eye sockets sunk in,people would ask if I was sick at times imbarising me,giveing me angsiaties when I eat out or at fam,or my food is always cold,haveing to reheat 2-3 times , I always ask for small plate,like mayonase lid small,please,,most of time takeing it with me,or giveing it away to ? People never say Rudy you lost weight, you look great! Instead they say are you sick,,! I say no gastric bypass, I have trouble swollwing,needed surgery on my assophagus.?they had to use a wire to open it for camara to explore,!?,they said lt was 4 centermeeters and should be around 20 cen, or so? That they can only do 10 at a time,so it won’t tear?and I would have to return for 10 more, great! I said,and after a few days,I was starving! Bought a super barito,took two bites and,!? Felt like,OK,one more bite,and drank half a cup of orchata and begone feeling like what? Had to go back one more time! It’s been a year since,and guess what? I resently on 8-19-20 had my knee replacement done,and guess what ?long story short? After I I heal some,I’m haveing stomach aces burning even,blood in my stool again I have anemia now,high blood pressure,haveing to see a carteolagest,last time I had a low blood count,needing blood transfusion, and fixing to have schedule with gastroalagest,!? My forth surgery to open up my assaphaguess ! Here I go again,feeling sick and week,no energy etc,etc,etc!.. your patsy!.. Rudy.V.

February 10, 2008 had Ruex.en-y surgery. 2 years following I developed a drinking dependency where there was non prior. Had a thriving business, home and beautiful family. I lost all after several attempts at recovering in detox and aftercare by way of iop and sober living. I’m sober currently in a sober house near Boston. They never educated us on substance abuse other than there was a small risk of transferable addiction. The psychological evaluation was insufficient after reading several studies by various doctor from Harvard to Stamford University. After many trips to the ER, detoxes, mental wards, and visits with a shrink everything points to the bypass as the culprit here. The alcohol abuse is not psychological but physiological due to the traumatic change to the anatomy. There are alcohol receptors in the stomach and liver that are missed due bypassing the small intestine losing the opportunity to absorb and metabolize alcohol as others that did not have the procedure. The people who caused my challenges which go beyond alcohol need to held accountable. People need to be properly informed so they can make an educated decision about the rest of their lives.

Ever since my surgery in 2008 i have struggled with multiple addictions from stealing, drug and alcohol abuse. My entire personality changed.

This is incredibly interesting. This is a huge issue and It needs to be addressed. I’m the 2nd of 15 friends that all have had bypass or the sleeve and All of us have issues with alcohol or drugs now. My Best friend and my lives have been greatly affected since surgery. I have read many articles recently and I’m shocked at what a issue this is among post op patients. I was only asked if I drank once from my dr and once from my psychological evaluation no one ever warned me about any of this prior to surgery. Unfortunately my insurance didn’t require the 6 months of classes before I was approved for the procedure. Now I’ve been to rehab once and just really struggled with the label that I’m a alcoholic. Me, the perfect mommy NEVER! The program I attended was a joke and I just didn’t fit in. I kept telling the Drs that I had never drank prior to surgery and my issue was that my filter was gone! The only way I can explain it is before surgery if I had even a few drinks I’d spin out and throw up. In my case it would happen very quickly because I have Ménière’s disease and suffer from extreme vertigo, but now nothing. I can drink a bottle of vodka and I don’t spin and I don’t throw up. I do all the same things as the other comments posted and yes if someone, anyone would have warned me or educated me about this I would have done things way different. I have and do keep saying something’s wrong my desire to consume alcohol is like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life. Why don’t we get sick? Why don’t we spin? The lack of required education prior to surgery is something that must change immediately! If it’s not lives will continue to be lost and it will not just be the patients it will be innocent bystanders. I have passed out at the wheel from one glass of champagne. What these Drs need to understand is we black out so fast we have no idea what we’re doing. When I state black out we’re wide awake and we have no idea we’re getting behind the wheel, we have zero idea about anything we’re doing. When we pass out we just wake up some where, we have no idea even how we got there. It’s like we mentally disappear AWAKE and that happens from one glass of wine. There is something wrong very wrong and addiction transfer is just a excuse. Something happens something changes and they need to figure it out! I would have NEVER had this surgery if I New that there was a slight possibility that I’d be where I am today. Education is golden and the opinions of these Drs are opinions they need to ask the patients and quit trying to cover up the serious risks that the surgery poses. I have one question to the entire medical community and that is WHY CAN WE CONSUME A ENTIRE BOTTLE OF VODKA AND NOT GET SICK OR SPIN? Weird very weird!

Same story… different name. I had gastric bypass surgery about seven years ago. Prior to the surgery I had a very promising and fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse. I was not a drinker before the surgery, but afterwards I became a raging DRUNK…NO CAREER…NO LIFE!!!

My husband stopped drinking alcohol right after his bypass. Two years later he started back six years later he by passes the coffee and goes straight for the vodka. He may eat half an egg an on strip of bacon for breakfast, an egg roll for lunch an a saucer of food for supper. It takes him about three hours to eat that. He can not eat any type of meat or fried foods. I think he is starving his self, and he is an alcoholic. Is there anything that can be done.

Bet on horseracing but never to detriment or out of control. Got surgery, three years later, filing for bankruptcy, put family in jeopardy. Banging my head as to why? How? Now I know. Huge, reputable hospital and doctor, not one mention of potential ‘addiction transfer’ pscyh approval through hospital too.

My story is a lot like yours Ruben. gastric bypass surgery 7 years ago, now a raging alcoholic. Detox, rehabs, lock down psych wards. Medications, AA, shots, pills, councilors, court, lost house, husband job…no recourse. Statute of limitations bull…It took time to become an alcoholic.

Son died 7 yrs after bypass. Had it 2007 died 2015. Fatty liver. Liver shot kidneys failed. Liver failed no lawyer will do a class action suit. We HAVE No recourse. HELP

I had the surgery in 2009 and my now ex what it the year before. We soon tired of not being able enjoy certain foods that caused us to suffer carb dumping. We discovered wine and beer didn’t make us ill. Within a year Igot my first DUII followed a year and a half later by divorce and th loss of my home in 2012. Between August of 2012 having been in and out of rehab, multiple emergency room visits and being admitted twice into the hospital I earned my second DUII which cost me my job and home. Now I reside in a homeless shelter waiting for my sentencing. I pray that these risks become more publicly known.

In had gastric bypass surgery 8 years ago. I’ve been struggling with alcoholism ever since. I had a successful business, married, owned my own home, and I had some years that I made a six figure income. 8 years of psych wards, in and out patient programs, AA, and even a DUI later, I’m still suffering.