Hi there hasnāt been a whole lot going on in the last few years with this group. Everyone has been utilizing other resources like AA and such. But if you have any questions, I may be able to assist. 4 years sober, 23 years post op, 10 months post revision.
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Hi, is this meeting still taking place on Sundays?
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Hi Michelle! Welcome! The group kind of disbanded and went with their own support. It was difficult for everyone to keep meeting with different times and schedules. But if you have any questions is be happy to help 
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I changed the name of this thread. Because the AAGB has not hosted a Zoom in some time, I thought I had better clarify. So if anyone would like to have a discussion or ask questions about Alcoholism After Gastric Bypass, please feel free to post.
I was thinking today and thought Iād share:
I often wondered how we found ourselves here as alcoholics so quickly. I didnāt have an alcohol problem before surgery. Transfer addiction- nope sorry donāt buy that. What a way for the medical field to blame the victim. It reminds me of the pharmaceutical company with Fentanyl saying there will be addicts and thatās not their fault. Whatever. I do however feel that we do have the genetic susceptibility for addiction, like most alcoholics. So, thereās the questionā¦wth happens? We go from 0 to 100 overnight. I remember reading how scientists study mice with addictions. The mice get fed the addictive substance continually, whether they like it or not. It gets to the point where the mouse is now physically addicted. Itās not like they had a little pint of vodka or a 12 pack of mini beers next to it lol Post surgery, our food and drinks go directly to our intestines. Anyone who has suffered from ādumping syndromeā would understand this! So in essence, every time we pick up that āsocially acceptableā wine, beer, or cocktail, we become that mouse. We have fed our body a heavy dose like that mouse. It doesnāt take long for US to be the addicted mouse. NOW, letās mix a little physical/psychological trauma and issues in there, OYE! I know that when I lost over 100 lbs, it was a freaking trip. It went fast and all of a sudden society is telling me Iām more āvaluableā. I had been heavy all my lifeā¦so this is what itās like? Can we say self identity confusion? And I can go on and onā¦but bottom line is that itās a crazy mix of moving parts. So, the BIGGEST issue Iāve seen people like us have is that IT IS ROUGH to admit an addiction problem! Once we submit, itās a bit easier. But damn itās hard to get there when one has taken the fast track. So, I think thatās enough for today. But lots of thinking when I commute 45 minutes x 2 a day lol BIG HUGS!
Is this meeting still available? If yes, how can I join?
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Hi unfortunately no.
āPatients who undergo RYGB may be uniquely sensitive to alcohol exposure, and increased alcohol use may nullify potential gains in overall survival.ā
Studies are being done that conclude what most of us already know. But I think itās most important for many to understand the dynamic. In all the attempts to control āthe beastā, we tend to keep thinking that we are on the driverās seat. Arming oneself with literature confirms that we cannot control the alcohol. Is this our fault? Did we ask for this when we accpeted surgery to become healthier? Of course not. But knowing that itās not our fault that weāve been put in this situation, helps us accept the fact that we canāt control it. And when I say control it, I mean moderate. And boy will it sneak up on us. All of our stories and backgrounds are different and how we are going to handle the alcoholism can be different. But I think being aware of our situation will help take that very first step to recovery.