– Before I rarely drank and didn’t like beer, says Linn Cecilie Gjertsen (30). But something changed when she had bariatric surgery at the age of 18. She struggled to accept her new body and beer became a consolation. Gjertsen began to drink a lot and often. She got drunk faster and started to like beer. – It became a problem, says the 30-year-old. At worst, she drank every weekend and every day, but managed to be at work. For several years there were large amounts that went down. Linn Cecilie Gjertsen had surgery when she was 18. After the surgery, alcohol became a problem she struggled with for several years. Today she rarely drank. Gjertsen never learned that she and others who have undergone bariatric surgery have a far greater risk of developing an alcohol problem than other groups. 600 operated on are annually at risk Between 3,000 bariatric operations are performed annually in Norway. About 20 per cent of the patient group develop an alcohol problem afterwards, which is twice the risk that others have. This is according to various reports from home and abroad. In that case, this means that every year there are 600 new bariatric surgery patients who develop an alcohol problem. John Roger Andersen, researcher at Helse Førde, almost fell backwards when he heard the loud numbers. – It was very unexpected, he says, and adds that it can also be a secret number. Researcher John Roger Andersen says they know that several treatment centers for drug addicts have several patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Now Andersen and several others will look at the extent of the problem. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news – It is a surprisingly high number and a big problem, says senior researcher Jørgen Bramnes at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). – We know of no other groups with such high numbers. There are several side effects of bariatric surgery. It can be of both a physical and psychological nature. Me, it is only in recent years that the risk of alcohol has come to light. – There are both psychological and physical reasons why alcohol is particularly dangerous for this group, says Bramnes. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people undergo bariatric surgery every year. 1 in 3 are not satisfied with the result. Photo: Philipa Zizicca Tordrup – ABC surgery CAREforLIFE For some of those who are operated on, food has been a comfort before they lay down on the operating table. But with the reduction of the stomach, this possibility disappears. Then other types of comfort and addiction can appear, explains the alcohol researcher. Physically, the alcohol acts differently after the operation. When the surgeons operate to remove large parts of the stomach, the part that defended the body against alcohol also disappears. Probably a bigger problem Magnus Strømmen, researcher at St. Olav’s hospital, says some patients can achieve 2-3 times higher blood alcohol levels from the same alcohol intake than they did before the operation. Magnus Strømmen, researcher at St. Olav’s hospital, has done a lot of research on bariatric surgery patients and the risk of developing an alcohol problem. Photo: Privat – When you also reach the peak of intoxication in half the time it took before the operation, you simply have to change your drinking pattern, he says. Torgeir Gilje Lid is also part of the research group. The former GP first became aware of the problem through patients who had undergone the operation. It is unknown how many people have such problems, but Lid says it is “a significantly bigger problem than previously thought”. The group will also research which of those who undergo surgery are at risk of developing a drug problem. Can age, sex, genetics or physiological factors come into play? If a picture emerges of who is in the risk zone, this patient group can be followed more closely. – Then we can give advice and be even clearer about who should be offered surgery, and who should not, says Bramnes. Regrets the operation Linn Cecilie Gjertsen gradually got help for her alcohol problem and today has an unproblematic relationship with drugs. Based on her own experiences, she does not recommend the operation to others. Several of the friends have also had problems with alcohol after lying on the operating table. Today, the mother of young children rarely drinks and has a normal relationship with alcohol. She thinks it is good that the topic is researched more. Photo: Private The 30-year-old believes there is too little information about the risk the patient group faces. John Roger Andersen at Helse Førde says it is important to follow up the patient group more, both before and after the operation. At the same time, Andersen underlines that many bariatric surgery patients are satisfied with the result. In a recent report from Helse Førde, 2 out of 3 say that the operation had a good effect. But 1 in 3 answered that they were dissatisfied or unsure of the effect of the operation.
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Bariatric surgery patients have a far greater risk of developing an alcohol problem – news Vestland
