Las Vegas is a GIANT SPARKLY TRANSFER ADDICTION

This is my brain's impression of VEGAS.  Try not to have a seizure.

I

I realized that this place is not place for a baby weight loss surgery post op.  If this had been a WLS conference for patients?  

There would be drama, dumping, divas and debt.  

Merely getting off of the plane and walking into the Las Vegas airport, you walk into slot machines!  Maybe I expected something else?   Getting into my hotel - a full blown casino!  Chair massage?  Girls with fake boobs and dresses cut at the pube line to hand out free drinks!  

Running past this -- I pass restaurants!  A buffet!  A bakery!  Fresh made crepes!  Gelato stand!  Chocolates!   

Bars!  THE BARS!

Then, in the room, a mini bar, stocked with $50 bottles of champagne and $30 chocolates.  (Let me explain the Red Bull situation later.)

Las Vegas is a GIANT SPARKLY TRANSFER ADDICTION.  You can have sex, drugs, sugar, alcohol, gambling, shopping, smoking, and binging -- ALL in a matter of minutes.  Just walk outside.  O-o

There is ZERO glamour in any of it, I will tell you that right now.   

(She was one of many girls handed to me outside.)

I have said it before drunk gastric bypass'ers ARE not sexy, not glamorous, kind of, icky.  

Drinking post op is very different.  Many of us (you) become drunk quickly and dangerously, and might keep drinking to continue that level of inebriation, and it's scary.  I read a post last night from a fellow attendee of this conference about "finding the perfect drink for a post op" for this event, and having a couple each night and sleeping like a baby.  

Edited to add later, no longer in Vegas - Yes, I have 'a drink.'  

Yes, I've been photographed With! A! Drink! SHOCKER.  

But.  I am 6+ years post op. AND hypoglycemic.  I have ONE.  

Maybe two over a few hours if my husband is with me, which is RARE.  

I nursed one light beer at a function during this event.  I sipped half and threw it away.  Again, at a dinner event, sipped half and threw it away.  I cannot trust my body to metabolize alcohol and get me safely "home" -- so I DO NOT GET DRUNK.  I can't!  This isn't to suggest you shouldn't - but COME ON!  SHOULD YOU?

 

 Is this the sort of message we should be sending?  

Should I be on the look out for something to sip in excess to tell you about?  I understand that we are adults and we can make choices, but we must be careful, and I am VERY concerned about post ops and alcohol abuse.  

(HAVE YOU READ WEIGHTY SECRETS?)

Beyond that, the mere fact that BEING here, surrounded by things to eat, smoke, drink, buy, do, when you cannot fulfill that most basic need (eating food) WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO with that urge?  I know some of my peers would be completely overwhelmed here, and sucked in to excess and perhaps trouble. 

Transfer Addiction - Katie Jay's blog post

You know I am a fan of some excess, but... there are big buts, grandiose meals, spending insane amounts of money (Do you REALLY have the money to be dumping on the Blackjack table?) or your ass being splatted on the sidewalk plastered because you had too many drinks in a row?   Is it worth it?

I will not lie, I felt a little tweak of want when I got here.  I WANT TO BUY SPARKLY THINGS.  But, the cure?  I can't.  I came with cash, and I have to get back home.  I cannot spend all of my money, and I have ZERO access to a credit card.  I suppose if I were loaded LOL... I would be freer, but I cannot do that.  I am very frugal.  But, you see the problem lies in when you aren't -- and you come without money anyway -- and spend anyway!  Your ship is sinking -- and you're throwing dollar bills into it!

Common sense is more than necessary in Las Vegas. They should have a testing station at the airport, at least multiple choice.

PS.  And, considering I am rooming with a Bariatric BAD GIRL in VEGAS, and the two of us want nothing more than to go see art and flower exhibits and to eat Calcet?  It's a little eye opening.