4Anna

Hi Maria, I'm in the 4th week out & I'm getting cravings too. I try a few things... one is to have a variety of hard candies (Werthers coffee caramel, rootbeer barrels, butterscotch, Life Savers mints, etc.). Most come in sugar free as well. I've also splurged and bought some things off www.bariatricchoice.com. They have Cookies, biscotti, puddings, chocolate bars, etc. I just had pancakes today which I greatly enjoyed with sugar free syrup. The chocolate bars can be broken up and I find that just eating 1-2 little squares help. And most of the products (pancakes, pudding, etc.) have 15 grams of Protein as well as low carbs and low/virtually no sugar. I also like pumpkin which can be added to anything - yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, etc. I haven't tried that yet but probably will soon All the best!!

I also have issues with this and was very concerned because I used to have to have an iced skinny latte every day in order to go and we can't have caffeine. My surgeon said that I can take any stool softener or helper - such as Miralax, Senakot, Colace, etc. But I have tried those before and they didn't work. One of the guys in my monthly hospital group support session said that the narcotics can cause constipation. So I took as little as I could and haven't taken then for a week now (I'm 13 days post-op). What I have found to work is milk with Protein in the morning - or applesauce. I also think there is something to the "apple a day" saying! And of course Water & walking like any doc will tell you. I have tried the Smooth Move tea. I didn't really notice anything but like a good cup of tea anytime. Good luck!

I have experienced a little dizziness too in the past week. I'm 11 days post-op. I try to start my day with Protein and it seems to help. I use GENEPRO which has 30 grams in 1 tablespoon and it doesn't mix clumpy. I take 8 oz skim milk (8 g protein) and mix at least 1/2 T (15 g protein) so that I'm getting 23 g right away. It doesn't have a taste, so you can mix it in applesauce, oatmeal, Soup, yogurt, etc. I got it on Amazon.com. My doctor also sent me home with some dissolvable pills for nausea, but thankfully that stopped in the hospital. I had it for 23 hours & it was horrible. I really hope you're feeling better soon!

I love all of the positive posts in support of you and what you're going through! I also suffered emotional abuse for years with people waving food or telling me what I should/shouldn't have. It started when I was a child so I didn't know that I didn't have to listen or give them any power But now, I absolutely stand up for myself and (try to) kindly tell people that I'm trying to improve my health & co-morbidities. If they don't listen or keep being negative, I stop the conversation. I also think you're doing great! And I hope you give yourself credit for having the surgery & making all of the strides you have made. I understand not having money/access to a nutritionist. So if you want to watch some great YouTube videos from Dr. Weiner, who is a bariatric surgeon in Detroit, below is the link. He has some Great info on everything - nutrition, the timeline, and a great, healthy mindset/philosophy. https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner/videos I am only 11 days post-op & I am also having challenges of food cravings, being bored with what I am having, etc. So I will try to get in with my counselor asap. I have appointments set for every Friday in January. Since you don't have insurance, there should be a local, possibly community counseling for you that is on a sliding scale. Hopefully you can find that because therapy can be a great additional tool. All the best to you!!

I had the same thing happen today! I received a Christmas present in the mail from a friend in another state and she included Ghirardelli chocolates. I sucked on one that was caramel filled and was sick for 30 minutes! I promptly gave the chocolates to my neighbors who are hosting Christmas tomorrow I think it was a good thing. Now we know what happens and it is NOT worth feeling sick by eating chocolate. I can eat chocolate sugar-free and/or bariatric puddings, so that's what I'll stick to. I did text my friend, thanked her for the gifts, and did let her know I had to give the chocolate away because it made me sick. My friends have always brought food/chocolate, so it will be up to me to keep educating them, giving it away, and taking care of myself. I'm glad you're feeling better!!

Thank you for posting such an honest post. And congratulations on your success! I'm sure you know but that's called addiction transference. No matter if your addiction from food goes into shopping, drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. It can find it's way somewhere if we don't confront the issues that are making us want and need the high. I have also been in therapy for 17 years and couldn't have lived a lot of my life and made the good choices I have without it. I also went into a two month intensive outpatient program for eating disorders that greatly helped and was thankfully 100% covered by insurance. Good luck to all because it's a challenging journey at times but so rewarding if we get the help we need :-)

I am also 8 days post-op and have had up and down feelings. However, I try to remind myself that I just had major surgery and give myself a break. I had a dog which helps me get up and out. But then I do get tired and have had challenges of getting my liquids and protein. So i drink a glass of milk in the morning w Genepro which is unflavored and a great tri-peptide protein source. That helps because without protein we will feel tired. Friends who have had this surgery tell me to take it easy because we really do need to heal first. Depression can come too just because of the physical and hormonal changes so I'm actually sitting at my acupuncturist waiting for my appointment It's amazing how much this helps. Take care all and enjoy the holidays!!

Thank you to all for the ideas. There are great posts and info! I myself went through a 2-month intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Sep-Oct at an eating disorder clinic this year, and it was thankfully 100% covered by insurance. It was intense but so beneficial because we had 3 hrs a day, 3 days a week of 6 different types of therapy including DBT - Dialectical Behavior Training - which proved one of the most helpful. Just like the person who suggested CBT therapy, it's great to learn the skills of how to make better choices rather than just talk about it. However, sometimes people with issues that stem back years do need to get to the bottom of things before we can move forward. It really depends on each person's history, experiences, and sense of self-worth/self-esteem. I do feel more prepared with knowing how to make better choices - but it's also key to recognize triggers when they are happening and know how to avoid them & eating. There is a great app - "Before I Eat" - which is helpful. It has different sessions to help with what you're feeling, support, a tracking tool, notes, a progress journal, motivational quotes, etc. I head into surgery on 12/15 and am starting to freak, so I will be using any and all support systems/tools that I need. That includes continuing counseling, probably taking an all-inclusive DBT program as well as the group support sessions with my hospital. I loved reading about the people who started losing weight, felt better, developed new habits & hobbies, and could stop obsessing about food & weight. I hope everyone who has issues, including me, can experience that. All the Best to you on your journey!!

I also just read somewhere that hunger may be caused by acid / reflux even if you don't experience or feel it. They said to try some TUMS or another antacid. Good luck!

Hi Matt, Thank you for sharing your story! I'm so glad for all of the previous posts - Great reassurance and info! I struggle as well & will be having the sleeve in about a month. I was a healthy weight the first 2/3 of my life but had a lot of loss/trauma and used food as comfort and to eat my pain which led to a 125 lb weight gain. I've found myself getting nervous these past couple of weeks & am once again turning to food. In my opinion, two things are really key - 1) therapy and 2) to try to find other things to turn to. I just finished an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders (3 hours a day, 3 days a week for 2 months). We had 5 therapists and had group, skills, nutrition, medical, art and DBT therapy. The DBT therapy was probably the thing that affected me the most - because it is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and focuses on how to change behaviors. We also focused a lot on self-care, self-love and getting to the bottom of our problems / why we use food. I know that therapy will always be another tool in my toolbox, and I have an appointment this Friday to deal with my pre-op anxiety. My suggestion is to look up anything in your area that can help with those 2 things. This is also such a great place for support & info. I wish you only the Best!!

I just went through the same feelings last weekend so I feel you. I am in an IOP (intensive outpatient program) which is therapy for eating disorders, and they are teaching us SO much! Whether or not people have a disorder, this surgery is a very drastic move and we need to know how to handle it when we want to eat and our stomachs can't handle much. I strongly believe in therapy, the books mentioned, support groups, this site, etc. Best of luck to you! You can do it!