I'm just a little over a week away from surgery and things are beginning to get nutso around here. PMS has started a few days early, I have a group project for grad school to work on that I have no clue how to even get started, and I'm trying to prepare lesson plans for 7 days for a substitute teacher.

I want to cry over everything. If a sad commercial comes on tv, I'm guaranteed to cry. If I get frustrated with the school assignment I want to cry. If I read something even remotely sad, I cry. If there's a sad story on the news, I cry. It's never been this bad before and I'm sure that alot of it is my mind trying to come to grips with what is about to happen.

I can't have chocolate right now which is my food of choice for dealing with PMS. What can I do????? I can't go 10 days like this but I can't blow my pre-op diet either. HELP!

Audra

Hello Audra! The week or two before banding is so very hard for many bandsters and bandsters to be. I know I thought i was going to wear a hole in my carpet from all the pacing I was doing!

PMS and the pre-launch phase and the added stress are gonna make you crazy and a big cry baby. (I feel justified in saying "big cry baby" because that's where I am right now, a big cry baby ) And it sure doesn't help when your coping mechanism is no longer available to you.

You might try the viactive soft chew vitamines, they come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate.

Other people find that a small square of really dark chocolate will help, without the added fat and calories that milk chocolate brings. Personally, I'm one of the one that can eat just one dark dove square and be good for the next little while. (I've had to throw out chocolate because it got dusty)

Just know that what you are going through is very common, and know too that you are not alone.

There must be something in the air, because I'm a big cry baby too!! I was just perscribed welbutrin today for the depression.

Post op depression is common for most surgeries, something about the anesthesia or something. Are you on a clear diet now? Could you have chocolate milk or pudding?

*hugs*

Vines and Sarah,

Thanks for your responses. Things are a bit better this afternoon than they were this morning. Now I'm trying not to cry over happy things too. :phanvan

I believe that I can have the pudding as I'm not on a clear diet, but I will have to be careful with it because pudding can be a trigger food. But I only have one small box of it in the house, so that might be doable.

Vines, I would love to be able to have just ONE piece of dark chocolate, but unfortunately I'm a DARK CHOCOHOLIC. I prefer it to milk chocolate anyday. The last time I shopped at Sam's club I found out that Hershey's now makes one that is 60% dark. The bag barely lasted a week and this was a big bag. I just can't stop at one so I really have to keep it out of the house for the next week or so.

Oh, and now I'm crying over good news too. We had a faculty meeting this afternoon and everytime something good came up I had to choke back the tears.

And this can get worse after surgery? :omg: Man, I'm already taking Wellbutrin XL and I've been trying to ween off Paxil since August. Boy won't this be fun?!?!:nervous

Thanks! I'm hanging in there.

Audra

If you do chocolate pudding make sure it's sugar free, fat free and made with fat free milk. I'm practically living on the stuff right now. (Post op, full liquids till next Wednesday.) Fat free milk from Braum's is best - they concentrate it so it's less watery and tastes more like 1 or 2% milk.

You're going to be OK and you know what? You always were.

-From a full time 'Big Cry Baby' having nothing to do with surgery - either before or after! LOL

I am glad you are better. I am a big cry baby and I only had a "pre-op" diet for 1 week. I lasted 5 days and then switched to diet ice cream and pudding. I was more emotional after the surgery. I cried for 2 weeks.

I'm doing much better today. Got a lot of work done at school, so now all I have to do is type up my sub plans.

Also bought some of my favorited yogurt this evening. Yoplait has a chocolate cherry whipped that I just LOVE and it really helps with the chocolate cravings. It reminds me of eating chocolate covered cherries at Christmas and that's always a nice feeling.

Audra

Hugs Audra!

It could be worse! I started my lovely cycle the DAY before surgery. ICK. Nothing like getting naked in front of strangers to begin with. Add the period and it is JUST so delightful.

Hopefully, yours will be all done by the time of your surgery and it will be one less thing for you to worry about!

Hugs and good luck.

This will all be behind you, soon!

ReneBean,

If only I could be so lucky. I'm actually supposed to "start" the day after surgery. Maybe the stress and anticipation will bring it real early? :guess Nah, not my luck. If it starts early it will be the day of surgery. Oh the joys of life.

Audra

Boy can I relate to this thread. My surgeon prescribes a special pre-surgical Protein drink 3 times a day plus at least 48 oz of Clear Liquids....broth, Water, crystal light, sf Jello, decaf coffe or tea. I never knew fat free, low sodium chicken broth could taste so good. I can definitely relate to your PF story.

I'm supposed to stop everything including water at 6pm tonight but the hospital just called and they've pushed my arrival time forward 2 hours. I had to fight back the tears.

I took the day off to finish up loose ends, but I've got too much time to think. I'm trying to look at the beautiful weather outside and think about getting my kayak out....as soon as the ice is off the lake.

Ellen

350+highest/300 first visit/287? now/...anyplace in the 1's