Please Help

[Lorraine Freeman 47]

I am now one week in from my surgery but am still getting very depressed and weepy over things. Apart from crippling diarrhoea I and tiredness I am really fine but can't help but feel like the surgery I have had has become an obsession almost. It's all I think about all day and its starting to really bring me down already. Has anybody else felt like this and does it pass and you start to almost not think about it anymore? Please someone help me. Xxx

[ashleymullen 1]

Although I have not had the surgery myself I think it is completely understandable to feel the way you do. Just think, this surgery is a huge life event. You have given much blood and tears for this one thing. With any major life event it may be hard for a few days, but I really do think it will get better for you. I wish you the best!

[Vidalia 122]

I am 5 days out and having some similar feelings. I think it is the fear of the unknown of the future that scares me the most. I just want to feel "normal" again, but starting to realize that my "normal" may have to change. I try to focus on how much better I will feel in six months. I also focus on the words of my surgeon at my discharge. He said, "You are doing great! When you come back to see me in a few weeks you will be feeling better. But, when you come back to see me in 3 months, you will be hugging me! You have done something for yourself to prevent a host of medical problems that were staring you in the face. You have done the right thing,"

I also compare it to when I brought my first baby home from the hospital. It was all so new and scary with lots of trial and error, but then it became very natural and normal. Hopefully, things will start feeling normal for us soon.

[Lorraine Freeman 47]

I am 5 days out and having some similar feelings. I think it is the fear of the unknown of the future that scares me the most. I just want to feel "normal" again' date=' but starting to realize that my "normal" may have to change. I try to focus on how much better I will feel in six months. I also focus on the words of my surgeon at my discharge. He said, "You are doing great! When you come back to see me in a few weeks you will be feeling better. But, when you come back to see me in 3 months, you will be hugging me! You have done something for yourself to prevent a host of medical problems that were staring you in the face. You have done the right thing,"

I also compare it to when I brought my first baby home from the hospital. It was all so new and scary with lots of trial and error, but then it became very natural and normal. Hopefully, things will start feeling normal for us soon.[/quote']

Thank you Vidalia, I just can't seem to see an end to it just now. Glad I'm not the only one though. I don't want this to start ruling my life. I got the operation to improve my life, although apart from being unfit and sweating prefusley all the time before the surgery I had no health issues, like you say I know they were on the horizon. I just want to feel like me again and I know that sounds really silly but I just want to get back to normal everyday life without constantly thinking about what I have done.

[desertmom 297]

Hi,it is normal.A month out my family felt compelled to intervene..lol.I wasnt talking much anymore,on the ipad all day,weighing and measuring,counting and obsessing.And depressed.

Once I started getting out more,normal routine and life,I felt way better.

Just take it easy,it is a big thing that we did and the change makes some of us obsess a bit.

You are far too impatient at this point.You will feel normal again and you will accept what you have done,in fact,you will still be profoundly greatful at some point.

Just relax and take it easy.Cut yourself some slack.

Ps.as for the diaree,see if it isnt the Protein shake.Some of us become lactose intolerant for a while and I personally couldnt do the shakes for quite a few weeks as they upset my new tummy too much.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[Leleboo 104]

I am pre op and obsessed with having the surgery. I have to do a 6 month diet per insurance so I am constantly thinking about when this will end so that I can have my surgery. I am on my IPad daily checking out VST so that I will know what to expect. Like the OP my family gets pretty annoyed with me also. To top it off my husband is going to have to sleeve before me and he does not know any of the things that I have learned. He is going to be like a fish gasping for air. I asked him what he is going to do if I changed my mind and didn't have it. I feel that he needs to educate himself about the surgery and all that is to follow.

[Lorraine Freeman 47]

I am pre op and obsessed with having the surgery. I have to do a 6 month diet per insurance so I am constantly thinking about when this will end so that I can have my surgery. I am on my IPad daily checking out VST so that I will know what to expect. Like the OP my family gets pretty annoyed with me also. To top it off my husband is going to have to sleeve before me and he does not know any of the things that I have learned. He is going to be like a fish gasping for air. I asked him what he is going to do if I changed my mind and didn't have it. I feel that he needs to educate himself about the surgery and all that is to follow.

I would say although it is good to be educated hunny, really don't obsess just now as its afterwards that everything really hits you. Like you I couldn't wait for the surgery to be done and then that would be everything over with. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!!! I don't know how everyone else feels but the after surgery blues are real bad and I am just praying they don't last long. The surgery is the beginning of a very emotional journey so relax a bit just now or afterwards it might really hit you as it has me hunny.

I have been told that it does get better and these feelings are normal and I really can't thank the people who have responded enough for their support and advice. Xxx

[Raven21 121]

Hang in there! I know it's easier said than done but try to remember you are almost at the light at the end of the tunnel!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

The next 6-8 weeks are going to be hard - I can only offer the comfort of the knowledge that it will get better.

My advice is to keep your eye on the prize, remind yourself why you did this and give yourself time and space to heal. Drink your fluids - sip sip sip - dehydration is depressing.

I am 11 months post op, am thinner then I have been since sometime in the late 1980s, loving life - it is so worth it!

[Lorraine Freeman 47]

The next 6-8 weeks are going to be hard - I can only offer the comfort of the knowledge that it will get better.

My advice is to keep your eye on the prize' date=' remind yourself why you did this and give yourself time and space to heal. Drink your fluids - sip sip sip - dehydration is depressing.

I am 11 months post op, am thinner then I have been since sometime in the late 1980s, loving life - it is so worth it![/quote']

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support, it really helps knowing people have been where I am now. Gastric sleeves are still not that common where I live as I come from a small town of around 500 people so it is very difficult not having anyone that can relate to how I'm feeling.

[christi_86 8]

Hi Lorraine! My best advise is to keep your self busy & not over think things. I was sleeved 10/5/12 ... although i did educate myself on the surgery & what I had coming, I didnt allow my self to over do it. Why? because I know myself & I tend to over react and get very paranoid. You have to have alot of mental control & always keep in mind why you have chose to do the surgery. I wish you the best of luck & try to keep your mind busy on other things!

[suzthebrit 146]

You're not eating properly, you're not sleeping properly, you have just had major surgery, you have just made a life changing decision. Sounds like your feelings are completely normal to me. I had surgery a week ago and am exhausted all the time. That leads to sitting on the couch 'thinking'. That is the worst! I try to get out for about an hour a day just to walk and get away from things so I'm not sitting on the couch obsessing!

Take each day one at a time and stop thinking about how long it is until you are normal again. You won't ever be normal again! If what you had been doing before surgery was normal you wouldn't have needed surgery.

Good luck to you. Hope you feel better soon.