Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

When will it get better?



Recommended Posts

I'm so tired of not being able to eat. Well, I can eat but I hate it. I'm still pretty new to this lifestyle so I'm trying to figure out what I can tolerate. It's weird because I get hungry but the thought of eating is such a turn off. I'm miserable and at times I imagine reversing the procedure. However, I remember why I had it. I had several co morbidities, a super high bmi and was in pain. I couldn't walk a store. I needed the dreaded mobile cart. I don't need that now and have been taken off all of my meds. 6 weeks out I'm down 49 pounds. But I'm so unhappy with how I feel. How can I get my meals in when the thought of eating and the thought of the awful feeling of the food getting stuck is enough to scare me from eating? Even with the progress I've made, I'm still full of regret. If I could reverse it, I think I would. Any advice would be welcomed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

All I can say is it gets better, keep doing what your supposed to. Eat slowly, small amounts at a time. Walk or exercise as much as you can and drink plenty of water! Good luck and keep us posted!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Does your program have a psychologist who could maybe help you with some ways to deal with these feelings? Don't give up - hang in there!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It took me 6 months to get to a happy state.

I found that if I mix foods together, it produced more flavor and it went down easier. I use home made high Protein chili and Soups for my meals. I have included a short article about my experience (including recipes) on the internet. Here is a link. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

When you learn how to eat super slow it gets easier. I also found that once I started back working out & resuming normal activities I felt better. For a while I didn't have much of an appetite, but u could eat enough to get in my Protein & Water.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So much of what we deal with has nothing to do with the weight loss after the surgery; it is the mental battle. The fact that food was our emotional support, our comfort and our go to crisis coping mechanism makes the surgery for some very hard as that comfort is now gone.

I have redirected myself and continue to have to do so...instead of eating to relieve stress or find comfort, I walk or play a game online or read or.....You have to find something to replace the food as a "go to relationship" for issues.
The mental battle is real and talking with someone about it can really help. Being on here and seeing that others go through what we go through really helps. I hope you don't really regret the surgery...I have found that I feel so much better physically and have more energy and I am 7 months out down 112 pounds.

I am in a stall phase and while that stinks, it forces me to look at how I am caring for myself...am I getting enough Protein, calories, exercise etc...

My focus is on a healthier me and one that will feel good for years to come. This helps me to be more self confident, self assured in my decisions and my life as well as a kinder and more understanding person.

The doctor retrained your stomach; now it's up to us to retrain our brains and our hearts :)

Thinking of you and look forward to hearing from you :)

C

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I understand how you feel. I too have thoughts about reversing my surgery. I am 3 weeks post op. I still have a lot of pain in my left side. My doctor thinks its a pulled muscle. So I have to limit my activity and be very careful how I move around. I need to get back to my life. I have a family I need to be taking care of. Meal time has become a chore that I hate. I am so over pureed foods. People keep telling me to be patient and that it will get better. I just need to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope it gets better for the both of us. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you guys sooooo much!!! You have given me such encouragement and wisdom. I have so much other stuff going on. I didn't realize how dependent I was on food. Wow! While I still struggle with regret I know I made the right decision.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I understand how you feel. I too have thoughts about reversing my surgery. I am 3 weeks post op. I still have a lot of pain in my left side. My doctor thinks its a pulled muscle. So I have to limit my activity and be very careful how I move around. I need to get back to my life. I have a family I need to be taking care of. Meal time has become a chore that I hate. I am so over pureed foods. People keep telling me to be patient and that it will get better. I just need to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope it gets better for the both of us. Good luck!

I will be honest. I may be in a bad spot but you are worse than me lol that dreaded first month honey... lol no one could have prepared me for it. But I can honestly say you will get better.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Those first few weeks after my surgery are almost a blur for me now (6 months post op) but I do remember literaly crying to my friend with regret because I hated how limited I was and how stagnet I felt with the soft foods and having to think SO much in regards to when/what to eat and how to do it slow, have no fluids before/after .... it was insane and I hated it .... but it really did get better. Not sure just when but when I returned to work and back into the swing of things i remember one day thinking ...huh ..... no angsty moments today, i ate decently ... people were calling me "Skinny Mini" in the office and it was a good feeling .... so give yourself time because as hard as it is, before you know it you will be 6 months out and in such a good place mentally and physically that you will honestly think the surgery was the best thing you have ever done for yourself ..... good luck :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For me, the first six weeks were pretty tough. After that, I was fully healed and I was cleared for a "normal" diet, and I've been pretty good ever since. But I really started feeling good after I started exercising, which was for me around week 8. It gets better, just hang in there, follow your doctor's instructions, and you'll do great!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For me, the first six weeks were pretty tough. After that, I was fully healed and I was cleared for a "normal" diet, and I've been pretty good ever since. But I really started feeling good after I started exercising, which was for me around week 8. It gets better, just hang in there, follow your doctor's instructions, and you'll do great!

Thank you!!! I really hope so...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×