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Fighting Depression and Anxiety - Waiting for upcoming VSG in 11/2015



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Hello everyone!

My name is Becca and I'm 33 years old and live in San Francisco, CA. I was previously banded on 10/01/2009 and had to get my band removed with my gallbladder on 05/14/2015. Since the surgery in May, I have gained about 20 pounds. I am supposed to have VSG on 11/12/2015 ... insurance permitting. I am so over feeling sad, anxious, and out of control during this waiting period. I am compulsively eating and trying to get it all in while I can.

I was able to take off 100 pounds in the 5 years after my lap band surgery; mostly from working out and eating healthy. Now I just feel like that same 300 lb. girl, even though I'm still far from that. I want to be out of the waiting period desperately and regain control of my life. Please tell me this is worth the wait!? I want so badly to be healthy and happy! Any words of wisdom are welcome.

Thanks,

Becca

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You are having what we call a food funeral. It's hard to eat less when you still have a regular stomach. By the time you lose the first thirty pounds you will start to feel the difference in your gait, your posture, your digestion and flexibility. My surgery improved my blood pressure and cured chronic diverticulitis.

If you are not already on a medication for depression, ask your doctor about. My bariatric physician prescribed Wellbutrin at my first visit. My appetite went down and my libido went up. Just this past Monday my primary doctor increased the dosage to help with my appetite and I could feel the difference after the first day. Hang in there, the waiting is actually the hardest part of this whole deal.

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Preach my anxiety/depression sista! I am in the same place as you. I have issues with anxiety and depression which I finally sought help with about 5 years ago. I am T minus 29 days and counting to my vsg and I've turned into a raging lunatic. I'm more excited than anything, but what little nerves I have about it has triggered an obsessive level of research and preparation.

If you aren't on medication, talk to your doctor about it. When I finally went on meds, my parents took a deep breath and said "finally." They noticed the difference before I did and we all realized this was a problem I've been fighting all my life (so it's probably an hormonal imbalance in me).

Start a journal and write down how you are feeling. Express your excitement, nervousness, sadness, vulnerability, and low self esteem. And then write about the things you do like about yourself. Each day you will find that the list increases a little. You lost 100lbs! That's like losing a sixth grader! That's awesome! Do you like your eyes? Do you like that you are smart? Do you take pride in your humor? Whatever it is, write it down.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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