Hello everyone! I am a 32 year old woman currently about 3 weeks post op and honestly, I am just really emotional. I feel as if there is a lot of feelings surfacing since the surgery. Anybody else feel the same way?

Hey! I'm 2 weeks post op and I def feel this. I think there's a big hormonal change, like I didn't get my period this month either. I am in and out of a weird daze/depression and I miss feeling normal. I think it'll go away as we heal and our routines become more normal but I definitely feel like my emotions are off. I'm not even particularly happy. I've lost like 19 lbs post op and don't really care because I dont feel physically good. But, I just need to keep telling myself that this is a temporary state. At some point,, I believe it becomes normal again.

What type of feelings/emotions are you experiencing?

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On 02/26/2022 at 13:28, fourmonthspreop said:

Hey! I'm 2 weeks post op and I def feel this. I think there's a big hormonal change, like I didn't get my period this month either. I am in and out of a weird daze/depression and I miss feeling normal. I think it'll go away as we heal and our routines become more normal but I definitely feel like my emotions are off. I'm not even particularly happy. I've lost like 19 lbs post op and don't really care because I dont feel physically good. But, I just need to keep telling myself that this is a temporary state. At some point,, I believe it becomes normal again.

What type of feelings/emotions are you experiencing?

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I feel like a lot of my feelings i’ve bottled up over the years i’m forced to hash out and now I have to do it without the help of food. I think that’s what makes it harder for me! I also feel a bit rundown as well. And I definitely don’t feel “normal.” either.

I def understand. I don't know what resources you have available but mental health counseling is sooo helpful. I started my bariatric surgery journey because I finally got help with my mental health. I received a diagnosis and medication which greatly allowed me to utilize counseling to my advantage. I have been seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now and we work on putting distance between my coping mechanisms and food. It allowed me to really prepare myself for this part where we feel naked with our emotions, unable to hide it under eating.

I think take it day by day too. That's important but if you ever are able to, having a counselor or psychologist to help walk you through the journey is good. If you don't have access to that, I also like following binge eating therapists on Instagram. They offer sound advice about emotions and eating. Check out the_binge_eating_therapist on insta.

There's also an amazing free app called Brighter Bite. You can use it to log your feelings, actions, urges and it gives you really amazing advice and coping exercises in the moment... kind of like a little eating disorder journal with helpful exercises.

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You're the best @fourmonthspreop, Before your post I was actually looking into mental health counseling! I actually believe this will be beneficial to me in my journey. I realized that's exactly what I've been doing was using food as a mask.

Thank you for the great information! I will be following the therapists on instagram in the meantime while I set up a mental health appointment.

I love apps, The thing is with them I stop using them and don't actually update them as frequently as I should because I am really bad with that. But I will check it out because anything will help at this point!

21 minutes ago, phoenixillume said:

You're the best @fourmonthspreop, Before your post I was actually looking into mental health counseling! I actually believe this will be beneficial to me in my journey. I realized that's exactly what I've been doing was using food as a mask.

Thank you for the great information! I will be following the therapists on instagram in the meantime while I set up a mental health appointment.

I love apps, The thing is with them I stop using them and don't actually update them as frequently as I should because I am really bad with that. But I will check it out because anything will help at this point!

On top of the great advice already here, I cannot stress the benefit of group therapy relating to disorded eating enough.

While obesity unfortunately isolates you, and thus makes it difficult for people to want to go to group stuff, it's exactly why it works - obesity can be terribly destructive to our social well-being, and the group setting (if led by a good counselor) is a great antidote to that.

Yes very normal, all sorts of emotions and perceived realisations will emerge. it does get better and half of the "realisations" are not real for example I was convinced I would never eat or drink normally again ........wrong you can. I realised food was my best and sometimes only friend and how much, I relied on food to fill the empty spaces in my life that was a hard one to deal with. But you will get there remember alot of this is caused my hormones as well and once they settle down your emotions will too. ?

Edited February 26, 20224 yr by SleeverSk

yes - there are a lot of hormonal things that go on the first few weeks after surgery. A lot of women complain about screwed up menstrual cycles as well as moodiness. It has to do with estrogen being stored in fat cells - it's released during rapid weight loss. It'll all level out eventually and things will go back to normal. Just hang in there...

You will start to feel better over the next couple of weeks just take it easy and if you think you need counselling ask you biatric team