Coping with grief after WLS

[Starwarsandcupcakes 1,897]

If you’re familiar to the food before and after thread then you’ll already know my father passed away April 17th. While it was unexpected in place and timing but he had been in declining health for some time so I suspected it was coming.

My hope is that this thread will help someone else in the future with positive ways of coping that don’t involve food. Things that have worked (somewhat) have been-

Taking a walk- this for me has been a moving forward

Visiting their favorite places- my dad loved to fish so for me that has been anywhere you can drop a line.

Hobby- either one of a loved one (my dad was a tinkerer so he did loads of things) or one of your own. This has helped me connect in ways that are deeper now than they were before.

Talk therapy- while I’m personally not a crier being able to talk and share stories has helped tremendously with loss.

If you have any helpful ideas, please let me (and others) know.

[I♡BypassedMyPhatAss♡ 800]

I'm so sorry for your loss. 🤗

[FutureSylph 377]

If the funeral hasn't yet taken place (or even if it has), a sweet gift for the grieving family is a basket of a dozen white cotton handkerchiefs, which you have starched and ironed to snowy perfection. So much nicer than tissues.

[catwoman7 10,876]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My father passed away five years ago today. Although it does get a bit easier with time, it never goes away.

[ShoppGirl 3,402]

I ordered a memorial plaque for my dad and placed it at the base of our flagpole. It just gives me a place that I can go to think about him without having to go to the cemetery. The cemetery always makes me sad but somehow this memorial of him allows me to just think of happy memories.

[deemel420 2]

Wow I'm so sorry. My dad passed April 28th last year. 1 week after my birthday, completely unexpected not knowing his heart was at 13% capacity. His death was followed by the loss of 6 more family members within the next 9 months. I leaned on food so much I gained 130lbs. I had my sleeve surgery on my 30th birthday last week and my follow up is this week on my dad's 1st anniversary.

Praying for God's strength and comfort as we continue to navigate grief

Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

[ChubRub 1,696]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Sending lots of HUGS!!!

[Starwarsandcupcakes 1,897]

Thank you all so much for the condolences. He was the kind of man you always remembered meeting. He never knew someone as a stranger and even while sick would remind us that “any day above ground is a good day.” I now see the irony in him opting for cremation instead of burial- to keep making every day a good day.

[Songdog 4]

I lost my mother and father in same year. I always remember that as long as they are in your heart and thoughts, they are never really gone. They are always with you!

[Ninabnina77 18]

If you’re familiar to the food before and after thread then you’ll already know my father passed away April 17th. While it was unexpected in place and timing but he had been in declining health for some time so I suspected it was coming.
My hope is that this thread will help someone else in the future with positive ways of coping that don’t involve food. Things that have worked (somewhat) have been-
Taking a walk- this for me has been a moving forward
Visiting their favorite places- my dad loved to fish so for me that has been anywhere you can drop a line.
Hobby- either one of a loved one (my dad was a tinkerer so he did loads of things) or one of your own. This has helped me connect in ways that are deeper now than they were before.

Talk therapy- while I’m personally not a crier being able to talk and share stories has helped tremendously with loss.

If you have any helpful ideas, please let me (and others) know.

I am so sorry for your loss, may both your parents rest in peace. Sending you hugs from far.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

[LouLouM 70]

I am so very sorry for your loss, Star Wars & Cupcakes.

I had gastric sleeve surgery on November 30th and very tragically lost my younger brother and only sibling on April 12th. The grief can be unbearable and I often feel so much anxiety that I want to crawl out of my skin. So I decided to join a running (for me, walk/run) group 5 Weeks to 5K training. I did it so that I could release some of this painful anxiety, sleep better, and be around a supportive group of people in beautiful nature (lucky me I get to run near the ocean and in redwood forests). I even got my 70 year old mom to join it with me! In addition to that I walk with both of my parents as much as I can. We are heartbroken, our lives changed forever so suddenly, and the exercise, nature, and supportive group of people has been very therapeutic.

(((HUGS))) Star Wars & Cupcakes, and thanks for starting this thread for other people to refer to in the future.

[BariBlonde 15]

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your father. I know it’s a difficult path. You are so kind to to post here in an attempt to help others who are grieving. Grief is exactly I came to need WLS. I used food as a means to shove the grief as far down inside of me as I could, and I did it for many, many years. Wishing you much healing and peace with each day. Sending you big hugs.