One year ago today I had my sleeve surgery and my nightmare began.

12 months later I am doing much better I know that, my infections have gone, I have lost 47kg/103lb and my energy is improving BUT I am finding today very difficult.
Today I just feel really sad and keep crying when I realise how much of the last year I lost what with the four months in hospital, all the stress (not just for me but for my family) and how I am still recovering all from what was supposed to be just one night post-op in hospital and then a few weeks of recovery.

I thought I was doing better mentally and emotionally but today I just wish I could have just stayed in bed.

Anyway I just wanted to say thanks to all here how have answered my questions, given support etc., it has made my journey a bit easier.

Congratulations on your loss, I’m glad something positive has come out of the horrible experience you have had. Would it be worth talking to someone who specialises in PTSD? A year isn’t long, especially as you spent 4 months in hospital with all the attendant stresses on both yourself and your family.

Be kind to yourself. Sometimes we’re harder on ourselves than we would be with others in the same situation ?

27 minutes ago, MrsFitz said:

Congratulations on your loss, I’m glad something positive has come out of the horrible experience you have had. Would it be worth talking to someone who specialises in PTSD? A year isn’t long, especially as you spent 4 months in hospital with all the attendant stresses on both yourself and your family.

Be kind to yourself. Sometimes we’re harder on ourselves than we would be with others in the same situation ?

Thank you

Yes, I have been getting support from the weight loss clinic in the hospital. I met with the in-house psychiatrist and he in turn referred me to one of their psychologists for PTSD and it has helped me. I actually see them both again (separately) at the end of this month as I will be doing some EFT sessions starting the end of the month.

I can say that I have a good idea how you feel. 2 years ago I had my sleeve surgery. A year ago, I had my revision to bypass because of all the complications and surgeries that happened as a result of the sleeve. I lost a good year, between the tests, procedures, surgeries, complications from the surgeries, recovering from the surgeries, losing work and struggling to pay bills, etc... It took having the revision to finally get my life back. And even then, I was still fixing the last of the issues the sleeve caused.

I'm so sorry today is so hard for you. Just know you're strong, you made it through, and you're doing way better now than you were then. And while the road to where you are now certainly wasn't ideal, it's led you to this point now, and you're really doing great. I'm very happy that you're doing so much better, and I fully believe things will keep going up and up and up for you

4 hours ago, FifiLux said:

Thank you

Yes, I have been getting support from the weight loss clinic in the hospital. I met with the in-house psychiatrist and he in turn referred me to one of their psychologists for PTSD and it has helped me. I actually see them both again (separately) at the end of this month as I will be doing some EFT sessions starting the end of the month.

I’m glad you have someone to talk to about your experiences and that you’re finding it helpful. It may be baby steps but they will eventually lead you to a happier, more contented place where you will be able to put the horrible experience behind you and finally enjoy the positive benefits of your weight loss ?

Stuff happens, sometimes randomly. I tell myself that feelings are just feelings, nothing good or bad about them. They just are. Feeling low is not your fault, and you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I’m glad you’re getting the emotional support! It takes great emotional strength to admit out loud that you need help with something you can’t fix (like we all did by asking for WLS). You gained experience and better health overall that no one can take away from you. Bravo!

Hoping your next year is filled good news and events ❤️

Anniversaries of traumatic events can be really tough. You may want to ask your therapist how to handle this date in the future if it is difficult for you again. I have a couple of dates that are particularly difficult for me and it does get a little easier as time passes but it’’a Even stranger after more time has passed when it seems to come out of absolutely nowhere. It’s like why does a date on the calendar trigger such strong emotion when I’ve been doing so good. Just try to remember that it is just the date that’s getting you and most likely you will wake up the next morning feeling more like yourself.

Your therapist know you best so be sure to follow their advice but mine would’ve told me to go ahead and stay in bed all day if that’s what I needed. There are days when I feel like I need to get out and push through or go and pamper myself when I am depressed but there are others when what I need to do is stay in my pajamas and lay around binge watching some stupid show. I allow myself to do just that with zero guilt. You would feel fine doing it if you had a terrible flu so why not take care of your mental health just as well. Oh and if you have to tell a little white lie to certain people that you have a physical illness because they don’t understand mental health, I say so be it. Just take care of you.

Edited July 4, 20242 yr by ShoppGirl

Aw, you had the roughest ride gal. Of course you need to mourn for the year you expected - that never materialised.

I hope today marks the time when you can try to move ahead, putting it behind you as much as you can (and as much is healthy for you) and get on with living your best life. You have done so very very well xxx