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HI all! @NickelChip great that you’re allowed to eat again. @Holly W. sorry to hear about the complications you’re having. I have had cystitis since the day before yesterday for the first time in years … I’m probably not drinking enough. I’ve got antibiotics but it’s a right bore. I had a five hour flight this morning from Paris to Cairo ( work conf) and it was excruciating… hope it passes soon!

Yes it’s a forever thing. And yes, I think there are behaviours we have to also adopt forever. Like tracking for you & weighing myself regularly for me. But it’s easy to get complacent, or life throws crap in our way, old eating habits return, health issues & medication changes, etc, can get in our way. I’ve been a little complacent lately. Not sure why except weakening & testing things to see if I could be a little less narrow in my choices & how it would affect me. Learnt some things like I still can’t eat bread - hot cross bun sat like a ton weight & made me constipated - not Easter fun! I’m a proponent of adopting the small changes approach. Easier to adopt & adapt to one or two adjustments at a time than diving in the deep end. The pouch reset is a fairy story. You can’t reset your pouch but you can reset your thinking. Won’t be easy but we’re used to the hard work around losing & maintaining our weight. You got this @MandoGetsSleeved.

hi everyoneeee im feeling better, but i thing that has been bothering me is i can’t go to the bathroom ive tried a couple of things from google but i can’t do it when i try to push it (🙈) i become very lightheaded and feel like passing out. has anyone had this too? and what’s the best way from me to get rid of constipation

Happy surgery month, April-ites! I did mine in April of last year and want to share my encouragement and support, knowing almost one year out (26th) it has been an extraordinary and revelatory experience. There were some bumps and dings throughout the year (Foamies, severe stabbing pains post surgery - they subside! , gallbladder removal, fainting from dehydration, no appetite, strong appetite, hair loss and regrowth, etc). All worth the rollercoaster and 107 lbs down. Happy to answer any questions :) summer had a lot of comments, Fall was the sweet spot of people noticing and me feeling my best. Winter and now spring again- I’m starting to run and be outside a lot more. Really helps to have a 2nd chance at moving well in my body and enjoying real food. All the best to you guys!!

leese13 & ChelsRae33, I wish you two a smooth ride as well!

Hey @jparadigm, I wanted to say I am sorry to hear that you are struggling. I do think however that these feelings are entirely normal, and from reading others who have posted in these forums, a lot of people do go through this. Dealing with our relationship with food is one of the hardest things to do, but as you know, is a key part of working with the tool of surgery. I think your idea of maybe seeking some help from a therapist/counsellor would be a good idea. I am pre-surgery, but I have therapy every week and my main focus at the moment is around my relationship to food. I would say however, try not to beat yourself up too much, as this can do the opposite and not motivate you at all. You're still healing, and that takes a toll on you mentally and physically. This is all new for you. Maybe start a journal and when you are feeling those cravings, write down what it is you want, and how you are feeling in that moment - try and pinpoint exactly what feeling is driving those cravings, sit with it, be interested in it. Hopefully that may start to give you that time to acknowledge how you are feeling before any incidents of deviating from your current food plan. Then think maybe about something else you can do that will give you that hit of dopamine! Either way, speaking to someone about how you are feeling and seeking to address your relationship with food will be key, and you have already taken that first step in admitting how you feel here and seeking help. Be kind to yourself x

KortGBP- I hope things goes well with your surgery and my the Drs hands be gentle and successful tomorrow! Wendy- hey surgery date buddy!

You will be wearing a hospital gown and given non-slip socks, so all you really need is to wear something to the hospital that is comfy with a stretchy or loose waist you can wear home, and bring clean undies and socks. Also bring a toothbrush, travel toothpaste, hair brush, deodorant, chapstick, and lotion. Don't bring meds or fluids as they will need to administer those to you and record them in your chart. But check on this because if you are taking something unusual, they may want you to bring it. In my case, they just gave me my daily thyroid medication from the hospital pharmacy. Bring your phone and charger and a book, maybe headphones if you'd rather listen to music. Hospitals are kinda gross, so the less you bring, the better. I had an incident where my IV came unattached and I ended up with watered down blood everywhere, which would have ruined any pillows or blankets from home. Oh, I brought a small pillow for the car ride home that is made for abdominal surgery (search Amazon for hysterectomy pillows) and can velcro to your seatbelt for extra comfort for your incisions. It was nice but not 100% necessary. For home, I had a weighted heating pad that I loved for sleeping. You will also want a bottle of liquid adult strength Tylenol at home for pain.

yep - I think a lot of us how are a few years out can relate to this. I, too, thought I'd conquered all this. It's a lifelong battle.

That first week I felt like a fish out of water, it was so surreal and jarring. Not everyone feels that way, but a good number of us do and it's hard. We're here to support you and tell you that it will get better, you will feel better, and things will feel normal again once you've adjusted. This is not forever. I'm going to my 3 month post op today, I'm able to eat and feel good most of the time (When I don't eat too fast) and able to do a fairly intense daily walk for an hour as well as the normal daily activities. I'm still a bit tired, sometimes I feel emotional when I've not gotten enough nutrition or sleep, but I've learned to see the signs and take proactive measures so it really doesn't happen all that often anymore. I really started to feel better around 8 weeks, and feel much better again at 12 weeks. Right now the best thing you can do is remind yourself that this is ground zero, all the healing is ahead of you, there's a lot to learn but you will learn it as you go.