KT1981

I'm currently smack-dab in the middle of my master's program and have a FT career (and a husband and 2 girls, 11 and almost 9). (Sleeved 10/17/18). I am still struggling a bit with fatigue and mental fog, but I can't quit now!!

Ah, yes! Depression and anxiety! Quite frankly, mine was probably not well controlled prior to surgery, but I felt AMAZING after surgery (sleeved 10/17/18) and stopped taking my depression medication. (I only take anxiety medication on an as-needed basis. When my depression is well controlled, that means I almost never need anxiety meds.) That amazing feeling was temporary and I'm back on my meds. I can tell I'm struggling a bit with the depression and am really struggling with anxiety. (Also dealing with my 8 year old daughter's mental health concerns and a major job change, so it just feels like a lot to handle while also learning my new life.) I'm seeing a therapist weekly for my eating disorder (diagnosed binge eating disorder) and we also touch on my depression and anxiety via the talk therapy. While at my daughter's neurologist this summer, I mentioned my surgery to the doctor. He told me to watch myself carefully and seek help when I needed it because he sees drastic mental health changes in post bariatric surgery patients. He indicated that they are often temporary while the body heals and re-norms, but made it clear that these changes can be astronomical. I try to remember that on days I'm really struggling. With time and therapy (for me) things will re-norm. Please consider talking with your doctor about a temporary dose adjustment. Hang in there!

So I appear to be finishing up my super fun run with a stomach bug where I ate virtually nothing and crapped my brains out for 2.5 days. I lost over 6 pounds from dehydration. I've been able to get more fluids in today and am clearly rehydrating. I'd been weighing myself just for "fun" and partly to keep an eye on dehydration. I always knew this wasn't real loss, but damnit, it's still gonna suck to "regain" those 6 pounds over the next day or so as I rehydrate! HOWEVER... even before the dehydration, I'm less than 20 pounds (17, to be exact!) from my first goal of 210 pounds, which will put me in the lowest obesity class! So really this is a true rant/rave lol.

That is SUCH a good idea! But so sorry to hear they weren't there when you were finally ready for them! How disappointing.

Definitely not worried, but is it too much to ask to keep my 6 pounds as a reward for all time I put in on the porcelain throne?! Lol

I'm just over 10 weeks post-op and have gastroenteritis. Luckily the stomach cramps haven't been too bad, but they still hurt my poor, tiny tummy. I'm doing my best to keep drinking fluids, but even water makes my stomach cramp. I was able to get a banana and 1 T of peanut butter down over about 2.5 hours. I think that's all I'll get in today for food, so I'm going to focus on water and even some protein water. I've lost a couple pounds since this morning which is pure fluids from the diarrhea. I don't want to end up on an IV for fluid loss! Hoping this lets up tomorrow. In the past it's generally lasted about 24 hours, with another day or two of a sensitive tummy. As long as I keep my fluids up, I'm not going to worry about missing my protein goals/vitamins for a couple days.

I've had that feeling the 2 times I tried bread (I'm 10 weeks post-op). I won't be doing bread again for quite some time. My body can't handle the sugar high/crash.

I've been craving a salty crunch - chips specifically, which I obviously shouldn't have. Even normal crackers seem like a "no" because they are a simple carb, which are not approved for my diet until 6 months post-op (and recommended only in very limited quantities after that) so... what can I eat? I don't want a substitute like celery or carrots, I mean something chip or cracker like. My biggest issue is the carbs, because mine are to remain limited. I'm also supposed to stay in the 500 calories per day range for a while, so indulging in crackers is difficult with that restriction as well, but that will be increased in time. Does anyone have any suggestions for something that would fit the bill??

Awesome, you guys, thank you!!

I've had to do that, too. The colace keeps me from needing to use it, though!

I am officially down more than 45 pounds! As of this morning I'm down 46 pounds- 36 post-surgery (10/17) and 10 on the pre-op diet. Pre-op diet 10/3: 275 Surgery day 10/17: 265 Today 12/23: 229 I'm so close to 50 pounds down that I can taste it! But I won't because I don't want to ruin my progress. Lol. This is especially sweet because I didn't make the best choices yesterday, which is rare for me, and I was feeling VERY hungry- almost like a bottomless pit that couldn't be satisfied. I just couldn't get full/satisfied! I ate about 3 times as many calories as I normally do. (Over 1500 calories yesterday as compared to my average of 500-600). It was bizarre and a little scary. Upping the water intake today and going to watch myself closely. 79 pounds to goal weight! It's starting to feel attainable!!

I learned that I need to have a steady "diet" of colace. At least 2 a day, better if I do 3. I learned this after I got so constipated that I developed a fecal impaction a couple weeks ago. Luckily with lots of water and extra colace I was able to soften it enough that I was able to pass it on my own. Colace is a stool softener with a VERY mild laxative.

So I'm 9 weeks post-op today and in my second stall (ugh) and we had a work lunch today. I made the conscious decision to have a sourdough roll. A large one. First of all, I couldn't eat my salmon salad after that because I was full (duh) and second, I'm EXHAUSTED. I'm fighting sleep at my desk right now. I've tried bread one other time since my surgery and had the same reaction. Apparently, after almost 3 months on a very low carb/no refined carbs diet, my body can't handle processing that crap anymore. It's a nice thing, but I basically made the conscious decision to torture myself. Lesson learned. Bread is a no for me unless I want to use it as a sleep aid! Does anyone else react the same way to refined carbs/bread?

CONGRATULATIONS!! My next goal is 210 (gets me to the lowest class of obesity) and then my goal is onederland with you! I'm hoping by late winter/early spring I can join you! About 30 pounds to go!

That looks and sounds amazing. Definitely giving it a shot one of these days! Did you make it as directed?

I'm dyyyyyiiinnnnggggg hahahahaha! So sorry to hear that! I have IBS-D so I'm very familiar with that issue! Lol

So it's been better as the week goes on and I'm busy at work. I suspect a lot of it is simply associating being home with binge eating, because that's what I did. If it sounded good, I stuffed it down my gullet. When it got really bad and I gave in and ate 3 broken pieces of tortilla chips, I tattled on myself to my husband who put me on timeout upstairs, away from the food. That was actually kinda helpful.

I am absolutely torturing myself this weekend. I'm 7.5 weeks out and all I can think about is food since Friday. I keep thinking I'm genuinely hungry because I swear I can feel it in my stomach, but when I eat my stomach lets me know that I am done... but I can't. stop. thinking. about food. The worst part is that I'm trying to write a big paper for my grad class that's due soon so I'm basically just alone with my thoughts and not able to keep myself busy otherwise. I'm drinking extra water and trying to ignore my thoughts but it isn't helping. I really just needed to b*tch and moan a bit. Hopefully someone out there can understand/commiserate.

I'm 8 weeks post-op and I have been hungry the whole freaking time. Every dang day. Until earlier this week when it just... stopped. I'm hopeful, but also a little worried because I'm dealing with some serious constipation that may have lowered my appetite due to being so backed up. Did anyone else get a late start to the "never hungry" party? It's like someone flipped a switch but I'm hoping it sticks around!

I'm 7 weeks post-op today and have lost 39.4 pounds since the pre-op diet (29.4 since surgery) for a total of 31.5% of my excess weight lost. I have already had a couple stalls, which are so frustrating, but I'm trying to be patient. MY CLOTHES ARE HUGE! My body is definitely changing and I've dropped from 26 pants to 22, but haven't bought anything new yet- the fit is still weird with my giant stomach and toothpick legs (I'm built like Mr. Potato Head!). So everything is being held up by a belt these days. 37F 5'5" SW:275 Surgery day: 265 CW: 235.6

Yes! I had this! I'm already basically back to normal at 7 weeks. But the first month or so I was acutely aware of everyone's breath. Not my favorite time.

I'm about 6 weeks post op and am still stuck at a 24 pound loss (17 immediately post-op, the other 7 verrrrry slowly came off after the first couple weeks. I'm coming up on day 10 of a stall. Lose a pound, gain a pound, lose a pound, gain a pound. I'm working the program, and with rare exception, am working it to near perfection. I get 64 oz of water but want to try to start getting in more. I am averaging 400 to 600 calories per day and am meeting my minimum protein goals (60mg, trying to figure out how to increase it to 80g without adding a bunch of calories). What else can I do? I'm considering fasting for a day to see if that helps break the stall.

So I'm 6 weeks out (tomorrow). I haven't been perfect with my post-op diet, but damn have I been close! Until tonight. I binged on tortilla chips. I had probably 30 to 35 chips. I fit them all in within probably a 30 minute period and didn't even feel that bad. I felt really full, but I wasn't sick or anything. I wish my sleeve was pickier sometimes. I wish I didn't know I could fit 35 tortilla chips in my sleeve. I can't believe I did that. I think it started with allowing myself to have 2 cups of popcorn at work today. I started really craving the salt and it seems that I backslid into lack of control very quickly. I've already been in a 10 day stall. (Stall #2 in 6 weeks). Dreading seeing the scale tomorrow and feeling stupid.

THANK YOU all for your responses. Thank you for reminding me that this was a single event and that I can recover from it. Thank you for reminding me that my sleeve is not magic, and I still have to put in the work. It is disappointing not to be as restricted as I hoped, but my resolve to use this tool to the best of my ability remains strong. I am seeking therapy for my binge eating disorder, anxiety, and depression. I have an appointment tomorrow and can discuss this episode. Today has been a good food day, in spite of the fact that I'm hungry (I think PMS-ing, when I always get really hungry). I love this place and the support it offers.

I really needed to see this. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow and have only lost 24 pounds since surgery. The first 17 was in the first 2 weeks! I'm currently on my 2nd stall and barely averaging 2 pounds per week. I'm scared of what will happen after the honeymoon period when it gets harder to lose- it's already plenty hard to lose as it stands!!