I'm Having a Breakdown

[BackSpin81 350]

I don't know, but I just started crying! I'm worried that I won't lose any weight. I'm worried that I'm not drinking enough Water, or drinking enough food. I'm worried that I'm going to fail. I just had surgery on 3/30/15 and I keep feeling as if it's not going to work for me. Why? I don't know. I just feel like I'm going to be unhealthy for the rest of my life. I don't know why I'm crying. I'm just really down.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@Tanika81 Hang in there. Some people go through an emotional period, especially right after surgery. You are the first person to experience these feelings. Just follow the instructions you were given and the weight loss will happen. It takes some time to work up to meeting the Protein and Fluid guidelines. Do the best you can and you'll get there.

[imsoglad56 402]

One of the things I read before surgery that I thought might be a bunch of hooey was that as we start to lose fat fast, like right after surgery, it causes a hormone surge. Apparently this is because the hormones are stored in fat and as we burn the fat, the hormones sort of flood the body. I thought it was BS, but less than a week after surgery, I started breaking out in HORRIBLE acne like I hadn't seen since my teens. I imagine that's part of what is happening with you. It doesn't make it any easier, but just try to hold on knowing that it will get better. You will do wonderful. Hugs.

[JamieLogical 8,708]

The first couple of weeks are just so rough. I promise you it will get better! You will feel normal again! I remember those dark days in my early weeks when I was crying and uncomfortable and struggling, but they are a very distant memory now, seven months post-op. I feel normal 99% of the time and I have become used to my new life. You will get there. Just have faith and patience. Do everything you can. Sip, sip, sip. Walk, walk, walk. Get in your liquids and as much Protein as possible. Stick to your nutrition plan, and you WILL get better and be successful.

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

This emotional rush is, in my opinion, NEVER gone over enough (if at all) with so many WLS patients, and the teams who are there to prepare us for this should really send this point home, as well as the hair loss, stalls...... I see a lot of touting the surgery for benefits such as the obvious weight loss, disease improvements............., but they don't seem to tell us what to expect that SOOOOO many of us endure following the surgery. Maybe they think it will scare folks off, but REALLY, we're made of stronger stuff than that!!! Just be honest, surgical teams, and lay down the goods (or not-so-goods), so we can truly prepare for the nasties that get to us following surgery. RANT over, for now!

Most of us have been through what you are going through, and it will pass. Get a BIG box of Kleenex (the really soft ones!), a few really good movies, a craft or two to keep your hands busy while watching said movies, and keep you computer on so we can be there for you! Bless you, dear one....

[imsoglad56 402]

@@Tanika81, I don't know anything about what kind of support system you have, but if you think it would help to have someone to talk to, just let me know and I'll send you my phone number. I'm happy to talk with anyone who needs a shoulder to lean (or cry) on. I'm incredibly blessed in that my husband was sleeved the same day as me, so we can totally support one another. However, I know that not everyone has that.

[kyrickchick64 468]

You're okay. Lots of us go thru this. I've read that it's because the fat we are losing has estrogen (especially the stomach fat from what I've read) so we tend to be more hormonal. That coupled with the fact that this is a major surgery and your nervous about the future it's no wonder your emotional. Sip some herbal tea. Relax

[NewgirlfromMd 63]

I'm sorry you are feeling this way. As stated above it is most likely the hormone changes. It's too early to think that way. I think we all have that fear of " will this work for me, and will I finally succeed at getting this weight off?" When you have been trying & failing to lose weight for a long time reaching your goals can feel like a fairy tale, something you want but can't believe will ever really happen. I speak for myself, but I know I'm not alone in that. Just follow your plan & remember why you chose to do this. It will work if we make good choices & follow the plan. Keep your head up & have faith in yourself that you can do this!

Edited April 8, 2015 by NewgirlfromMd

[AvaFern 3,516]

You are totally normal! I was freaked out at about a week after surgery that I had ruined my whole life. Things get much better as time goes on. I blame it on the anesthesia, because I tend to get the same level of emotional hot mess at about the 4-7 day point after every surgery I have (which at this point is the sleeve and three plastics procedures). You just have to remember that time passes and you will inevitably feel better. Embrace the misery...in a year you will look back on it and think, wow, I feel wonderful now!

[BackSpin81 350]

Thank you all!! So much. I had stopped crying, then laughed and cried when I read your comments. A friend/co-worker came over to visit me so I had to straighten up and not show her my tears. And my dad called as well. So your feedback, my friend, and my father have kept my emotions at bay! THANK YOU!! This goes to show that I need all the support I can get when I feel down like this. Unfortunately, I don't have a constant local support system here. I'm from Boston but live alone in Colorado. My family and friends are so far away. I have a few friends here, but we're not that close (emotionally) for me to cry on their shoulders. And they have no idea that I have had the sleeve surgery.

I definitely need a support network :-(. Just talking (crying and typing) it out to you and reading your responses made me feel good and that these feelings are not abnormal. I WILL be reaching out to you when I need help! I appreciate you all

[ssourgirl 151]

My daughter had her surgery on 3/26 and about a week later had a complete meltdown as well. She is prone to depression but this a heavy one. She had many of the same feelings as you do and also made an observation that her old go to would have been comfort food and she doesn't even have that anymore. In a way I think she was also grieving. It hit her like a ton of bricks - the reality of what she'd done and it was scary. She had done alot of research, talked to a therapist, surgeons, doctors etc about this but none had warned her of how hard it might actually hit her. I agree with CanyonBaby that this should be included in pre-op information.

[JamieLogical 8,708]

@@ssourgirl That was one of the things I really struggled with in the early months. Not being able to turn to food when I was down or upset. I found it incredibly frustrating and, of course, that just made me more upset. The good news is, I did eventually realize that I was just not going to get comfort from food the way I had in the past and I stopped trying. It's a process.

[ssourgirl 151]

@@JamieLogical, yes, definitely a process.

[BackSpin81 350]

I'm going to my first support group next Thursday and I will definitely bring up the mood thing to the group and the staff at my doc's office. I truly was not expecting to cry as much as I did and have so far. I've never been the most emotional person in the world but when all of that doubt, stress, worry, lack of support hit you all at one time it sucks. It just came out of nowhere

[Nyelaah 77]

This emotional rush is, in my opinion, NEVER gone over enough (if at all) with so many WLS patients, and the teams who are there to prepare us for this should really send this point home, as well as the hair loss, stalls...... I see a lot of touting the surgery for benefits such as the obvious weight loss, disease improvements............., but they don't seem to tell us what to expect that SOOOOO many of us endure following the surgery. Maybe they think it will scare folks off, but REALLY, we're made of stronger stuff than that!!! Just be honest, surgical teams, and lay down the goods (or not-so-goods), so we can truly prepare for the nasties that get to us following surgery. RANT over, for now!

Most of us have been through what you are going through, and it will pass. Get a BIG box of Kleenex (the really soft ones!), a few really good movies, a craft or two to keep your hands busy while watching said movies, and keep you computer on so we can be there for you! Bless you, dear one....

You are the best Canyonbaby!