Emotions post op

[UsernameTaken 283]

I am realizing that this surgery ended up being a lot harder mentally and physically than what I have anticipated (I had lap band before and didn't go through anything like this emotionally) ...I thought I was not going to be one of those people that have regrets with going through this surgery... But today those thoughts are creeping in my head.. I started blended food and struggling with getting food in and fluids in... And makes me think that I will get malnourished and will have all kinds of problems and now I am thinking to myself why did I do this to myself... I have been crying a lot and can't help it just feel defeated.

I am supposed to go to work on Tuesday and I am so not ready...

Please tell me it gets better soon... I am 2 weeks post op.

Edited May 28, 2016 by UsernameTaken

[Daisee68 2,493]

A lot of people go through the emotions. I remember specifically having one day where I just cried and cried for no reason. It is partly the realization of the immensity of the change but partly it is supposedly just release of some hormones from the fat. Take a deep breath. Go to bed early if you can and get some good rest and it will all look better tomorrow. I promise!! And meanwhile - big hugs from Texas!! Hang in there! I know you can do this! Vent on here anytime you need and we will cheer you on!!

[UsernameTaken 283]

Thank you... Really appreciate the support! I have been emotional for few days now, it seems to come and go during the day but today is tough.. And my poor husband has to deal with me crying all day for no reason.

[Hannahb3997 60]

I am going through similar emotions. I just had bypass on May 24th. The first 2 days I did okay. But today I just had a hard time. I struggled with a lot of pain today as well as not getting enough Water in. I know this is going to be great for me, however when I have days like today it's hard not to have feelings of regret. I wish you all the best!!

[UsernameTaken 283]

@@Hannahb3997

I am sorry you are going through this as well. Sure hope we will start getting better.

[jessjames 234]

It's funny because you read so much information of people's struggles before you've had surgery to mentally prepare yourself for what's to come but your adamant that you won't be that person.. I'm 2 days post op, and struggling to get anything in my system.. It's frustrating and emotional, but we must focus on the end goal. We can do it

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Edited May 28, 2016 by jessjames

[UsernameTaken 283]

It's funny because you read so much information of people's struggles before you've had surgery to mentally prepare yourself for what's to come but your adamant that you won't be that person.. I'm 2 days post op, and struggling to get anything in my system.. It's frustrating and emotional, but we must focus on the end goal. We can do it

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yep even few days ago I kept reading and reading and think that I am not going to feel that way and here it is...

We will get through this right?

[jessjames 234]

It's funny because you read so much information of people's struggles before you've had surgery to mentally prepare yourself for what's to come but your adamant that you won't be that person.. I'm 2 days post op, and struggling to get anything in my system.. It's frustrating and emotional, but we must focus on the end goal. We can do it

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yep even few days ago I kept reading and reading and think that I am not going to feel that way and here it is...

We will get through this right?

We will! I know it! We will look back on these moments and laugh at how silly we were, we will be fit and healthy, looking back on how we used to be with our heads held high, proud of the people we have become. That's why we have to endure the struggle.. Because after that it's just happiness ❤️❤️

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[UsernameTaken 283]

It's funny because you read so much information of people's struggles before you've had surgery to mentally prepare yourself for what's to come but your adamant that you won't be that person.. I'm 2 days post op, and struggling to get anything in my system.. It's frustrating and emotional, but we must focus on the end goal. We can do it

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yep even few days ago I kept reading and reading and think that I am not going to feel that way and here it is...

We will get through this right?

We will! I know it! We will look back on these moments and laugh at how silly we were, we will be fit and healthy, looking back on how we used to be with our heads held high, proud of the people we have become. That's why we have to endure the struggle.. Because after that it's just happiness ❤️❤️

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@jessjames

and I am crying again.... This is like PMS x 5

[krazy kat 107]

I thought I read somewhere here that hormones could be off after surgery? Could be a reason to be weepy...

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[UsernameTaken 283]

I thought I read somewhere here that hormones could be off after surgery? Could be a reason to be weepy...

Sent from my SM-G730V using the BariatricPal App

Yep that's what I have been reading too... Seems today is a bit better, I took pain meds today and was able to do couple of errands.

Haven't cried yet today but still get very very tired and feel weak...

[JupiterinVirgo 846]

There are so many levels to the experience of having weight-loss surgery. In addition to our physical chemistry being all sorts of out of whack from fasting for weeks before surgery, being under Anastasio, having 80% of our stomachs amputated, and all the pain medication, etc. It is bound to screw with us! In addition to the physiological shifts that are happening, many many of us who have had the surgery got to that point because of trauma, depression, anxiety, and other difficult emotions we did not know how to handle. After surgery, when stressors arise, I am pulses tend to be what they have always been: food. And after surgery, it is not possible-not physically possible-to eat like we did before, and so many of us grieve. We grieve the loss of food, and all of the social connections that are built around it. We grieve for the life behind us, much of it left largely on lived because our weight I've been hindering us from doing what we really wanted to do. We grieve, as our fat cells break apart and release subtle body memories of the pain that had caused us to put on so much weight to begin with. I have found that this journey has been a profound psycho-spiritual journey. Our bodies change so quickly after weight loss surgery. Believe it or not, some of us even grieve the weight we are losing as our bodies change shape and size practically before our eyes. It takes the mind a while to catch up! Be gentle with yourself. It's OK. You have done something courageous and brave, and you are allowed to feel sad, angry, anxious. You're allowed to feel hunger, and let it bring you to tears. You are not alone in this. I just know that it's going to get better and better. no regrets

[UsernameTaken 283]

There are so many levels to the experience of having weight-loss surgery. In addition to our physical chemistry being all sorts of out of whack from fasting for weeks before surgery, being under Anastasio, having 80% of our stomachs amputated, and all the pain medication, etc. It is bound to screw with us! In addition to the physiological shifts that are happening, many many of us who have had the surgery got to that point because of trauma, depression, anxiety, and other difficult emotions we did not know how to handle. After surgery, when stressors arise, I am pulses tend to be what they have always been: food. And after surgery, it is not possible-not physically possible-to eat like we did before, and so many of us grieve. We grieve the loss of food, and all of the social connections that are built around it. We grieve for the life behind us, much of it left largely on lived because our weight I've been hindering us from doing what we really wanted to do. We grieve, as our fat cells break apart and release subtle body memories of the pain that had caused us to put on so much weight to begin with. I have found that this journey has been a profound psycho-spiritual journey. Our bodies change so quickly after weight loss surgery. Believe it or not, some of us even grieve the weight we are losing as our bodies change shape and size practically before our eyes. It takes the mind a while to catch up! Be gentle with yourself. It's OK. You have done something courageous and brave, and you are allowed to feel sad, angry, anxious. You're allowed to feel hunger, and let it bring you to tears. You are not alone in this. I just know that it's going to get better and better. no regrets

Thank you for the kind words...

Surprisingly I am not grieving the loss of food, I think I got over it on all my pre op liquid diet...right now it's hard for me to even look or smell food because I have absolutely no appetite (I never thought I would complain about this) but it makes it hard to get my requires Protein and liquids in. What scared me now and is making me emotional is if I will ever will be able to eat what I need to eat so I don't become malnourished and dehydrated... These are the things that are really making me nervous right now plus being exhausted and weak all the time...

I am doing a bit better today, I decided not to push blended food yet just because I am due for it (also this was recommended by my dr) so I feel like I am not stressing out about it as much today. I was able to get a pedi, do a load of laundry, go to grocery store and do dishes, now I am resting. Hope everyday I will feel better.

I put on pair of jeans I wore before surgery, they were not tight before, but they are nice and baggy now so that was nice to see. I plan to go through my closet my tomorrow and check my clothes for what I can wear right now, hopefully I will have energy to do that.

[eoconnell24 30]

I am almost 3 weeks post op and I know exactly how you feel. I was so excited to move to puréed foods from liquids but had some pain and my dr moved me back to liquids. That actually happened twice. I felt so discouraged and had the EXACT SAME feelings... Will I get my Protein and liquids in? What did I do to myself? Will I ever be able to live socially normal again? I was borderline depressed, which is CRAZY! A friend of mine (actually my "Surgery Sister") suggested I keep a journal of how I'm feeling every day, good and bad. I track what I eat anyways so journaling my feelings will help to see if certain foods upset my tummy or trigger certain hormones/feelings. And then I can look back on it later to see how far I've come too!

I can promise you, it DOES get better!! Listen to your body and do what it tells you. If liquids are easier then do liquids. Go slow. Just bc others can progress at a certain pace doesn't mean you have to. Everyone's journey is different. I've moved myself back to liquids for a day or so on my own in the last week bc of bad cramping... And it's ok bc I knew that's what my body needed. Our bodies are like babies just learning how to digest and process food again and when you think about it that way it all makes sense!

2 more things...

#1 Unflavored Protein has been my crutch to help me meet my protein goals. nectar by Syntrax is what I use. And the fluids will get better. I try to drink at least 8oz before I eat Breakfast and although it sounds simple, the days I do I usually hit my Water goal...

#2 About the exhaustion. Most of us were eating THOUSANDS of calories a day and are now maybe getting in 400-500. That's a crazy drop that you have to let your body get used to. And on top of your body still healing from surgery, it's hard to fuel our still overweight bodies with such few calories. So it's normal for your body to take a few weeks to figure out how to do that.

Keep it up... You're doing great!

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[UsernameTaken 283]

Well...I thought I was doing better emotionally... Went to bed... Looked at the seroma that I have to deal with now and had another melt down :/ I am really struggling right now :/