...just sleeved, smooth sailing...until ANXIETY :(

[mytime4me 83]

Hi All,

I am one week out from being sleeved. I have been doing great following my liquids diet (and oddly totally OK with it) and had struggled with nausea for a few days post up and then the added bonus of Constipation. Minus those road blocks, I have been doing and feeling well until out of no where, I have been hit with the worst anxiety. I haven't had true anxiety in a very long time.

Last night my husband and I were talking about the normal things I will face (eating out in public, in-laws visiting, holidays etc) and I started to find myself getting more and more agitated. I frantically started looking for videos and pictures to get an idea of how much food I will be able to eat at 3, 9, 12 months out... [Obviously, this is something I researched and researched before surgery so none of this is a surprise to me] I was able to change my mindset and head up to sleep.

I then woke up in a panic and googled "Will I EVER be able to eat a bagel after VSG?!?!!?" - in the dead of the night, half asleep I woke up - covered in sweat- freaking out about a freaking stupid hypothetical bagel. I hate that I even sat up in the dark starting to have regrets of what I did to myself. When the sun came up, thankfully so did some more of my common sense and I have been able to keep my crazy thoughts at bay- for now

Man, breaking this food addiction/food addict mindset is going to be hard - just like everyone said it would be.

Anyone else dealing with anxiety?

[GotProlactinoma 458]

Poor thing. I'm only one week ahead of you. It seems like maybe the hormones escaping from your fat cells are causing your anxiety. We are using our fat cells for fuel right now, and a lot of hormones are being dumped. They can have emotional and even anxiety side effects.

The real you isn't worried about a bagel; you either will or won't e able to eat one or even want to eat one! This isn't about the hypothetical bagel, just about anxiety or a kind of panic attack. Maybe just feeling the symptoms of anxiety and talking to yourself about how these sweaty palms, shakiness, worries, come from the escaping estrogen from your fat cells being used for fuel. Maybe naming the symptoms will shrink them down a bit so you can get on with your successful recovery! I hope so.

hang in there. Great that you are getting all your fluids. Still struggling here but I go,get a Vitamin and mineral iv every week to help.

[Ldyvenus 317]

At about 1 year out, you can fit about 1 cup of food, give or take. You have to decide what to put into that cup. Now is the time to focus on making lasting, positive changes to the foods you add back in to your diet.

[mytime4me 83]

4 hours ago, GotProlactinoma said:

hang in there. Great that you are getting all your fluids. Still struggling here but I go,get a Vitamin and mineral iv every week to help.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. My "hormones" have totally taken me by surprise, wasn't the first time and won't be the last Its a good reminder to me that I really do need to work on the mental side of all of this. I didn't become obese due to my fantastic relationship with food - and I won't be able to lose and keep off the weight until I am able to come to better terms with my issues.

Sorry to hear you are struggling with the fluids. I took some time off work and my husband took the week off too, so I have really been able to just focus on taking my 2-3 oz of fluids every 20 mins. As soon as the real world comes knocking on Monday, I am not so sure I will be doing as well! I haven't been able to keep my Vitamins down at all. The ones I got are disgusting. I have to head to the pharmacy tonight to see if I can find something better. Vitamin and mineral IV is probably helping a lot!!!

Have you started soft foods yet? How is that going? I am going to be able to start after the weekend...

[mytime4me 83]

4 hours ago, Ldyvenus said:

You have to decide what to put into that cup.

...That is such a good point. I am going to focus on that and start trying to get myself ready by setting good habits now! Its amazing that you have lost 60+ pounds - keep up the awesome WL!

[momx02 20]

Thank you for posting this, I had my surgery on Tuesday and am working hard on the fluids. I feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster and although I knew this messes with your hormones I didn't expect the crying foe no reason. I find my brain is telling me I'm starving myself as all I'm doing is Protein Shakes and Water. I have to talk myself off that anxiety train foe sure. Thank you foe posting this as it does help me feel better, so glad to know I'm not alone in this.

[mytime4me 83]

16 hours ago, momx02 said:

Thank you foe posting this as it does help me feel better, so glad to know I'm not alone in this.

@momx02 you are definitely not alone. A few days have gone by and I feel better. I still get a little anxious when I think down the road...like what if I am here , or what if we go there so I am trying to just focus on my day. Having my shakes, Water and take it from there. Hang in there, we've got this.

[mekmarti 1]

I'm about 7 months post op and understand your struggles. One of my 1st questions after surgery to a friend who had gone through it was "How long till I can eat something that actually resembles a meal?". He said it took him a year, at 7 months I can almost put a plate together that looks like a meal. You have to remember that your relationship with food wasn't good before and HAS to change after surgery. If you don't change your way of thinking about food, you'll end up right back where you started (eventually). Going out to eat was a big mind game in the beginning because you're finished when everyone has just started to tuck into their food. Use that as an opportunity to initiate conversations that you normally wouldn't have because you were "into" your food before. I like to sit around and watch everyone eat and look at the amount of food they're eating and think how many calories they're taking in and I'm not! Good luck!