What I've learned so far... 13 days post op..Hugs Anyone?

Ya'll were right... the time before flew by! Ya'll were right .. this has been and continues to be a wild ride! It is a tool and it can't do the work for me... Today is an ... eh kind of day... a 4 or 5 out of the last 3 days which were around 9...  Im struggling with eating slowly and drinking slowly...  I dont know if it is that Im feeling some what normal . or what, but I keep having a little pain each time I drink and eat, I know its of my doing, so no reason to concern... just learning to adjust.... I am also learning about head hunger and how to deal with it.   I did make an appointment with someone to talk about the frustrations/growing pains (shrinking pains) I am having mentally.  Im having on and off dreams about food. I am finding myself worried that it will actually work. What was I thinking it would all just drop off over night? That all the other things in life would stop and a dozen roses would appear and I would suddenly be mary poppins happy? Im learning to deal with it all, what life is like when food isn't the center.  I have to learn to be patient ... and realistic.. I have also found that if you don't stay busy or keep your mind on something you get depressed or frustrated or cranky.  (Which I believe once again ya'll told me so thank you)...  Just need to get this out... so thanks for listening. Amanda

We all learn sweetie even me at 2 yrs out I have problems everyday. Id be a liar if I told you I didnt, I struggle everyday w/ head hunger and  things I should and shouldnt have. And Ill be the first to admit this holiday season has be totally murder on me. I dont care if I ever see another one come threw lol. So much to deal with as it is making the right choices in food choices. But when we have all these extra goodies floating around us makes it even harder on us and yes I have been weak but I also know that I have to slap mysel and get back on the straight and arrow like yesterday no ifs and buts about it. So dont be so hard on yourself thats why we are here and we love ya and  we all vent and listen to one another so come on back anytime just like I do for the support  of  such great listeners and loyal friends. We all get  a lil frustrated and I know I get  cranky lol .

Ahhhhh... I feel a sigh of relief just knowing I'm not alone and not the only one! I was just telling a friend that I wouldn't know as much as I did or have been prepared for as much as I have if it wasn't for you ladies... ladies like you! Although my journey is my own, we all bare similar resembelnces. So comforting!  

Hey, sweetie!  You are just SOOOOOOOOOO normal, as far as I'm concerned!  Wait a minute..............................No one ever accused me of being normal! You seem to have learned a lot in a short amount of time.  I had soi many dreams of sausage pizza, dripping with grease.  Head hunger/dreaming,,,,That's a biotch! In just a few short months, it will feel as if the weight has dropped off.  I'm glad you realize that losing weight does not automatically solve all of life's problems.  If only it did!  Good for you for finding someone to talk this all out with.  We're here for you, but sometimes that just isn't enough. Stay busy, eat slowly, drink slowly, walk not so slowly!!  Take care of yourself! Love, JoAnn

JoAnn - You normal lady ;-) Thank you for the .... walk not so slow... I shall call you Yoda

Good am Amanda -  One of the BEST things I've done for myself (even now being almost 5 years post-op) is to continue talking with folks here, folks in support groups (not just about food/eating but LIFE) and I have been arming myself with knowledge by reading & researching. The best remedies for me are the stories/experiences I've been through personally & those of folks like you. Its wonderful to be able to address things with a professional as well who is trained in mental issues to help with some bigger things like um where did *I* go (when you drop all the weight so fast your head hasn't caught up but you are missing) & it truly helps keeping EVERY appointment (follow up) and listening to your body and making sure that everything is coming along nicely (blood work etc).  In my opinion I think that because we wait so long for our day to arrive, for all the classes, pre-op tests, stressing, planning, ups, downs, sad, happy I WANT THIS YESTERDAY feelings & thoughts that once it gets here we don't want all the "YESSSSSSSSSS!" to go away but then we have surgery and things are a lot harder than we thought. It takes WORK! We try our darndest to prepare mentally but its a lot harder once reality sets in. BUT- and this is a HUGE BUT we have to choose to be proactive, positive & determined. When we start feeling depressed, sad, tired, frustrated etc we need to surround ourselves with people & things that remind of we have to take it day by day & we are worth every moment we struggle because we will be great successes.  Will we have down times/moments? Sure thing! Will we become sad & overwhelmed? Sure thing! Patience is a PAIN IN THE A - SWIRLY SWIRLY but it'll come. Realistic .....that's the easier part. What I mean is try picking realistic goals for yourself. Choose say 3 things per day you'd like to accomplish realizing that sometimes you might not but building on things say 1) is getting in all your protein each day 2) is walking further each day than the day before & 3) is getting your vitamins in....then the next week add to these goals for example adding finding a positive quote each day or finding something positive about each day and jot it down in a journal of sorts. Come here and read & reply as you have been and vent & we will do our best to hug you big time.  Cranky? Girl that doesn't go away. But, we love you & care about you and are here to bounce things off of and I want you to know that I dig your sense of humor and go-get-it-tive-ness (yeah kinda made up) and I hope you get to feeling better & better each day! All best........

Amanda, you are learning that this is a lifetime commitment and anyone who goes into it thinking it is not is fooling theselves.  Unlike uninformed people think, we do not go into the OR fat and come out thin. We fight the food demons all the time and will for the rest of our lives. However recognizing this is a step in conquering it and getting help is an excellent idea - we do not have to struggle alone....... there is help out there all around us - we just need to reach out and take it. These pains when you eat and drink may be real so keep an eye in them - it may also be your body's way of getting used to food and drink all over again.... Head hunger is very real and you need to keep yourself occupied so you can fight it. Getting into the habit of grazing is the worst thing you can do....

You will get better at this Amanda - we all had to learn and although we all told you to warch for this it is quite different when you are the one on the receiving end.... just have some patience - this is all new to you - Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is this weight loss program..... so try to relax a little and go with the flow a bit... we are all here to help and listen........ Jackie

 

HUGS!!!! It is definitely a day to day struggle.  Just keep taking it step by step.

I love this site. I have not had the surgery yet  but learning everything about it helps me so much. When I started on my journey the # was 585 and the # now is 665 and my # is 704 so I am thinking by the end of January or middle of February the clinic will be calling me.They have a waiting list and also a 6 month period that you have to have documents of  trying to lose weight and having a doctor weigh you each month. I am now entering my 5 month with the  Portsmouth Naval Hospital but I started the ball going back in June 2007. Had the referral to see a civilian doctor then the military said they had the program at PNH so started all over with them. I am so ready to  have the surgery.  I don't post that often but I will try to more often.  Have a great weekend everyone. Gwen

I understand how you're feeling.  Eating and drinking slowly is so hard.  And it is weird to THINK you are just the same but you are not.  Personally I find the drinking the worst.  I just SO want to take a good long drink, I feel like I'm thirsty all the time.  But I've become a clock watcher so I don't drink too much too fast.  Thankfully, each day gets easier and I'm getting in more and more fluids which makes me feel better. Feeling cranky?  Yeah, me too, maybe not cranky, just off kilter a bit.  The last two days I couldn't snap out of it.  I just felt odd.  Even when I got out and about for a while I still felt not my happy self.  But on the good side, I remember walking to back to the car, which I purposely parked further away and I felt like I had a little spring in my step.  The weight I've lost so far has really made a difference. Take it one day at a time.  I'm here for you.  :)