Wicked mind games even before surgery

Hi ya'll!

I am scheduled for VSG July 9th.  I am suppose to start the pro-op diet on June 26th, but I decided to go ahead and start cutting back and especially trying to ween off of Mt. Dew and Frosted Flakes (of all things..HA).

Lately though, my mind has been going CRAZY!  I find myself having awful, I mean awful, heart burn and spasms beneath my tatas.  I am also feeling overly full when I eat only 1/2 my food and fill like I'm going to hurl.  Mind you, I've felt this way 1000's of time, but only when I gorged myself.

Then....I am scared to death that I won't lose any weight before the surgery and keep thinking...Hell, I'm an addict and me not being able to lose or sustain weight loss is the reason I'm having surgery.

Thoughts???? 

What's your preop diet supposed to be?

You could just wait until June 26 and go cold turkey.  Knowing you have to do it or else might make it easier.

Except for the Mt Dew.  You really do need to wean yourself off the caffeine so you won't be sick.

This is one of the most mentally and emotionally draining processes Ive been through - and even at a year out, it doesnt necessarily get easier (just different issues).

First - I have to say GOOD FOR YOU for starting to think about making the changes. I applaud you for that. Stick with it - do what you can, and it will help you build up some confidence before surgery that you can do this.

Second - I am, and will always be a food addict/emotional eater/complusive binge eater, what have you - you name it and that's me. BUT despite all that, I'm losing weight and I will reach my goal. It may be one of the hardest things i will do in my life, but by dealing with the issues - losing weight and getting healthy IS possible. If you let your addiction control you, maybe you wont be able to lose or maintain but if you figure out the root causes of your addiction and start addressing them - you can do this. I'm proof.

Third - take some prilosec or something and see if it helps. :)

Great answer.  It also reminds me that I once saw Dolly Parton answer the question, "What are you most proud of in your life?" with, "Losing weight and keeping it off. Nobody knows how hard that is unless you've been here."

I was really concerned that I wouldn't be able to kick my Coke Zero habit but I was able to the week before surgery and I haven't looked back since. It's normal and natural for you to be having these feelings before surgery. I think it's a great idea to try and lose some weight before. This way it will be less weight for you to lose after surgery and it gets you in the frame of mind of where you need to be.
Good luck with everything gurl and keep us posted!

I started cutting back a couple of weeks ago and really eliminating carbs in anticipation of my pre-op diet (which I started today) and I had a simular issue. Although I didn't have hte heart burn, it felt like I could only eat about half of my food. I figured maybe it was my body and brain getting ready for my up-coming new life sttle and already making adjustments. Maybe it was just head games but I lost 12 pounds over the last 2 weeks!

Good for you taking the bull by the horns and trying to change habits now, before your pre-op diet has to start!  You are already on your way to a new you!  I found cutting back and cutting out/greatly reducing certain foods before I started the pre-op diet really helped me start establishing good habits.  By the time I actually had the surgery, I think it was a little easier to follow my plan.  Before surgery, I surely wasn't perfect (I am now of course - NOT!  LOL), and still ate some things that I choose not to now, but the portions were much more normal.  I didn't tell myself "I will not eat this", but rather gave myself permission if I wanted to, which seemed to deflate most cravings I had, if that makes sense.   I think it's perfectly normal to have the fears you're describing.  We've eaten in a certain way for so long, and tried to lose weight and keep it off, only to fail over and over.  However, this tool has made it so much easier to establish a new way of eating and living, which frees energy up to address the head stuff that is usually what got us to the point of needing the surgery, in the first place.  The head stuff is what we need to work on for the long haul.  Best of luck to you!!!!!

 Let me tell ya 0 the soda thing can be a *****!

Good job getting a head start.  Like Alison said, this is one of the most mentally challenging things I have ever been through.  One thing that helps me quite a bit is being on here a lot and seeing what others go through and learning from them.

I couldn't give you much better advice than she did.  I would add, maybe start going to support groups now.  I know at my surgery center we have pre-op patients in all the time even though they are only required to go to 1 before surgery.  It helps me a lot to just spend time with my fellow patients and hear their stories and share mine.  It will help you start building a tool set for dealing with the head hunger issues.

Thank ya'll so much for the support!  I'm glad to know that I am not the only one that struggles with the mind thing.  And I MUST change my thinking patterns about food and being here helps me so much!