mental changes after surgery
I will be three weeks out tomorrow and have noticed changes in my thinking. The first is food I use to eat something even if didn't like it because I didn't want to waste it. Now if I don't like it I toss it. I use to eat leftovers for days and days, now if I eat something twice it is a rare occurance. I got my stepson breakfast at McD's and thought that food smelled like **** I use to enjoy a good McD's breakfast. The anger fuse is getting shorter way shorter. That one bothers me alot but I was aware of it thanks to the great info you can get here.. Another one that bothers me the most is now when I see someone morbidly obease I wonder if that person has looked into wls option and what they are doing to improve their selfs. I don't think I am doing it to be mean its more like I feel sorry for them. I would never say anything to them or about them but it still bugs me I think like this. I feel like i have become a snob. I know I did the right thing for me in my case but who am I to judge someone not knowing what is going on with them. Does anyone else think this way or am I just nuts.
MrBill
A lot of the same feelings and observations other than the McD breakfast. I can still eat the **** out of an Egg McMuffin and enjoy it.
One of the things I really like about this journey is that for the first couple of months you literally can't eat the way you did that got you in trouble. By the time you get to where you can, you've had a chance to change some habits. I was caught out on a job last night out in the middle of nowhere and the guy I was working for went to town to get some grub. He came back with cheeseburgers, fries, and cokes. Even though I'm 9 mos out and could've eaten it all, I ate half the cheeseburger about 5 fries and didn't touch the coke. He scarfed all of his down in about 5 minutes and 9 months ago I would've also. It's habit more than restriction that kept me from eating the old way. No doubt it's a habit that will have to continue to be nurtured or I'll veer back into the old ways.
One of the things I really like about this journey is that for the first couple of months you literally can't eat the way you did that got you in trouble. By the time you get to where you can, you've had a chance to change some habits. I was caught out on a job last night out in the middle of nowhere and the guy I was working for went to town to get some grub. He came back with cheeseburgers, fries, and cokes. Even though I'm 9 mos out and could've eaten it all, I ate half the cheeseburger about 5 fries and didn't touch the coke. He scarfed all of his down in about 5 minutes and 9 months ago I would've also. It's habit more than restriction that kept me from eating the old way. No doubt it's a habit that will have to continue to be nurtured or I'll veer back into the old ways.
The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking....... If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog.
Thanks for posting. I will also be three weeks out tomorrow. The emotional changes that I have noticed are 1) I feel less stress at work 2) I don't crave a beer (or two) after work 3) I feel more positive about myself (been able to wear clothes I haven't for a while, shirts aren't choking me) 4) I feel like people are friendlier to me (But then again I may be sending more of a positive vibe out there) 5) Been more sexually active/interested (this started last week, that catheter took it out of me for a while with the penis envying nurse who yanked it out) 6) I still catch myself eating fast (mindlessly) at times (i seem to be able to eat most anything) 7) I've jumped on my Son for eating too fast lately (and I'm the one who taught him to eat like that).
As a chaplain, I work around and with a lot of religious and spiritual people (many of whom are zealots). I notice that sometimes WLS folk seem like evangelical christians in their attempt to spread the good news of the RNY gospel. I also feel like I have good news to share, but want to be careful about how I share it. Many people are asking me how it is going and I find that an open door to share.
As a chaplain, I work around and with a lot of religious and spiritual people (many of whom are zealots). I notice that sometimes WLS folk seem like evangelical christians in their attempt to spread the good news of the RNY gospel. I also feel like I have good news to share, but want to be careful about how I share it. Many people are asking me how it is going and I find that an open door to share.
Exactly, Rev. Stephan .. 
For a long time I felt like Richard Simmons (I know - ugh!) trying to pay it forward to those people who need WLS, telling them enthusiastically of my own journey (I call it giving them "the Great Pumpkin" story) .. I pretty much just keep my mouth shut about it anymore, b/c of the criticisms I mentioned below .. 
For a long time I felt like Richard Simmons (I know - ugh!) trying to pay it forward to those people who need WLS, telling them enthusiastically of my own journey (I call it giving them "the Great Pumpkin" story) .. I pretty much just keep my mouth shut about it anymore, b/c of the criticisms I mentioned below .. Frank talk about the DS / "All I ever wanted to be was thin, like that Rolling Stones dude ... "
HW/461 LW/251 GW/189 CW/274 (yep, a DS semi-failure - it happens :-( )
Then you know exactly what I am talking about. I am experiencing this WLS much like I did when I accepted Christ into my life back in 85. "I'm a new creature, old things have passed away, I've been born again." And now I feel like "going out into all the world and making disciples of all people struggling with weight lilke me." Actually, when I lived in Utah, I spent many fruitless hours during those summers trying to convert the Jack Mormons I was working with at Brice Canyon.
When I was getting pre-registered for my surgery, several people took the opportunity to "witness" to me about their own WLS. Many of them were staff who were supposed to be doing pre-admission testing and teaching. One went on for almost 40 minutes before she even started asking me any questions about what I was there for. This to me felt like the kind of evangelism I used to do and that I no longer appreciate.
On the other hand, I think it is important for us to share the good news of WLS and our faith (just as you have in your blog) with those who wish or are ready to hear.
When I was getting pre-registered for my surgery, several people took the opportunity to "witness" to me about their own WLS. Many of them were staff who were supposed to be doing pre-admission testing and teaching. One went on for almost 40 minutes before she even started asking me any questions about what I was there for. This to me felt like the kind of evangelism I used to do and that I no longer appreciate.
On the other hand, I think it is important for us to share the good news of WLS and our faith (just as you have in your blog) with those who wish or are ready to hear.
FOr some reason, I hadn't thought about the fact that I would have a catheter put in. Didn't even realize it was there until I started waking up from surgery. I guess they didn't want me peeing all over the OR or something (lol). I know they want to measure output as well.
Really, it wasn't as bad as I said. I was somewhat joking. (perhaps a bad joke)
I got used the catheter fairly quickly and even though getting it out was uncomfortable, (more psychologically than physically I think), things were flowing in no time at all.
Really, it wasn't as bad as I said. I was somewhat joking. (perhaps a bad joke)
I got used the catheter fairly quickly and even though getting it out was uncomfortable, (more psychologically than physically I think), things were flowing in no time at all.
Wow .. it's like you read my mind, MrBill .. We WLSer dudes must be on the same wavelength or something .. 
Yes, food "desires" change post-op, sometimes drastically -- not sure why that is, but may be related to altered senses of taste, smell, etc. .. The post-op mood thing is hormonal and/or situational .. We are also overcoming a food obssession through forced restriction, quite often .. (some signs: (1) not throwing any food away, even if dropped, somewhat spoiled, etc. (2) finding have to eat everything on plate, even if full (3) licking fingers, bowls, spoons, etc. clean when preparing food (4) thinking about next meal or snack while still full from the previous one ... (5) having to always eat something, or a certain type of food, while doing a certain acitvity .. )
As to your last point, you don't know how often I've wanted to go up to someone MO or SO pigging out and tell them to STOP now .. and point out to them they don't have to go on that way and that WLS can help them out .. esp. when I see them in a buffet or restaurant ..
but if you bring this subject up on TT, seems most there will tell you that you should mind your own biz, that people know about WLS nowdays and if they want to have it they'll do it on their own, etc. etc. 
Yes, food "desires" change post-op, sometimes drastically -- not sure why that is, but may be related to altered senses of taste, smell, etc. .. The post-op mood thing is hormonal and/or situational .. We are also overcoming a food obssession through forced restriction, quite often .. (some signs: (1) not throwing any food away, even if dropped, somewhat spoiled, etc. (2) finding have to eat everything on plate, even if full (3) licking fingers, bowls, spoons, etc. clean when preparing food (4) thinking about next meal or snack while still full from the previous one ... (5) having to always eat something, or a certain type of food, while doing a certain acitvity .. )
As to your last point, you don't know how often I've wanted to go up to someone MO or SO pigging out and tell them to STOP now .. and point out to them they don't have to go on that way and that WLS can help them out .. esp. when I see them in a buffet or restaurant ..
but if you bring this subject up on TT, seems most there will tell you that you should mind your own biz, that people know about WLS nowdays and if they want to have it they'll do it on their own, etc. etc. Frank talk about the DS / "All I ever wanted to be was thin, like that Rolling Stones dude ... "
HW/461 LW/251 GW/189 CW/274 (yep, a DS semi-failure - it happens :-( )
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