I got DUMPED!

Jan 14, 2009

 I think I just had my first dumping experience.  I was having some abdominal (leftover surgical) pain, so I took some of the pain medication I have left from the surgery.  Dilaudid.  Hadn't had any problems with it post op... and I didn't figure it would be a problem now.  Well, that stuff is actually pretty sweet, and shortly after taking it, I thought, "I don't feel so good," so I lay down.   I thought I was okay... but when I stood up a while later, I had this episode of feeling ill and shaky, sweaty, weak.  I felt like I needed to poop or puke or something, so I ran to the toilet.  That just returned a little gas.  When I got up from the toilet, my face was as white as a sheet.  I lay down a little longer, and now I'm fine.  Must have been my first dump.  Guess that will deter me from biting into a sugary piece of cake any time soon.  Ha ha!

Tonight I went to the support group sponsored by the Methodist bariatric program.  I didn't have any specific expectations other than to show up, find out what it was all about, and see who was there...  Some say that great friendships come from these sort of groups.  I'm glad I went.  I've been struggling the last couple days with food cravings.  Right after surgery, of course, I didn't feel like or think much about eating, but the last couple days, I've been having naughty thoughts about pizza and macaroni and cheese and just about any thing that comes across the TV screen, whether I would normally eat it or not.  But anyway, we didn't talk specifically about those sorts of issues.  We talked about stress and coping.  It was insightful for me to see that people who are a lot further along in this process have many of the same struggles we all have with food addiction--even after surgery.  It seemed like a safe environment for people to discuss some of the struggles, and some of the ways of coping with them.  After the meeting I felt much better--That I had found a place where I could go for support.  I'm not sure what exactly it is I need at this point of my journey, but I plan to keep showing up because it will enrich my journey to meet others who have experienced weight loss surgery.  I've done the whole weight watchers thing before, and I know from that experience that meetings help me to stay focused and accountable, so yes, I will continue to go.  

1 Comment