Question:
I'M 7 WEEKS POST OP,OPEN RNY.I'M HAVING SOME SERIOS REGRETS

I WAS 247LBS PRIOR TO SURGERY,AND HAVE LOST ONLY ABOUT 27 LBS.I GUESS THAT I MAY HAVE EXPECTED THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT.IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I STILL CRAVE FOODS THAT I SHOULDN'T EAT-AND I FEEL QUITE DEPRESSED.I NEED SOME MOTIVATION.HELP!    — KEIA M. (posted on April 8, 2003)

April 8, 2003
HANG IN THERE!!! You just took a major life altering step. If you are like me, it is going to take time to adjust to the new diet plan. I have yet to have surgery, but I am trying to deal with this before hand. Are you drinking enough water? That should help with your sense of fullness. Also have you tried excercising yet? You know, redirect your attention on something good. Hope some of this helps. Main thing is HANG IN THERE!!!
   — emtp435

April 8, 2003
I'm glad you posted. Pre-ops need to know that, for many, this surgery does NOT get rid of cravings, and you will have to change your eating and exercise habits for life in order to be successful. Many of us will have to keep on fighting those cravings, always. That's the plain truth! <P>As far as weight loss rate goes, I have to say, I didn't have the surgery to lose weight -- I've lost weight, lots of it, before. I just couldn't keep it off, and with every yo-yo swing, it got higher and higher. I had the surgery in order to try to KEEP the weight off, whatever amount that might be. I had it to try to keep from getting bigger and bigger (which was where dieting got me). I had it to try to control my overeating. Reaching a goal is a thrilling thing; staying there would be the truly big accomplishment, for me, personally. So if you're not breaking any records for weight loss, evaluate what you bring to the table (what are you eating; how are you exercising). If all that's in order, and still, you are a slow lower, evaluate why you had the surgery. If it's for some of the same reasons I did, and to improve your health, then give it time and see if it works. If not, see the doc to see if something's wrong with the surgery itself. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

April 8, 2003
When I was 5-10 weeks out I was wondering if I made a mistake or not, Now I am further out and feel better about the surgery. I still crave foods I shouldn't have but you also have to have will power. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope things go better for you. Dania Binion
   — Dania B.

April 8, 2003
i just wanted to say hang in there.it gets better iam about 14 months post op and went from 427 pounds to 215 pounds . i did that by exercise and follong docs rules .if i can do it you can
   — Pat H.

April 8, 2003
I really enjoyed reading Catherine's post below. She said it well. You had surgery on your stomach and not your head. It takes time for the head to catch up with the surgery. I often tell pre-ops that the pouch is just a tool and that if you don't alter your outlook, you will not be able to lose all the weight nor keep it off. For some, their cravings go away, and their hunger goes away for a long time too and for others, it does not. I think that for you, perhaps eating a small amount every few hours, something with protein would help. If you stay full, you may be able to keep away cravings. also, do not allow any of the craving foods in the house until you can get a handle on it. I love sweets and do not dump. I allow little snack pack size cookies in the house and am able to have a few of them and not the entire 10 pack. But brownies have to stay out of the house as I cannot be trusted! It allows me to have my sweets without overdoing it. As for your depression, it may also be due to the large amounts of hormones being released along with the fat. Early post-ops, around the 1-2 month mark often get depressed-usually it passes on its own and if not, ask your PCP for a short course of drugs(antidepressants) to help you thru. It does help. Good luck.
   — Cindy R.

April 8, 2003
Me too!!!! 7 weeks, 28 pounds, regrets. I researched for over a year. nothing prepared me for this. Even the doc said I was the most well prepared person he had ever operated on. You can try all you want to to get a grip on things pre-op but nothing will prepare you for when you are post-op. Sorry. That's my true feelings. I did know going in to wls that it was the only option for me. A lifetime of failed diets and bad health and a desire to live steered me to wls. I just keep holding on to the fact that it has to get better at some point. When is what I want to know.
   — Delores S.

April 8, 2003
Your depressed, see your PCP. You can get meds that will help so much. Depression does sometimes occur. See your doc.
   — bob-haller

April 8, 2003
Your depressed, see your PCP. You can get meds that will help so much. Depression does sometimes occur. See your doc.
   — bob-haller

April 8, 2003
hiya! {{{hugs}}} for about the first 2 weeks i had regret too...i would cry all the time and ask my husband, "how could you have let me do this???" and i had spent quite a bit of time researching and learning what life was going to be like post op. all i can say is: it does get better! the first year is a real rollercoaster ride with the weight loss (yeah!) but estrogen fluctuations (boo!) cravings for "bad" food (boo) higher energy (yeah) and finally it all seems to come together. please please make sure you are getting in your protein and water...around now you should be starting your vitamins, iron, calcium citrate and b-12 supplements. i HIGHLY suggest joining a wls support group -- it is soooo incredible to have people in your life who know what you are going through..someone you can call or get a hug in person from! two other things: counseling and exercise! to repeat what has been said, surgery was on our stomachs not our heads and ALL the old issues that caused us to overeat are STILL THERE... and exercise is awesome! check with your doc for his plan as far as what you can and cannot do yet and there is a great article about wls and exercise on www.spotlighthealth.com ... look in the morbid obesity section and it's under "gastric bypass" i think..you may hve to look around for it but it's excellent!! keep reaching out for support -- IT WILL GET BETTER!!! {{hugs}} kate www.geocities.com/katebme2002
   — jkb

April 8, 2003

   — Linda M.

April 8, 2003
I am sorry you are having such difficulty. There is definitely a lot to go through with this surgery both physically and emotionally. Do you have a strong support system - support group, siblings, parents, friends - that you can go to? Can you enjoy your hobbies more frequently? Get out and exercise, if your surgeon allows it at this point - definitely a stress reliever. We all need to learn a new way to deal with our emotions. I definitely have become crankier since surgery - just ask my husband! Also, there is no shame in going to a psychiatrist for medications if you are depressed or just to work through these issues. Take care of yourself and I wish you the best of luck.
   — Yolanda J.

April 8, 2003
ride it out, baby. It gets better. I promise. PROMISE.
   — Tamara K.

April 8, 2003
Hey girlfriend - I am 7 weeks out also. I HAD lost 26.5 lbs as of last week but have GAINED 1 1/2 lbs. I was already anxious because the loss seemed slow, but was not prepared to GAIN. Didn't even know I could at this point. I do 2 Real Meals a day, TRY to get in all of the water, (always get most of it) and have been walking the neighborhood almost every day. I scour this site looking for answers and am so glad to read that this, too, is a normal loss for some of us at this point. I pulled out the old Atkins diet book and am going to cut out all carbs for a couple of days and see what happens. Good luck to all of us slow losers. I keep trying to think of the 'big picture' and where I will be in 6 - 12 months. Surely, surely more than 25 lbs out!!!
   — Sandy T.

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