6 weeks out today!

Hi Rebecca, I'm 6 weeks out today too - we had our surgery on the same day. I got the green light today from my dietician to go to a full diet and I am petrified for some reason. I am scared I'm going to fail, scared because I am not a cook and am just used to ordering takeout, scared because I feel like I have free reign in terms of food now and don't know how to handle it. I felt much more comfortable when I was restricted to only eating certain things - it was easier to deal with for me. Being in the "cocoon" of the earliest days out of surgery felt safe and comforting and now I feel like I'm coming out of that cocoon and back into the big scary world of food again. Hopefully this feeling will diminish in time. I feel a little lonely too, although I do have a good support group to go to twice a month at the hospital where I had my surgery. My friends and family are incredibly kind and supportive, but since they haven't been there done that they can't REALLY understand what I'm going through. I'm glad I have this board to read. I don't post all that much but I do read a fair amount and it's helpful. I will also be resuming my twice monthly visits to my therapist and I think that will be helpful as well, in addition to maybe changing my antidepressants. Since surgery I've started to feel again like I did when I wasn't on medication, and that's not good. I'm more teary and irritable, and for me those are signs of a slide back into depression. I'm going to try to find a psychiatrist who has worked with patients who have had WLS and who understands post surgery medication absorption issues. Anyway, thanks for being here to listen. It feels good to get this off my chest. Hang in there yourself and if you ever want to PM me, feel free to. -Christie

Rebecca, I found out about a local support group in my area I attended tonight by reading my state Message Board here on OH. It was great going. I was able to talk with other RNY and LapBand patients all in various post op status. And they were very supportive durin this trying time with the passing of my father-in-law. Perhaps check with your surgeon? Maybe they can refer you as well. Or check with other hospitals around you that preform WLS....maybe they have one. The one I went to is held at the hospital I had my surgery. It is new and just getting started.....but what a great support it was. I left with some phone numbers, lots of great tips, and I have already been in email contact with the one that runs it. Great support! It was very motiviating at a time I needed a SHOVE back in. The other thing I did was stop by my surgeon's seminar which is on the same day and time each month. We had talked briefly at my follow up that maybe I would stop by. Well at first I was thinking he must think I was a nut...the way I was looking at him, but it was because I had snuck in to the back trying not to interrupt and I had no choice not to sit in a chair with arms.....well three weeks ago it would have been a snug fit.....tonight not only did I fit but I could get my hand on each side. Boy was that uplifting. I was glad I could explain my "cat ate the canary grin" LOL! But after the question and answer section he announced "and one of my patients happens to be here tonight" and pointed me out. Adding "I hope I am not embarrassing you". And then the questions started coming "did it hurt?", "when did you go back to work", "how was I doing on pureed foods" etc. It was so nice to be able to share my experiences and my descision to have this surgery. It was nice to give back as I feel I have been given quite the GIFT. And it was a nice refocus when things seemed to be going down for me. So I talked with my doctor and he asked that when I attend the support group would I stop by and talk like I did tonight. Said I can answer the questions he can't like "does it hurt?" It was helpful to me to talk to people that have had the surgery when I was making my decision.....and I love being able to share that! I also find out that the more people I share with that I had surgery the more I find out..."my sister had that", "my neighbor had that last year", or "I had surgey 2 years ago". I wish you the best in finding that support near you soon. I can see in just one evening what it has and will do for me! Donna