HELP!

Hi everyone, I have posted to the board a few times, and I read the board everyday, but I'm sorry to say that I have not participated in the posts as much as I feel I should have especially considering now I'm here asking for help from the rest of you. I was a year post op on Feb 3 and have lost 130 pounds. I can't tell you how great it feels, but for the past few weeks all I want to do is eat. I can't seem to get it under control. I have this horrible fear of gaining the weight back. I haven't seen my doctor since my last check up in November. I had an appointment in Feb but something came up and it had to be rescheduled until April 30. I called the office and spoke to the dietician, but honestly I have never felt that she was very helpful as far as giving advice to a gastric bypass patient. When I talk to her it just seems like I'm at a weigh****cher meeting and getting the same advice that everyone tried to give me during my years of failure at dieting and getting my weight under control. I need help and advice from you all. For those of you that are a year or more post-op please share with me samples of what you are eating and the amounts. I live in Magnolia and usually attend the support group at the Moose Lodge in Camden-Wyoming, but have been disappointed with the meetings lately and didn't go to the one that was held this week. The last time I went I tried to ask questions, but didn't feel any of my questions were really answered. It seems most of the meeting is addressing pre-ops questions which is great, but sometimes I think that it would be great to have a meeting just for post-op support. Please help me get back on track. Freida

Hi Freida, Have you tried increasing your protein intake? They say that the more protein you eat the less likely you are to feel hungry. Protein takes longer to digest and somehow works with the body to control hunger. Also instead of eating have you tried drinking more water or other fluids? I keep sugar free gum and tic tacs on me incase the urges comes to start "binging" if you will. Also I think your weight will be fine as long as the foods you are eating are healthy foods and not cookies and junk! I'm almost 7 months post op and have caught myself starting to "pick" at food all the time but then I realize it and go back to what works for me. I cna undertsand your fear! I fear it too. Hope

Freida, I'm very much pre-op, but let me share something with you if I may. I started to do the WLS in 2002 but my husband wanted me to try "one more time" since a lot of what we do is discipline oriented. For more than a year I tried various programs to no avail. Although I had managed to go from 295 to 279 during the time, but my stint at 279 was brief. Prior to my investigating WLS, I had dropped from 335 to 295 on my own. So, how does all this relate to your situation? When I started the WLS ball rolling in February this year, I relaxed my eating habits since I figured that the WLS was going to take care of it. In less than two months, my weight shot back up to 295. I kept thinking, "if I drink two protein shakes a day and eat a normal dinner, that will take care of my stress eating snacking and I'll at least stay in the 280s." But I didn't do this. I kept promising myself I would but since I was only promising myself, I found excuses to keep it from happening. UNTIL . . . last Friday night I was at a meeting with some people from my church. I've been meeting with these people for years, but never got around to officially joining the international organization because to do so required a 21-day fast. When the group leader quietly told me that she would really like me to do this, I told her that, with prepping for the surgery (my second appt is May 26), I wasn't sure how wise a 21-day fast would be. I've also been hit with the sinus stuff going around and on antibiotics and other meds. She told me they made allowance for health issues. So what do you think I told her? "Well, I could do a partial fast -- protein drinks for breakfast and lunch and a regular dinner" -- so I told my husband and started last Saturday. I was down to 290.2 this morning because I got hungry yesterday and also had a can of chicken broth. Each day I've thought, "am I going to be able to do this today?" And I've approached it one day at a time. This is day six! For me, it's a spiritual quest as well a "getting a grip" exercise and through it, the Lord is giving me personal guidance that I would have missed had I reached for a trail mix bar during moments of stress. . . and yesterday was the most stressful because I had three stories I had to write before we left to perform at Gander Hill Prison at 6 p.m. These stories normally take about 3 hours each to put together and polish into final form . . . and I got them done. So, find your mindset to revisit the basics. After the surgery, what were your first steps? Can you do those again? Give yourself the time to revisit your early habit breakers and "basic" yourself back to the victory that is yours. Gee, for me 130 pounds would put me at 160 -- about 35 pounds from my wedding day weight. That would be so cool. If you don't mind, I'll be praying for you Freida. I know you can beat this thing. It's not a nutritional issue. It's a mindset . . . You had the resolve to break out of this bondage before. I absolutely know in my knower that you can do it again. Diane C.

hey, i'm so sorry your having such a hard time. i went to the doctor the other day and there was a woman in the waiting room who had wls and she gained back all her weight. it really freaked me out. i didn't ask what surgery she had or anything and she also had a different doctor than i did. i almost feel scared to get my hopes up too high now because i might regain. i know wls is a tool and it is up to me to use it right. my problem is that i knew what not to do pre-op and not gain weight but i did it anyway. i felt out of control. wls gives me the control i need and i hope i never lose that. i know you have heard this before, but have you read the pouch rules? it is only for people 1 year out or more. the advise is sound and there are alot of tricks to help you not graze and to feel full. you might want to search in the library and take a look. i also agree with you about the support group meetings. to me it seems more for pre-ops and all the post-ops to is answer the questions the new people have. i'm glad to give them support and answers, but i feel i need more long term help. i would love to have a group of longer term post-ops because the needs are so different the farther you get out. please let me know how you are doing. you don't know it but you have been one of my biggest helps on my journey. i read your profile everytime you update and it really gives me hope. best of luck fran

Freida- I can understand where you are coming from. I am 14 months post-op and have lost 140 pounds. My biggest fear is that I will gain all this weight back. I feel like I am living a fairy tale and someone is going to wake me up and take it away. I don't want to go back to that way of living. Food used to consume me, my thoughts and actions. I have been stuggling with the urge to eat this whole week. I know that it is not a physical hunger, but it is an emotional hunger. There is something emotionally going on inside of me that needs comfort, so I naturally want to turn to food. Before my wls I did three years of emotional training, called the The Solution and The Pathway by Laurel Mellin. It includes alot of journalling. In fact I was writing at 2am this morning because I couldn't sleep. Here are the questions to ask yourself and journal them down. I feel angry that.. I feel sad that.. I feel afraid/scared that.. I feel guilty or regret that... What is a reasonable expectation? What are some positive and powerful thoughts? What is the essential pain? What is it that I must feel and face to go on? What is the earned reward? What is it that I will get out of this? What do I need? Do I need support, if yes from whom or where? I use this basic guideline in everyday situations. I now can do it in my head sometime, but the real benefit is journalling it all down. It doesn't matter how big or small the situation is this guideline can help. It sure makes you in touch with your feelings and makes you get to know yourself. Best Wishes, Hope this helps. Nicki

Welcome to the board... you made an important step in posting. You will always need support regardless of how far out you are. Please keep in touch with us. As for the nutritionist... I stopped going to PMRI after the 1st year of being post-op. I felt the same way... not the greatest advice for bypass patients. I think it's so much better to speak to those whom have already had the surgery. I'm almost 2 years post op and sometimes I'm scared at what I'm consuming. I can eat a whole slice of pizza with no problem and could probably eat more if I wanted to. But I know my limits and I keep a copy of my pre-op picture with me and I just pull it out and realize I never want to go back to that again! I also weigh myself weekly. I have a support group in the Smyrna area the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. The next one will be at the Smyrna Police Dept. I'm actively looking for a bigger location, since we've outgrown the small confrence room there. Let me know if you're interested.

My Smyrna support group is about 80% post-ops. Nothing formal we all just sit around and chat for about 2 hours. It's a good to ask questions about problems or concerns you may have or just to tell a funny story, etc. I've made a lot of new friends through the support group, they help me just as much as I help them.