Eating Aversion?
The doctor says that I am suffering from an eating aversion. I had many complications that made it basically impossible for me to eat ANYTHING for about a month (GI Bug, stricture, etc). Now that I am physically able to eat, I am afraid to. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone have suggestions on how to get over it?
(deactivated member)
on 4/3/08 8:51 am - MT
on 4/3/08 8:51 am - MT
I can understand, I would think if you started to see someone (phyc) that works with eating disorders that it might help. Can you start by eating soups and light, soft things or does it all look/taste nasty to you? I would think that you will have to see someone to take care of this issue.
Keep us posted hun and I wish you all the best!
~Hugs~
r0sieg1rl78
Thank you for sharing, your honesty and truth.
I have sen/heard others experience what you are discussing.
Can you share what you are actively doing to work on this?
Such as are you seeking therapy? Psychiatry for med evaluation?
Those two things would be focal points of treatment for recovery if I were you...
Journaling, medication all would be on my coping tools list. This is certainly a challenging time it seems for you by the words you write.
Strictures are common and need for repeated dilation is common as well typically 3 or more may be needed to keep stoma in correct size (10-15mm I beleive)...In that time the behavior that you have developed as a result is shaping your thinking which is shaping the behavior...all in a vicious cycle!
Have you been given anything for nausea?Pills/suppositories etc? Are you taking vitmains/suppliments? Some can upset stomach but some deficiencies could worsen. The only way out is through with any anxiety based disorder...gradual desenitization is so effective IMHO.
So treating the depression is imperative w./o that IMHO again you can not even begin to have the thought process or energy to treat the anxiety! Baby steps are the goal, getting comfortable and over the anxiety of swallowing saliva, then fluids, then gradually soft foods...noticing the sensation, self talking through it, dealing with the emotions (fear etc).
We can have fear and do things anyways as humans, I am learning this daily, but it takes effort, patience and kindess to myself.
Depression is common post-op, we are losing our friend and enemy in food. We all have food issues or demons so to speak, just because they operate on our tummy and we lose wt, we still have these issues. We have to learn HOW to cope and deal with life without using food as our comfort! *Sometimes we can and sometimes we aren't able to so easily* We have to cope other ways, sometimes it is a hobby others it is exercise, whatever. Many of us grieve our loss in many ways. It is hard. I recommend
Counseling if things are bad and some of us may need medication for depression. When we experience severe sleep and appetite disturbances with depressed mood, anxiety, decreased pleasure or agitation or severely decreased energy, if severe it is time to get help....
I think it is hard for those in our lives to understand what we are going through, they may never of been obese and can never understand, or they can't realize the joy we have for this wonderful gift, or how hard it is sometimes to use our tool, and all the things this surgery has brought up for us to look at and perhaps change...I encourage us to take time to realize they may be having a hard time adjusting, acknowledge their difficulties, try and support them as best we can, show them our love and never forget even if they are supportive, we have drug them along on this journey that is really ours!
My surgery has certainly created additional challenges for my hubby - cooking challenges, living in a household cleansed of many junk foods, avoiding our usual social situations constructed around food only, etc. - and complicated his own feelings about his own weight and weight loss endeavors. Sometimes the sheer force of my increased active lifestyle can frustrate or overwhelm him. So WHO I FEEL AM and HOW I INTERACT WITH HIM has changed because of my 157 pound weight loss. Not only my body size, eating program, exercise regimen and energy level have changed, but the way I feel about me and how I see our relationship and asking for what I need is much much different!!! I am not the same co-dependant, passive do everything for everyone else and forget myself woman anymore, but this is actually positive for myself and our relationship, if I am filled w/ self love then I have love to give, if I kept hating myself inside all I had was hate and could not love anyone else fully....
Certainly we've had to make changes and adjustments in our life and relationship because of my WLS and weight loss, and certainly we need to keep communicating, openly and honestly, about feelings and issues that arise. But, at least in my life, the surgery has given our household a precious gift (my good health and prospective longevity) and not threatened or hurt our relationship too much. Although not same as where you are still a challenge.
I have experienced these things in my own journey, it is hard, I have to work at it, not ignore there are problems and keep the lines of communication open. I have had many a discussion with my husband on how I have changed (and how he doesn't like all of it, all of the time!)! How our life as husband and wife has changed...What my husband needs, what I can give and what we need to compromise on. It is an ongoing challenge, easier some days than others.
Time is a factor, patience and communication are the key to your question that has a million answers I suppose! Change is inevitable, struggle is optional! Going to a support group is key for me I went WEEKLY for 3 months preop and postop weekly for a year even though I had to drive 1+ hrs each way it was that important! Now I go to my home group 3-4x yr and run my own for 3 yrs monthly, It along w/ exercise have been keys to my successes.
Depression can possibly be related to grieving the loss of food, decreased metabolism, and hormonal surges from estrogen being released into the body from rapid wt loss/fat breakdown....among other situational factors or genetic predispositions.
Be well small steps, the more you avoid and isolate as a way of coping the more entrenched the behavior will become and develop a life of its own sapping you of your life (literally!) I hope you get into agressive thereapya nd med management, even if it means inpatient treatment for eating disorders....I wish you well. [email protected] the best way to reach me
Take Care,
Jamie Ellis RN MS NPP
Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh
320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510
Thank you for sharing, your honesty and truth.
I have sen/heard others experience what you are discussing.
Can you share what you are actively doing to work on this?
Such as are you seeking therapy? Psychiatry for med evaluation?
Those two things would be focal points of treatment for recovery if I were you...
Journaling, medication all would be on my coping tools list. This is certainly a challenging time it seems for you by the words you write.
Strictures are common and need for repeated dilation is common as well typically 3 or more may be needed to keep stoma in correct size (10-15mm I beleive)...In that time the behavior that you have developed as a result is shaping your thinking which is shaping the behavior...all in a vicious cycle!
Have you been given anything for nausea?Pills/suppositories etc? Are you taking vitmains/suppliments? Some can upset stomach but some deficiencies could worsen. The only way out is through with any anxiety based disorder...gradual desenitization is so effective IMHO.
So treating the depression is imperative w./o that IMHO again you can not even begin to have the thought process or energy to treat the anxiety! Baby steps are the goal, getting comfortable and over the anxiety of swallowing saliva, then fluids, then gradually soft foods...noticing the sensation, self talking through it, dealing with the emotions (fear etc).
We can have fear and do things anyways as humans, I am learning this daily, but it takes effort, patience and kindess to myself.
Depression is common post-op, we are losing our friend and enemy in food. We all have food issues or demons so to speak, just because they operate on our tummy and we lose wt, we still have these issues. We have to learn HOW to cope and deal with life without using food as our comfort! *Sometimes we can and sometimes we aren't able to so easily* We have to cope other ways, sometimes it is a hobby others it is exercise, whatever. Many of us grieve our loss in many ways. It is hard. I recommend
Counseling if things are bad and some of us may need medication for depression. When we experience severe sleep and appetite disturbances with depressed mood, anxiety, decreased pleasure or agitation or severely decreased energy, if severe it is time to get help....
I think it is hard for those in our lives to understand what we are going through, they may never of been obese and can never understand, or they can't realize the joy we have for this wonderful gift, or how hard it is sometimes to use our tool, and all the things this surgery has brought up for us to look at and perhaps change...I encourage us to take time to realize they may be having a hard time adjusting, acknowledge their difficulties, try and support them as best we can, show them our love and never forget even if they are supportive, we have drug them along on this journey that is really ours!
My surgery has certainly created additional challenges for my hubby - cooking challenges, living in a household cleansed of many junk foods, avoiding our usual social situations constructed around food only, etc. - and complicated his own feelings about his own weight and weight loss endeavors. Sometimes the sheer force of my increased active lifestyle can frustrate or overwhelm him. So WHO I FEEL AM and HOW I INTERACT WITH HIM has changed because of my 157 pound weight loss. Not only my body size, eating program, exercise regimen and energy level have changed, but the way I feel about me and how I see our relationship and asking for what I need is much much different!!! I am not the same co-dependant, passive do everything for everyone else and forget myself woman anymore, but this is actually positive for myself and our relationship, if I am filled w/ self love then I have love to give, if I kept hating myself inside all I had was hate and could not love anyone else fully....
Certainly we've had to make changes and adjustments in our life and relationship because of my WLS and weight loss, and certainly we need to keep communicating, openly and honestly, about feelings and issues that arise. But, at least in my life, the surgery has given our household a precious gift (my good health and prospective longevity) and not threatened or hurt our relationship too much. Although not same as where you are still a challenge.
I have experienced these things in my own journey, it is hard, I have to work at it, not ignore there are problems and keep the lines of communication open. I have had many a discussion with my husband on how I have changed (and how he doesn't like all of it, all of the time!)! How our life as husband and wife has changed...What my husband needs, what I can give and what we need to compromise on. It is an ongoing challenge, easier some days than others.
Time is a factor, patience and communication are the key to your question that has a million answers I suppose! Change is inevitable, struggle is optional! Going to a support group is key for me I went WEEKLY for 3 months preop and postop weekly for a year even though I had to drive 1+ hrs each way it was that important! Now I go to my home group 3-4x yr and run my own for 3 yrs monthly, It along w/ exercise have been keys to my successes.
Depression can possibly be related to grieving the loss of food, decreased metabolism, and hormonal surges from estrogen being released into the body from rapid wt loss/fat breakdown....among other situational factors or genetic predispositions.
Be well small steps, the more you avoid and isolate as a way of coping the more entrenched the behavior will become and develop a life of its own sapping you of your life (literally!) I hope you get into agressive thereapya nd med management, even if it means inpatient treatment for eating disorders....I wish you well. [email protected] the best way to reach me
Take Care,
Jamie Ellis RN MS NPP
Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh
320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510
Take Care, 
Jamie Ellis RN MS NPP
100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY
320(preop)/163(lowest)/185(current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"
Jamie Ellis RN MS NPP
100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY
320(preop)/163(lowest)/185(current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"
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