HELP! I am really struggling here

I am almost 5 weeks post op and I am really struggling with mourning the loss of food. I can't stop crying and even though I don't really want to eat anything in particulary I really miss just getting whatever I wanted. I know it will pass but right now it just stinks. Tina

Tina - It probably doesn't help, but we've all pretty much been there. It's really important that early out to stick to whatever your surgeon has you on for a diet plan, but try to do some "self-friendly" things to make it more palatable - if you can add some spices to it if you're on soft foods (ie: cottage cheese with some black pepper, or maybe some pureed pineapple in the cottage cheese, or pears, etc). Try pampering yourself in another way; a long bath maybe or something else you enjoy doing and that doesn't go against your surgeon's diet... (do you see a pattern here? (grin)). Not that the surgery is easy, but the physical modifications only take a few hours in the OR and some recovery time. The MENTAL leaps and bounds and workarounds take much longer; the surgery is the tool that will help you not be hungry so you can make those mental changes, but unfortunately, each one of us has to figure out what works for us and come up with behavior modification strategies and ways to deal with the 'wants' that previously many of us (myself included) used food to either deal with or 'self-medicate'. It does get easier; you're going through the roughest part of things right now; if you still are feeling down in a day or two, you might want to call the surgeon or your primary care provider and see if either they work with someone for counseling, or even possibly medication to help through this post-op period. It also can be worse if you're not getting sleep, which is another common post-op problem at 5+ weeks that some surgeons can help with ambien or some such. Lastly, if you have other people in the area that you have as a support group, do a little get together, and bring different protein drinks or something to try; it always helps me when I'm busier; it's when I'm sitting here in front of the computer or bored that I get into trouble Have a happy holiday season and hang in there - it gets better ....Nick

Thanks so much Nick, I really appreciate the time you took to help me feel better. You've got some great ideas, maybe tomorrow will be a better day. Tina

Nick: I am preop (1/14/05) and am making a copy of your reply here. Terrific advice that I am sure I will need to reflect back on. Lynne

Hi Tina; For most of us food has always been there to comfort us when we are upset, not feeling well, ect.... I am 3 weeks out and it has been a tough 3 weeks. I had and upper respiratory when I was discharged from the hospital and it turned to pneumonia because the antibiotics weren't strong enough and the new antibiotic makes me nauseaus and have dirrhea and now I have thrush. Are we having fun yet??? I have wanted to rip into the holiday baking and eat until I feel better so I understand the missing the food. Try replacing the food with something else. Everytime I think about food I head down to the treadmill replacing an old addiction with hopefully a new one. Good luck and hopefully once your on regular foods again it won't be as bad. Kathi