Travelling a rough road

Hi Everyone I'm sorry I haven't posted anything for quite some time now but I have been having a real tough time recovering from my WLS. I often read the other posts from others who are breezing through their recovery and I get so sad that I wasn't that fortunate. I have constant nausea and stomach pain that keeps me up to all hours of the night. The doctor says there isn't anything medically wrong, it's just a phase I'm going through and that I will get better... but I'm beginning to have my doubts. Afterall, it's been 3 weeks now and according to my PCP my body has gone into starvation mode because I am eating so little. Needless to say, I've really started to worry about whether I will pull through this without some serious medical problems. If I can't start eating more than I am it is going to start affecting my health more than just not losing weight. I so wanted to finally succeed at something. I've failed so much in my life... in everything from marriages to weight loss -- I was so sure that this was pretty much a win/win situation... something I couldn't lose at. However, it seems as if I have been proven wrong. Well, I think it's time for me to go back into lurk mode. If things change I will happily let everyone here know. I wish every single person who has had WLS and who will have WLS the very best. May your lives be changed for the better, may your pain dissipate quickly, and may your futures be brighter than you could have ever imagined. God Bless. Lisa

Lisa, my friend I haven't been such a good angel to you. My life has taken over and we don't talk nearly as much and I don't feel like I've supported you like you've needed it. My heart breaks for your pain, and for the disappointment you are feeling. I thank you for this post because without truthful posts about things that can go wrong, people will continue to go into this surgery blind. It is wonderful to see the people that are doing well, I would never wish that anyone would be going through what you are going through. But without letting people know that they are going to be risking complications that just cannot be predicted, is doing a service as a post op. Everyone should be made to feel as if what they are feeling is real and not just ignored because it makes people feel bad, or it is something they don't want to confront to skew their image of what WLS is all about. I send you my prayers and my hugs and my absolute hope that you feel better soon. Donna

Lisa, Hi Hun! I am still pre op and I am very sorry you are having a rough time. Maybe it will just take your body a little longer to recover from the surgery. Before you know it you will have lost weight and will be saying I DID it. You are not a failure by any means. You couldn't have done this if you were not strong. You just hit a rough patch and soon things will be better. Take care hun and keep your chin up. Hugs Chris

Lisa if you ever need to talk... email me and I will give you my phone number. I am in Lockport. Not far from Buffalo. I also have two teenage daughters (and one son) I read your profile and you said you have no one your age to talk to . Hugs Chris

Lisa, I am so sorry you are going through this. Remember reading other post when they felt so awful after the surgery and then time passes and they say how wonderful they feel and are glad they had the WLS. I think your time will come too! Heck you are only 3 weeks out, give it time. WLS is the best for us (just wish my insurance co understood that) and we will succeed on this journey! The days will get easier, get that protein in and all your liquids and relax and take it one day at a time. Thank you for your kind words to me last week when I was going through a rough time! Love you dear lady, Lucy

Lisa, first of all, every body is unique. Being morbidly obese brings many health problems along with it and those do not disappear over night. Your body has undergone major changes and this takes time to adjust. Next, most primary care providers are totally clueless about WLS and the changes that happen to us. Mine is the first to defer me to my WLS surgeon because he admittedly doesn't know much about WLS. Next, depression at this stage is NORMAL. Talk to your surgeon about it and don't be ashamed to need a little help with that. Most of us have and there is nothing shameful in it. It sounds to me like this is where you are. Please talk to your surgeon. You can up your nutritional intake with protein shakes. Some of them taste nasty, some of them are pretty good. The 100% Whey Protein from GNC in chocolate tastes just like Quik. Also, try Dannon carb control yogurt. It's easy on the tummy, has protein in it and each little cup has about 60 calories. AND it is DELICIOUS. Lisa, stop beating yourself up. You are NOT GOING TO FAIL at this. I would also like to invite you to our support group meeting in Williamsville the first Friday of the month. It helps to be surrounded from time to time by people who know what you are feeling. Even this far out, I still go, and I still learn from my WLS family. Email me off list and I will give you the necessary information. And also, my yahoo messenger ID is [email protected] [for those of you who need to, please feel free to add me. just on the request put "OH"]. and don't you dare disappear on us - we are here for you and this depression WILL PASS.

Lisa, First of all I wantd to give you some (((HUGS))) and support! I too had a hard time my first 3 weeks or so after my surgery. I thought..."ohh god, what the hell did i do to myself??" I wasnt eating or drinking enough, I had pains in my body that I didnt have before and basically I felt like ****!! I started to be consious of everything that I need to eat and drink and slowly but surely, I started to eat and drink more. My energy levels went throught the roof and I was feeling FANTASTIC!!! I would totally talk to your surgeon, tell him/her that you are having a rough time and need some help!! Definitly go to a support group...they are wonderful!! Good Luck and please remember that we are around to talk if you need it!! Lisa 371/341/232/140

Lisa, Hun first off your are not a failure!!! We all have things we go through with this surgery hun, trust me. Some do have a better go at it then others and that is because we are all different, thank God! ~hugs~ Your body will take time to adjust and it has only been 3 weeks, gezzzz your body has just been turned inside out! This is major surgery hun and please keep your head up and fight to get better, the mind and a positive attitude has a lot to do with it! Take your time and let your body heal, for me it was very bad depression which took me some time to get over, trust me! I cried all the time and I was mourning food like crazy, wondering what the hell did I do to myself!!!! and I really never thought it would pass but guess what, it did! Now I am so happy that I had this surgery and I still have "those" days but I know overall things are working for the better. Hun if you need to talk just email me and we can chat over the phone, it is hard to post and really talk about the negative in this board when you really want to try to be positive. ~hugs~ Take care Debra P 285/234.5/125??

Hi Lisa - I'm very sorry to hear you're having such a tough time. I wish I had post-op advice for you, but I'm not there yet. But I would like to encourage you to continue to reach out, especially when you're having a tough time. For me, part of my eating issues revolve around not expressing how I really feel, and stuffing my feelings down with food. I believe we should be able to tell it like it is here, and while being respectul to others, also not neglecting expressing ourselves to caretake someone else. Of course as a pre-op I feel excited when I hear the I-jumped-off-the-operating-table-and-painted-the-house stories, but I truly also appreciate hearing about the tough times...if I should stumble onto a rough patch, knowing others have been there and how they coped is truly priceless. I encourage you to keep after your surgeon for assistance, and to reach out to all of us. Wishing you all the best, Mary Mc

Lisa, I am so sorry to hear your pain. Please know you are not a failure, and what you are going through is very common and normal....... At 3 weeks, I was still walking completely hunched over and could not tolerate anything except a few ice pops and some crystal light. If you read my profile you'll see. At the 2 week mark I thought I would be going back to work....hell no!!!!! I thought OMG what did I do to myself??? Between being sick, the head hunger, and the mourning of food, not being able to get out of bed (I couldnt get out of bed on my own until the end of the 3rd week).....I was more than depressed...but each week does get better and the OMG what did I do to myself phrase will come to you less and less. once in awhile it does pop into my head when I'm over the bowl, but I can truly say that those feelings are rare now. Overall, I'm feeling sooo much better. Doing more, moving more, and feeling the effects phsyically and emotionally of losing weight...and it's a great feeling!!!!! Please dont give up hope. And do realize that this to shall pass....it really does. Love, Janean