Terrified.

Hello...I am new to this board. I am a 32 year old female, and am hoping to get a roux-en-y procedure. I have another visit with a dietitian yet to go before we can try for a prior auth...Anyway. Here's my biggest concern. I tried to convey this to the psychologist, but I'm not sure he exactly understood me... I am so afraid that I will out-eat my pounch. I am a recovering alcoholic, I used to smoke, and it almost seems like...Maybe I'm addicted to eating too! The psychologist didn't want me to think that way, but it scares me that it could be true. I mean, there is definitely an emotional component to my overeating. I will often times eat when I'm not even hungry! And I don't understand why! Can some of you share your experiences with me? Thanks so much for being here... Christine

Dear christine,      This is not somethibg you can physically do. You cannot over eat. Your little pouch will let you know that you cannot eat anymore. You will not be hungry at first either. you allmost have to make yourself eat your protien and water and milk and whatever else you have to eat at first. You just try to get in your have to's first. you will see that it will be difficult to just do that. Then over time you will learn what your pouch can handle and can't. It gets easier as time goes on. We all have that same component of eating emotionally but after this surgery you will find it difficult to eat to much. So don't worry about that partof it.  I am allmost 2 years out in november it will be 2 years I've lost 127 lbs I started out at 252 and now down to 127. I feel great and can so so much more than I used to.  I defintly would do to again. I love my life this way.  take care and good luch to you and stop worring you'll be fine. Betty

I had exactly the same fears before my surgery on Aug. 7.  For the first couple of weeks after surgery I did literally have to force myself to eat.  I NEVER had enough protien or water.  Then I started feeling better, and was able to eat little bites of this and that.  Somethings were wonderful, and somethings just didn't work.  And when I say they didn't work, they caused me PAIN.  For me it was almost like a huge painful gas/cramps in my stomach if I ate something that didn't work.  Now, I'm a month and a half out, I've lost 44 pounds and most things are agreeing with my (except chicken, which I love, but my pouch doesn't).  I was so scared that when I got to this stage, of being able to eat what I wanted, I'd over eat and "out-eat" my pouch.  Can't do it.  I've tried.  I get a really full, ate a huge Thanksgiving meal, kind of full feeling, and if I eat ONE MORE BITE after that, I'm sick.  Painful vomiting and dry heaving for the next couple of hours.  A couple of times of that and trust me, I've become very atuned to my full feeling.  The other thing is your tastes will change.  I was addicted to regular, full sugar, full caffine Coke.  Stopping drinking it was the hardest thing I had to do.  I tried some the other day, "just to see", and it just didn't taste good.  The emotional component is hard, there is no getting around that.  The feelings you used to stuff down with food have to be dealt with in other ways.  I've started journaling and that is one thing that has helped a lot more than I thought it would, and I would recomend that you start before surgery.  It's really been interesting to see how some of my thoughts have changed, and I wish I had started sooner. Good Luck!!!