Having a hard time

I just had RNY 10 days ago and I am finding that it is getting more difficult.  Sometimes I feel like I made a mistake.  The thought of food is driving me crazy.  I feel like my best friend died or something! Like, I will never eat again!  There is seriously nothing that can make me happy right now.  I don't want to do anything at all.  I am on anti-depressants but I don't think they are working.

I have wanted this for so long! Why am I acting this way?  I hate it! :(

This is totally normal.  Between the afteraffects of the anesthesia (which the doctors NEVER tell you about and include depression) and the "mourning for food" that occurs, it's a very intense few days or even a couple of weeks before you get over this.

Nap as needed.  Exercise lightly.  Walkwalkwalk, sipsipsips,chewchewchew.  Stay off the scale.

In a very short period of time this will pass and in six months you'll be feeling the whole experience should have happened a long time ago. (I hope....)

This is not uncommon, and I know has been posted MANY times on this board.  Pay attention!!!

You're dealing with the loss of your 'best friend' because you've been using (and abusing) food for other than nourishing your body. This is why we are obese, my friend! Use this time to learn new coping strategies for the stressors in your life. Before WLS, we used food for aids to depression, happiness, bordeom, celebrations, and, ate for no reason at all. Its a NEW DAY, and we can learn new ways! Dr. operated on your stomach and intestines, not your brain. Its your job to get your mind set on all the psychological reasons you've been eating and to develop new ways of coping. Remember, if hunger isn't the reason, food isn't the answer!  Barbara

Buyers remorse sucks and is normal. I didn't really mourn food but I did wonder what I did to myself especially since I am what I consider a slow loser. I just wonder why I did it. But then I think why not...I am healthier than I was 5 months ago and 60+ pounds lighter. Life is good and we are going to have a longer one for the choice we made to have this done. Keep your chin up, take naps and when you aren't napping you have to make yourself get up...you will feel better. OH AND call your doc about your meds you may need an adjustment or a complimentary med to whatever you are taking. Buck up sunshine!

Hang in there! I remember the doubts I had after RNY.  And the other posters are right.. there are after effects of the surgery during the following few weeks that may come as a surprise.  RNY is a tool.. and getting over the loss of a friend (food) doesn't come overnight. This journey is slowly teaching me that I need another tool.. that of "patience"

Good Luck

Normal!  This would also be a great time to work through these feelings with a coucilor or therapist and work on healthy coping skills and all to compliment the surgery.  I am wanting to binge again, so I am going to start seeing someone before I sabotage myself.  Be patient.  Once you advance you diet and flush the meds and hormones out of your system, it will probably get better.  If not, see your pcp and go from there. Congrats on the sugery.  You will do great.
Heather 

Hi!

Sometimes we ate to comfort us.  It is very hard to substitute that feeling.  It is food addiction that like anything else that is addictive can make us unhealthy.

You need to find something right now that will keep your mind off of food.  Learn to crochet, do art, find a craft you would like.  It will keep your mind off of food and keep your hands busy.  I found crocheting helped me.

I did have buyers remorse also.  In the early stage of weight loss, I believed I made a mistake.

Trust me, it gets better.  It is hard to be on a liquid diet before and after surgery and anything looks good.  You will feel better once you add solids to your diet.  You don't have to give up everything.    A small tast of something you miss won't hurt you, unless you can't control it by over eating.

Try having snacks that are high in protein.  I find when I need something sweet, I eat an atkins food bar.  My favorite is the carmel nut roll.  It has around 8 grams of protien and you don't feel too bad having something that tastes like a candy bar.

Good luck, you are in the early stages where you are more mentally hungry than really hungry.   Give it time to work and get used to how it will help you.

I know you will do just fine, keep busy and replace your addiction knowing you are going to get healthy in the process.

Peace

Yes, hang in there. Those are the same feelings I had after surgery. What in the heck did I do to myself? As the weeks went on and things got easier I was so pleased with my decision and to this day still am. I have come so far in such a short period of time. My life changed for the better. My health got better almost instantly. I can exercise, I see progress. There are still many hurdles to jump over and right now my emotions are high and eating is a friend. I definitely have to overcome it. I'm just taking it a day at a time and asking for help along the way.

Your hormones are out of whack too so you are in a crazy place right now. Things will get better, I promise you.

It's kind of a food withdrawal thing - definitely got MUCH better once I had solids again - felt full, satisfied, and no longer deprived - I hated the protein shakes so much after surgery, even though I had liked them before.  I started knitting (saw that the previous poster said to crochet too!) which kept me busy, and now I have a bunch of great smaller-size sweaters too!  Hey - one other thing - your antidepressants aren't time-released, are they?   I had a friend on those who had RNY, and they didn't work as well, so they switched him to a not-time-released version that he took twice a day instead, and it worked much better - after RNY things don't stay in your stomach long enough to dissolve the time-release coating, so they don't get fully absorbed. Hang in there. --Sarah

Ahhh, good old buyer's remorse! Hits all of us at some point after surgery. Because no matter how much you think you have prepared for this, the full reality of it cannot be imagined until you are actually there. I really thought I was ready for anything, but was surprised at how much I missed eating those first few months. Just hang in there, you will eat again, it won't be like this forever. I went out last night for our 29th anniversary and had prime rib and a salad and steamed asparagus. A few months out I never would have dreamed I could eat like that again. You are doing fine.
-Wanda