Has anyone else felt this way?

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks so last night I was surfing around the Interwebs looking for a restaurant to go celebrate at.  I looked at web sites of some restaurants I had enjoyed memorable meals at in the past and a few that I had only read about and wanted to try.

I looked up a few web sites and read the menus.  Then I started thinking. As I was reading these dishes on the menus, I was wondering what would happen once I had my surgery. I could no longer experience this type of pleasure again.  I started to panic a bit and for a moment, I had second thoughts about the surgery. 

Would the surgery mean no more Lobster Bisque with Brandy; no more Sautéed Jumbo Lump Crab Cake With Sweet White Corn and Pee Wee Potato Hash, Applewood Bacon, Scallions, and Popcorn Shoots Chipotle Butter Sauce; no more Pan Roasted Foie Gras in Puff Pastry, Strawberry-Rhubarb Puree Duck Glace with Manna Spice; no more Slow-Cooked Moularde Duck with Caramelized Endive, Celeriac Tartlet, Huckleberry Cinnamon Jus?  Would the surgery mean no more five, seven, and nine course meals at very high end restaurants?

The surgery is the only thing that will save my health, so I have decided to have the surgery no matter what.  There is no turning back, but will I be happy with my decision once everything is done? I feel like I have made up my mind to walk into hell.

I’m just wondering if there is anyone else out there that felt this way and how you dealt with it.  

What surgery are you having?  A lot depends on that.  If you are having a sleeve then there is no reason you couldn't enjoy your favorites in small amounts.  If you are having a RNY then you may have to limit sugar or fat or you may dump, along with being limited to smaller portions.  If you are having a DS then you can enjoy pretty much all the high fat foods you want but you may have to limit simple carbs because they are absorbed 100% and some people have some problems with them, but they are fine in moderation.  In all malabsorptive procedures some people have problems tolerating some different kinds of foods and some people have no issues at all.

I am having the VSG sleeve.  Thanks for your help.

 I think of it this way.  I miss out on a LOT in life because of my size.  i make up for that by eating yummy foods.  But when I don't need to miss out on life because of my size I will find other things that make me happy.  Trading one thing that makes me happy for another, and healthier too!

I can eat any of that.  Some of that would even be considered GOOD for me.  Now I might not be able to eat all of it at one sitting but I sure could enjoy a lot of it. 

That is why I got the DS.

~Becky

of course you can enjoy that. You can even enjoy it without guilt!!! Just way less. The other night my husband, son and I had a coupon for Chili's. It was 2 margaritas, app to share, 2 entrees and a dessert to share.

I had about 3 bites of the app, 1/2 margarita, split the fried shrimp w my son, maybe two bites of the dessert. I was completely full, had a fabulous time, and enjoyed every single bite. It was delicious.

I can enjoy food without guilt. I do not hide food or feel shame for if I have an M&M. I'm a regular sized gal. I cook way more often and research yummy recipes. wls has freed me.

I had reuny almost 3 years ago, and there is nothing on your list that I can not eat. Most restaurant meals provide enough food for 3 or 4 days though.one bite of each course will get you through the multi course formal meals also. . eating less has made me much more aware of flavor, and texture, so when it it is good, it is very good, but when it is bad yikes!
Carlacc

I know EXACTLY how you're feeling, because feeling that way kept me from having WLS for many years. Back then, the only option I knew about was the RNY/gastric bypass, and it scared the CRAP outta me..

I am SO thankful that I learned about the DS. I can eat ANYTHING I CHOOSE to eat---no dumping, no getting things stuck. Yes, some things lead to intestinal distress if I eat too much of them---but there's nothing that I can't enjoy a normal portion of.

And yes, I could *probably* enjoy a nine-course meal, IF I took plenty of time and didn't go hog-wild on each course. I could even enjoy various wines with each course---again, as long as I took my time and ate in moderation.

Surgery would mean the end of five, six or seven course meals.  You won't be able to fit that much food in your sleeve.

But why would it mean no more of all those yummy things?  It seems like many people think that, and then they run out and eat as much good stuff as they can before surgery, like they are never going to eat good food again.

I eat plenty of good food now.  I love food.  I get lots of pleasure from it.  I just eat a lot less of it than I used to.

I was a foodie before surgery and still am. Love to cook, love to go to restaurants, and have ordered many a delicious item post-op, and will again.  As a previous poster said (Poet Kelly?), I don't order and eat seven-course meals, but I'm happy with what I do get. Recently my meal at a local upscale restaurant was the crab cake appetizer.  Went to a steakhouse and enjoyed my filet mignon, creamed spinach and baked potato, although I took most of the steak home (and none of the potato).  Ditto with pork medallions recently.  LOVE duck, but the last place i was at, it was duck ragu served over wide noodles.  Not interested in noodles these days, so I ordered something else.

At a little over a year out, so far I haven't found anything I *can't* eat.  I like and dislike the same things I did before, and there are some things I choose not to eat, or reserve for VERY special occasions (Bananas Foster recently, as an example, a tiny serving that was delicious!).

I did the surgery for my health also.  I had my surgery at 60, and without it my remaining life would have been nasty, brutish, and short (to quote Hobbes).  Instead, I find it fun, full of grace, and hopefully long enough to thoroughly enjoy many, many delicious meals.

Go forth and sleeve, my brother!  Oh, and happy birthday!