Not alone but feeling alone, Regret

   After reading a recent post i thought i was alone is the way I've been feeling.  I am almost 3 weeks post-op and feeling Depressed and regretting getting WLS. I don't even understand how i was so excited before. But to be completely honest before  i had to talk myself back into getting the DS because i was just to scared. Especially with all the horror stories out there. But my my surgery went great and my doc says I'm healing great too. But this depression and regret has a strong hold of me.  My first thought when i woke up from surgery was "What did i just do?!" Also right before when my husband and mother waited with my before i got rolled in they could tell i was scared and my husband tells me "It's not to late, you can come home" i didn't hesitate "Yes i wanna go home" but my mother just gave me a hug and said i would be fine. Everyone has been very supportive. Even though my husband was against it since the beginning he started to think of all the great things we could do when i lost the weight. I did too but still felt i was being pushed into getting the surgery from my mother who is also getting the DS in a few weeks. But for years before i wanted WLS but it was always the sleeve because i didn't want to live my life on vitamins and protein shakes. Because knowing me I would give up... I always give up. But now... I can't and it's so hard trying to get in all my protein. Especially this early after the surgery. Protein shakes are making me sick, tried different protein shots and drinks but they leave me feeling Nauseous for hours. I just don't know what to do...

I've lost 17lbs in about 3 weeks whi*****now is good, and i know my weight loss would slow once i started to eat solid foods.  but the past 5 days I've been on the same number. I have even started to walk more and do 2lbs light weight training. Whats going on?

I told me husband and monther how i have been feeling and they have tried to helped. My husband even told me it could be a good idea to write down a list of all the things i wanted to do in the past but couldn't because of my weight and together when i want we could start to start to cross off things on the list. I know it's a great idea but it's not doing much to cheer me all the way up. 

Is there someone out there that went through this?...

  

It sounds like you have some wonderful family support. What a great guy your husband seems! There are a couple of things that are probably causing you to feel this way that I can think of. One, is that weight loss releases lots of hormones that are stored in fat. This is going to throw you for an emotional loop and there is nothing to do about it except to understand where all this PMS type stuff is coming from. Also, you have broken a huge lifetime habit of having regular meals and being able to get around on your own. Post DS surgery has caused a lot of ingrained behavior changes and this can make you feel disoriented and unhappy.  I truly hope this is all that it is that is going on with you. If things don't improve you may want to talk to someone about your persistent depression. Good luck. I bet you feel a lot better very soon.

I think you are trying too hard at this point. Protein shakes made me sick at two months out. At 1 1/2 years out, I still dont use them. Anything you eat now should be protein....think cottage cheese, eggs, cheese, greek yogurt. Dont worru so much about getting "all" your protein in. It will come in time.

Focus also on lots of water. Stay hydrated. If you cant tolerate water, post asking what others drank this early out. Something as simple as hydration can make a world of difference in how you feel.

Go thru OH and read past threads. You will be going thru many changes before your body settles down. Knowledge is power. In this case, it should also give you hope. All of us who have gone before you haved lived what you are going thru and we survived!

As to long term vitamin requirements, etc....those are non-negotiable. But dont consume yourself with the future. Work on your needs now. The rest WILL become easier!

I think you are feeling like almost everyone feels.  It's tough to realize that you willingly did this to yourself, that there's no going back, and it's hard to get in food and water, and you don't think it's ever going to get better or that you'll feel better.  But it passes, you will feel better, it does get easier, and the weight comes off.  I don't think I've seen one person that hasn't had the dreaded Third Week stall.  It makes you feel like you broke your DS or it's not going to work for you.  I felt the exact same way.  But I got through that also, and at 5-1/2 months out I'm down 115 pounds (granted, I have 300 to lose).  I feel incredibly better than I did 100 pounds ago.  Even now there is so much more I can do that I couldn't do before - and my significant other loves thaty part of it (as do I).  Maybe you need to talk with your physician about the depression - the changes in your body and hormones due to weight loss can play a part in it also - and perhaps you need to get on some anti-depressants to even you out (or tweak them if you are already taking them).

As you start to feel better physically,  you will start to see more victories.  And as time goes on, you will be able to get in more food and more liquid.  I was soooo thirsty for a long time and sad that I couldn't drink large amounts of anything, but I can now.  Shoot, for months I had food dreams every night.  And I missed my old friend food.  We were buddies for many years, but I am now realizing it was way more of a frenemy.

Take things easy, rest, be kind to yourself.  I promise you it gets better!!!

It will get better.  I felt the same way.  Just be patient with yourself and the healing process.  Pretty soon you will be eating food, getting back to your life, and constantly shopping for new clothes at the thrift stores. 

And I love protein shakes.  I get 120mg of protein this way every day.  Mine are smoothies, and I put in yogurt, heavy cream, DeVince SF syrups, coffee, and other good stuff.  They taste good, and I swallow a lot of vitamins with those shakes on the road.  I can't eat enough food to get that much protein every day.

Hi there! What you are going through is very normal. Surgery like this is a big deal. There's a long healing process, lots of adjustments to your life, body and lots of emotions to deal with. It can be really hard:

I am 4 months out and things do calm down and you get into a new normal. Life is good. Just keep hanging in there!

It sounds like you went into this surgery with some doubts, which is unfortunate, but that ship has sailed. You're here now. You're experiencing some issues that can be remedied pretty easily and also perhaps some depression that might benefit from professional help.

so that's my first piece of advice - family support is important and  it's great that you have it, but it's not a substitute for professional help for depression. You will undoubtedly feel so much better as your recovery progresses, the weight comes off and you can eat more normally, but for now, get yourself to a psych person who can help with therapy and/or drugs.

It also sounds like you are trying too hard, or being pushed too hard, to get it more protein supplements that you can handle. In reality, your body has protein stores to get you through the first few tough weeks. the main focus should be staying well hydrated. Even the vitamins - yes, they are crucial and a lifetime committment, but again, your body has stores to get you through the first few weeks. Different surgeons give different advice. Mine, who specializes in the DS, tells people not to even start the vitamins for the first 3 weeks.

Try different protein shakes. I couldn't stand anything powdered and only used the Adkins shakes. And I never used a protein shot (I hear they're yucky). Trader Joes also has one in canned form with 35 grams of protein that I wouldn't call delicious, but it is tolerable. Try little nibbles of soft foods - scrambled egg, cottage cheese, shrimp, etc. Stop immediately when you feel full.

Oh, and the third week stall - happens to everyone. Don't worry, the weight WILL come off.

Larra

Don't feel alone. I am just 4 days out and my feelings go from "thank God I finally did this" to "Oh my God why did I do this?" in a single day. I try and keep a positive outlook. It takes time to get back that balance. Keep up the good fight!!!!

I read this post this morning and literally cried all morning long because not only am I three weeks off of my revision surgery but I feel the same way you do.  I feel like I made a big mistake and that there is no going back now. 

But reading the responses helped me a LOT,  I know we are still in the early stages where we will feel regret but I also know that there will soon come a time when we will be really happy that we did it and those are the days we have to focus on.

You are not alone Mia,  I had my surgery on March 28th, and I am right here with you along with everyone one who posted and those that didn't. 

Stay strong, i'm going to try to and I know you will too.

 

Before the surgery I knew it would be hard but I wish someone had told me HOW hard.  That you would have a lot of nausea and constipation and discomfort.  That you would never have the same relationship with food again.  But everyone on my side was gunning for it, so I did it.  Now I hear all these other people saying how happy they are and how well its going, and all I can think is whats going wrong with me?  I dont like not having the option to take a "diet break", I dont like feeling sick all the time, and I dont like it taking 3 hours to take all my medication every day 15 minutes at a time.  But its done.  I suppose all we can do is tough it out and hope everyone is right, that it will get better.  It really might help to talk to a professional, but be careful if they put you on any psych meds they have to be immediate release, not extended, because they wont have time to absorb.  You also must take them regularly because they flush out of you so quickly.  Good luck!