DO NOT KNOW PROBLEM ?

I THOUGHT I WOULD LET U ALL KNOW THAT I AM REALLY STRUGGLING AND FEEL LIKE GIVING UP. i AM NOT SAYING THIS FOR SYMPATHY, ITS JUST I CAN NOT BRING MYSELF TO TALK TO ANYONE FACE TO FACE ABOUT HOW I FEEL, MY WEIGHT WENT FROM 140 TO 185, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN THAT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I FIND MYSELF MUNCHING ALL THE TIME, I HAVE LOST ALL ENERGY TO DO ANYTHING, I QUIT GOING TO THE GYM, YOU SEE SINCE I LOST MY HOUSE BECAUSE OF FIRE IN OCTOBER, MY WIFE AND I HAVE MOVED AND PURCHASED ANOTHER PLACE, IT IS WAY BETTER THEN THE OTHER PLACE AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING WE NEED, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE SO MUCH BETTER AND I HAVE TRULY BEEN BLESSED, BUT I STILL FEEL VERY ALONE, I AM WORRIED ABOUT GAINING MY WEIGHT BACK AND I SOMETIMES JUST SET AND GET FEELING SO OUT OF PLACE. I JUST CAN NOT GET MOTIVATED TO DO ANYTHING, I FIND MYSELF HAVING TO DIET AND I AM TRYING ALL SORTS OF THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PILLS TO HELP ME TAKE AWAY THIS HUNGER FEELINGS, I AM REALLY SCARED THAT I AM GOING BACK TO MY OLD WAYS OF THINKING AND DIETING AND ALL, FOR ALL OF YOU TAHT BELIEVE IN PRAYER PLEASE THINK ABOUT ME, THINK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING, I JUST NEED SOMEONE TO LISTEN SOMETIMES, THINKS BRUCE

Bruce: Its sounds very much like depression and it needs to be treated for your sake and those around you. Get with your primary care physician, tell him or her what you are telling us and see where it takes you. Depression is real, not simply a character flaw, and thankfully responds well to treatment. The hardest part is taking that first step. Call your doc now Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

Hi Bruce....Try journaling what you are eating when you eat it and the emotion you are feeling at that time and be gentle on yourself. But if you ask me, finding a therapist might be benefitial to you. Focus on the present and be blessed with what is "right" in your life that you mentioned (your family, house, etc)....that is amazing and just a dream for some (like me) to turn around this morning and kiss them, tell them you love them, you love thier guts....then again, be gentle on yours. Peace to you Bruce.

It seems you have a couple of things going on right now. My impression from your post is you are a bit depressed over the weight gain and the house burning. You really need to talk to your PCP about the depression and see if you can get on some pills at least temporarily. The weight problem I suspect is that you've let too many carbs get into your diet which makes you hungry all the time. Try going on a strictly protein, low carb veggies and fruit diet for a week to see if it helps with the cravings. Some of us don't lose as easily as others and have a harder time keeping the weight off. Everybody's metabolism just isn't the same and we have to face that fact and deal with it in order to keep the weight off. We've been given a tool to help us but it doesn't work unless we continue to work it. I find staying low carb and exercising is the solution for me while others can eat carbs all day and keep the weight off. Now is the time to stop the weight gain, not tomorrow or next week. You can do this, you did it to lose the weight. I hope this didn't come across as a lecture, but I really felt you needed to hear others opinions or you wouldn't have posted. Best of luck!

Bruce, my heart is going out to you. You've been through a lot. Losing a home, no matter what replaces it, is probably more stressful than you may realize and it takes a long time to rebuild the intangibles, which are just as important as the tangibles. Also, dieting is not unusual for post-ops. I've known people who've maintained almost to the ounce for several years and then suddenly gain, usually to some big upset in life. You're old MO life is gone, buried; please leave it there. You are empowered now; you've seen what it's like to be slim and you know what it takes. Even if you can't just drop the snacking (oh how hard that is, I know!), at least try to eat really healthy at regular meals. I'm a big advocate/believer of the importance of truly excellent and balanced food choices (proteins, vegetables, fruit, carbs, dairy) to maintaining even mental health--a body that is lacking is some nutritional need has a hard time with everything else. I know too hard hard it is to get back on the exercise wagon--I('ve been fighting that myself. But exercise comes in many forms. My husband and I just signed up for ballroom dancing lessons; we've taken them before, and it is a really good form of exercise. Lessons are so much more physically demanding than just going someplace to dance. I also love Tai Chi; it's truly energizing despite feeling like it's not all that much work, and it really helps center you emotionally. My husband didn't believe it until he finally started taking lessons with me. So, Bruce. Believe that you are the one in control, not food or other cir****tances. I believe in you. Ann

Hi Bruce, Talk to your doc about this. It sounds like you're battling depression. It really isn't surprising as moving is one of the top most stressful life situations. Put that on top of a fire, and it's not surprising that you're struggling, even if it's a positive change. Make sure you don't go on anything that will cause weight gain though. Wellbutrin is good for a low incidence of weight gain. The second thing I would recommend is to read the pouch rules (google "pouch rules for dummies"). When you've been post-op a long time, it certainly is a challenge to keep the weight off. You do still have a tool though which is better than a traditional "diet". Read abou****er loading and about how dense protein w/ lightly cooked veggies stay in your pouch and keep you full longer. Actually following the pouch recommendations have helped me more than any type of diet aid I've tried as a post-op, especially eating dense protein and not drinking near meals. Try to make yourself work out as well. When I stopped exercising was when I really started to struggle with depression. It helps with the weight gain too! Hang in there.. and get some help!! I had a problem w/ depression of a long time until I admitted it and went to my doc. Now I wish I had done it sooner as I finally feel "normal" again. Linda