Question:
Help - I am so down - I KNOW I am eating WRONG !!!

Please help - I know that I am eating wrong already - I am eating too much - I am one month post op and NEVER feel full . I really thought having Lap RNY - I would feel full after eatting VERy little - Am I the 1% that this isnt going to work for ? I swear I can eat anything - I choose not to eat greasy, sugar or fatty foods but no amount bothers me . Can the surgury have been done wrong ? I have lost 21lbs but I thought it would have been more . I had surgury on 3/16/01 . I also have a constant pain in my lower right side ... Can anyone help me - I am still addicted to food . I am a failure just like always ! I am so DOWN !!!!! I swear I can east and eat but I don't cuz I want this to work - Any help or tips PLEASE !!!    — [Anonymous] (posted on April 5, 2001)

April 5, 2001
It sounds like you need to make a visit back to your doctor. By all means you shouldn't be afraid to tell him/her what is going on. This is not your fault. It may just be a minor adjustment that needs to be made. If you don't get the answer that you want, then you will need to seek another opinion. The way the surgery is designed, you really should be feeling full. These are my personal opinions. I have done some extensive research but haven't had the surgery yet. I just wanted to respond and tell you to stop feeling so down about yourself. everything is not your fault. I'll be praying for you! Good luck! :-)
   — Kimberly L.

April 5, 2001
She's right. Back to the surgeon! But if you have lost 21 lbs in one month, you must be doing something right. If you can't get full, or have constant hunder pangs, something may be wrong. For example, stomach spasms or ulcer pain can feel like hunger pangs. If your stomach was only stapled and not 100% divided, a staple lne disruption could have occurred. Pain under the right ribs can be gallbladder pain, and so on.. I must take issue, however, with the idea that you are a failure "LIKE ALWAYS"!! I beg your pardon--having had the courage to have the surgery, having lost 21 lbs, having the smarts to find this site and use peer support--SORRY--that doesn't sound like a failure to ME. I think it's common to panic about failure at this stage--I did. Why not get the counseling you deserve for chronic low self-worth (which many of us have). You deserve a fresh start in EVERY way, and this is the way to get it now. If you ARE overeating, and the surgery's fine,it will be the main route out of negative patterns. Give yourself credit for having the honesty to admit the problem, if that's what it turns out to be. That's a start in itself. Hang in there--we're in this together.---Jesse
   — Jesse M.

April 5, 2001
I just had to add to what Jesse posted-Please don't be so hard on yourself,like she told you-you had the courage to go through the surgery,and 21 pounds in a month is nothing to feel that bad about. I haven't had the surgery yet,but I give all you post-ops all the credit in the world for having it done. Just remember it's spring and almost Easter,so the sun will come back out for you and Easter will bring you rebirth !!! Good Luck and God Bless.
   — gary B.

April 5, 2001
Is it possible that you are taking medications which keep you from feeling full and cause constant hunger pangs? Zyprexa, Elavil, Seroquel are a few of these damaging drugs. Anyway, it is something to think about. Best of luck in solving this problem!
   — Mary H.

April 5, 2001
Hello, I may be missing something, but why is a 21 pound loss in three weeks not considered absolutely excellent?
   — KG B.

April 6, 2001
Please, do see your surgeon for the pain and also about not feeling full. Please DO give yourself a break--21 lbs. is fantastic in LESS than one month! I am one of those that doesn't get too full. I have never thrown up from overeating either. I lost a similar amount as you the first month and continued losing. I am stuck at 80 lbs. but much happier. Please watch carefully what you do eat, make certain you have lots of protein and water. Protein and water will help a lot with the hunger. Good Luck.
   — Dot M.

April 6, 2001
I agree with the previous answers. You are doing great! At 5 weeks post-op, I have only lost 25 pounds. At four weeks, I had only lost 20 pounds. I was concerned too, but from all of the posts here, and my surgeon's reassurance, I know that I am "right on track". That means you are better than on track! I also do not get full, and I've never gotten sick from eating too much (only from not chewing enough). My surgeon told me that I am eating too much. I can eat close to 1/2 cup (4 oz.)of food at a sitting, even though my stomach is only supposed to be 2 oz. I am not obsessing about this. I am cutting back to 1/3 cup per sitting and going from 3 meals per day to 3 meals and a healthy snack (such as fruit or a glass of milk or a protein drink) when I think I can't stand it any more. I also found that drinking water when I get the urge to eat helps. Maybe you think you can eat more than you really do? I do suggest talking to your surgeon about this. Maybe he can calm your fears or find out if there is truly anything wrong. Sounds like it could be a staple line disruption, but I'm not a surgeon!
   — Toni B.