Question:
IM ALMOST 4 MONTHS POST OP DOWN 65 LBS BUT SAD

IS IT NORMAL TO BE EMOTIONALLY SAD AND FEEL WIERD KINDA AFTER THE SURGERY, I KNOW THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO I HAD ALOT OF EMOTIONALL PROBLEMS CRYING, AND ANGER THE DOC SAID IT WAS NORNMAL AFTER PUTTING MY BODY THROUGH THIS I HAD OPEN RNY PROMIMAL, LIGHT WIEGHT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE COMING BACK AGAIN AND I WONDER IF ITS WHERE WHEN YOU DROP ALOT AT ONE TIME YOUR HORMONES NEED TO REORGANIZE. I HAD LABS THERE FINE AND IM ON ZOLOFT BUT I OCCASIONALLY IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE WHEN I DROP A A BUNCH OF WIEGHT AT ONE TIME I GET REAL EMOTIONAL AND DONT FEEL LIKE MYSELF, IM A PLATEAU PERSON WITH OCCASIONAL QUICK BIG DROPS IN WIEGHT. HAS ANYONE EVER EXPEREINCED THIS, AND DOES IT GET BETTER IN TIME I SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT WIEGHT LOSS BUT I FEEL LIKE CRYING BECAUSE ALL MY CLOTHES ARE TO BIG AND I CANT AFFORD TO BUY CLOTHES AND KEEP UP WITH WIEGHT LOSS CONSTANTLY, I WOULD BE BUYING CLOTHES EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS I LOOK LIKE I HAVE A SACK ON. SORRY I SHOULDNT WHINE THE WIEGHT IS COMING OFF BUT WHY DO I FEEL SO DEPREESED? IS IT NORMAL THIS FAR OUT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AHEAD OF TIME ANGIE MATHEWS    — ANGIE M. (posted on September 9, 2002)

September 8, 2002
Hi Angie, by 4 months post-op I was so upset that I decided to start seeing a therapist. I didn't feel like myself a LOT. I'ev never been one to get depressed really, but since surgery I find myself more emotional and it is more difficult to deal with day-to-day problems. My main coping mechanism (food) is gone, so with the help of a therapist, I have managed to turn that around and work on positive, affirming steps in the right direction. I called my insurance company and asked for a therapist (not psychiatrist) who specializes in eating disorders. My life has been a lot easier since I began with the therapist. Best of luck to you!!
   — Pamela P.

September 9, 2002
Yes, Angie, I believe new clothes would make you feel happier. It's great to stand in that dressing room in front of a smaller reflection, and to fit into smaller and smaller sizes. I think this is a real positive (and so much fun!) part of the wls experience and that you shouldn't deny it to yourself. Money was an issue for me to....but...where there is a will there is a way! Shop at discount stores. I began haunting the Ross and Marshall's stores near me and got some great, fashionable, bargains, in each of my new sizes all the way from 16 to my current size 4. These clothes are cheap! When you only pay $5.99 for a shirt, you don't feel bad about giving it to Good will when it is too big on you in a month. Both stores also have 'discount' racks where they practically give the clothes away. I also love to shop 'vintage' at the Salvation Army near me. Don't laugh. The Armani jacket I am wearing today, plus the Chanel suit and Oscar De La Renta pants suit, are all finds from this store. I go regularly as there seems to be some rich lady with great taste who happens to be just my size who donates to this store. Shopping discount and vintage is a little more work than shopping at Department stores, but it is much more rewarding and can be lots of fun. Good luck!
   — Anne G.

September 9, 2002
It's normal to slide for a month in wt loss, then take steps the rest of the way down. Not really plateaus, but just step, rest, step, rest. I bought everything below size 20 at thrift stores. Everything. Some of the coolest stuff I got was under $1. Don't get me started on the great stuff. Most of the party dresses on my site were under $5 (inc some accessories, some new with tags) from thrift stores or garage sales. I got 100% floor length silk robe for .25, a full length wool gabardine rain coat for $1 (I had to dry clean & press---$7) and still looks like new 7 yrs later, a camel hair coat, full length, $15 (but it was perfect), Pendleton blazer, $2.59, and so on. You don't have to spend money to dress well. Here, in our support groups, we have sort of a perptual clothing exchange, so you bring your stuff, grab a handful, next month bring it back, get more. Sure, you all meet HERE, but then you go back into your own life, so it's not like everyone is going to say, "OH my, didn't Mary have that last month?". No, it works great. The only thing you need to spend anything on is underwear, and there's Target & WalMart to help there. From zie 18 to 12, I only bought 2 tops, 2 long & 2 shorts bottoms in each size (used. So, less than $10/month. Sign me, Queen of Cheap who loves clothes
   — vitalady

September 10, 2002
1. Hot the thrift stores. They are fun, next try garage sales or look into altering what you have. 2. Fat stores hormones. When you loose fat, you release all sorts of hormones. This is normal and will eventually mellow out. Best thing to do when hormonal & emotional- RECOGNIZE IT, and ACCEPT IT. Once I've done that, I find that it "ain't so bad"....
   — Karen R.

September 10, 2002
That would be "Hit" the thrift stores, sure they are hot... but I mean HIT.
   — Karen R.