Question:
HELP/Questions/Nervous/etc.
I am scheduled for Gastric By-Pass on 4/16/08. My mother had it done about 2 years ago, and is driving me crazy!!! She thinks I am not a good candidate since I am an emotional/compulsive eatter. I hate to admit it, but she is right. Also, even nervous about the 2 days prior to surgery with a clear liquid diet (can I do it)? Also, very nervouse about the cleaning out the system the night before surgery. When my mother did it, she was violently ill. After all is said and done, I still want to do this, but very nervous, that I can do it, and keep it off forever! Still thinking about my future since I am 34 about the vitamin absorbency, etc. Of course my surgeon thinks he is the best and this does not happen to his patients including the stretching of the stomach, dumping, etc. HELP!! — dresnick (posted on March 29, 2008)
March 29, 2008
I hope that the practice you are going to requires Behavior Modification
Classes prior to surgery. Your mom is right, it's not easy, but that
doesn't mean it's not doable. All of us are emotional eaters to some
extent. Remember that having gastric bypass changes your stomach NOT YOUR
HEAD AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, YOUR HEAD. If you
haven't been through something like what I described, I would call the
doctor and tell him your fears. Good Luck!!
— Shirley D.
March 29, 2008
This surgery does not fix mental issues with food. We all had them to be
at the point of wls. This surgery is probable 80 % behavior mod. What
does your heart tell you? Are you ready to walk away from food? You have
to find a new hobby. You have a few weeks. Find some thing to take your
mind off food. When I decided to have my RNY I knew, that I knew, that I
knew this was right for me. I had to be on clear liquids for 7 days prior
to surgery, with no bowel prep. This website got me through. I looked at
all the before and after pictures, they are my inspiration. My crutch is
my husband and OH. I love this site. Good Luck, You can do it. I will
keep you in my thoughts.
— mary_rn
March 29, 2008
Denise: I would echo what the others have said so far about emotional
eating and such. I would also say that it is normal to be very nervous
beforehand, esp. the part about clear liquids. I was very hungry and had to
do it only one day. But, I knew that I was determined to go through with
surgery and the incredibly bad things that could happen if my stomach was
not completely empty at the time of surgery. The one thing that I had
heard, but didn't believe till I had gone through with it was that I really
wasn't hungry after surgery. Not at all. Repeat, not at all. It is a
completeluy different physical feeling and it took many weeks before that
emotional eating feeling tried to rear its head. It does still, but not
nearly as much as it did before WLS. As far as your mom not being
supportivem, that is really tough. You need people in your corner. You may
need to avoid her company for awhile if she keeps harping on how you
_can't_ do something. That is not the right attitude for her to take. I
don't know what success she has had with her WLS, but it could be that she
is a tad jealous. Also, I would recommend mental health counseling to help
with the emotional eating problems. Getting a good understanding of what is
really going on is a great start to conquering it. I will keep you in my
thoughts and send you lots of good mental energy!
dana
— jujuprof
March 29, 2008
Here is the deal--- gastric bypass causes significant changes in the
neurotransmitters that trigger hunger and satiety. As a result, it is
simply impossible to imagine what it will be like to wake up in the morning
and not be hungry-- it is tough to contemplate what it will be like to feel
satiety after a few bites. And, no one who hasn't been through it can
fully appreciate what a powerful tool is created by the the negative
reinforcement that results from the surgery-- you will get sick pretty
quickly if you overeat or eat dense carbs or sugars. So, even for those of
us who were emotional eaters, we are helped a lot in overcoming how we
react with food to those urges.
Next point is that you can't really get your head around what it's like to
go on liquids for a few days to prep for what is truly life-saving surgery
because you've never had to experience that. I can share that my experience
in formerly leading new patient orientation meetings for years is that the
vast majority of people stick to the pre-op protocol (if it's only a few
days) because there is an end in sight.
Lastly, you should be nervous-- it shows that you appreciate that surgery
is just one step in your journey to health. Your post shows a keen
awareness of the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery-- that, more than
anything else, is a great indicator of your likelihood of attaining
significant future success.
You have a good appreciation of what awaits you-- listen to your own heart.
Good luck.
— SteveColarossi
March 29, 2008
I to was an emotional eater. I went through 6 months intensive treatment
beforehand wow did it help. I alowe myself to have the occasional piece of
toasted bread.. never a whole piece but that does take away the "I
want that so gata have that" thankfully that has helped.
As far as the liquid diet what got me through was remembering "I
wasn't the only one to go through this and so many others have done it and
made it" you can too.. :)
Check with your doctor about the stuff the night before. I say this because
I drank the whole gallon.. :( oh my gosh was I so sick, I found out the day
of surgery that you only need to drink it until you start having
"clear liquid" bowl movements.. :( I wish I had known before hand
because I was so dehydrated that they had to give me a shot of novacane to
get the iv needle in. My veins were very hard to find :( had I had stopped
drinking the stuff I would have never gotten sick or dehydrated.. So make
sure you ask your doc if you have to drink it all..
Good luck
God bless you
Paula
— japaad
March 29, 2008
Hi there,
I had my gastric bypass on 3-18-05 and I was and emotional and compulsive
eatter. The way I did it was that I eat jello and everytime I got upset I
would eat jello and I still do Jello is a life saver and I don't hurt on
the liquid diet. cause they will give you jello in the hospital. Just try
to over due on eatting when you start to eat.
If you have any questions feel free to email me @ [email protected]
— Sheba
March 30, 2008
Hey Gurlfriend-----RELAX. I went to your post, and there was no Info.
about you, other than a Surgery date. I have never seen Two Negatives, make
a Positive. so in other words, try approaching your mother with positive
thoughts.. let her know that you are happy it worked for her, and you feel
the same, that it will work for you..tell her you need positive feedback in
your life right now. Be Strong for Yourself. this is not an easy surgery,
and requires Alot of hard work, and disipline. you will be making life-long
changes, and trust me, only for the bettter. your Health should be your
priority. and it dosen't sound like your too healthy, or a least healthier
than you should be. we all have second thoughts, or all the- What If's. but
you need to sit and have a talk with yourself, your the one who will be
doing this. if you can master eating LESS of what your Eating Now, and
exercise, and put Good things in your body, you will be just fine...your a
more risks, to continue the way you are. when i had my HeartAttack, it
scared the hell out of me...I have Faith in You, we all will try to help
you get through this. Be Strong. and if you feel this may not be for you,
then don't do it. this is not a decesion that comes from your head, it
comes from your Heart...Trust your doctor, and his decisions, know someone
is looking out for your best interest....I Wish You the very best of luck.
and I hope that when the day comes, that your Walking Tall, and grining
from ear to ear, that you will come and let me know!!! I will Pray for
Peace for you, and strength....Good Luck... hugs kim
— kimcrain
March 30, 2008
Denise, emotional and compulsive eating is a choice you make. It is a
TOUGH choice to break, but it can be broken. Most obese people are the way
you are. I know I am, and I lost 120 pounds less and wear a size 6. You
can too, but you have to make some choices. I walked 5 miles a day (2.5
miles twice a day), I began listening to my body instead of my brain to eat
(you will always feel hungry, but are not) drank my water, watched my
protein, and found ways to distract myself from food when the urges got
big. I don't always succeed, but I did lose the weight and have kept it
off for 4 years now by God's grace. You can too, but you have to choose.
Your Mother needs to make a choice or two herself. Now that she has
"spoken the truth in love", she needs to cheer you on and believe
you can do it too. Sometimes we know someone so well that we can see them
succeeding. Your Mom has to stop that. That is a choice she makes. Even
if she is right and you don't succeed, what is the harm in cheering you on?
Just maybe, with family support you can turn this around. Just don't
blame her if you fail, it is on you girl, the choice is yours and so are
the consequences. I am cheering you on, just letting you know it is not an
easy road, but I believe if I can do it, anyone can. Take care. Patricia
P.
— Patricia P
March 30, 2008
ya know...i had to kind of chuckle about your mom....how did she get obese
to begin with? i'm sure by her standards she wasn't a "good
candidate" either....we're all emotional and compulsive eaters....as
the saying goes..."it's not what your eating it's what's eating
you" believe me you'll do fine....once the weight starts melting away
your whole attitude about food is going to change...you'll have energy to
exercise and will want to exercise and instead of spending money ordering
from the nearest takeout you'll be raiding the clothing stores! i never
did the liquid diet before surgery and i truthfully told the surgeon i
didn't and he actually chuckled! it will be tough at first but you'll
adjust...if i can anyone can and i am now almost 130lbs lighter! good luck
and don't listen to the naysayers! lizzie
— lizzie42
March 30, 2008
Denise-this is for you too!
I had my RNY laproscopic 11-26-07 went in at a Whopping 312 lbs...OMG was
thinking somebody shoot me now.. But guess what! I am a little over 3 mo.
out, and weighed a bit ago- and I weigh 226!!!! so you see, i went
through alot of Hell- to get to my Heaven!!!
Hey Guy'z what's Up? sending my love and thank-you's to All of you. Can't
keep up with you all!!! doing good, and so happy that you keep in
touch...hope your staying Strong-Happy-Healthy!!! Keep in touch, but can't
promise anything-I'm Walking so Tall these Day's :) !!!! Love You
All...hugs kim
— kimcrain
March 30, 2008
I didn't think I would get through the bowel prep either but if your truly
dedicated to the surgery you will. I was just like you very nervous. I was
very ill from it to but as the hours passed it got easier the 1st 4 hours
were the worse. I had my surgery on Feb 8, 08 & have lost 71 pounds
already. Just make sure you start doing lifestyle changes now so your body
adaptes to them and it will be easier after surgery. Everyone is different
but my surgery so far has been life saving :) Good Luck!!
— lalabear110
March 30, 2008
Maybe stop talking with Mom for a while and get yourself centered. Maybe
try the liquids only diet starting today and see how that goes.
I did that and it helped a lot with my decision to go ahead and get the
surgery as well as my resolve. Also I am hoping it takes the edge off the
sugar addiction I have. These weeks have been tough but I am beginning to
feel better...can't imagine how strong and better I will feel when the
weight comes down for good.
I have done the colon cleanse for other procedures and it's really no big
deal at all...Just don't eat a lot of fat and junk the day before... Do
the 2 day clear now and the fleet now...You will be able to stop worrying
when you have to do it again...
Aty 34 you have plenty of a life to ajust and thrive. With the trend in
bypass surgery I suspect there will be more and more help in the area of
nutrition too ... Imagine yourself thin and healthier...what would you go
through for that? Youre not your Mom either...take this chance and thrive!
love and hugs
— [Deactivated Member]
March 30, 2008
It's normal to be nervous and all of us to some extent are afraid of
failure...especially after going to such and extreme to lose the weight.
And the mental part is the hardest. I love to cook and still need to cook
for family and friends. I plan a great menu and do the shopping....cook
everything up...and then reality sets in that I can only eat a few bites.
I DO try it all however....heck, I figure one bite of a key lime pie is not
going to the scale in the wrong direction.
The beauty of the system is (for me anyway) that even if I wanted to
overeat, I CAN'T! I get full so fast and I KNOW from the feeling I'm
getting that I don't want to eat anymore. At that point, I don't care
anymore that I only got a few bites....and I happily think to myself,
"It's working!"
I'm 2 1/2 months out and I've lost 55 lbs and I'm thrilled. I drink one
New Whey Liquid protein mixed with 16 oz. water per day and that combined
with the other small amounts of protein I"m getting from food brings
me to my 60 oz.
— cjjordan
March 30, 2008
Mother doesn't ALWAYS know best. Is she a qualified bariatric psychologist?
Or is she someone YOU need a psychologist for because of issues between
you, issues that may be at the root of your so-called
"compulsive" eating? If I'm off base here -- sorry. It's just
something I just felt HAD TO BE SAID.
— [Deactivated Member]
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