Question:
food, fears and being sorry I did this

I am having problems with the food I can eat. I guess I am eating to much at a time, not getting all the water or protein I should be. I feel sick and OH so tired. It seems that I can not get my energy back and I really have times I wish I had not had the surgery. I am wondering how to deal with these and also the problem that I still have so much medication that I have to take. Maybe that is the problem with the food, everything eat has some kind of medication in it. I hate the feels I have and I am so in hopes that it will get better. Right now I really wish I could go back and re think this. My doctor says I am doing fine. I have lost 30+ since surgery in Dec.    — Diana M. (posted on January 13, 2003)


January 12, 2003
Diana...things will get better. Try to cut back on the food if you think you are eating too much - your pouch is still healing if you were operated on in December. In the early stages, hydration is more important than protein, but do try to get in as much protein as you can. You are going to be tired for couple of months - you had major surgery and it takes time for the body to recover. You will feel more energetic in a little while and this early period will have been forgotten. Congratulations on the 30+ pound weight loss! JR (open RNY 07/17 -139 pounds)
   — John Rushton

January 12, 2003
I felt exactly the same as you do shortly after I had my surgery. IT WILL GET BETTER!!! This is a hard thing, and the first few months are definitely the most difficult. I'll bet if we took a poll, atleast 3/4 of us felt the same way. You will turn a corner, and everything will start to come a little easier. please e-mail me if you need to "talk." I promise you, you'll be okay. [email protected] open rny 9-30-02 starting weight 264 now at 198
   — Lesa H.

January 12, 2003
Its interesting the way some post-ops seem to bounce out of bed and they are back at work in a week, and others of us (yes, me too) had rough starts. I was tired and nauseous for almost 6 weeks straight post-op and struggled to get in food and hydration. Then about the time I started having solid foods, I got my energy back, started walking longer and longer distances, the weight loss helped, and by 2-3 months post-op was feeling much better. Just try to sip water or protein drinks all day long, and force yourself to eat small tiny 2 oz amounts every few hours. I promise you that eventually you will feel better, and as the weight drops you should be able to stop taking so much medication.
   — Cindy R.

January 12, 2003
Oh boy do I hear ya! It was a bit rough going for me too at first. Still not totally to the point where I jump for joy proclaiming this was the BEST thing I have EVER done for myself. I know that day is soon to come, however. Could you try going back to clear liquids (borrrrrring, I know) to give your new stomach a rest? I was on clear for two weeks then progressed to full liquids. I still don't like the taste of many foods and it feels weird slipping into my new stomach. ( I am two months post op and 60 lbs down...open RNY) The post op blues got to me, but they do subside shortly. Hang in there and know you are not alone and this all will pass. Good luck to you.
   — Ginger M.

January 12, 2003
It took me at least 3 months to get my energy level back. Be patient! Be careful and following your food plan carefully. Chew, chew, chew.
   — dolphins94

January 13, 2003
Someone mentioned postop blues and I wondered when this usually started. I have had problems with depression in the past and was kinda preparing myself for this but I will be two weeks postop tomorrow and I feel great other than some mild physical discomfort.
   — sandy L.

January 13, 2003
I was having a problem with all foods -even just thinking about them making me feel nauseated. When I went in for a check up the doctor explained to me that it was possible that I was taking in so little food that my stomache and head were having problems coping. She suggested that I try and eat a little something every two hours for a while, I decided on Triscuits ( 1 1/2). Amazingly, it worked. good Luck!
   — Sandi O.

January 13, 2003
Dear Diana....believe it or not your feelings are not unusual! I felt bad for at least the first three months, and wondered daily for the first month or so "why did I do this?" I had nausea every day for the first 10 weeks, NO ENERGY (and I was already battling an extremely fatiguing condition, fibromyalgia, that I had pre-op....and still do), I had problems taking my Zoloft and other meds, no appetite, had to have an upper GI for a suspected stricture, and my scar was keloiding daily before my eyes. I recall even posting an answer to a Q&A on here saying I would not recommend this surgery!!! That was 94 lbs. ago. It DOES get better, as many on here have already said. The first few months are <b>extremely difficult</b> for many of us, so you are not alone. Keep posting on here, ask your questions, read profiles...you'll see you're in the majority here. I'm 8 months post-op and I would say it took me until month 6 post-op to really feel comfortable about what I was eating. Also I'm STILL working on remembering all my calcium doses and making sure I drink enough water. So it's a "process" for all of us! Hang in there! Literally, one day around week 11 post-op I woke up and felt SO MUCH BETTER....it was a really good day, and things just got better and better after that, with the occasional problem instead of daily trials. I'll be remembering you in my daily prayers. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 13, 2003
Diana...Congrats on the progress you've made so far. I'll be the first to tell you that I had Open RNY (with gallbladder removal) on 11/11/02 and I am STILL not thankful for the surgery. Not yet but it's coming slowly and surely. I'm not saying I regret it because I don't. I'm just sort of middle ground I guess. I went back to college 12/6/02 and back to work full time 12/20/02. It was not until I went back to work that I got a lot of my energy back. I'm still tired but as it turns out I'm anemic, which is a good explanation for being tired. Please remember you just had major surgery and you have to give your body time to recover. Also, I still have problems with food. It's hard getting in all the protein and water. Yes, it IS HARD but I'm not giving up that's for sure!!! You can do it. Keep believing in yourself and in the realization that with each day things WILL get a little easier. You may not notice it yet but you will. Good luck and keep posting.
   — Tracy A.

January 13, 2003
This is my first post since joining the site - I can identify with your feelings! I had RNY on 12/6/02 and have lost about 30 lbs. But, 90% of the time I am tired, nauseated and not real happy. I can't drink water (terrible cramps), am lactose intolerant and throw up at least once a day. They all say it will get better - can't come to soon for me!
   — Haley G.

January 13, 2003
Hi Diana. I hasd surgery on 10-4-02 and had all the trouble you wrote about it and more. I have only lost about 50 lbs and I vomit daily. I can say the 3 month mark was a huge turning point but deciding to get protein in was a big factor. I forced myself to start drinking Real Meal protein shakes because they had so much protein and I only had to choke down 6 oz. in the morning and at night. Now I like them! Get your protein in! I still struggle with water but I finally have the energy to work out and to me that was a miracle all by itself.
   — Kristi T.

January 13, 2003
Hi Diana. I hasd surgery on 10-4-02 and had all the trouble you wrote about it and more. I have only lost about 50 lbs and I vomit daily. I can say the 3 month mark was a huge turning point but deciding to get protein in was a big factor. I forced myself to start drinking Real Meal protein shakes because they had so much protein and I only had to choke down 6 oz. in the morning and at night. Now I like them! Get your protein in! I still struggle with water but I finally have the energy to work out and to me that was a miracle all by itself.
   — Kristi T.

January 13, 2003
Hi Diana. I hasd surgery on 10-4-02 and had all the trouble you wrote about it and more. I have only lost about 50 lbs and I vomit daily. I can say the 3 month mark was a huge turning point but deciding to get protein in was a big factor. I forced myself to start drinking Real Meal protein shakes because they had so much protein and I only had to choke down 6 oz. in the morning and at night. Now I like them! Get your protein in! I still struggle with water but I finally have the energy to work out and to me that was a miracle all by itself.
   — Kristi T.

January 13, 2003
I had surgery on 12/11/02, (about 6 weeks ago) and I still get tired SO easily! Just be nice to yourself. Rest when you feel tired. Like another poster, I started eating crackers, and felt SO much better. I have to constantly have something going in, or I feel like everything will come out. Hang in there, it will get better. Take care, Diana
   — Diana L.

January 13, 2003
HI THERE I HAD MY SURGERY ON AUGUST 12 FIVE MONTHS AGO AND THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I FELT THAT WAY ALSO,BUT GUESS WHAT IT GETS EASIER AND EASIER TRUST ME I WAS 328 NOW IM 252 IN LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS I MEAN EVERY GOES THRU THESE PLATUES AND THE WEIGHT LOSS STOPS AND STARTS AGAIN BUT TRUST ME HANG IN THERE IT GETS BETTER EVERY MONTH IM GOING THRU THE HAIR LOSS STAGE AT THIS POINT BUT I HAD THICK HAIR SO I KINDA LIKE IT MY HAIR ISNT SO BUSHY NOW AS LONG AS IT STOPS,IF YA WANNA EMAIL ME SOMETIME MY EMAIL IS [email protected] AND GOOD LUCK TRUST ME IT GETS BETTER,IM JUST WISHING ID LOSE MORE FASTER,BUT IN TIME I WILL TALK TO YA SOON LOVE YOUR FRIEND CHARLENE.
   — Charlene P.

January 13, 2003
You may be eating too fast. I am 4 months post-op and FINALLY learned to eat slower. I will take a bite and wait about 10 minutes before I take another (unless its something like yogurt). I still have a horrible time with meats, especially chicken, but I know that'll get better with time. You didn't meation what kinds of meds you are taking. They alone may be causing the sickness you are feeling. (Post a question about those meds and see if others have the same problem.)...Your energy level will be low for a little while longer. Ask your surgeon about B-12 injections or the sublingual. Right around the time I felt I needed it (I too was extremely weak), all of a sudden I felt better. I have yet to take the B-12. Take your vitamins, drink as much water as you can, and eat as much as you can, but slowly (I know its hard). Hang in there Sweetie! I promise it'll get better......Karen (lap rny- 9/20/02- down 98 pounds)
   — karmiausnic

January 13, 2003
Diana, congratulations on your weight loss. I know how you feel...I had surgery on 10/30/02 and for about the first six weeks, I really regretted having the surgery. I even went to a support meeting and someone there said how they would go through the surgery all over again a million times because they felt so happy with their new life...I wanted to scream out "Oh yeh, not me...I wish I had never done it to begin with." But, things got better about a week after that. I'm not sure what really happened...just a few things over time...I stopped throwing up so much, I started feeling less tired, I started feeling like life was getting back to normal. Before I knew it, I felt normal again, but just a lot thinner. And believe it or not, someone actually asked me last week if I ever regretted my decision to have the surgery and before I even had time to think about it, I blurted out that I would go through the whole thing again because it was worth it, and I really meant it. Things will get better...just give yourself lots of time. It's not easy, but it does get better. Hang in there.
   — lezawomack




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