Question:
Thinking About Diet Pills As A Post Op

Can someone who has taken Diet Pills after WLS please help me....I had WLS to never diet again, but my eating habbits are going back to normal and im thinking about food non-stop and always munching(chips, candy, crackers, ect.), which means I dump alot:o( I feel out of control with food again. I need help getting back on track and I think controlling the hunger will help, not for weight loss, just appitite control. I'm always feeling hungry. Has anyone taken diet pills after WLS and does it have side affects? Thank you for your help!    — Sandy M. (posted on June 30, 2003)

June 30, 2003
If diet pills did not work before WLS, they're not going to work now. Plenty of post-ops struggle with food issues and foods like you describe, those old horrid carb and sugar cravings, nonstop grazing, and related frustrations. Now is the time to learn how to work the tool, not pitch it!<P>If you think your eating capacity has increased beyond what it used to be, consider asking your doc to check your mechanics and see if there's a staple line disruption or enlarged stoma that's letting you eat more. (Since you're dumping, I'm not sure there's a surgical failure issue here, but it's possible).<P>If the surgery is holding, put protein first, and eat protein snacks and foods (and shakes) as much as possible. Banish junk-food carbs from your diet for several days in order to "detox" the cravings they promote. Follow the "pouch rule" that says no eating and drinking at the same time, and drink a lot more water -- if you're drinking water, you can't graze on junk food for at least another half hour, and that can help slow you down. Set some exercise goals and tackle 'em, to get you away from the food. Think long and hard about alternative strategies for getting a handle on the problem, because you've been through so much with the surgery, you don't want it to just wind up on the pile marked "failed diet plans."<P>If you could really pop a pill and lose weight permanently and safely, I think we'd all have done that rather than surgery, for sure. But the truth is, that option does not really exist.
   — Suzy C.

June 30, 2003
Hi Sandy :) How long has it been since you had the surgery? If you are fairly new post-op, some people DO feel hunger (physical hunger) and there's the old head hunger too. Perhaps you are not eating enough? My experience pre and post op has been that if I am craving something, my body is missing something that it needs. If this might be true for you, figuring out what your body needs and then filling that need might put a cap on the snacking and thinking about food so much. Wishing you the best!
   — CarolineAnnMartin

June 30, 2003
carbs beget more carb cravings. You need to treat yourself like any addict does. Get rid of the temptations and stay away from them. It doesn't sound like your really hungry, because if mere hunger were the issue, you'd be reaching for the all-mighty protein to fill ya up :>) Sounds to me like your missing your sugary stuff and grabbing it. Time to grab yourself by the bootstraps, dust off the crumbs and empty the cupboards - give them to a shelter if you can't stand tossing them out. Some people simply cannot be around crud foods without wanting them same as some alcoholics cannot be around alcohol without craving it. Have you considered talking to an eating disorder specialist? I really Do wish you the best of luck! Giant hugs!
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 30, 2003
I'm pre-op, and obviously no expert, but I, as well as many other people, have a problem with artificial sweeteners stimulating my appetite. Are you using those? If so, that could be one problem (even though it would be almost impossible to avoid them on the post-op low-sugar eating plan). Also - please search Pouch Rules - it seems to be priceless information! Best wishes -
   — Postop_nurse

July 1, 2003
Get help with this one or it will get you right back where you came from. Talk to a counselor skilled with eating disorders. They are the secret weapon behind many a thin chick. Find someone you can relate to. Get referrals from women you trust or you can seek someone who deals with 'women's issues' though it certainly isn't a gender specific issue. You will find it is like having a skillful friend in your corner to help you defeat the out of control feelings and really get a handle on this eating thing. I think most of us have these issues at one time or another. Best of luck.
   — Bobbi G.