Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
Just 6 days post op gastirc bypass. Feeling so much anxiety, regret, and questioning why I did this to myself. Physical recovery has been fine, I didn't expect to get so emotional. I've been crying so much. Hopefully this gets better, anyone feel this way?
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Everyone goes through this, There is science behind it. Obese people have an over abundance of estrogen stored up in fat cells, when your body starts to experience weight loss, this estrogen gets dumped back into the system as the fat gets burned. It makes for a huge spike, worse then PMS.
This is called Hibernation Phase. It will last through early post-op when you are losing the largest chunk of your weight, fast. When the weight is coming off slower you won't experience this quite so severely, as the estrogen won't be dumped as quickly into your system.
I know the feeling really sucks, you want to be happy about this new life and here you are only experiencing the negative emotions of it.
The best way to beat this is to get up and force your way through it, there are many post-ops here that have made it over this hump that you are struggling with, there is hope of getting to the other side!
Don't let yourself get discouraged! This horrible feeling is proof that you are making headway!!
God Bless!
Janelle
i'm almost 12 weeks post op. about a month ago, i started feeling really depressed and then it's just gotten worse. i had to make a trip to my psychiatrist last week. he said that it's all the hormones being released, plus i'm not absorbing my meds... which is a double whammy. he fixed it and right now, i'm trying to work through it and fix all the screw ups i made this past month.
when i first got out of surgery, i was great. in a great mood... no pain. and then 2 months later, i started a downward spiral. to help me cope, i got tons of support from another community i'm a part of.. plus support from my psychiatrist. i'm hoping this goes away soon. i feel like my feelings and emotions right now are ruining my life... like, why didn't i take the whole semester off of work and school and just heal? and now, since i didn't, i'm screwing everything up.
but, it'll get better. that's what i keep on telling myself anyway.
*hugs*
Please, realize these emotions are normal.
Here is a piece on hibernation syndrome:
Hibernation Syndrome
After WLS, you may be feeling tired and become depressed. When you are several weeks post op, and are either on a liquid diet or you are eating many fewer calories than you were pre op, this depression and inactivity can become more pronounced. All you want to do is sleep, you may have crying spells, you may begin to believe that the surgery was a mistake, or you may think 'what in the world have I done to myself?' All these feelings are completely normal and, to a certain extent, are to be expected. The low number of calories you are eating produces what many of us call the 'hibernation syndrome' and your depression and feelings of despair, are a direct result.
During the weeks immediately following surgery, our body starts to notice that we are not taking in enough calories. It doesn't know we've had WLS, or that it's the year 2003. Our body is missing food, thinks this is a famine, and struggles to conserve our energy. The human body reacts like it always has in a famine; it makes us depressed--so we don't have the motivation to do anything, and it makes us tired--so we don't have the energy to do anything. In this way, we will conserve as many calories as possible and remain alive. You can see the practical value of this as our bodies have been living through famines, snowstorms, and other periods of unstable food supply for centuries.
This stage can last several weeks. Our discomfort is compounded as we are, at this same time, trying to recover from major surgery, adopt new eating habits, and deal with a liquid or soft diet. To get out of this stage, our body has to say to itself 'gee, this famine is lasting a bit too long. If I keep conserving my energy with inactivity, I will starve to death. I'd better use my last store of energy
(the remaining fat and muscles in our body) to hunt up some food'. At this point, our body will switch from getting energy from food, to getting energy from our fat (and muscle too if we don't eat enough protein) and that is what we want.
In order to deal with this difficult transition period, tell yourself that you're right on track; this is exactly what is normal and to be expected. Tell yourself that, in a few weeks, this will pass, and you will feel like a completely new person. We all seem to turn the corner about 4-6 weeks post op. Then, your mood will lighten and, with your weight loss starting to add up, you'll feel more positive and have a better outlook on life. Just keep telling yourself that you will not always feel this way! You WILL be back to feeling like your old self. Just give it time!
I'm still looking for more info!
God Bless!
Janelle
Janelle