Did you have a period of "OMG I've made a mistake!" after your surgery?

I'm coming up to 7 months out.

For the first 5 months, and even occasionally now, I found managing things post-op to be really difficult. I found it incredibly difficult to get in the required amounts of water, protein and fibre. I lost a devastating amount of hair, including my eyelashes. There was a several month period where I had almost a psychological fear (or hatred) of food because of the negative response my body was having each time I ate. I was very well prepared / informed for most all of the common side effects; it's the uncommon ones I have struggled with.

I have never considered having this surgery to be a mistake. However, on an almost daily basis for months, I found I would slip into the mindset of - "I did this to myself." And that's a slippery slope if you aren't mentally able to pull yourself back up out of it.

For me, the decision or realisation that this surgery was not a mistake was made long before my operation date. It's been dealing with the side effects that has been difficult.

I'm not sure that I'm making myself as clear as I'd like to, but I suspect that if you really analyse how you are feeling post op, you'll find that you are not questioning if the surgery itself was a mistake; you are questioning whether the side effects are worth the distress - whether the benefit outweighs the cost. That's a question each of us needs to answer individually. (For me, despite all the difficulties I've had, the answer is yes.)


Best,


W.

I am 7 months out and have NEVER once regretted being sleeved for even one millisecond. I put a lot of thought and research into what was going to be happening before I made my final decision so I have been in the right head space from the word go and knew that I would never be able to "chow down" again. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my sleeve.

Auntyamber I agree with Michelle, you need to speak to your dietician, surgeon, or GP. It just doesn't sound right and I'm sure there is something that can help you.

auntyamber wrote:

I still do nearly everyday. I'm nearly 6months out and have only lost 15kg and have diahorrea EVERYDAY multiple times a day, I can't sit down and eat a decent meal with my family because I'm finished before they hardly start.
I wish I had spent the $7000 on bills and debt instead of creating more debt. Maybe one day I will not think its a mistake but right now I still wish I hadnt done it.

You need to speak to your dietician. That is NOT right! It is possible to stretch the sleeve. You should not eat any more than a cup or half a cup of anything in one sitting for the first 9 months! Your sleeve can stretch! I was VERY careful to eat small, three times a day. I gave up the 6-8 meals a day early on, simply because I didn't feel I needed them! Try kickstarting your metabolism again by doing OPTI for a few days, then keeping to the small portions guidelines.

Once or twice I have wished I could go to a restaurant and eat a NORMAL meal like everyone else, but then I look at what I am wearing (size10) and then I look at HOW MUCH they are eating, and I think how I feel really good, and I am enjoying the conversation more than the food, as I sip on my white wine, and I think...nahhh. I am GLAD I am sleeved! I will NEVER be fat again!

I still do nearly everyday. I'm nearly 6months out and have only lost 15kg and have diahorrea EVERYDAY multiple times a day, I can't sit down and eat a decent meal with my family because I'm finished before they hardly start.
I wish I had spent the $7000 on bills and debt instead of creating more debt. Maybe one day I will not think its a mistake but right now I still wish I hadnt done it.

Oh hells yes did I have a few of those moments.

I thought that while I was in hospital, more so when I had to go in and have more surgery less than 48 hours after having my sleeve done when my lungs collapsed & I got a leak in my stomach.

Then when I got home and I couldn't eat.. I just kept thinking WHY? Why did I do this? Why didn't I try and lose the weight on my own first? (Clearly, my brain had just blocked out the 10+ years of dieting already tried)

Then I had the stupid thoughts of, why didn't I get a band, and if that didn't work then go down this path... WHY THE F**K HAVE I DONE THIS TO MYSELF?

Now, nearly 6 months out... I don't tend to have too many of those moments.

The first 2 months were definately the hardest.. So many why moments. I was so emotional.. Bordering on depressed.. But.. Once I got used to the sleeve, worked out a bit better what I could & couldn't eat, how much, etc, and started seeing results.. I started to come around.

Now I'm in love with my sleeve ;)

Kell wrote:

I see people saying they love their sleeve... I'm not sure I am at that point yet. I sort of think they're crazy (I'm kidding, I am jealous really!) and I think that once I learn to master this tool and use it properly and without consequence, then I may just love it after all.

i SO know how you feel kell!!!

Yup. 2 days after I was thinking holy shit.. this is FOREVER. FOR. EVER. That freaked me out. I was a bit teary. I've had a few moments of frustration since, not so much regret, though I often can be heard saying "what the hell did I do this for?!" when I am throwing up what I overate, or wanting more of a yummy dish... It's taking my head longer than my body to adjust of course.

I see people saying they love their sleeve... I'm not sure I am at that point yet. I sort of think they're crazy (I'm kidding, I am jealous really!) and I think that once I learn to master this tool and use it properly and without consequence, then I may just love it after all.

Okay, so now i am 10 days post op and I am feeling heaps better!! % days ago I was in pain and miserable and thinking OMG what have I done? It's simply amazing what a difference a few days makes!

I LOVE MY SLEEVE ALREADY!!!!!

I want to shout it out!!

i definitely had the post-op blues. i remember breaking down sobbing to my Husband that i had mutilated myself and made a huge mistake. i also remember being so angry that i had gotten myself into the position where i needed such a drastic proceedure. i also struggled with an adverse reaction to the painkillers which cause depression and anxiety. at the time i posted a thread in the 'different shade of blue' section called "post-op blues" check it out and if you think it might be helpful please print it off for her. i really feel for your friend, i know just how she feels. im now 10 weeks out and it has taken me until now to start to enjoy the benefits of the sleeve. seeing the weight come off does make it worth it, but it is a really tough journey for some of us. i wish i was one of those people that loved it from day 1, but in reality, my recovery was crappy, i suffered side-effects like dumping with painful cramps and diarrhea and i still struggle with my emotional attachment to food. i honestly felt like someone had taken away my social life and my relaxation tool- food.
it does get better, and it is worth it in the long run. check out my thread, it may help her?

Agree, hang in there, everyday gets better. Just take it really slow, listen to your new tummy, remembering you have just had major surgery and you need time to heal. I hope they gave you some meds for your pain and nausea plus anti reflux meds.

Chin up and hang in there. You WILL start to feel better, how long depends on the person. It took weeks before I started to improve. At some stage it will become a good idea again...

(very tongue in cheek)

Hope it won't be long before you will be feeling better, I found as I could handle more food and fluids I started to feel better. Just concentrate on one teaspoon at a time.

Best wishes.

Today I am feeling OMG What have i done?? Day four post op and just home from hospital, I'm feeling like rubbish (pain, nausea) and don't feel like drinking or eating.
BUT it is early days and this will pass, i'm just one of those people who hate not feeling 100%.
I am confident that things will get better, just keep smiling!

i am on southside to:) i am in waterford near beenleigh:) pm me your number and we can work out a time to meet:)

Absolutely would love to. I have next week off work. Are you free anytime then? I am at Underwood, southside of Brisbane.

awsome kaz, i am brisbane to so if you ever want to catch up let me know:)

thats a good idea about the icy poles. It is hard to get a lot of fluid in. I am glad it is not the height of summer here in Qld at the moment otherwise I feel I would be dehydrated. Have managed to drink 1/2 mug of tea which I am pleased about. Have missed my tea

KAZMAC it does get better, i am 7 and a half weeks out and i can eat and drink so much easier:) i recomend frosty fruit 99% fat free icy poles they help to get fluid in and feels nice going down:)

YES, YES, Yes I am currently going through this at the moment. I am calling it 'post operation remorsr' like when you buy a house you have that sinking feeling of 'have I done the right thing'. I am cranky at the moment as I am only a few days in from my operation and I am sick of having to drink something every hour, have tiny sips of water when all I want to do is have a lovely big drink of water. I know this phase won't last long but I am sure impatient for it to be over!!

I can honestly say that from the time I made the decision to have the sleeve I have had not 1 regret!!.. I breezed through the surgery, have had no complications, no vomiting etc.. I do however on occasions feel a little frustrated.. Like when we go out for dinner and I order the smallest meal I can and STILL only get through a small amount of it.. I am just over 5 months out.. but the feeling doesn't last long as my brain kicks in and says you don't NEED it, just WANT it..

So for me, no regrets what so ever!!.. :)

Oh yeah and I have them ... well more moments, not any long period of time ... when I am at a wonderful restaurant and half an entree can be my limit at times but having said that, with hand on my heart and 100% honesty, those feelings are only fleeting and they aren't so much regret but a bit of an "oh bugger, so much to choose from but only a little stomach to fill" ...

I'd never change my mind about the surgery though and I only had the thought once. I had just woken from the surgery and was in a world of pain with very uncaring nursing staff but that was it.

I can still have the food I like and thankfully there is something regulating my self control - my sleeve ... I so know I couldn't, self-control that is, hence the reason for an entire teen and adult life being unhappy, miserable, depressed, suicidal (at times), sadly, sadly overweight and never feeling a part of society or life.

I sound so Dr Phil and blah, blah, blah but I have really made a decision in my life that I never regret.

No, but I did have the "OMG THEY have made a mistake" moment - I thought they had not operated on me at all and that it was all a joke!!!

I did while I was in hospital, but it was more about the "this is permanent" rather than the op itself. Haven't had any of those moments since then (but I did have a lot of "I can't wait to get off the liquid diet" moments).

Only lasted for 30 seconds for me!

I had my surgery last Friday the 10th. On the 12th I woke up and thought God what have I done?!
As I have told not a soul about the operation except for my husband their was no-one to tell about how I was feeling.
(I wanted my Mum!)
The thing is its done, there's no going back, no reversal, no return so I decided lets just move through the next two weeks of liquid diet and make the best of what everyone who has been before on any forum, website, webcast, youtube site or anywhere says is the best thing they have ever done.