Handling trauma/freak out eating

[GardenB]

Yesterday morning I had a massive uterine cancer scare. About an hour into it, I ate a whole box of molasses cookies I’d bought to share with my sister. That’s pretty instinctive for me. Fortunately that kind of scare doesn’t happen after. Does anyone else share that response and how did/do you handle it post op. [note - turns out it’s likely a benign medication side effect and I’ll know for sure in about two weeks]. But at that moment I was petrified. I’m still spooked but now have lost my appetite. Trying hard to focus on my first appt with my surgeon the day after tomorrow!

 

[MANDY2910]

Binge eating and emotional eating are tough and a form of self destructive behavior both before and after surgery. They will go over it with you at your appointment and also your psych eval. Just be honest with them and tell them what situations are triggers for you. After surgery trying to cope in this way leads to misery in the form of dumping, nausea, vomiting, stretching your pouch out, weight gain, etc. All of these things are detrimental and will cause failure in the long term. I am in therapy to help me learn to cope using other things. After surgery my old stand by isn’t going to work anymore. Hope your tests come out well and that your first appointment is successful.

 

[Roni]

Getting a cancer scare is very traumatic. Sounds like time to figure out something else to handle stress. How about crossword or find a word and to make it challenging set a timer.

 

[KarenWV]

Best of luck to you on having a good outcome with your tests. Please stay in touch with us. You will continue finding lots of support through whatever you are going through.

 

[missyinacage]

Emotional eating is such a huge thing for so many of us. And it doesn't actually make you feel better. It just gives you another negative thing to berate yourself and stress over.
We use food for so many things. Control, comfort, punishment, reward .. The list goes on and on.

I try to remember that overeating literally hurts me. It made it harder to walk, breathe and just live. It gave me health issues that I did not need to have. It caused me to be seen as one dimensional by others, who don't bother to look past stereotypes. (fat=lazy etc)

I would not take a knife and just start poking holes in myself, even if would make me stop feeling emotional pain. So, I try to take a second before I grab for food emotionally and ask if its helping or hurting.

I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope for good test results. Good luck on your surgical appt.

 

[GardenB]

I would not take a knife and just start poking holes in myself, even if would make me stop feeling emotional pain. So, I try to take a second before I grab for food emotionally and ask if its helping or hurting.

That is brilliant. Thank you!