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I'm Failing Already: Someone help me please!!!!

Hello everyone. My name is Christine and I'm 51 years old. I live in Richmond, VA. I had my surgery on November 20, 2019. A week before Thanksgiving. I was so happy to finally be approved that it never occurred to me how hard this would be to me until I started cooking for my family. I actually thought I wouldn't crave my usuals and I physically would be unable to eat only a teaspoon of food. Not true. I eat and it stays down. Sometimes it hurts then I stop but I continue to eat stuff I'm not supposed to have at all and then as they told me at least for a year. I feel like I'm failing at this too because I'm eating any and everything the only thing that's changed is I'm not eating as much. My name is Fluffy's Twin because up until two years ago I had a twin but she took her own life on November 10, 2017. She too had a gastric bypass years ago but she had a lot of other issues as well and just gave up and I wasn't there for her and I feel guilty. Survivors remorse is what I think they call it. My one comfort was to eat now I can't. I see a therapist but she is not helping me at all. I'm praying I can get some help and encouragement from others who may know how I feel. Looking forward to corresponding and reading all comments. Please help me.
 
Hello everyone. My name is Christine and I'm 51 years old. I live in Richmond, VA. I had my surgery on November 20, 2019. A week before Thanksgiving. I was so happy to finally be approved that it never occurred to me how hard this would be to me until I started cooking for my family. I actually thought I wouldn't crave my usuals and I physically would be unable to eat only a teaspoon of food. Not true. I eat and it stays down. Sometimes it hurts then I stop but I continue to eat stuff I'm not supposed to have at all and then as they told me at least for a year. I feel like I'm failing at this too because I'm eating any and everything the only thing that's changed is I'm not eating as much. My name is Fluffy's Twin because up until two years ago I had a twin but she took her own life on November 10, 2017. She too had a gastric bypass years ago but she had a lot of other issues as well and just gave up and I wasn't there for her and I feel guilty. Survivors remorse is what I think they call it. My one comfort was to eat now I can't. I see a therapist but she is not helping me at all. I'm praying I can get some help and encouragement from others who may know how I feel. Looking forward to corresponding and reading all comments. Please help me.
Hi Christine and welcome. I agree with Diane that you really need to seek medical help. You certainly haven't failed yet, you just need to pull your intentions together and start over. But you could be doing dangerous things to your new digestive system by eating things you shouldn't be. Your doctors need to know. I still had cravings after surgery aka "head-hunger" but they became much more manageable than they were before surgery. I hope that as time goes by, yours loose strength too.

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. That is so tragic. It sounds like you need a lot more support than your current therapist is giving you. A counselor or group that focuses on grief related to a suicide would be where I would turn.

All I can advise is that you make it your focus to live your best life. Live as your sister couldn't, seeing the joy and happiness in the world and being grateful that you're here. You can turn this around. Please keep writing.
 
Welcome, Christine. You're safe here & we're going to help you.

What kind of surgery did you have that still allows you to eat large amounts of food? First thing, figure that out, and let your surgeon in on the latest developments. DO THIS FIRST. Your problem may be organic and your health may be at risk.

It seems impossible that you would have been able to consume so much solid food right after surgery. Tut here's the kicker: why aren't you on a liquid diet right now? There's a strong whiff of self-sabotage here, and an obvious relationship to the death of your twin. You are not getting the therapy you need. You should be taking in at least 3 grief groups every week and reading every book about grief you can lay your hands on.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's groundbreaking analysis, "On Death and Dying" is a must have. It's a little hard to read, though, so you might want to find a breakdown of it on the Internet. Find someone's college paper or a book review or one of those book sites where people share their faves. Also, i know there are MANY online grief groups. Do a Yahoo search to find some.

And go here: SURVIVE -- TABLE OF CONTENTS where you can read one of my favorite grief tools. I literally had to get a dishtowel out as I read it, so I'd have something big enough to contain my tears.

You should specifically be involved with therapeutic groups that address only suicide. And if you need to talk to someone about it without going public, look online for the phone number of your most convenient WarmLine. They are all over America and exist to listen to you. They don't do crisis intervention--that's the Crisis Line or Hot Line--but you can talk and talk and talk, to many different people.

If you feel in crisis, as well, which is common after losing such a close loved one, call the medical professionals before taking action.

As an amateur healer I'd say that right now, you are trying to parallel your twin's life. You are going to kill yourself with food, against all the doctor's and nutritionist's counsel.

Your family should be able to see what's happening to you. Bring them all in to you and tell them what's going on.

Cooking is not to blame. Eating is. No one is supposed to be eating solid food this soon after surgery. Have you followed up with your doc? Are you being honest? Is no one aware that you had this surgery and yet you're chowing down on the same old food, probably exhibiting the same behaviors?

You've had the surgery but now you need to ask yourself if you really wanted it. It's obviously too far out to change your mind, but there are medical interventions.

i'm guessing you had the sleeve. The cravings don't always go away after sleeve gastrectomy. Because you are putting your life in danger, perhaps you should see your surgeon about an immediate revision.

Your eating disorder is running your life, even though you took steps to lose weight. That's not enough. The surgery is only a tool and in your case, you're swinging a sledge hammer when you should be using tweezers, It's only a tool and it's not going to cure you. The only way to be cured is to follow the eating plan laid out for you and spend a lot of time in therapeutic groups, and as much time as possible moving your body.

I'm not going to say more because I see you as a person who is in urgent need of medical intervention. I've only read about one other person who was able to stuff food down into her pouch the day after surgery. It's a phenomenon I cannot explain.

Give up your stranglehold of control to medical experts. Then work on yourself to obey them. This is a deal you can't go back on. This is a contract you cannot break. Surrender all and admit that you are incapable of driving this bus. And don't go it alone. Accept help everywhere.

Don't leave us now. Report back to us about what doctors say and how you're feeling. Keep a journal of your deepest thoughts, and keep a food diary right next to your kitchen scale and measuring cups & spoons. Drink lots of water.
I had a gastric bypass
 
Hello everyone. My name is Christine and I'm 51 years old. I live in Richmond, VA. I had my surgery on November 20, 2019. A week before Thanksgiving. I was so happy to finally be approved that it never occurred to me how hard this would be to me until I started cooking for my family. I actually thought I wouldn't crave my usuals and I physically would be unable to eat only a teaspoon of food. Not true. I eat and it stays down. Sometimes it hurts then I stop but I continue to eat stuff I'm not supposed to have at all and then as they told me at least for a year. I feel like I'm failing at this too because I'm eating any and everything the only thing that's changed is I'm not eating as much. My name is Fluffy's Twin because up until two years ago I had a twin but she took her own life on November 10, 2017. She too had a gastric bypass years ago but she had a lot of other issues as well and just gave up and I wasn't there for her and I feel guilty. Survivors remorse is what I think they call it. My one comfort was to eat now I can't. I see a therapist but she is not helping me at all. I'm praying I can get some help and encouragement from others who may know how I feel. Looking forward to corresponding and reading all comments. Please help me.

You are not alone. I lost my mom back in 2014 and it was a car accident that took her from us. She was rushing back because i was getting out of the hospital with a problem with my back. I blamed my self for the longest.i gained all the way to 736lbs. I moved away and changed alot of what i was doing. I know it is hard but you have to forgive your self and find some peace with her passing. There is always the what ifs but you could never really know. But you should start back from the start of the diet for after surgery and retrain your mind. Write your feelings out. When you want to eat something that is not on the diet then write a page of what you are thinking and feeling at that moment.
 
Hello everyone. My name is Christine and I'm 51 years old. I live in Richmond, VA. I had my surgery on November 20, 2019. A week before Thanksgiving. I was so happy to finally be approved that it never occurred to me how hard this would be to me until I started cooking for my family. I actually thought I wouldn't crave my usuals and I physically would be unable to eat only a teaspoon of food. Not true. I eat and it stays down. Sometimes it hurts then I stop but I continue to eat stuff I'm not supposed to have at all and then as they told me at least for a year. I feel like I'm failing at this too because I'm eating any and everything the only thing that's changed is I'm not eating as much. My name is Fluffy's Twin because up until two years ago I had a twin but she took her own life on November 10, 2017. She too had a gastric bypass years ago but she had a lot of other issues as well and just gave up and I wasn't there for her and I feel guilty. Survivors remorse is what I think they call it. My one comfort was to eat now I can't. I see a therapist but she is not helping me at all. I'm praying I can get some help and encouragement from others who may know how I feel. Looking forward to corresponding and reading all comments. Please help me.
Hello Fluf- There is really nothing I can add that hasn't already been said. You've gotten responses from some of the strongest and wisest folks on this board.
I can't begin to imagine the pain that would come with losing a sister. The closest I've come to that kind of pain is when my only child, an adult son, viciously and publicly told me off, jumped in his car, with just the shirt on his back, drove 3,000 miles away. It was a hurt and confusion I wasn't prepared for. I reached for alcohol, my original comfort that I swore off 37 years ago. I got horribly drunk.

I'm in therapy now learning to properly compartmentalize my son's life and actions separate from my own. I dropped the alcohol, resumed comforting myself with food and eventually made a decision to make the best of what is left of my life. I had my surgery to reinvent myself. I look forward to a life of no crutches, honest introspection and availing myself of people in places like this board. Be gentle with yourself. Honor your sister by becoming a better you. You reached out which is very brave. Good Luck!
 
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