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Phase 2 Depression

R

Requiemn

Member
My surgery was 05.10.22. Prior to surgery, I thought phase 2, liquids only, would be a breeze, after all I usually do 1 or more protein shakes a day (1 unless I work out then 2).

I'm into week 2 right now, with only 5 days left, and I feel depressed and lethargic. It isn't due to hunger, I have very little in the way of hunger issues. It is all in the mind. I miss real food. I'm also tired of the bruising (major) and selling on my left side (I know it takes time to heal, 4 weeks is what I'm seeing), it is just getting old real fast.

Apparently, food is a "fix depression" tool for me, thus my issue now.

Phase 3, doesn't appear to be much better, although I can eat flaky fish, cottage cheese and pureed foods (which I'm not a fan of), but at least some solid food.

Any tips or ideas on ways to reframe my thinking on all this?

Any tips on foods for phase 3 beyond those mentioned above?
 
Requiemn said:
My surgery was 05.10.22. Prior to surgery, I thought phase 2, liquids only, would be a breeze, after all I usually do 1 or more protein shakes a day (1 unless I work out then 2).

I'm into week 2 right now, with only 5 days left, and I feel depressed and lethargic. It isn't due to hunger, I have very little in the way of hunger issues. It is all in the mind. I miss real food. I'm also tired of the bruising (major) and selling on my left side (I know it takes time to heal, 4 weeks is what I'm seeing), it is just getting old real fast.

Apparently, food is a "fix depression" tool for me, thus my issue now.

Phase 3, doesn't appear to be much better, although I can eat flaky fish, cottage cheese and pureed foods (which I'm not a fan of), but at least some solid food.

Any tips or ideas on ways to reframe my thinking on all this?

Any tips on foods for phase 3 beyond those mentioned above?
Click to expand...
Ugh I'm so sorry. I can definitely understand what you're talking about. I had heard that depression can be a real thing after we lose our food and coping with it. I am so sorry you're going through this! All I can think of saying is that the days are long but the time before you can eat again will be short. I have been reading a food addiction book and it's been helpful!
 
I had surgery on April 12th and was in the “angry stage” instead of depression. I was so sick of shakes and angry about every part of the journey. At one point I was ready to throw my shake against the wall (but I didn’t because I would be the one to clean up the mess). The hormonal changes are a real thing! I just kinda suffered through it until I got to the puréed stage. That was a lifesaver. I mostly ate Campbell’s split pea soup, refried beans with cheese, cottage cheese with crushed pineapple and the ricotta bake. You can Google the recipe if you’re not familiar.

Just remember this is all temporary. It gets better, it honestly does.
 
suzannethemom said:
I had surgery on April 12th and was in the “angry stage” instead of depression. I was so sick of shakes and angry about every part of the journey. At one point I was ready to throw my shake against the wall (but I didn’t because I would be the one to clean up the mess). The hormonal changes are a real thing! I just kinda suffered through it until I got to the puréed stage. That was a lifesaver. I mostly ate Campbell’s split pea soup, refried beans with cheese, cottage cheese with crushed pineapple and the ricotta bake. You can Google the recipe if you’re not familiar.

Just remember this is all temporary. It gets better, it honestly does.
Click to expand...

Did you puree the beans and cheese and the soup or just chew them to puree? Refried beans with cheese sound fantastic right now. :)
 
Requiemn said:
Did you puree the beans and cheese and the soup or just chew them to puree? Refried beans with cheese sound fantastic right now. :)
Click to expand...
No, I did not purée either. I smashed some of the big soup pieces with the back of the spoon as it was simmering. I added about 1/2 cup of milk to the refried beans to make them runny. I add cheese to my serving in the bowl and mix in. I also added a tablespoon of taco sauce for extra flavor. It is my favorite!
 
Oh yeah, I remember how good refried beans, cheese and taco sauce tasted at the pureed stage. It is still my go to food at Taco Bell if I splurge on fast food. Although I confess I had a Mexican Pizza yesterday. Yes, they're baaack!!! I rarely eat carbs, not even tortillas, but it was a must-have. I'll get it out of my system pretty quickly, though. Back to Pintos and cheese! Yummy!
 
Oh man, refried beans were the best thing I had eaten in my entire life by the time I got to puree lol And I make ricotta bake to this day, it is SO good. Liquid is hard AF. You can do it. It is well worth it and you'll be proud of how strong you were when you look back. It's 5 more days and then you can have real foods. You'll get there. Also, I was allowed scrambled eggs during puree .. are you? Not everyone can handle eggs that soon but I was okay.
 
KarenWV said:
Oh yeah, I remember how good refried beans, cheese and taco sauce tasted at the pureed stage. It is still my go to food at Taco Bell if I splurge on fast food. Although I confess I had a Mexican Pizza yesterday. Yes, they're baaack!!! I rarely eat carbs, not even tortillas, but it was a must-have. I'll get it out of my system pretty quickly, though. Back to Pintos and cheese! Yummy!
Click to expand...
Oh dang. The Mexican pizza without meat is my most favorite food in the whole entire world
 
missyinacage said:
Oh man, refried beans were the best thing I had eaten in my entire life by the time I got to puree lol And I make ricotta bake to this day, it is SO good. Liquid is hard AF. You can do it. It is well worth it and you'll be proud of how strong you were when you look back. It's 5 more days and then you can have real foods. You'll get there. Also, I was allowed scrambled eggs during puree .. are you? Not everyone can handle eggs that soon but I was okay.
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm allowed scrambled eggs (which I'm looking forward to) and flaky white fish.
 
Requiemn said:
My surgery was 05.10.22. Prior to surgery, I thought phase 2, liquids only, would be a breeze, after all I usually do 1 or more protein shakes a day (1 unless I work out then 2).

I'm into week 2 right now, with only 5 days left, and I feel depressed and lethargic. It isn't due to hunger, I have very little in the way of hunger issues. It is all in the mind. I miss real food. I'm also tired of the bruising (major) and selling on my left side (I know it takes time to heal, 4 weeks is what I'm seeing), it is just getting old real fast.

Apparently, food is a "fix depression" tool for me, thus my issue now.

Phase 3, doesn't appear to be much better, although I can eat flaky fish, cottage cheese and pureed foods (which I'm not a fan of), but at least some solid food.

Any tips or ideas on ways to reframe my thinking on all this?

Any tips on foods for phase 3 beyond those mentioned above?
Click to expand...
Wanted to let you know, Requiemn, that even though I'm only finishing day 4 of liquids only - I've been crying and angry that I can't have food. It blew my mind - I didn't think I'd feel that way but wow - I've been crying and frustrated for sure. It doesn't help that I'm making all 4 of my kids and my parents food every day I can tell you that! But dang it's hard.
 
Pre-surgery liquid diet is awful. Not to mention you're about to have major surgery to change your life. It's an emotional time. Add in SEVERELY reduced calories and no real food and it can seem like it might not even be worth it.

It is worth it, and YOU are worth it. Go ahead and cry, and rage or whatever else you need to do. Do a LOT less for 2 weeks, while your body doesn't have enough energy to function at full capacity. And stick to your plan!
 
If depression is hurting, you might want to talk to your doctor. Depression is a real problem, and you can't expect it to treat it yourself. If eating was masking it before, well, it's gonna have to be treated another way. So, I'd say talk to your doctor and get a referral to the appropriate provider to deal with that aspect of your recovery.
 
Some say I am crazy busy and energetic. I was enormously lazy before surgery. For me I chose to set goals of yard work to do during good weather. And I started this past winter on sewing stuff. It is my substitute for eating which had replaced my cigarette smoking habit. That was the start of my weight gain. I have been on SSRI meds since 89. So they are a way of life for me. They were set as a mood stabilizer. Pretty much they work unless I am under a lot of stress which causes increase in meds. Since retiring I experience less stress than I used to. May you find peace in your journey and a new way to look at food.
 
Roni, I admire your dedication to your goal! I have an activity goal but hardly ever reach it because I tend to stick to exercise instead of doing active things. Which would probably work better for me. Like you and 3mom, with all your amazing projects that require physical labor and seem fun. And useful.
 
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