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The Struggle is REAL

G

growswild

Member
I had my live orientation Q&A yesterday morning and sh*t got real (I started this post yesterday). I spent most of the day kinda freaked out and in wicked pain. I spoke in another post about my pain. And maybe I've tackled this too soon, because my pain is off the hook and not in a good way right now (yesterday). I know that moving more and stretching more and standing more and all of those regular things will help but the pain and coming of NSAIDs is really scary. Even more scary than the idea of being hungry in between meals because I won't be able to snack.

Updating - Today is better. Last night, despite feeling like donkey, I put my big girl pants on and went to Zumba with my girlfriend. I suck so hard at dancing but the class is fun and I totally killed it! There's something to be said for being a big girl and killing the calories! Zumba b*tch! Hahah. At any rate, though my low back was a little sore and my legs are kinda achy, the rest of me feels a lot better. I'm in WAAAAY less pain today than yesterday. And I walked for a half hour this morning as well. I just need to keep up the momentum, which is always the hardest part for me.

At any rate - I have to get out of my own head and own this sh*t. I CAN do this! (Despite all the voices in my head telling me I can't).
 
It's pretty natural to be apprehensive about this process. Keep in mind there is a really good chance for most, if not all of your pain to go away after surgery and weight loss. If you get the sleeve, you don't have to be off NSAIDS permanently (it's a different story if you get the bypass), but the reduction in body inflammation and reduction in stress on joints and such from the weight loss can may a HUGE difference in pain. I used to take NSAIDs and all kinds of anti-inflammatories pre-surgery. I haven't needed to touch them for months. It can be truly amazing. There's no guarantee of being pain-free, there are several factors, but there will very likely be a huge difference. It doesn't necessarily take very long to get results either, a lot can happen in the first few months.

Also know that post-surgery weight loss is not like trying to lose weight on a diet, BUT it does require a commitment to have a different relationship with food. You don't necessarily need to give up anything, but you have to make good choices most of the time. Going through the process of surgery and post-surgery can help you reset that relationship and get on a good path. During your first year post-op, you have an opportunity with reduced hunger and hormone responses that can allow you to focus on developing food choices that will be habitual. Then, by the time you reach your low weight, you are in a great position to maintain it.

There are all sorts of barriers that can pop up, and during the pre-surgery process, it's really hard to wrap your mind around all the potentially wonderful things that can happen post-surgery. It's hard to imagine the way you feel and the way you interact with food being different from the way it is now, BUT you can do totally do it!
 
WazzuCoug said:
It's pretty natural to be apprehensive about this process. Keep in mind there is a really good chance for most, if not all of your pain to go away after surgery and weight loss. If you get the sleeve, you don't have to be off NSAIDS permanently (it's a different story if you get the bypass), but the reduction in body inflammation and reduction in stress on joints and such from the weight loss can may a HUGE difference in pain. I used to take NSAIDs and all kinds of anti-inflammatories pre-surgery. I haven't needed to touch them for months. It can be truly amazing. There's no guarantee of being pain-free, there are several factors, but there will very likely be a huge difference. It doesn't necessarily take very long to get results either, a lot can happen in the first few months.

Also know that post-surgery weight loss is not like trying to lose weight on a diet, BUT it does require a commitment to have a different relationship with food. You don't necessarily need to give up anything, but you have to make good choices most of the time. Going through the process of surgery and post-surgery can help you reset that relationship and get on a good path. During your first year post-op, you have an opportunity with reduced hunger and hormone responses that can allow you to focus on developing food choices that will be habitual. Then, by the time you reach your low weight, you are in a great position to maintain it.

There are all sorts of barriers that can pop up, and during the pre-surgery process, it's really hard to wrap your mind around all the potentially wonderful things that can happen post-surgery. It's hard to imagine the way you feel and the way you interact with food being different from the way it is now, BUT you can do totally do it!
Click to expand...
Thank you for your insights - I think bypass is what is going to work best for me. I already have terrible heartburn so going with the route that could make it worse is not something I really want to do.
I have been pretty good about weaning myself off the NSAIDs, and though I'm not pain free, I haven't had any pain medicine on board for a few days - I do think I'll need to take some tylenol today as I'm starting to feel a headache coming on.
I'm working really hard to change my relationship to food pre-surgery, Eat to Live and not Live to Eat and all that. But I do expect that I will have some organically occurring changes post -surgery too. I really appreciate all the feedback!
 
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