Been there, done that!
I, too, could have written your post. There are times still, that I have regrets. I hate having to mutilate my body because I was not strong enough to lose weight on my own, much less even letting myself get fat in the first place. I felt like a failure. I could not eat chicken for about 6 months. There are still some foods that will not agree with me and I'll have to throw up a little...and I'm 2 1/2 yrs. post op. My husband, on the other hand, is 2 yrs. post op and has NEVER thrown up (I swear, he's not human!)
Eating does get easier with time. Sometimes, food will not agree with you. Our bellies can be a bit finicky sometimes. It's really an individual thing. What works for one person may not work for another. I tend to survive on Lean Cuisine frozen dinners, and peanut butter crackers because they go down easier.
I do like a cold beer, or mixed drink on occasion, too. We do get drunk fast, but then it passes fast, too. Be careful with the mixed drinks because of the sugar content, though. After the "honeymoon" phase is over, there will be times when you feel like you can eat non-stop. Yes, we can gain weight, so we will always have to watch, or be a bit cautious of what we eat. Don't try to cheat the system to see what you can get away with. You may be able to eventually eat one bite of a candy bar without getting sick, but then an hour later, another bite,,,,then another....pretty soon, you've eaten the entire thing....NOT a good thing. Having a cookie, a bite of cake, or a treat once in a while is not going to kill you or make you fat. Just make good choices most of the time.
Some people say that you can never have a soda, some drink it all time time (like me! yes, I'm a diet soda-holic) But my doctor says it's fine. You're just going to have to see what works for you over time.
As far as the depression thing...it's VERY understandable. We celebrate with food, gatherings are centered around food, holidays, etc. Having this surgery is almost as if we have cut ourselves off from our best friend. We go through a mourning phase. This is not like a "diet" where we can just go off of it for a day or two. This is permanent. It's okay to cry, scream, cuss, whatever you need to do. Posting on this website also helps tremendously!
The first few months will be rough...maybe just a taste or two of your favorite food. Just be careful and realize that you "may" get sick if something doesn't agree with you. After some time, you'll be able to enjoy more things. I was also sluggish for about 2 months, then I got a burst of energy and finally felt semi-human again. Take your vitamins; either the chewable kind, or liquid. They will make a difference.
Good luck with your journey and keep posting on here.
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Tabitha
Open 5/26/04
321/171/Passed Goal!
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