Pouches and babies (for Lilka)

[Guest guest]

Lilka,

I read your post about being tired, and I started to think back to all

I've heard from others on this list and what people who've had the

surgery have told me about their recovery. And I started to think back

on my life, and I realized that what life immediately post-op sounds

most like to me is life during the first year or two after I had my

kids. Think of your pouch as a new baby, and you've just given birth.

When I had my first baby, I was on top of the world. . . I had HUGE

rushes of energy during the first few weeks, far more than my doctors

expected. At the same time, I was adapting to a completely new way of

life, with every day bringing new wonders and some worries, as well.

Exhaustion set in after a while. Everything was changing. My hair fell

out. I didn't want to do anything except sleep sometimes. My body had

always been pretty reliable in some ways, but not now. My hormones

were on a roller-coaster. . . my emotions too. I slept whenever I had

a chance.

Feeding was a big issue - just the right kind, just the right amount,

etc. Poop was a big issue, too! <grin>

I had to think ahead about what I was doing, and plan things ahead so

that I had what I needed. If I went out, I took supplies with me so

that I had food and water in case I needed them.

Relationships changed. People I'd known all my life suddenly started

treating me differently. I *felt* differently about myself, too. I had

gone through an experience that permanently changed my life. Things

would never be exactly the same again.

It took a long time for me to fully adjust to being a parent. It meant

a lot of changes in my life, and some sacrifices. But would I go back?

Not on your life. My life is so much richer now than it was before.

And now that you've been given a new little pouch, you're going

through many of the same things as your life transforms - but it takes

time to get to the point where you stabilize. I think it will never

stop being something you work at - you'll always have to pay attention

to some things, just like parents do with their kids. But take it

easy, go step-by-step, and you'll get through the first year just

fine!

Cathy C.

[Guest guest]

Lilka,

I read your post about being tired, and I started to think back to all

I've heard from others on this list and what people who've had the

surgery have told me about their recovery. And I started to think back

on my life, and I realized that what life immediately post-op sounds

most like to me is life during the first year or two after I had my

kids. Think of your pouch as a new baby, and you've just given birth.

When I had my first baby, I was on top of the world. . . I had HUGE

rushes of energy during the first few weeks, far more than my doctors

expected. At the same time, I was adapting to a completely new way of

life, with every day bringing new wonders and some worries, as well.

Exhaustion set in after a while. Everything was changing. My hair fell

out. I didn't want to do anything except sleep sometimes. My body had

always been pretty reliable in some ways, but not now. My hormones

were on a roller-coaster. . . my emotions too. I slept whenever I had

a chance.

Feeding was a big issue - just the right kind, just the right amount,

etc. Poop was a big issue, too! <grin>

I had to think ahead about what I was doing, and plan things ahead so

that I had what I needed. If I went out, I took supplies with me so

that I had food and water in case I needed them.

Relationships changed. People I'd known all my life suddenly started

treating me differently. I *felt* differently about myself, too. I had

gone through an experience that permanently changed my life. Things

would never be exactly the same again.

It took a long time for me to fully adjust to being a parent. It meant

a lot of changes in my life, and some sacrifices. But would I go back?

Not on your life. My life is so much richer now than it was before.

And now that you've been given a new little pouch, you're going

through many of the same things as your life transforms - but it takes

time to get to the point where you stabilize. I think it will never

stop being something you work at - you'll always have to pay attention

to some things, just like parents do with their kids. But take it

easy, go step-by-step, and you'll get through the first year just

fine!

Cathy C.

[Guest guest]

Cathy C. -

I just read your post regarding treating pouches like babies. That is EXACTLY what I needed to hear! I'm just starting out in the process and I have no clue what to expect when I finally get the surgery. Thank you so much for your candid insight!

in Cupertino

[Guest guest]

Cathy C. -

I just read your post regarding treating pouches like babies. That is EXACTLY what I needed to hear! I'm just starting out in the process and I have no clue what to expect when I finally get the surgery. Thank you so much for your candid insight!

in Cupertino

[Guest guest]

Thank you Cathy, I have to remember that the pouch is a tool and not

the " magic pill " . When you start working with any new tool we need

to learn how to work with it. You can't just pick it up and be an

expert. I had the spert of energy for the first two weeks and the

last two days I seem to have lost that but I will just take each day

and each meal at a time. Thanks again.

PEGGY

>

> Lilka,

> I read your post about being tired, and I started to think back to

all

> I've heard from others on this list and what people who've had the

> surgery have told me about their recovery. And I started to think

back

> on my life, and I realized that what life immediately post-op

sounds

> most like to me is life during the first year or two after I had my

> kids. Think of your pouch as a new baby, and you've just given

birth.

>

> When I had my first baby, I was on top of the world. . . I had HUGE

> rushes of energy during the first few weeks, far more than my

doctors

> expected. At the same time, I was adapting to a completely new way

of

> life, with every day bringing new wonders and some worries, as

well.

>

> Exhaustion set in after a while. Everything was changing. My hair

fell

> out. I didn't want to do anything except sleep sometimes. My body

had

> always been pretty reliable in some ways, but not now. My hormones

> were on a roller-coaster. . . my emotions too. I slept whenever I

had

> a chance.

>

> Feeding was a big issue - just the right kind, just the right

amount,

> etc. Poop was a big issue, too! <grin>

>

> I had to think ahead about what I was doing, and plan things ahead

so

> that I had what I needed. If I went out, I took supplies with me

so

> that I had food and water in case I needed them.

>

> Relationships changed. People I'd known all my life suddenly

started

> treating me differently. I *felt* differently about myself, too. I

had

> gone through an experience that permanently changed my life. Things

> would never be exactly the same again.

>

> It took a long time for me to fully adjust to being a parent. It

meant

> a lot of changes in my life, and some sacrifices. But would I go

back?

> Not on your life. My life is so much richer now than it was before.

> And now that you've been given a new little pouch, you're going

> through many of the same things as your life transforms - but it

takes

> time to get to the point where you stabilize. I think it will never

> stop being something you work at - you'll always have to pay

attention

> to some things, just like parents do with their kids. But take it

> easy, go step-by-step, and you'll get through the first year just

> fine!

>

> Cathy C.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Cathy, I have to remember that the pouch is a tool and not

the " magic pill " . When you start working with any new tool we need

to learn how to work with it. You can't just pick it up and be an

expert. I had the spert of energy for the first two weeks and the

last two days I seem to have lost that but I will just take each day

and each meal at a time. Thanks again.

PEGGY

>

> Lilka,

> I read your post about being tired, and I started to think back to

all

> I've heard from others on this list and what people who've had the

> surgery have told me about their recovery. And I started to think

back

> on my life, and I realized that what life immediately post-op

sounds

> most like to me is life during the first year or two after I had my

> kids. Think of your pouch as a new baby, and you've just given

birth.

>

> When I had my first baby, I was on top of the world. . . I had HUGE

> rushes of energy during the first few weeks, far more than my

doctors

> expected. At the same time, I was adapting to a completely new way

of

> life, with every day bringing new wonders and some worries, as

well.

>

> Exhaustion set in after a while. Everything was changing. My hair

fell

> out. I didn't want to do anything except sleep sometimes. My body

had

> always been pretty reliable in some ways, but not now. My hormones

> were on a roller-coaster. . . my emotions too. I slept whenever I

had

> a chance.

>

> Feeding was a big issue - just the right kind, just the right

amount,

> etc. Poop was a big issue, too! <grin>

>

> I had to think ahead about what I was doing, and plan things ahead

so

> that I had what I needed. If I went out, I took supplies with me

so

> that I had food and water in case I needed them.

>

> Relationships changed. People I'd known all my life suddenly

started

> treating me differently. I *felt* differently about myself, too. I

had

> gone through an experience that permanently changed my life. Things

> would never be exactly the same again.

>

> It took a long time for me to fully adjust to being a parent. It

meant

> a lot of changes in my life, and some sacrifices. But would I go

back?

> Not on your life. My life is so much richer now than it was before.

> And now that you've been given a new little pouch, you're going

> through many of the same things as your life transforms - but it

takes

> time to get to the point where you stabilize. I think it will never

> stop being something you work at - you'll always have to pay

attention

> to some things, just like parents do with their kids. But take it

> easy, go step-by-step, and you'll get through the first year just

> fine!

>

> Cathy C.

>

[Guest guest]

Take it with a grain of salt, - I haven't had surgery yet either!

It's just how things seem to be from what I've learned. . .

Cathy

>

> Cathy C. -

> I just read your post regarding treating pouches like babies. That

is

> EXACTLY what I needed to hear! I'm just starting out in the process

and I have no

> clue what to expect when I finally get the surgery. Thank you so

much for your

> candid insight!

>

> in Cupertino

>

[Guest guest]

Take it with a grain of salt, - I haven't had surgery yet either!

It's just how things seem to be from what I've learned. . .

Cathy

>

> Cathy C. -

> I just read your post regarding treating pouches like babies. That

is

> EXACTLY what I needed to hear! I'm just starting out in the process

and I have no

> clue what to expect when I finally get the surgery. Thank you so

much for your

> candid insight!

>

> in Cupertino

>

[Guest guest]

Speaking as one who has had the surgery, the

baby's tummy is an EXCELLENT analogy for a new

pouch! And sometimes you try a baby on a new

food, and end up wearing that food. Hm, guess

baby wasn't ready for that one. And some babies

are really prone to upchucking if you look at

them sideways, and some babies NEVER hurl. Not

fair, not predictable, just the way it is! And

sometimes pouchie may decide after a year or more

to act like a baby and reject something it has

had NUMEROUS times before. You'll also have to

learn that when pouchie says " that's enough " it

ain't kidding! Just part of the post-op adventure, but SO worth it!

I gotta post pictures of that red dress! Wore it

to dinner with hubby and kidling tonight!

Eleanor Oster

eleanor@... (personal address)

www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htm

San , CA

Open RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003

P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)

~5'9 " tall

05/09/2003 319 Orientation

07/15/2003 ~290 Surgery

Current 157±2 Goal until plastics?

[Guest guest]

Speaking as one who has had the surgery, the

baby's tummy is an EXCELLENT analogy for a new

pouch! And sometimes you try a baby on a new

food, and end up wearing that food. Hm, guess

baby wasn't ready for that one. And some babies

are really prone to upchucking if you look at

them sideways, and some babies NEVER hurl. Not

fair, not predictable, just the way it is! And

sometimes pouchie may decide after a year or more

to act like a baby and reject something it has

had NUMEROUS times before. You'll also have to

learn that when pouchie says " that's enough " it

ain't kidding! Just part of the post-op adventure, but SO worth it!

I gotta post pictures of that red dress! Wore it

to dinner with hubby and kidling tonight!

Eleanor Oster

eleanor@... (personal address)

www.smallboxes.com/gastricbypass.htm

San , CA

Open RNY (100 cm bypassed) 07/15/2003

P. Fisher, M.D., Kaiser Richmond (CA)

~5'9 " tall

05/09/2003 319 Orientation

07/15/2003 ~290 Surgery

Current 157±2 Goal until plastics?

[Guest guest]

> I gotta post pictures of that red dress! Wore it

> to dinner with hubby and kidling tonight!

Oh, yes please - I'd LOVE to see you in it!

Cathy C.

[Guest guest]

> I gotta post pictures of that red dress! Wore it

> to dinner with hubby and kidling tonight!

Oh, yes please - I'd LOVE to see you in it!

Cathy C.