I have ptsd and have some idea of what you are feeling today. Get in touch with your sleeve team maybe they can help. I was not able to exercise after my surgery and I have been successful and reached goal. I feel so much better now and I know you can too. Call the help line if you need to, they are there to listen and support. Blessings to you. Joanne

Hey Sweets sounds like you need to call the doctors office and get a game plan in order!
I want you to come back and tell me 5 fabulous things about you and what you plan on doing this Summer when it's warmer outside.
I will start with 5 thing fabulous about me!
1. I am a great cook
2. I think I am funny (in a smart ass kind of way)
3. I dance like no one is watching
4. I like my pretty blue eyes
5. I like to take selfies

Geaux!!!

if you need hospitalization, go. they can give you hydration and/or nutrients via iv. and they also have dieticians who can feed you keeping allergies and new tummy in mind. if that's a course you think is best, don't let the diet aspect stop you. we're all here for moral support but if you need additional support, go get it. you are your best advocate. hugs-gordita

I am not an expert, but from my experiences and first-hand knowledge, I am going to share what I know. I worked in a nursing home for 4.5 years and know that there are exercise programs out there for everyone. Just do a search on YouTube and see if you can find one that fits your needs.

Also, PART of that cagey feeling is just being stuck inside for so long. My kids have been at each others' throats for because they want to go out and play but it is too cold (I think we only hit -35 degrees today). This cageyness is called sun-downers (depression due to winter weather). My grandmother (she is a massage therapist) promotes light therapy during the winter months. It makes you feel like an idiot, but it works. I've used it and I have seen it used on patients at the nursing home. Light therapy = 30-60 minutes a day with a flash light turned on pointed to your third eye (middle of your forehead). This will not do anything for your PTSD; however, it will help with the sun-downers. The light therapy and exercise will help with your general depression as well.

I am advocating that if you have any signs that you will hurt yourself, please call someone. If you are unable to handle your situation, please call someone.

I am praying for your mental health.

So sorry you're having such an emotional roller coaster ride! Prayers and Hugs! Definitely get ahold of your doc..... TALK to someone professional!

I too suffer from mental illness and I thought I was prepared...nope...one of my meds is time-release...and it is going right through me (TMI, but I've seen the evidence ;/ ) Anyway - I got on the phone with my talk doc and my psychiatrist...I'm going to be okay...I know this because I have faced so many dark days, and I have gotten through them too...Try to remember all of the dark days you've made it through...Try coloring...Journaling...screaming into your pillow...come here and write every day...people are so wonderful here...I am on you side - and I hope you will reach out...to everyone, and everywhere possible...Bring Change to Mind - NAMI...There is help out there - go get it <3

Originally Posted by kacie77

tell me 5 fabulous things about you and what you plan on doing this Summer when it's warmer outside.
Geaux!!!

Five things?

IDK if they're fabulous

But I can sell anything to just about anyone at work. All I need is a few minutes to figure out who they are and what they're there for.

I'm the kind of person that others aren't afraid to lean on, I think it's because I accept my friends as they are and let them decide how we interact. I've been told it's a little bit because I forgive people too, but that sounds silly. I've been hurt so bad and hated so long that it was eating me up, so I stopped letting it have any more of my heart.

I can sing, and play violin, and recorder, and bowed psaltery, and memorize music like other people eat cake. Those might sound like separate things but they're all tied up with the way that music talks to me.

I love the color of my hair. Even after I cut it so short it's a beautiful brownish red that's unique and awesome.

I can't think of a fifth thing right now, mostly because some of my favorite things about myself are currently changing because of the surgery and I don't know where they're going to land anymore. Well, maybe that's not true... I also know I can survive this. I can survive anything, and I will. I'm just having an especially difficult time right now.
I've had worse.
I think.
But inside the bad moments it's incredibly hard to remember that. Especially since thinking about how much worse it's been just tends to make me even more depressed, thinking about what I don't have that so many other people take for granted.

Thank you all for your supportive words. I need the support today.

Hi Shalon,

Those are some great, positives about yourself. You sound like an amazing person. I have noticed that many people struggle with depression after weight loss surgery. It seems like there is a bit of mourning for the old you and also for food, which has been such a friend. Talking to a professional sounds like the best course of action here. And know that there are many supportive people on this forum

Exercise really does help with depression. If you have cable or satellite tv, there are many fitness programs you can view on demand including several no or low impact ones. Give it a try and please let us know how you are doing.

Great job Shalon,

I am proud of you for taking the time just to think about the 4 things. I must say playing all those instruments is quite amazing and something you should be super proud of. I can't play any type of instrument. I played the flute in middle school but that was along time ago.

I hope you were able to walk with someone yesterday! This cold weather has all of us feeling blah!

Kacie

It's not food. It's armor. Nothing fits, so I don't have any armor. Food and I were never really good friends anyway. I used to be a one meal a day woman. Don't get me wrong, I liked the taste of things, I still do, but I've always had to be reminded to eat more than once per day, unless a friend wanted to go out to eat.

The thing is, I've always used clothing to feel secure. I was a jeans and boots girl when I could still find boots that fit my calves (a thing I'm looking forward to finding again as the weight drops) I've always put on jeans when I wanted to feel pretty. But the other day I realized I don't have any jeans that fit right anymore. My best ones require a belt. And they fit on the legs in a way that makes me feel yucky.

The temporary solution is to go to Lane Bryant on my birthday and try on a new pair. But the long term solution eludes me right now. With no armor, I don't know how to face the world.

Update: I have a great pair of black boots that fit my calves now! And the depression has lifted, and I have SO much energy it's hard to find a way to tire myself out every day.