Interesting view of Anorexia/Bulimia vs WLS

[Rainbow]

I have the G-sleeve 2 years ago, i lost all my weight and am a size 4. this last year i have really struggled with maintaining a healthy weight. My Dr. explained that i developed a medically induced anorexia, I got sick with H1N1 flu virus and have severe colitis and got severely dehydrated and under weight. The thing is as i got better and worked really hard at gaining enough weight back to be healthy, then i felt very panicky about it. I felt like i was going to be fat again. As soon as my size 4 started fitting again i had days where i just didn't want to eat. I knew it was stupid and all in my head. I did NOT want to look like a starving sunken-faced Holocaust victim! Yet when i received a complement on looking so much better and healthier after gaining 5 lbs back, I had such irrational fear about it that i started eating less and throwing up more and within a week had lost the 5 lbs that took me 3 weeks to gain! I am a grown woman in my 40's . I am determined to let my wisdom and intelligence overcome these self-destructive tendencies, but i admit that the strength of these emotions have caught me off guard.

[madona]

i can understand how someone could possibly develop eating disorders post-sleeve. I am down almost 40 lbs and dont see it. I am struggling to eat 400 calories a day. Eating has been such an arduous task that I just dont even bother sometimes. I am sick of that terrible feeling in my chest because i have not yet been able to train myself to eat slower. I am sick of the heartburn(even though i medicate for it) I am sick of the disgusting sliming i experience almost after every single meal. I swear more comes up then the volume of food that went in to begin with. I am sick of vomiting half of everything i consume, even if it was a measly 4 small bites of anything. (and i have become comfortable with it) I think I enjoy the relief of vomiting sooo much more than actually eating! OK, this is scaring me! I am mentally sane. I went in for surgery after having researched the sleeve surgery option for about 1 and 1/2 years. It wasnt a rash decision. But there is no way anyone can know what its like to have 85% of their stomachs cut out until they have done it. People have no clue of how hard it is going to be to get the basic nutrition they need to be healthy after surgery. Getting the water and protein intake needed to be healthy is virtually impossible for 95% of the patients for a while(and of course it varies from patient to patient). I keep hearing how this has been such a miracle for everyone (people who have been sleeved and even those who have not yet been sleeved). Ya know what, it is a miracle that i have almost lost 40 lbs in 1 month but guess what?! Its also been a nightmare too! SO when the anorexic chick says that we post-sleevers are eating less than an anorexic person does, I BELIEVE IT! And how it is acceptable, I BELIEVE IT! (because it seems that us fat asses deserve to starve or can handle it because we have so much reserves we need to burn off) and Because i am living testimony of that. I am starving my self to death. Not really on purpose or by choice (well, yes by choice because i had this crazy surgery) but what i am trying to say is myself and others who have been sleeved are putting them selves in a position where they are unable to consume the vitamins,minerals,protein, and overall calories needed to maintain a healthy body, period. I am afraid of foot fractures that are incredibly high in weight loss surgery patients because of brittle bones caused by deficiencies after surgery, I am afraid of anemia because of the way i am eating these days. These are serious repercussions of any kind of weight loss surgery and people tip toe around the topics and only want to hear the good stuff and about how much weight is being lost. I have been a cheerleader for the cause too. But now I am second guessing my decision and I think everyone needs to be aware of all the many many many downsides of this procedure too. Sorry if anyone is offended or feels they need to attack what I have said. I think its hysterical when people who have not even had the surgery give their 2 cents about how its gonna feel, or how they r gonna think, or what they are gonna do. Ok we are all entitled to our opinions. But baby you have no idea! Just wait and see, it is not a cake walk. Best of luck everyone and thanks for letting me vent. Im sure tomorrow I might be feeling a little better, but this is my mood tonight.

[TrynaB]

To Madona, thank you, thank you, thank you for the 'REAL TALK'. I am appreciative of the frankness you have displayed because I too have wondered about the downside of this decision but no one seems to want to talk about it, only the great things. What about the days when you say to yourself "Oh my God what have I done?" or what if I cant eat like I thought I would be able to or why cant this food stay down or I just dont want to eat and dont care if I do? The weight comes off soooo fast that it scares me, what about my mental state when I feel like I might have made a mistake having this surgery? But guess what??? Now its a little late-more than 85% of my stomach is gone and its NOT reversable. What do I do now???? Just some thing Ive been thinking about but you are the 1st and only person Ive seen even remotely speak about this aspect of the surgery. Thank you for making me feel like Im not crazy and am the only one thinking like this. Your honesty is greatly appreciated.

[madona]

To Madona, thank you, thank you, thank you for the 'REAL TALK'. I am appreciative of the frankness you have displayed because I too have wondered about the downside of this decision but no one seems to want to talk about it, only the great things. What about the days when you say to yourself "Oh my God what have I done?" or what if I cant eat like I thought I would be able to or why cant this food stay down or I just dont want to eat and dont care if I do? The weight comes off soooo fast that it scares me, what about my mental state when I feel like I might have made a mistake having this surgery? But guess what??? Now its a little late-more than 85% of my stomach is gone and its NOT reversable. What do I do now???? Just some thing Ive been thinking about but you are the 1st and only person Ive seen even remotely speak about this aspect of the surgery. Thank you for making me feel like Im not crazy and am the only one thinking like this. Your honesty is greatly appreciated.

OMG, u r sooooo very welcome, to b honest the last thing i thought i was gonna get was a thank you for this post, i was bracing my self to b blasted,lol. NO, your not alone, I think everyone at one point or another has these feelings and thoughts. I have them when I have starved all day,lol, or watched loved ones feast on things i wish i could eat. after i wrote my rant above I had 1/2 of a small baked potatoe slathered with butter and sour cream, through up 1/2 of it and had the slimeys all over again. Then I put my 2 yr to bed and relaxed. Then I attempted to eat the other half but this time sprinkled some salt and cumin powder and poured some olive oil on it and warmed it in the microwave, let me tell you how good i am feeling now, it was delicious! Hunger is a nasty nasty foe. I feel so helpless at times. Thank you so much for your support and understanding. I promise i cant be anything but honest when it comes to my health and this procedure. People need to know the facts, good and bad.Your comment was refreshingThanks again and hang in there, they say it gets better...

[TrailNurse]

Anorexia is a psychological disorder and a condition that goes beyond concern about obesity or out-of-control dieting. A person with anorexia often initially begins dieting to lose weight. Over time, the weight loss becomes a sign of mastery and control. The drive to become thinner is actually secondary to concerns about control and/or fears relating to one's body. The individual continues the ongoing cycle of restrictive eating, often accompanied by other behaviors such as excessive exercising or the overuse of diet pills to induce loss of appetite, diuretics, laxatives, or enemas in order to reduce body weight, often to a point close to starvation in order to feel a sense of control over his or her body. This cycle becomes an obsession and, in this way, is similar to an addiction. For many individuals with anorexia, the destructive cycle begins with the pressure to be thin and attractive. A poor self-image compounds the problem. People who suffer from eating disorders are more likely to have been the victim of childhood abuse.

Anorexics:
Have psychological problems that are displaced onto food
Think their bodies are gross
Know how many calories are in a stick of gum
Feel as though they are in charge of life by restricting themselves
Eventually lose their ability to feel hunger
Exercise excessively
Weigh 80-90 lbs and still feel fat
Typically begins to manifest itself during early adolescence
Denial and secrecy frequently accompany anorexia
Have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though the person is underweight
Have a self-perception that is grossly distorted
They become irritable and easily upset and have difficulty interacting with others
Are depressed and socially withdrawal
Become obsessed with food and thoughts of food.
Develop eating rituals
Usually have other psychiatric problems including affective (mood) disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
Wear loose or baggy clothes to hide their disorder
Are afraid to eat around others
Cut out certain foods little by little
Tend to be rigid perfectionists
Feel they are not deserving of life's gifts and pleasures
Often deprive themselves of situations that offer pleasure
Are pale or have a "grey" appearance to the skin
Have frequent sore throats and/or swollen glands
Complaints of often feeling cold
Bruised or calluses knuckles; bloodshot eyes; light bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks
Have Insomnia or poor sleeping habits

Eating rituals: Refers to compulsive behaviors surrounding eating. When the ritualistic behaviors are interrupted, patients often experience intense anxiety and may refuse to eat at all. Examples of rituals include: weighing and measuring food, sometimes repeatedly, eating specific foods and in a particular order, use of a particular bowl/plate/glass, cutting food into small pieces, disassembling food, eating a rigid amount of calories and stopping once that amount is reached, eating only at specified times.

I have quite a few friends who have had WLS and don't see any of these signs in them. If anything, they have gained a healthy respect for food and exercise. Hope this helps put the issue at rest. We are certainly not anorexic.

[Rae]

I didn't see the video but I can tell you I research everything I am interested in - its just who I am. Before surgery was even an option in my mind, I wanted to know how to lose weight and traditional ideas were not working. My blood sugars were out of control, meds were not working and I had to fix it or die. I am being completely honest when I tell you that I investigated pro ana sites to learn how to lose weight because my body wouldn't let go and these folks are MASTERS at forcing their body to lose weight. I honestly was reviewing one site last night just to see about modifying a technique they use called a 2-4-6-8 to try because I haven't really lost much this month and need to shock my body in to giving up the pounds. Instead, I tried on smaller clothing today that didn't fit before and I realize I am losing in size so I am not going to mess with it. I am going to try to increase my liquids and decrease my solids but keep my calories at 700 range and my protein at the 70 gram range. <-- That's the difference between a WLS patient and an anorexic. I said I was not making the progress I would like to see on the scale but went with how I could fit in smaller clothing and decided to just keep working my plan. Someone with anorexia would not be satisfied so easily. They would want to see their bones stick out, concentrate on chewing gum and drinking diet coke to overcome the desire to eat. I even watched a video where a girl was soaking cotton balls in juice to eat about four of them so she would not feel hungry and yet not give her body food which could make her gain weight. By the way, she recommended cutting them in pieces as she almost chocked to death on the first one *face palm*... ok.. not the sharpest spoon in the drawer.

By the way, if we are so accepted why are a lot of us keeping our surgery a secret? If you are unsure what separates us from them... check some pro ana sites and you won't wonder any more. Those folks are sick in a way dieting will never fix... we are sick of being fat and statistics show at a certain percentage of weight loss we get happy and stay with that number and most don't hit these goals established by insurance companies.

Trail Nurse covered the facts very well and everyone in doubt should read that post TWICE :-)

[Rae]

i can understand how someone could possibly develop eating disorders post-sleeve. I am down almost 40 lbs and dont see it. I am struggling to eat 400 calories a day. Eating has been such an arduous task that I just dont even bother sometimes. I am sick of that terrible feeling in my chest because i have not yet been able to train myself to eat slower. I am sick of the heartburn(even though i medicate for it) I am sick of the disgusting sliming i experience almost after every single meal. I swear more comes up then the volume of food that went in to begin with. I am sick of vomiting half of everything i consume, even if it was a measly 4 small bites of anything. (and i have become comfortable with it) I think I enjoy the relief of vomiting sooo much more than actually eating! OK, this is scaring me! I am mentally sane. I went in for surgery after having researched the sleeve surgery option for about 1 and 1/2 years. It wasnt a rash decision. But there is no way anyone can know what its like to have 85% of their stomachs cut out until they have done it. People have no clue of how hard it is going to be to get the basic nutrition they need to be healthy after surgery. Getting the water and protein intake needed to be healthy is virtually impossible for 95% of the patients for a while(and of course it varies from patient to patient). I keep hearing how this has been such a miracle for everyone (people who have been sleeved and even those who have not yet been sleeved). Ya know what, it is a miracle that i have almost lost 40 lbs in 1 month but guess what?! Its also been a nightmare too! SO when the anorexic chick says that we post-sleevers are eating less than an anorexic person does, I BELIEVE IT! And how it is acceptable, I BELIEVE IT! (because it seems that us fat asses deserve to starve or can handle it because we have so much reserves we need to burn off) and Because i am living testimony of that. I am starving my self to death. Not really on purpose or by choice (well, yes by choice because i had this crazy surgery) but what i am trying to say is myself and others who have been sleeved are putting them selves in a position where they are unable to consume the vitamins,minerals,protein, and overall calories needed to maintain a healthy body, period. I am afraid of foot fractures that are incredibly high in weight loss surgery patients because of brittle bones caused by deficiencies after surgery, I am afraid of anemia because of the way i am eating these days. These are serious repercussions of any kind of weight loss surgery and people tip toe around the topics and only want to hear the good stuff and about how much weight is being lost. I have been a cheerleader for the cause too. But now I am second guessing my decision and I think everyone needs to be aware of all the many many many downsides of this procedure too. Sorry if anyone is offended or feels they need to attack what I have said. I think its hysterical when people who have not even had the surgery give their 2 cents about how its gonna feel, or how they r gonna think, or what they are gonna do. Ok we are all entitled to our opinions. But baby you have no idea! Just wait and see, it is not a cake walk. Best of luck everyone and thanks for letting me vent. Im sure tomorrow I might be feeling a little better, but this is my mood tonight.

I'm sorry you are having problems with the surgery. I haven't had a single regret about this surgery and have been thankful I did it daily. Its not been a problem for me to eat or drink and I don't get any issues with slimy and only thrown up a couple of times when I was eating too fast and over ate. It was my fault and the surgery did what it was suppose to --- it stopped me.

I hope it gets easier for you...

[N2DVN]

As someone who has been through the anorexia phase in high school and college, i can say that there is a BIG difference. You could count my ribs and I still thought that I was "fat". It took moving back in w/my parents after college and having a mother who actively ensured that I was eating to properly get over it. In grad school, I worked full time and went to school full time. There was NO time to workout, especially 5-7 days a week. So, instead of focusing on my body, I was focusing on school and work. (Became a workaholic, instead of an anorexic. Luckily, I have overcome both!) That girl is just trying to reassure herself that she is not harming herself and trying to convince herself that she is "better" than a WLS patient.


Hubby has promised to keep me in check post-op and let me know when I really need to stop losing. (Yes, that has been a fear of mine w/doing the sleeve.)

[Rainbow]

I am 2 years out and i feel your pain! I still eat a ridiculously small amount! And still throw up half! All i can tell you is Hang in there! It really does get better. after a year to 18 months when you have lost all your weight you really get panicky about how to stop it. i FLEW from a size 10 to an 8 to a 6 so fast it was very unsettling i would have been content to stay in size 8 but i was only there for a few weeks. I was truly frightened when i hit size 4! But like i had kept hearing over and over once the weight was off the weight-loss stopped. It was like magic! I can eat a little more, but have come to terms with the fact that i will never eat "normal" portions again. I can eat about half a happy meal ...but to me its a big deal when i remember the 1st year i could only eat 3-5 bites of any thing! so now i eat small portions approx 10 bites and it is enough to give me satisfaction. I try to focus on the positives! how much i LOVE being thin, how much it makes my life better. How i actually Love trying on clothes! and how i can eat whatever i want and i don't have to worry about it because i eat such a small amount! Bring on the yummy fating food i don't have to deny myself ANYTHING! The biggest thing i miss is Drinking with or right after a meal! whenever i stubbornly ignore this rule i am MISERABLE! But when i obey and wait i feel very deprived because i feel thirsty but i cant drink yet. Cold beverages are hard for me still and i can drink so little at a time if i am thirsty and take a good long drink i instantly puke!This part sucks and always will. I mostly rely on hot beverages to get my fluid but i do fight dehydration constantly. But I would still do it again knowing what i know now because i was morbidly obese before and I felt much worse with that then i do with this! The main thing i want to stress is HANG in there, from someone who really knows, it really does get better, and what doesn't get better gets easier to take when you have the rewards of reaching your goal.

[MoreFitDiane]

Madona, no, it is not a cake walk; and I hope that no one here ever implied that it was. I also see that you are only about 5 weeks post-surgery, so your stomach isn't finished healing just yet. As it does, I hope it gets easier for you; and I expect that it will. Take it slowly for now. I am nearly at my one-year anniversary, and I can eat almost like a normal person (or a normal skinny person anyway). This morning for breakfast I had two eggs scrambled with cheese and some chopped up ham, and for lunch I ate a Lean Cuisine cafe classic (beef tips and broccoli). Some days for lunch I eat a small salad with either roasted chicken or a scoop of tuna salad on top. For dinners I eat either soup or stew, or a meat or fish with a cooked vegetable. And I also eat two or three snacks a day: a string cheese stick, a small handful of almonds, a protein shake, or a Weight Watchers ice cream bar. Sometimes I even have a glass of wine. I am probably eating about 1200 calories a day these days, and I am still slowly losing weight. I am still amazed that a little Lean Cuisine or only two eggs will fill me up, or a piece of meat no bigger than the palm of my hand with about 1/2 cup of cooked veggies will satisfy me. Amazed and thankful. I take my vitamins and calcium every day, I drink plenty of fluids (I prefer Vitamin Water Zero), and I exercise much more often than I did a year ago (but still not enough). I feel better than I ever have in my life. Stick with it, don't try to do too much at a time, allow yourself time to heal and adjust, and I hope that you, too, will join me in feeling this well and eating this healthy.

[Janese58]

I was listening to a video today of a woman who went to an OA meeting last night and at this meeting a woman suffering from anorexia spoke up and asked, "Why is it socially acceptable for people who have had WLS to be anorexic? Even on my worst anorexic days I consumed more than a weight loss surgery patient!" It really got me thinking... Are we socially acceptable anorexics?

Thoughts please!

Who is anorexic on here? I eat 1200 calories a day, everyday. I have had a few people say" how will you stop losing weight when you reach your goal?" Im thinking to myself....what a problem to have....

[MoreFitDiane]

Me too Janese! I eat five or six times a day, and I still get hungry in between meals (hence, the need for healthy snacks). Portion control and the correct food choices...that's what this tool has given to me. The rest is all up to me.

[Rainbow]

Morefitdiane is right, so glad she can eat so much I am 2 years out and i still only can eat about half that, but i take gummy-bear vitamin supplements and my Dr is very pleased with my nutrition levels! I recommend the Gummy bears because they chew well and you get good absorption compared to swallowing pills.

[GA-Aggie]

After stuggling with anorexia in high school- 255 calories a day, 1 diet coke in the school lunchroom and 10 tic tacs through the day + 3 metabolife when it was still on the market for 4 yrs- I can honestly admit some concerns about my upcoming WLS surgery. I haven't owned a scale since I left for college and started counseling. I get fixated on the numbers... I'm hoping that between regular counseling and keeping the scale out of my home I'll manage well. I can still be a control freak when I'm stressed, but I've moved my obsession to animal training instead of personal weight training. Good for my horses, bad for the 100+ pd weight gain. I'm excited to have a chance to be healthy mentally and physically for the first time in my life. *fingers crossed*

[cowgirljane]

I have been wondering how you are doing, and if you are doing any better yet. I know this is such an individual journey and I appreciate you sharing your story.

I am at the opposite end, I feel like I can eat more then I think I should - but doing okay so far. I feel like the supplements my doc has me taking is insane, I can't imagine getting any kind of deficiencies. (I take a good Multi vit 2X a day, calcium w/D 3x a day, Iron with C 1X a day and sublingual B12 1x a day).

i can understand how someone could possibly develop eating disorders post-sleeve. I am down almost 40 lbs and dont see it. I am struggling to eat 400 calories a day. Eating has been such an arduous task that I just dont even bother sometimes. I am sick of that terrible feeling in my chest because i have not yet been able to train myself to eat slower. I am sick of the heartburn(even though i medicate for it) I am sick of the disgusting sliming i experience almost after every single meal. I swear more comes up then the volume of food that went in to begin with. I am sick of vomiting half of everything i consume, even if it was a measly 4 small bites of anything. (and i have become comfortable with it) I think I enjoy the relief of vomiting sooo much more than actually eating! OK, this is scaring me! I am mentally sane. I went in for surgery after having researched the sleeve surgery option for about 1 and 1/2 years. It wasnt a rash decision. But there is no way anyone can know what its like to have 85% of their stomachs cut out until they have done it. People have no clue of how hard it is going to be to get the basic nutrition they need to be healthy after surgery. Getting the water and protein intake needed to be healthy is virtually impossible for 95% of the patients for a while(and of course it varies from patient to patient). I keep hearing how this has been such a miracle for everyone (people who have been sleeved and even those who have not yet been sleeved). Ya know what, it is a miracle that i have almost lost 40 lbs in 1 month but guess what?! Its also been a nightmare too! SO when the anorexic chick says that we post-sleevers are eating less than an anorexic person does, I BELIEVE IT! And how it is acceptable, I BELIEVE IT! (because it seems that us fat asses deserve to starve or can handle it because we have so much reserves we need to burn off) and Because i am living testimony of that. I am starving my self to death. Not really on purpose or by choice (well, yes by choice because i had this crazy surgery) but what i am trying to say is myself and others who have been sleeved are putting them selves in a position where they are unable to consume the vitamins,minerals,protein, and overall calories needed to maintain a healthy body, period. I am afraid of foot fractures that are incredibly high in weight loss surgery patients because of brittle bones caused by deficiencies after surgery, I am afraid of anemia because of the way i am eating these days. These are serious repercussions of any kind of weight loss surgery and people tip toe around the topics and only want to hear the good stuff and about how much weight is being lost. I have been a cheerleader for the cause too. But now I am second guessing my decision and I think everyone needs to be aware of all the many many many downsides of this procedure too. Sorry if anyone is offended or feels they need to attack what I have said. I think its hysterical when people who have not even had the surgery give their 2 cents about how its gonna feel, or how they r gonna think, or what they are gonna do. Ok we are all entitled to our opinions. But baby you have no idea! Just wait and see, it is not a cake walk. Best of luck everyone and thanks for letting me vent. Im sure tomorrow I might be feeling a little better, but this is my mood tonight.