While I know that eating disorders are common for WLS patients prior to the surgery, how many develop eating disorders after the surgery? Is it commonly anexoria or bulimna? ?(Sorry for the spelling) Or diet pill abuse after the surgery? And is it something WLS patients openly talk about wih their Docs or something they typically keep to themselves and then it causes issues down the road?

I have had my own demons I have been dealing with on this issue since my surgery. I kinda just want to see how many patients actually go thru what I have gone thru.

I have heard that often times WLS patients will become dependent on alcohol or drugs to replace the food addiction they had. I have not heard anything on other eating disorders. I am curious to see if anyone else has. I know in my pre-op meetings they emphasize to start thinking about things you can do to replace the time you spend eating. I still struggle to keep finding healthy habits instead of unhealthy ones. Maybe someday I'll learn to like housework and I can replace some time with that !

I am a bulemic. It centers around that need for perfection and the fear of gaining the weight back.

I also suffer from bulimna. I am terrified of gaining the weight back and also failing at being a gastric bypass patient and gaining the weight back. I also am having problems with the new body image and the postive feedback I receive.

I've talked at length about Docs about this issue. They said it's basically a new side effect and new eating disorder where people can induce dumping they same way they would with laxatives or vomitting. But they also said not many people develop bulimna more develop anxerioa. With a feeding tube lbeing put in me within the next week- it's nice to know I have support from people who understand. My doc is very upset that he has to do that to me but wants the best for me and wants me to stay healthy.

Jamiecar good luck with the feeding tube. Let it do the work because after all this you want to live.
My bulimia isn't as severe as yours sounds. Unfortunately, it doesn't really help me lose more weight. But to be honest, it is emotional with me. I also have a problem with my new body image. People saying "you aren't even the same person" always makes me upset. I think I am, they just didn't notice who I was before.
I also worry about every pound. I think the bulemia effects more than they think. I know there are certain foods like pizza that are a trigger since I could only eat a half a slice at one time and now I can eat a whole one. I worry about it and often avoid pizza because I will throw it up for fear of eating too much.
Jamiecar please let us know how you are. Know that you are not alone. Believe me. I'm with you in spirit.

Jamiecar - I hope all turns out well for you. I agree with Bestauntie that you are not allow. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

It has been really difficult for me to go thru all of this. I had to really think back about when I learned these habits. When I was in the Navy- I had weight issues. So I had to get w waiver to get in and then to get promoted or pay increases- I had to beat the system. This meant 3 weeks without eating and only drinking water- running allot with plastic suits. The Navy only took 3 measurements if you didn't make weight- chest hips and neck. For a latin female- good luck with that. No claipers or water displacement test. So six years into my career- I was full blown with my eating disorder- then I had to go thru therapy to deal with a couple of deaths that happened to friends. I tried to talk about the eating disorder and the therapist looked at me and said the navy will treat drunks and druggies but not eating disorders- if you continue to talk about this with me- I will have to recommend ou for discharge. I got mad- needless to say- I told them I didn't want rehab for drunks because still to this day i don't drink. I got ot and everything fixed itself.

Now almost 10 years later I am now having to deal with this issue because the issue has come back. Not that I am that thin- 134 at 5'3. i struggle everyday but it has gotten easier not to cause the dumping for a stress release.

I have also started reading allot of books to work the exercises on compulsive eating and the traps you can fall into. As well as the whole body image.

bestauntie- I am right there with you about the whole new body image. It had gotten so bad when people would say something nice about the way I looked I would find a reason to get out of the conversation or to leave the area. I was not comfortable dealing with positve attention. It seemed like my world changed formt he dark negative place to a postive place but the only thing that really changed was my weight. Everyone's idea of me changed.

I know I will get better with time and I just need to give myself time to heal and let my mind catch up wih my body. It's all good-

First, please call me Amy. I might as well tell you who I am since we sound similar.
I think you should add determined and courageous to your positive list.
At 134 and 5'3 you are thin. I am about 50 pounds heavier and an inch taller. So I'm definitely NOT thin. However I used to be 274.
But I have to say positive attention especially from men can make WLS patients nervous. If you have never had that type of attention it's hard to handle. I think the Navy stinks about ignoring your symptoms. But you can't dwell on the past. You need to work on it now. You have come so far. And you are here for a reason.
My email is amywriter@hotmail.com Don't hesitate to write.