YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Hungry. The only word that describes me right now. I’m on day 7 of a 10-day liquid diet, as I prepare for my bariatric surgery on Friday. Everyone says this diet gets easier after the first couple of days, but for me it has been the opposite. Mainly because I am sick of sugar-free Jell-O, popsicles, and protein shakes.

It’s funny, I can’t have sugar, but I have to have a lot of artificial sweetener just to get enough liquid calories in. This sucks…but it will be worth it. I used to think people who had weight loss surgery were taking the easy way out…but now I know the truth.

Good luck!

Thank you for sharing. Please do keep us posted.

Please take care, Remarks, we here are all cheering for you. Keep us informed.

Hey Remarks,

You're definitely not taking an easy way out. I'll be thinking of you on Friday and sending good thoughts that your surgery goes well. I agree, please keep us posted when you can.

rivergirl

I make the following recommendation with trepidation, since it has lots of triggers, but here goes:

While you recover, you may want to watch back episodes of "My 600 lb Life". They're about $10 a season YT or iTunes, and a season or two will give you multiple examples (good and mostly bad) about people handling gastric bypass surgery.

Some thoughts about My 600 lb Life:

1. I tend to like the earlier seasons more, especially season 2’s James is a hero. The brother messes up, but bounces back. And the look of agony on the mother’s face is (sincerely) worthy of any pieta.

2. Dang, are comorbidities dangerous.

3. Taking ownership of the problem, however feebly, really pays off for these people. Patients who blame others seem to stay in the same rut. Having a job also correlates with success.

Lastly, I can't miss this opportunity to recommend the grandaddy of that show: the all-time great Intervention.

I find I can hardly re-watch episodes: they're so heartbreaking.

Hello Remarks,

I finally saw one of my work colleagues the other day after about a year due to lockdown and our various schedules. He'd had a gastric bypass about 6 months ago, and I did not recognize him from behind. He was speaking with someone, and I walked right past....

When I came back around, I was shocked! I think he lost 100 lbs.
He looks much better, and says he feels much better too.

A positive data point to add to your collection

Hope everything goes well for you, and keep us posted .

Regards

SD

Snoringdog, Oak, Rivergirl, & Manuel:

Thanks for your well wishes. It really does mean a lot. I chose not to talk about this surgery with any of my family or friends. The only people who know live in my household. The main reason is because I didn't want their judgement or bad thoughts about it. That being said, I do need support and you all are doing a great job with it. THANK YOU and I will keep you updated.

@Oak, thanks for the TV recommendations. I've watched some of the newer episodes of My 600 Pound Life and they are as real as TV can get. I will have to go back and watch some older ones. I subscribe to Discovery+ and they have all the episodes on there, so I am set. I don't think I've actually watched intervention before, so I should give it a try.

Very good!

Here are my recommendations: James season 2, Robert season 6.

And if you want to see profound mental illness and learned helplessness, watch the Steven A episodes (if you dare).

Above all, good luck on Friday. You’ll do great. I’ll send good vibes.

Good luck with your surgery.

Yes, this is the big day. Good luck Remarks.