Depression - a side effect
I've just learned that another side effect of this surgery is Depression. Never thought I'd be there. I feel great physically but emotionally I'm not. Lately, i've been making mistakes at work and feel so stressed. My tears are right above my skin, just waiting. I'm seeing a therapist. She's stating that because of the rapid weight loss, we tend to loose a lot of chemicals and the body doesn't know what to do. On top of this, I'm experiencing hot flashes every night at 8 pm and around 11 pm, if I'm still awake. I cannot stay awake long if I'm watching TV. I get home about 6:45 and I'm asleep by 8:30 pm.
I'm told Oprah had a show about this.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Hi, Debi. Thanks for posting this, it's a difficult topic. I, too, am in bed by 9:00 every night, just plain exhausted -- more so in my mind than my body. I am down 118 lbs. since surgery and a total of 138 lbs. since I started this whole process. Physically, I feel pretty darn good -- have to move, love to walk (especially now...there is nothing so glorious than fall in New England!). I just don't understand why I feel so down so much of the time. Really try to shake it off and count my blessings every day. I mean, a little over 6 months ago I was practically an invalid. Now I have the energy of a 20 year old. A FIT 20 year old. But my head is not fit. I suppose depression has something to do with expectations. I supposed I expected that once I lost a significant amount of weight, life would be wonderful and rosey. Well, life doesn't change. We still face the same pressures of work, family, parenting, finances, etc., etc. And all of that makes me feel just plain tired. Anyway, thanks for the post and just take the time to take care of yourself. You're not alone. I missed everyone -- you've all been my rock and I can't thank you enough. Best, Maureen
I think we've all experienced some emotional stress and I think there are several reasons.
First, it's true - many hormones are easily stored in fat cells, and as we empty those fat cells, we release more hormones than we would normally have in our systems. Also, we have trouble absorbing vitamin B, and if you're not getting enough, I think that can contribute to depression as well. I've been taking a multi with B AND a separate B supplement, and I just found out at my 6mo bloodwork that my B is STILL too low. The doctor gave me a prescription for snortable B. 
But there are a lot of other potential things going on, too.
-The season is changing, and as beautiful as the leaves are, that means less sunlight. I, for one, KNOW that I get a touch of Seasonal-Affective Disorder (SAD) when the seasons change. A support group friend had a great idea for this. She put a fluorescent light fixture in her window, behind her curtains (I'm picturing the kind that usually go in your kitchen under your cabinets.) She put the light on a timer, and set it to turn on 45 minutes before she's supposed to get up in the morning. That way it helps to avoid the feeling that you're getting up in the middle of the night, when really you just get up early and it stays dark longer. I can't wait to try this one.
-It can be hard to still have 20, 30, 50, 100 more pounds to loose; it can be discouraging.
-It's a downer when people don't notice the weight loss, and, as you can see from some recent posts, it can be a downer when people DO notice the weight loss and start treating you like a human being.
-Our relationships are changing. Everything from having men notice you for the first time, to having men snub you for not being a BBW anymore. From women who are suddenly friendly, to those who are threatened now that you're not the biggest one in the office, and they resent it. You've got the ones who watch what you're eating (should you be having THAT?) to the ones that bring in cakes and candy, or are "sweet" enough to stop at Dunkin Donuts for everyone on the way to work - who is THAT helping? But I digress...
-Lastly, and I think this is the biggest issue, is that we may be nearing the end of our ability to "tough it out" - it's been about 6 and a half months for most of us now, and we're probably at the point where we can't just ignore our real life problems and occupy all of our mental energy on surgery, and protein, and excercise, and vitamins, and water, and everything else that has been consuming us post-op as we adjusted to our body changes. For a lot of us, it's the time to start dealing with the deeper, possibly even subconscious, drivers that drove us to eat so much in the first place.
That's where I'm at. I recognize that I ate when I was upset or worried about things (family, work, you name it.) I didn't eat to get a "high", like a lot of therapists and people think. I ate because AFTER that high, during the crash, I would be zoned out and get relief from my worries.
So perhaps you might have a touch of some emotional issues bubbling up, that aren't being suppressed or medicated by food anymore, emotions that you're not used to allowing yourself to feel. Kind of like your fat is releasing hormones, maybe you're releasing pent up emotions, too. My personal issue is anger. I am just starting to try to get in touch with it and release it, little by little -- but sometimes it is too much. I've actually cried, which is great. I was repressing it so bad for so many years that I couldn't tell you when the last time I actually cried was, before surgery.
I wish you the best of luck. Some or all of these may be contributing to your feelings. I think you're doing the right thing, working with a therapist.
Jen
But there are a lot of other potential things going on, too.
-The season is changing, and as beautiful as the leaves are, that means less sunlight. I, for one, KNOW that I get a touch of Seasonal-Affective Disorder (SAD) when the seasons change. A support group friend had a great idea for this. She put a fluorescent light fixture in her window, behind her curtains (I'm picturing the kind that usually go in your kitchen under your cabinets.) She put the light on a timer, and set it to turn on 45 minutes before she's supposed to get up in the morning. That way it helps to avoid the feeling that you're getting up in the middle of the night, when really you just get up early and it stays dark longer. I can't wait to try this one.
-It can be hard to still have 20, 30, 50, 100 more pounds to loose; it can be discouraging.
-It's a downer when people don't notice the weight loss, and, as you can see from some recent posts, it can be a downer when people DO notice the weight loss and start treating you like a human being.
-Our relationships are changing. Everything from having men notice you for the first time, to having men snub you for not being a BBW anymore. From women who are suddenly friendly, to those who are threatened now that you're not the biggest one in the office, and they resent it. You've got the ones who watch what you're eating (should you be having THAT?) to the ones that bring in cakes and candy, or are "sweet" enough to stop at Dunkin Donuts for everyone on the way to work - who is THAT helping? But I digress...
-Lastly, and I think this is the biggest issue, is that we may be nearing the end of our ability to "tough it out" - it's been about 6 and a half months for most of us now, and we're probably at the point where we can't just ignore our real life problems and occupy all of our mental energy on surgery, and protein, and excercise, and vitamins, and water, and everything else that has been consuming us post-op as we adjusted to our body changes. For a lot of us, it's the time to start dealing with the deeper, possibly even subconscious, drivers that drove us to eat so much in the first place.
That's where I'm at. I recognize that I ate when I was upset or worried about things (family, work, you name it.) I didn't eat to get a "high", like a lot of therapists and people think. I ate because AFTER that high, during the crash, I would be zoned out and get relief from my worries.
So perhaps you might have a touch of some emotional issues bubbling up, that aren't being suppressed or medicated by food anymore, emotions that you're not used to allowing yourself to feel. Kind of like your fat is releasing hormones, maybe you're releasing pent up emotions, too. My personal issue is anger. I am just starting to try to get in touch with it and release it, little by little -- but sometimes it is too much. I've actually cried, which is great. I was repressing it so bad for so many years that I couldn't tell you when the last time I actually cried was, before surgery.
I wish you the best of luck. Some or all of these may be contributing to your feelings. I think you're doing the right thing, working with a therapist.
Jen 
Jennifer, All I can say to this is BRAVO!!!!! I dont think anyone could have explained what I am going through better, It has been some ride ha!
God Bless us all and keep us safe and healthy!
With the dreded "candy holiday" almost apon us.....just right around the corner, lets all try to Stay away from the candy!!! 
Wow! And I thought I was depressed about having to move my mother to a nursing home and my brother with terminal cancer, and my daughter not speaking to me after moving my mother! 
(I just had to pause to comfort my dog, who had a seizure!)
Actually I could relate to each point that each of you raised. My hormones are a mess, and I have had to take a leave of absence from my job to try to cope with everything on my plate. I know the after-effects of the WLS surgery are affecting my emotions, but even so, I would not change it for the world. I am physically so much more able to cope with what I need to do. I have faith that the emotional storm will subside.
Let's all hang in there!
Joy
(I just had to pause to comfort my dog, who had a seizure!)
Actually I could relate to each point that each of you raised. My hormones are a mess, and I have had to take a leave of absence from my job to try to cope with everything on my plate. I know the after-effects of the WLS surgery are affecting my emotions, but even so, I would not change it for the world. I am physically so much more able to cope with what I need to do. I have faith that the emotional storm will subside.
Let's all hang in there!
Joy 
Yup, Depression is one of our side effects. Even thought we are happy
about the weight lossk, our bodies are gong thru a lot of other changes
If you are not on something for it. Ask your Doctor for something. Were
all with you & you are not alone. Hang in There you have done fantastic.
Marilyn, the Bearlady
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