60 minutes / depression

Wow, this week's 60 minute segment on WLS was fantastic.  I'd hoped it would help my family member understand why I want to have this surgery.  It was allover very positive, don't you all agree?  Instead, he focused on the one person interviewed who has post-surgery depression.  Now he says I shouldn't have it because I already suffer from depresson, and the surgery might make it worse.  Am I being nieve, or might the surgery make my depression better?  Getting rid of my type 2 diabetes, improving my type 1, my general health, my self-esteem - shouldn't that improve my depression?  Shisssshhhhhh.............  Fern

It's according to what kimd of depression you suffer from.  If it's because of a chemical imbalance in the brain, I don't care how much weight you lose, it does not help.  If you are dpressed because you are unhappy with your looks, your self esteem is low, maritial problems or other reasons other than the chemical problems, then yes it can assist is reducing the depression.  So you need to find out why you are depressed.  I am one that has lived with depression my entire life and nope, it didn't help me on bit.  But what it did help, was my outlook on life, my health among other things.  My diabetes is GONE, cholesterol is perfect, high blood pressure done, pain in my joints gone...it was all about my health, all the other effects it had on me, were positive and just extra perks. Good luck,  I really think you are on the right track with your reasonings to lose.  Its not a quick fix remember that, it's a life long committment to change your eating.  To be successful you need to "control" your eating. Diane

Many thanks for your reply, and I am so happy you are doing so well.  It is so encouraging.  I think it is thought that for some reason the WLS actually causes depression.   That's what the 60 minutes person was saying.  For those not even having it going in, some are getting depressed afterwards.  I think it could be for a lot of reasons:  just change, no longer being comforted by food as a coping skill, finding out that magic didn't happen and the world and it's problems still exist.  That it isn't as easy as one hoped, whatever.  I agree that a pre-existing depression that is chemical will probably not disappear.  Thanks for the support.   I wish you health and happiness. Fern

I did go through the depression of missing food, and the changes that was happening.  You have to give it time.  Most freak out, but patience really goes along way with this surgery.  I mean you acutally mourn the loss of eating so much and whatever you wanted.  That happens to everyone, we aren't having WLS because we are skinny minnies to start with.  It's because of we ate what we wanted.  I did like what 60 minutes talked about, but I have yet to see an interview on any WL patients where the patients get to really say what happens to their lives.  There is good and bad in it all.  The touched on the depression part and then it was just left like it's a forever side effect.   Take care....good luck in your quest for thiness. Diane