Anxiety Attacks after DS

Hello. I'm new here.

I just received my surgery date, and am 22 days out.

Before getting pregnant with my now 18 year old son, I struggled with severe panic attacks.. to the point of being housebound for a long time.  When I got pregnant, they all but disappeared.  I only get the occasional attack when I'm nearing my time of the month.

I chose the DS surgery, but for some reason, lately, I've been really afraid that with the huge changes coming my way, I might start to have panic attacks again.  This scares me more since the surgery I opted for is irreversible.

Did anyone here who had the DS surgery experience panic attacks after having the surgery (whether having been pre-disposed to them or not, please)?  

Sorry for the novel.

I'm sorry that you are already thinking of possible panic attacks. Our attacks are rarely about the current moment and mostly about what we perceive might happen in the future whether it be immediate future or down the road.

i suffered for years with Agoraphobia and was mostly housebound .  

For me the huge euphoric feelings of being able to do things after my DS that I only dreamt about (walking without hurting, exercising, shopping, fitting in booths at restaurants , etc.) over shadowed any panic attacks I thought were going to happen. 

Hopefully you will experience the same.  The surgery is truly a life altering experience and I would not trade it for the world.

Thank you so much, Noreen, for your reply.

You give me so much hope.  

I don't remember when I was last 'small'.  It will feel good. I'm certain of that.  I also am aware that I will be seeing the reflection of a stranger when I look in the mirror for the first little while.

 

Everyone is telling me that they don't regret having the DS surgery for one moment.  This also gives me much hope.

 

I know what agoraphobia feels like I was once housebound for 6 years.

 

I'm so very grateful for this group/forum and the wonderful people and advice.

 

Thank you, again.

Ohhh yes, do I know about panic attacks. I had it so bad between 2002 2004, that I never got a break.... they never ended. It was like one continuous one... soooo horrible. Ive had them off and on since I was a small child. I truly feel for anyone that has mental disorders because of my own experiances with them. I take synthroid for my low thyroid, and I had heard that some people have problems absorbing enough of it after having the DS, and it has to be adjusted after surgery. Just knowing that made me consider not having the DS. The thought of going through another possible episode like back in 2002 almost made me put the brakes on. Well with a lot of prayer I decided to go through with it. The week before the surgery, I was so anxiety ridden that I had to be put on anti anxiety medicine... I was just so scared and freaked out about so many things... It really helped. Fast forward, six months later, and I have done great. No panic attacks, and I still take the same amount of synthroid. I know its a REALLY scary thing that only people that have went through it know what its like, so I just thought I would tell you a little bit about my story, and that everything has been just fine in the "panic" dept. Good Luck! Message me if you have any questions, nothing is to private to ask, if I can help.....

Thank you so much, Dustycroy.

 

I had no idea so many other people struggled with anxiety.  Strangely, it's comforting. I hope that doesn't sound selfish.  It's just that I know how 'lonely' anxiety can make people feel.

 

I'm still feeling my way around this forum and am not sure how to complete my profile and add friends.  Please feel free to add me, if that's even a possibility. :)

I'm two weeks away from surgery.  I'm going to get my Optifast in Montreal on Wednesday of this week.

 

Thank you, again, and take care. :) I would love to chat with you.. with everyone who's giving such great advice, again.

I'm so very glad things worked out for you. I take much comfort knowing that.

I can't speak from personal experience on this topic, but would recommend you discuss your concerns now with someone who could prescribe something for you post-op, should the need arise. That way, that doc would already know you, which might prevent a delay in care. Make sure to explain that extended release meds would not be a good choice post-op due to the malabsorption you will have, which should not be a problem because there are so many good meds available these days).

And the "switch" part is reversable, btw, though that is rarely necessary. The sleeve, or course, is not reversable, but does stretch out with time.

Larra

Hi Larra

 

Thank you so much for your message. I do have Ativan right now. I guess that's close to, if not the same as, Xanax.  I use it mostly as a crutch right now, but still have it.  I've spoken with a few other people who have told me that they take Ativan and they aren't experiencing problems.

I'm glad to hear that the 'switch' part of the surgery is reversible, if necessary, however, I'm hopeful that it won't be necessary.

 

I've heard many positive reports about this surgery.  I, naturally, have my fears and doubts. I worry about the cost of vitamins, etc., but I know that the good will far outweigh the bad. :)

 

Take care, and thank you, again. :)

Having weight loss surgery is a huge life event. Your relationship with food has to change. This is very hard for..well just about all of us. Most of us use food as an emotional crutch. As you lose weight, you also start seeing a stranger in the mirror. For many of us, this is really hard too. It is a very good idea to see someone for counseling. I am going to start this soon myself. I had the lapband and lost about 100 lbs and transferred addictions. It was not a fun experience. I had a revision to the DS on the 13 of Nov. I am terrified of regaining, and I am also in the middle of some huge life changes. I am going through a divorce. I have a 4 year old son, and I worry about what the divorce will do to him. I met someone, ironically, and fell in love with them. Not at all my intentions, but for the first time in my life I really feel like I met someone who feels like my soul mate, and I have every intentions of being with him for the long haul. But everyone has issues and he has an anxiety disorder and bipolar. It can be a challenge sometimes, but I am learning how to ride the wave, so to speak. Its a lot on my plate(haha), and I am going to ask my doctor tomorrow for a referral to a therapist. Hopefully one with a speciality in addiction.

I get panic attacks too...what helped me the most was counseling and behavior therapy to help me retrain my brain and thoughts. (Medication helped too) Feel free to message me if you ever want to talk:) I am a great listener and enjoy chatting and getting to know people.

Hello ElijahsMama.

 

Thank you so much for your reply to my post. I'm so very sorry to hear that you're going through so many stressful life events at one time, but glad that you have someone to counsel you through them.  

 

I will be talking to my Surgeon about the possibility of counseling after my surgery. I'll be 'hitting' them with all of my last minute fears and questions on the 4th of December.  I'm looking forward to it. :)

I am now officially two weeks away from my surgery.

 

:) Thank you, again, for your kind words and encouragement.  No matter what, I need to be real.

My anxiety attacks were part of my life long before my DS. 

According to my therapist, I may also have a little PTSD going on, too, as in the midst of being switched, one of my elders, an uncle for whom I was responsible, passed away, and soon after, another elder, who was my Mom's oldest brother,  then my Dear Mother.

The cure for now...Xanax.    Don't be afraid of medicine that you need.  As long as you don't abuse it, it can help ease things along, until you master more natural methods of quieting your nerves.