Weight loss and emotions...

Before weight loss surgery I was a pretty stable woman with lots of sense..

Now... I have noticed myself being A TON more emotional.

I saw somewhere that a woman with PCOS (like me) totally changed from a tomboy to a girlie girl after her hormone level was fixed and she got a normal level of estrogen in her body.


Could hormones really fluctuate that much after weight loss? I assume so! And if they do... could that be the reason for my fluctuating emotions?

The hormones definitely play a role in the emotional roller coaster that we are all on- both pre and post op.  PCOS does a number on so many different hormone levels, and it is often difficult to find the right ****tail to balance you out.

I think we all become a little more emotional following the drastic changes in our bodies.  We see things in ourselves and others that we didn't see before, and sometimes have a very difficult time dealing with those new things.  I know for myself it has been difficult to open up to new people and especially people who don't have a clue about dealing with obesity.

I am hoping that in the future I will get off of the roller coaster, and have all of the hormones balanced out the way they should be.   I know it will take time to get there (I was diagnosed with PCOS/Metabolic Syndrome at age 13).

Sorry for rambling on, guess it is time to go to bed!

Reenie

Ya know I am not sure, but I am sending you a hug!!  I know I got sassier, more out spoken.  
Hugs to you!!!!

Yes. I'm about 20 months out from surgery. And I am really being hit with the hormone issues. I am very emotional lately. I used to be very stoic. Not any more. I cry at the drop of a hat. I'm not depressed. I'm just extra sensitive.

Look how much your life has changed in the past year. Of course you are more emotional. I've followed your OH messages and your facebook messages. You've had some really high "HIGHS", and some very low "LOWs". Who wouldn't be an emotional wreck? Your mind and your heart don't know whether to go up or down.

You have been such a positive role model here. Keep it up! You are a very strong woman. You can conquer the world. I admire you.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly, that really means a lot :)

I had PCOS as well, and WLS helped tremendously!  I read that hormones are stored in our fat cells, and when we lose fat cells rapidly, our hormone levels fluctuate.   I noticed a big difference.

I find that emotions are more near the surface at times, and less at times. 

I have always been more sensitive than most guys, but the effect of weight loss surgery has made it more so.  Part of that, I think, has been learning how to let myself actually feel things, good and bad, without the aid of food to numb or smother those feelings.  Before surgery I was worried that the expected hormonal surges would leave me in a free fall into depression or rage like some WLS men have experienced.  While I have been on the edge of depression a few times this past year, I haven't yet sunk below the surface and I haven't felt truly angry with no discernable cause (irritability and impatience, however, are another story)......counseling, my supportive WLS friends and a healthier lifestyle have all helped me avoid those emotional experiences I feared.  So, joy and sadness both bring tears to my eyes more often these days.......and, well, let's just say that I am a friskier fellow than I used to be.

RP

When ever I talk about my hormone levels being off to one of my doctors I feel they just dismiss me.   I was a lot more emotional for a while but then they just put me on an increase dose of antidepressants which did help balance my moods but I think the hormone levels are affecting me in other ways.  Has anyone ever had their hormone levels tested after WLS?   I'm also wondering how much of this may have to do with my thyroid and maybe need that rechecked.

Elena have you ever had your thyroid checked?  The thyroid controls how quickly the body burns energy, makes proteins and how sensitive the body should be to other hormones.   If its off maybe its affecting how sensitive your body is to the increased hormones your body is producing.

Just got my bloodwork done today - 12 vails, yikes! Hopefully it'll show something!

For me it seems that loosing the weight took away my safety net. I didn't have the fat to hide behind anymore. When I was heavy, I was always confident and sure of myself, because I felt like the expectations were different. Now that I have lost the weight, I look the part of a "normal" sized person, but I still have the mentality of an obese person, minus my protective "fat person" shell. I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but that is how I feel. Since loosing the weight, my hormones have been all over the map. I go from days when life couldn't be better, to days when I wonder if it was all worth it. I also went through some issues with my thyroid early on that made things more complex. I still have periods when I know my hormones are trying to catch up to what I have done to them, and it is stressful for me as well as people around me. Talking about it and realizing others are going through a similar thing post op seems to at least make me realize it isn't just me, it is a biological thing that is causeing this, and others are going through it as well. Hang in there, maybe they will find an "easy" fix in your blood work. If not, you are doing amazingly well. I have followed you on a few different sites here on OH, and you really seem to be blossoming. This new lifestyle takes a lot to get used to, so take it slow, and hang in there. You have so many people supporting you here!