How did/do you deal?

How did you do emotionally? How have you dealt with it? I'm a bit worried about how this will effect bipolar disorder. Has anyone taken Geodon during/after surgery? Any advice or ideas would be welcomed. Thanks

I can't speak to the Geodon question, but as far as how I dealt emotionally, it was challenging at points.  I believe that doing a month long pre-op liquid diet helped me deal with the post surgery mourning of food.  I had to go through some of the mood swings and mourning time associated with that prior to surgery, while I was still on my Wellbutrin and still otherwise healthy.  It was good to not have to deal with that so much in the early stages afterwards.  I hope that makes sense. There is a depression phase, at about a month out, that some go through.  I wish my doctor had warned me more about that.  He calls it the "blahs."  Basically, it's a biological response to the startlingly smaller amount of food that you are taking in.  Your body will depress itself in an attempt to conserve energy in a perceived famine.  It rights itself when it realizes that it's not going to starve to death.  For me it took nearly a month to regain my energy, but it did happen.  It coincided with a stall, also common, which is also your body's defense mechanism.  I just kept telling myself, "This too shall pass."  I hope some of this helps.  Take care. Ellen

Thanks, Ellen!  I stay 'blah' so it sounds like a typical time for me. I'm just scared I'll flip and be in a manic phase. When I get that way I can't sleep or eat and I have to stay on the go. Going wouldn't be a bad thing, but I don't want that stress on my already stressed body.  I get hyped and don't know when to slow up!    Congrats on your weight loss! Now slow down so some of us can catch up! Thanks for sharing your experience.

I suffer from severe clinical depression ... and I mean severe. My depression has been life altering ...I'll bet you can relate ... and I have it in the best control it's been in 7years. I actually waited to pursue the surgery until I had it under some control because I knew going in that this surgery put me at risk for a dive ... so, I am pulling out all the stops to try to manage my mental health as I try to get my physical health under control.

While I know my depression is different from bipolar, I had similar concerns/issues re: meds, sleeping (or not), etc. I actually have a problem where most meds do not work for me. We have come up with a "****tail" of meds that dont fix things, but sure make things much more manageable. I worked with my phsychiatrist before and after surgery. They can't be absolutely sure how your body will react/absorb the meds post surgery, so it's important to have those post surgery appointments lined up. My first appointment was 10 days out and we did make some changes to help me. The next appointment was scheduled for 3 wks later. So far, I'm doing pretty well.

I haven't hit that "blahs" stage that they talk about yet. That is one of the reasons we scheduled the appointment that should be about the same time blahs should be hitting. I also have scheduled appointments with my counselor to specifically address any issues I have with my surgery, weight loss, feeling blue, etc. I have scheduled these for every two weeks for the next year.

If you need or want to talk, just let me know.

Barb

The surgery is one of the main reasons I went into therapy when I did. Weight definitely has an impact on how we feel. The heavier I've gotten, the harder it's been to control my moods and such. I've been in therapy almost a year with both I currently have. I have weekly sessions and had to agree to keep them for as long as they feel necessary post-op. I'm ok with that! I think it's a good idea and I feel lucky to have such concerned therapists.  As far as my meds go... I'm the wild elephant in the circus they just can't seem to tranq! They can mellow me out slightly and take away most of the urge to kill over half the human race, but they can't seem to stabilize me.  You would be proud though... I can't stand to take pills, but I don't miss a dose. I just wish they could find something to make me less damn obsessive!  I'll be in there directing the surgeon before it's all said and done!  They need to turn me loose on our insurance companies! Thanks for your input and the offer of a shoulder. Same goes in return.

I think you are right ... We just need to turn your obsessive tendencies in a positive direction ... ie insurance mess. You are too funny! I like you have difficulties w/Drug therapies. They believe that I fall into that "special" <10% category of medication resistant patients ... While I love to be special ... I don't really like that kind of special ... and I know that you know what I mean.I look forward to knowing you for a long time. Those of us who not only suffer from, but learn to deal with MH issues need to stick together. I know that you are concerned, and it's not without reason, but I think that you and I are doing the right things for ourselves. We have recognized that we have an additional risk factor that many who have no or mild depressive disorders probably won't need to deal with ... That said, we are lining up the reinforcements so that we can have as successful an outcome as possible. In some ways, it might be a blessing; we may end up with more tools in our personal arsenal against weight that we would have if we didn't have the MH issues. I think it will help me make this the solution to my weight problem.All the best,

Barb

 

I AM 2 YEARS OUT AND MY BIPOLAR DISORDER HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. I AM NOW GOING TO SEE THE DOCTOR 2 TIMES A WEEK. HE HAS ME ON MEDS. BUT SEEMS LIKE I HAVE GOTTEN SO MEAN.I HAVE NOT TAKEN GEODON. I TAKE 3 EXANEX A DAY.