Post Sugery Depression

Two week spost opp.  I have noticed an unusual change in my mood.
I suffered from dperession prior to surgery, but now it seems a tad wierd.  I find myself crying at all kinds of things (yes I am a grown man and I will admit it.  I can lose it at church, just standing or sitting around etc....

I find myself regretting my life, like I have missed most of it.  What I do for a living does not make me happy eiher and  I am not sure if things will get better after returding to work.

For the most part, everything went fine.  I did wind up having an abcese with some infection and am still working on that.  Packing an open incision at least twice a day with gauze etc...  Could that be causing it?

In my life, I like set things.  I.E. I know what to expect each day, work, food, etc....  I guess what is making it hard now is that I no longer call the shots.  I can't tell when I will have diahreah (from CT scan dye and meds), an upset stomach and being so limited on what I can do or eat or now.

Sorry for the rambling.  I guess my question is, is post surgerical depression normal?

It is absolutely normal.  In fact, most of us have experienced it.  It usually, but not always, starts between 2 and 4 weeks post-op and lasts anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month.  It varies from person to person in length and severity.  I started at 2 weeks, the worst of it lasted 2 weeks, and it took 2 more weeks till I was okay again.  Again, it varies from person to person, so don't judge yourself by me or anyone else.

The theories for why this happens vary and may be a combination of them and stuff we don't know.  There is the mourning of food, you most likely lost a friend/comforter.  Also, fat cells produce and house estrogen, when you start losing them rapidly, all that estrogen enters your system and sets your hormones off balance.  There is also the idea that you have so severely restricted your calorie intake that your body is depressing itself in an effort to conserve energy.  All of these are probably factors. 

That is the long version to say, yes this is normal and will pass.

Take care.
Ellen

General anesthsia does all kinds of funky crap to your body. I have not had any depression yet this time (RNY 12/03/2008) but when I had my gallbladder out in March it was horrible. I went to my Doc in early May about it and she is the one that told me to expect mood swings etc for up to 8 weeks after general.

Plus you have made huge changes to your body, your brain is bound to behave differantly while it adjusts.

I hate hate hate all the protein stuff I have tried. My surgeon has me on liquids for 3 weeks post op, Ok well I ain't make that, I am eat some yogurt and pudding because I simply cannot hang with the drinks I have tried. I am keeping it fat free and sugar free but I feel a touch guilty for breaking the rule. Still its not causing dumping and I am eating spoonful(s) not cups or buckets.

Keep your chin up. Read message boards, talk to folks, and sleep when you need it.!

Liz

This all makes me feel better.  I sure do hope estrogen being released is not the issue.  Male here, hehe.  I am also confident the infection I got (haivng to pack my own wound for a bit) is a hard hitting part too.

Anyway,
Yeh I am 2 weeks out on tuesday (RNY 12/2/2008), so that about fits right.  I am also with yah on the lack of calories depressing my body.   Maybe that is the most of it.  Find myself wanting to go to work so I can get away from doing nothing, or cabin fever.  Hoping being gone from home to work will want me to be at home, lol.  My wife is very supportaive of me (she is 6 months post RNY and is doing great.  However she is mad that I have already lost more than 20 lbs in less than two weeks, lol)

Yeh, pretien stuff is really starting to suck.  Moving over to Carnation Instant Breakfast.  Easier for me to sip that all day than plain protien shakes.  The MB will help too.  Good to talk with people that have the same issues that I am having.

 Your body has been through quite an ordeal and it will take a lot of time to recover from that.  Depression is very normal for all the reasons that the other posters have already mentioned.  It will get better.  Hang in there!

Hugs,
Donna

P.S. Congrats on your awesome weight loss so far!!  But I'm with your wife on this one ~ it's so not fair that you guys can and do lose so much faster and more than we do!!  LOL!!

D -

This is perfectly normal. As Ellen said, it really varies from person to person, but it's not only normal, but common. Not only has your body been 'beat up' from surgery and is trying to recover from the anesthesia, but now that you are losing weight rapidly, your body may also be releasing large amounts of estrogen stored in your fat deposits. This evens out fairly quickly for most folks ... 2 to 6 weeks or so, but it can be pretty daunting. When you combine that with losing your main coping mechanism ... eating, it's enough to cause anyone to have depressive issues. If your depression is severe ...i.e., interfering with your ability to function and/or cope, then be sure to contact your Dr so that it can be addressed. Take heart knowing that this too shall pass, but if you need help, be sure to get it. The good news is that while you are in the throws of the most difficult part of the journey right now, it gets better, sooooo much better and I haven't met a single person later down the 'road' that didn't think that it was all worth it.

Wishing you all the best,