Depression/Anxiety and WLS
on 7/10/16 7:47 pm
I suffer from anxiety and depression. I have been on meds for years now. I am almost three years out from WLS. They didn't hold it against me that I was on meds.
There are so many people who are these days. I do feel better when I am on them. I do go to therapy about once a month. I was going once a week.
Don't be afraid to ask.
Hi I'm a "newbie" and I just started the whole process last week with an information session. I have mental health issues also. I am bipolar and am on meds for this..see a psychiatrist once a month and attend cognitive therapy weekly. I too am worried that this will affect my chances of having the surgery.
on 7/11/16 9:24 am
There are a lot of people who have mental disorders that have WLS. It can be a very stressful time waiting for surgery or just waiting for an answer. Take one day at a time.
Start by focusing on positive things that you are doing to make your life healthier now. Coming to this website is a great start for support. There is a search engine at the top to look up things you may want answers for.
First, you should applaud yourself for sharing this on OH, with strangers. 
Who will soon be family!
I have a long history with mental illness. I have been on disability forever from Major Depression. I am also Bipolar/PTSD/Anxiety/Panic Attacks/Major Depression. I am in therapy once a week and take several psychotropic drugs, including a controlled med. I knew, from all these ailments that it caused me to gain all the weight, I shared that with my psychiatrist when he did my psych eval. Always be honest. No one's going to judge you because you live with depression, etc. Lots of people who have WLS live with mental diagnoses and still have WLS. It's just understood.
Talk to your psychiatrist about going on something that will help you. They know what meds cause weight gain and will steer away from those meds. It is brave and honorable to choose to fight an illness that plagues you! You are taking back control of You! That's admirable.
When I had my two surgeries (Lap Band, then revision to RNY), they just asked what meds I'm on, occasionally asked why. Then, close, real close to WLS, I was asked to stop my meds that day, and they would resume them in the hospital. That's all. If the drug interferes with your WLS, they will work with you to adjust your routine until the surgery is done. Then when you see your psychiatrist after surgery, he/she will see how you are coping, and if need be, adjust your meds and suggest therapy.
Be proud that you are taking care of you, mentally and physically. And always be honest. You can do it! 
yeah... we can all have a great life :) right NOWMeerKat94,
As a Behavioral Health Counselor for a Bariatric Program, We do get approvals for patients with behavioral health issues if they are getting help (counseling and if needed medication). What causes problems is those patients who do not acknowledge there is a problem and their psychological testing determines there are not a good candidate for surgery due to their behavioral health issue such as uncontrolled severe depression, psychosis, or similar issues. I can easily work with someone who has depression and anxiety and is getting help but those who claim there is not a problem and are unwilling to get help are those I cannot help. Our program requires weekly counseling with a community based counselor preferably one who is familiar with bariatrics to learn coping skills to help each patient with the stresses of getting surgery but also to deal with the problems in their lives. Good luck to you in your weight loss journey!
BeautifulBethany
