What have i done

I'm not a doctor, and I haven't had WLS yet, but  I know from experience that some people go through post-sugical depression regardless of the procedure.  It's simmilar to post-partum depression and has to do with your body's response at the chemical and hormonal level.

I remember after my hysterectomy I was so depressed I thought I was loosing my mind.  I told my doctor how horrible I was feeling only after months of misery and a large weight gain.  His response?  He said, "I thought you might suffer post-surgical depression".   I wanted to ask him why he hadn't warned me, but instead I just asked him why I was so depressed.  After all, it was an elective surgery and all my prior symptoms had thankfully vanished.  By all accounts, I should have been happy with the results.  Instead, all I wanted was to turn back the clock and un-do what I had allowed them to do to me.  I hated the way I felt and the way I looked, post-op.  I was convinced it had been a huge mistake.  I know better now, I'm 100% glad I did it now (hind-sight being what it is).

It seems that if you are pre-disposed to depression prior to surgery (and sometimes even if you aren't), the trauma, blood loss, anesthesia and pain medications involved with surgery all have the potential to slam you right into a major depression.  THIS CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING; so please, get some help.

Hope you get through this alright; there is help available, all you have to do is ask.

Good luck.

I really feel for you and I know what you are going thru.  I'm six years Post Op and that first month was a lulu for me.  I remember sitting in my recliner watching television.  I never really noticed how many commericals there were for FOOD.  While I wasn't hungry, I had regret.  Then an ad came on for I think 7-11 where this gal was buying nachos.  I just broke down and cried because I thought "I'll NEVER BE ABLE TO EAT NACHOS again"     Such depression for the best friend I ever had . . . . food.   One doctor I had when I was a fat teen told me mother that I turned to food because it's the only thing that doesn't talk back to me.  It was my comfort, my salvation.  So now you are going thru a loss.   This is a loss just like a cherished loved one.  But the good news.....this shall also pass.  I next went thru anger.  Why is it that EVERY family gathering had to center around FOOD!!
You do need to tell your doctor about your depression.  It's very real.    Hang in there.....it will get better!!!

Hey there Latrice, I am truly sorry to hear what you are going thru.

I personally have not yet had bypass surgery as yet, I am waiting on Ins. approval, however I have had major surgery in the past. Also having cared for family members who have had major surgery. Many people do not understand what happens after. And from my experience, no Doctor will explain this to a individual. I ask the Doctors way to many questions, and not many of them like it when you do ask. Except of course the surgeons from the Bariatric clinics. In saying this I agree with all the other responses, go talk to your surgeon. The one question you should ask, " after surgery how long does it take for your insides to recoup". Cause from what I know to be fact, It will take anywhere from a year to a year and a half, for your body to start to feel any kind of normalcy. So yeah you might need some Meds. to help you along the way!.
But in the mean time keep the faith and maybe look for support groups in your area. Everything your feeling is normal, keep on keep on goin girl, you can fight this!, everyone is here to support you      HUGS  LORRAINE 

Aloha Latrice......I don't know why I wandered over into this forum today, but I am so glad that I did. I FEEL your pain in way that maybe only someone who is almost 3 years out from surgery can. It is filtered through having many friends who have had this surgery AND having just this morning taken a dear friend to the airport to fly from Maui to Honolulu for her 2nd surgery to repair an intestinal problem that only just came to light after her surgery almost 5 years ago. However.....let me say that my friend looked amazing this morning....she went from approx. 275 lbs. (at 5'2") to 114!! That is too low for her, but that is because of this intestine problem she is having.....she has had to drink liquids for the past couple of weeks.

Not that it matters....but I am a retired clinical psychologist and had my RNY surgery July, 2006. I am one of the lucky ones who came through without any complications and just 4 months ago had tummy surgery to take away excess skin, so that now I have a flat belly and basically a skinny body.

Please, do not fret too much. What you are experiencing is so very normal.......depression. They told us that was to be expected, and I had it for about a day, but luckily not more than that. Your end result.......health, fitness, and freedom in your body will make you blossom in the months ahead. Please, follow your surgeon's rules.....you will be glad you did.

In addition to being a psychologist, I am currently a newborn hearing screener at the local hospital and see all the beautiful new babies born on Maui. TO have a 10 month old is both delightful AND stressful. Please love that new life.....and he will have a mama that will see him/her graduate from college as a healthy mama instead of a FAT, out of shape mama who might not get to see his first grandchild.

With so much aloha,

Maui Karen

Hi Latrice,
I happened on this post today while visiting different forums here on O.H.
 I wondered how you're feeling now that a little bit of time has passed since your posted this thread. Sometimes it takes time to adjust to everything your body goes through.  We naturally mourn the loss of food.  For most of us food has played a major role in our lives for a while. We turned to food to fill a need, like  boredom, anger, lonleness, frustration, joy, the list is just about endless. I rermember being two weeks out and crying because I had to take my vitamins. I laugh at that now. Feeling "blue" is generaly a normal reaction after most surgeries. Try to remember to take it slow.  As you adjust to your surgery, and learn from first hand experience what and how much you can eat/drink it will improve. The results are well worth the effort you put into this now. I am three and a half years out and down a total of 225 #. Take advantage of your "window of opportunity" Because it will end. I struggle everyday with my eating habbits, but I am determined that I will win this life long battle of the buldge! Please do let me/us know how you are doing now that it's been five or six weeks. Thank you.
God bless,
Annette

i am also wondering how you are doing now.  hope you come back and post an update.  hopefully you are feeling better, but if not i hope you stay connected to your support here.

i am considering RNY and i was not frightened by your post.  i want a balanced picture of what i may be getting into.  i hear all the "hooray" extremely positive stories and because of all my past failures, i wonder what it would be like to be the only one in the room going god... it didn't work for me (or maybe it wasn't the right choice for me or whatever) - i'm not glad you are suffering, far from it, but it's almost too daunting to hear all these super-positive outcomes all the time, it seems impossibly good.  and i am not looking for the negative here, i just want a balanced understanding.   now i am learning.  if something goes wrong after my surgery, i want to be prepared, and have a plan, not be trying to cope with depression or feeling like a failure all alone.  i see why support is SO important post-surgery.  i am taking it very seriously now.

You should get professional help for your depression there is a 58% increased risk of suicide among patients of this surgery....I have been researching about it cause I want to convince my gf to cease and desist about having it.  No luck so far.

Of greatest concern are the effects of long-term nutritional deficiencies, which are rarely discussed realistically. The neurological decline and aging seen after bariatric surgeries is especially rapid and results from multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies, said Dr. Ernsberger. Both the stomach and small intestines are critical for absorbing many nutrients, including B-vitamins, calcium, iron, vitamin D and protein. Even taking supplements in multiple times the recommended amounts doesn’t help because the surgeries eliminate the proper function of the stomach and gastrointestinal system, he said. Hence, malnutrition problems are not uncommon, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and include anemias, osteoporosis, loss of teeth, blindness and, in a reported 16% of cases, even neurological and brain damage. We are seeing the return of nutritional deficiency diseases of starvation in formerly healthy fat people that had become rare in Western societies and are typically only seen in underdeveloped regions of the world.

please get help for your depression. surgery is a big, big stress on you and - if you are anything like me - you can't deal with the stress by eating.

mostly, this is temporary and things get better. hoping for the best!

Jackie

Hi sweetie,I'm not good a speller or typing .I have had a hard time the last 3 yrs .been at deaths door 2 times .The 1st yr I asked myself what the hell did I do .I was in a coma for over 2 Mo's when I came out of it ,my  weight was 98 pounds .I'M now 145-150 .I can walk and play with my grand baby's do all kinds of things I never did .so even with all of the things I have been though ,I would still have WLS again .hang in there Hun .I now that it well get better .hugs Red in TX .

I'm late to the party by months but I did not notice how old the posts on this board are. 

If you do look back at this, you may already have found out depression is common after surgery.  Just part of your hormones adjusting.  I was lucky my doc warned me about the possibility.  

I hope now that you've seen results you're feeling better.