Need some support

Hey Don, Glad you found us here. Don’t worry about it getting in the way of your surgery too much. Many folks who have depression are "patched up" and passed on to surgery. Getting the "Blues" taken care of is the priority. Depression and Obesity are very "Chicken & Egg." Depressed because you are Obese? Or- Obese due to the Depression? Doesn’t actually matter. Even after losing the weight if there was some depression there before? It’ll likely still be there. (just wearing smaller clothes.) The short of it is, No matter how we view ourselves, Mood is the result of brain chemistry. When we are sad, chemical neurotransmitters are released. When we are happy, the same. And fearful, and stressed, etc, etc... Big Ole Bio-Chem Stew going on. It is the result of how we are stimulated and it is the cause of how we respond to stimulation. A year of talking through, working through emotional issues will result in slow incremental brain chemistry changes, and we will begin responding to stimulation differently and our outlook and general mood can be raised. Or, Cut to the chase, Take a pill that does the same thing in a couple of weeks. I may be in the minority, (and certainly run contrary to the "Tom Cruise" approach) But believe in "Better Living Through Chemistry." Same as gardening…..2 approaches- I could slowly work the soil and remove insects manually and allow plant matter to de-compose into the soil to make it richer, Or, I can throw in a little Miracle-Grow and spray with pesticide. Which of the two makes sense? Call a Psychiatrist, get to the bottom of it, Explain "how you feel," and your concern about ‘side-effects’ and he’ll hook you up with something to re-set your brain chemistry levels that doesn’t Suk in other ways. With all of the "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" (SSRI) Such as- Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Luvox, etc…The most common complaint is it kills your sex drive. (or makes it take ‘Forever’ to reach climax) Followed by some insomnia, little nervousness, and ‘loss of appetite.’ The "Really Bad Side-effects" that tend to make the News, are the ones associated with stopping the dosage suddenly. Tell your doc your concerns. Perhaps with the apnea, you already have a little sleeplessness? If so, the doc may prescribe something like Trazodone (which actually helps sleep) or Mirtazapine which also acts as a sleep aid. Wellbutrin is common for many Obese Folk. It certainly helps with post-op depression, as does Effexor.

All of that to say- There’s Plenty of options available and your doc can adjust your prescription to reach the best therapeutic level with the minimal side effects. Don’t resist because of Psyche-Doctor Stigma. If you had pain in your knee, you wouldn’t think twice about taking something for it. So, pain in your Psyche? Same thing. Call the Doc. Schedule the appointment, and Get ‘er Done! No extra Points for suffering. There’s NO Medicine- NONE that can claim to have NO Side effects. Aspirin, (bleeding ulcers) hell Tylenol has some really evil side effects. (liver) The question is do the therapeutic results outweigh the drawbacks? Same as Bariatric Surgery. It does have drawbacks, But, Statistically, it adds quality and quantity to life. Welcome to the Men’s Board! Hollar out if we can help! There’s plenty of guys here who have taken their share of Anti-depressants. I hope you find all of the experience, info, and support that this bunch has to offer. Best Wishes- Dx