Personality change

I'm one week out from my surgery, and this is what is on my mind.

My thoughts are that no matter what you do, you cannot really prepare for this surgery.  I thought the physical part of the surgery itself was going to be the worst.  However, for me, that is not the case.  Yes, it hurt, but I'm healing well as far as I know.  What is sticking with me though is what I hate the most:  CRABBINESS.  I want to be my sweet old self.  The understanding wife, mother, daughter, sister, and teacher.  I DONT want other people to irritate me so much.  It's the small things too.  Things I shouldnt let bother me.  But they get under my skin.  And I want to SMILE.  I miss smiling all the time.  Instead, I find myself having to remind me to smile.  And it feels fake.  I definitely was NOT prepared for the change in my personality that I pray to God is only temporary.

Please tell me that others have gone through this.  And please tell me it doesn't last long.  If you have experienced this I NEED to hear from you!

It doesn't last long, but you will go through periods of moodiness depending on your hormones. Also, I noticed that after the first month or so, when I saw the weight falling off and people complimenting me, I perked up.

Exercise helps, too. It will get those endorphins going. Another thing that helps is sex! I know TMI!!! But, having an ****** will greatly improve your mood.

Good luck!

Alicia

This is a pretty normal reaction to the surgery afterwords. Those of us who are addicted to food no longer have it to fall back on. We dont' get to eat all the good stuff we see everyone else in the house eating. We have to smell i****ch them eat it and all we really want to do is EAT it!I Plus the extra hormones in your body aren't going to help at all. Some of us don't have a huge issue with it, others have a big problem with it early out (and it can last a few months, so beware!). But yes, what you are dealing with is VERY normal! Congrats on your recent surgery!

Hormones play a big part in the first few month post op. Mood fluctuations, depression, anxiety are likely to be expereinced too.  Likely these things will even out over time. BUT, you might need the help of some counseling and some depression or anxiety meds to help you on the way.  The surgery deals with your body not your mind.  The first few weeks can be highly stressful for many post ops.  I'd highly suggest you find a support group and attend as often as possible.  These groups help many. I attended a group last night. One new attendee said she was worried about the surgery, now that she hears some experiences expressed.  Each pateint is different. BUT, then she divulged this was her very first support group and her surgery was tomorrow, Wednesday. I sat near two people in the preop process, and they found it unbelievable she was having surgery Wed. and this was her first support group.  DAVE

What the others said!  You also need to be aware that recovery from the aftereffects of anesthesia
can take a couple of weeks as well. 

My prescription:  Nap as needed.  This way you can be asleep and let the poisons pass out of you
system.

Don't try to push yourself;  you NEED to recover at your own pace.  You'll be back!!

Give yourself some time. I was moody and crabby off and on for a good 8-10 weeks. I didn't have enough energy to do all the things I normally do and that made me mad and moodier. I leveled out at about three months, plus I had lost almost 50 lbs by then and was down two sizes so that made me very happy.

Just tell yourself its a VERY SMALL portion of your life to get through for the end results you want that you haven't been able to have any other way. I wake up everyday happy now, and getting dressed for work seems like a party in a size 12...and exercise is so much better without 70 extra pounds. You will get there! Baby steps.

I struggled with moodiness and crabbiness, too, for about the first 3-4 months. For me, it was frustration with not feeling well (recovery was slow) and not having my "friend" (food) to turn to in order to feel better. There was definitely a grief component for me. Hang in there!

I agree with what the other members said.  It takes time to heal -- a lot more time than I thought.  It took me 8 weeks to feel less drugged from the surgery itself.

I went through a lot of fustration at not being able to eat the way other people eat.  I felt angry. 

But the first time you find yourself hopping up a flight of stairs without issue or slip comfortably into that dress you hated because it was tight, you have reasons to feel good.

The begining is like being a baby again and learning to eat.  It's not pleasant.

Now, just short of 6 months out I am much happier and confident.  I am not saying that life is all sunshine and roses just because I have lost weight, but I am back to my normal, kind, caring self. 

I don't know what I would do without my once a week WLS support group.  They are a God-send and have become like family to me.  Also I recently went back to individual therapy because I may be thinner but that didn't solve any of my life-long struggles.

I encourage you to give yourself the gift of time to heal & listen to the other experienced people on the board.

You'll be back to yourself soon -- it just feels like it takes forever.

 Ive had the complete opposite. I have always been a very pessimistic person, glass half empty typer person. Since surgery tho and dropping 90 lbs in 3 mo I hvae become a VERY optimistic person, chipper and happy. I love it, and everyone else does too. This surgery has changed me in so many positive ways..Im so thankful for it every day. Just wait...your attitude will turn around...:)

You're not alone! So many people find their emotions and moods to be affected after wls! You've just been through major, life changing surgery and with that is bound to come a whole heap of different feelings and emotions! Losing weight releases stored hormones and it can wreak havoc on us mentally! Don't be so hard on yourself, once you start feeling better physically, you may feel better emotionally! If you're concerned, maybe talking to a counselor or therapist would help you cope better with all the changes going on. It's VERY important to take care of yourself mentally as well as physically after WLS! Your personality will change as you adjust to your new life and sometimes that can be really hard to deal with. Hoping you start feeling better soon! I find that focusing on my breathing and trying to relax helped me in the beginning! Do something nice for yourself like getting a pedicure or something like that! HUGS!