Is anyone elso going through this?

I have been feeling like I have been going crazy this past month!  I have often times thought about checking myself into a mental hospital!  Has anyone ever heard of ............

POST OPPERATIVE DEPRESSION, or POST SURGICAL DEPRESSION?

I found out about it doing a search about the causes of depression. Then I Googled it. I read that it can occur immediately after surgery as well as up to months later. I am about 3 months post-op. Lately, I have been having severe anxiety attacks, severe depression, crying spells, even times throwing tantrums!  Has anyone else heard about this? Has anyone else gone through it?  Is there anyway out of it without being put on antidepressants?  I was on those in the past and had trouble tolerating them. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

I'm not sure as to the extent of your depression, but I can honestly say that I believe anyone that's gone through this type of surgery goes through various stages of depression, anxiety, anger, etc.  I think it's normal.  I'm 18 months out and I still have moments where I panic about what I did to myself, and I get angry that it had to come to surgery to get my life back.  I get angry that I wasn't strong enough to do this without the surgery.  I panic that I will gain the weight back..you name it...i panic..lol.  I think what you're going through is perfectly normal.  Try and make that support group in Bridgewater at least once in a while.  You'll be happy to learn that you're not going through this alone.

hI HUN
 i TOO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION--BEFORE MY SURGERY AND NOW LONG AFTER.. DEPRESSION IS A MEDICAL CONDITION--IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE MENTALLY ILL..THERE IS A BIG PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE--ESPECIALLY WOMEN WHO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION.. I TAKE MEDS TO HELP--I DONOT HAVE SOMETHING LIKE BIPOLAR - I SUFFER FROM REGUALR DEPRESSION AND SOMETIMES I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I AM DEPRESSED--I REALLY THOUGHT THAT AFTER MY RNY IN 2007 THAT IT WOULD MAGIALLY GO AWAY--LIKE MY DIABETES--WELL NEITHER HAS GONE--I SUFFER MOST OF THE DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS STILL EVEN THO I LOST OVER 200 LBS--I AM HAVING SOME ISSUES THO NOW WITH A FISTULA AND A LOOSE STAPLE..
 IF U DO NOT TAKE MEDS FOR YOUR DEPRESSION--PLEASE DO HAVE A TALK WITH YOUR PRIME DOC TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE..
 BELIEVE ME--IT CANNOT BE IGNORED--I HAVE COME SO CLOSE TO WANTING TO JUMP OFF A BRIDGE--BUT LIKE U I AM A CHRISTIAN AND MY STRENGTH COMES FROM THE LORD..I GET SO OVERWHELMED WITH LIFE THAT I FEEL LIKE I JUST CANNOT DEAL--THIS WORLD IS SAD AND I AM  STANDING STRONG IN THE WAITING OF CHRIST TO COME BACK TO TAKE HIS CHURCH HOME TO HEAVEN..
 IF U NEED TO TALK FEEL FREE TO ADD ME TO YOUR FRIENDS LIST AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE YOU AS THIS IS MY GOAL IN LIFE--TO PUT MYSELF SECOND AND OTHERS FIRST--IT IS ONE WAY OF COPING  WITH MY DEPRESSION--MY MOTTO IS--NO MATTER HOW BAD WE THINK WE HAVE IT--THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS MUCH WORSE OFF..
 MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU
  GOD BLESS
    YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST
SUSIE SMITH FROM PA

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I have depression too. It sounds like you would benefit from seeing a counselor. Going through the surgery is a big change in your life, sometimes talking to someone can help you cope with your symptoms.  Meds are only part of the treatment and not the whole treatment. I would start by finding a counselor.  The hosptial where you had your surgery can probably refer you to someone.  Good luck and I hope you feel better :)

Susie

AT three months post op, you're experiencing normal hormonal problems. How it was explained to me was that the hormones are being held in your fat cells. As the fat cells go away and shrink, the hormones have no where to hide anymore and they start floating through the blood and causing problems..Depression, anxiety, pms, anger...all are pretty normal at three months post op. I had some real anger issues about that time...

You may want to see a counselor who specializes in WLS or at least knows about the issues. Drugs aren't always the answer and it does get better.

I had that.  Eventually I decide to use antidepressants.  I really did not wanted - but felt like I was losing my mind.
I tried to get off them - i am on lexapro - but then I started feeling really bad - (I was off for 6 months - and i did not like myself).  Now I am back on them.  Not sure for how long.
In mid December I had Plastics.  And i hoped that once I had them - I would feel "on top of the world".  The opposite happened. I got so severely depressed.  To a point that I could not function. I even started drinking daily.    The blood test showed low normal iron level (ferritin) and low Thyroid hormone - T3 (the rest were normal). 
once I started taking extra dosages of iron (heme iron) within 3 weeks I could feel the difference.   That was 1.5 months ago.  Now - I also started exercise - yoga. And i stopped drinking.  I fell much better.
Check your iron - and B's, and thyroid - whole panel, not only TSH.

Do not trust the doc when he/ she tell you that your test is good. get a copy and check it yourself.
i.e. my ferritin was 11. (norm 10-160) - so theoretically it is normal - but in practice a lot of people have all symptoms of anemia 9including depression) when ferritin is below 55. 

Honey your not crazy!!! I dont' suffer from it, but my poor husband does. It's a medical condition and it can be very hard to cope with. My heart breaks for him sometimes watching what he goes through. He's on lexapro. Have you talked to your doctor about trying several different kinds of meds to see if one works for you? Another thing he does is journaling. He writes everything down and its kinda of like a release for him! Sometimes certain foods can make people react to things to. Believe it or not food allergies can cause SEVERE depression. I am just trying to think of a bunch of possibilites for ya!! I'll pray for ya, is that okay??  It'll be okay sweetie...hang in there!!!!!!!

I'm a licensed psychotherapist. I'm a "WLS grad" slmost 5 years post-op. I'm a sufferer of recurrent depression and anxiety. I can't give you definite answer to your question because I've never studied any research on the subject but I can tell you my personal experience as well as that which I have seen and helped other people through.

The changes that you are undergoing are phsyical, emotional, hormonal, chemical, etc. (I could go on!) In addition to your body trying to figure out what's going on with itself you also had chemicals in the form of anesthesia pumped into your body during the surgery. I think it's very normal to feel so "abnormal" for a while after the surgery.

I've been in your shoes and I've turned to both therapy as well as medication for assistance and the two working together have been profoundly helpful for me. I've also had as clients several WLS patients and referred them for medication in addition to our therapy and seen it work wonders.

I personally believe that one of the issues that many of us struggle with asking for help. It is fantastic that you are asking for it here from us. I know it can be scary to consider medication, especially if you've had trouble with it before, but your health and well being are worth giving it another try.

Good luck!
-Elizabeth