Question:
i yr post op emotional issues

im down 170lbs 1 yr after surgery and am having lots of probs with anxiety and depression which ive always had but theyre worse now im not use to the new me and some of my older kids are having a prob gettng use to the new me also.ive also had alot of probs with low blood pressure when i stand up been to my pcp they say my blood work is awsome but i dont know if its just an adjustment to the huge amount of weight ive lost in a yr and its just going to take time or what,i also feel like im walikng on a balance beam at times, my sister who also had it done has even passed out once any suggestions cause i know theres alot of you whove had the same prob.    — JOAN D. (posted on October 11, 2003)

October 11, 2003
I'd highly suggest talking to your doctor about prescribing some anti-anxiety drugs (like paxil, celexa, etc.). It's amazing the difference these can make in your life. I too have low blood pressure - not seriously low - but we're keeping an eye on it. Not sure what the answer is to that though. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 11, 2003
The depression and anxiety you mention are a fairly common reaction to all that's happened to you in the last year. Everyone in your family will need to adjust along with you. Part of it is the changes in your hormone levels as you lose weight. I was on on high blood pressure meds pre-op and was off them at 3 months post-op. I had problems with low blood pressure too, at about 1 1/2 years out. I'd get light-headed when I bent over or got up too fast. I had also suffered from tachycardia pre-op (my resting heartrate was always above 100 bpm). Suddenly my BP was down to 80/50 and my heartrate dropped to 48 bpm!! My doctor said it was a reaction to the rapid weightloss and exercise and that my body would take some time to get used to it. Now at 2 1/2 years post-op my BP has stablized around 100/60 and my resting heartrate is around 65 bpm.
   — LLinderman

October 11, 2003
Joan I know exactly how you feel. My depression is so much worse since wls. I don't believe wls has done it, there has just been alot of extra sadness in these last two years. At times I feel I'm going crazy. If not for one person in my life I love dearly,.... well I won't say it. I've been getting councelling for years. Councelling is a joke. It does'nt change anything. However I am on Welbutrin (not Welbutrin SR- time release) and it does help some. It's just that I hate medicine and when I try to be good I forget it. Also I take Celexa. I'm trying really hard to remember it as my depression is so bad that life is no pleasure. DO check into getting meds. They really can take the edge off of depression although they never have cured it for me anyway. Concerning low blood pressure, tell me about it! LOL. I've begged my doctors for help. No one will. I've almost passed out many times. It frightens me. I had wls on May 8, 2001 and my low blood pressure will not go away. It has been as low as 80/40. Don't know how much lower it can go. I forget and get up to quickly and start to see starts and feel warm and tingly. I immediatly sit back down. If I'm to far away to sit, then I lean again the wall and put all of my will into not passing out. So far, I have'nt but have come extremely close. I don't know what to tell you except we need to learn to get up more slowly. Seems with all this weight loss we would'nt have to worry about it. Good luck.
   — Danmark

October 11, 2003
Joan, I'm sorry to hear that things are worse but I DO understand where you are at. For me it happened when I lost about 200 lbs in 94/95 and not after my WLS this year, but either way it was horrible. I'm assuming you are on medication for both, which is very important. The other key piece is counseling. If you are not in counseling you truly need to be to help you work through everything that is going on. You recognize there is a problem, so please seek out the help you need. Your medications may need asjusting also so get back to the doctor. I have seen my psychiatrist every 2 months since surgery and my counselor every 2-3 weeks, as I do not want anything that happened to me last time to get ahold and become a major issue. <p>I lost the weight very quickly last time, 13 months, and had made very good eating changes, things I could live with long term. But I was exercise and scale obsessed. The bottom line is there was a huge underlying depression I never knew was there and it took over my life. I spent about 4-5 years getting eveything under control. It took that long because of some things that blew up at work the last 2 years, but how I dealt with that situation was a direct result of my depression and anxiety still not totally controlled. The last 3-4 years have been very good. I take my depression medication religiously. I did not go back on my anxiety medication after surgery as I probably did not need it the last 18 months before surgery but decided to not mess with what was working. Through this 8 year process I managed to gain all of my weight back and ended up choosing WLS. Having gone through the he!! I did I feel so much better prepared to deal with whatever comes along after WLS, but I do not do it alone. I allow the doctor and counselor to help me get through it and get perspective on things etc. Therefore they are lesser issues and I get through them quicker. I know I would not have wanted to go down this journey the last 8 months without those support mechanisms in place. <p>I do not want you to have to go through what I did for as long so please get your medication adjusted to help and also get some extensive counseling. This is in no way a failure on your part. It is quite common and there is nothing wrong with saying you need help to get through it. It means you truly do want to get better and will do whatever it takes! I know how wonderful life can be with controlled depression and I wish that for you and everyone in your situation. Please seek some help!
   — zoedogcbr

October 11, 2003
Daniel, I'm sorry counseling hasn't help you and you feel it's a joke, but the reality is it does help most people. Maybe you needed a different counselor as that is a key piece to the situation and progress. I have had 3 wonderful counselors over 8-1/2 years (two moved away but each one helped me find the new person). They don't shrink my head just help me to figure things out for myself. They force me to really look at things and come to terms with it and how I am going to deal with it.
   — zoedogcbr

October 12, 2003
I'd suggest an antideppresent and light anti-anxiety medication. We've been through alot. No shame in taking an RX to elevate your mood. Counseling is wonderful too. If you have medical insurance, they'll take care of both things with a small copay. Good Luck. God Bless. Kathy...Open RNY, June 23, 2003.......295/226/170
   — Kathy R.

October 12, 2003
I'm happy to see that so many people have responded to your post. I'm pre-pre-op but have had depression for many years. You need the support of a good phychotherapist or physicatrist/phychologist, in my opinion. And one that works with other WLS patients. Think of the chemicals your body is throwing off as you drop off the pounds. I'd be surprised if someone DIDN'T have psych problems. Not only are YOU getting better health, a new body and a new life it is going to impact everyone around you also. So you need help with the co-dependency issue also. Please find a good therapist. Research them just like you did your WLS surgeon and they should be able to help you with these issues. Blessings, Scout pre-pre-op
   — Marrilee M.