Question:
Depressed After approval! Can I be Denied

I have already been approved, And I want to know if I can be denied or my date pushed back, Because I am starting to develop some depression, I am sure it is stress related 2 family illnesses,My best friend with a severe spinal injury, Work Problems, ShouldI bing this up to my DR. or should I wait till after surgery, Thanks Joseph    — Joseph D. (posted on March 30, 2003)

March 30, 2003
Joseph, I don't know if your doctor would push your date back or not. What do you think? How much depression are you feeling? Is it affecting your work performance or your relations with friends and family? Are you isolating - finding yourself staying away from events you normally would go to? How far off is your surgery scheduled? Sometimes people have mentioned going through some depression right after surgery. Is going on some psych medications a possibility? Perhaps your doc could prescribe something to help you through. Do you think you're getting more depressed as time passes? I know I'm asking you a lot of questions here, but I think your concern about it is valid. A lot depends also, on how soon your surgery is. Do you think that the depression could keep you from being able to take care of yourself properly? What if someone you loved came to you with this question? How would you respond? Good luck finding your answer.
   — Judy K.

March 30, 2003
Joseph, I don't know if your doctor would push your date back or not. What do you think? How much depression are you feeling? Is it affecting your work performance or your relations with friends and family? Are you isolating - finding yourself staying away from events you normally would go to? How far off is your surgery scheduled? Sometimes people have mentioned going through some depression right after surgery. Is going on some psych medications a possibility? Perhaps your doc could prescribe something to help you through. Do you think you're getting more depressed as time passes? I know I'm asking you a lot of questions here, but I think your concern about it is valid. A lot depends also, on how soon your surgery is. Do you think that the depression could keep you from being able to take care of yourself properly? What if someone you loved came to you with this question? How would you respond? Good luck finding your answer.
   — Judy K.

March 30, 2003
This is a tough question...I don't think your approval will be removed, but I think YOU need to think about if you want to put your body and mind through the strain of this surgery now. I feel great now, but the first three weeks after surgery were among the roughest of my life. Do you have a therapist/psychiatrist? I'd recommend talking to a doctor trained to deal with depression QUICKLY. If you talk to your surgeon he/she might push back the surgery, but the underlying depression issues won't be dealt with. Good luck, honey.
   — Tamara K.

March 30, 2003
Go to your PCP and talk to him or her about how you are feeling. It sounds like more of a situational depression than clinical depression and could be helped with therapy and possibly medication quicker than severe clinical depression. This is nothing to be ashamed about and is very understandable with everything going on in your life. If you get started on meds now hopefully you will be seeing some benefit even before surgery and it will make after surgery easier to deal with, especially if you have even some minor complications. I do not think anything would be delayed unless someone was so depressed as to try to commit suicide. That would warrant a delay as the extreme depression needs to be under some sort of control before surgery. It does not sound like you are anywhere near this point. Besides, even if someone decides to delay it will be because it is in your best interest for a safe surgery and recovery. I really don't think you have anything to lose to seek treatment now. I personally would not wait. Untreated depression does not get better, just makes you more depressed. <p>I got medical clearance for surgery and I have been treated for depression since 1995. It took till about 3 years ago to fully come under control. There is no way I would have gone through this surgery without my depression medication. As well as I am controlled I have had 2 partial days when I was down some and I have no reason why. Then I was back to how I've felt for a long time - able to deal with anything. I've had incisional problems and started throwing up at 5-6 weeks etc. yet I have been able to deal very well with these things because my depression is controlled. <p>Get to the doctor now!! No matter what happens you will not regret it!
   — zoedogcbr

March 30, 2003
People may disagree with my response to this question, but I say go for your WLS anyway...manage your depression as best you can before during and after the surgery, but BELIEVE ME, as someone who was depressed pre-op, once you start experiencing significant changes in your body, weight and self image, you will start to feel better, all the way around. In my mind, morbid obesity and depression form a vicious cycle...am I depressed because I am fat, or am I fat because I am depressed? Nip the cycle in the bud, and I bet a lot of your depression goes away - and the quicker you can begin the process the better. At least that's been my experience. I am not saying WLS is a pannecea or a magic bullet, but, bottom line, life post-op is not that difficult at all, once you get past the first few months. Good luck in whatever you decide.
   — rebeccamayhew

March 30, 2003
The main thing in answer to your question that I should have said in my answer below is don't share your depression with your ins. co or WLS doc...don't lie, but don't volunteer the info - IF you are fully committed to having the surgery.
   — rebeccamayhew