Question:
Has anyone else suffered from major depression, while waiting for insurance approval
I am so depressed, I can't eat right, I have gained 14 additional pounds, I can't sleep, I am moody. I am so depressed, I am freaking out here. Can anyone help??? — Dixie_Angel (posted on September 2, 2003)
September 2, 2003
Honey, you are NOT alone!! I went through some MAJOR depression prior to
surgery just because I had to wait on surgery. It does get better... I
gained nearly 40 lbs waiting... are you on an anti-depressant?? You might
consider getting on one while you wait. SOmetimes insurance approval takes
a while and an anti-depressent can really help. Just keep telling yourself
that you can face whatever happens and that it will happen when the time is
right. I know, easier said than done, but... try! :~) Read my profiles
(there are three) if you want! It will give you something constructive do
to, and help you get prepared for what is to come! LOL! :~) Hugs! sharon
— Sharon m. B.
September 2, 2003
YES! I have been trying to gain an approval for approx. 20 months, my head
screams STOP THIS MADNESS but my body says DON'T GIVE UP! You are
definitely NOT alone!
— doit 2.
September 2, 2003
I know how you feel... I have been at this for about 2 years now. I am on
my 5th insurance company believe it or not. Some days I wonder if God is
trying to tell me I am not supposed to have this surgery, but I prefer to
think maybe it just hasn't been my time yet and when the time is right, it
will happen. I am very obsessed with this, all I really think about and
all I want to talk about. Of course my family and friends do not really
want to sit and discuss "will I or won't I get to have it" for
hours on end. So I get very depressed, tearful and low. I feel I have no
life now at all. I do not want to participate in any activities due to
hating my self this way. It sucks! I am also very agitated all the time.
I have been on Prozac before and really think I need to get back on it. I
just don't want to pay for it, I have to have the brand and even with
insurance is $50 a month!! Anyway,, I know what you are going thru. YOU
AREN'T ALONE! I am not sure if that helps or not. Pam in GA
— Pam B.
September 2, 2003
I know how you feel. I have battled depression for the past 10 years and
by far my worst time was waiting for insurance approval. I honestly
thought it would never come. I went from 289 to 315 just waiting for
approval (I always ate to self-medicate). YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN FEELING
THIS WAY. I agree with the other posters that anti-depressants would most
likely help (but I'm no MD) but if you go to get some ask the doc to make
sure it's not one that could cause weight gain. Good luck and as hard as it
may be to believe YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
— klinzey
September 2, 2003
Feeling down and discouraged and even somewhat depressed is normal as we go
through the tedius and stressing approval process. I wasn't depressed but
had myself so stressed out we weren't sure if I had heart problems or not
as I was feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest. Turned out to
be stress induced asthma but it took many expensive tests to figure that
out. I know my type A personality created that whole situation.
<p>However, major depression is something that needs to be treated.
You do not want to go into surgery with some depression present and
untreated as it will very likely get much worse. Depression as a post-op
is very common so it is better to already be on meds and getting it under
control now. My depression has been well controlled with meds and
counseling for over 3 years yet I had a day here or there where I was very
down for no reason at all. I cannot imagine what it would have been
without having very controlled depression. Could have developed into
something way more serious. This past month my head has been playing
little games with me also, so having a counselor in place to help me work
through those things is so important.
<p>I am so aware of what depression can do related to weight loss
because back in 94/95 I lost 200 lbs on my own with 1200 calories and tons
of exercise. The end result was a severe underlying depression I did not
know existed. I spent 4-5 years getting my depression under good control
but managed to regain the weight in the meantime. Losing the weight is
only part of the issue. It's working on all the things we have hid or
ignored by using food. Once the weight is no longer an issue we are forced
to face the rest of the problems and that can be a very difficult time. I
have been on Celexa for about 4 years now and do very well on it. I do
take a large dose, 60 mg, but that's what it takes to keep me well
controlled. So please get some help for the depression starting now and go
into surgery so much better prepared. I hope you get your approval soon!
— zoedogcbr
September 3, 2003
Me too! I attribute it mostly to having to face the reality of just how fat
I was nad that I had gotten to the point of NEEDING weight loss surgery. I
felt like a failure and fatter than ever. I was a spazz and cried or yelled
most of the time. What did help me was reading as much as I could to help
me know that I was doing the right thing and that real medical statistics
supported that this was indeed the way to go. I don't know what your date
is but I did feel more comfortable, less depressed and stressed, and less
hungry as my day approached. Please realize that this is a HUGE decision
and what you are going through is very normal. You are about to go into
something totally unfamiliar and scary. You will leave the food behind
which is a horrifying thought if you are anything like me. Maybe try to
remember that as bad as you feel right now you will feel better and
healthier nad one year from now you will have lost a ton of weight and
these feelings will truly be behind you. I am not saying that this has been
easy breezy but a far cry from the desperation I felt pre op! I actually
feel hopeful! Imagine that?!?! :) Lap RNY 1/15/03 277/167/147
— Carol S.
September 3, 2003
Girl PLEASE! I am so depressed from waiting that I feel like my life is
passing me by and I just am watching. Its so consuming. I want it so bad
that I can think of nothing else EVER!! (lol) I got on some Prozac to
help me deal with it. The trauma of these insurance companies should be
illegal:)^j^
— CARLA C.
September 3, 2003
Well, I can only offer some advise since I playing the waiting game right
now. I am trying hard to remain postive and not let depressing thoughts
come to my mind. I am trying to take my 'depression' or frustration if you
will, and channel it into something rewarding.
I keep an online 'blog' at web site www.blogger.com to keep track of all my
feelings, dates, information. It helps me on two levels. One, I have a
detailed record of everyone I talked to and what I did so I can refer back
to it as needed. It helps me also to see that I have really begun the
journey and I have steps behind me. We tend to feel like we are not doing
anything waiting for approval or dates to come up. Second of all, it helps
me personally just to get my feelings out of my system.
I also am using all my negative feelings and channeling them towards the
insurance company. I should make a vodoo doll with a big Blue Cross/Blue
Shield on it. LOL.
Spend some time on line looking at clothes you will be able to wear next
year. Plan trips in your mind about trips you will be able to take, etc.
In other words, thing of the reasons why you want to have the surgery and
the changes it will bring in your life. Accept the fact that some negative
thoughts are going to be normal and don't let them de-rail you. It will
work out! :)
— David T.
September 3, 2003
I absolutely feel your pain!!! Waiting sucks, especially when your obesity
is damaging your health. The thing that has helped me the most is the
support from others that have been through the same thing. I'm here for
you. Your pictures are beautiful (I visited your page)!
— lfmusc75
September 8, 2003
My situation is a little different. I have been depressed here lately,
knowing I've done all I could and had all my papers together to get this
surgery approved. I had been so depressed that I had not been looking daily
on the Q&A board like I usually do. Anyway, a week ago Wed, something
just told me to look on the Q&A board after work. I did, and found out
that on Aetna that you can see the Surgeon for consult after 3 mo diet, but
have to wait the required 6 mo period prior to getting the surgery-
if/after approved. This kind of seems dumb thinking to me, but the the
next morning I kept getting a feeling to call the surgeons office to see if
anyone had cancelled. I finally called and GOT IN THAT DAY - THURSDAY!!!
Now this waiting part for me will be a piece of cake!! I feel that all of
the hard work I did now will finally be rewarded!! AT least I hope so!!!Try
to keep positive, and KEEP CHECKING THE BOARDS!! We can always find
additional info that we might need to help us after we are approved!! Good
Luck in your wait!! It will only get better from here!!! Becky M.
— bufordslipstick
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