Question:
How common is depression post surgery?

I keep reading about people that are suffering from some pretty severe depression post surgery. I am wondering how common it is, why and what I should watch for. I've never had a serious problem with depression, but I'm scheduled for surgery next month, and am a bit concerned. Thanks!    — tlg6056 (posted on September 14, 2000)

September 14, 2000
It is very common. It comes from the anesthesia, the "hibernation syndrome" <b>AVA LEE</b> on this site has good info about that - if you'll email her she'll send it to you. Are you prone to depression? That can affect you also. Most everyone will get it, from mild to severe. But it will pass, and you will be so glad you went through it. I had complications post-op, but am doing great now! Best wishes.
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 14, 2000
It is very common, not just after WLS, but after ANY type of surgery. But please realize that you are not automatically doomed to feel serious depression. Everyone is different. I also did not have any depression problems prior to WLS, but at 3 weeks post op I began to feel it. It wasn't horrible, and I actually had no real reason to be depressed - there were no complications from WLS. It was just a feeling I couldn't shake. I recognized it, and tried to snap myself out of it because I recognized it, but to no avail. Finally after about a week of it, I realized that I was being very hard on myself as far as getting in all of my protein, water and walking, and was feeling a bit frustrated. Once I cut myself some slack, the depression went away immediately. Don't worry - you'll do fine! :)
   — Paula G.

September 14, 2000
I suffer from clinical depression (the result of a chemical imbalance) and have (thank God) been on medication for about 12 years. The funny thing is that after my surgery my depression improved significantly -- to the point where my medication has been cut by 1/3. Obesity has its own matched set of psychological baggage, so that might have had something to do with it. What others have said is true -- after surgery it's normal to have those "oh no, what have I DONE?" moments, and have a good cry over those bags of Oreos you'll never spend time with again -- but trust me, it's NOT the same as clinical depression. Not everyone becomes depressed post-op, and those who do likely vary in degree. I would also venture that rapid weight loss also does a number on your hormonal balance -- kind of like having a baby without the sleepless nights -- and that might have something to do with it as well. For most of us, though, it's nothing we can't handle. Good luck next month! Warm thoughts always,
   — Cheryl Denomy

September 14, 2000
I don't seem to be depressed anymore (my surgery was 7/10). For the first few days after the surgery all my husband had to do was look at me cross eyed and I'd burst into tears and couldn't stop crying. It interesting that even though I was so emotional, I could look at myself,as if from outside myself and tell this wasn't real. It was the anesthesia wearing off or post op depression or something, but I still couldn't stop crying. Now I'm dealing with perpetual PMS. I'm told that this is from all the estrogen stored in fat and then released into our systems as we lose weight. This is much harder to deal with than the crying jags, just ask my husband and coworkers! How are some of you handling this?
   — Sharyle L.

September 14, 2000
Hi, I became severly depressed post op and waited too long (almost a year) before I finally talked with my doctor and started taking anti-depressents. Was the depression caused by WLS? I don't know - I never mourned the loss of food - I was HAPPY not to be hungry or eating. Prior to my surgery I had been dealing with a lot including the death of my sister (and my best friend) so it might have been everything catching up with me all at once. My only advice would be to see how things go post op and if you see yourself falling into a depression or it doesn't lift after a few weeks you should talk with your doctor.
   — Jennifer L.

January 16, 2003
I was told by other post ops that fat contains a lot of hormones and when we lose a great deal of weight we are also having all these extra hormones released into our system. At about 2-3 months out after surgery I noticed I was becoming more and more stressed out. I also got a new supervisor at work, who is hideous, which really triples my stress. At 6 months out, I realized all the little home remedies I used to reduce stress wasn't working. I started taking zoloft and am feeling a little better. As for my abusive supervisor, I've begun filing EEO's against her to help her gain control of herself. I'm glad I can stand up to her verbal abuse now. Before I would have been too tired and whipped feeling to fight against her abusive behavior but zoloft is helping to cut the edge of stress caused by my hormone rush. To stop feeling the stress caused by my new supervisor I guess I would have to remain blind, stinking drunk but I'm not willing to do that. So if anyone is wondering whatever happened to Rosemary's Baby, I work for it. :(
   — Carmen K.