Question:
Hows your panic attacks after surgery?(Worse, better or stayed the same)

   — [Anonymous] (posted on December 2, 2001)

December 2, 2001
Mine got worse. And so did the depression. Bummr.
   — Danmark

December 2, 2001
I am really curious about this too. I cant imagine them getting worse after surgery.....My depression is caused alot by my weight so I hope it gets better. My doc thinks both will be better but we shall see....I am pre op for a few more weeks yet.
   — Melody F.

December 2, 2001
I am pre op too and have a panic disorder and take 3 mgs of xanax daily and have for about 3 yrs. I also suffer from depression, but I do not take anything for it since I have tried every med under the sun. The side effects from the meds are worse than the depression.My panic disorder came on suddenly after my total hysterectomy in 1995.Mine is hormonally related, like alot of other menopausal women.Plus the hypothyroidism is a factor with panic also.I too do not know what to expect with the panic attack issue.I hope it does not get worse..even if it stays the same I will be happy, as long as my other co morbs go away.good Luck to you.
   — garyzgurl

December 2, 2001
I'm not sure, but my opinion is that panic attacks and WLS are two separate things. I have panic attacks too and severe depression and neither have changed all that much since I had WLS last January. I think it is how we feel on the inside and the chemical balance in our systems. I've lost a lot of weight, not my 'big problem' is feeling old and life is passing me by and that is very depressing and I cannot seem to pull myself out of it. As I said before, we are all different. I take 225 mgs of Effexor, which helps and Xanax when I need an extra boost. Upping the Effexor really helped though. Good luck!
   — Betty Todd

December 2, 2001
I had severe anxiety before surgery. I only functioned with my desipramine and xanax. I now take neither. I very seldom have an anxiety attack, when i do it is because of some great stress and not about nothing like before. Of course everyone is different, just as everyones weight loss is different
   — paula B.

December 2, 2001
I take Prozac for my Panic Attacks. They tell me I had one as soon as I got back to my room after surgery but I don't remember it. Thank you morphine pump. That is the last one I have had since the surgery in January. Things are the same or better. I too agree that weight lose is not a factor in most panic attacks.
   — marlene R.

December 2, 2001
I personally have panic attacks, and I know that it stems from my obesity, and my self-conciousness. In some cases yes, wls and panic attacks can be very separate things, but in other cases it can be totally brought on by the obesity problem itself. The only person who could say what your panick attacks are from is yourself, because you would know where they stem from. I have not yet had my surgery, but am seriously hoping they deminish afterwards, which I am pretty sure that they will, considering I know that they are caused by my lack of self-confidence.
   — Jennifer M.

April 1, 2003
1 year 4 months post op and still have panic attacks, at least twice a month, although at times they are mild.
   — scencemi