Question:
I am almost 4 weeks post op and I am feeling quit depressed.... anyone else??
I am happy for the surgery, but lately within the last week, I have began feeling very "low" and I HATE it!! Has anyone else felt this way? If so... did it go away? I called my Dr.'s office and the nurse stated that I was the first person that she had ever heard of this happening to... am I going NUTS? I know I don't want to feel this way... I think I may be lacking some nutrition, could this be the culprit? Can anyone shed some light on this subject??? Please email me or leave me a message here. — Jamie T. (posted on November 9, 1999)
November 9, 1999
I felt depressed as well. It just got a hold of and would not let go. I
just wallowed in it. I was even on prozac. BUT eventually one Sunday
wrapped in a blanket sitting on my balcony I had a long talk with myself
and snapped out of it. It will be okay in time. Keep fighting.
David
— David M.
November 9, 1999
Jamie, you are not alone. I am 5 weeks post op and ironically last week I,
too, was quite depressed. Several things may have accounted for it. i.e.
missing food as a constant companion, experiencing some discomfort on my
left side, wanting to lose wt. more quickly (have lost about 28 pounds),
exhaustion and total lack of energy probably because overdoing! However,
this week I am beginning to feel so much better, so there is light at the
end of the tunnel. Hang on better days are ahead.
— Linda W.
November 9, 1999
You are definitely not nuts Jamie! Tell that nurse that she is uninformed
and needs to get some education because it is in fact VERY common after any
surgery for people to have periods of depression--particularly one so
life-altering as this. I definitely experienced some depression in the
early weeks postop (I am 7 weeks now and feeling much better--42 lbs lost).
It is a huge adjustment--and in the first couple weeks you're focused on
incisional pain and stuff like that but as that passes and you start
expanding your diet you go through alot as you realize that you have
changed your life forever. Food was our friend, our drug, our comfort...
and now it's just nourishment. Don't worry too much about the
depression--it will taper off as time passes. Just wait till you put on a
pair of pants that used to be tight and they are so loose they fall off of
you--that helps alot! Good luck to you and please email me if you'd like
to talk.
— Cheryl W.
November 9, 1999
Hi Jamie: What you are experiencing is quite common. What are you
feeling? Is it anger? frustration? sorrow? fear? You need to identify the
feeling in order to be able to deal with it. When I was 3 and 4 and 5
weeks post-op, I became deeply depressed. Every time I saw someone eating,
either in person or on TV, I became angry that they were enjoying their
food and I could not. I was scared that I had made a change that would
last the rest of my life, and didn't know how I would deal with it. My
depression lifted without medication, spontaneously. I was lucky. If
yours doesn't, speak to your doctor about it. Sometimes a little bit of
medication can be a great help! Yes, I'm a mental health professional, but
I'm NOT playing one on the internet, just another WLS patient and morbid
obesity survivor! Good luck, and email me if you want to chat. Jaye Carl,
open proximal RNY 7-29-99, 72 pounds gone forever!
— Jaye C.
November 9, 1999
Oh no as a matter of fact you are not. I too am feeling pretty miserable
(3 weeks post-op) and very angry although I'm not sure at who. I look at
all the support people saying that they would do it again and have no
regrets. That's not me (at least not now). I have plenty of regrets and
would like to have my life back because I certainly don't know who's this
life is.
Wendy
Feel free to e-mail me privately.
— Wendy G.
November 9, 1999
I am almost 3 months post-op and was having the same problem. I upped my
intake of protein and that seems to have done the trick. Try to do at
least one protein drink in the morning and one in the afternoon.
— [Anonymous]
November 9, 1999
I understand your frustration. Food was a comforterfor me for a long time.
Sometimes it was the only friend and now it is gone. BUT food is not a true
friend, the negative effects outweigh the positive. Maybe a visit to a
support group like OA, please don't be offendedby that because I am not
suggesting anything. They have a lot of good ideas. You could joina
different group, get out try and develop new habits that dont involve food.
I took a tax class, boring but bo food there. I started developing
friendships and suddenly food became a non issue. It was just someting to
do, not a social eventIt's ok to be sad but try to view the positive, look
how much better you are since this was done. Review the changes in your
life and maybe the positives will out weigh the negatives. You can email me
at [email protected]
— snicklefritz
November 9, 1999
No, you are NOT nuts....the nurse is nuts. Many people have trouble with
depression post op for many reasons. If food was a "comfort"
before surgery, that comfort is now gone, and you need to replace it with
something..maybe a massage, jacuzzi, or anything that is a treat for you.
Call your pcp and see if he will prescribe an antidepressant, they can be
very helpful. Hang in there, I am 3 months post op, and things are really
looking up, but it took this long to really feel better. Write me if you
need to.
— Stephanie S.
November 10, 1999
Good morning Jamie, I had open RYN Fobi Pouch distal surgery 5/6/99.
Unlike your nurse, my doctor and nurse told us that we would be depressed
and on an emotional roller coaster ride for a couple of weeks to 6 weeks.
That it is normal and to expect it and it will go away. My depression/ride
lasted just a couple of weeks. My husband has had about 15 surgeries, none
of which were the gastric bypass, and he had this same thing to go through.
Just a part of surgery. I found that the one thing that helped me in this
time was to keep my mind busy on anything. Read, watched tv, embroidered,
had my hubby take me for rides, even went about 6 hours away for a 10 day
vacation in our motor home about 3 weeks post surgery. While I can't give
you any magic answer or pill, I hope this gives you hope that this too will
end. Congratulations on your surgery. You are going to absolutely love
this new amazing, fantastic, wonderful, adventurous journey of obesity
recovery. I've never done any kind of non-prescribed drug, but can't
imagine any of them being as good as what weight loss does for me. The
whole world is a brighter place. No more guilt and self loathing. Have a
wonderful day. Thinking of you, Linda
— Linda P.
November 10, 1999
You have just had major surgery and your body needs time to
heal. Your chemicals are all screwed up and you are not going
NUTS. Try some extra protein and get out and commune with
Nature. I know that sounds hokie, but it works. Just sitting
outside can make a world of difference. Also, you should have
some blood work done to make sure all of you levels are good.
My doctor told me good blood work after surgery is very important
in letting him know that I am Okay. Feel better and God be with
you.
— Jen L.
November 10, 1999
Hello,
I see that there have been many responses to this question and I too
feel compelled to answer. I was very much depressed a few weeks after the
surgery. I had some things happen during the operation that I hadn't
prepared for. Your body goes through a very rough time. If you are like
many of us, sleep is hard to come by because of discomfort. You still have
some effects to the anaesthtic that may not have completely left your
system. I found that by getting out and exercising I got some relief.
However, for me the depression continued. I then went to a psychiatrist
and found that I needed to take medication. We need to do whatever it
takes to feel well. Each person handles things in a different way. When I
was a few weeks post-op I wondered about all those people that told me they
would do it again if they had to. It didn't seem possible to me that
anyone could think that. Now, I too feel that if I had to I would do it
again. I feel much better now than before the surgery. I hope this helps.
— Brian L.
January 14, 2000
Well, I'm right at the 4-week level and sure have had some post-op
depression. I think this is normal adjustment time for the body to adjust
along with your own thinking. I really don't focus on what I can't have to
eat but on building an eating program within the limits of the surgery.
Then its on to what I want to do when I get to my goal and it helps. With
this "new" system, we're in control of what happens now.
— Bob H.
October 6, 2001
Jamie, I had a real bad time with depression,I think part of it was morning
my long lost friend -food-- I thought I had really screwed up for getting
this surgery,until I started seeing the weight coming off. I feared that I
was going to be the very first one that this surgery did not work for. I
had fell at every diet I had ever been on so what made me think I would
pull this one off. And believe me you and I aren't the only ones that have
felt this way. But I am here to say that so far I have lost 105 lbs and it
has almost been 8 months.so I believe I lived thru my stinking
thinking......lol.... Tawana
— TAWANA S.
October 6, 2001
From what I have been able to discern from friends who are post op,
depression is a normal response to the trauma your body has been through.
This has also been a very emotional few weeks for many folks in our
country, and that could be contributing to your blues. Hang in there.
— Spunkwoman S.
October 6, 2001
Bless your heart. I went through a HORRIBLE depression around my 3 - 5 week
post-op period. I cried for "no reason" and was miserable. The
good news is after five weeks, it began to lift and I feel better than I
have in years. I do still have moments that are difficult - because I can
no longer "hide" behind food; that is, I have to feel my
emotions, deal with them, rather than stuff them under a stack of Oreos!!
Best of luck to you!!
OPEN RNY 7/17/01.
— blee01
August 13, 2003
Every doctor who does this surgery needs to let his patients know about
possible depression after this surgery - I was lucky - information about
depression was included in the package my doctor gave me. For me the
depression lasted 3 months. When I finally figured out what was wrong, the
saddness just disappeared. For me it was: before the surgery and for the
last 10 years, food was my comfort, my entertainment, and most importantly
by "bandaid". Everything that has every hurt my feelings, I
could make it feel better with food. And now my bandaid was gone. I had
to feel the pain and have nothing to numb it with. I did silly things like
going to the store and buying pizza and chips and ice cream - then coming
home and not being able to eat those things. Several times I even tried to
eat them anyway and just ended up throwing up. I was also jealous of other
people - skinny people - who get to eat and are not fat. And I hated the
people in my office who expected me to still attend lunches and buffets!
They actually told me I needed to go along and just not eat! But, everyone
needs to know: most of the time your saddness is temporary. Most people
recover without extreme measures. Try to ride it out, but if you feel too
sad you really need to tell your doctor.
— Lynne C.
August 13, 2003
I attended my pre op instruction class yesterday. We were told depression
is such a normal reaction our surgeon will automatically send us home with
a prescription for an antidepressant. I've never had to take one before but
if I need it to get me through I'm willing to do anything. I would suggest
calling your Dr. and asking him for something to help you for awhile.
Nancy
— nancysho
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