Question:
i yr post op emotional issues
im down 170lbs 1 yr after surgery and am having lots of probs with anxiety and depression which ive always had but theyre worse now im not use to the new me and some of my older kids are having a prob gettng use to the new me also.ive also had alot of probs with low blood pressure when i stand up been to my pcp they say my blood work is awsome but i dont know if its just an adjustment to the huge amount of weight ive lost in a yr and its just going to take time or what,i also feel like im walikng on a balance beam at times, my sister who also had it done has even passed out once any suggestions cause i know theres alot of you whove had the same prob. — JOAN D. (posted on October 11, 2003)
October 11, 2003
I'd highly suggest talking to your doctor about prescribing some
anti-anxiety drugs (like paxil, celexa, etc.). It's amazing the difference
these can make in your life. I too have low blood pressure - not seriously
low - but we're keeping an eye on it. Not sure what the answer is to that
though. Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
October 11, 2003
The depression and anxiety you mention are a fairly common reaction to all
that's happened to you in the last year. Everyone in your family will need
to adjust along with you. Part of it is the changes in your hormone levels
as you lose weight.
I was on on high blood pressure meds pre-op and was off them at 3 months
post-op. I had problems with low blood pressure too, at about 1 1/2 years
out. I'd get light-headed when I bent over or got up too fast. I had also
suffered from tachycardia pre-op (my resting heartrate was always above 100
bpm). Suddenly my BP was down to 80/50 and my heartrate dropped to 48
bpm!! My doctor said it was a reaction to the rapid weightloss and
exercise and that my body would take some time to get used to it. Now at 2
1/2 years post-op my BP has stablized around 100/60 and my resting
heartrate is around 65 bpm.
— LLinderman
October 11, 2003
Joan I know exactly how you feel. My depression is so much worse since wls.
I don't believe wls has done it, there has just been alot of extra sadness
in these last two years. At times I feel I'm going crazy. If not for one
person in my life I love dearly,.... well I won't say it. I've been getting
councelling for years. Councelling is a joke. It does'nt change anything.
However I am on Welbutrin (not Welbutrin SR- time release) and it does help
some. It's just that I hate medicine and when I try to be good I forget it.
Also I take Celexa. I'm trying really hard to remember it as my depression
is so bad that life is no pleasure. DO check into getting meds. They really
can take the edge off of depression although they never have cured it for
me anyway. Concerning low blood pressure, tell me about it! LOL. I've
begged my doctors for help. No one will. I've almost passed out many times.
It frightens me. I had wls on May 8, 2001 and my low blood pressure will
not go away. It has been as low as 80/40. Don't know how much lower it can
go. I forget and get up to quickly and start to see starts and feel warm
and tingly. I immediatly sit back down. If I'm to far away to sit, then I
lean again the wall and put all of my will into not passing out. So far, I
have'nt but have come extremely close. I don't know what to tell you except
we need to learn to get up more slowly. Seems with all this weight loss we
would'nt have to worry about it. Good luck.
— Danmark
October 11, 2003
Joan, I'm sorry to hear that things are worse but I DO understand where
you are at. For me it happened when I lost about 200 lbs in 94/95 and not
after my WLS this year, but either way it was horrible. I'm assuming you
are on medication for both, which is very important. The other key piece
is counseling. If you are not in counseling you truly need to be to help
you work through everything that is going on. You recognize there is a
problem, so please seek out the help you need. Your medications may need
asjusting also so get back to the doctor. I have seen my psychiatrist
every 2 months since surgery and my counselor every 2-3 weeks, as I do not
want anything that happened to me last time to get ahold and become a major
issue.
<p>I lost the weight very quickly last time, 13 months, and had made
very good eating changes, things I could live with long term. But I was
exercise and scale obsessed. The bottom line is there was a huge
underlying depression I never knew was there and it took over my life. I
spent about 4-5 years getting eveything under control. It took that long
because of some things that blew up at work the last 2 years, but how I
dealt with that situation was a direct result of my depression and anxiety
still not totally controlled. The last 3-4 years have been very good. I
take my depression medication religiously. I did not go back on my anxiety
medication after surgery as I probably did not need it the last 18 months
before surgery but decided to not mess with what was working. Through this
8 year process I managed to gain all of my weight back and ended up
choosing WLS. Having gone through the he!! I did I feel so much better
prepared to deal with whatever comes along after WLS, but I do not do it
alone. I allow the doctor and counselor to help me get through it and get
perspective on things etc. Therefore they are lesser issues and I get
through them quicker. I know I would not have wanted to go down this
journey the last 8 months without those support mechanisms in place.
<p>I do not want you to have to go through what I did for as long so
please get your medication adjusted to help and also get some extensive
counseling. This is in no way a failure on your part. It is quite common
and there is nothing wrong with saying you need help to get through it. It
means you truly do want to get better and will do whatever it takes! I
know how wonderful life can be with controlled depression and I wish that
for you and everyone in your situation. Please seek some help!
— zoedogcbr
October 11, 2003
Daniel, I'm sorry counseling hasn't help you and you feel it's a joke, but
the reality is it does help most people. Maybe you needed a different
counselor as that is a key piece to the situation and progress. I have had
3 wonderful counselors over 8-1/2 years (two moved away but each one helped
me find the new person). They don't shrink my head just help me to figure
things out for myself. They force me to really look at things and come to
terms with it and how I am going to deal with it.
— zoedogcbr
October 12, 2003
I'd suggest an antideppresent and light anti-anxiety medication. We've been
through alot. No shame in taking an RX to elevate your mood. Counseling is
wonderful too. If you have medical insurance, they'll take care of both
things with a small copay. Good Luck. God Bless. Kathy...Open RNY, June 23,
2003.......295/226/170
— Kathy R.
October 12, 2003
I'm happy to see that so many people have responded to your post.
I'm pre-pre-op but have had depression for many years. You need the support
of a good phychotherapist or physicatrist/phychologist, in my opinion. And
one that works with other WLS patients.
Think of the chemicals your body is throwing off as you drop off the
pounds. I'd be surprised if someone DIDN'T have psych problems.
Not only are YOU getting better health, a new body and a new life it is
going to impact everyone around you also. So you need help with the
co-dependency issue also.
Please find a good therapist. Research them just like you did your WLS
surgeon and they should be able to help you with these issues.
Blessings,
Scout
pre-pre-op
— Marrilee M.
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