Question:
To those with diagnosed clinical depression prior to surgery (NOT bipolar)...
Could you share specifically with me the stages of your depression post-op, especially in dealing with comfort eating, and not being able too? — Connie H. (posted on October 15, 1999)
October 15, 1999
I'm scheduled to have surgery October 20th, so don't really know the answer
to your question; however, I've been disabled with recurrent major clinical
depression and panic disorder for 4 years now, and have the same concerns
you mentioned.
My PCP, psychologist, and psychiatrist all feel this surgery will help me
make more progress in my recovery. At this point, other than trying to get
paperwork and the house in order, keeping my mind on all the wonderful
things I'll be able to do
next year (due to being a more normal weight and not feeling the need to
avoid contact with people) seems to be the best therapy for me. I've also
started getting together foods that I associate with comfort (homemade
soups and cassaroles) cooked up and
frozen so I'll be able to have some in tiny amounts after the surgery.
This probably hasn't been any help. I know ... maybe we can switch
eating-for-comfort for walking-for-comfort!
I'll let you know if I think up anything reasonable about this ... I could
sure use help in this area myself.
Cindy
— Cynthia B.
October 16, 1999
I was diagnosed with major depression about seven years ago. It has been
under good control with medication for most of that time, but I was
concerned that surgery and the changes following surgery might trigger
another depression. I talked to my psychiatrist, a psychologist, and my
surgeon about it, and of course they were not nearly as concerned about it
as I was. They're not the one's who would suffer! Anyway, I continued
taking my medication right up to the day of surgery (9-20-99), and resumed
it three days after surgery, and I am doing great. No depression! Of
course I have had my moments of grief, missing my old favorite foods, and
wondering if I will ever be able to eat "normal" food again. But
those feelings have passed quickly, and I have kept my focus on following
my doctor's treatment plan, and losing weight. So far, so good.
— Lynn K.
October 18, 1999
Connie, Hi. My surgery was 5/6/99 and I've lost 70 pounds as of 10/1/99.
I was big time (no pun intended) into comfort eating which came from
childhood. I still find that I comfort eat somewhat. I even can eat my
beloved chocolates and as with everything else, just not too much. If I
can't eat then I get into deprivation and then I'm afraid that I'll really
eat too much and be sick. I usually have a small helping/serving/bite of
sweet everyday. Then I don't feel sorry for myself, and by allowing myself
to eat the things that I want I don't want as much as normal. Hopefully,
in time I won't have the deprivational feelings nor the need for the
sweets. I'm not going to worry about them, though. I keep candy in the
house all the time but make sure that they are bite or fun sizes. Won't be
tempted to eat the whole thing "to clean the plate" sort of
mentality. Hope this helps you in a small way. My post-op depression, if
you could call it that, amounted to the first couple of weeks wondering
"just what in the heck I'd done to myself now". This usually
came just after waking in the morning. I'm not a morning person and my
feelings tend to run rampant then. I also would get teary easily but that
only lasted for a week or so. From then on, it's been looking at a miracle
happen to me. Good luck. Thinking of you, Linda
— Linda P.
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