Depression Still Going Strong -8 Weeks Post Op - Help

[klaaspice 4]

I've been taking anti depressants since 2007, been overweight my whole life, finally had the VSG on July 17th, 2012. I'm currently on Cymbalta and have been taking it since before my surgery and it was working very well for me. I've lost 35 bs in the last 8 weeks. I'm looking good and feeling good (health wise) but my depression is taking its toll. I don't feel the burst of energy that others have described. I am taking all my Vitamins and supplements but can barely get out of bed. Anyone else struggling with depression?

[Cookeeeeez 269]

I'm on 120mg of cymbalta and 50g (I think) of endep... If you need to talk you can pm me anytime. This is a big change and it's not going to make our depression go away now, antidepressants should allow us to lift our head out of the well and peek about but it's up to us to climb out... If you feel like your still stuck in the well I suggest you see your dr and try to increase your medication a little bit, or talk through the sad/hopeless feelings and if there's a way to help... Also I find forcing myself to have a shower (nothing more, just a nice warm cleansing shower) can help me feel a little more ok, but if your too fatigued for that then I really suggest pulling on some sweats/pjs and def. seeing your dr

This is a hard journey and you don't have food as a friend anymore I hope you feel better soon, try and visualise yourself happy- you haven't always felt this bad have you!? Remember how happy you were when... Well, when were you last really happy? Smiling? Content! Confident?! Have you got a pet? If you do give them a big hug! They love you unconditionally!!!

Nothing is urgent, nothing can't wait a while, you're not letting anyone down! You just take time to recover physically and mentally and the world will still be there when you're ready!

*peace*

[Gastricsleeve4me 186]

If you're not currently seeing a therapist, might be worth finding one. Weeks 6-9 were the worst for me emotionally.

[Ready4success 380]

If you're not currently seeing a therapist' date=' might be worth finding one. Weeks 6-9 were the worst for me emotionally.[/quote']

I don't suffer from depression, other than the TOM when I normally feel like crap, but why were weeks 6-9 so bad?

[Livinglifeout 217]

Please talk to a professional, you may need an adjustment on your meds. Your going through a lot of changes now and may just need someone with whom you can really talk too about these changes. I hope your feeling better soon, so you can really enjoy your slim self.

[Justine13 264]

The above are good suggestions. I'd like to ask of you are exercising? Exercise is right up there with meds with treating depression and likley to help a lot. Therapy is also highly recommended if you haven't done do . Good luck!

[Ijam75 102]

Agreed, you should check with your doc. We hear a lot about hormones being released during the fat burn, so you may just need a little change. I too lost that "high/burst" about two weeks abo when I hit my 8 week slowdown/stall. Yesterday though, it seemed to return.

Keep your head up and don't try to do it on your own, reach out.

[Cookeeeeez 269]

The above are good suggestions. I'd like to ask of you are exercising? Exercise is right up there with meds with treating depression and likley to help a lot. Therapy is also highly recommended if you haven't done do . Good luck!

Hey justine! Exercise is a great mood booster, my doc says 30 minutes walking increases mood same as low-dose antidepressants but when you struggle to even get out of bed exercise just isn't going to happen

[SunnyCox 245]

In addition to seeing a physician to talk about your medication doses are you seeing a therapist? I've always felt like taking medication is only half the battle. Finding someone who can teach you how to combat / cope with the thoughts in your own head is the other half. Do a search for 'cognitive behavioral therapy.'

Here are some things that helped me when I was at bottom with my depression a few years ago:

1. Get up at the same time every morning.

2. Take a shower.

3. Get dressed all the way to the shoes. Do your hair, put on make up, where shoes that tie so you won't be as likely to take them off and crawl into bed.

4. Exercise & 5. Get some sunshine. I would take a walk in the park and knock out both at once. I would go every day whether I wanted to or not.

6. Talk to someone. Call an old aunt, your grandma, siblings, friends. Connect with someone. It helps you to feel loved and wanted - like you belong. Hearing other people's problems helped put mine in perspective.

7. Volunteer. Nothing helped me feel better than helping others and knowing they depended on me.

8. Positive thoughts. Tell yourself positive things. My therapist told me to 'fake it until you make it.' Say things such as, "I am going to get through this." "People do love me." "I'm important, worthy, loved, smart, etc. and I am not going to let this hold me down from the life I live each day."

9. Combat negative thoughts. Ask yourself, 'is that thought really true?' For example, if someone didn't call me back, I would think, "she doesn't care about me." Then I would ask myself if that was my emotion or my head? It was usually emotion. I would then tell myself the truth. "She probably didn't call back because she forgot as she is busy with her three kids. She does care about me."

Doing these things were not easy. When I got to this point, I had no way to go buy up because I had lost most everything I felt was dear to me at the time. I kept telling myself that I had nothing better to do than to try it as everything else I had done on my own had failed. AND, I still at the things on this list pretty consistently, but I didn't beat myself up over it. I just took it one day at a time. I took me 4-5 months of steady effort on my part to have better days. Finding the ability to make the effort when you are depressed is the pits, but it can be done. After suffering from depression for ten years and hitting bottom in my life, I checked myself into a day program. The tips above where the best things I got out of therapy, I was finally able to get off my meds (I am not saying this is possible in your situation, but it could/may happen). It took 3 months of intense therapy (group and one-on-one), and another year of antidepressants before things were consistently better. I am no longer on meds. I no longer go to therapy unless I start feeling or having the thoughts of depression for more than two weeks. I still follow the rules I have for myself listed above except that I do take naps on occasion as a treat to myself.

[klaaspice 4]

Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate everyone's input, suggesstions and well wishes. It's nice to know I'm not alone.