Bariatric surgery and depression

[wyjcole 3]

Hi my name is Jackie. I am working through all the hoops that are required before I can have bariatric surgery. I had my psychological evaluation and there was concern about my suffering from depression and my obsessive eating. I was wondering if anyone out there had the surgery and had the same problem I have, depression and obsessive eating. How have things worked out for you? Any help is greatly appreciated thank you

[jacileggs 402]

I have suffered from depression for 14 years since my divorce. On and off medication through the years. I am three months post op for gastric bypass. Down total of 75 lbs. I am currently off my cymbalta and feeling better than I ever have in my life. Hope it continues.

[1Day1Life4Now 882]

Raising my hand here. I've suffered from depression for years. I've taken all kinds of stuff. But no more....I am facing my demons head on and the sleeve is working for me. Other than the first couple of weeks, I've had no depression and I'm feeling great. The compliments from others has kept me "UP".

[parisshel 1,892]

There is a correlation between WLS and depression, but WLS does not exacerbate depression. The correlation comes from expectations not met post-surgery, and a resulting depression, or an inability to integrate new body image when weight is lost.

[Katcloudshepherd 630]

Raising my hand here. I've suffered from depression for years. I've taken all kinds of stuff. But no more....I am facing my demons head on and the sleeve is working for me. Other than the first couple of weeks, I've had no depression and I'm feeling great. The compliments from others has kept me "UP".

I took myself off of Zoloft. My doctor's were NOT HAPPY. I'm really struggling right now to manage the depression without medication. However, I felt the Zoloft just wasn't working anymore and I DO NOT want to take medication for depression for the rest of my life.

[wyjcole 3]

I am taking Zoloft and Lamotrogine. I don't mind taking the medication for life, if it is going to help me. I have a tendency to obsess over food and just want all the information I can get to make sure I'm not jumping into the fire.

Jackie

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

Well, I guess I am a little worry that you obsess over food. During the early months, this surgery practically makes you obsessive because you have to be so careful to eat properly why you are "getting the hang of it".

I think it would be of real value to connect with a nutritionalist who understands your emotional issues over food so you can have a partner in working through it.

I am also not sure that I agree that the only reason people get depressed post WLS is unrealistic expectations. I am pleased as punch, happy as can be - my expectations have been wildly exceeded... the part of my life that is the very best is how I look and the healthy improvements from losing all that weight. I still have down days though. I think what the real challenge is that we have old patterns - literally neuropathways in our brains - of how we deal with stuff. Okay, now remove the numbing feeling from over eating from the patterns and it can be disorienting while you figure out how to live well and improve those brain responses. This is not just about breaking a "habit". I actually have no desire to overeat and I stay active, stay social and do alot of things to "replace" the old ways, but it is still a work in progress. I no longer have a way to numb feelings and I guess this is how addiction transference might start. I am working with someone on this and working to retrain my unconscious responses and learning how to experience negative feelings in a different and healthy way since over eating is no longer a choice I have any desire to make.

[wyjcole 3]

Cowgirl Jane, Thank you so much for the open and honest response. During my initial meeting they mentioned addiction transference. I had forgotten about that until you just mentioned it. I meet with the nutritionist next week. I will definitely add that to my list of things to talk about.

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

I watch addiction transference like a hawk. Last summer I became aware that i was really really hopped up on coffee. Like coffee became something that made me feel good, killed appetite etc and I was drinking ALOT of it... it was all great until I started getting jangly nerves and all.