Depressed and Obese - Is banding helpul?

caz1970 · May 21, 2007

Hi from a new member!

I am at my heaviest ever (about 280lbs) and have suffered with clinical depression, for years.

I am on and off anti-depressants, which make me put on weight, so I go on them, get mentally better, but am left with more weight, so end up depressed again. And I have lost weight over the years, only to put back more!

I would love to have a band fitted, and I know this would help my self esteem and my health (swollen ankles, breathlessnes, no energy)

I would like opinions from anyone please.

Do I seek this operation, or should I try to conquer my depression(after 20years, I am not doing a good job)

Thankyou for any help!

gunn4ya · May 21, 2007

Caz1970,

Sounds like the band may work for you. You may want to discuss this with your primary care doctor as well as the doctor that treats your depression and get their opinions. Good luck to you.

katspaww · May 21, 2007

Hi Caz1970,

Of course you should consult with your doctor before making any drastic decision but I have wrote some of the things I found while researching if I should go through the lapband surgery.

Most of us are over-weight because it is a vice for us. We use food to hide feelings/emotions etc that are too hard to deal with on a certain level. This is something I have found most people talked about while loosing weight - they are working on the emotional side of things. However, most did say they are feeling so good about themselves while they are loosing weight it made it easier to deal with the other issues.

Oprah had a special on people who had the Gastric bypass and some ended up turning their emotional issues into compulsions of another vice - Drinking/shopping etc. So you have to work on YOU as a whole and not just the food. You need to make sure that you will have the support you need to help you work through your issues. Find a great support group, Counselor etc... to make sure you have the proper support you need for the depression while going thru the banding changes.

I think most Doctor's require you to have a Psychiatric Evaluation before getting approved for the surgery. They want to make sure you are prepared mentally for the changes that will happen after the banding. I do not know what they use to determine who is fit or not fit.

Otherwise, take the time and research, research and research. This is a big decision that you need to make sure you are prepared for. You will start feeling better physically & looking better but at the same time have to let go of old eating habits that can be hard.

This forum was the best gift I could have found in my research. I spent almost 3 weeks just reading all the different posts to help me get a realistic expectation of what "being banded" means. You will find all sorts of different views because we are all different. But you can gather the facts and learn.

I wish you the best in your decision to be banded. It is one of the toughest decisions I have made in a while (3 months deciding) but so far (even in the painful moments) I haven't regretted any of it. I am learning how to work on the WHOLE me during this process. It isn't easy every day but I know it was the best thing I could do for me.

Best wishes,

Kitty

Big As Life · May 21, 2007

I hope that you find the answers that you are looking for....I know that the band has really been good for me..I love it...I agree with Katspaww, do the research, check with your doctor....and maybe he will be able to give you the answers....good luck...I wish you only the very best...

mandi78 · May 21, 2007

<p>caz1970-As someone who has suffered depression for close to 10 years now, I firmly believe that for some of us medication may be required for the rest of our lives. I am not saying this in a hopeless way. However, just as someone with any chronic long term illness will probably be on their medications forever as well. I feel so much better mentally and emotionally when I am on medication as I believe much of my depression is a chemical imbalance.

That being said, I too have the health issues you mentioned and more which also makes me depressed. I also have low self esteem that contributes to more depression. I am seeking band surgery as a way to lose weight and hope to eliminate my other health issues. I believe this will help with the external components of my depression but also feel that I will be on medicine off and on for the rest of my life and I'm okay with that. I'm not ashamed of it, it's not my fault. I also suffer from health anxiety and I feel that improving my health will help with this some.

juliegeraci · May 22, 2007

I would go back on your meds first then get banded right afterwards. I have been on meds for a couple years now and have never felt better. Getting your medication straight is important regardless if you get banded. A healthy mind is a healthy body. Good luck.

susansilver · May 23, 2007

I agree with the last two posters above. I have been on anti-depressants for the last five years and most likely will stay on the rest of my life. I have chronic depression and anxiety and being obese just makes it worse. I don't think that losing the weight will get me off the meds - I do have a chemical imbalance and just as I take insulin for diabetes, I take my anti-ds for my depression. Mental illness is an illness, a physical illness of the brain.

So, I would suggest you get your meds straight so that you are feeling good regardless of the band. To me that is a separate issue to deal with. HAving said that, if I were not on meds, I don't think that I would be able to do this. It is not easy and you have to have a good sense of yourself and your goals to be successful.

I wish you the very best of luck whatever you decide.

caz1970 · May 23, 2007

Thank you so much, for the really helpful answers!

I have a good doctor, who will refer to a lapband doctor, if I choose to have this done!

My eating is tied so much in my depression.

When I am depressed I don't care what I eat!

And when I am well, I tend to look after myself better, and eat better, but am left with all this weight!

I need to get an anti depressant that doesn't make me put weight on, as some have made me feel worse and put on lots of weight!

Thank you again.

I am sure I will be reading lots of peples views on here, because you have done the hard work, and lived with the same problems that have led us all here!

michellyoh · May 23, 2007

My decision to get banded came about a little differently (as it is for most people). I knew that I was depressed, and had no control over my life (thus,the weight issues). I decided to start seeing a therapist! I have been going for almost 2 years (twice a month for the first year and a 1/2, once a month more recently). There are usually underlying issues that we are dealing with that control our sub-conscience in ways that seem impossible. It took a year and 1/2 of therapy, a confrontation or two, and being totally honest with myself just to make the decision to do this. But now, there is not ONE doubt in my mind that I have made the right choice! I would recommend therapy to everyone!! But it's important to invest the time and effort to work through whatever issues you may uncover. Look deep within yourself. You'll find the answer that is right for you! Good Luck!!