What role did mental health support (counseling, support groups) play in your success with bariatric surgery?

[My Bariatric Life 764]

I am somewhere 12-years out from my gastric bypass, and today posted an article about mental health and bariatric patients (on my website). It is something that I haven't thought about in a long time, but my eating was very disordered all those many years ago. Mental health/behavioral health counseling wasn't part of my bariatric surgery experience. My surgeon told me, "I do the surgery and the rest is up to you." He did offer a support group but it was not led by a mental health professional. Times have changed, and bariatric centers of excellence offering full treatment programs have emerged. I am curious what others' experiences have been with mental health support pre and post surgery and the impact it had on your weight loss success. Do anyone care to comment?

Most of my learning was self taught. I educated myself on where my food came from, factory farming and GMOs, etc, and step by step evolved my eating, and found what I enjoyed as far as physical activity. I did attend OA for a while in the early days to address the emotional issues that I had with food. I have often wondered how a bariatric mental health professional addresses disordered eating and how it impacts patient long term success. I appreciate anything folks are willing to share.

Have a great weekend!!!

[James Marusek 5,244]

I did not seek mental health services (even though they were available) because I didn't feel the need for any. I did attend support group meeting for the first year and a half after surgery. I found it beneficial.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

I did not seek mental health services (even though they were available) because I didn't feel the need for any. I did attend support group meeting for the first year and a half after surgery. I found it beneficial.

18-mos sounds like a good deal of time to invest in the support group in order to reap the benefits. And of course you have communities like BariatricPal for online support. Was the surgeon's support group led by a mental health professional?

[Kindle 8,667]

I did not have and have not sought any mental health support. Everything I know about postop life has been "self-taught" from books, on line resources and talking to friends that have had WLS. I haven't felt any need for formal, professional support. At only 2 years postop I guess I'm still kind of a newbie, but I have passed goal, maintained for over a year and haven't had any problems adjusting to this new life.

Success is just something I was committed to and mentally prepared for when I decided to have surgery. Even with the death of two of my dogs, the suicide of my best friend, and a cancer diagnoses for another good friend, I've managed to stay away from my previous food and alcohol laden coping methods. Life is hard no matter what size I am, but it's no longer all about food.< /p>

[James Marusek 5,244]

I did not seek mental health services (even though they were available) because I didn't feel the need for any. I did attend support group meeting for the first year and a half after surgery. I found it beneficial.

18-mos sounds like a good deal of time to invest in the support group in order to reap the benefits. And of course you have communities like BariatricPal for online support. Was the surgeon's support group led by a mental health professional?

My support group was led by a nurse who had undergone bariatric surgery around 7 years earlier. I attended support group meetings just to give back a little bit to the community. When I first started to attend support group meetings, they were very negative. I thought maybe I should even rethink the upcoming surgery. Then I realized that many of the people who were attending the meetings had problems and needed help, but those that were managing successfully were skipping the meetings. So I made sure I attended the support groups meetings after surgery just to give a positive spin to the meetings. Anyways, I enjoyed bringing in things for a show and tell flavor about solving many of the minor problems and celebrating many of the successes after surgery.

[tacocat 48]

It pissed me off, it was such a joke. The guy was condescending.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@tacocat sorry that you had to endure that!

@@Kindle way to go! Keep up the great work. We are our own best health advocates. I've often learned more from fellow patients than doctors.

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@James Marusek she sounds like she had the right credentials and personal experience to lead the group. Its great that you could bring some light into a dark situation, too!