Depression and regret after WLS

[kmmschaefer 14]

Doing my research and I am seeing that a lot of people get depressed, have regret and even suicidal thoughts after WLS. I am curious about the stats, is it more common in people who have been obese their whole life, because they still see that person in the mirror or that the surgery will change who they are? What about people who were not overweight their whole life and gained a lot of weight quickly as an adult? IS their a link? Does it matter?

[darnlochnessmonster 40]

I wonder if it's a combination of coming to terms with self-esteem and body image issues coupled with the dramatic changes in your hormones. A lot of what I've experienced over the last 6 weeks feels similar to how I used to feel around the time of my period - weepy, angry, anxious, just generally in a "funk" - so I think there is a big chemical component to it.

[Deactivatedfatgal 377]

I was placed on zolfot yesterday. My dr said it's a huge life adjustment and your body produces some hormone in the gut so any surgery to the abdomen can bring about depression and etc.

[Joann454 1,329]

I was placed on zolfot yesterday. My dr said it's a huge life adjustment and your body produces some hormone in the gut so any surgery to the abdomen can bring about depression and etc.

I hope you find relief. Good for you for being proactive.

[Newme17 3,444]

I'm no doc, but I do know it's a lot harder for people who have been overweight all their life than it is with someone who gained weight later on. I say this out of experience with my sister (having bypass) and with me (having sleeve). My sister being the overweight one since childhood. I also believe if you have a myriad of other problems, mentally, emotionally, etc before wls it is also a huge factor with those thoughts, issues afterwards. Me, having gained weight for a total of 8 years, I don't have mental issues, I have not regretted one iota of doing what I did. I'm happier too. I also have a very supporting family (exception of my sister-she's very negative) and most supporting husband. I was never suicidal before and don't ever intend to be. My sister gained all her weight back and even more. She's very suicidal, even now. Just waiting for a phone call. 🙁

So, I say, if you have mind issues, seek therapy before and after wls, no matter how long you've been overweight. But if not, enjoy the ride and stay positive through it all. I choose to enjoy my ride. 😊

One other thing. I read somewhere many years ago about a study that was done with overweight people who lost weight. The ones overweight since childhood all had a VERY HARD time trying to conceive how they would look and feel being at a healthy weight. You can only imagine the mind games because of it. The ones who weren't overweight all their lives had a way easier time envisioning themselves back at a healthy weight. (Category I fall in). So, there are advantages to the lesser time, but both can be equally successful, just some have to work harder than others.

Blessings to all on their journeys!!

Edited June 3, 2017 by Newme17

[marissela928 8]

I had the sleeve and have only lost 30 pounds..im 1 year in and this is so embarrassing..i feel more ashamed after the surgery and since i wanst shy about my surgery and told most people about my surgery...i feel as if people really see me now as someone who has no control. I completely understand the failure feeling.

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[Deactivatedfatgal 377]

25 minutes ago, Joann454 said:

I hope you find relief. Good for you for being proactive.

Thank you! Hopefully I won't be on it for long but I haven't had one panic attack or anxiety today so I am happy about that.

[tenseintexas 182]

I have been overweight my entire life. I had a few weeks of being like- " what the he** did I do" but it passed. I couldn't be happier.

[JupiterinVirgo 846]

I have been on this forum for two years. And I have born witness to a lot of stories, and very few of them relative to the whole has anything to do with depression and suicidal thinking after weight loss surgery. I also have had gastric sleeve done and did not suffer the symptoms you were talking about in relationship to my surgery or my weight loss. People are people. Those subject to depression and suicidal thoughts anyway are likely to have their mental condition aggravated with the stress of having surgery and the healing required. People who did not develop any other coping mechanisms besides food are more likely to experience these negative mental states more intensely and more often when they realize that they cannot bury them under amounts of food postop. I think it is unfair to blame the surgery on the mental states of people when the reality is that the states were already there, buried underneath addiction. These Patients should have been in therapy long before they had the surgery. I know I have been.

[JKC2016 82]

The surgery does not solve anything. So important to get counseling for our underlying patterns and to develop new methods of coping. I find the sleeve incredibly helpful for supporting me in choosing healthy portion sizes. In every other way, I am the driver and need to keep my food and beverage choices healthy and stay active. This is no quick fix. The most common complaint is that weight loss isn't as fast as people expected. It is a wonderful support to a healthy lifestyle for me. I got the surgery to help me maintain a healthy weight. I've lost many times in my life. Never been at a stable weight. Nearly five months in, 50 pounds lighter, I'm getting close to goal and excited to learn what maintenance feels like.

[jess9395 5,449]

Here's another part--either consciously or unconsciously people think losing weight will "fix" things in their lives. It doesn't. The only thing that changes is you. And sometimes those changes really upset your relationships. Huge divorce rate post op.