Post-Op Mental Health Issues

[Mac the Knife 1]

I'm 3 1/2 years removed from a second round of weight loss surgery - a duodenal switch which replaced a malpractice-level LapBand installation. As I write this it has proven, from a weight loss and physical health perspective, to be miraculous: having once tipped the scales at 360 pounds, I now range between 185 and 190. While I went into the "weight loss journey" with no specific weight target in mind? If I were to have had one I've long surpassed it, and for that I am grateful.

But in the years that have followed new issues have emerged, and I'm writing to see who among folks here has experienced something similar - and what they've done to address them.

Specifically, since my operation I've noticed truly alarming changes in my mental health, particularly my acuity and demeanor.

These changes first manifested themselves as memory lapses. My doctors attributed them to Vitamin deficiencies and simple middle age, and an adjustment to my supplement regimen did restore at least some memory function. But particularly within the past 18-24 months, I've began experiencing a variety of mental changes I simply can't attribute to anything specific. Irritability. Severe depression. Disinterest in interacting with people. Extreme distraction at the slightest provocation. Inability to focus in general. Obsessive behaviors when working on projects (e.g., starting a project that comprises 20 steps, completing 15, and then reviewing the project from step 1... only to deem the work insufficient and completely start over. And then? Repeating that behavior dozens of times, never actually completing the project).

These behaviors now have me at a point where I no longer consider myself functional. I'm by no means suicidal, but I am incredibly frustrated. In trying to identify the cause of this I have encountered articles that are tying mental health decline and bariatric surgery post-operative outcomes, and I wonder if anyone here has had any experiences similar to what I'm experiencing - and if so what they are doing/have done in an effort to address their issues.

[Bjc1227 64]

Have you spoken to a counselor about your concerns? Your Bariatric team can likely recommend someone who is familiar with the emotional changes that Sleeve patients deal with. Best of luck in sorting this out.

Edited June 14, 2020 by Bjc1227
Spelling error

[catwoman7 11,176]

You'd have to speak to a counselor or a physician, because I'm not an expert, but it may or may not be related to your DS (I've actually never heard of this as a side effect of DS, but then, DS isn't a common surgery, so I only "know" a handful of people on this and other bariatric forums who've had it). All of those things can be symptomatic of depression, though.

[summerset 5,265]

12 hours ago, Mac the Knife said:

But particularly within the past 18-24 months, I've began experiencing a variety of mental changes I simply can't attribute to anything specific. Irritability. Severe depression. Disinterest in interacting with people. Extreme distraction at the slightest provocation. Inability to focus in general. Obsessive behaviors when working on projects (e.g., starting a project that comprises 20 steps, completing 15, and then reviewing the project from step 1... only to deem the work insufficient and completely start over. And then? Repeating that behavior dozens of times, never actually completing the project).

Contact your bariatric team. It might also be useful to make contact with a neurologist and/or psychiatrist to get evaluation of these symptoms. While deficiencies definitely can mimic/cause mental health issues, there is the chance that it doesn't have anything to do with WLS.

Any therapist/counsellor worth their degree would require ruling out physiological problems, especially when it comes to a rather aggressive procedure like the DS.

Edited June 15, 2020 by summerset

[Elizabeth21 176]

You do not mention your gender or age. You have outlined classic symptoms of Depression as well as menopause. I agree with the others that you should contact a doctor and/or mental health professional.

Good luck!