Anyone Else Feel This Way?

I posted this in my home state forum, but I wanted to try here too:

Did anyone have a problem dealing with groups of people post surgery?  I'm finding with a couple of close friends (one on one) I'm fine, but whent it comes to larger groups or crowds I basically border a panic attack and freak out.

Now the "thought" sends me off the edge.

My family support has also vanished, I'm wondering if the two are related.

Anyways, I'd really appreciate some input.  This doesn't last does it??

Thanks.
-Traci

I have had panic attacks before (long long before surgery).  I don't know why you might be having this happen as a result of surgery???  Why do you think it's happening now and what makes you think it has to do with surgery?

I don't know if you ever took any anti-anxiety medication or anti-depressants but if you do take them, they don't work as well after surgery.  You can talk to your doctors, pharmacist, and nutritionist about possibily crushing pills before you take them.

I realized about 3 weeks post op that I was not able to break down at least one medication I take.  Now I cru**** and I feel much better.

Even if medication is not your issue, I think surgery is a kind of traumatic event and it takes a while to feel normal again. 

Crowds -- especially gatherings of my in-laws -- make me feel nervous because I am afraid of what they will or will not say about my weight loss.  

And a lack of family support would make things hard too.

So you're going through a lot all at once and it's not easy.  

If you have never met with a counselor you might consider looking into that.  Talk therapy and medication can make your quality of life a lot better. 

I also would be LOST without my weekly WLS support group at a nearby hospital.  Every week I have to drag myself there and every week after the meeting I feel 100% better. 

I hope this gets better for you. 

Shannon  

It started to happen before the surgery, but I think it just had to do with how I feel in large crowds because of my size.  Also, my hosptial and the WL center I go to charge 15 to 25 bucks per session to attend the support groups.  That's 60-100 bucks I don't have extra..

Family support has waned.  Which blows because my mother had the same surgery done.  But that's always been a tippy relationship.  Plus, she criticizes everything I've accomplished since surgery  day...from how much weight I've lost (i.e. "you're doing something wrong, it's not happening fast enough") to paying to see the nutritionist (ins. wont cover).  

Church family has been weird.  They just don't "get" it.  Most of that group is of retirement age, three of us are overweight, i'm the one who made the leap. 

I don't regret my decision.  Not one bit.  I do feel like I've had a lot of change in the past five weeks, and I really wish I had someone to buddy with about it all.  I don't know, maybe it's a combination of all of it.

Side note: No, never been on meds for anything except acid reflux and that's gone.

I HAVE THEM ALOT , I ABSOLUTELY HATE WALMART, BUT ITS NOT BECAUSE OF MY SUREGRY , I HAVNT HAD IT YET AND I DONT CARE WHO DOESNT SUPPORT ME. i SUPORT MYSELF. JUST GET HEALTHY , THATS THE NUMBER ONE RULE.. I HAVE ANXIETY BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO BE SEEN IN PUBLIC. IM SO ASHAMED ON MY WEIGHT , ... SORRY ABOUT CAPS. I ALWAY**** THE BUTTON FOR SOME REASON, BUT I DONT WANT TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT . JUST TRY TO BREATH DEEPLY AND JUST WORRY ABOUT YOU AND GETTING BETTER .. I KNOW ITS HARD . BUT FIND SOME GOOD MODIVATIONAL BOOKS TO READ. JOYCE MEYERS HELPS ME TREMENDOULY. ALSO GET U SOME CDS TO LISTEN TO IN YOUR CAR .

It's very possible you were "medicating" yourself prior to surgery with the warm embrace of food, and possible avoidance of certain situations you knew might be uncomfortable. Remove the food, and it leaves you open to have to deal with these emotions. You've already taken the first step with the aknowledgement. Are there any community resources, other support groups run by volunteers, hospitals that are free in your area? Call your local united way, or there is an offshoot of UW called First Call For Help that given the nature of your need will try to get you hooked up with the appropriate resource over the phone. It really blows that your program charges for "support" the only thing you are supporting is their bottom line. Going to your PCP is also a great first step. They can evaluate if meds can help you. Good luck to you, I hope you get the help you need to live a happy life post WLS.