Depression and WLS

Hi -

I will be having surgery in June/July.  I have been on medication for depression since 2005.  I also suffer with migraines with aura.  I currently take Maxalt (which isn't working) for the migraines and Effexor XR 75 mg/day for the depression.  I am contemplating getting off of the Effexor.  Does anyone else suffer from depression?  Has having WLS helped you?

I suffer from depression, and have a family history of migraines which fortunately skipped me (I got an extra dose of the depression instead).  I am on Prozac.  Losing weight has been good for my overall mood, but I would still wrestle you to the ground if you tried to take my Prozac.  Every so often I get it in my mind that I don't want to be a hostage to the American pharmaceutical industry and go off my Prozac.  Inevitably, my girlfriend will ask me if I stopped taking my meds - it takes her about a week to notice, but she always does, even if I don't feel any different.

Do NOT go off of your anti-depressant medication, without clearing thsi with your treating doctor.

ANY major surgery is a significant shock to the body, and can trigger a depressive episode.  Make certain that your treating doctor and your bariatric surgeon both know that you are in this process, and your history of depression.

Good question. I have had bouts of depression starting in my 20's. About 10 years ago I started taking an antidepressant daily. I haven't noticed any difference since surgery. I have discussed weening myself off it with my doctor but chose not to do so right now. When I have maintained my goal weight for 6 months or so, I'll revisit this with my doctor. My antidepressant, Celexa, works great for me. I'm working my weight loss plan now and that hard enough. I'll climb one mountain at a time for now.

Hi

i suffered from depression years ago and occasionally still do but now it is usually for a specific reason and temporary.  Occasionally i get depressed when i see how i am aging as there is nothing i can do to stop aging... it is inevitable.

Things i know that help with depression are omega-3 fish oil (DHA, EPA) found in krill, salmon, sardines, mackeral, lesser amounts in tuna, or in a gel cap; and exercise but the exercise does not have to be hardcore.  A clean, nutrient-rich diet should help as well, including B vitamins.

Ironically, for first two months after VSG i felt depressed for brief periods i think because i was mourning the loss of eating with abandon and abundance.  I even felt some anger towards my surgeon whom i paid to reduce my stomach 85% so i could stop eating.  So strange.  I am four months out now and i do not resent the surgeon for making my stomach very small, i am happy, appreciate that Dr. Ortiz saved my life, and i really appreciate being smaller and not worrying about having a heart attack in my sleep.  I don't get chest pain anymore.  My weight-bearing joints are fine now.  I feel comfortable in my skin.  Yesterday i pumped up the air in my bike tires and bicycled for about 40 minutes, something i haven't done in a very long time.  I didn't start exercising until this week since surgery.

I think your spirits will be uplifted if you have the surgery.  You will feel more optimistic about everything.  You will enjoy life more.  But WLS is not a cure-all for life's problems.  So your moods will fluctuate which is normal.  Sometimes life sucks. 

I am afraid of pharmaceuticals.  The only medicine i take is levothyroxin for thyroid, and i am going to not renew the prescription, see how i do without it since i think a lot of crap food i ate in the past adversely affected my thyroid, but since VSG  i have been eating perfectly most days and may not need thyroid medication anymore.  I think you will be happier when you get off your depression medication, WHEN YOU ARE READY TO DO SO.

You will probably get nervous as your time for surgery approaches.  I was never so scared as i was when i went for my vsg.  But i had a good experience with my vsg in Tiquana and post op there were no problems.

Good luck!

"I think you will be happier when you get off your depression medication, WHEN YOU ARE READY TO DO SO."

You said you have suffered from periodical depression--but that you are also "afraid of pharmaceuticals" so does that mean you tried them and didn't like them or that you never were treated with any?

How can you possibly say or encourage someone to go OFF their depression meds and think they'll be happier???? Seriously??? I know I'm not happy when I'm off them. I know I'm more stressed without them. I know that stress does not make me happy. I'll go the alternate route and say, I bet MORE people would be in better shape if there wasn't so much to friggin depress them!

Hello - I have been on medication for depression for a long time. I was taking lexapro for years and it was working pretty good however I would still get some breakthrough depression. When I lost lots of weight after surgery I also wanted to get off my meds. I did it slowly but in less than a week my depression came back full force. I went back on the lexapro but it didn't help enough. I went to the doctor and he changed me to cymbalta. I feel like a million bucks.

So you have to really dig deep and ask yourself why you want to get off meds. Sure it sucks to have to swallow a pill, but if it makes your life better than why not take it. Losing weight does not "cure" depression. Even though you are getting a healthier body your brain still will have the same struggles with depression etc. I highly suggest you continue to take your meds. If you have been on them since 2005 it is more than likely you will need to continue to take them if you want to feel your best.

I was off my antidepressants since a month before surgery. i was noticing benefits just from eating healthy, exercising and using my cpap. up until about 2 weeks ago i was doing fine, not great but stable. i am 2.5months post op. I have decided to go back on my medication to see if that will help stabilize my emotions. My family cannot take the irrational, erratic behavior any longer. so i think its a case by case basis. if you asked me a month ago i would have said i am wonderful and off my meds. so just keep watch of your symptoms and ready to talk to your doctor.

I have anxiety, but if anything it got worse after surgery and here's why: I was medicating it with food. When that option went away, I was struggling. I'm in counseling, but meanwhile I take Lexapro at night and a half dose of Wellbutrin in the morning.

I started taking Lexapro after I had lost most of my weight and far from having any gain, I have lost more weight since.

I stopped taking the day of surgery and thought I was doing O****il I could tell I was extremely irritable.  Thought maybe it was from surgery and all the changes, but it didn't go away, so I am back on meds and feel much better.  My family is much happier too...I was crabby!  It is a chemical imbalance and surgery won't cure depression, so definitely talk to your doctors.