Taking a stand.

Like I SAID, if it HELPS ONE PERSON?

With the discussion of post WLS suicide, I've been looking at information abot the psychological care of WLS patient -

From Bariatric Times -

Discussion continues at conferences regarding the question, “What is success?" following bariatric surgery. The obvious answer would involve sufficient weight loss or improvement or resolution of serious comorbid conditions.

However, even if there is initial progress in these areas, the patient and surgeon may not recognize underlying psychological issues or emotional obstacles that may impede continued postoperative success.

The patient who initially loses the weight only to then later regain may not seek any professional help until it is too late or until the challenge for reversal becomes a daunting one.

Such underlying psychological issues or emotional obstacles may include the following:

• “Normal" depression with loss of the “familiar" body
• “Normal" depression and adjustments with a change in relationships
* As a result of jealousy from coworkers
* As a result of unsettling reactions from friends or family who cannot adjust to the new body or lifestyle of their loved one
* As a result of reactions by the spouse or partner due to feelings of jealousy or insecurity, particularly if the spouse is obese or has never known the patient at a lesser weight
• Anxiety as a result of increased attention from others
* Particularly from the opposite sex
* Especially if there is a history of sexual abuse
• Eating challenges related to “mind hunger" or loss of “comfort" eating.

But, beyond the "normal," what then?  What do you do? What if your obstacles are much bigger?  How do you AVOID desperation?  I think I'll be posting a lot about these topics, partly because I see a huge need, and because I was just asked to sweep it under the rug, for fear of "scaring the newbies."

I refuse to SHUT UP.

"Please please please continue to research this and post on it... it is so important...I have not had my surgery yet but have battled weight problems my whole life...you think being molested and raped between the ages of 4 to 16 have anything to do with that?? Think maybe my mother rejecting me, and making me feel like a failiure most of my life might have anything to do with that?

Will loosing 200 pounds actually address those issues? Or is it just going to take away my method for coping for the last 49 years? Is it just going to strip away my safety blanket? Having tried and failed every diet out there and a few I made up myself, I knew going into this that I was going to have to address my issues and find out what I was "hiding" from, or I would just set myself up for failure again... and this one cost way to much money and time and effort, and I have had to fight way to hard just to get approval, but more I  actually quit smoking for this...I decided that I was not going to fail this time. So since I started this journey I have been seeing a great therapist who has really helped me to become aware of these issues and to start to address them.... I think therapy should be a requirement for bariatric surgery, but that is just my opinion.

By the way.. Thank you for all that you do...I am 11 days away from surgery and reading your blogs and your post on other sites helped me to make an informed decision. There is never anything called 'too much information" ... the issues start when someone has to little information. 

And if you can scare a newbie away by providing honest information, then they need to be scared away...they are just not ready...

Bariatric surgery is not something to go into lightly, and anyone considering it should gather as much information as they can from as many sources as they can before they make such an important decision.

My journey is not yours, I may or may not experience some of what you have, but if I do I am very glad that I am aware of what could happen and won't be blind sided in the future...

Thank you again"

For what it's worth, I support you 100%. I come here for support. But I also come for information. I need to figure out for myself how to live the rest of my life with this surgery. Information like this helps me to make those decisions.

I may not be "depressed" per say, but I'm having a heck of a time not putting food in my mouth. I just had mostacholi for dinner last night until my stomach hurt, today I hate myself. Could these types of feelings lead to thought of suicide. That's for each individual to decide, and the more information we have to make these decisions the better.

Keep doin' it, Beth. Some of us are listening AND paying attention. 

I was in therapy & under the care of a psychiatrist before surgery and have continued after surgery.

I really believe every WLS patient should be involved in therapy.  Just like we still need medical care after surgery because our bodies are changing we need "mental" care because our mind & relationships (to others, to food, to our bodies) are changing too.

The mental help issues need to be presented & known by newbies (& us all) just like knowing we will need vitamins & to exercise.

Keep reminding us, Beth!

Lorraine

I am not one that likes to put too much info out there.  I am also one to NOT ask for help.  These issues have caused a lot of problems for me post-op.

I remember ( I remember stuff pre-collapse) when I had my psych eval that the Dr. stated that I seem to put a lot on my plate and needed to learn to balance and yadda yadda yadda.  I just wanted my approval darn it.  Back then I never attributed my obesity to anything emotional.  It was from my genes ( I have a lot of obesity on both sides) and my genes only.  I had never attributed my eating to my life issues.  I had a pretty good life/upbringing.  There was no abuse.  A loving family. 

It wasn't until I lost the ability to eat all that I wanted that it became evident that it was a coping tool.  I was a few years out and doing great.  great weight loss..great job.  Crappy self worth and relationships though.  Couldn't sleep at all.  Now I think that this is a side effect from WLS.  So I learned that a glass or two of wine would calm all that was edgy and I could SLEEP!!!!  It was all down hill from there.

I never (besides my psych eval) been under the care of a counselor/psychiatrist.  I'm still not.  I think that it is VITAL that pre-post op's stay with counseling for a while to deal with all the emotional issues.  Honestly I know that I should but I am very closed.  Really what problems do I have?  I don't know,I don't remember them..HAHA.  All my needs now are taken care of.  I'm 38(?) and I'm now under the conservertorship (is that a word?) of my brother.  My other brother gives me shots in my ass and my sister runs me/kids on errands. 


NOW that I have babbled on and on..I think it is VITAL that newbies know that it is not all sparkles and rainbows.  I'm not saying WLS is bad (its not) but we all need to be aware of the downfalls.  Be aware that there is LIFE post weight loss bliss.  at one point it may just slap you and you may have problems getting up without a hand.

Same here Tanya - I can't really think of anything that would contribute to MY OWN undoing - I had no sad childhood stories.

But.  I am aware.

And, of course I have no memory with you.  ;)  Perhaps not remembering is a good thing?

(Folks, take note, Tanya has serious neurological complications -- and is disabled -- from her RNY.)

I'm confused, Beth.   Does a cross-addiction to wine make you "disabled" from RNY?  Is that what you are attributing "disabled" too?  Please clear this up.  In reading the message it seems that Tonya is admitting to a downward spiral of her own making beginning with the abuse of alcohol.  I'm well aware there are serious complications that can, and do,, show up after RNY (or with any surgery), but I'm confused with this one.

Keep on putting the word out there, but tell me how the neurological damage was attributed to something besides drinking.  Thanks.

I must have missed that in her post -- I knew that she suffered from neurological damage is all.

I have seizures and memory disorder.  I did not drink, I never drank, I still only have a sip here and there as it's not very compatible with seizure medication.

Neurological damage can occur WITHOUT alcohol, to anyone, for a variety of reasons.  Starvation, vitamin deficiency, low blood sugar, coma, etc.  

You are right that neurological problems can occur in anyone.  I just read where she said a couple glasses of wine were the beginning of the end.  I took that to mean that she suffered a cross-addiction to alcohol, and perhaps that is why she is requiring help with children, etc.  If that's the case, it truly is time to pick yourself up and get counseling for yourself and your family.  That's the only point I was trying to make.

You need to ask TANYAF, she suffered brain DAMAGE post RNY from whatever happened.  She will tell you.

I do NOT drink alcohol in excess.

PLEASE do not make that assumption.