Depression better after surgery?

While it is not brain surgery I do think that there is a mind/body connection that cannot be ignored.  Why else are so many obese people depressed?  It just seems that people would have a better chance at being healthy generally, including mental health.  Thank you for sharing that though, I appreciate your point of view, although I am still hopeful that it will help some .  Maybe I am just a dreamer...

You do realize that you will have to do some form of exercise after weight loss surgery.  Exercise is a great stress reliever, and when you exercise your body produces endorphins which is the production of your brain's feel good neurotransmitters....ie...what runners experience when they get their 'runners high.' 

When you undergo weight loss surgery, your whole body will undergo a transformation...so in essence, they really are operating on your head...

As others have posted, your hormones can be all over the place after surgery, so be prepared.  Whatever issues you suffer from now, may be temporarily magnified as your body struggles to regulate itself.  As one poster did say, a lot of people that are overweight do seem to suffer from depression.  

I know for me after I had my surgery, my emotions were all over the place.  I just seemed to get them in check when i went into pre menopause...so..yeah for me.

In the end, I guess it depends on the individual.

Hey Zizz...

I was on antidepressants for a few years prior to my surgery, and was honestly hoping against hope that losing weight would "cure" my depression. About 4 months after surgery, i was feeling amazing, lots of energy, happy happy happy. So i talked to my doc and went off the meds, with her supervision. I did really well for a few months, then fall hit, and my sadness came back and my energy went away. I realized that, although i felt SO much better about myself, i was not in control of the chemicals in my brain that seem to be out of whack.

I came to the realization that my depression is independent of my weight, and i need this medication, for the next while, anyway. It is what it is, i am who i am. (fat or not)

Monica

depression can be situational or biochemical.  being able to move easier and look 'better' would certainly make my mood get better (situational).  However, BP2 is very much biochemical so I do not expect that this procedure will take away all my depressive symptoms.  It is my hope, however, that it will help lesson the swings and prolonged downward dips.  This is my hope.

situationally, i am kiling to get back on ice skates and maybe play rec hockey.  I know for a fact being able to do that will make me feel 100000000000000 times better in mood!  screw depression if i can play hockey!!

everyone is different as well.

Hi!  Hopefully this thread is still active LOL.  I have anxiety disorder, panic attacks.  I realize the surgery doesn't fix my head BUT  has anyone experienced panic attacks following surgery?  More than you would normally?  Mine are pretty much controlled with meds but I am a little concerned about the effect the surgery may have

i have read of some people developing ore anxiety post surgery due to the need to be so careful with what you eat.

some people who have OCD, for instance, develop this deeper b/c they become hypersensitive abouto everything they eat in fear of what it may do to their new stomach and/or overall health.

Thank you everyone for your replies, great to hear different point of views as well. I am hopeful that the surgery will allow me to do the things I can no longer do - volleyball, long walks, hiking, biking etc. and thus have more happy chemicals in general, and hopefully less depression as a result.  If I have to remain on the meds forever as a first line of defense, then I will. I too notice that depression appears to also be related to the time of year, December and January being the worst months often.  Probably to do with getting very little light at that time of the year, and the cold and snow etc.