LAN2k

Wendy, thanks so much for reaching out to me like this and congrats to your choice in surgeon from what I've learned here Dr. Aceves is excellent, you will be in good hands. Since I came out of surgery I have had the most unbearable anxiety ever and I am still suffering with it daily unless I'm medicated, especially mornings when I awake. The drug for the anxiety is Klonopin but the generic version... I've got horrific morbid thoughts of loss that flood my mind and often feel like I'm living in a different dimension than the world around me. I have been put on a tiny dose of Zoloft 12.5 (half pill) for the past 5 days. I was told to take it at night with my last meal and since I have already had the surgery it's important that I get in enough nutrition. Tomorrow I will start taking the full 25mg pill. I'll tell you that taking even this small amount has effected my appetite causing me to not want to eat but I've been able to force myself. I was told that it can take a few weeks before the Zoloft kicks in. I am glad you have shared your story because the Zoloft helped you with anxiety and I want that to happen for me too. I do not want to have to take both anti anxiety and anti depression meds. I hope the Zoloft will work for me. Thanks again and best wishes to you in your journey.

Stacie, my heart goes out to you and so will my prayers. Contact Tiffykins, she had to endure complications and she has come through. I am one of the few who was not psychologically ready for this surgery and as a result I'm on anti anxiety and trials of anti depressant drugs (thus far none have worked). My life has become barely functional. I must believe that this will pass but while in the throes of my fears and depression I just can't see myself there yet so I keep looking back and wishing I'd never gone through with it. I am so so sorry for what you and your family must endure but know that others have pushed through and they are living fully functional, productive and happy lives. Thank you for having the courage to speak your feelings.

Sandy I am so sorry you are having this problem. Josephine's questions are important...while we're waiting for Dr. Jossart's reply please let us know... how long after surgery did this begin? is it possible that you have a sleeve stricture? has anyone done an endoscopy?

Firstly I want to let you know that I had Medicare and pre surgery I learned that Medicare would not cover the VSG. I took my chances and switched from Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan-GHI PPO III to be exact. Once I was switched over my surgeon submitted all the paper work, pre-surgical test reports etc. as well as his letter requesting approval for the VSG. Within 2 weeks I got a call that I was approved. In my situation I was able to make the switch to a medicaid advantage plan at any time. Depending upon your situation you may need to check with medicare to see whether or not you can change at whim or must wait for certain enrollment openings. As for the depression and anxiety, yes there were/are other huge factors that occurred 2 weeks before my surgery. I moved from my home and my daughter took my place, she took back custody of her son who I had been raising since he was a baby. I moved a couple of miles away from them right before my surgery and felt emotionally stable. After the surgery however I was a mess and to this day I am suffering terribly with anxiety and depression. It's best to have this surgery if you have people physically in your life who love you unconditionally and will support you. If you read these boards you will find that I am in the minority. Most people are so happy they have the sleeve. I wish you the best in your journey.

BTW, my recent labs showed helobacter pylori as positive (it was pre surgery and I had to go on an antibiotic regimen). I was told by my GI doctor that I will show positive for H Pylori for a lifetime and the only way to truly know if you have it or not is via a stool sample test. I followed up immediately and got that stool sample to the lab and it came back negative, thank God!

You know at this point there is no turning back. I've got to live with my decision because it's done. Everything even valid research which may indicate increased risk of some sort of fatal problem won't change the fact that I have been "sleeved". I loved your idea of having a dog for a buddy but as I answered you in another thread I can't have dogs where I live. I've got 2 cats though and one of them thinks and acts more like a dog than a cat. I really do have to lift my head up breath deep and think positive and your suggestion of positive affirmations is lovely and likely to contribute to good health both mentally and physically. Thanks Cajun I'm so glad to have your input.

I suggest you seek council with a psychologist who specializes in WLS. At the hospital where I had my surgery there is an excellent psychologist who pre-screens any person considering having WLS and she sees them a few times putting them through workshop testing and questionnaires to determine if they are psychologically ready for the major changes that do occur after such a procedure. Unfortunately I was not informed of her practice until after the surgery since I had psychological/emotional disturbances post surgery which I am still grappling with. Had I seen her prior to the surgery she would have recognized that I was not ready. There will be a dramatic change in your relationship with food and adjustments to make where food and family, friends, etc. are involved. Food can never be used for comfort again after the surgery, you will need to find other means to deal with feelings that were previously enmeshed with eating for comfort. You may not find this a problem at all. Most people are very happy with the changes regardless.

I have lost approx. 60 lbs so far. For me this surgery has caused a traumatic emotional downturn so I am not a good person to ask about satisfaction. I am on anti anxiety and anti-depression medications since the surgery. Sorry to say. But this is not the norm most of the people who've had this surgery are very very satisfied and happy. Best wishes to you in your journey.

Thank you Cajun. I'm really trying but it's painfully slow. I was volunteering at a cat adoption center but because of this nasal/mucus problem I am having I had to stop. I do love dogs too but I live in a "garden" apartment where no dogs are permitted. I went out and purchased 3 air purifiers for this apartment and I vacuum often. Next stop will be an ENT because this over production of mucus is doing me in! I've started the zoloft again only this psychiatrist has started me on it at a very low "geriatric" dose 12.5mg once a day. She will increase it slowly and hopefully this morbid depression and horrible anxiety will lift. It's sort of scary to know that I am one of so few that has had emotional difficulty after the surgery. But it's better to see that the majority of people are very happy and thriving. I sure hope I get there soon. Thanks again for your input.

It appears that there are other links and source references posted at the conclusion of the article. I have not read them because I being post surgery, am not in a strong emotional state to handle anything that could add to the fear I am already grappling with. That said thank you for the post and continue to do your research.

Thanks for the invite Daisy but I have to get myself going now and ready for bed. I want to go to an OA meeting in the morning which means I've got to wake up extra early since I go through such an ordeal to brush my teeth with the gagging and all. Oh...thank you for inviting me to be your friend! I'm honored. Your really a sweet person. Have a good night Daisy.

My surgeon did an upper endoscopy around 2.5 months out and said all looked good. I don't think he looked at my throat at all though. I will PM VegasAngel thanks. And with regard to the depression yes, I think that I am grieving for a few reasons, and food and how food was an integral part of my life with friends and family even in healthy situations is at this point difficult. I miss the excitement of sharing good food. I'm also grieving my former life with my grandson, I had been raising him since he was a baby (I was 39 then :lol0:) My daughter took back custody and possession of him 2 weeks prior to my surgery. I moved out so he could remain at home where he was used to living and loved so much. I'm grieving for the drastic change of not having him with me. My daughter is cold, and although I only moved 3 miles away she seems to keep him away from me even when I'm available to be there for him while she works nights. Instead he's home alone. I'm very sad about all of this. I am in a one bedroom and want a two bedroom place so I can accommodate a guest to sleep over. I just hate my life now. I'm lost. No identity, all of my "friends" were the busy parents I associated with when I was raising him. I was the busiest "mom" active and there for him and his friends, sports etc. I don't even have a job only now am thinking of getting some sort of technical training in the medical field since my degree is only a 4 year degree in 'social science/psychology. I need this depression and anxiety to lift so I can find my way and build back a life for myself.

Before the surgery I had not taken nor need for SSRI medication. If I became sad or depressed it was a normal reaction to a situation and it would pass naturally. Since the surgery the anxiety began immediately and the morbid and fearful thoughts just took over. I had thought that after a while this too would pass but day after day, week after week and month after month it is not letting up. If I could get beyond my morning anxiety which is most intense at that time and get myself to the gym and work out on at least the treadmill for 30 minutes I agree it must be a natural way to help me out of this darkness. I just have to fight this I also need to see an Ear Nose and Throat specialist because I am having such mucus problems that just won't release from building up in my throat and this condition causes me to gag and heave in the mornings when I rinse and brush m y teeth. All this stuff started immediately after the surgery. I will keep on doing everything I can. But you are so right about the exercising. I just have developed such a feeling of estrangement from the world around me since the surgery I've felt somewhat detached from the rest of the world and that makes it hard to get myself out there. This is the only place where I don't feel alone. Thank you Daisy.

Hi Marci, Tiff mentioned her dry mouth due to the ant acid Prilosec she was or is on. I also had the WORST dry mouth as a side effect of the Prilosec. It may be due to an antacid you or some other medication you are taking on a daily basis. I couldn't stand it so I stopped taking antacids but then I seemed to have such a sinus and/or mucus build up and I read a post on here that sometimes acid reflux doesn't manifest with the typical symptoms and you don't even know you've got it and as a result the body will over produce mucus as a protection mechanism. I read a post where this person was prescribed Acidphex (antacid) and it resolved her mucus/nasal drip problem so I gave it a try. It did not resolve my nasal drip problem but I have had no dry mouth side effect from the Acidphex so far or any other side effects I am aware of. If you are on an antacid maybe you can ask your doctor to switch you to Acidphex and give it a try. I also agree that you MUST get in enough Water. Since my surgery plain water makes me nauseous so I drink Vitamin waters all day diluted with regular water. Hope your problem is resolved pronto!

Hi Daisy, I'm only on 12.5 mg (1/2 pill) of Zoloft. I am taking it with food at dinner. The plan is for the dosage to gradually increase under doctors (psychiatrist) supervision. I can't tell if I feel any effect but I don't really feel any nausea yet. I just have anxiety bad. I am still taking Clonazepam for the anxiety. I'm curious Daisy, if you had bad side effects from the antidepressant meds you tried how did you overcome your original reason to take an antidepressant?

Your doing great!! That is a huge loss in weight and you are able to eat fairly well and drink water too? I have lost all desire for plain water and it sort of makes me upset. I can only drink one flavor Vitamin water and I dilute it with plain water.

I am on my second psychiatrist who is trying me on Zoloft only on a very low dose 12 mg for 3 to 5 days and then upping it to 25mgs. The first trial was prescribed from a General Practitioner and he gave me a script for 50mgs. This is the generic version of course. Does anyone have any experience with post surgery depression/anxiety and anti-depressant medication...Zoloft in particular?? When I awake in the morning I become filled with anxiety...I have no job to go to and I just get full of fear and anxiety. I am wondering if taking the Zoloft will lift me out of this darkness. If anyone here has had post surgery depression and had success with any antidepressant medication I would love to know which one worked and about what you went through during the process and duration before it kicked in. Hopefully there is somebody out there. Thanks.

Tracy I am really really relieved for you! Now just do NOt attempt to do anything in the ice or snow! Before we know it spring will have arrived. Hang in there and take care of yourself.

Sounds delicious, the cauliflower recipe. I could also try adding preserves to the plain greek yogurt. Thanks. How is your knee BTW??

Finally we are getting a Whole Foods Market here a few minutes from where I live. It's really close to the Trader Joes. We also have a Wild By Nature Market here too but it's prices are very high! I would like to try that "Better Whey" yogurt since I'm not too crazy about the greek yogurts I've had so far I eat one or two spoons and then they rot in the fridge and once again I've food to throw away.

There are long term results published for the VSG, I can give you some links if you would like. Hi Tiff- I would appreciate having the above mentioned links as well. Thanks. LapBandTalk Click to visit the largest Lap-Band community online!

Thanks Tiffy for replying to this post because in my current state of mind it only added to my fears.

Hi Daisy, I agree. I've been on 2 so far, both caused increased anxiety and such nausea that I couldn't eat. I saw a psychiatrist past Thursday in a 2 hour consult she seemed to ask me all the right questions and have a thorough knowledge about anti-depressant drug classifications and dosages. I even showed her stuff about the sleeve procedure I had. She told me she needed to see my labs, (blood work) and speak with my psychologist and would see me in a week and a half. The next day I got a call from her office and was told that they made a mistake and do not accept my insurance. She said she would see about contacting the insurance company directly to see if they could salvage some money for the $265.00 consultation, but unless I was able to pay for future visits $165.00 out of pocket she will not move forward with me. I actually burst into tears at that point and the secretary told me she will talk to the doctor and get back to me. I called today but the woman I spoke to was "out of the office" and would call me back. She hasn't but hopefully tomorrow we'll connect. I just had hope with this psychiatrist she is a middle aged woman who has been in practice for 20 years and seemed very knowledgeable. I will keep trying if this falls through because from where I am now I see very little light. I am depressed, and I need help. Thanks Daisy.

I confess I am ashamed that in the face of the tragedy in Haiti I remain self absorbed with worries about if I'll ever feel fully alive and well again since this surgery. I confess that I am horrified about living alone even though before the surgery it was what I thought I not only needed but wanted. I confess that since the surgery I've no libido! Now I know some of you may think that at my age what's the big deal but before the surgery I was vibrant and full of ability sexually, now I don't even feel like a woman. I've no desire to buy new cloths, put make up on ...nothing. And the physical problems keep on keeping on- now I've pain in my entire rib cage from front to back on the left side of my body with no clue whatsoever how it happened.....wondering if this relentless nasal drip may have settled in my left lung or if I just twisted my body the wrong way unaware. I confess that since this surgery I've been full with grief and despair and imagine that many of you are just sick and tired of hearing about my misery...so I apologise to each and every one of you and thank you who have allowed me to vent and offered me help. I have benefited from being part of this group and have received many constructive answers.

I hope you will still be able to enjoy tuna. I used to really like solid white tuna and since the surgery it repulses me. Your fortunate to be able to eat fruit. I can't eat any fruit at all since the surgery unless it is out of a baby food jar. Let us know how the tuna goes.