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.

Zoloft made me very nauseous. I tried it for 2 months and the nausea never went away.

a lot of people seem to have good results from effexor but that made me feel very anxious.

I already told you in another post that I had bad side effects from every one I tried, but that does not mean you will.

Did you feel that way before you started the zoloft?

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?

Exercise! I learned that it really is true that endorphins make you feel really good.

I was on Seoquel for 10 years and had to go off of it because they discovered it caused liver failure. Then I went through every single SSRI on the market after that, trying to find one that did not give me horrible side effects.

In the mean time, I started exercising in an effort to lose weight. I noticed that when I left the gym, I felt really good! When I wake up in the morning feeling really anxious, I go to the gym and exercise my brains out. It gets rid of a lot of anxiety. My depression went away, after a several of months of going to the gym on a regular basis, and I finally told the doctor I was giving up on taking one cause I always felt worse from the side effects.

Did you have these problems before surgery, or has it all been since you got your sleeve?

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.

Feel free to send me a private message anytime.

I can't remember if they have done tests to make sure all is well with your sleeve. I think it was Vegas Angel who also said she had a lot of mucus right after surgery. She is really good about answering private messages. I can't remember what she did to resolve it.

It would seem that something is wrong that they just aren't catching. Do you think you are grieving over not being able to eat as much as you would like?

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.

If you would like to talk in the chat room, I have the chat window open.

At the very top, it says forum, blog then chat. just click on it and we can talk! there are some of us in the chat room nearly every night and I think you would enjoy it! I will hear the doorbell and know you came in.

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.

It sounds like you are doing some things that will help you, going to meetings, the gym. Maybe it would help to go to the animal shelter DAILY, and pet the dogs...find one you really like and take him home with you! Research shows that having a dog helps people, and I know you like them because you volunteer at the shelter. Just a thought.

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.

Lan, I don't think it's just the surgery. You have had a lot of stuff piled on you all at once. It's very sad that your daughter is not being supportive. I would be very upset if my daughter treated me that way.

Just know that we are here for you and you are welcome to chat with us any evening you feel up to it. I hope the ent. can figure out why you're having this mucus problem.

LAN2K,

I'm really new on here I spend alot of time just lurking, I'm getting the sleeve on Feb 15th by Dr. Aceves.

I really felt the need to respond to your question about anxiety and Zolft. I suffer myself from pretty bad anxiety, it came out when I was around 23 (that was 20 years ago), I went to the hospital for anxiety attacks, I would lay on the couch watching TV and hyperventolate, it was crazy and I thought i was going crazy, after trying various medications my doctor put me on Zoloft, I'll tell you within a week I felt so much relief, I just felt like I was at a normal level.

I took Zoloft for about 15 years, after being on the medication throughout the years I realized I was getting more and more tired, I was taking naps on a daily basis when I got home from work, I knew it probably was becaus of the medication, I guess you shouldn't stay on one too very long because your body can adapt, Doctor had tried to get me to change, but I never ever wanted to feel the way I did when it first started.

A couple of years ago, I started dating someone who coaxed me into at least changing the medication to something that didn't make me so lethargic, I did with only a few days of not too bad anxiety issues and am now taking Celexa.

So, I loved Zoloft when I started taking it and it worked for me for quite a few years, Everyone reacts to meds differently.

You can also try taking it in the morning right when you wake up, maybe that will help you also.

I hope this helps.

Wendy

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.

Lan, I don't think it's just the surgery. You have had a lot of stuff piled on you all at once. It's very sad that your daughter is not being supportive. I would be very upset if my daughter treated me that way.

Just know that we are here for you and you are welcome to chat with us any evening you feel up to it. I hope the ent. can figure out why you're having this mucus problem.

Thank you so much Daisy I really appreciate your understanding.

I have not taked Zoloft , but I am taking Remeron. I just found out that Remeron makes you very sleepy and gives you SERIOUS SUGAR CRAVINGS!!! Ah joy.....!