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Depression after the Gastric Sleeve

Has anyone suffered from short term depression or difficulty remembering things after having the Gastric Sleeve surgery? I am now almost 3 months post surgery and I'm still having troubles with memory and forgetfulness. I know its starting to have a very negative affect on my attitude as of late. I went from being extremely sharp memory wise to now not being able to remember what I did just a few days ago. I have been on the vitamins both gummies and now a prescription pill form. But it still seems like I am off. And the more off I get the more frustrated and depressed I become.

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I knew depression was possible but never dreamt it would be this bad and never thought about the insane anxiety. Not trying to scare you, you may be just fine, I'm just being real because I never read anything like this pre op. Thank you for the prayers I will do the same.

I understand Ur issues! I am having them also! I had severe depression before the operation and believed once I saw the weight coming off it wud change and I wud b better but it's not happening! I am more depressed now than before! :-(

I will be thinking of you, dint be afraid to ask for help.I actually went to the er because I thought I was having a nervous breakdown with depression anxiety couldn't eat or sleep

I thought my memory issues were just me going crazy!! And I thought I was the only one who had this issue. It's good to know others have struggled with this! I forgot how to spell my nephews name one day. I helped raise the kid. But couldn't remember if it was Tristan or Tristen. Then I started noticing I was forgetting other things. Everyone around me says it's just because I am almost 40 (Shh!) but I knew it was more than that. Depression was a big issue for a while too. That one was a real struggle. It's already something I have dealt with for years. But after surgery I really felt like I had lost my best friend. food wasn't there for me anymore. It was a real stage of mourning. That's something I wasn't at all prepared for. I live 5 hours from my family so it's just my son and I. I felt alone in life and alone in the fight to get healthy. It was hard. But I know from past experiences that Prozac helped, so I got back on it. I feel so much better now. So much negativity has finally left me. This life is defiantly not for the weak. It's a struggle. But we can all struggle together. =)

I thought my memory issues were just me going crazy!! And I thought I was the only one who had this issue. It's good to know others have struggled with this! I forgot how to spell my nephews name one day. I helped raise the kid. But couldn't remember if it was Tristan or Tristen. Then I started noticing I was forgetting other things. Everyone around me says it's just because I am almost 40 (Shh!) but I knew it was more than that. Depression was a big issue for a while too. That one was a real struggle. It's already something I have dealt with for years. But after surgery I really felt like I had lost my best friend. Food wasn't there for me anymore. It was a real stage of mourning. That's something I wasn't at all prepared for. I live 5 hours from my family so it's just my son and I. I felt alone in life and alone in the fight to get healthy. It was hard. But I know from past experiences that Prozac helped, so I got back on it. I feel so much better now. So much negativity has finally left me. This life is defiantly not for the weak. It's a struggle. But we can all struggle together. =)

Be careful with the memory thing as my sister had a band then 6 months later started forgetting everything and it turned out she wasn't taking vitamins and she had extremely low vit b and iron levels

  • Author

The memory loss is by far the worst part of it. Forgetting things that prior to the surgery were mundane at best. I'm planning on seeing a neurologist here soon just to make sure that its only from my VSG and not something more serious like a tumor.

I also know that because of the memory thats whats causing the depression to actually take in harder. I really do want this to pass cause where this should be the most joyful time in my life, seeing that joy right now is down right impossible.

Case in point last night I went to Wal-Mart of all places to try on clothes. The last time I could fit anything from Wal-Mart was around 95-96. I've been buying my clothes from big and tall stores every since. Last night I was in clothes from Wal-Mart that actually fitted comfortably. A feet that I should be very proud of. Yet still not up mentally.

As others have pointed out this is a medical concern.

If you have bad memory loss or confusion it is likely nutrition related. Get blood panels as you may be low on something. I take a sublingual b complex drops a few times a week plus vit D as they both help with these things.

Depression that persists is also a medical issue. To some extent losing your very bad friend (over eating) might take some time but if it gets really bad...get help. Medication, counseling -both?

Also, feeling really low can be caused by too low carb of diet or even by "fasting". I have experienced anxiety and can definitely trace issues to the way I eat, at least partially.

I think I have to agree, my anxiety is better since I raised my carbs, I thought I was seriously having a nervous breakdown.

  • Author

What are good ways to raise one's carb intake besides bread?

I am probably not the one to ask but I got some premier protein bars that have 30 g of protein but have more carbs than i'd normally consume, that also boosted my appetite which I needed because food repulsed me and made me gag. Some people add berries. When I cut out some artificial sweeteners in things that helped too.

What are good ways to raise one's carb intake besides bread?

I found that Kozy shack rice pudding- sugar free was so helpful to calm my "off kilter" tummy I had each am in the beginning & can add a few carbs. Not great on the protein (only 4 gms), but I could eat better with a calmer tummy the rest of the day.

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Hey I wanted to give everyone an update on this. My memory has improved over the last few weeks. Still not 100% like it was before the surgery but its has improved since the last time I've posted in here. The last round of blood work done on me again showed nothing. I have an appointment with a Neuro doctor however I couldn't get in to see them till basically the middle of July. Hopefully by the time I see them my memory is fully normal again and no imbalance issues.

So I'm just dealing with things as is. As its sits right now I'm still losing anywhere between 8-12lbs per week. Still a lot of weight per week, but I am almost 5 months post-op. So I'm still in that magical rapid weight lost phase. Which is to me still good cause it makes going through all of this so totally worth it. Right now as of today I sit at 355lbs. That is down about 240lbs from my all time high of 595lbs. I know about 180lbs of that is from the affects after the surgery. From the time I decided to have the surgery up to the actual surgery date (including the liquid diet phase) I had lost like 40lbs.

With all that weight gone and no back issues, physically I've been feeling really good. Mentally again its mostly good days and then some very not so good days peppered around in there. I would still do it again in a heart beat. Just would have probably surrounding myself with a better support group of people. That way the mental stuff wouldn't have been as tough as it has been.

What brand are the B-12 vitamins that you take? I could only find chewable but would love one's that dissolve so much better

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