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Depression and Hormones



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Hi, I am 52 and take Venlafaxine (Effexor). I'm wondering if the absorption of the drug has been affected by the surgery). I was also taking other medications such as Prednisone, and Thyroxine, amongst others prior to surgery. All of them had to be stopped as my gut ulcerated and any pills irritated it. I have been post menopausal for a number of years. Everything had changed including sleep, energy etc, and not in a positive way.


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I'm 57 and am on lexapro. I have noticed night sweats after surgery. One year out and I still have them. My anxiety level is through the roof also. Grrr


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Seriously don't think age has anything to do with it!! OMG I feel sorry for my husband sometimes because of my moods. I'm on antidepressants as well and have been pretty much since my teens. Antidepressants hasn't touched the monster inside me. Went to see the doctor and she told me my surgery shouldn't effect me this way. Don't think she knows anything about this surgery. I read before there will be hormone issues but never thought it would be this bad. I think I might be turning a corner at least I hope I am for sanity and my husband's sake.


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I am 57, 9 months post surgery, gastric bypass. My emotional reactions are definitely different. I am far quicker to anger, but as someone who previously struggled with depression, I see anger (with cause) as a very positive step. It means I am not internalizing every negative emotion and accepting blame for every little thing that doesn't go as planned. The trick is relearning healthy and appropriate ways to express those emotions. I am happy as hell to work through it instead of holding onto those negative feelings. I started going through menopause about the same time as my surgery, so I really cant know how much is hormonal vs increased confidence and body image.

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I am starting the process of getting the gastric bypass surgery. I take meds for panic attacks. I take 100 mg of Zoloft daily. Reading your posts about how angry I could get etc really makes me wonder if I want to go thru with it

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Any updates, anyone? I'm pre-surgical, and wonder about this topic myself. I'm post-menopausal, having had a complete hysterectomy at 42, but I've had long bouts of depression in the past. The last 4-5 years I have had seasonal depression in the winter, but living in Wisconsin makes that almost normal. I tried anti-depressants the first couple of years, then went with increasing Vitamin D and using therapy lights with some success the last few years. But I worry that having WLS in September will make this winter truly miserable.

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Any updates, anyone? I'm pre-surgical, and wonder about this topic myself. I'm post-menopausal, having had a complete hysterectomy at 42, but I've had long bouts of depression in the past. The last 4-5 years I have had seasonal depression in the winter, but living in Wisconsin makes that almost normal. I tried anti-depressants the first couple of years, then went with increasing Vitamin D and using therapy lights with some success the last few years. But I worry that having WLS in September will make this winter truly miserable.

How did it go?


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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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