So I’m about 2 1/2 weeks post op. I do have bipolar disorder where my mood is more depressive with short swings in to manic phases. I take locate for it and it works just fine. I was fine emotionally up until a few days ago and I’ve just been on and off crying since.

The other night it was waking up at 3AM to cry and last night my boyfriend had me take my full dose of lorazepam to calm down enough to fall asleep. It seems like it’s getting worse because I woke up this morning and have just been really weepy, pretty much since the moment I opened my eyes. I don’t have a psych that’s treating me right now, my primary is the one filling my lamictal.

Just not really sure what to do considering that I might be returning to work soon. I can’t be like this there.

Hey Rinrin! I'm pre-op, so I really don't have any advice except just to be easy on yourself. I myself have persistent depressive disorder with a side of anxiety, and I know how scary it can be to not feel in control. You've been through such a major life change! It's really no wonder that you're feeling weepy... but I think you should feel so proud of yourself, too, for making such an amazing life change.
Sending you hugs and solidarity! xx

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RinRin,

Sorry to read about your struggles. I am fortunate in that I do not struggle with depression, or more importantly medication to treat depression; keep this in mind while reading my response. Your body is going through some major changes during rapid weight loss, this includes changes in your hormones. Again, not knowing how your medication works I would be curious if the weight loss and change in hormones due to it are complicating matters. My only suggestion is to be in close contact with your primary doc since he/she is the one treating you and to reach out to a psych doc if your primary can't get things under control. Maybe get psych on board now rather than later.

I wish you all the best. Keep reaching out and doing what you need to get yourself where you need to be.

Hi RinRin!

I have depression, GAD, and panic disorder, so I can relate to some of the things you've said! Sometimes I can be just fine, then out of nowhere, I'll have days where I feel like doing nothing but crying. I imagine that given you are post-op (and not that far out from it), that your body is dealing with a lot of changes right now, not to mention probably still healing. That might be part of the cause for your moods fluctuating so much?

Either way, I hope you get to feeling better soon, just try to hang in there, and if it gets really bad, try and contact your doctor (if at all possible.) Please take care of yourself!

Hi RinRin, I also experienced this in my second week! Was crying over the most ridiculous little things. I've read on here that it's because fat stores estrogen and it's released as you rapidly lose weight. I'm 3.5 weeks out and am starting to normalize--hang in there!

As your fat later melts down, your body starts using fat instead of carbohydrates for fuel , all the nasty hormones and chemicals stored there get released also. What is happening is you are in the midst of a hormonal surge, everything is in flux. A wise old veteran described it as Puberty but you usually don't break out, pregnancy but you don't get a cute little baby out of the deal, you get hot flashes and feel bewildered by it all like menopause, and it all happens without warning, surging and making you feel like you are in a whirlpool. I'm well past menopause but it still happened to me, was a blessing I didn't bleed, many of the younger people do. It does get better but it is a roller-coaster of a thrill ride.

7 minutes ago, bodycando said:

Hi RinRin, I also experienced this in my second week! Was crying over the most ridiculous little things. I've read on here that it's because fat stores estrogen and it's released as you rapidly lose weight. I'm 3.5 weeks out and am starting to normalize--hang in there!

^^ THIS ^^

These are my thoughts:

1. Your absorption of prescription drugs may have been altered by the surgery. As a result, you may want to consult with your surgery staff and find out if your current prescription to treat bipolar needs modification.

2. Bipolar is a stress driven condition. Having surgery and then adapting to life after surgery contains a lot of stress. Therefore you might concentrate of ways of reducing your cumulative stress load and bringing your body back to a neutral state.

3. As you lose weight your body will release many of the chemicals stored in your fat cells. These hormones need to be flushed from your system either through you kidneys and urine or through your sweat glands. It takes fluids to make this happen so make sure that you are meeting your daily fluid requirement. At 2 1/2 weeks that sounds a little early for this to be happening. This hormone flush should ease back down to normal levels as you reach the maintenance phase.

Thank you for your replies.

May post op appointment is on Tuesday the 15th, so I’ll be talking to them about it then. Hopefully they can suggest a psych that has experience with bariatric patients. If not, I see my primary later that week.

I’ve felt a lot of stress and anxiety that I can’t find the triggers. It’s also possible I’m starting a manic phase because I know mine are triggered by extreme stress. My moms picking me up for a “mani/pedi” day later, so fingers crossed that helps. ?

01/11/2019 08:51 AM, RinRin said:

So I’m about 2 1/2 weeks post op. I do have bipolar disorder where my mood is more depressive with short swings in to manic phases. I take locate for it and it works just fine. I was fine emotionally up until a few days ago and I’ve just been on and off crying since.

The other night it was waking up at 3AM to cry and last night my boyfriend had me take my full dose of lorazepam to calm down enough to fall asleep. It seems like it’s getting worse because I woke up this morning and have just been really weepy, pretty much since the moment I opened my eyes. I don’t have a psych that’s treating me right now, my primary is the one filling my lamictal.

Just not really sure what to do considering that I might be returning to work soon. I can’t be like this there.

RinRin,

Another BiPolar here, with a whole lot of medicated years and surgeries under my belt.
A couple things could be going on...
FIRST, it is quite possible your body is simply having a depressive reaction the anesthesia. It doesn’t usually hit until about 5-7 days out. Then it grabs you! That is a fairly common thing, especially for folks who suffer from depression of one form or another. It can last for a few days or a couple weeks but it is just how some bodies process the drug after surgery. I found this out the hard way! When a relative/Doctor explained it to me, I couldn’t have been happier that I wasn’t actually circling the drain. It is most likely this temporary cycle. Keep reminding your brain that this is false depression and not part of your BiPolar Disorder! That keeps me sane! I usually snap out of it in 3-4 days.
(To you other folks out there, it can happen to anyone...you don’t have to have any history of depression. Stable folks experience this too.)

It could be, too, that there has been so much trauma to your system, your meds are having trouble keeping up. I had an addition surgery in August, not related to my May sleeve. By Oct, I was mildly manic. It had nothing to do with absorption. Just one system trauma after lead to weird chemical production in brain. First time in 5 years we had to adjust doses. ?

Our road is normally complex. Things like this can really throw a wrench in the works.
It wouldn’t hurt to have a specialist who can monitor your long term sitch. BiPolar is a tricky beeotch! ?

17 minutes ago, Screwballski said:

RinRin,

Another BiPolar here, with a whole lot of medicated years and surgeries under my belt.
A couple things could be going on...
FIRST, it is quite possible your body is simply having a depressive reaction the anesthesia. It doesn’t usually hit until about 5-7 days out. Then it grabs you! That is a fairly common thing, especially for folks who suffer from depression of one form or another. It can last for a few days or a couple weeks but it is just how some bodies process the drug after surgery. I found this out the hard way! When a relative/Doctor explained it to me, I couldn’t have been happier that I wasn’t actually circling the drain. It is most likely this temporary cycle. Keep reminding your brain that this is false depression and not part of your BiPolar Disorder! That keeps me sane! I usually snap out of it in 3-4 days.
(To you other folks out there, it can happen to anyone...you don’t have to have any history of depression. Stable folks experience this too.)

It could be, too, that there has been so much trauma to your system, your meds are having trouble keeping up. I had an addition surgery in August, not related to my May sleeve. By Oct, I was mildly manic. It had nothing to do with absorption. Just one system trauma after lead to weird chemical production in brain. First time in 5 years we had to adjust doses. ?

Our road is normally complex. Things like this can really throw a wrench in the works.
It wouldn’t hurt to have a specialist who can monitor your long term sitch. BiPolar is a tricky beeotch! ?

I hadn’t even thought about that! Thank you. My psych of 13 years recently retired after having open heart surgery and the lady who bought his practice wanted to take me off of my meds because she believes in the lifestyle change fixes all things. So I haven’t found a new person as of yet. Definitely soon.

I hope you do, you could use the supportive affirmation at this time.

Thank you for your replies.
May post op appointment is on Tuesday the 15th, so I’ll be talking to them about it then. Hopefully they can suggest a psych that has experience with bariatric patients. If not, I see my primary later that week.
I’ve felt a lot of stress and anxiety that I can’t find the triggers. It’s also possible I’m starting a manic phase because I know mine are triggered by extreme stress. My moms picking me up for a “mani/pedi” day later, so fingers crossed that helps. ?

Make sure to do all the non-meds stuff to help bipolar too, like getting good, consistent sleep, get some outside fresh air time, journal your thoughts and moods etc.

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On 01/11/2019 at 10:39, RinRin said:

I hadn’t even thought about that! Thank you. My psych of 13 years recently retired after having open heart surgery and the lady who bought his practice wanted to take me off of my meds because she believes in the lifestyle change fixes all things. So I haven’t found a new person as of yet. Definitely soon.

I went through the same thing where my decade long shrink retired and I wound up in the hands of someone who believed that I could “get right” if I just “wanted it badly enough” and took herbs...oh, holy night! Several voluntary sleepovers in the bin later, and two more practices over 5 years and I found a psychologist I trusted again! It was a nightmare but it lead me to someone who has been with me for 12 years of stability. You have to find the right practice. The road can be ver rocky. But when you get there, it is so worth it. Don’t settle for anything less than you find completely comfortable!

So I’m about 2 1/2 weeks post op. I do have bipolar disorder where my mood is more depressive with short swings in to manic phases. I take locate for it and it works just fine. I was fine emotionally up until a few days ago and I’ve just been on and off crying since.
The other night it was waking up at 3AM to cry and last night my boyfriend had me take my full dose of lorazepam to calm down enough to fall asleep. It seems like it’s getting worse because I woke up this morning and have just been really weepy, pretty much since the moment I opened my eyes. I don’t have a psych that’s treating me right now, my primary is the one filling my lamictal.
Just not really sure what to do considering that I might be returning to work soon. I can’t be like this there.

Hi RinRin,

My dr was telling me that often it gets a bit worse because when we restrict our carb intake, sometimes the Group vitamins are missed. I have depression but in addition to my meds, I also was prescribed vitamin B5, magnesium and liquid D3. But I'm in Canada so winter time we don't get alot of Vitamin D.

Are you able to do light therapy ? But I have been taking this combo of supplements for almost 9 months pre op.. so it has been pretty steady for me. Otherwise I was.like you as well, can't sleep, over night panic attacks, where I would run outside. Maybe talk to your GP and see if these may benefit you.

Hugs and hang in there.

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14 hours ago, RinRin said:

So I’m about 2 1/2 weeks post op. I do have bipolar disorder where my mood is more depressive with short swings in to manic phases. I take locate for it and it works just fine. I was fine emotionally up until a few days ago and I’ve just been on and off crying since.

The other night it was waking up at 3AM to cry and last night my boyfriend had me take my full dose of lorazepam to calm down enough to fall asleep. It seems like it’s getting worse because I woke up this morning and have just been really weepy, pretty much since the moment I opened my eyes. I don’t have a psych that’s treating me right now, my primary is the one filling my lamictal.

Just not really sure what to do considering that I might be returning to work soon. I can’t be like this there.

You may need a dedicated mental health practioner, in association with your other teams. It's that important.