29 replies to this topic

[callthenurse24]

Since my banding, I'm really not myself.

In the beginning I had days where I hardly wantedt to get out of bed and others I was quite happy and motivated.

Lately, I've been irritable, had trouble concentrating, withdrawing from my family and friends and really want to be alone all the time. This is really not like me. I spoke to my GP who said medications for depression are drastic and I should take some time to think and try to be happy. That was a month ago, and my family are getting increasingly frustrated with me.

I considered herbal remedies but they all seem to contain St. John's wort which will impact my contraceptive pill.

I just wondered if anyone else had been through this? I am going to my GP tomorrow to request medication because I can't do this anymore, I am beginning to hate myself because I just can't snap out of it.

[kazbo]

some anaesthetics can cause depression. When i had my wisdom teeth out I was feeling suicidal so when I had my banding i explained to the anaesthetist my previous experience and he used a different drug which had none of thse side affects. best you talk to your doctor and get something mild to get you over this hump. it's always best to see the experts rather than self diagnose. It could also be beneficial seeing a counsellor/psychologist to talk through your issues.

[scarlet_artemis]

I felt like this after i had my baby and again when a child abuser I made a mandatory report about found out where i lived and started to stalk me and my baby girl until he was sent to jail. I ended up being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and had to see a clinical psychologist - i thought I was severely depressed , but not quite the case. It may be the same for you? Has there been a traumatic event where you thought your life was in danger that could have precipitated this? The surgery itself can make you feel this way. Just a suggestion. But good on you for posting and admitting you need help as this isn't normal for you- medication simply corrects the chemical imbalance that makes us feel this way. Think how we suffer with cravings and mood swings during a period? A result of the catalyst/chemical actions of hormones - so this is correctible and is a medical problem. Let us know how you go xo

[Junior]

Callthenurse, I am so sorry you are feeling like this. I am a sufferer of Major Depressive Disorder (recurrent episodes of depression) and feel your pain. Nothing is worse than the abyss of major depression.Give me physical pain any day!

Counselling / psychotherapy should be the first port of call but if that is not sufficient, then medication is definitely an option. Just be careful of doctors who are happy to put you on it and leave you on it forever. Or chop and change meds saying there is no withdrawal because there is. And don't let anyone diagnose you as bipolar due to side effects of an anti-depressant. It happens! That is not to say that medication can't help. It has certainly helped me in the past. It's just that I became addicted to it after staying on it for over 10 years and have learnt a great deal since then.

If there is a psychologist connected with the clinic where you were banded, I would make an appt there before doing anything else. There may be issues that banding has brought to the fore but which you have not yet dealt with. CBT is also said to be excellent for depression. As is Interpersonal Therapy.

And please, please, keep up posted. Jessboo is a registered psychologist and I've done 4 yrs of psych training and I am currently studying a grad cert in counselling. We may be able to help.

So glad you are reaching out
Junior

[Tiger999]

I'm a psych too. Just this big step you've taken is a positive sign. Talk to your doctor again. You shouldn't have to feel this way, there is help out there. There are some lighter medication options, mood stabilizers that may be just what you need to help you feel like yourself again.

[Ozchick]

I'd agree that counselling should be the first step. Are you exercising at all? A good walk does wonders for your mental health but being a nurse-are you doing crappy shifts and eating weird times? Makes it all the harder to motivate yourself when sleep is fragmented or you've done nights having to look after some demanding patients. When everyone wants a piece of you it's hard not to withdraw. Trouble is, that living with a depressed person is no fun and there's no quick fix. If you are actively seeking help your family may cut you a little more slack.
You are quite lucky that there are some qualified people on here that have offered to help. They are on this forum for the same reason as you and will also understand some of your struggles.

[Jody :-)]

I agree with those who suggest seeing a councilor as you’re situation is almost a carbon copy of mine in the months after being banded. Even after doing all the research and going into the surgery and recovery knowing exactly what to expect, it didn’t prepare me for actually having to deal with the mental and emotional baggage of losing weight.

I’ve also suffered clinical depression throughout my life, but in my case I developed anxiety. I remember the first panic attack I had a month after being banded thinking I was having a heart attack. I tried to cope on my own for a couple of months, but depression was starting to seep in. So I contacted my clinic and had a few sessions with not only Dr Monk and Dr Aly, but also the councilor.

As it turns out, I wasn’t as in control as what I thought. All of a sudden I was loosing weight and technically couldn’t stop. I’d passed the weight loss stage where at WW or JC’s I would quit and put my comfort blanket back on to hide me from the world and I couldn’t deal with it. As what some would call and control freak – I felt like I was out of control because I couldn’t emotionally eat, I couldn’t eat because I was bored. Whilst the weight was coming off, the baggage as to why I was over weight in the first place was still there.

Well now that the baggage as has been permanently stowed at the dead letter office, never to be opened again, the panic attacks have stopped and I’m now embracing the new me and can’t wait to get the last 15 kgs off.

I think one of the mistakes so many people make when loosing weight – and yes I’ve done it over and over and over – is that they think if their ‘skinny’ their life will be better. But when you get ‘skinny’ all the same problems you had when you were ‘fat’ are still there. You still have bills to pay, disagreements, you still have to get up and go to work every day.

I hope this helps.

Jody

[JessBoo]

I would assume you had characteristics of depression prior to getting the band. The band may have triggered it to full effect.

Depression is extremely common nowadays

If you want you should try a product called "thompsons" you can find it in your local health store. Its called "mood manager". roughly 60-75 dollars
It is more affective than St johns wart.

I would also recommend seeing a counsellor, however I'm not one that agrees with Anti Depressants. As part of my career and studies one would normally take bias to particular things.

I wouldn't even suggest going to your GP as a lot of GP's are not trained in psychology nor do they know what is going on. They would just give you an assessment and give you medications. ( Which i'm sure would be incorrect)

A lot of people who go on medication, become pilot studies for an abundance amount of medication. You may try 5 before your find the right one for you.

I agree with doing CBT- cognitive behavioural therapy, all about thoughts feelings and behaviour.

I work as a psychologist, therefore what I have stated is just my opinion. What ever you do, needs to be what is best suited for yourself. You also need to be ready to change and make steps to improving the well being in your life.

Only you can do that. No one else.

If your in sydney I can recommend a few free services for counselling or I can recommend you to some fee paying services (medicare).

I wish you all the best

[kazbo]

if you want to see a psych but can't afford it, you can talk to your GP about going on a mental health care plan which effectively provides you with a 'voucher' for 6 or 7 sessions with a psychologist. I've been on such a plan for around 3 years, when my vouchers run out I see my GP for another lot, he does an assessment and sends off for the voucher. It's all very painless and easy to do. I see a lovely lady in Canberra who specialises in eating disorders and also is the referring psych for my clinic (which was all happy coincidence as I had no idea when I was thinking about banding). Anyway, it's been good for me and is a great opportunity to unload.

Yes, I have suffered from ongoing clinical depressive disorder, OCD, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and everything else and I do take meds, which I actively support for those who are unable to manage their mental health using cognitive behaviour therapy alone. I used to be very anti meds but then when I crashed and burned and ended up a jibbering idiot because I couldn't function, then I learned the value of meds. I used to take 60 mgs per day, now I'm on 10 mgs per day so YAY!

Happy to chat offline if you wish

[callthenurse24]

Thank you all for your support and kind thoughts.

I decided to re-think seeing the doctor because I don't think i'm ready or really comfortable with medications.
Part of my banding program includes two appointments with a psychologist. The first time I saw her I mentioned this change in mood- she wasn't very helpful and simply said 'I'd like to keep an eye on that'. I have to see her again soon and to be honest i'm not very excited about it because I didn't find the first session beneficial in any way.

I've been a little better the past week- I think just having gotten this off my chest was a big help.

I'm not really sure what the next step is- I think i'll book in and talk to this psychologist again about it and see what she suggests. I think my problem is that I'm so damned independant and proud that I don't want to have to unveil myself and appear weak. It's probably a childhood trauma- I was always supposed to be the strong one.

I can't thank you all enough for your support, you're such a wonderful group of human beings. I'm glad to know i'm not a grumpy freak! I will keep you all posted on this journey....

[rockabette]

Hi Callthenurse24

Have you had your thyroid levels checked lately? Ask your GP for a TFT (Thyroid Function Test). If your TSH, T3 and/or T4 levels are out of whack then this could be causing the depression. Just an idea to check this first before thinking you need meds for one thing when it should be another.

I havent been banded yet, I dont know how much you had to lose but I do know that stress and various other factors can cause your thyroid levels to go out of whack. The slightest change can cause feelings of depression, anxiety, tachycardia, weight loss, weight gain etc etc.

Good luck and happy to send you some link on thyroid issues if you like.

Cheers
M

[Junior]

callthenurse24, on 08 January 2012 - 05:40 PM, said:

Thank you all for your support and kind thoughts.

I decided to re-think seeing the doctor because I don't think i'm ready or really comfortable with medications.
Part of my banding program includes two appointments with a psychologist. The first time I saw her I mentioned this change in mood- she wasn't very helpful and simply said 'I'd like to keep an eye on that'. I have to see her again soon and to be honest i'm not very excited about it because I didn't find the first session beneficial in any way.

I've been a little better the past week- I think just having gotten this off my chest was a big help.

I'm not really sure what the next step is- I think i'll book in and talk to this psychologist again about it and see what she suggests. I think my problem is that I'm so damned independant and proud that I don't want to have to unveil myself and appear weak. It's probably a childhood trauma- I was always supposed to be the strong one.

I can't thank you all enough for your support, you're such a wonderful group of human beings. I'm glad to know i'm not a grumpy freak! I will keep you all posted on this journey....

Callthenurse

There is no shame in asking for help. I used to feel the same as you. I was the strong one and always tried to live up to that expectation. To the point where I couldn't say no and always ended up with too much on my plate. What I've learned over time is that one is NOT weak when they ask for help. Those that ask are actually very strong because they have recognised their own limitations and have sought support. I'm not talking about perennially dependent people here. I'm talking about you and me.
In fact, I now understand that strong people do ask for help;that it is a strength rather than a weakness.Those who don't are simply falling victim to their own pride.

May I suggest that if you are not comfortable with your current psychologist, you look into seeing someone else. Studies have shown that the most important factor in predicting the outcome of a therapeutic relationship is the relationship itself. It is very important that you feel comfortable or you will not be able to open up and gain the most from the sessions.

Good luck
Junior

[dee]

Medications are not drastic and I think it is almost unethical of you GP to suggest they are, not suggest a psych and just tell you to try and be happy. I agree with everyone else that a psych (one that you like) is a good idea (and get mental health plan so you get some seasons cheaper) but i took antidepressants once and they were the best things I have did.

[Berylvt]

I agree medications certainly have their place as does counseling and CBT. Medication can be lifesaving if you are seriously depressed. Your GP is the best person to recommend what therapy is required, and can also get the Medicare subsidy for you for a psychologist. BTW Doctors DO study psychology, both as undergraduates and whilst practicing. But if you don't have a comfortable relationship with either doctor or psychologist then change them.

[leevan]

Well this is a difficult subject to talk about for anyone. I suffer from Major Depression and am on medication. I am not sure if I should reveal the depths of my depression suffice to say I have been hospitalised a few times for months at a time after serious attempts to end my life. I somehow survived some very bad overdoses and it was touch and go a few times. I really shouldn't be here and at the time didn't care at all abouy anything but my next attempt. Not a good way to live. For all the psyches out there you may recognise when I say I had the most drastic procedure done to me to help save me from my destructive episodes. It was a very dark time that I am still struggling with. I am hoping that I don't scare anyone off and really am quite a normal person. I don't usually bare my sole like this and hope I don't offend anyone and regret doing so.

My weight was a huge part, but not the only part of my depression and I tend to use food as a way of comforting myself when I am down.

After trying numerous medications I think I have finally found one that seems to be helping. It is a life saver to me. I am also on an anti-psychotic which has the side effect of increasing hunger levels significantly. I battle with this and every now and then I try reducing my meds to combat this but end up having trouble sleeping.

My depression started pre-banding and I must say that I feel that it has gotten better since banding. Whether it is a change of focus or the extra exercising or the meds I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong, the band hasn't been an instant cure but I do like being thinner of course and feel I may have turned a corner in regard to my depression. I think it is the meds that have been a life saver to me. I hope I won't have to be on them permanently but am happy to take them if they are helping.

I urge you to get help if possible before things get worse and sincerely hope that you start feeling better soon.

Leanne

[dee]

Thanks for sharing Leevan and glad you are feeling much better now.

[NeddyBear]

I feel I've cheated a bit with my band because for 5 years prior I had suffered from the type 2 diabetes and everyday since with the diabetes in remission I have nothing to be depressed about.
I to hate depression and after the death of my partner I suffered it in silence for 8 months before contacting Beyound Blue and seeking assistance.
What really pulled me through was positive thinking and not dwelling on the past and what made all the difference for me was a little pink tablet called Xanax, I was taking 1/2 a tablet daily for 6 months and they made me feel better than great, very positive thinking and with no side effects.
I tell people theses little pink tablets would cheer up the dead.
www.beyondblue.org.au

[Gato]

Must have been the placebo effect Neddybear, Xanax isnt for depression, its for anxiety and panic disorders. It just calms you down a bit, doesnt lift you up Im afraid.

Mind you, Im all in favour of taking the wrong drug - do it all the time myself.

[buckets3eyedfish]

NeddyBear, on 21 January 2012 - 06:38 PM, said:

I feel I've cheated a bit with my band because for 5 years prior I had suffered from the type 2 diabetes and everyday since with the diabetes in remission I have nothing to be depressed about.
I to hate depression and after the death of my partner I suffered it in silence for 8 months before contacting Beyound Blue and seeking assistance.
What really pulled me through was positive thinking and not dwelling on the past and what made all the difference for me was a little pink tablet called Xanax, I was taking 1/2 a tablet daily for 6 months and they made me feel better than great, very positive thinking and with no side effects.
I tell people theses little pink tablets would cheer up the dead.
www.beyondblue.org.au

Neddy I think that is great you sought help from Beyond Blue. Many people think they can do it by themselves so hats off to you for reaching out

Gato, Although Zanax is predominatly prescribed for anxiety disorders it is also prescribed for anxiety caused from depression. I am sure Neddy's doctor would have assessed this before putting him on them. In Neddy's case he probably developed anxiety from the grief he suffered of losing a partner - which to me sounds perfectly normal. And as Zanax is designed to level out the thought process it would have a calming effect on him therefore leading him to believe that he was on a high because of the depression it would seem to have that effect of an upper, when in actual fact we both know it isn't really classed as one. As for the placebo effect - tis funny how that works isn't it - tricky little bugger

[Gato]

Yes, you're right buckets3eyedfish . Depression is a complicated spectrum of experiences, not just one thing.

Good on you Neddy for seeking help and then being lucky enough to be prescribed something that worked for you.