POST OP GASTRIC BYPASS

Question
QUESTION: Hello..My name is Susan and I am a week out from my Gastric Bypass...I am feeling okay..my abdomen doesn't hurt a bit, I'm drinking and eating what I should (well..tonight I melted a cracker inside my broth) tasted like a grilled steak!!  :)  My problem is that I get VERY anxious and VERY depressed since my surgery.  Especially during the evening hours.  I know I am mourning my past habits and entering into a new life pattern, but man oh man...I get some very anxious moments!  Thank God for my husband...he really helps me through it!  Any suggestions?

ANSWER: Hi Susan:

If it helps, you're completely normal. :)  Does your surgeon have a post-op group you can attend? Sometimes that helps--just talking to others who are going through the same thing.  If s/he doesn't, you can also try and find support online.  Obesity Help is one website where a lot of bariatric surgery patients find support, but there are others.  

You can also ask your surgeon about trying an antidepressant.  In all likelihood you were medicating yourself with food, so you might need something to help you feel normal.

Another option is to try and establish a different evening routine.  While major exercise is out right now as you just had surgery, you should be able to walk--so perhaps an evening walk would do the trick.  (Exercise also helps fight depression.)  When you're about a month to six weeks post-op, you could try a gentle yoga class or DVD.  Megan Garcia's "Yoga Just My Size" is a great one designed for plus-sized folks.  "Heavyweight Yoga" is another popular choice.  For other exercise videos, I recommend anything by Leslie Sansone and Debra Mazda (specifically plus-size friendly.)

You could also try having a cup of warm mint or chamomile tea with Splenda as sort of an evening wind down.  

Another option would be volunteering at night... maybe walking dogs at the local animal shelter or helping with a soup kitchen?  Often times helping others is a great way to combat depression.

My final suggestion would be a gratitude journal.  Writing two or three things that you are grateful for each day.

If things get worse, please consider contacting a therapist.  Your surgeon can probably refer you to one who is used to dealing with food-related issues.  

I hope this helps!
Karla

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HI Karla.  Thank you so much for getting back to me.  Your words are so true. Before my GP, I would "medicate" myself with ice cream.  I would go through a lot of it!  Now, that being out of the question, I don't have that "medication" to lean on anymore.  I truly believe that the two weeks prior and the two weeks after GP are the "pits"...learning and adapting to a new way of eating and living.  I just find it very hard in the evening hours (that's when I would eat my ice cream) and anxiety seems to hit me hard.  I become teary and anxious.  This too will pass.  Being an RN, I feel so stupid right about now.  I think I'll give my PCP a call and perhaps he will prescribe a mild antianxiety med for me to help me get through this time.  Please keep in touch....your words meant a lot!  With Kind Regards,  Susan from Connecticut

Answer
Hi Susan:

Sorry it took me a day to get back to you, my 4 year old got me very sick... and I've been in bed all day with a fever and cold.

I think calling your PCP is a great idea.  You know the fact that you're aware enough to know that you're having trouble this early is a great sign.  By dealing with this now, you will hopefully avoid a lot of the regain that happens to people at 2-4 years because they didn't deal with the emotional eating then.  :)

I know the first week is hell, but it does get exponentially better.  Even among people I know who've had major complications, very very few ever regret the surgery.  Personally, I hate protein drinks with a passion, but if you can stomach them, definitely check out the website dietdirect.com  Usually they have all sorts of sales and such.  Also Syntrax (makes Nectar proteins) used to give free samples to bariatric surgery patients.  

The one thing I'd also recommend is to check out the book "The Beck Diet Solution" at your library.  (Actually any of her books..even her workbook.)  It deals with the habits/tools you need to be successful with your Roux-en-Y.

Good luck Susan!

I think you're going to do great!

Karla

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