Depression & Bariatric Surgery? A Patient's Experience !

 Doctor: What is the difference in your current condition and the condition before 10 years i.e. in July 2012?

Patient: I haven't told anyone in my family that I was going for the surgery.

Before surgery, I had only two options, the first one was to get this surgery done and another one was to end my life.

Doctor:What problem you had before surgery?

Patient:I had severe sleep apnea, and I was using a C-pap machine while sleeping.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:I was on high dose antidepressants.

I was taking those medications from last 20 years.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:Yes! for sleep.

Depression was the major problem that I had at that time.

I was suffering from Diabetes Mellitus type II and Hypertension.

Doctor:Are your blood sugar levels under control now?

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:You never needed any medication in these 10 years.

Patient:Never.

Doctor:What about C pap machine?

Patient:I stopped that after 2-3 months of surgery. As I lost weight I never needed that.

Doctor:Mr. Harish tell us when did you get this Laparoscopic Mini Gastric Bypass surgery done?

Patient:It has been 10 years to my surgery. My surgery was done in July 2012.

Doctor:Ok, your surgery was done on July 1st 2012.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Your last follow up visit was 4 years ago, in 2018.

Patient:At that time your weight was 79 Kg.

You have lost approximately 40 Kg.

Yes!

Doctor:You lost another 3 kg, your weight is 76 kg today.

Patient:Yes! my weight fluctuates between 75-80 Kg.

Doctor:It has been 10 years to your surgery, how do you control your weight?

Patient:Have you ever gained weight?

No, I take care of my diet.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:I eat something after every 2-3 hours.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:What do you eat?

Patient:I eat dry fruits or any seasonal fruit.

While travelling I keep something to eat in the car.

If I don't bring anything then I eat roasted chickpeas. If I don't bring anything then I eat roasted chickpeas.

Doctor:That means you eat more dry fruits and fruits.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:We recommend this to all patients.

Patient:Ok.

Doctor:It has been 10 years to your surgery and you are maintaining 40 Kg weight loss.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Do you get your blood tests done to check for any deficiency?

Patient:I get my blood tests like Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 Hba1c etc. done every year.

Also I consult with my physician.

Doctor:Is your Hba1c normal now?

Patient:Yes! it is normal.

Doctor:What problem you had before surgery?

Patient:I had severe sleep apnea, and I was using a C-pap machine while sleeping.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:I was on high dose antidepressants.

Depression was the major problem that I had at that time.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:I was suffering from Diabetes Mellitus type II and Hypertension.

Doctor:Are your blood sugar levels under control now?

Patient:Yes! everything is normal now.

Doctor:Ok.

Doctor:You never needed any medication in these 10 years.

Patient:Never.

Doctor:What about C pap machine?

Patient:I stopped that after 2-3 months of surgery. As I lost weight I never needed that.

When your neck becomes thin.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Heavy neck causes obstruction which leads to snoring. As a result of this brain can't get an adequate amount of oxygen during nighttime.

When an obese person sleeps, tongue falls, which leads to carbon dioxide retention in the body.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Now, you don't need C pap machine.

Patient:No.

Doctor:Now, we want to discuss about depression, every other person is suffering from depression these days.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:No matter how much money a person has, no matter how educated a person is, every other person is suffering from depression.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Many of them are not aware of it, that they are suffering from depression.

Patient:I had a fear of dark places.

I wasn't able to concentrate on the newspaper while reading.

I had noticed this kind of changes in myself.

Doctor:You used to avoid going to any social gatherings.

Patient:Yes!

I got all the tests done, I consulted with cardiologist too.

I had breathlessness, some people suggested me to go to cardiologist and some suggested it can be related to lung problem.

Then I discussed it with my physician.

He has given me some antidepressants, and I felt better after taking that.

Doctor:Did you feel good after taking medications?

Patient:I was taking anti-depressants for the last 20 years.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:I tried everything to get rid of it.

Doctor:Did you feel better with antidepressants?

Patient:Yes! Depression was under control but not that much.

Doctor:Ok.

Patient:Medications were beneficial for me but not that much.

I wasn't satisfied with the treatment.

Doctor:What is the situation now?

Patient:I am not taking medications for sleep.

Doctor:From how long you are not taking sleeping pills?

Patient:From last 3-4 years.

Doctor:You have decreased the dose gradually.

Are you doing any kind of meditation?

Patient:Yes! I started it from last 5-6 months and it is really beneficial.

Doctor:What is the difference in your current condition and the condition before 10 years i.e. in July 2012?

Patient:I haven't told anyone in my family that I was going for the surgery.

Before surgery, I had only two options, the first one was to get this surgery done and another one was to end my life.

Doctor:Your condition was worse.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:The main problem is lack of awareness.

We are living sedentary lifestyles and our bodies are not made for this.

Everyone's vitamin D is on lower side.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:There is science behind this that whose vitamin D is on the lower side, his/her happiness hormones will also be on the lower side.

We are not doing anything, so gaining weight because of less physical activity.

We are stuck in a vicious circle.

Patient:Ok.

Doctor:Your depression is better, not only because of weight loss.

Patient:Yes! I had depression before and after bariatric surgery.

Doctor:You were depressed after weight loss too.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:But all these factors are interlinked.

Patient:With weight loss, I used to feel good. I had noticed an improvement in my condition.

Doctor:You became both mentally and physically fit.

You have no vitamin deficiency because you are taking multivitamins regularly.

Patient:Yes! I was in touch with you and was taking supplements regularly.

You have to take care of yourself after surgery.

Doctor:Yes!

Patient:I always take care of my body.

Doctor:You are taking care of yourself that's why you are maintaining weight.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:If you don't take care of your diet and take sugars and carbohydrates and drink cold drinks daily.

Surgery won't work there, as you can take this as much as you can.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Then you will gain weight.

Patient:Ok.

Doctor:and if you will gain weight, you will go to that situation again.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Sleep apnea and high blood sugar levels will reoccur.

Overall, our life is better after surgery, but don't be overconfident.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Surgery designing should be good, like you have, you can eat each and everything.

Yes!

Doctor:You have lost a good amount of weight and you never vomited once.

Patient:I have no problem at all. I didn't have to vomit even once in these 10 years.

Doctor:Ok. That's good.

You have good weight loss, not too much.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:Body and mind are related, if your body is fit then your mind is also fit.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:This health is the combination of all factors, which you have achieved now.

Patient:Yes!

Doctor:and you are maintaining it.