Post-Operative Depression

[Wing Walker]

Please have a look at the poll question and the answers that I have posted here.  I would appreciate all advice and comments on how to make this a useful and meaningful poll.

Thank you all, very much.

Wing Walker

[Northern Jane]

I was 'over the Moon'! Seventh Heaven. I had been liberated from Auschwitz and I was FREE! My feet didn't touch the ground for years. Is that "depression"? 

[MCMCyn]

I was fully prepared that post op depression could happen. I made sure I kept myself mentally aware and only one day could I see it setting in. As soon as I recognised it, I found someting to keep my mind occupied and I recovered fine.

[Mnemosyne]

I have not had depression set in, just the opposite in fact. Not only have I been getting better and better but my changed attitude is such a big change that others have noticed and commented.

Now I was frustrated while recovering because I could not do things for myself. I really do not dilating. However, I do not get depressed over those things.

[Sheila]

I did have some depression after surgery, but it wasn't because of SRS as I was loving every second after. I don't remember why I was depressed, maybe it was because I couldn't do the things I use to do. Like riding my bike. I can now but it was over a year before I could ride my bike and it was almost 2 years before I got back into riding like I use to. I'm not depressed at all now. I'm very happy with life.

[Wing Walker]

I would appreciate all advice and comments on how to make this a useful and meaningful poll.

WW, sorry for such stupidity, had to google some of your terms. By "post operative" can we assume you mean SRS?

Postpartum depression (referred throughout this article by the acronym PPD, but also called postnatal depression) is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth.

Let's see here, poll response from me? None, no real experience in either dept to offer any but I hope I helped with yer poll . . .

Hi, Kiera, and thank you for your comments.  I shall change the poll accordingly.

Wing Walker

[Blanche]

I'm more irritated than depressed.  I'd like to go back to my normal life, work, gymnastics, my dance classes but I can't.  I'm too tired to do anything.

[gothique11]

I'm happy, and I've had no problems doing things I enjoy. I went bike riding the other day with a friend of mine. A lot of people I've talked to are tired a lot for months and months after SRS. I don't know why I'm not. I was for the first month, mostly, but I just kept going out and got over it.

I had some depression, but it wasn't related to SRS. It was related to coming home and finding out my gf was cheating on me with a man, and that she was doing ever drug under the sun and became a junkie. All while I was gone. We broke up, and she left the house. I then has some suprise money problems, and my disability cheque coming in late, and then the bank holding it, and almost getting evicted because I had the money but it took the bank 2 weeks to relase the money (which is way over the 5 days standard, but it shouldn't of been held since it was a certified cheque). So, with NSF fees, and fun stuff like that, it was even more difficult. My roommate has been in the hospital for two months, but he just got out for a few days and is going back today for who knows when. He's moving out at the end of the month due to health problems, so I'm scrambling to find a new roommate with no luck so far. *breathe* I'm uber sick now and taking two different meds for that (antibiotic and anti-yeast-infection). And between that there's been a zillion other things going wrong.

On the good side, I'm healing well down there, and it looks great. I have energy and that part of my life is awesome. It's the best thing I have going on right now.

--natalie


PS I should mention that I'm bipolar, and I kinda have a pre-existing condition to depression (and mania) which I've experienced both and after SRS. Although, I'm very happy in how well I've been able to handle my depression after SRS. I haven't drunk my problems away or tried to hurt myself in anyway. That's a good thing.

[Suzy]

I am rather surprised at the results of the poll.  I have helped many, many people recover from various kinds of surgery.  That much of an intrusion on the body often causes depression, no matter what the surgery is for.  IMHO, the body has only a limited amount of emotional energy.  The healing process drains a lot of it for some of us.  But do know, Blanche, this this is temporary.  I wish you the best, beautiful lady.

Kristi

[lisagurl]

I am rather surprised at the results of the poll.  I have helped many, many people recover from various kinds of surgery.  That much of an intrusion on the body often causes depression, no matter what the surgery is for.  IMHO, the body has only a limited amount of emotional energy.  The healing process drains a lot of it for some of us.  But do know, Blanche, this this is temporary.  I wish you the best, beautiful lady.

Kristi

There is a difference between depression and coming off the pain and anesthesia drugs. Everyone who takes that many drugs has withdrawal, cold turkey reduces the amount of time but increases depth of the withdrawal.

[pretty pauline]

I too was surprised at the results of this poll, so few voted, I remember I had an awful depression after my surgery, I had so many mixed emotions, I worried about my voice after the trach shave which I had same time as srs, I was just worried at the time that I was doing the right thing, I was looking forward to it for months but when it finally happens, gosh its really happening, hard to describe.
When I had my breast augmentation and FFS, it was different, everybody sees the results, so happy with my new boobs lol and feminine looks, with srs it took me time to adjust, it was painful, but necessary to feel complete.
p

[MeghanAndrews]

Hi Wing Walker,
I hope it's ok to answer here even though I haven't had SRS, I didn't reply in the poll because I didn't want to skew the results. I had FFS which is a pretty major surgery where the trauma to the body is pretty severe and the results kind of force you to see your life a little bit differently.

I wanted to reply because I had a period after my surgery where I was pretty down. It happened on the 10th day and it was like a tidal wave. It coincided with when I stopped my painkillers totally and began being able to get up and move around and get outside and stuff. The thoughts I had were pretty scary. I had issues with depression when I was younger, like in my teens, but nothing major since. The thing I remember Kate (who, coincidentally JUST had her SRS today) telling me was to write a letter to myself basically saying "keep your head up, this too shall pass) and I didn't do it. Looking back, I don't know how much it will help, but I know that it was hard on me going through that.

I think the dark veil kind of lifted at about the 4 week mark after surgery. I still have my days, but nothing like right after surgery. I'm going to chalk it up to coming down on serious painkillers, the physical change I'd see in the mirror and the weight of what seemed like an overwhelming future. I feel better now and I hope everyone realizes that post-op depression after major surgery IS EXPECTED and needs to be managed accordingly. This to shall pass, remember that Meghan