Re: Post Op Medication Absorption - LONG

November 29, 2001

In a message dated 11/29/2001 8:08:19 AM Pacific Standard Time,

mprinz@... writes:

> Topomax

I lost weight on this...which is why the dr gave it to me. Must be the other

meds are counteractive with their side effects. I hope you find a way to

help him. I'm sure its a very hard decision and with his other problems,

you want to know you're doing the right thing for him. I'll keep you in my

thoughts...I know when the right time is here it will all fall into place...

~*~ AJ ~*~

Age 37 5'8'' Post op 7/24/01 Open DS

self pay - Dr Baltasar -Alcoy Spain

07/24/01 BMI 64 415.1

08/24/01 BMI 58 386.5 -28.6 lbs!

09/24/01 BMI 55.8 367.1 -48.0 lbs! -37.75 inches

10/24/01 BMI 52.6 346.0 -69.1 lbs!

11/24/01 BMI 49.8 322.0 -93.1lbs! -77 inches

11/26/01 BMI 48.8 321.0 -94.1 lbs

My profile:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=E982002956

My websites:

www.wls4aj.homestead.com

www.wlsbellingham.homestead.com

November 29, 2001

i, I can relate on the " inability to do things " That is the

depression " talking "

Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal are mood stabliziers, originally

developed for the treatment of epilepsi. Maybe they had a bipolar

with epilepsi and found it helped?????

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar for 15 years. I was on the Manic

side most of the time (didn't know, thought it was just normal) until

I hit the " great depression " 15 years ago. I had the depression side

of it all my life also. Just accepted it as the way I was until I

couldn't function... go figure??? While I was on the Manic side, I

wasn't so manic to be dangerous, just really filled with energy etc.

That part I miss :-)

All the years of medications helped me pile on the weight.

Being " frozen " in the pits of depression contributes to no activity

to speak of etc...

You name an antidepressant and I have probably been on it. It has

been a real challenge especially since I developed High Blood

pressure and type II diabetes with the weight gain. The medication

side effects wreck havoc on each other :-( I also have IBS (the

constipation is chronic for me) My psychiatrist has to deal with the

fact everything either makes me gain weight or makes me even more

constipated. It is really trial and error to adjust medications.

One man's " junk " is another man's " treasure " so to speak. I have

been fortunate to have found a great doctor, we have been working

together on this since 1994.

I am fighting BC/BS for insurance coverage. My psychiatrist wrote a

letter describing this very battle with weight and constipation. He

point blank told them that DS is the option for me (as did my

gastroendologist, pcp, and endocrinologist) My pyschiatrist wrote

that due to my history of compliance that he had no doubt that I

would follow my post-surgery life instructions " flawlessly " I am

praying that the BC/BS people really read my appeal and support.

There is NO way that losing the weight will NOT help with depression!

Heck, even " non clinically depressed " people have " normal " depression

regarding carrying around an " extra " person 24 - 7!!!

I hope you have a good psychiatrist who will support your surgery and

be willing to work closely with you to adjust your meds after. You

will need to have a partner in this! As far as I am concerned, your

input has to be listened to, the doctor can only give his best

educated " guess " as to what might work. I will have my DS and worry

about figuring out meds later!!!

Isn't it great to have the two things that are politically correct to

NOT insure - morbid obesity and mental illness??? It is ridiculous

that insurance companies get away with less $ amount coverage for

mental illness. They don't care if your are suicidal - no insurance

coverage - you are thrown out of hospital... There are many suicides

because the person was not allowed to stay in the hospital until they

are ready to be released. I have not been suicidal in years, so I

consider my treatment to be a miracle, if not a perfect science...

Sorry to be so long winded, not even sure I helped you at all...

Wanda

November 29, 2001

Wanda,

Thank you for your post. I have a 25 year old son, (I'm also his legal

guardian) who has both a mild developmental disability and schizophrenia.

His psych meds are notorious for their weight side effects. He, too, has

been on every medication under the sun and unfortunately while his psych

symptoms are somewhat better, his still very bother by the voices. What

concerns me most right now is the health effects of his weight gain (he has

gained 130+ pounds in 8 months since he's been on Clozaril.) He's also on

Depakote, Zoloft, Thorazine and Topomax. He's also very troubled by

constipation, which I understand is another side effect of the meds. He's

now close to 400 pounds and has trouble breathing, has high blood pressure,

high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea, (uses a bi-pap) and has joint pain.

All the doctor tells me is that it's imperative that he loose weight. No

matter how hard he tries, he just keeps on gaining weight.

I'm seriously considering having him get the BPD/DS after I get mine and am

all recovered, etc. But I'm so torn with the responsibility of making such

a decision for some else, how could I live with myself is something were to

happen to him. Yet I can't sit by and watch the devastation the his excess

weight is having on his health. I have a high BMI than he does (his is 53

and mine is 61) yet he has so much more serious health issues than I do.

I'm very interesting in hearing info on this surgery and the impact it has

on psych patients. I also very much empathize with you on the way insurance

companies treat people with major mental illnesses. On the one hand,

society complains, acts concerned, etc. when someone whose has a major

mental illness " acts out " , but just try and get some treatment to help and

they want to push you out the door.

Keep up the good work!

ann