Post-op depression

[Guest guest]

, early post-ops and soon to be post-ops:

Depression in those first weeks/months can be completely normal.

Being normal doesn't make it fun. I've counseled other post ops in

this area and the feed back they gave me indicated that it was

helpful. Here are some things that may possibly help you weather

the storm of depression till the brighter days come. (please note,

this is for a temporary depression that is brought on by

surgery...not a clinical depression that may require meds.)

1. " ACT " happy. Even if you feel lousy, Pretend like you feel

good. If you act lousy it is guarenteed you WILL feel lousy. If

you pretend happy, smile, laugh at least some of that pretending

will creep into your actual feelings and mood.

2. Get out in the sun. Being in recovery we are often stuck inside

too much. It leads to depression. GET OUTSIDE. Get some sunshine,

take your walk in the sun, sit in your yard...the sunlight will lift

your spirits. Guarenteed.

3. Exercise. The movement really does help your mood. Plus it

will help you heal and get back your strength sooner. That will

lead to a normal life sooner, which will ward off the depression.

4. Work everyday on trying to " normalize " your life. Get back into

your normal routine as soon as possible. This you will do in baby

steps...but work towards it. It may mean that if you normally cook

dinner and clean the kitchen...today you cook and somebody else

cleans until you build up more stamina. The sooner you can regain a

more normal routine you will find the depression tends to slip

away. lol...or you don't have time to dwell on it!

5. Stay hydrated! Your brain is something like 85% water.

Percentage wise your brain contains the greatest amount of water in

the body...it may explain why people will become delusional before

the rest of their body shuts down when in the proverbial desert

dying of thirst. It is extremely difficult to stay hydrated in the

first few months, but I do believe it has a direct affect on post-op

depression...so sip, sip, sip!

6. If all the above does not help...then perhaps what may help is a

good old fashioned dose of SUGAR! Truely, you may need a hershey's

kiss, or a spoonful of honey. I'm not talking large amounts of

sugar...just a " shot " of it. Simple Carbs cause sertonin levels to

rise. Most of us are used to having lots of it run around in our

system. We have surgery and are basically eating protein. Plus, We

are calorie deprived....I think we are in sertonin withdrawal mode.

So have " a " hershey's kiss...savor it...make it last...see if it

helps.

Hope this helps

Jo