Panic at the sleevo

[rebhousley]

I’m asking for help from my fellow sleevers who have had a time release medicine they were taking pre-op and continued taking post-op and if you feel like it didn’t work any longer. I have acute anxiety disorder and am on Pristiq a time released prescription that has kept my debilitating panic attacks at bay. I have resumed all my meds per doctor’s orders and he didn’t say anything for or against the Pristiq but Wednesday night a had a panic attack and last night I had one of the worst panic attacks I have ever in my life suffered through. I’m trying to figure out why… and I’ve looked about time release medicines for the sleeve and it only mentions they don’t work for bypass. Does anyone have any experience with any time released meds post surgery or even panic attacks? I appreciate any help!

[WorkInProgress]

I was told that time realease do not work with sleevers. Call your Doc.

[rebhousley]

Ugh, I figured that was it... when I'm under control with my meds I never have episodes like last night. I see my doc today I will mention it and see if he can suggest something else.

[jazziejasmine]

Yeah, I've read the same thing that time release or extended release pills don't work with the sleeve. I guess they don't spend enough time in the stomach any longer to work. I'm having my doctor change my diabetes medicine that is extended release so I can take it after surgery. Good luck finding something to help you!!

[BraelynsGrammy]

I take time released pills for ADD and have no problems with it. I asked my surgeon about it at my 3 week post-op checkup and he said it was an ok.

[mari3476]

I take Pristiq but haven't been able to take it since my surgery. My moods been crazy lately. But I can't do anything about it till next Friday. So right now I am so hard trying to deal with this. I was told that this will work for me so I have to see if my dr can change my meds for this. I hope you feel better. I know exactly what you are struggling right now.

[TrailNurse]

Time release medication is also processed in the intestinal track, not just the stomach so ask your doctor or pharmacist.

[tulsarose]

I'm also on Pristiq. I called my pharmacist to see if there's a liquid formulation, and the only thing they could come up with in liquid form was Prozac. I've gotta get this figured out soon.

[Disappearing teach]

I changed to Zoloft and have been fine. I also have Xanax for emergency situations but I haven't needed it.

[Andreas decision]

I take lexapro and buspar. I break them up and its fine. I have severe anxiety as well. Good luck

[happyface]

I take Cymbalta which is time released. At first I was opening the capsules and sprinkling it in Jello and it did not work. Once I started taking it whole, I have been fine. Hope you can figure it out, prayers for you

[rebhousley]

Hey guys just a quick update to let you know I heard from my doc and he did say that time release tablets just don't carry the same efficacy for sleevers so, my Primary doctor prescribed something very close to pristiq it's called Effexor and she prescribed to take 1/2 a tab twice a day (1 tab is 75 mg). I took it around 7:00 PM last night and though I felt anxious it wasn't a full blown panic attack. I took it again 1st thing this AM and I feel my normal self. Tulsarose and Mari3476, please call your doctor and ask for this medicine... the generic name is Venlafaxine HCL... there is just no reason for us to suffer with our anxiety disorders just because we are trying to lose weight. Love you gals!

[JoyESS1]

I was on Wellbutrin slow release before surgery. I hunted and hunted for alternative ways to take all my meds (I am on a lot) during the first weeks after surgery. My Wellbutrin was changed at the very last minute by my surgeon as he was going off to scrub up! The ordeal of taking my meds was horrific, but I persisted because I know that depression is not uncommon after major surgery and for many who have weight loss surgery the loss of their friend, food makes them inconsolable. Worse, when they do not lose as much as they wanted to (the literature says we may only loose 60-85% of our EXCESS weight) the depression can set in then too. I didn't want to fall back into that pit!! Recently I was changed to timed release Wellbutrin because I complained so much about the difficulty of taking all of my meds twice every day. Now I can take my thyroid med when I first wake up and wait an hour to eat and then whenever I get up the moxy, I take all the rest and just once a day! The timed release Wellbutrin is working quite well.

I also have infrequent panic attacks and have some Lorazepam just in case. About 11 days after my surgery I had a doozy though. I began freaking out and called the oncall nurse for support. She told me that it was my fault that I was feeling bad and that it was time that I "put on my big girl panties and started dealing with my choices in life!" To say the lease that did not set well and I shoved everything near me onto the floor and began beating the stuff and the floor with my canes while screaming and cussing. I was hysterical and I had a real "out of body" experience watching this crazy lady below me. I have asthma and soon I could not breathe so I called 911. I was told later that all the chemicals in my body and the rapid weight loss at first was dumping all sorts of hormones into my blood stream and that it was not uncommon for people to have "break-downs" after major surgery, especially wls. This is why most surgeons require the psych eval. before they cut on you!

I am so grateful that I checked around with the various pharmacists and doctors so I was prepared beforehand for what could happen afterward. Please do call your doctor too.

[Lori89128]

I take Pritiq...I have had no 'break throughs' from what I can tell...However, I DO take thyroid (Cytomel) with my meds as it is well known (to the better docs) that this med will help metabolize the anti-depresent/anti anxiety meds. What comes to mind for me in your post is, you are only what, a week POST surgery??? What you have just done is not just physically challenging, but psychologically challenging too...I wouldn't be surprised if your anxiety level is through the roof! Try not to be hard on yourself--this is a stressful time...any change in life Good or Bad is still STRESSFUL, by definition. If you can, maybe you could tell your doc and s/he can give you something like xanax to take Occasionally when those panic attacks hit really hard! Just Knnow this is a bit of a rollercoaster ride that we are All going through, emotionally and just Know having mixed or conflicting feelings, from day to day, hour to hour--is common...it will get easier! you "should" still be in shock at this point--just Know that is normal, and trust you will get through this, and remind yourself it gets Easier!! (We are all here for you!)
HOPE this Helps!
Stay in touch! Let me know what happens with you!!
Lori~

[Lori89128]

WOW thanks for sharing yourvery personal experience for other's benefit