Depression

Depression is inevitable I think when you are away from home and living with PMR which seems to have no rhyme or reason and no one can predict how quickly it might subside.  Like you I am anxious to reduce the medication dose to reduce the side effects but a little voice is telling me to take it v slowly using EileenH's reduction method.  At least you know that here you have many friends ready to support you. 

It's probably a bit of everything and the time of year as well.  Like yourself I could have moved mountains when I was younger and it is the fact that now I can do very little and I am exhausted.  So don't be too hard on yourself, you will get through this.  

PMR itself is associated with depressive mood - it is a criterion in diagnosis in some schemes. The pred doesn't affect that really except that pred can tend to elevate mood in some people, gives them a "high". Pred, too, affects mood, making small things seem bigger, you develop a great sensitivity is perhaps the way to express it. 

Having a chronic illness is also almost always linked with depression - and it is all the worse when it is a chronic illness for which there is no known cure. It is a form of bereavement - you have been robbed of part of your life and it must be mourned. It is one thing if you are aware of that and are able to sort out your feelings about it but another when that dark cloud of "I can't...", "why don't I..." and so on arrives and you don't know why. 

In some long term illnesses the NHS is quite good and offers assistance or CBT - but PMR isn't as trendy as the big C although it can rob us of almost as much. I don't think I'm over-egging the pudding. I have been there in both scenarios. PMR has aspects that are just as sh*%%" as in cancer. 

Whatever some doctors may feel, pred has to compensate for a lot for many of us. If you need a bit to lift that mood then so be it. It's a painkiller and an antidepressant. If you need a bit more pred to have a happier life then that isn't the end of the world, the pred is to allow you to manage the symptoms - and mood is one of them.

You may persuade a doctor to offer other means of coping - but that will depend on the doctor I suspect.

And the bottom line becomes - for you as it may become for us - do you miss the family enough to need to rethink where you are? We are aware that there may come a point where return to the UK becomes something to consider. I do hope not - our medical care here is so much better - but the possibility and option is there. I'd rather take a bit more pred though and at the moment it is a long way away. 

Oh how I can relate to you at present, crying even if a stranger says the wrong thing. Christmas, I normally love but I'm struggling to get things done being vague,headachy, blurry eyes and many other things just as everyone does but it's still hard to cope. I too am in my second year and still on 10 mg because of issues with pred. 

I've started using a relaxation cd to see if it helps.

I do hope you feel better soon and understand what you're going through and as others say, it will get better.

 

It is so easy to get depressed with PMR. That darn fatigue is such a contributing factor. If you are tired all the time, you back away from life which definitely can lead to depression.  I was just given an antidepressant (Paxil) 3 weeks ago.  I was not enjoying anything any more so it made sense to try it.  It has helped. The doctors say you have to take an antidepressant 4-6 weeks before it fully kicks in. My doctor, said to stop eating fruit for awhile. You get sugar highs and lows all day. At the lows, you are tired.  I was really craving sugar (more than usual since being diagnosed and on Prednisone). My appetite seems out of control. Have gained 21 pounds. Thought I was doing the right thing by eating more fruit, instead of candy & cookies. Was having constipation and it made sense to me to eat more fruit but doc said, I need more fiber not sugar from the fruit. I bought Psyllium Husk Fiber supplement (stir 1 tablespoon in a cup of water, 1- 3 times per day.  Sugary treats gave me instant happiness but later, I felt worse. Sugar can add to inflammation, something us fellow PMR patients don't need any more of.  The doctor said that whenever I felt the urge to eat sweets, just throw something green in my mouth. Not the same but I want to get better. She said stay away from Peas & corn - too much sugar. She wanted me to do water aerobics to make it easier on my joints. Am fighting arthritis so started today. Had to take a nap after all that exercise but right now, I feel pretty good. Just some friendly advice.  Hope this info helps others. Sure can't hurt to try my doctor's suggestions for a month.  See if anything improves.  Hey, even if it helps a little, that will impress me. Good luck!

You hang in there Panamabob, I think this time of the years adds to the depression and you have to tole on to what all are saying and take it slowly as I too have learned.  I wish the Drs would learn too.  You have a wonderful holiday and know we are all going to hang tough.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support.I'll get through it.I always have.

Happy Christmas Everyone!!