Depression
Posted , 8 users are following.
I have become very depressed.Like many of you I have a lot to contend with and my depression gets worse for no apparent reason. This is my second year on Pred.I did tend to rush getting to a lower dose and this makes me feel worse,though it's not so much the pain,which is bearable,it's a general feeling of malaise.When I was younger I could cope with any amount of stress but now the slightest thing sets me off.Its like a cloude descending and I just cannot shake it off.I did say for no apparent reason,but on analysis,it is somewhat event related.
I got down to 4mg and seemed to be coping.Then even my eyes started to ache(i have Glaucoma) and felt very very listless.In desperation I upped the dose to 8mg and my eyes and general malaise have improved.
Anyway I;m rambling!! Is this depression PMR related I wonder or is it just me??
I'm in Panama and probably missing my family.Oh dear! Here I go again.
1 like, 9 replies
Diana112 panamabob
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pat38625 panamabob
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EileenH panamabob
Posted
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.
elaine_19679 panamabob
Posted
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.
joey2 panamabob
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Diana112 joey2
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Bababoyd panamabob
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panamabob
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Happy Christmas Everyone!!
constance.de panamabob
Posted
Personally I have never suffered from it (thank goodness)but I had a friend who had manic depression and it was life threatening. Please, please, keep talking to us - there is always someone on the site that will listen and, I hope find rallying words to cheer you up.
Have a happier and healthier 2015.
Regards from Constance
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