I've been depressed for 2 weeks, what should I do?

Hello Judith

Many of us (I think) may have been unwell for quite a while before we got any kind of even provisional diagnosis - I certainly did and never figured out a range of rather odd symptoms which preceded PMR/GCA and went on certainly (also) for 'years'.

I am not surprised you would be feeling 'depressed' at such a distance from your family in England at a time when it really helps to share grief. Just being able to express how you feel with people who may understand your memories/experiences and responses - without all those explanations necessary when talking to others who did not know the person you have lost - is enough to amplify these feelings. Grief is SUCH a personal thing and really reflects the love and the loss of a unique connection we have had with another person which is always irreplaceable. So having myself lost my sister last year and also being 'elsewhere' when it happened and the fact she had no event to mark her sudden 'accidental' death seem to make everything a lot 'worse'. When somebody dies all the complexity of interfamilial relationships and expectations often also creates extra stresses. All this kind of stuff overlaid and intermingled with not generally feeling 'good' anyway can feel like the last straw.

The main thing for now is that you take some extra good care of yourself and if it helps do something you feel will help you memorialise or say 'farewell' to the person yo have lost - I am not big on religion but a few small 'rituals' can really help in such times. As you are in OZ you may have heard an excellent programme on ABC Radio National recently (great radio station to discuss a spectrum of things intelligently) about 'grief' - and time will be the great 'healer' - as it will also be for your PMR.

All good wishes - and try to get some sunshine - if there is any about in Tassie - it always helps.

Rimmy

Hi again Judith I am not sure if it will 'help' but here is the link to the RN radio programme I listened to recently on 'grief':

Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

I found that when my Vit D status was in the mid normal range my mood improved. This has been seen in the scientific literature. However there is no pill for grief; this needs the medication called time and sharing feelings with caring listeners.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Oh yes - I think PMR is grossly under-diagnosed, especially in younger patients. I think there are several versions of PMR and they manifest differently. I had an episode in my mid-20s which was almost certainly what is now called ME. Acutely, it cleared after about 6 months but it was 4 years before I could walk up the stairs without it feeling a major achievement! In my 30s my gynaecologist thought I needed HRT and was in the perimenopause - no, another 25 years until I got there! But HRT dealt with some very PMR-ish symptoms until there was one HRT scare too many and I stopped it. PMR proper appeared on the scene just months later. I don't think it was unconnected.

Depression - depressive mood is part of PMR. Depression is closely linked to chronic illness - especially when if sinks in that this is not a shorthaul bus ride. Then add in life events that are beyond your control - and what else can you really expect? In the case of your brother - if I had PMR in WAles I think I might be a bit down! I have a list of areas I cannot live in if I had to return to the UK because of the state of their healthcare services in the contect of PMR/GCA. Wales is close behind Kent...

I know nothing about your system. In the UK I would suggest talking therapies - knowing full well the wait is months, sometimes years. And don't rule out a course of medication - even if it is just to get you through the hardest bit. But this is all bereavement - loss of your usual "you", loss of health that has no end in sight and the loss of the family member. So bereavement counselling would be appropriate too - and that is almost certainly available somewhere.

Hi Rimmy, My father was at my house on vacation and died in his sleep.  He was 72 and this came as a shock to all of f us.  My entire family lives 4hours away from me.  Of course I went to the funeral but had to return home without the support of anyone who knew him.  My large family were all downstate.  He died Sept 9 and I cried every day through January.  I too did not want to take another drug.  I joined a gym had a program designed for me.  I would go to the gym after I had been up for a while that way I was not so stiff and moving better.  The exercise changed my life!  I was happy my  endorphins were going crazy.  Life was good again although still on 10 mgs of prednisone.  I'm still exercising I often think how bad off would my PMR be if I stopped.  This PMR is not going to get me!

Wow, Judith, I felt exactly the same as you described ..for years, I felt unwell, frequently felt like I had a virus, till it all culminated in the PMR diagnosis.

I too, have had a depression and was determined not to take antidepressants. One of the things that helped me get over the depression was recommended by someone on this forum, she said that gardening was de stresser. I live in a flat, in the center of Madrid but I wanted to give it a try . I've made an herb garden in my kitchen and I've grown a seedling of a chilli pepper I bought at the supermarket..the seeds I plant and the herbs give me something to get up for and it's such a thrill to see something growing out of a seed you planted.

I took a course in mindfulness , that helped me too.

I pushed myself to exercise routinely, which helped a lot.

I also lost weight by doing the low carb diet.Had I gained weight from the pred, I would have been depressed for that as well.

I hope you find a way out of your depression soon. It's so hard to do once you get into the vicious circle- you are tired due to depression, too tired to take any measures to alleviate it.. I guess the trick is to push out of that dynamic.

I agree about exercise and swim twice a week which always makes me feel good. Also a naturopath I went to see recommended saunas so I have one before the swim. I like to imagine I am sweating the blighter of PMR out of my body.

I also agree about gardening - I have a big garden and love getting out to grow things. I meditate/pray each morning and ask to be used as a channel for peace and healing to the world.

Thank you to all for your comments and helpful suggestions. Go well on your own quest for health.

Judith.