Questions for depression sufferers

LegacyUser

Hi folks.

I am a 30-year-old guy from Dublin. A few years back I developed what my
psychiatrist is calling 'clinical depression.' I only have 2 symptoms:

1) constant exhaustion.
2) a depressed mood which usually comes and goes throughout the day.
Some days I get no mood problems. Other days I am miserable
all day.

I have had some medical tests to rule out physical causes and my doc
says I am physically fine.

I want to ask other past/present depression sufferers about the exhaustion
symptom. Did you have it? Was it constant every day? Did it go away
when you 'recovered' from depression or got on the right meds?

BTW, I have tried more than 10 A/D drugs now without any relief from
either of my symptoms. I have been on disablity for a couple of years
too since I can no longer work while these problems are ongoing.

Does any one know if there are any rare diseases my doc might have
missed out on testing me for that could cause these symptoms? If
so, I might ask him to get me tested for them as well

Beruthiel

TiredSadGuy wrote:

Does any one know if there are any rare diseases my doc might have missed out on testing me for that could cause these symptoms? If so, I might ask him to get me tested for them as well

TiredSadGuy
We have no problem in this forum with people stating that they suffer from the same symptoms.

However
I will close this thread if anyone offers medical advice to the above question.
There are no doctors in this forum and therefore suggesting any kind of 'rare disease' is a big no no.
B

Skiesonfire19

This may not be relavent or related.

I suffer from a thing called S.A.D, basically winter screms me up because of the lack of natural light! It has me always tired and exhausted, but too tired to sleep.

So I have insomnia like syntoms, every now and then I get a serious lack in sex drive. But I wouldnt ever take meds.

You should see if that could be it!

But i'm no doctor.

Skies

jdivision

I suffer from depression, but not clinical. I find that the fatigue aspect does tend to follow me most of the year, I find it hard to get out of bad, I'm lethargic during the day and lack motivation to do anything in the evening. On bad days I obsess over everything and do nothing. I have found sunshine helps lift the fatigue as well as my mood and also trips to the gym in recent weeks have me feeling more energetic, trying to persuade myself to go can be a problem. I would look at diet also and eating particular types of foods.

MOD: If last sentence sounds like medical advice apologies and please remove it

LegacyUser

'

Skiesonfire19 wrote:

This may not be relavent or related.

I suffer from a thing called S.A.D, basically winter screms me up because of the lack of natural light! It has me always tired and exhausted, but too tired to sleep.

Skies

I am exhausted in the Summer too - all year round in fact
I am suspicious that none of the A/Ds work for me - that's why
I think there may be another cause. My doc is happy there isn't
though so I need some ideas from experienced depressees! '

LegacyUser

'

jdivision wrote:

I suffer from depression, but not clinical. I find that the fatigue aspect does tend to follow me most of the year, I find it hard to get out of bad, I'm lethargic during the day and lack motivation to do anything in the evening. On bad days I obsess over everything and do nothing. I have found sunshine helps lift the fatigue as well as my mood and also trips to the gym in recent weeks have me feeling more energetic, trying to persuade myself to go can be a problem. I would look at diet also and eating particular types of foods.

I am far from being able to attend a gym. I do some moderate walking
but it really tires me out - sometimes for days! Have any foods
been particularly helpful for you?'

Villaricos

another depression sufferer here, I can related to the exhaustion but without wanting to give medical advice or break forum rules a patient I met while in hospital suffered from chronic fatigue, dont know much about it, but it maybe something to investigate.

But as someone whos come through depression that exhaustion does go away eventually! hang in there!

LegacyUser

Villaricos wrote:

another depression sufferer here, I can related to the exhaustion but without wanting to give medical advice or break forum rules a patient I met while in hospital suffered from chronic fatigue, dont know much about it, but it maybe something to investigate.

But as someone whos come through depression that exhaustion does go away eventually! hang in there!

Thanks for the good vibes. :-) I'll do some research on the chronic
fatigue thing. It might be worth talking to the doc about.

I'm glad your exhaustion cleared up - that gives me some hope!!

Snail30

Hey TiredSadGuy try taking an Iron supplement for the tiredness - you could be anaemic - often this is a simple solution that many doctors forget to check for. Other than that SAD (Sesonal Affected Disorder) that has already been mentioned could be the problem so get out in daytime hours as much as possible even if it is just at lunchtime for a walk. If u are suffering from depression make sure u get some exersise every day - it is so important for lifting your spirits.
Keep the chin up.

humanji

What's your diet like? Are you eating healthy? If not, it'll help boost energy and helps curb the effects of depression.

Also, do you have personal problems that are contributing to the depression ie are you happy in your home life, your career prospects, your direction in life? It could be that it's not a physical thing at all as the doc said and it's a matter of you overcoming the mental side of it.

py2006

Yep exhaustion is a big thing for me! I also have:

- Serious lack of motivation to do anything.
- Poor concentration.
- Poor memory
- low self-esteem
- No feelings/emotions other than sadness
- Cant feel happy/sad for others.
- Anxious/Nervous
- Irriatable
- Can't enjoy everyday life
- No enjoyment out of thing that I used to enjoy!
- Takes huge effort to engage in conversation.
- Can't get important things done. (study, work related stuff)
- loss of interest in the opposite sex and all that goes with it.

Anyway, I guess most people with depression suffer with most if not all of the above.

Somedays its just too hard to stay afloat! Sometimes I think its not worth the effort, just let go and sink away!

LegacyUser

Hey TiredSadGuy,

You poor thing. Please hang in there. It will get better. When I was 18, I experienced the exact same symptoms. The exhaustion was just crippling, yet I could not sleep. Walking up a "flight" of three steps would absolutely destroy me. If there were no seats left on the bottom deck of the bus, I'd just stand because I literally didn't have the energy to climb to the top deck. I also experienced muscle pains and heaviness, as well as weakness the whole time. Anyway, I was fairly confident that I had M.E. or chronic fatigue syndrome. But because of the feelings of sadness and despair, as well as major anxiety (panic attacks and the like), my doctor referred me to a psychiatrist. He diagnosed me with depression and prescribed me a course of Gamanil (lofepramine is the type of anti-depressant that this is). Within ten days, if not less, my physical symptoms disappeared. The depression returned the following year, but without the physical symptoms and I was able to cope the second time round because I knew things would be ok. The same pattern continued as the years went on. I would take anti-depressants for a while, be much better, stop taking them, then it would return, but each time, it was easier to cope with, and also it was less severe each time. Eventually it literally fizzled out. I haven't been on anti-depressants for ages now and, while I do become down now and again, I can cope with it because it's the same run-of-the-mill feeling of being down that everyone experiences. I'm 28 now. The last ten years have had their ups and downs but, all in all, I have to say, things have not been bad at all. And there has been plenty of good! This, by the way, is just a little bit about my situation - there's no guarantee the same will apply to you, but maybe mention some of it to your doctor. And remember, depression is very common and very treatable. I know of someone who has bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia - now THERE's a horrific world to live in. Of course depression is difficult but it is more treatable than the likes of the above.

Very best wishes anyway.

LegacyUser

py2006 wrote:

Yep exhaustion is a big thing for me! I also have:

- Serious lack of motivation to do anything.
- Poor concentration.
- Poor memory
- No feelings/emotions other than sadness
- Cant feel happy/sad for others.
- Anxious/Nervous
- Irriatable
- Can't enjoy everyday life
- No enjoyment out of thing that I used to enjoy!
- Takes huge effort to engage in conversation.
- Can't get important things done. (study, work related stuff)

Anyway, I guess most people with depression suffer with most if not all of the above.

Somedays its just too hard to stay afloat! Sometimes I think its not worth the effort, just let go and sink away!

You have more symptoms than me! I don't know how you can study or
work at all with this lot. I have to be on disability to get by. You
have my admiration!

Snail30 wrote:

Hey TiredSadGuy try taking an Iron supplement for the tiredness - you could be anaemic - often this is a simple solution that many doctors forget to check for. Other than that SAD (Sesonal Affected Disorder) that has already been mentioned could be the problem so get out in daytime hours as much as possible even if it is just at lunchtime for a walk. If u are suffering from depression make sure u get some exersise every day - it is so important for lifting your spirits.
Keep the chin up.

Good idea! I'll check out the iron supplements at the pharmacy. I think
my diet is good ok - I'm living at home since I quit work so I get a good
dinner every day. LOL!!

humanji wrote:

What's your diet like? Are you eating healthy? If not, it'll help boost energy and helps curb the effects of depression.

Also, do you have personal problems that are contributing to the depression ie are you happy in your home life, your career prospects, your direction in life? It could be that it's not a physical thing at all as the doc said and it's a matter of you overcoming the mental side of it.

I was happy enough before the depression struck. I'm not too pleased
now with no job, social life etc. I had those before but I still developed
this condition

fits

My sister had a similar condition to yours where she suffered from debilitating tiredness. She thinks it was ME, which is similar to chronic fatigue syndrome. Perhaps you should go to another doctor/specialist and try get a fresh diagnosis.
Acupuncture helped my sister

hope i didnt break any rules there

Red Hand

I know that the symptoms that PY2006 describes can seem pretty daunting to overcome some days, OP, but a practical first step might be to secure a job. I know that you were seeking different advice (in relation to the cause of depression), but sometimes employment can focus one to perform difficult tasks and maybe get back into a more positive routine. It doesn't matter what sort of job really. Sometimes tiredness can feed tiredness, and you go down a slippery slope of lethargy and exhaustion.

I've heard an analogy before, with a person that is ill (in this case depressive) being compared to a damaged arch. Rather than lightening the load, one should actually increase it, for it strengthens the arch to be put under strain.

Hope things get better for you OP.:)

Going Demented

Hi. I was told i had clinical depression and was/am seeing a psychiatrist for a year up. The exhaustion was crippling. If someone so much as wanted to have a conversation with me i would be in tears because i was too tired to speak! The first two types of medication i was on did not make things better, in fact i felt worse. The last medication (which was a lower dosage also) i felt kind of ok on but still tired. Due to financial reasons at the time i stopped taking the medication which i should under no circumstances have done but i did advise my doctor and spoke in detail to the doctor about it. However my dosage had gone from 30mg to 10mg and then stopped. This i DO NOT recommend! Since October i have been trying to lose weight and since then my tiredness has almost totally gone. I still get tired but only tired like a "normal" person. I think exercise and multivitamins and a proper diet have helped in my depression and the side effects due to depression. I used to think my doctor was crazy in telling me to get out and get some fresh air to help me, i was too tired to talk nevermind walk! But it has helped me funnily enough. I don't know any magic pill that makes the tiredness go away. It is one horrible feeling and it eases up for you.

Oh and maybe get checked for Vitamin B deficiency? I suffer from pernicious anemia and tiredness is a symptom. But tiredness is a symptom of God knows how many things. I'm sure the doctor knows exactly what to test for?

LegacyUser

'hey, i've been in treatment for depression (efexor + couselling)for years now. what i can say is that some periods i would be exhausted doing anything. i used to think that i wouldn't be able to work and all that stuff. but what i do know is that being home all the time was getting me worse, the more you spend time doing nothing, the harder would be to get disposition to do something. so once you star to do some activity you have more energy to at least, continue doing that activity, of course that you'll be very tired at night but you'll sleep better.
what i can say is, if you're certain that you're phisically fine, don't give up trying a medication that will help you (its a trial and error thing really to be honest) and try to engage in some activity during the day. sports are very good but i know it takes lots of disposition, but even going for a walk will help.'

LegacyUser

'Oh absolutely, Going Demented. Exercise is superb for you if you've had depression. The thing is, it's generally very difficult to get up and do the exercise when you're ill - it's not laziness, it's down to being genuinely debilitated. Once you feel better, though, seriously give it a go. You feel amazing after it, and such a sense of achievement.'

Going Demented

Been there wrote:

'Oh absolutely, Going Demented. Exercise is superb for you if you've had depression. The thing is, it's generally very difficult to get up and do the exercise when you're ill - it's not laziness, it's down to being genuinely debilitated. Once you feel better, though, seriously give it a go. You feel amazing after it, and such a sense of achievement.'

Yeh i know exactly where you are coming from, been there done that. I dont mean go off hell for leather on the exercise. Even just get out of the house for a while. I know you can be so tired you just want to stay in bed but i found the more time i spent in bed the tireder i'd get. I still have days where i really feel like i can't be bothered with anyone or anything. OP. What do you do during the days as you are not working? Are you cooped up all day? (i was signed off work for three months and i did nothing and i think i was worse off)

bug

vermont wrote:

There is a natural (not medical ) supplement called St Johns Wort which is recommended for depression-like symptoms which you could try. Also,
Vit D is meant to replace sunshine, if you think that might help. Finally, I know a lot of people think it's mumbo jumbo, but homeopathy/acupuncture has worked for people too, you could give it a try....

St John's Wort is now a prescribed herbal medicine in Ireland for the last few years.

vermont

bug wrote:

St John's Wort is now a prescribed herbal medicine in Ireland for the last few years.

Didn't know that, thanks for saying it. I actually bought it on the net for someone else, who found it helpful, but I'm sure there are 'for's and againsts' like all herbals.

vermont

bug wrote:

St John's Wort is now a prescribed herbal medicine in Ireland for the last few years.

Am unable to edit my original post on this, maybe a mod could??

LegacyUser

'If you are unsure of your doctor's diagnosis, you can go for a 2nd opinion, can you not?

I'm 35, I've been depressed off and on since I was 13. It gets worse when i'm under stress, and when my life is nice and uneventful, it goes away. When it comes back, it creeps up on me and surprises me. For example, I can be feeling fine for months, and then it hits me again suddenly, and only by looking back on the last week or so, will I figure out what triggered it.

When I was particularly stressed out (got sacked from a job, had to go back to college, etc.) I went on medication, Paxil, then Zoloft. For the most part, for me, the most permanent effects have been from cognitive behavioural therapy. It helped me change my negative thought patterns, so I'm better able to resist the downward spiral into bad feelings. I try to check with my friends before I make decisions under duress, so that if I'm being unreasonable, they can let me know first, and I can avoid trouble.

I manage my life so that I work at a job I love, and I stay away from people that stress me out, so I can manage without medication now. However, it is a bit day-to-day, and I have to give myself a pep talk many mornings and evenings.

I don't expect it to go away permanently at this point and it's kind of disheartening, because i'd like to find someone and get married, and I'm now terrified to bring up a topic like that to someone I'm dating, in case they think I'm a bunny boiler. I mean I'm honest about it, but I'm starting to wonder if I should keep my mouth shut about it instead, at least to begin with.'

Black Swan

*Would you like to consider:
1. A better diet (based on the food pyramid)
2. Vitamins, minerals, and fish oil supplement
3. Strenuous exercise (consider a sport or martial art?)
4. No smoking, no drugs, and limiting booze
5. And a job as suggested earlier by Jeremiah 16:1

*Not a qualified medical opinion (Just the opinion of a fitness addict who used to suffer from depressions, but not any more)

Doghouse

Been there wrote:

The exhaustion was just crippling, yet I could not sleep. Walking up a "flight" of three steps would absolutely destroy me. If there were no seats left on the bottom deck of the bus, I'd just stand because I literally didn't have the energy to climb to the top deck.

Oh that takes me back! I used to have a dread of having to stand on a bus as it felt like my legs were too tired and weak to hold me up. Exhaustion and a complete lack of energy are very common in depression (speaking both from experience and from academic study). I remember thinking I must have ME or something like that but no, it was due to the depression. People talk about exercise being good but if you're severely depressed there's very little hope of being able to do any. It might be an idea to talk to your psychiatrist about changing the type or dosage of your medication if you don't think it's working.

Someone mentioned that having a mix of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia is less treatable than depression (sorry, I don't know how to quote from more than one post). Not necessarily so. BP for one is very responsive to medication (though it can take a while to get the right combination). I was once at a lecture where a psychiatrist was asked which of the major mental illnesses was 'worse' and he said that it depended on the severity of the illness, not on the diagnosis. Be careful of comparing one disorder with another.

turbot

TiredSadGuy wrote:

Hi folks.

I am a 30-year-old guy from Dublin. A few years back I developed what my
psychiatrist is calling 'clinical depression.' I only have 2 symptoms:

1) constant exhaustion.
2) a depressed mood which usually comes and goes throughout the day.
Some days I get no mood problems. Other days I am miserable
all day.

I have had some medical tests to rule out physical causes and my doc
says I am physically fine.

I want to ask other past/present depression sufferers about the exhaustion
symptom. Did you have it? Was it constant every day? Did it go away
when you 'recovered' from depression or got on the right meds?

BTW, I have tried more than 10 A/D drugs now without any relief from
either of my symptoms. I have been on disablity for a couple of years
too since I can no longer work while these problems are ongoing.

Does any one know if there are any rare diseases my doc might have
missed out on testing me for that could cause these symptoms? If
so, I might ask him to get me tested for them as well

There are many things that can happen in your body / mind / experience of life that lead to the current experience you describe.

As the saying goes, if what you are doing isn't working, do something else. If a psychiatrists ability to understand the complex interaction of systems that create your experience hasn't helped, go to other people with different ideas and other things to do. I suggest: Chinese Doctors, Nutritionists, *good* energy healers, homeopathists...

Your reward for success is getting your life back.

My suggestions are:

1) Have you done an allergy test?

2) What do you eat, and how good is your diet?

( I specifically reccomend you read Patrick Holfords book: How to deal with stress and fatigue, and Dr Robert Youngs "The PH Miracle". )

3) It's probably worth that you read about, and perhaps get thoroughly tested for H. Priori (a hard to detect stomach bacteria that can majorly inhibit digestion with few symptoms, except loss of energy)

4) What different environments have you been in over the last 12 months and how did they affect you? If you are sensitive to electromagnetic stress, this could have such an effect. I know someone who moved into an apartment with a mobile phone attenae immediately above her bedroom, and she said she went from being very happy, to totally depressed, until she moved out, when instantly she felt better.

5) Google "modafinil" or "provigil" which has got a lot of press recently as a way of helping people with narcolepsy - it;s known as a wakefulness drug.

6) Find other people who've overcome situations similar to yours and find out what they did.

suga

vermont wrote:

Hey TiredSadGuy, I'm very sorry to hear about your symptoms, and also to the others who are suffering this way.

There is a natural (not medical ) supplement called St Johns Wort which is recommended for depression-like symptoms which you could try. Also,
Vit D is meant to replace sunshine, if you think that might help. Finally, I know a lot of people think it's mumbo jumbo, but homeopathy/acupuncture has worked for people too, you could give it a try....

Sorry I know this isn't quite the advice you're after. I really hope your situation improves.

St. John's Wort is NOT to be taken with any anti-depressant.

LegacyUser

'There are more solutions on this thread than grains of sand on the
beach! I am completely confused now...

I think I will write them all down and start with the iron tablets.'

Esel

turbot wrote:

There are many things that can happen in your body / mind / experience of life that lead to the current experience you describe.

As the saying goes, if what you are doing isn't working, do something else. If a psychiatrists ability to understand the complex interaction of systems that create your experience hasn't helped, go to other people with different ideas and other things to do. I suggest: Chinese Doctors, Nutritionists, *good* energy healers, homeopathists...

Your reward for success is getting your life back.

My suggestions are:

1) Have you done an allergy test?

2) What do you eat, and how good is your diet?

( I specifically reccomend you read Patrick Holfords book: How to deal with stress and fatigue, and Dr Robert Youngs "The PH Miracle". )

3) It's probably worth that you read about, and perhaps get thoroughly tested for H. Priori (a hard to detect stomach bacteria that can majorly inhibit digestion with few symptoms, except loss of energy)

4) What different environments have you been in over the last 12 months and how did they affect you? If you are sensitive to electromagnetic stress, this could have such an effect. I know someone who moved into an apartment with a mobile phone attenae immediately above her bedroom, and she said she went from being very happy, to totally depressed, until she moved out, when instantly she felt better.

5) Google "modafinil" or "provigil" which has got a lot of press recently as a way of helping people with narcolepsy - it;s known as a wakefulness drug.

6) Find other people who've overcome situations similar to yours and find out what they did.

Sorry, but your 'advice' loses all value (to me at least) due to the above mistakes. Helicobacter pylori is the name of the pathogen you intended to refer to. It causes stomach problems - ulcer etc. Modanifil is a drug used for narcolepsy. Where did the OP say he had either of these problems?

OP: Tiredness, lack of energy, disturbed sleep patterns go with depression. When you say exhaustion - how exhausted are we talking? How is your sleep? Regular bedtimes? Stay in bed late?

I think you should go back to your doctor to discuss your situation.