HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Oldie at fibro, newbie at depression forum

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/19/2011 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Y'all

     Well, I was lying in my bed so sick with nausea, pain, fatigue; so tired of crying and panicking. I've driven and shut out just about everybody, don't answer the phone, don't want to get out of my jams etc etc etc

     I used to post in Fibro, but since Katrina, my other illnesses make fibro look like a weinie roast.(no disrespect to Fibromites-)Been dxed w/ MDD, or bipolar (pick the shrink) PTSD, chronic pain due to severe DDD, bursitis sciatica HBP RLS TMJ (this is so pathetic that I'm sitting here laughing at myself) , 4 psych hospitilizations, ECT, therapy intensive outpatient program blah blah

     I used to enjoy my own company, playing piano or music or reading but cannot concentrate anymore.  And even in all this misery, I want to reach out and talk to y'all...my hubbie is BP and not a "feelings" kind of guy and I cannot unload on my daughter, so you lucked out!!

     I am 58 and live on Four Dollar Bayou on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. I love talking with people so this disease is sooo not who I am. I refuse to be defined by it (at least on a good day-lol)...Does anybody else get nausea waves not due to meds, and how do y'all deal with the exhaustion???

     Thanks for listening

Posted 2/19/2011 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, Bayoub2,

Glad you've joined the forum. You're right at home, I feel sure.
So you think you might have bipolar illness (depending on the psychiatrist, as you say!) What a unique way to express it. Do you
know if your psychiatrist indicated that you have bipolar, type I or type II? From the sound of your message, I might guess that it's bipolar, type II, since you're so clear and have such a good sense of humor about it all.

There is a new medication out now called Lamictal which was originally designed to treat epilepsy, but has been found to be effective in bipolar, type II illness. It's quite good and is being prescribed now
for other kinds of depression, as well, I think.


I would suggest that you consider talking to a psychiatrist about maybe taking Lamictal (or Lamotrigine, generic) to see how it suits you. That sitting around all day in your p.j.s sounds like depression to me, Bayou.

Funny thing about bipolar illness; people often have real talent in these mood disorders, and your musical ability signals to me that your talent should be exercised more. After you get your meds adjusted, maybe you might be interested in joining a group of musicians just for the fun of it.

Are you in New Orleans? What a great place to live, I should think!

We have a moderator on our forum who has fibromalgia, I believe. She'll be on in a while and may give you much more helpful advice than I can about some of the things you're experiencing.

Happy to have you as a member and look forward to talking to you again.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 2/19/2011 6:35:23 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/19/2011 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the warm welcome. I was dxed as MDD, until after ECT, when I had 1 classic manic episode(food tasted better, colors were brighter etc), so hospital shrink said BP, but regular doc and psych nurse says no, mania was probably aftereffect of ECT.

I take welbutrin and seroquel at night(only psych meds). My hubbie is BP and he takes effexor and lamictal, which has worked great for him.

We live 45 mins from New Orleans right on the coast of Mississippi (actually my town was ground zero for Katrina). It is a wonderful place to raise my daughter, lots of fishing, boating, and (after BP disaster) lots of shrimp, crab catfish oysters and crawfish.

And yes, I bought a keyboard to re-learn piano and teach my daughter-music is a GREAT outlet for expression. Sometimes when I feel like I'll go crazy if I stay in the house one more second, I get in my car and drive around with the tunes cranked UP!! And singing badly, I must say.

Anyhoo, thanks for the welcome and talk with you soon. I feel better just talking w/ peeps that know what I'm feeling.

Take care Bayoub
Posted 2/20/2011 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there Bayoub,

Welcome to the depression forum. I am so glad that you have joined us. Do you continue to have manic episodes even now? Or are you taking meds for it now? I was just wondering how long you experienced the mania after the ECT. That would be a good way to tell if you are bipolar or if it was just a side effect. I hate it when two doctors tell me two different things. It makes you want to get another opinion.

I have fibromyalgia also and know how they can effect eachother and run in a cycle that doesn't want to stop. One effects the other. When you have mania do you have less pain?

I hope that you feel better soon. You have come to a good place where everybody is very kind and compassionate. Just like the fibro forum. The weekends are kind of slow though. Things always pick up on Monday.

Take care, keep posting.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/20/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Bayoub,

I lived in Greenville, Mississippi when I was a kid (16). Loved it; found the Mississippi folks great friends and they loved to have good, pleasant parties. Nice people, too. I hope you're in the same kind of environment.

I see Getting By had a chance to talk to you. She's one of our best
moderators, along with Skitt, and members like Jamie and many others. You'll get to know them all.

Take care.

I.G.

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 2/19/2011 6:43:03 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/31/2011 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
hi bayoub..
howdy!!! distraction is the best way to come out of depressed state... positive thinking, refreshing your past sweet memories... get some companions and have a some nice trips.
Posted 4/14/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Dear  Everyone

     I just opened my email for the first time in 3 weeks...a bad spell, but I am slowly coming out... make myself brush hair and dress every morning, read a Psalm or two and listen to either "I hope you"ll dance" by Lee Ann Womack or "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson. They are beautiful songs full of life and hope. I also am so out of shape from fibro and being very overweight that I NEVER exercise, so I started doing arm curls with a large can of spaghetti sauce(LOL!!!) and taking stairs coupla times a day(mobility issues)

But I just wanted to belatedly thank y'all for your kind words. Do you have a chat night? Depression has kept me from much socializing so would love to chat with folks...thanks again...check out those musiv videos if you don't know them

warme wishes to all bayoub

Posted 4/14/2011 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I am so glad that you posted again. As I have fibromyalgia too, I know how you feel. One of the hardest things to do is take care of ourselves. Everything is a struggle, down to washing hair. I have trouble holding my arms up for any length of time, so it is hard. Depression causes us to stop taking care of ourselves also. It is really hard and I can so relate.

I do walking when I can. I didn't walk much over the winter because of the snow and ice. But I am walking my dog once a day now. You would be surprised how much that helps, and you don't have to go far in the beginning. So try walking if you have somewhere that you can do that.

Are you doing bicep curls? I have weights somewhere. I got a pair of five pound weights and a pair of eight pound weights. Also remember that muscle weighs 4 X more than body fat, so if you start to gain pounds it is most likely muscle. But I highly recommend walking, the extra oxygen that you get while doing so gives you more energy and also your stomach automatically starts to tighten up when you walk. So you are benefiting in many ways.

I am glad that you are continuing to post here. It is always nice to hear from you. Keep on posting and letting us know of your progress. Where there is a will, there is a way. And I know that you are going to get better and have more energy.

Take care, and best wishes.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 4/16/2011 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
hi bayoub2. i too have had ect. did it help you. it did me. sorry for taking awhile to post, just frightfully busy. some mobility issues too-i use a cane periodically, and yep i walk, even in pain. i have bi-polar affective disorder agmonst others as well. i am male and 38. live in australia. have a good day. with healing compassion, jamie.

lombroscal spine, iddm, chronic pain-not fibro. genetic hormone deficeny.
plus the mental health issues. 20 public admissions, 8 private, 6 mnth inpatient program. cheers.
Posted 6/4/2011 9:13 AM (GMT 0)
and to you as well judthryn. jamie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply