Hi, I am new to this site and have found it very interesting. I have been diagnosed with depression the last 2 years.. I am 59 now...married 40 years.. 3 grown up children.. no grandchildren yet.. We have had as a family many varied and stressful events over the last 10 years or more... marriage breakdowns, family members died, family members causing major problems, moving away, illness with parents etc. etc. etc. so eventually I had a breakdown and my body and brain told me it wasnt coping at all. Anyway, to cut a very long story short I feel much better now that I have the meds under control. I am worried about
when they need to be decreased, whether I should do that or go back to my GP, but I not going to start worrying about
that yet.
I met a very good friend yesterday who also suffers with depression and although we dont meet up very much we do have a lot in common obviously, but she makes me laugh with her stories. After talking we realised we have had similar symptoms with our legs!! Now, I dont know how to describe this. But, it is a very strange pins and needles, creeping cramp pain, it gets very intense that I cannot walk but have to sit down. She got hers whilst she was driving, but didnt tell her passenger until she stopped the car! I wondered if it is nerve pain, or reaction to the meds. but when my friend said she has similar things along with restless legs it made me wonder if others have had similar pains in their legs along with their depression. somedays it is more noticeable than others. Also I get the "nodding dog"/tremors syndrome. when it doesnt happen I forget to tell my GP and act as if everything is ok... then it might start again for a couple of weeks. It cant be normal can it? Some days I feel really good but it does take me 1/2 a day to get started.
In October 2011 I had a seizure, doc thought it was brought on by stress, out of the blue (well perhaps the tell tale signs were headaches every morning for two weeks) but anyway I collapsed taken to A & E, had all the tests and they came back negative. I havent had another one but am banned from driving for 6 months which ends in April... if it happens again then its another 6 mths... So, apart from just moving into a new house, having a seizure now I cant drive which only adds to the depression!!! Sometimes I feel like I am going stir crazy especially with restless legs too. Its a good job I havent lost my sense of humor totally.
Anyway, at least now I can see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel, I am no way near as bad as I was 2 years ago for which I am thankful but it is good to be able to read how everyone else deals with their problems.