Posted 9/16/2005 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
hello everyone,
My name in Marianne, and you will usually find me in the Crohn's disease forum. I am writing here because my husband of 3 years has recently been dx with depression and possible bi-polar. He was prescribed cymbalta and depakote, went off the depakote a month into it, but is currently taking cymbalta and doing a lot better than before. His sister is bi-polar, and his father has been dx with depression. His grandfather commited suicide from depression as well.
I just need some advice on this. I want to be as supportive and helpful to him through all of this as I can be. What danger signs do I look for in case the meds stop working? Is there any evidence that supports certain nutritional supplements that boost mental health? Is cymbalta a drug that can be used for long periods of time, and can he eventually go off of it?
I love my husband so much, but he is not very good at communicating to me what he is going through, possibly out of embarrassment or guilt. I have Crohn's disease and it has been flaring pretty bad for the last 2 years-I am getting surgery on monday, so we have both been kind of stressed. The outcome of the surgery will be great , meaning I will probably feel better than I have in a long time. I know that this will affect him in a positive way as well. One of my goals when I get better is to research depression and try to get a feel for what he is going through, and maybe get a better idea on how to help him. I have read some of your posts and it breaks my heart to read what some of you go through. I am so sorry that you guys have to deal with this.
Thanks for any input.
Marianne