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Posted 6/11/2009 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
I am having my first experience with depression and would love some advice.  It seems to have started about 5 weeks ago after I started taking Zocor (cholesterol medication) for strictly "preventative" measures per my Doctor.  My first instinct was to say no, but I relented....what a mistake.  Since then I have had the most terrifying 4 weeks of my life.  about 2 weeks in I noticed I was very depressed, wanting to cry all the time and couldnt figure out why.  I have NEVER been a glass half empty, depressed person..just the opposite.  I finally realized that the only thing different was the new medication I was taking so I stopped.  Here I am weeks later and sometimes my thoughts are just soooo scary to me.  I have no life, not worth living, etc.  I should add that 2 weeks ago, in the middle of all this, my mother had a stroke, which made things worse.  Has anyone had any experience with this problem?  I just want my life back.  I have lost 15 pounds in the last 3 weeks because I dont want to eat, you think I would be happy about that, not so much.  I have been taking better care of myself in the last 2 weeks and things seem to be getting more "normal" than not.  Any help would be appreciated folks.

Thank you

Posted 6/11/2009 8:08 AM (GMT 0)
dear jewel, hey a lot has been going on for you. sorry about your mothers situation. also, u need to talk with your doc about your needs. i would suggest jotting down what has been happening with you. ask your doc about all of the options available to you. depression is a medical condition too. take care of you, thx 4 your courage in posting, am around, here at hw we do care okay. jamie

dx mdd, severe borderline personality disorder

Posted 6/11/2009 12:42 PM (GMT 0)

jewel,

Welcome to HealingWell and I am sorry your having problems.

May I suggest you contact your physician and see if what you are experiencing is depression or perhaps a side effect of the new medication you are taking.

Also wondering if you have anything else going on in your life that may have triggered your feelings of depression?  Sadness after a painful event would be a normal emotional reaction so sorting out clinical depression from normal sadness is sometimes difficult.

Again a warm welcome and hope you will stick with us.

Kitt 

Posted 6/11/2009 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond to my post , I appreciate it so much.  I have contacted my doctor about everything that has happened.  I let her know when I stopped taking the Zocor immediately.  I contacted my health provider to try to get an appointment with a psychiatrist to get to the bottom of all of this, even though I seem to be improving daily...and the person on the phone (not sure if this was a nurse or not) said "so we need to get you medication then".  I said, uh ...no we need to see if i NEED medication, I would like to talk to someone, get some help, get tested to see if this has been caused by something physical..etc.  She told me that I could not see the psychiatrist unless I took medication.  Does this seem backward to anyone else?  I mean, if I called up and said I had a heart problem but wasnt sure what it was, would you just give me medication without any tests at all?  Just wondering if this is unusal???

Posted 6/12/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
yes and no. really depends on the ethos and focus of the treating psychiatrist. try to get the appt anyway as the doc will be better informed regarding best practice treatment options 4 u, okay. keep safe and take good care of you. jamie
Posted 6/12/2009 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
It seems unusual to me. Can you try a different psychiatrist?
Posted 6/12/2009 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I did finally get an appointment with a therapist, I am assuming this is a psychologist not a psychiatrist, for next week.  I asked about getting some blood work done and have basically been ignored. (Kaiser).  Although I am feeling very good this week I still think it is very important to get to the bottom of what is going on.  Thanks for all the help and encouragement guys, I really do appreciate it so much.  And, on a really personal note..My very small and somewhat short (although it didnt seem like it at the time) experience with these very scary feelings makes me so aware of how very ignorant I was about what people really go through with depression.  I now have a very limited understanding and am simply in awe of those who fight the good fight daily.
Posted 6/13/2009 9:53 AM (GMT 0)
thank-you for that jewel, means a lot, jamie u are doing well, keep your chin up.
Posted 6/13/2009 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jewelsm, I’m sorry for this horrible experience you’ve had! I don’t understand why a doctor would prescribe a cholesterol med for ‘preventative’ measures…..and if you have slightly elevated cholesterol levels, would it not be prudent for him/her to suggest some dietary and lifestyle changes instead? I’m also disturbed by the idea that your healthcare provider wants you to take medications for your symptoms of depression before you get checked out. You sound like a wise person with great instincts, and from everything you’ve written, I can tell that you will be a good advocate for yourself, which is very important these days. Please keep us posted – you’re following your own wise mind on this and getting to the bottom of the issues, which is the right thing to do. Let me also say I am very sorry about your mother’s stroke. I hope things will get better soon.
Posted 6/14/2009 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have Diabetes and had already lowered my cholesterol by 75 points myself through a total change in diet to a level well withing the normal range.  Perhaps a family history of heart disease had her concerned...dont know.  I do know that I have left seveal messages and emails for my doctor over the past 2 weeks about how I was scared and needed some help...and I got  crickets...nothing.  So looks like I will be looking for a new doctor now.  I am looking forward to seeing the therapist this week though.  I have been feeling very good the past 5 days or so, I think the Zocor isout of my system, but I still think it is very important to figure out what happened to me, and to deal with the things that are obviously bothering me, that got seriously amplified during this time of depression.  thanks for all your help and encouragement.  I will tell ya how it goes!
Posted 6/14/2009 10:12 PM (GMT 0)

Jewels,

Good Afternoon, and first off how is your Mother doing?

I am sorry about your physician but I agree with you, someone dropped the ball. 

Seeing a therapist is a good idea and even if you determine the medication was the culprit you have had this experience, these feelings and it would be nice to know how to deal with these feelings if they ever return.

Please know I am proud of you for coming here and sharing your story.  You reached out for help and you recognized you were in trouble.  Kudos to you and yes please do keep us posted. 

Gentle Hugs to you

Kitt

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