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How depressive fatigue feels for you?

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Posted 8/25/2009 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
confused  I've been fighting what my ARNP and I think may be either Chronic Fatigue, or Fibromyalgia, along with major depression.  While lab work has previously shown an extremely elevated Epstein Barr virus titre in connection with fatigue episodes, the most recent did not.  This has me puzzled, since I've experienced one of the worst fatigue slumps I've ever had. 

Six weeks ago, I lost my job, and admitted myself to an Adult Crisis Intervention Unit the next day with deep depression. I'm familiar with depressive fatigue, as well as CFS fatigue, and feel that I've been experiencing a mix of the two. 

My question-can someone share, in detail, how depressive fatigue feels for you?  I'm having to face the possibility that my aches, pains, brain fogs, intolerance to stress, and bone-deep exhausion may be caused by the depression alone, with no CFS or Fibro component.   I'm having more labs drawn tomorrow, to rule out a few more possible diagnoses, and based on those, maybe have a referrel to a rheumatologist. I also will see my counselor on Wednesday.  In previous sessions, I've gotten the faint impression that she's trying to get me to accept depression as the main culprit. 

Anyone?

Cheryl.

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 8/26/2009 9:31:20 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/25/2009 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cheryl,
I'm sure others can share what depression-fatigue feels like to them. I felt really awful -- exhausted, no appetite, numb emotions, etc. -- and it turned out to be due to hypothyroidism & anemia, so I am glad to hear that at least you are getting blood work run to rule those things out. Sometimes they are run during an in-patient stay, even, but apparently they don't pay much mind to them since extreme stress can throw off the test results. That was what happened in my case, so I went another 18 months after the last hospitalization until my hair was falling out like crazy & I finally got diagnosed. If you had blood work run during your hospital stay, maybe you can try to get a copy of the blood work from then. In my experience, they seem to run all the right tests, they just don't bother to do anything with them.

I certainly do hope they can find out what's going on with you (even if it is depression) & get you on a good treatment plan to help you start feeling more energized. It does take a while -- quite a while -- to get anti-depressant meds straightened out, so just try to be patient (though I know that's easier said than done).

Some a/d meds can make you more tired, so that's something to look into. Also, some are supposed to help with energy levels -- like Wellbutrin. After you get the blood work back, hopefully that is something you feel comfortable enough to discuss with your psychiatrist. If not, perhaps it's time to find a new psych that you feel more comfortable being completely open & honest with.

take care,
Frances
Posted 8/25/2009 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
cheryl, i missed both lots of school yesterday and today. i am exhaused too. this is different from depressive, i too ache. see doc tomorrow. will be discussing cfs as well. wishing you well. jamie.
Posted 8/25/2009 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
It is so hard to diagnose between depression and fm and cfs. Because non show up in blood work or exrays. But I know that depression can give you the same symptoms. There is a tenderpoint test that they can give you for fm. I have it, so I know what you are going through. There are medications that you can take for the fatigue and pain. I hope that you find out what you have so that you can treat it properly. You might want to visit the fibro forum and read there and see if there are any similarities.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 8/25/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for replying. Karen,I have been on the Fibro and CFS forums, and doing scads of internet research. I know well that EBV titres aren't considered diagnostic for CFS, but was sure mine would turn up elevated this time, just as they has in the past. I had the same achy, sick, flu-type exhaustion as before.

One good (great?) thing-once I adjusted to changing from Effexor XR to Pristiq, my energy level has improved a good deal. Or could it be the CoQ 10 I started at the same time? Whatever-I'm just grateful. Now, if only I could fall asleep easier at night.....

I just wish medical science knew more r/e CFS and fibro-as a nurse, it makes me crazy not to be able to corelate labs to symptoms. Guess I'd like it to be cut-and-dried! (If anyone needs a reason to get furious, google on CDC and Dr. Brian Mahy, and how funding for CFS research was hijacked. How in the name of god can the CDC not take CFS and fibro more seriously?!??)
Posted 8/25/2009 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Jaimie, I hope your doc can help you. You have enough on your plate as it is-every finger is crossed that you DON'T have fibro or CFS! Take care, buddy.
Posted 8/25/2009 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
I think my question pretty much has been answered-I've felt so lousy today, it's gotta be fibro. Everything I have hurts, and what doesn't hurt, feels bad. Made it to the doc's office, had a gallon or so of blood drawn, and nearly passed out afterward in WalMart. My niece Laura was there shopping, and DIL Vanessa there working-I could just imagine the uproar if I had done a swan dive in aisle 16!
Next time, I skip the shopping, and if I feel as bad as I did before I left home, I'm having someone else drive. This could have been baaadddd.
Posted 8/26/2009 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
thanks cheryl. i got a letter from the pathologist, apparently their was somthing not right with the bloods? need to hbaic and fbe again. why, do not know? see doc this afternoon. hoping you get some positive results too. thx 4 your support, appreciate it. healings, jamie.
Posted 8/26/2009 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
DreamspinnerCheryl

Hi this is Kitt.  I gave your thread a title.

I am sorry to hear you nearly fainted at Walmart.  I agree with you, next time you may want to skip Walmart. :-)

I hope your lab results give you some answers to your issues.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 8/27/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried B12 shots? They have helped me with the fatigue that often comes with depression.
Posted 8/27/2009 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I have a friend with fibro that gets the b12 shots too. She says that they help. I have been doing good on my medications, so I guess I figure if it isn't broken, don't fix it. But one day I might try them.

I take the malic acid and magnesium. Also a lot of vite D3. Both help a lot. Plus I take pain meds, and adderall for fatigue. That has really changed my life.

I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 8/27/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Karen, my practitioner gave me a B12 inj. a week ago Monday. Since I also switched a.d. meds at the same time, it was hard to see any improvement, but she did recommend I get them regularly. I recently started on oral B complex, also. Depending on these last labs, I might start on Savella. I'm a bit leery of that-read so many reports of nausea with it. And I sure as heck don't need any more weight gain!!
Posted 8/28/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
I hope that the Savella works for you. I am not familiar with it. I know that it is new. Does it help with the pain? Or is it an antidepressant? I know people are taking it for fibro.

I truly recommend adderall for anybody that can take it. It keeps me awake during the day. Then I take ambien to sleep at night. I take a lot of medications but they seem to help. The one that has really helped is abilify. It helps my mind a lot.

I hope that things work out for you. Keep posting.

Hugs, Karen
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