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Posted 2/4/2019 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I usually post on the chronic pain forum but I am severely depressed and don't know how to help myself! I have several health issues and it makes the depression worse. I cry every single day and can't find joy in anything. I told my husband last night that I wish the Lord would come take me home cause I am tired of living. I scared him. I am scared for myself. I have venlafaxine 150 er and hydroxzine, neither of which work. I saw a psychiatrist nurse practitioner and asked her about a second antidepressant and she said no. The goal of medicine was to keep people on an even keel, but I am sinking!! She is the one who gave me the hydroxzine. I don't know how long I have been like this, but I do KNOW that it was before my health started going downhill. If I could find SOME happiness, everything would be better. Anybody have any suggestions? I don't know what to do......
Jo Ann
Posted 2/4/2019 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jo Ann,

How long have you been on venlafaxine? It takes six to eight weeks for antidepressants to reach full potential. So if it hasn't been that long, give it a chance. If it has been longer and you aren't getting help from it, maybe it is time for something new. It all depends how long you have been on the medication. I am not familiar with hydroxyzine so I will have to look it up.

Don't give up. Things will get better. I get the chronic pain and the depression go hand in hand. It gets worrisome. And old. But take it one day at a time. It is hard but it can be done.

I hope you feel better soon. And I am curious as to how long you have been on the medication...

Keep posting as it helps...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/4/2019 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I did look up the hydroxyzine. I see it is used for anxiety. The other, which I know as Effexor is a pretty good medication. I took it for over 15 years. I took 375 mg though. I took Xanax with it for anxiety. I now take the Pristiq.

I do hope you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen

Again...
Posted 2/4/2019 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Karen,
I have been on it for years. One Dr tried to wean me off, while increasing on another med, but that did NOT work at all. I REALLY wanted to hurt myself! So I stopped and kept taking it. I don't see anything changing for the better, ever again. For the rest of my life. I had acdf surgery to stop nerve damage, burning pain. It has been a month. The burning is coming back already. I told the Dr. They wrote me a script for some steriods to calm down inflammation. It helped for about 2 days. Took my last pill this morning and the burning was worse by this afternoon. And I know that they say that what I am going through is normal. That the nerves are waking up but I know in my heart that this is how it's gonna be, and I have no hope of anything changing. Like I said, I cry every single day, hard crying. Thanks for listening.
Jo Ann
Posted 2/4/2019 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
I have tried gabapentin and Lyrica for the burning and neither one helped me at all.

Jo Ann
Posted 2/4/2019 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
And I know that I am better off than alot of people, then I get ashamed of myself for not being grateful, and then I cry about that!
Jo Ann
Posted 2/4/2019 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Even if you are better off than a lot of people, doesn't mean you don't have pain. Emotionally and physically.

Have you ever tried Pristiq? It is a lot like what you take and easier to switch to. I have been taking it for about eight years. But Effexor worked for me too. Now they are generic, so sometimes it isn't as good as the brand name.

I take abilify too which is an antipsychotic. But I take it for mood stabilizer. It helps. I gained weight on it but have recently lost it.

I have no luck with lyrica or Neurontin. Neurontin made me stutter. I couldn't talk right. Lyrica has never helped either. I have nerve pain from fibromyalgia and diabetes.

It is difficult at times just to feel normal. If there is such a thing. Just to feel good helps. Do you walk? I find walking helps both physically and mentally.

I hope things get better. Just talking about things helps. Just to unload a little. Keep hanging in there. Don't ever give up.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/4/2019 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Karen,
I have not tried Pristiq. I am scared to try to wean off the venlafaxine and start Pristiq, afraid of what will happen. I do walk as much as I can, but it doesn't help either. I am scared ALL the time. Scared this is going to be my life from now on........
Jo Ann
Posted 2/4/2019 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have got so far down, I feel like I am drowning.
Jo Ann
Posted 2/4/2019 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Scared doesn't have to be your life... Both Effexor and Pristiq are SNRI's. They have anti anxiety properties. Maybe your doc will let you try Xanax or something similar. I have high anxiety too lately. I had to take extra anxiety meds to be able to leave the house today. I was a nervous wreck.

The nice thing about SNRI's is they don't cause you so much weight gain like Prozac and other SSRI's. At least not for me. When I took Prozac, I could gain weight just by looking at food. I had tried numerous ones and they all had side effects that I couldn't tolerate.

I had no trouble switching from Effexor (Venlafaxine) to Pristiq. They are similar so the transaction was easy. I just started adding the Pristiq and gradually tapering off of the Effexor. Though it says not to, I did it anyway with doctor's approval. There were no bad reactions, withdrawal or side effects. I like the Pristiq better. Going off of Effexor can be difficult... I mean to stop and not go on anything else.

Try not to assume you will always be fearful or have anxiety. There are breathing exercises you can do that help with anxiety (which is fear). Learn to do abdominal breathing. I breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Called smelling the roses and blowing out the candles. Repeat it over and over when you are feeling anxious. Try pushing your belly out when you breathe in. And back in when you breathe out. This could make you a little light headed, but you will get use to it and breathe that way automatically.

I also do meditation which helps a lot too. And I try to focus on the now. Take life one moment at a time. Enjoy the little things. The things all around us in the moment. I hope that this helps.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/4/2019 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Karen,
Yes, it does help. Thanks. I made an appointment to see my PC doc tom and I will surely ask him about Pristiq
Jo Ann
Posted 2/5/2019 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Let us know what they say...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/7/2019 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum

I understand how chronic pain can cause depression and suicidal ideation. I have been where you are and still deal with the pain.

I will give you a link that has help me greatly.

I live in New Jersey and weed helps we a lot. It took me since 2005 to find a neurologist and pain doc to work together to try and ease my pain. Last month I finally received an answer as to why. Now we are working a a better maintainance

I know how terribly hard it is to be your own advocate with doctors, but do not settle for "this life" type answers if you can.

This link is for many helpful things. I searched for pain and depression and the link takes to the list of articles. I hope you find something that helps.

https://www.mindful.org/?s=pain+and+depression

Peace and strength
Trina
Posted 2/8/2019 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi to all,
As usual, the pcp was no help. I am going to have to find me a new one. I made an apt with the physiologist nurse practitioner, but of course its gonna be 3 wks.The GI doc was sick and cancelled my apt for yesterday. Its gonna be 3 wks before I can see her.
Trina,
Weed is not legal in Alabama. I tried it when I was younger and it made me paranoid and scared, so I couldn't try it again. Thanks for the link. Does mindfulness work for you?
Jo Ann
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