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Posted 10/28/2009 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was just curious about how many of you that have been diagnosed or are thinking you have fibromyalgia, also are diagnosed with depression, or have felt severly depressed?
Posted 10/28/2009 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
I have been diagnosed with depression and GAD.
Posted 10/28/2009 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kdet!

And welcome! Depression is fairly common among people with any type of chronic pain, including fibromyalgia. Also many people with fibro take very small doses of antidepressants as they may help with pain reduction. It's no surprise that people who live with chronic pain also have depression. I'm talking clinical depression, not just feeling bummed out. Research shows there is a large mind/body connection so when the body is suffering from something like pain that is unrelenting the mind also suffers and it comes in the forum of depression.

I've been on antidepressants for a few years. Mine is mostly for depression/PTSD and hopefully it's helping the pain control. It's hard to say but without it I'm a wreck.

Hope this helps answer your question. Also, take a little time and check out the Fibro 101 topic at the top of the forum posts. There is tons of great information and many links that can help answer many questions....even some good stretching exercises to get the body moving in the mornings.

Keep in touch!
Chutz
Posted 10/28/2009 7:20 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, Kdet, and welcome!  Chutz gave you great advice so I have nothing to add, but I did want to pop in and welcome you to our family.  I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  We do have wonderful members that love to help one another so I think you will like it here.

Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum...has a lot of good information that can help you and you will learn a lot.  Also, we have daily Koffee Klatches where the topic for the day has nothing to do with pain or illness.  It helps take your mind off it for a little bit.  And, on Thursdays, there is a chat on the forum.  Be looking for Chutz's reminder tomorrow. 

I'm happy you are here and I hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine

Posted 10/28/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kdet and welcome. I have battled depression and anxiety most of my life, way before fibro. It was during a very stressful time in my life that fibro started.

 

I'm glad you joined us this is a fantastic group of people.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 10/28/2009 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I have PTSD, clinical depression and am bipolar. I had all these before the fibro, and I think having them contributed to the stress that brought on the fibro.
Welcome to the forum.
Posted 10/29/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I'm one of the odd ones, the dr. wanted me on antidepressents. "Are you depressed?" he asks.....

"No" I answer "I'm in pain". "That's o.k." he says "Next time we'll test you for depression."

Maybe I'm nuts, but what part of NO doesn't he understand? Needless to say, I haven't been back.

Posted 10/29/2009 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, welcome! I've been on antidepressants for about seven years, mostly to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (I live in Alaska and we have a lot of darkness in winter), also stress and PTSD. I was diagnosed with fibro in February of this year, though I think it started after a car crash in 2007. I've changed from Prozac, which I took for six years, to Cymbalta at the beginning of this year. I don't notice any difference, except that I have more noticeable "up" moments and my pain has evened out. I really do think the antidepressants help the pain - not take it away, but make it more manageable somehow.
Posted 10/29/2009 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I was very depressed throughout my entire childhood, although since being out on my own I have not been depressed. Now, I do feel tired and have no desire to do a lot of things, and the way I feel really does feel like depression from a physical perspective, however emotionally I am pretty happy and positive. My doc keeps asking if I am sure I am not depressed. I am hoping that now that my rheumy has said it is fibro that now my doc will let the depression thing drop!
Posted 10/30/2009 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not depressed. I even went to a psychologist when I first got sick so I could prove it to my docs and get them to stop considering it.

The only time I was ever depressed was when they insisted I try low levels of antidepressants to help with the pain. The meds made me depressed so they insisted I take more, because, now I'm depressed! It got really bad, I considered giving up. They made me switch meds to help my "depression". I couldn't even think enough to stop the meds. Finally, a new doc realized it was the antidepressants that were causing the depression and had me stop. I haven't had a problem with depression since.
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