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Depression and Hair Loss in Lupus

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Posted 5/13/2008 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
I have severe SLE and love my rheumotogist but I have one beef with him in that he never mentioned that I could lose my hair or that DEPRESSION is very common in lupus patients, especially when on high doses of prednisone!  I was one of the lucky ones that experienced psychosis and even had violent tantrums.  When I looked this up online, yes, this is pretty COMMON! 

 

You know, somehow you feel a little better just knowing it is the disease and/or drug and not YOU!  I wanted to get this out just in case you didn't know either.

 

BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE!

 

Gretchen

Posted 5/18/2008 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Gretchen...yes, depression is very common. Mainly because of the loss you feel. The loss of not being able to do the thing you were able to do once.
Posted 5/18/2008 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Gretchen, I'm sorry you had such a bad reaction to prednisone. It's too bad that your doc didn't go over some of those things with you and that you had to find out the hard way. Frank is right that there is so much loss that goes along with this disease that I think people go through a grieving process. I still go through cycles of grief. Hang in there and know that we are here for you if you are ever having a rough time. We understand how hard it can be to live with this illness.
Posted 5/18/2008 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I'm another one who has experienced depression since being diagnosed.  I agree that it has a lot to do with how we have to now manage our lives differently.  The loss we experience with this disease is devestating.  Some of the medications, like prednisone, don't help the situation either.  Lupus itself can change our body chemistry, causing depression.  So the disease itself is a culprit too. 

 

I've talked with psychiatrists in the past and it really helps.  I'm trying to do this without medication. So far so good.  I did go on Paxil back in 2001. But it gave me adverse side effects, and made my depression worse, so I came off it.  Don't be afraid to seek help if you need it. 

 

Thanks for telling us about the link you've discovered too.

 

Ginny

Posted 5/18/2008 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Ginny-

Lupus DOES have real effects on our brains.  I also have short-term memory loss now, too.  It is NOT all in our heads so people, just know this.  If meds help get them.  I was on Lexapro which helped me and now I am taking half doses.  Maybe this might be an option with yours as well. 

Good luck to you on this.  This is such a TRIP isn't it?  hahaha!

Gretchen

Posted 5/18/2008 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Gee, I have thrown right 'wobblers' of tantrums in the past year at least.
One of my sisters told told me to be 'mature' about all this that I have become very angry of late!!!! Understanding eh?
Not good though when twin at receiving end and she has parkisons disease. It creases me up when I realise too late, that I have had a tantrum and said some ghastly things to her.
People say my personality has changed all right.
xxAnn devil
Posted 5/18/2008 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ann!

I am sorry but I had to laugh at your temper tantrums!  I have thrown bottles and also broke my little toe by kicking a stereo into the wall!  All you can do is laugh I guess!  We do lose it sometimes!  Tell your sister that this happens and she can laugh at you together with you!  Humor gets you through this!

You take care.

Gretchen

Posted 5/18/2008 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeh! the throwing game! I have thrown a full mug of tea across sitting room straight through the door into the kitchen.
I have thrown!
Actually, half of me see this as funny but gee, a huge half of me see this as scary.
Can you remember the F.. pain inside as you threw you item of choice? I do.
Anyone tried to break windows or hit someone with their flowery walking stick in frustration? I have!!! Faced a policeman once with my flowery walking stick and temper when he told me I couldnt park car where I had parked it. "Why?" I screamed, "I'm not causing a hazzard, meter maids say I can park anywhere if I dont cause a hazzard (I have a disabled parking permit)." I stormed off. He looked, er, puzzled. Next time, no squeek from him. See, he was guarding a bank! I felt agrieved.
xAnn
Posted 5/18/2008 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I know, you do feel crazy at times. I only did this when I took a high dose of steroids. In some people, steroids cause psychosis and can even get you to the psyche ward! Now that I am on a lower dose along with Cellcept I feel much more in control and don't have those episodes anymore.

Just clue in your friends and family and tell them that this can happen and you don't mean it too but your meds make you react! Most will understand. You do feel awful about it though, I know. I forgot if you said that you take "ZONES" as I call them. They are probably the culprit. Tell your doctor about this and see if you have other choices here. I am crossing my fingers for you!

Gretchen
Posted 5/19/2008 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
LOL Gretchen, I just noticed your screen name LOL That's pretty good! Oh God I needed a laugh.thanks. Yep i put a sign on my door enter at your own risk I'm on steroids! I broke my toe too. I kicked a sold oak coffee table and low and behold it didn't move. But than again my toe didn't mve either. For several weeks. I still have the little shoe they gave me I figured I'd probably need it again some day so I can just skip the middle man. I can break it and just go for the shoe. Forget the hospital and xrays. I remeber one time I posted on here does anyone besides me get pshyco from steroids? Than I erased it cause I afraid people would start looking at me funny. LOL.
hugs
carol
Posted 5/19/2008 3:16 AM (GMT 0)

Carol, you make me laugh!  Welcome to the psycho club!!  I am sure there are more of us out there that are still in the closet!  I even read a book about a woman that reacted to steroids so bad she hit someone with a broom and wanted some gum from him!  She found herself in the psyche ward a week later.  The poor thing wasn't warned from her doctors either! 

So glad you like my name too!  Yes, we are one crazy group here!  Ya gotta laugh!

Gretchen

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