Depression?

Talk to your rheumy first. Often these mood swings are associated with prednisone -- they do get somewhat better as you get used to it.

It takes some adjusting, and most of us have to do some grieving -- basically let go of how we "used to be" and go thru the 7 stages of grief to get back to a place where we're comfortable again.

1. SHOCK & DENIAL
2. PAIN & GUILT
3. ANGER & BARGAINING
4. "DEPRESSION", REFLECTION, LONELINESS
5. THE UPWARD TURN
6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH
7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE

Since you haven't been fully diagnosed or treated yet, it's quite normal to be feeling the way you do. Try to stay in the moment, don't imagine how bad it might be, or worry too much about how bad it feels now.

Keep pressing on toward a diagnosis and a more complete treatment plan. It can get better - have faith that it will. Do your homework - the basics - good food, good sleep, moderate exercise.

Cheers

I see a therapist to help me with the process and coping skills. She told me about the steps of grief. She also told me that you can flip back and forth on the levels too.
It really helps me to talk to one.

Hey Melodie-
I am new to the site so I don't know much about you, but just from what you have said on this post, I can say I have been where you are. I will figure out where I should do an introduction post and give more information separately. I can tell you that I had symptoms for 8 months before seeing a rheumy and starting prednisone. I was overjoyed with how much better I felt once I started that. Of course as you are probably learning, that high only lasts so long. about 4 months after my first rheumy visit I was an emotional mess. Between still not having a definite diagnosis, having ever-changing symptoms, starting and adjusting to plaquenil, regular stress of life, and being tired of being sick and tired, I was a mess.

I was prescribed Cymbalta and it has been a life saver. I read a lot of conflicting information about it, but decided to take it. I am not a medicine person, so it was not an easy decision. Before this illness I had never taken any medications aside from those for regular illnesses. I rarely took Tylenol or cold meds even. I have peripheral neuropathy and the Cymbalta has helped a lot with that, too. It is also used to treat depression and anxiety. I am a completely different person and now able to focus on feleling better and living a more normal life despite my illness.

You're welcome. I also want to mention that I am not too far ahead of you on this journey. My symptoms started August 2012. I started prednisone last April, plaquenil in June and Cymbalta in November. So I am basically an autoimmune newbie but I have learned a lot and worked through many phases over the past year. Stay strong!

Melodie

Lynn's advice is perfect. You ll go thru stages but don't evah give in. Evah. It's the disease and change of life that does it. It's not you. If drugs help well fine. I've chosen to go without them ( well except the Lupi drugs). I used to be a marathoner so you can imagine the depression even for guys who are supposed to suck it up. I have cerebritis SLE or brain lupus and have trouble walking but I am grateful for what I do have. For you remember depression is normal but don't give in don't quit and do not give up hope. Evah.

Depression is very common with chronic illness plus dealing with chronic pain will cause it too.

Many of us take anti depressants to help with our moods. I see a pain therapist on a weekly basis. She just spent the past three weeks calling me while I was in the hospital. I find having someone who isn't related or very close to me the best person to share how I'm reall feeling about things.

Maybe you would consider talking with your Dr about and antidepressant and possibly seeing a therapist. Please know we all understand and care for one another here, so please feel free to share.

Someone will always be around to offer a shoulder. Hang in there you'll start feeling better real soon I'm sure.

Hugs,
Barbara

I my self was diagnosed about 3 months ago. Was suffering from muscle pain,fever and depression because dr didn't know what I had. Plus in 2012 they did blood work for lupus and came back negative. Went to see a different dr late 2013 and We'll 3 months later they did blood work again for lupus and came back positive. This wk has been hell because on Sunday I was having a bad eye pain so went to er and put an iv for pain. Next day I start having gas problems, pressure below my chest like I couldn't breathe and started having a panic attack because it was a bad feeling and got scared lol was feeling really tired that my eyes would actually close while at the store. At night had a hard time sleeping because was having a hard time breathing because of the excessive gas and this time my left eye started to hurt a little.Nxt day I end up waking up depressed and again with the gas problem. When night time came around it was the worst night ever! I couldn't sleep once AGAIN because of the breathing problem that I started developing another panic attack!i just wanted to get up and scre and cry and let everybody in te house how I was feeling! I tried so hard to ease my mind and relax and ended up falling asleep thank god. And again I woke up depressed today. Trying to see if I should see a therapist. My problem is I'm scared to take any anti depression pills because I've been on them few yrs ago and it was hell for me! I couldn't sleep I couldn't eat. Lost a lot of weight. Didn't want to go out.i was miserable. They probably change my mess like 3 to 4 times and still wasn't feeling like myself. I give props for those people that antidepressant has worked for them. After so many yrs being out of my funk here I am again! As of now husband and myself are the only ones that know that I have lupus. And we'll my husband can't really understand what I'm feeling because to him I look ok but he doesn't know how I'm feeling inside. And I do feel that I am alone in this right now. I stopped complaining to him about how I feel because he gets so stressed that we argue sometimes because he thinks I over exsagerate or it's all in my head :/ it's hard trying to keep my self together and having to take care 5 kids from age 1 to 14 yrs old.