Hi everyone. I am new here. I have MS 15 years. I am doing pretty well in that my progression is slow and as my neurologist said in my recent checkup that it’s taken more a benign course. My relapses have mainly involved optic neuritis. However my daily biggest challenges are fatigue and mood. Over the years I have tried many things and I’ve built a good health routine that involves health eating, some exercise and I try get as much sleep as I can but with kids and busy family life I find it hard to just keep up. I have been prone to low moods since I was 13 years old , well before multiple sclerosis surfaced about 10 years later. However I wonder at times whether there were signs of ms back that far even. Anyway I have had recent checkup with my doctor and neurologist and due to more frequent low moods that seem to cycle regularly they are recommending either cymbalta or lamotrigine to help. I have been on cipramil and lexapro at times over the years which I’ve never found much help. My lows come on out of no where, I often link it to when I’m very tired. I get irrational and anxiety increases during low spells. I push people way from me when I’m like this, I just want to be alone. It can be a terribly dark place but I guess over the years I have got accustomed to it. Years ago I slept a lot but now since I have a family I have to get dressed and look after my family which is a good thing in aw ya with routine but it is not easy. It really affects my quality of life. In the last few years we have been extra busy, moving house twice, most recently a few months ago which was tiring and stressing which may have influenced this recent low. I always believe in living as healthy as possible and not taking drugs unless it overall improves quality of life including side effects and hence why my recent visits to doctors to discuss this. Do any of you get similar lows ? Any of you find cymbalta or lamotrigine helpful ? I am also going to some counselling which I have done in the past. I will do anything to find happiness. It’s a struggle to find happiness and I feel burden on my husband and I’m always concerned my mood has a negative affect on my loved ones even though I hide it as much as I can. I may et a neuropsychiatric test if things don’t improve with a drug. Cognitively I do struggle with memory and thinking. Driving requires a lot of energy and if I’m doing anything like learning something new in a book I find it quite difficult and tiring. Can ms affect someone cognitively with these challenges and not so much physically ? To look at me you would never guess I had ms at all. I get people irritating me continuously asking why I don’t work outside the home not understanding or knowing that I struggle with fatigue, moods and occasionally eyes and other cognitive challenges that have made me out of no choice be a stay at home mum for years. I rest a lot in mornings when I can when kids are in school. Afternoons and evenings are so busy with kids that it takes most of my energy. At end of day I have no interest in much else. It’s often to difficult to enjoy a tv program or read a book as my concentration can be a challenge too when tired. I need to find things that I can do that I enjoy when I’m tired. It’s a struggle. This is so long a post, sorry. If anyone can relate and can tell me how these two drugs have helped or if anything else has helped I’ll be grateful. I walk, I do yoga, eat healthy. I’ve done mindfulness and other relaxing alternatives over the years …
hiya
firstly i love ur username and all that a dragonfly symbolises…
may i suggest that u r being too hard on urself…
for me i deal with honesty-thats to myself and then others (its not for everybody tho)
i find huge benefit from meditation/mindfulness but theres a difference between learning the theory and practising it…
i cant comment re drugs cos i dont use them.
maybe worthwhile reminding yourself what u already know?
most important thing i pick up from ur words-be kind to yourself (we woulk like to think we are ‘super woman’ but no-one is!
take care, ellie
Hi Dragonfly - since MS diagnosis over 10 years my happiness has been hit at times and sometimes I have taken Cipralex to lift me out of it, especially over the winter, but they make me fat!!! probably eat more to be honest…my neuro did say that MS can “hit” the happy part of our brain…i am reducing my “anti-depressants” at the minute and taking up a more healthy lifestyle - going to the swimming pool and starting the gym…plus i take LDN…I just don’t like being on anti-depressants and I am thankful that they have lifted me outa a hole at times, maybe copaxone that I’m on doesn’t help with mood either…I’m not sure but am looking forward to Spring and a longer day…good luck
Hi Dragonfly, I very much empathise - I remember as a child under ten being utterly exhausted sometimes - to the point of looking for cozy places to curl up and sleep whilst walking home from school or out and about on family walks - under a hedge, beside a coal bunker, under a car!! Fatigue has been ever present in my depression issues too. I tried CBT, psychotherapy, therapeutic breathing exercises, positive psychology/mindfulness. None really made much difference in terms of energy levels. I’ve been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder - 10 years before my MS diagnosis but now the thinking is that the MDD was a symptom of an early MS brain lesion. I’m all about the drugs now in terms of getting a decent quality of life. There is something physically out of whack in my brain chemistry and I’ve tried many, many different medications over the years to find something that works for me. Rhodiola rosea was the best natural supplement I tried. Red Koonga ginseng with multi-vit tablets and Berocca also seem to help - lots of B and C vitamins. I’ve been on venlafaxine for years now - fluoxetine and citalopram failed to provide relief. I’m going to ask my GP to consider letting me try buproprion (Wellbutrin) as this anti-depressant has been shown to be of significant benefit to those with depression where fatigue is one of the main symptoms. As I’m sure you’ve heard many, many times, everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you. But there ARE lots of options, so if something doesn’t work - and nothing will work immediately, stick with it for at least 3 weeks before deciding - then try something else. Good luck x
Hi, I’ve found that sertraline works wonders for my mood, and with no side effects. It is more for anxiety than depression, but it doesn’t help with fatigue which is also one of my main symptoms. I hope you find something to help you.