Hi this is my first time on here. I was dx with remitting/ relapsing ms 6 years ago but now I think it has moved on to something else as my mobility is not good. Up till recently I was coping well with it but since my mobility has got worse I have been really down. I have a lovely husband and family but I dont think they really understand what I am going through. I feel stressed all the time especially at work. My ms nurse says I should go to my gp for anti depressants but I don’t think that is the answer any ideas anyone?
Anon,
I am sorry that you are having a hard time of it at the moment, I can sympathise I’m going through a similar process losing mobility quite quickly.
I have found anti depessants quite helpful, but talking it through with some one is equally effective, it could be a friend or a counsellor or the folks here. I think counselling is very effective.
John
PS I know what you mean by nearest and dearest not understanding.
PPS Like yourself I am new to this forum, I think it helps everyone seems very nice we can help each other
Thank you for your nice comments. I remember when I was first diagnosed I was offered counselling and seemed to be bombarded with things I was not ready for. I think I might go to the gp although I am not sure about anti depressants but it is lovely to speak to people who I know do understand. Just feel a bit lost at the moment.
Hi Anon and welcome to the board. If your RRMS has become progressive, it will be secondary progressive. PPMS always starts as progressive… but that does not mean you are not welcome on the board… we have a few SPMS users. You know the trouble with depression, when you’re depressed you don’t believe that anything can make you feel better. I have been in that dark place many times… how can anything help? Right? Antidepressants nowadays are really very very good and loads of us with MS take them. The trouble with MS (oh one of the troubles… there’s so many!) is that we get depressed because we’re living with MS and all it’s nasty symptoms and it’s worries… but we also get depressed because the lesions in our brains affect our emotions just as much as they affect our bodies. There are areas of the brain that just deal with emotions… feeling good, feeling happy… feeling depressed. The damage in our brains actually messes about with those feelings… so double whammy… depressed because you’ve got MS and the MS is actually making you depressed. Antidepressants can stop that vicious cycle and get you back into a place where you can at least think clearly about things… where it’s not all dark and where you can feel good things again. I hope that has encouraged to see your GP. Honestly, hand on heart, antidepressants will really make you feel better… AND remember, loads of us MSers take them. Take care and come back and tell us how you’re doing, Pat xx
Hello Anon, depression is an illness which needs treatment. It’s not a sign of weakness. There are good ways of dealing with it. I’m afraid getting other people to understand, even those closest to you is very difficult. Most of us are brought up to believe that fatigue and lethargy (inevitable consequences of MS) can be addressed with exercise and being positive. As you know, that’s not the case for our condition. If your car battery is low, you don’t keep on trying to start it because it wil just go completely flat. With PPMS and SPMS we live on low batteries and need to manage our limited energy to get us through the day. The best thing I would advise is that you keep contact with the forum and the site itself as it’s been really useful for me and others. Don’t be afraid of asking direct questions-there will always be good answers. Best wishes, Steve.
Some good advice there I think and very supportive too.
Hello Anon, When I first realised that I had a neurological problem. That would be in about November 2013 I asked my GP for Prozak to combat the depression I suspected would follow I am glad I did it did help me by preventing me falling into too bad a depression. I am quite happy to keep taking it, consider starting on a low dose and before you really need it as it takes weeks to be effective. But it is effective. John
Also new to this, diagnosed in October. Divorced in February after 32 years (his adultery) facing a future alone and increasingly disabled. Finding friends on this forum who really understand will be important to me.
I take two tiny tablet each day can’t remember the name, they are what get me through the day I get some really black dog days without them. Speak to your GP they are there to help And the tablets are such a help for me I LOVE EM they gave me my life back. Don
Hi Anon
You sound like you’ve hit a bump in the road with your ms and as the others have said, it’s more common than you imagine. We all have different circumstances and hurdles to cope with but as Pat said with our condition it is sometimes a combination of physical and psychological problems. You’ve done the right thing coming to a friendly support group where you can talk to people who do understand what you’re going through as no matter how lovely and kind your friends and family are, they’ll never experienced what you’re going through or understand what’s upsetting you, despite their attempts.
I like you had wonderful family and friends but I found this forum a real lifeline, speaking to people who understood and had their own experience. No topic was taboo and if I felt embarrassed asking about certain body functions I could do so anonymously. I started taking anti depressants early on in my illness and it was the best thing for me. I don’t know if you dislike the idea of them because of the stigma or side effects but there are different types and doses. They might make you a bit drowsy to start with but so many of us take them and function well. Counselling may be an option, it helped me a bit but the tablets do much better and keep me settled though I still have ups and downs, they’re not a miracle cure. You do cope better with your emotions.
Please don’t ever feel alone, as mentioned there’s always someone on here to help or answer questions or just a few reassuring words. Please seek some kind of help, there’s no stigma, and as Steve mentioned, it’s an illness that needs treating. Good luck
Cath xx
Hi Anon
You have been given some good and honest advice, I also take anti depressants for the very reasons mentioned above, as a bonus, they also help with nerve pain, so its a win win situation.
Have a chat with your gp, and if you decide give them a try, there is nothing to loose by trying, and keep in touch with the forum, people who really do understand.
Wishing you all the best.
Pam x
Hi
Just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum, lovely friendly group who offer good advice, or a shoulder to lean on, whatever Is needed.
Why not start a new thread (found at the top of the page) whereby you will get lots more response.
Look forward to seeing you on the forum.
Pam x
Hi everyone thank you so much for your lovely comments. I will take everything on board. But do you know just speaking to people who know what I am going through has done wonders. I don’t feel so alone and wish I had gone on here earlier. I always like to be in control of my life and this condition is starting to control me and I don’t like it. It is just going to take a while to come to terms with it but I will get there. Anon xx
Hi Anon and onmyown Every one has given you both such good advice. I too take anti depressants…there’s no shame in it at all…you can’t help getting low for all the reasons that Pat explained…anymore than you can help the colour of your eyes!! This forum was a lifeline for me after many years of feeling very alone with my MS… There is nothing better than making friends with other folk who really do understand exactly what you are going through. Hope you both come back often and as Cath said nothing is taboo on here…we’ve all been there…and most if us have several tee shirts! Had a great Easter but gosh…family for four days…phew…glad it’s over!! Hope everyone is as well as possible, Nina x
Hi you will feel low it is only natural, yes other half doesn’t get it but then i dont tell him half of what goes on, as as well as making me feel down would ensure that he would wrap me up in cotton wool, (worse nightmare) I go swimming most weekday mornings but truthfully my tongue gets more exercise , as other swimmers are retired folk who have been there and done it so nothing fazes them, they are good company and we laugh at some stupid things, they are my saviours because i have tried the counselling approach and it didn’t help me, we on this site know what you are going through , my husband’s brother has cerebal palsy, hubby says ‘i know about disability’, yes he does regarding his brother but mine is totally different from him.
You will find your own way of coping and for the times when it gets too much we are hear to rant at.
take care
Trish