I’ve suffered from mild fatigue since I was around 18 years old and it always made things feel like more effort than they should do. As I’ve got older and I’m reaching the big 30 , the figure has become worse. Sometimes I spend days in bed or in my pj’s on the sofa as I just can’t move. I hate that feeling and I’m always willing myself to feel better. I’ve looked back over the years and I noticed that doctors have always said I have suffered from depression. Yes I cry sometimes when I feel exhausted or when I’m in pain but so long as I’m feeling as ok as possible, I’m fine. I don’t think I’m depressed at all and I don’t think I ever really was. I really am a very positive person and I have so much good in my life I don’t see how the doctors think I’m suffering from depression! I have a great partner, 2 kids I adore, a cat who is crackers and makes me laugh all the time. I run my own business which is very rewarding and I love what I do! Why do the doctors keep trying to convince me I’m depressed!
Because they do not understand MS Emma! - its as simple as that!
I’ve had the same response myself from doctors over the last 8 years and it can really get you down especially when they do not take your symptoms seriously. I have put off going to the doctors even when i know i need some help because they don’t believe my strange symptoms and they make me feel like an idiot. I’ve tried a couple of gp’s at the practice and they were both the same.
I now avoid my gp as much as possible if i think my problem is ms related and ring straight through to my ms nurse - i find her invaluable!
Teresa.x
I feel your pain, at first the nuro said see a councilor I think there maybe an underlining phycologial problem which isnt helping my walking, (I do have a lesion among other results found). I have spent over 1k on counciling so when we went back to see her we said I have explored it and being 27 on a stroke ward for 3 weeks is enough to make anyone depressed. and not being able to walk most days is bound to bring me down. everything is now slowly slowly.
It doesnt hurt to talk to people and everyone has baggage but GPs are not the way forward with this, there is nothing they can do as they are not specialists in anything. I have been on anti depressents for a while and they help me cope with certain things but its not the cause of my issues. Which they now see but I did what they said first to prove them wrong. Its all a waiting game.
Keep going strong, chin up, and 30 is well young, I say this as my wife is nearly 33 so if I didnt Id get a slap!
Hi Emma,
I don’t want to sound like I’m contradicting you, but one of the odd things about depression is it’s completely independent of life circumstances - i.e. it certainly CAN affect people with good careers, lovely family - everything to feel thankful for. Spending all day in your jim-jams, but then saying: “I can’t be depressed, because I have so many lovely things” doesn’t mean you still couldn’t be.
The other thing is that depression isn’t a moral judgment, and doesn’t mean there isn’t anything physically wrong (as well). People with MS are well known to have higher rates of depression. This may be at least partly situational: a reaction to living with chronic pain and debility. But there might also have been changes in the brain that actually cause depression, which would mean it wasn’t just a reflection of the person’s circumstances, but things actually being processed differently.
I was diagnosed with “depression” several years ahead of MS. I now find it impossible to say whether it was (i) NOT depression - undiagnosed MS fatigue. (ii) Depression, but due to the MS - either brain changes or nagging realisation I’m not coping as well due to PHYSICAL limitations. (iii) Depression, but unrelated - would have had it regardless.
I do find (iii) the least likely, and feel the depression was definitely linked in some way to the onset of MS. But I feel it was to do with doubting myself, because unkown to me, I was already struggling more with things, but as yet had no idea why. So there was a creeping sense I was gradually getting worse at stuff, which must have sapped my confidence.
Tina
Hi Tina, My mum has bi polar and I love her to bits. I know depression and mental Heath issues are not down to the good and the bad in people. It’s just I feel like my gp and GPS in the past are saying to me my symptoms are caused by depression. I feel it’s the other way around … I feel like if I do have a down day, it’s because I’m frustrated that I feel either ridiculously tired or my body is in pain 
I never feel down or sad unless I feel fitugued or bad pain. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I feel like they don’t listen to me. My jim jam days are when my body won’t do what my mind wants it to … When I’m feeling in I get in my comfys and try to take it easy 
Tom C yes 30 is the new 20 I have heard! 
Hi Emma,
You sound like me - my problems started at 19 and now that I’m 28 they are worse than ever. It is unsurprising that some days you feel down, fatigue is a lot to cope with, chronic fatigue more so.
May I ask if you have any other symptoms that run alongside the fatigue? As these other symptoms (if there are any) might suggest which avenue you should proceed down. For me my other symptoms are chronic pain and stiffness, joint problems, swelling and problems with movement, walking, balancing, holding things etc As such I am currently undergoing investigations by the rheumatology team (again). Although I am hopeful that this time will be better.
Can I suggest that you book another appointment with your GP and take someone along for moral support? This worked for me as my family member was able to calmly echo my statements that I have hyperhydrosis when the rheumatologist kept repeating to me that my damp hands meant that I was an anxious person! Calmly explain that you feel the fatigue is unmanagable and a major concern and you would like it looked into. It could be that you have a vitamin deficiency (eg B12) or that your thyroid is underactive for example. You may find it helpful to have completed a food and activity diary for 2 weeks prior to your visit to show that it is not linked to your diet and lifestyle; you could also rate your fatigue each day (or at different times each day) to see if there are any patterns.
hope this helps. x
Hi Rae I’ve had quite a few symptoms when I look back through the years. The most serious I think are my disappearing legs. It’s only happened twice but that was enough! I managed both times to stand but then I just fell, knocking myself out the first time. That was when I was around 22 and my mum found me and took me to hospital. The doctor said he didn’t know why it happened, at first he suspected diabetes but it never went any further. A few months after my daughter was born it happened again, but this time I had weakness down my left side . Again I went to hospital where they suspected a small stroke. But again, it never went any further :-/ Other more recent symptoms include problems with my balance. Stairs are a big issue and also very bad pain in my neck and stiffness. I’ve also experienced problems when going to the loo (both a number one and a number two!) which is very embarrassing to say the least. The number two accident was the thing that made my doctor refer me to a neurologist … My partner came with me to see the GP and very bluntly told her that to mess yourself and not realise , at the age of 29 is not normal! I eat gluten free as much as possible, mainly to help with my bowels and this does help a lot! It doesn’t help the tiredness though and I’m wondering should I go to the gym? Try and get fitter!? The problem is that I often burn up for no reason … It’s strange, I suddenly get very hot and clammy and then the balance issues are worse and I feel very weak Bit of a pain in the bum really! Sorry for the LONG post! X
Ps - bloods been taken 3 times now. Everything came back fine apart from my white blood cells are abnormally high. Doctor just said I may be fighting an infection. My dads white blood cells are the same. His have been high for over 10 years and he has very similar symptoms to me.
Hi Emma,
Don’t apologise for the long post, you’ve been coping with these things for a long time so I’m not suprised your post is long! Your symptoms certaily make it seem like there is something going on, whether it is MS or not is another matter of course. There are, as I’m sure you know, hundreds of conditions out there that present with similar symptoms - I just hope that the neurologist listens to you and that you get an answer soon. Limboland is a rubbish place to be sometimes.
I want to believe I’m ok, but my body keeps reminding me otherwise. I’m staying positive though. Like you say it could be something and nothing! It’s the not knowing that’s a bit of a pain. My hope is they find something treatable like a small virus or something like that. I’m just so glad I found this forum! Everyone on here is amazing and I’ve read LOTS of posts on its clear how you all support one another… Diagnosed or not! Ill update after Mondays appointment. X