depression

[Guest guest]

Hello Donna, IM Shirley and I just read your email and wanted to say sorry about your depression! I know its hard sometimes especially around holidays, I hope I won't step on any toes here but I just wanted to say to you every day is a new day, try to wake up feeling positive about the day, yes I know we all have our own pain and aches, but we are here now! and need to make the best of things! for us and our family, so Hon i really hope you can try something to keep yourself busy - hobbies? or thinking about Christmas? i will keep you in my thoughts, hope tomorrow will be better! hugs Shirley

[Guest guest]

Donna, Are you currently taking an antidepressant medication? If not, get one. I know that sounds

bossy, but those of us who are old hands at this Life in the Lupus Lane know whereof we speak. See

your doctor if your current med isn't doing the job for you. And as for Hypochondria, girlfriend,

forget that kind of thinking. Why do you thing so many of us took so long to go in for all the testing

and whatever it took to get a definitive dx? Huh? It was all those silly, stupid doctors telling us it was

"all in our heads", that's what. Geez Louise, lady, give yourself a break. Did you run out in the road

and yell at God, "Hey, God! Pick me, pick me!"??? Of course not. None of us did. It's just the luck

or misfortune of the draw, a turn of the cards, a roll of the dice. Sure, some of us are more prone

to Lupus because of heredity, as in my case, but some of us just plain got hit from behind, and still

can't figure out what hit us.

Here's the deal...focus on what you CAN do, and there is plenty in that category if you open your

heart and mind and let it in. Don't go looking for your old way of doing things, let new ideas come to

you. Be open to seeing the world around you and taking joy in what you find there. If you are on

the sourthern coast of Washington, you are in the most beautiful place in the world in my estimation.

I have family in Brush Prairie, near Battleground, and in Battleground itself. My last living relative

of my Father's generation lives there. She will be 87 in February, and is a kick in the pants.

I want to take my boys up your way to show them where I spent a lot of my time as a child. My

great aunt and uncle had a dairy in Brush Prairie, and I spent many summer vacations there with my

parents and sisters and brother. I learned to make butter, smoke salmon from the Columbia, and

fish for them, too.

Now, about the prednisone, I have never taken it because I am convinced it helped do my father in.

However, from what he experienced, he was never able to completely get off it without severe

consequences in terms of pain and fatigue. He did better on a low dose, coupled with an anti-inflammatory like Motrin. I take Zorprin, which is prescription time released high dose aspirin. Some

people cannot take these drugs due to their blood thinning properties, but I can't move without them.

I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Myofibrositis (acute and chronic fibromyalgia), chronic Lyme's,

Sjogren's, Anemia, type II Diabetes (due to weight management and energy problems of later years),

as well as SLE. I am what you call a real bundle of cheer. LOL

So, honey, quit thinking you are not really sick. Focus on the NOW, the POSSIBLE, and the MOMENT,

and get ready for the maybe and forget about it. That's the best any of us can do, whether or not

we have chronic illnesses. People with great health and wealth have just as many problems with

self esteem, and none of the excuse. So, buck up, don't give up, and if you need to take prednisone

for longer, do so. If it helps you, use it.

Hope this is helpful, and please let me know where you are living. I just might make it up there this

coming year. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

>>Donna said: I'm feeling quite depressed this last week. I think

>>it's probably largely due to the prednisone taper, but

>>that doesn't make it any easier. I also feel crappy

>>physically. I am so tired I've been sleeping about 16

>>>>>hrs. a day and making lunches has been too hard some

>>days. I keep thinking I'm just a

>>hypochondriac and because it could be worse I should

>>just be " happy " I am as well as I am, but instead I

>>>>>>seem to think constantly about how crummy I feel

Donna, I am sorry you are having such a big depression problem. Depression

is one aspect of both lupus and Fibromyalgia. Get some meds for depression

fast. If you are having that much sleepiness by cutting prednisone I would

consider not tapering off anymore until you get under control. Depression

makes us sleep too. Cheryl in CA

[Guest guest]

a B., It's mutual, sweetie. I get such comfort from you all, too. Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, In case you ever wondered Mike speaks from her heart. Over time I've found it to be a really good heart and she has a really good head to go along with it. She really knows what she is talking about. Life and Lupus and drug her around a few corners to the point she has all smooth sides now. Sometimes when I am really feeling down, just thinking about her makes me feel better. Strange since we've never met.

I have found with this group that if I try to read as many posts as I can (hopefully all) that I will be able to gain a lot from what Mike or other group members have to say to each other. I hope you also will find this to be true. I take 3 different antidepressants, and I need every one of them. I don't like taking a fit full of pills every day, but sure am thankful I have them.

Hugs - a

Re: Depression

Donna, Are you currently taking an antidepressant medication? If not, get one. I know that soundsbossy, but those of us who are old hands at this Life in the Lupus Lane know whereof we speak. Seeyour doctor if your current med isn't doing the job for you. And as for Hypochondria, girlfriend,forget that kind of thinking. Why do you thing so many of us took so long to go in for all the testingand whatever it took to get a definitive dx? Huh? It was all those silly, stupid doctors telling us it was "all in our heads", that's what. Geez Louise, lady, give yourself a break. Did you run out in the roadand yell at God, "Hey, God! Pick me, pick me!"??? Of course not. None of us did. It's just the luckor misfortune of the draw, a turn of the cards, a roll of the dice. Sure, some of us are more proneto Lupus because of heredity, as in my case, but some of us just plain got hit from behind, and stillcan't figure out what hit us.Here's the deal...focus on what you CAN do, and there is plenty in that category if you open yourheart and mind and let it in. Don't go looking for your old way of doing things, let new ideas come toyou. Be open to seeing the world around you and taking joy in what you find there. If you are onthe sourthern coast of Washington, you are in the most beautiful place in the world in my estimation.I have family in Brush Prairie, near Battleground, and in Battleground itself. My last living relativeof my Father's generation lives there. She will be 87 in February, and is a kick in the pants.I want to take my boys up your way to show them where I spent a lot of my time as a child. Mygreat aunt and uncle had a dairy in Brush Prairie, and I spent many summer vacations there with myparents and sisters and brother. I learned to make butter, smoke salmon from the Columbia, andfish for them, too. Now, about the prednisone, I have never taken it because I am convinced it helped do my father in.However, from what he experienced, he was never able to completely get off it without severeconsequences in terms of pain and fatigue. He did better on a low dose, coupled with an anti-inflammatory like Motrin. I take Zorprin, which is prescription time released high dose aspirin. Somepeople cannot take these drugs due to their blood thinning properties, but I can't move without them.I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Myofibrositis (acute and chronic fibromyalgia), chronic Lyme's,Sjogren's, Anemia, type II Diabetes (due to weight management and energy problems of later years),as well as SLE. I am what you call a real bundle of cheer. LOLSo, honey, quit thinking you are not really sick. Focus on the NOW, the POSSIBLE, and the MOMENT,and get ready for the maybe and forget about it. That's the best any of us can do, whether or notwe have chronic illnesses. People with great health and wealth have just as many problems withself esteem, and none of the excuse. So, buck up, don't give up, and if you need to take prednisonefor longer, do so. If it helps you, use it. Hope this is helpful, and please let me know where you are living. I just might make it up there thiscoming year. Love, MM "The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

Hello:

asked about a book that could help her deal with the negative

thoughs of depression. My suggestion: " Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy "

by D. Burns, MD. The paperback copy I hve is ISBN 0-380-71803-0, Avon,

copyright 1980, first Avon paperback printing 1992. With the ISBN number

your local bookstore may be able to order it if neither library nor

bookstore have a copy available.

Hope this helps.

Leone, rleone@... " Only you can prevent long sig files. "