Re: Depression?

[Guest guest]

Hi Stacey,

You can get on a different depression med that will help with pain.

And, I know that in my father's case, his depression meds also help with pain.

As for the Amitripryline - I got that a couple months before we made our big

move to England for 5 years. I couldn't sleep because of the anxiety about

moving. I was prescribed xanax for during the day if I needed it, and the

elavil was for bedtime to help me sleep. I don't know why I was prescribed

that, but it worked.

If you think you are depressed, then you prabably are. All the things you

described sound like depression to me.

When I was depressed, I couldn't eat hardly anything. I got so skinny. In my

case, I slept all the time.

I got depressed because I was (and am) in pain all the time.

I also know it's hard to actually get to the point where you feel like you need

to tell your dr.

I waited for 2 years before I could admit it.

While I never got to the point were I wanted to kill myself, I did often think

that things would be easier if I just died. That's when I got scared and told

my doctor.

I lost all interest in everything. Everything I had to do (because I have 3

kids) was a chore. I didn't want to do anything with anyone. After a while, my

friends stopped calling me to do things with them.

Please don't let yourself get to that point.

You don't want to wait that long.

For some people, the longer you wait, the harder it is to get under control.

My dad has had depression on and off for most of his adult life. The last time,

he got so bad that he couldn't even get out of bed. The meds he was taking just

wern't working for him. He got on a new med, and 3 weeks later, he woke up and

went outside and mowed the lawn - just like that he felt better.

I know it may be hard, but tell your doctor just what you wrote.

And remember - a lot of the time, people have to try a few different kinds of

meds before they find the one that's just right for them. The first med I took

- prozac - gave me side effects that I just couldn't deal with.

Usually the side effects go away after a couple weeks, but I didn't want to wait

that long. I got another med (Wellbutrin) and I didn't get any side effects

(except for a little itching for a couple days) and it worked.

I wasn't depressed really bad - I wasn't sad or cyring. I still did the things

I had to do - with a great deal of difficulty. But it was just the fun stuff I

was missing out on. I wasn't having any fun at all. Everything was a huge

burden. Such a drag. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't make decisions -

always asking my husband what I should do.

My dr was hoping that once I got on the wellbutrin, my pain would get better -

but I didn't notice a difference there. It was suppose to help me stop smoking

too, but that didn't work.

I've put off the therapy thing forever, and just decided to try it. I start

this wed. If you are worried about burdening your new friend with it all, I

would encourage you to try therapy. If you are anything like me, you'll put

that off. I don't know how it's gonna work for me yet. But, I thought I'd

mention it.

There are so many medications for depression out there.

I'm sure there is something other than amitriptyline that will help you better -

both for your pain, and for your depression.

There are so many people with depression. It's a shame more people don't talk

about it, cause it would make it so much easier for people like you (and me) to

tell your doctor.

Oh, and your pain doctor should know of a therapist that you can talk with.

Therapy is actually part of pain management.

Big hugs, and please-

tell your doctor