Guest guest Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Hi y'all, happy to say the hives are gone. Thanks for the aveeno tips. I'm still on large doses of antihistamines, but down to 20 mg of pred. Anyway, re RA and depression, allow me to offer some thoughts-- I'm 41 and have had it for 27 years (yup, since age 14). One thing to keep in mind, and it's very important, is that depression is a real, chemical side-effect of the disease, in addition to whatever sadness you may feel because you happen to be in pain. I sooooo wish I had known this when I was a teen and busily analyzing why I felt so sad and sluggish, because being analytical I could come up with reasons, but the REAL reason I would cry at the least little thing wasn't " I'm in pain " but " my brain chemistry has been altered. " Sometimes a short course of paxil can snap you out of it and in the long run that's MUCH better. Also remember to focus on what you CAN do not on what you've lost. Bad as we have it, there are people who are worse off, amputees and cancer victims etc., and with RA at least there's always the hope of full remission... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Hi Ardeith I am a male from the uk and as far as going to see a doctor then its something I have control over for the moment but should it get out of hand then maybe I will go Phil -- --- Original Message ----- From: " Ardeith " <ardeith@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 9:00 PM Subject: Re: RA and depression > Phil wrote: > Since I got ra three years ago, over the past two yyears I > have found myself bursting into tears for no reason or watching something > on tv or reading > > Ardeith writes: It wears on you.....the pain, the stiffness, the > inability > to do the things you've always been able to do so easily, the people who > don't seem to understand that you don't have to be missing a limb to be in > pain (I mean they say, " You don't look sick! And I want to throttle > someone! Then I shove my swollen, misshapen wrists in their faces!).....it > all wears away at you. > > It scrapes away the protective layers you acquired as you grew up. I > can't > tell from " Phil " whether you are a man or woman......but a woman in her > forties will often feel this same lack of control....because the Change of > Life is screwing up her internal chemistry. RA screws up a man's > internal > chemistry too......and just adds to the menopausal woes for a woman. And > an American male is just *not* supposed to have such emotions, much less > let > other people see them. > > My Fred is soft-hearted. I've seen him pause in speaking, hold one fist > in > the air while he regains control, then go on speaking with tears running > down his face. Anything that touches the deep parts of him can bring this > on.....it took him a long time to realize that those who love him won't > care > about the emotion.. He doesn't have to cope with RA......but he's getting > a > bit of OA in his hands, I think from all the heavy work he's done in his > life.....he's a welder and is always hauling heavy steel around.....makes > his wrists and hands ache. His aching wrists have made him much more > sympathetic with me.....but I wouldn't have wished it on him! He was a > considerate guy anyway. > > But RA, even without the disturbances of menopause, can make all your > emotional nerves stand on in and scream. Sudden tears, inexplicable > anger, > and depression all come as part of the package......ain't it wonderful > what > Mother Nature gives us to deal with? (Sarcasm, there) > > So, if this is really bothering you, embarassing you, talk to your doctor > about a med that will even out your emotional peaks and valleys. Just > remember to let the doc know ALL the meds you are taking so that your > don't > get adverse reactions. > Ardy > > PS: If Phil us a guy, he will be more understanding of a woman going > through > the Change, which could be a good thing.... > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Well you do what I do, I just got a cd by a group from the states called lone star and theres a song on there called I'll be there I think its called and it has the women and girlfriends of the servicemen serving in Iraq sending their messages and I broke down listening to it lol Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: " Gwen Orel " <gwenorel@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 10:43 PM Subject: Re: RA and depression > Seriously you two... you should tell your doctor and be treated. > There is a lot of evidence that those with tissue-connective diseases > like RA and high inflammation develop depression as a side effect and > not just an emotional reaction to having a disease. > > For me the defining moment was a Rod ballad. I'm like " Rod > ? " I mean heck it's a bittersweet song but my emotional > response was over the top given that I hadn't just broken up with > anything or anything like that. > > I think as they learn more about RA they're going to discover more and > more connections like this. > > BTW are there any other JRA survivors out there? > > > >> > >> > Hi y'all, >> > happy to say the hives are gone. Thanks for the aveeno tips. I'm >> > still on large doses of antihistamines, but down to 20 mg of pred. >> > >> > Anyway, re RA and depression, allow me to offer some thoughts-- >> I'm 41 >> > and have had it for 27 years (yup, since age 14). >> > >> > One thing to keep in mind, and it's very important, is that >> depression >> > is a real, chemical side-effect of the disease, in addition to >> > whatever sadness you may feel because you happen to be in pain. I >> > sooooo wish I had known this when I was a teen and busily analyzing >> > why I felt so sad and sluggish, because being analytical I could >> come >> > up with reasons, but the REAL reason I would cry at the least >> little >> > thing wasn't " I'm in pain " but " my brain chemistry has been >> altered. " >> > >> > Sometimes a short course of paxil can snap you out of it and in the >> > long run that's MUCH better. >> > >> > Also remember to focus on what you CAN do not on what you've lost. >> > Bad as we have it, there are people who are worse off, amputees and >> > cancer victims etc., and with RA at least there's always the hope >> of >> > full remission... >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Thanks for that and the depression is'nt too bad for ne at the moment as I find myself things to do to take my mind off it but if I'm watching tv or listening to the radio and a love song comes on then thats it I'm crying buckets and I think its the loneliness of being on my own is the main cause of things but thats something I've come to acknowledge that will never change so I hope your day ahead is a good one for you Philip in the uk ----- Original Message ----- From: " ivorylace22 " <bbrichard@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 12:06 AM Subject: Re: RA and depression > Phil, I know what you mean, I've just spent two days in and out of > tears. I'll be o.k. for awhile and then I get down and > discouraged. I find I am very " touchy " so to speak. Along with RA > I have also struggled with depression since my early 20's. I am on > paxil but it doesn't seem to be helping right now so I am about to > try a new anti-depressant. I think that once I have come to accept > this disease I will be better off. I have always been an > independant woman and it is soooo hard to give some of that up. > Just know that you are not alone and don't be afraid to ask for some > help if you need to. Depression is a real disorder too which alters > the brains balance. > > >> > >> > Hi y'all, >> > happy to say the hives are gone. Thanks for the aveeno tips. > I'm >> > still on large doses of antihistamines, but down to 20 mg of > pred. >> > >> > Anyway, re RA and depression, allow me to offer some thoughts-- >> I'm 41 >> > and have had it for 27 years (yup, since age 14). >> > >> > One thing to keep in mind, and it's very important, is that >> depression >> > is a real, chemical side-effect of the disease, in addition to >> > whatever sadness you may feel because you happen to be in pain. > I >> > sooooo wish I had known this when I was a teen and busily > analyzing >> > why I felt so sad and sluggish, because being analytical I could >> come >> > up with reasons, but the REAL reason I would cry at the least >> little >> > thing wasn't " I'm in pain " but " my brain chemistry has been >> altered. " >> > >> > Sometimes a short course of paxil can snap you out of it and in > the >> > long run that's MUCH better. >> > >> > Also remember to focus on what you CAN do not on what you've > lost. >> > Bad as we have it, there are people who are worse off, amputees > and >> > cancer victims etc., and with RA at least there's always the hope >> of >> > full remission... >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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