Feeling down due to fatigue & undiagnosed health issues

[Elizabeth CP]

I haven't been using the forums much apart from a couple of responses to others posts. I stopped as I was too busy & trying to keep up with the forums was becoming too stressful. In September My husband went to Europe which was great although tiring due to the pace of the tour we did. Unfortunately a few days before returning home I fell heavily on concrete steps hurting my right side. I continued on relying on icepacks to manage the pain. I couldn't sleep because of the pain when lying down. The last day I came down with a bad cold which developed into a chest infection later on. The pain eased after 6 weeks & I recovered from the chest infection but have ongoing problems with fatigue & abdominal discomfort. My GP arranged pathology tests. The blood tests are normal but urine isn't. Today I was sent for a ultrasound of kidneys & bladder. Next week I have a gastroscopy & colonoscopy. My stress levels seem to be escalating out of proportion each time I see the GP & get sent for more tests. Prior to my accident my mental health issues were settling down but the last week it is much worse. I have lost my temper a few times in the last week without much provocation. This is not normal for me. I have been on a diet for several months but I am now finding it really hard to stick to it I just want to go & eat food I know will make me feel worse. The diet is a healthy one which I normally find easy to stick to because the food is satisfying.

I just want to get back on track & feel in control of my life & not feel so stressed & down. I also feel guilty for feeling this way because There is no confirmation of a serious illness.

[Elizabeth CP]

Dools Thank you for your reply & helpful suggestions.

Croix Thanks for your caring reply. Unfortunately we have ducted aircon so it is all the house or none. I had a long discussion with my husband on Christmas day continuing into Boxing day trying to decide what to do re meds. Obviously discussion had to be suspended while we were at my son's for family get together. After the long discussion & lots of thought I've decided to cut back to the starter dose I was on prior to seeing the GP. The level of anxiety on the larger dose combined with extreme tiredness & other side effects is making it too hard to attempt strategies to help me deal with the heat & smoke etc. Being unable to do much just makes me feel lazy, guilty and more depressed & useless counteracting any good the meds might do. I dread telling the GP. She won't be happy!!! The anti anxiety meds are not going to work during the day because they will just make me dopey so I can't function. Summer is such a bad time for me & I've got into negative patterns trying to cope with my fears in the past that spending another year even less able to function due to meds is going to make the pattern even harder to overcome. Maybe I'm wrong and sticking with the proper dose a bit longer would have given me the help I need but there is no guarantee & I can't wait any longer for the benefit to kick in & side effects to drop. I didn't have the energy to enjoy my grandkids like I wanted. I'm dreading the next few hot days!!!!

[blondguy]

Hello Elizabeth

I hope you have had a good Christmas Day

Just sharing my own history when I had problems getting on the AD's....even a tiny dose...That was in 1996 and my female GP was very blunt after me refusing meds for nearly 10 years...She just came out and told me that I will lose my job.....my house...and my personal relationships....That did it...I filled the script that day...It wasnt easy

I went back 3 weeks later saying that I have lost 'my spark' and felt somewhat 'flat' after starting the meds. My female GP once again was blunt and said "you will get used to them...keep going" Oh my god! So I did what she said and a few weeks later my anxiety was 90% gone and I could function again....properly...

I hope this hasnt been boring...I am happy to say that I am still on the same low dose SSRI for 23 years 🙂

I havent been on the air for about 10 days after having food poisoning from eating a very well known brand of fresh vacuum sealed butterfly chicken with lemon and garlic sauce that is available in all major supermarkets nationally... Ugh!

More Importantly Elizabeth....I wish you and your family all the very best for 2020...Thats all that matters

I really hope you can find the peace you deserve by persevering with the meds...You have everything to gain and nothing to lose 🙂

my kindest always

Paul

[Elizabeth CP]

Thanks Paul, Hope you've recovered from the food poisoning. Not fun We got food poisoning on our honeymoon. Not good, Couldn't even hug each other for ages after without extreme stomach pain!!!

I had tried the initial low dose for 5 weeks before seeing the GP as the psych had cancelled my appointment. I was just coping after the 5 weeks but still struggling with the tiredness which was worse than when I started. Some of the other side effects had eased but any change in mood seemed to be a reflection of what was happening rather than the meds. High stress & tiredness still left me feeling terrible (eg when I had to take hsb to hospital & were stuck in emergency for ages while doctors & nurses tried to help him Returned home very late after he was finally deemed safe to go home but with instructions to come back if he got worse again) Also anything related to fires triggers extreme anxiety. When I was more rested and productive I felt OK. I was hoping to come off the meds because I didn't think they were working . Instead she decided to double the dose saying I wasn't on high enough dose to help. I just can't cope with more weeks feeling like I am. I guess I'm scared of meds because I've seen the effect on my son were they would keep increasing meds & then giving more meds to counteract the side effects & he was so doped out he couldn't function. At one point he became angry at the MH system& stopped taking anything cold turkey. Not advisable. but once he was off them & through the withdrawal period he was able to function again & returned to work which had been impossible while on the meds for several years!!!

I'm prepared to stay on the tiny dose for a while longer but I really need to have my head clear so I can go through the exposure therapy. I feel that is my only hope to learn to cope with the Australian summer.

I hope you have a good year in 2020

[blondguy]

Hey Elizabeth

Thankyou so much for your heartfelt understanding and best wishes too 🙂

Like yourself I would love to come off the meds...yet I have become accustomed to taking them and they have given me my life back.....and stopped the continual over thinking I used to do. I know everyone is different Elizabeth for sure and we all have a different set of symptoms to deal with

After 37 years of various anxiety awful anxiety symptoms I have learned one thing that I keep hearing from health professionals everywhere...(not Google...that does more harm than good)

• If our symptoms (of whatever) begin to impede on our day to day ability to function effectively then meds and counselling will reduce any further harmful impact on our mental or physiological well being...hypertension...etc
  

That aside....I do understand the fear of meds Elizabeth...I had it for 7 years and refused any meds as I also wanted my clarity back. I get it. Good on your son for being fortunate not to require them anymore

I always look forward to reading your wise and articulate posts Elizabeth. You have been on these forums for a long time and have helped many people by doing so. You are a very strong and caring person

My very best for a some well deserved happiness in 2020 🙂

Paul

[Elizabeth CP]

Thanks Paul, I totally agree with your statement If our symptoms (of whatever) begin to impede on our day to day ability to function effectively then meds and counselling will reduce any further harmful impact on our mental or physiological well being...hypertension...etc. We each have a responsibility to look after our own health (mental & physical) or we will suffer the consequences.In my husband's case he needs to take the advice given to him by therapists including exercises & other strategies for eating etc to minimise the deterioration & risk of adverse consequences. He also needs to take medication. One of which increased the chance of serious hear problems in the future but without the meds the risk of a life threatening problem is very high. Iknow people who have MH issues & need the medication to be able to function. In my case the medication seems to make it harder to do the other strategies that help deal with my MH problems.

Unfortunately my son is back on medications. He did well for a long time until he was married &very serious stresses emerged. His wife is not good for him in many ways but rather than address the cause of the problems he is just put on high doses of meds which stop him functioning.

I saw my GP Monday.I was worried about her reaction when I told her I'd reduced the dosage on the meds but she was fine.I will stick with the low dose for the time being & will take sleeping tablets when I can't sleep due to heat or my anxiety. It is too hard to cope once I'm really over tired.

[Doolhof]

Hi Elizabeth, Paul, Croix and all Reading,

Happy New Year to you all. I have been doing a lot of thinking and have been telling myself I don't want to have the same reactions to incidents that happen around me. Last year was a bit of a shocker in many ways. I don't want to do the same thigs this year.

Elizabeth, I hope the lower dose of the medication works well for you. My husband reduced his medication and seems a lot better for it.

I don't think this horrible heat, the tragic fires and the continual dry is helping anyone feel good about life. Especially not when it is in your face all the time and when you are a sensitive person.

All the best, cheers from Dools

[blondguy]

Hi Elizabeth and a wave to Dools above

Just sharing with you (as you have done above) Like yourself I take a low dose SSRI and when required a benzo before bed to ensure quality sleep. The benzo group of meds seem to be criticized nowadays only because of the minority that abuse them

A quality sleep is crucial so we are 'stronger' the next day and if a low dose of a benzo is necessary and taken responsibly then its for our benefit. (Subject to our own symptoms and anxiety levels of course)

Im sorry that you see your son being back on medication as 'unfortunate' Being back on the meds may provide him with a greater sense of peace in his life

just my 2cents worth if thats okay Elizabeth 🙂

my kindest always

Paul

[Doolhof]

Hi Elizabeth, Paul and All,

Other people's reactions to those taking anti depressant medication in my experience can range from:

- what are you taking that for, just pray harder to why aren't you better, you have been taking those for a week already haven't you?

I guess the problem is our chemical makeup is so different. It is hard for the Drs to work out what is best for each person. Throw in our own characteristics and you have an interesting base to work with.

I'm also wondering if your "unfortunately" regarding your son taking medication is because he is depressed again and not so much the fact he has to take medication.

For me, medication to help my depression has been a roller coaster ride. It seems to work for a while then for no known reason it helps me go into a tail spin, or maybe it is life's circumstances that do that.

Either way, mental health issues can be confusing for all involved and any help we can receive is beneficial. So if medication works, go for it. Sometimes I just wish that something would work!

Paul, you are also lucky that medications help you to sleep! My Dr has tried so many on me, some do the opposite and keep me awake all night.

Cheers from Dools

[Elizabeth CP]

I realize my son needs some medication for his depression. My issue is the way Dr's increase the medication and add more meds to fix him rather than looking at what is triggering the relapses. He needs serious help to manage his life better so he doesn't go downhill. He needs stable accomodation. Having to keep moving with nowhere to go is not good. Him &his wife need help to manage their finances. His wife spends money & goes into debt all the time so they can't pay the bills. My son then becomes so stresses he ends up suididal then in hospital loses his job because he can't function on the high dose of meds & becomes worse. I can't do anything because his wife doesn't want me involved.

[Doolhof]

Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for explaining the situation more. It would be wonderful if there was a more collective form of assisting, treating and helping people suffering from mental health issues.

Yes, medication does help, but as you mentioned it doesn't assist with the underlying issues.

It can be difficult finding the help and assistance we need to cover all aspects of what is happening in our lives. If people are objecting to assistance for some reason, that makes it harder still to assist people.

I really do hope your son manages to find some way through this maze and finds help and assistance for the various aspects of his life that are adding to his issues.

Regards from Dools