Reaching out for help with intensified post covid depression .

[naustical11]

I already had problems with anxiety and depression but ever since covid it has gotten so much worse . 
I was not worried about the virus , it’s not an anxiety I had problems with previously , but ever since having the virus it has intensified the symptoms I already had . 

I can’t eat , drink , or sleep . I’m surviving on icy poles and haven’t eaten a solid meal in months . 

my gp has done “all the investigations “ and all they can say every time I go in sick is “you’ve picked up another gastro virus” . 

blood tests show minor problems but nothing to justify the intensity of this . I e lost weight and am now underweight 

I miss food and can’t stomach a single thing . 
psychologists are unavailable in my area , I tried telehealth appointments but they were useless . I’m on medication for anxiety and depression . 

Any  advice ? 

[quirkywords]

Nausticsl11

I am sorry about your symptoms. I have found in 9 mths since post covid I am many symptoms and am also having tests. 
Does your gp have any ideas to help you.?
i found a specialist who listens and wants to help and understand.

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Naustical11,

I’m so sorry you are experiencing the increase in anxiety and depression and not being able to eat regular food. I wonder if there may be some gut dysbiosis as a result of covid? It is possible to have microbiome testing done which I did through a naturopath in relation to a condition I have which found gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability and a major overgrowth of a pathogenic bacteria. I wonder if that’s something your GP could look into or refer you to a gastroenterologist? If not you could try a naturopath but best if it’s one who is scientifically evidence-based. It’s best to know exactly what’s going on and some naturopaths do more guesswork based on symptoms whereas the one I’m seeing does the advanced microbiome testing. The main issue is it’s expensive as it’s not under Medicare.

I’m just thinking about the gut-brain connection and how about 95% of serotonin is made in the gut. If covid has triggered gut dysbiosis (or exacerbated any dysbiosis that might have already been there) then maybe it is potentially worsening the depression and anxiety and potentially causing the problem with eating? I absolutely can’t know so I am not trying to provide medical advice. Just tossing up ideas in case they help.

There is also the option of getting a second opinion from another GP who may think of additional tests to run or have a new angle looking at your symptoms. I read that long covid can cause loss of appetite. There are studies looking at long covid and gut dysbiosis and that the gut may play a role in the development of long covid. Even if what you are dealing with is not long covid, it appears from research that just having covid can involve gut dysbiosis developing that may lead to ongoing digestive symptoms.

 Those are just some thoughts. I hope you can find some answers soon.

[naustical11]

Thank you for your reply . 

my gp has referred me to a gastro who did one whole test (endoscopy) which showed I had gastritis and told me to eat bland food . It was incredibly dismissive . 

ever since then the gp (as well as a second opinion ) just gives out anti nausea meds and tells me to try a fodmap diet . Not one of them has mentioned anything about gut microbiome and at this point has just brushed it completely off as anxiety triggered ibs . It is incredibly dismissive .

I have also tried a naturopath before who said I am the way that I am due to stress and consumption of dairy , because dairy is evil due to hormones , not designed for humans etc ; 

I am finding that with a diagnosis of anxiety and being female that all doctors are brushing off my issues like I’m just some hysterical anxious idiot 

[naustical11]

Thank you for your post

unfortunatley no gp is offering anything other than a fodmap plan ; anti nausea meds and referrals to psychologists where the wait time is months : 

[Eagle Ray]

Hi naustical11,

 I empathise greatly. I have a liver condition that can affect the brain and cognitive function and have had doctors tell me it’s just anxiety as well. It’s taken a long time to find someone to take it seriously.

The best thing I can think to do is to persist until you find someone who is not dismissive. Too often something is labelled IBS, which it could be, but that’s often equated with anxiety and then things aren’t looked into more. I researched online to find someone who really looked into the gut microbiome. I first found a hepatologist/gastroenterologist who looked promising but then she wasn’t taking on new people. It was then I found a naturopath nearby who does the advanced microbiome testing. I was still looking for a new liver specialist and found one who works in the same clinic as the naturopath. So it has worked out but I had to search for those people. My search was based on doing my own research as up to that point I was getting nowhere and I had to really search for answers.

 I can’t know if it’s a gut microbiome issue in your situation. But you could just keep researching, including current journal published research studies, to see if you can start putting the pieces together to make sense of things for your symptoms. While it’s sometimes advised not to use “Dr Google” I found it was the only option I had left. I just made sure I was reading material backed up by peer reviewed journal articles and clinical studies. I can now actually discuss such studies with my naturopath. He will look into it and shows me the research studies he is looking at. It is actually collaborative and I’ve almost fallen off my chair in shock that someone is actually helping me. It’s best not to jump to radical conclusions from anything you read online. Just keep an open, curious mind and keep investigating.

As far as the dairy goes, I think it’s too dismissive to put it down to that unless testing shows there really is an issue with it. I did turn out on food allergy testing to be highly allergic to the casein in dairy. Stopping consuming it eliminated a decade of chronic sinus infections and congestion. But other people are fine with it. Sometimes food allergies can develop later that weren’t there in childhood, which was the case for me, but again it’s best to test to find out or otherwise do an elimination trial to see if it’s relevant.

Anyway, I wish you the best. To me it seems not being able to eat regular food is a significant issue and it’s worth persevering to find someone who really investigates that in a genuine, problem solving way. I would say look at the profiles of practitioners online at clinics in your city/area. I wish you patience and strength as I know it can be demoralising at times, but search for that person who is going to not leave stones unturned and will look at things in an integrative way.