Not DFW-but need advice...

Bunnyinthelights

Hi all,
I hope you don't mind me posting this here but I need some advice-
I was put on antidepressants (again) by my Dr a month ago because I had horrific PMT and I started to feel so much better almost immediately-I didn't realise (again) that I was suffering from PND. *sigh*
However, this past week I have been feeling even worse-it's hard to describe-I feel better mentally most of the time but physically I am completely worn out and I can't seem to get motivated to do anything. I'm finding it a chore to get dressed, brush my hair, anything around the house etc. I am ok mood wise except totoally lethargic! Does that make sense?
I want to just get out but it's such a huge effort to even move out of bed.

Is this normal? DH let me sleep today until noon (was up in the night with kids about 6 times!) but now I just want to 'veg' It's getting me down...
Bunny

silvercar

post on the family & health board for better advice.

could the anti-depressants be making you more tired?

It is actually quite unusual for anti-d's to work immediately.

depression at certain times = PMT (keep a diary to establish the link)

depression all the time = PND possibly.

Constant lethergy = broken nights sleep caused by babies!

Snaggles

Hey Bunny! Sorry you are feeling low at the moment, you always come across as such a a bubbly, together sort of person.

From what I remember, the tablets can take 6 weeks or so to start to take effect (the improvement you sometimes feel at first can often be a placebo effect). But also, some types can actually make the symptoms worse, so if you think this is happening in your case I would get back to the doctors and talk it over with them. Different tablets work for different people at different times, so it might be a case of trying a couple of different sorts until you find one that is right for you.

I wish you all the best for a quick recovery, I love reading your posts, you're very entertaining!

immoral_angeluk

Sorry to hear you're feeling down hun. I'm having the same kind of thing.. Started feeling better after a couple of weeks on the pills... but the past week I've had a really down week. The doctor did warn me that the pills don't make yoy happy all the time.. they just counteract the rollercoaster of emotions, so you will still have down periods, but they will soon get less frequent and severe. My hv also said that most people are on anti d's for a good 6 months before they feel more like themselves!

Sending massive virtual hugs... if I had the money for petrol I'd drive over there and give you a proper one!

Bunnyinthelights

Hi all,
Thanks for your kind words-I think one of the main problems with me and depression is that I am naturally an optimistic, happy person and don't like to admit that I'm unhappy-I never let the mask drop, so to speak.

For the first time ever, I am wishing I could just stop EVERYTHING and sleep...
Which I can't (being self employed).

I've forced myself to get dressed, and we've sat outside in the sunshine and that did help-I can't really talk to anyone about this-my DH just tells me to 'give myself a shake' which I would dearly love to do! (bless him, he really is trying to understand but just doesn't...)

Anyway, enough wallowing,

Bunny

ZTD

Just noticed this:

It depends which anti-depressent you're on. I'm taking anatryptaline which will supposedly help me sleep, take away some of my pain, and lift my mood and generally be a miracle in a pill. :rolleyes:

It certainly helps me sleep. I start yawning about 5-10mins after I take it. It then renders me into a zombie for the next 12 hours - fortunately about 8 of them are sleeping hours.

It does nothing for the pain, and nothing for the mood - I am generally happy anyway.

I am only taking one, once a day. Feel sorry for those taking it as an antidepressent who take 3 times the strength three times a day.

I'd be a small puddle on the floor at that dose.

GirlRacer_2

Hi ZTD I'm taking a low dose of amitriptyline as well. know what you mean about making you sleep. Feel so much better lately and only been taking them for 2 and a half weeks. I'm normally a happy go lucky person and for the last few days I feel back to my old self again. Don't know how I'll feel when I've got to stop taking them though.

ZTD

GirlRacer wrote: »

Hi ZTD I'm taking a low dose of amitriptyline as well. know what you mean about making you sleep. Feel so much better lately and only been taking them for 2 and a half weeks. I'm normally a happy go lucky person and for the last few days I feel back to my old self again. Don't know how I'll feel when I've got to stop taking them though.

I guess it would depend on why you were feeling down. It's amazing how good you feel after a good night's sleep for example. Not being able to sleep is a real bummer.

Ironically I was really happy within 30 mins of getting my prescription. Only because included were some prescription anti-inflammatories, which were a lot better than the aspirin I had been taking. It's quite surprising how cheery just being in pain (rather than agony) is.

My mood isn't really all that different from before I started taking them. I am the sort of person who can see the bright side in just about anything.

The zombifying effect is a pain though.

GirlRacer_2

I had a few weeks where I was really ill with the flu, spent about 4 nights trying to sleep on the settee, not to wake the kids. Felt so ill and tired I felt as though I was going to drop. I couldn't concentrate on anything because I was so tired. Luckily for me I work for the NHS and when I went back to work after the flu a consultant friend commented on how ill I looked and asked me if I was sleeping. He then gave me a script for Amitriptyline and I can't believe how much better I feel now. I'm sleeping like a babe every night and really feel 100% better. Sleep deprivation can cause so many problems.

I know what you mean about the zombifying effect. I sometimes find myself falling asleep about 10 pm. My mood is much improved, I normally find the funny side of EVERY situation and am starting to feel like my old self again (the sick sense of humour is back) don't know whether the lighter nights have anything to so with it though!

ZTD

GirlRacer wrote: »

Sleep deprivation can cause so many problems.

Oh yeah! So if you can sleep OK now, then coming off them will be no problem.

GirlRacer wrote: »

I know what you mean about the zombifying effect. I sometimes find myself falling asleep about 10 pm. My mood is much improved, I normally find the funny side of EVERY situation and am starting to feel like my old self again (the sick sense of humour is back) don't know whether the lighter nights have anything to so with it though!

Well if you suffer from SAD then that won't help, but the lighter days will.

Ironically, the tablets stop one of my pleasures (no not that... :rolleyes:). Normally I like to laugh at disasters, and there has been a rumour of one at work. Normally I'd be in there laughing at others' misfortune (incompetance), but I just can't be bothered...

Snaggles

I took venlafaxine (sp?) for a few weeks a couple of years ago, after 3 bereavements and a car accident left me feeling like I daren't leave the house. I found they didn't stop me feeling down, but they stopped me being able to express it, which was the most horrible feeling ever. I seemed calmer to everyone around me, but inside I was screaming. I came off those and went onto something else (I can't remember what now, sorry), and was much better. I didn't feel the numbness, but didn't swing between extremes of mood any more. Come to think of it, I could do with some of those at the moment lol.