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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bigk on March 5, 2007, at 20:33:52
I am just wondering if anyone else is willing to share their experiences over time. This is the 5th time I have suffered major depressions. The other times, while bad, ended after 2 or 3 months and some type of SSRI. The current episode has gone on for 5 months now and shows no signs of abating - despite being in the midst of ny third different SSRI this time round. Tried Abilify, Lamictal, (was on prozac for past 3 years) and now am on Cymbalta.
Anyone else have depression that seems to last longer the more times you have had it?
Posted by stargazer on March 5, 2007, at 21:38:58
In reply to Treatment resistant Depression, posted by Bigk on March 5, 2007, at 20:33:52
Yes, that's a known fact with depression. The longer you have it, the more frequent and more resistent it becomes. That is why it is so important to make it go into remission, it gets more and more resistent the longer it is not treated successfully.
I should know,I've had depression since my teens, in the 70's, and I'm still dealing with it.
It doesn't get any easier as you get older except there's more meds to try but I haven't found that that is helpful, it only makes things more complicated since very few pdocs seem capable of treating resistent cases.
Good luck with your current bout, I hope you pdoc knows what they are doing. There is not simple answer for TRD, Treatment Resistent depression.
Stargazer
Posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2007, at 21:41:56
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression, posted by stargazer on March 5, 2007, at 21:38:58
I agree 9 years now. Love Phillipa ps my thyroid did start it but the endos nurse said I probably had thyroid problems with the first panic attack. No one knew?
Posted by chiron on March 5, 2007, at 22:22:16
In reply to Treatment resistant Depression, posted by Bigk on March 5, 2007, at 20:33:52
I share your pain. I haven't really had distinct episodes, it's mostly constant. I do think it has become more 'cyclical' than it was, which could be because I have often been on SSRIs (which helped some).
I am currently on a unsuccessful Emsam trial. I only have a few more meds to try, so I am quite nervous.
Posted by stargazer on March 6, 2007, at 10:17:31
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2007, at 21:41:56
Phillipa,
Your thyroid may not have started your
depression/anxiety issues. You may have had it much earlier, but since you were drinking several beers every night while you worked, you were able to minimize any symptoms which may have developed into depression much earlier, had you never drank.You know the term, dual-diagnosis, psych and substance abuse, classically appear together and the substance abuse usually is the presenting condition. The depression only manifests itself after the medication (drinks, meds) is removed. Then treatment can begin for depressive symptoms, whatever emerge after a detozx off alcohol or meds is completed.
Depression is really just a broad category under which symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, agitation, panic, mania, alcoholism, etc. fall.
The drug one uses to function, be it pot, alcohol, valium, is just a way to cope with life's stressors. Most people do this to some extent or another. It's the level to which you do it and its impact on your life, which determines if you have a problem.
You may have had depression all along without having any symptoms at all. Drinking would have minimized any anxiety you may have not have been aware of having...If you drank more than a drink or two a night, more more a few times a week, that is enough to be considered excessive.
Some people do this all their lives and appear functional, never requiring treatment for it. Social drinking is an "acceptable" practice in our society. The only time someone may seek help is when the drinking interferes with their life or when another health condition (thyroiditis) forces them to change their habits.
Did you have to stop drinking because of the thyroid or did you elect to do it for another reason? Was there ever a period of time, in the 20 years, you were not on any meds or alcohol, and if so for how long?
Just trying to figure out how your situation may have developed.
Stargazer
Posted by Crazy Horse on March 6, 2007, at 11:11:25
In reply to Treatment resistant Depression, posted by Bigk on March 5, 2007, at 20:33:52
> I am just wondering if anyone else is willing to share their experiences over time. This is the 5th time I have suffered major depressions. The other times, while bad, ended after 2 or 3 months and some type of SSRI. The current episode has gone on for 5 months now and shows no signs of abating - despite being in the midst of ny third different SSRI this time round. Tried Abilify, Lamictal, (was on prozac for past 3 years) and now am on Cymbalta.
>
> Anyone else have depression that seems to last longer the more times you have had it?Sounds like it's time for the Big Guns Parnate or Nardil MAOI inhibitors.
-CH
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2007, at 11:15:32
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on March 6, 2007, at 10:17:31
Stargazer didn't drink the whole time I was in nursing school or didn't take any benzos or only weekend out to dinner drinking after starting to work. And then didn't take more than .l25mg of xanax for over a year. Then started drinking when married this time as he was a drinker and that's when the thyroid also went. I found out yesterday I have to auto antigens of the thyroid one for low and one for hyper didn't know this was possible. I stopped drinking cause the pdoc put me on chloral hydrate and you can't drink on that it's a Mickey Finn. No problem stopping just stopped. And today I see a hosistic pdoc MD who we stopped to try and get an appoitment with yesterday. I must have looked pretty bad as she the receptionist said no appointment for new patients for a few month. I was picking my cuticles as usual and couldn't remember. Husband with me. But she called this am and I have an appointment today. And I am so scared. I don't want to die and I have so many autoimmune disesase which killed my Mother. Love Phillipa
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 6, 2007, at 11:16:01
In reply to Treatment resistant Depression, posted by Bigk on March 5, 2007, at 20:33:52
I was going to say abailify, I've been on it for a week. But if it does nothing for you, I'll mention remeron. It worked when I was fed up with ssris a couple of years ago.
> I am just wondering if anyone else is willing to share their experiences over time. This is the 5th time I have suffered major depressions. The other times, while bad, ended after 2 or 3 months and some type of SSRI. The current episode has gone on for 5 months now and shows no signs of abating - despite being in the midst of ny third different SSRI this time round. Tried Abilify, Lamictal, (was on prozac for past 3 years) and now am on Cymbalta.
>
> Anyone else have depression that seems to last longer the more times you have had it?
Posted by stargazer on March 6, 2007, at 21:12:44
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression/Phillipa » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2007, at 11:15:32
Phillipa, was that lucky that they can see you today so who cares how you looked today, at least they fit you in! What autoimmune disease(s) do you have besides Hashimoto's?
I don't understand what thyroid auto antigens are, one high and one low...what does that mean and what test was done to determine this? Why did they test for this now and not earlier? How will this affect your treatment? Will your meds change?
It sound like you're going to be making better progress now with a new holistic pdoc, that should be very interesting. You'll have to post after every visit so we can follow your progress.
Stargazer
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2007, at 21:58:24
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on March 6, 2007, at 21:12:44
Stargazer I'd never seen an endo before always a regular doc. The test is strange to me too. I have no idea how all this thyroid stuff works. I said that to the Nurse Practioner she said well it's special training in just endocrine things. Not something you learn about in nursing. And I guess since she can write scripts she's like a doctor. And I have no idea even how to google this. But a primary dx of anxiety fits in as when anxiety was down I took less benzos and for a while none. So we'll see as things can change as who knows what my baseline will be? But you know I keep you posted. And I have to credit my husband for going on the thyroid forums and printing out material to bring. This doc today was like doing a jig saw puzzle he started putting pieces in place. He asked if others in my family had anxiety disorders and all do and my parents and grandparents too. And today they are all on something. Plus a lot of autoimmune. My sister tested positive for lupus but not bad enough for meds and my neice has hasimotos and gestational diabetes, my grandmother was a diabetic they are all immune. I also have a weak autoimmune hepatitis as one of the factors was positive and one was negative. That you can google under anti smooth muscle antibodies. Love Phillipa ps any further on your search? Wish you would write.
Posted by stargazer on March 7, 2007, at 13:01:55
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression/Phillipa » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2007, at 21:58:24
Phillipa, I had written a nice post to you but it disappeared, hate when that happens.
I thought you were seeing an endo, you had sent me the name of your doc before. Why would a GP be seeing you after all the problems you have had regulating your thyroid. I am livid at all the docs that are afraid to refer their patients to docs who can really help them. Are things that tough today that the docs would rather see us suffer, than send us to another doc with more experience. I find that totally selfish, incompetent, whatever the word is...the bottom line is prolonged illness for us.
I have reached a point where I'm not going to waste anymore time with my situation. If someone doesn't have the answers, I hope I can move onto someone that can help me. I'm the only one suffering by staying with a doctor that can't help me. I could kick myself into believing he had an answers and could help me. Why did I wait so long to do anything about it before now????
Alot of my strength has come from educating myself and learning from others poster's situations.Boy are the depressed a trusting group of patients. Its just taking advantage of those who are not strong enough to insist on better results.
You should have heard me yesterday at my pdocs. I'll email you soon.
SG
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