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Fibromyalgia masking depression?

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Depression
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Posted 9/26/2007 6:52 AM (GMT -6)
I never thought I was depressed. It never crossed my mind. I knew I had anxiety/panic disorder, but ALL my docs said it was from the fibro. I assumed that all the pain I had was from the fibro, blamed fibro for not sewing anymore, or gardening, or doing any type of project I was used to doing. Blamed fibro for the sudden cutting off of all my "friends", I don't talk on the phone to anyone, have no desire to "make friends", mostly just chat with people I run into at ballgames or stores that I know.

I was cranky, but of course I was in pain. So I figured the crankiness, moodiness, seclusion type issues came from that. I went into my docs office for a major panic attack that kept going, and going and going, and of course I had ran out of my Klonopin and thought it was "no big deal" at the time. Doc took one look at me, said she was going to "fix this mess". Put me on Celexa, Klonopin twice a day instead of once at night, and Flexeril for sleep. Third day of the Celexa I noticed a difference... reduced pain, more alertness, better sleep.

I've been doing small projects here and there, getting my house and home office area organized, my memory is greatly improved. I even started chiropractic therapy and found that I have so many vertebrate misaligned that it's ridiculous. Also found out that the dx my old doc gave me of "degenerative disk disease" was bull droppings. There is no degeneration showing on any xrays. This is an older chiro and he suddenly turned around and grabbed my upper arm, my leg, and then my forearm... asked if any of that hurt, when I said no he said I did NOT have fibromyalgia. He feels that I have had nerve impingement for a long, long time. Causing just about every single thing wrong with me. Not only are the vertebrate "out of alignment" but many are twisted sideways, compressing nerves.

I've had two adjustments so far, and muscle stimulation treatment... betweent that and the Celexa I'm coming close to feeling my old self.

How is it possible that someone can be so depressed and never notice it? And people not notice it around them? It really, really bugs me that if I had come across this particular doc ( a PA at the clinic I go to) a couple years ago... I would have not been miserable this long.

Posted 9/26/2007 10:02 AM (GMT -6)
Sara~

The best advice  can give you from having depression for over 20 years is that you should never wish that one doc did something different and that your life could be better or worse.  I will tell you that when you are depressed docs usually look at the physical symptoms first and go from there.  Depression is most commonly biological or chemical and making sure that your physical health is in order they can treat the depression.

 

I know it sounds complicated but trust me when you are physically ill, there is no chance for your mental health to be good.

 

Another thing I was wondering is that have you been worked up for CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)?  That is sometimes the problem when fibromyalgia is diagnosed.  Also, I was curious to who prescribed your klonopin?  That is usually given for anxiety with depressive symptoms.

 

Hope this helps.

Posted 9/26/2007 10:14 AM (GMT -6)

Hi Sarah,

Depression is something that creeps up on many people and it takes a while for people to realise (Or someoen else points it out to them first! lol) It is nothing to be ashamed of and is something where there are a wide range of treatments available. Im glad that the doctor has sorted the med side of things... It might also be a good idea to consider / discuss with your doctor talking therapy. IMO meds are a great way of giving people the boost they need to get the most out of therapy, but meds simply mask the problem. They are not a cure. They can help keep things at bay, but if you were to come off them, you would be in the same boat as when you went on them.

All the Best

Darren

Posted 9/27/2007 8:23 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks for the responses! The Klonopin was substituted for Xanax by my old doc. A cardiologist put me on the Xanax after my first panic attack that lasted two weeks. I had all the heart work up tests done, and left with a script for anxiety meds..lol. Up until that first panic attack.. I was "normal". Whatever normal is. I had no anxiety issues, I had no depression issues. I had pain, but I also have spinal issues. But I was up and out of bed each morning and able to get done what needed done, and constantly involved in some project... renovating bathroom, new kitchen flooring, restoring antique woodwork, etc. Or sewing quilts. Or redecorating one of the kids rooms. I took no pain meds other than Tylenol PM (hard to get to sleep when you hurt).

After that first panic attack..things went totally downhill. I started getting this/that dx from docs. Osteoarthritis, costochondritis, fibromyalgia, panic disorder, IBS, GERD, Deg. disk disease. They started shoving meds at me left and right, Zoloft, Klono, Flexeril, Skelaxin, Wellbutrin, Lyrica, Darvocet, Lortab, Norco. Most of which I cared nothing for and stopped on my own.

I've always been a super optimistic person. Ready to tackle anything and everything. Nothing upset me much.. most just rolled off me. I raised a bipolar child, who was unmedicated and drove everyone else nutty. She's twelve now and seems pretty stable. But at the time, everyone told me I was going to crash if I didn't medicate HER. By the time this all happened, she was well under control.

I really can't find anything at all in my "history" that would cause depression. Unless it was the whole ordeal from the first panic attack and on. I tried therapy... it was a bust pretty much. Too much talk about how my childhood made me anxious... I was like WHAT??? I need help for panic NOW.. not a rehash of my relatively normal childhood. Spoiled only child of a two parent family.

Chronic fatique syndrome? I've never been looked at for that. Not sure what they look at, though.. so it's possible I just missed it. I am tired a lot, but that can be caused by a lot I would think. I'll read through the forum and see if anything seems similiar.

Thanks for listening to my vents... I'm just still stunned over this all.
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