I have posted here before about my chronic fatigue that was brought on after taking a combination of antibiotics (flagyl and cipro) post surgery 7 months ago. I now know that these medications can cause some serious issues in the central nervous system and mitochondria. It sure seems like that is what happened to me given the timing of when my health issues all started in. One of the issues is the heavy fatigue/post exertion crash. Trying to describe this invisible aspect of my health to doctors is so hard. But as most of you know, the complete exhaustion is so different than just being "tired". Emotionally this has been a challenge to say the least. I was able to finally get in down at the Mayo Clinic here in MN to start investigating how much damage these medications did to me. One of my appointments to my surprise was with a psychiatrist. She insisted that my fatigue/brain fog/balance issues were mainly due to my depression. Of course I am depressed when my life has been turned upside down health-wise, and keeping me from doing many things I enjoy (including working). The question is......I know depression can create fatigue, but how do you differentiate this from the chronic fatigue?
Hello, I am a clinical psychologist who developed severe fatigue 7 months ago. This followed a mysterious 27-year illness with chronic rhinitis and (much less severe) episodes of fatigue. I am still very fatigued now if I do not take medication. I had a very good response to stimulant medication (e.g. adderall) and more recently to the drug wellbutrin, but the problem is that these medications have all abruptly stopped working after days or even a few months of them working.
I am very frightened that no medication will work for the long term. This summer I spent 10 weeks on the sofa, too tired to do much more than watch TV. I became very depressed as the weeks went by. The psychiatrist I was seeing treated it like major depressive disorder and prescribed increasing levels of antidepressants. For me, the distinguishing factor was the onset. Nothing of emotional significance occurred before I abruptly crashed on the sofa. Yes, the symptoms of chronic fatigue do look like depression, but as a psychologist I would look like some event, change in life circumstances, etc. that would explain depressive symptoms. Over times, people with chronic illnesses often (or always?) do become depressed, but that is secondary to the illness.
I am very frightened that no medication will work for the long term. This summer I spent 10 weeks on the sofa, too tired to do much more than watch TV. I became very depressed as the weeks went by. The psychiatrist I was seeing treated it like major depressive disorder and prescribed increasing levels of antidepressants. For me, the distinguishing factor was the onset. Nothing of emotional significance occurred before I abruptly crashed on the sofa. Yes, the symptoms of chronic fatigue do look like depression, but as a psychologist I would look like some event, change in life circumstances, etc. that would explain depressive symptoms. Over times, people with chronic illnesses often (or always?) do become depressed, but that is secondary to the illness.