In one of my moments of not very quiet desperation, I asked a fellow St. Francis lover and friend if he ever suffered from depression. He hadn't. Ever. But his wife had. Then I asked if she ever felt conflicted about taking medication for it. Turns out she had, but she took it anyway because she knew what happened when she didn't. I get it.
I've been taking a medicine for fibromyalgia pain that is also used to treat depression. MERCY! Even if I could continue to endure the new onset of migraines and pummeling depression, call me crazy, but it just seems a little counter-productive if the pain is worse, too. Like, much worse. Sometimes finding relief from symptoms feels like I'm playing Russian roulette with my brain. It takes weeks before I realize the awful way I feel it isn't just me--how I am. It's actually the medicine that is supposed to help me feel better.
I don't have the money for alternative therapies, so I'm left with Medicaid, which I thank God for! I'm not a person who is opposed to pharmaceuticals, I happen to know a few saved my life. But I'm having a hell of a time, literally, finding a combination that's working. Currently, I'm on Wellbutrin and Savella. The addition of the Savella seems to be the trouble. I made an appointment to drag myself back to the doctor, and to the proverbial drawing board, but...
I don't know. I think I'll ask to see a pain management specialist.
My dear friends, do you have any other thoughts on what I should do? Do you know of someone I can talk to? Chime in anytime.
love,
mair
19 comments:
My wife struggles with ADD which can lead her into depression as well at times. She actually was on medication and she prayerfully came off for a while, however she plans to go back on.
While this is between her and God, as a support for her decision I can look at it 2 ways ...
1) God was able to show her various areas that she struggles in so that if she were to ever come off it again, she (and I) will know where she needs the most help and encouragement.
2) God was able to show her that with the medication she is able to draw closer to Him, bring Him more glory, and do more Kingdom work. While it can bring Him glory by having Him be her medication, it seems with her that it is actually a tool that can be used to keep her focus on Him and all He can do.
So as far as your questioning medication in general, that's what I would offer.
Prayerfully decide via what method you are able to bring Him more glory, and prayerfully move forward in that direction.
Blessings and Prayers!
~Matt
http://hispathdaily.blogspot.com/
Thank you very much, Matthew. Once, my Godmother told me that without medication it's impossible for her to fulfill God's plan for her life. You've reminded me of some important considerations. Maybe it's just the Savella that's not right. I had a similar experience with Cymbalta. It didn't make my pain worse, but it certainly made my depression plummet (and a few other things). For me, Cymbalta was dangerous. For one of my friends, it's a great aid. Definitely something to pray about.
Man oh man, Mair. I really wish you could get regular acupuncture therapy...although I know that falls into the category of alternative therapies. The difference for me in both areas has been tremendous. Maybe there is a clinic or something that provides treatment on a sliding scale. I know they have one here in Philly like that. Praying...
I didn't think of a sliding scale, Tracey. I'll look into it. And others have told me that acupuncture helps, too. I so appreciate your prayers.
One of my good friends has suffered with fibro for the 12 years that I've known her.
The last time I talked to her she told me she had gone off all wheat and every single one of her fibro symptoms was gone.
Pretty cheap therapy! Not easy, I admit, but worth trying?
Oh, and Sam-E is excellent for depression. It's an amino acid that our bodies are supposed to produce but sometimes don't.
The problem is it's expensive and since it's a supplement there's no insurance coverage at all. But I pay for it instead of getting a prescription for something else because it is better for me. The only side effects are for people already taking those type meds and for people who are bi-polar.
The no wheat I can probably manage. I'm bipolar though, so the Sam-E may not be good for me. Sounds like I need to find a way to see a naturopath.
Just saw your location (I'm in Harper Woods) ... I only say that because with the weather we have been having my wife (who suffers from mild fibro as well) has really been getting hit too ... fun all 'round eh!? Anyway ... you'll be in my prayers.
Weather has always been a big trigger, and initially that's what I thought it was. Oy! It's complicated. Thanks for your prayers, Matthew. I'm not sure if it says so here, but I'm in Lexington, KY now.
have you tried Lyrica?
will pray for you....Fibro and depression are just nasty...
I'll have to co-sign on what Kay Day said. My acupuncturist had me take a month off from anything with wheat or gluten in it (which is practically everything) as well as all sugars and all dairy (except eggs). My fibro nearly disappeared completely. When I began to add things back into my diet, I found that the wheat/gluten caused me to have one of the worst flares I'd had in a long time. So even if you don't eliminate dairy and sugar...it's worth a shot with the wheat/gluten.
I too have heard a lot about the benefits of acupuncture and diet modification for fibromyalgia. Cutting out wheat and tomatoes often eases up on various kinds of joint pain.
The sliding scale idea is a good one. And there's nothing wrong with asking a practitioner for a break. Or if they are willing to barter. Maybe someone would treat you in exchange for you writing an ad or publicity for them. It's a thought.
You will be in my ongoing prayers, sister-friend.
If you go the diet modification route, my doc gave me a chart detailing various foods and their ability to produce acid in the body - acid being the cause of the inflammation that causes fibro. Some bodies are too acidic and those folks should eat more alkaline foods to reduce acid, thus reducing inflammation.
It's worse a look.
+Christ is Risen!
I would love to talk with you about this. Call me. 402 558-7000
In Christ,
Margaret
Rejoice, oasis of faith in the desert of unbelief.
Akathist to Abba Moses the Black
Chiming in with another vote for acupuncture and no wheat/gluten. *hugs*
Mair, I think that you and Amy Tan share the same condition. Check it out.
Margaret Call me
I'll give you a call this weekend, Margaret. I'm trying to get past the worst of these excruciating migraines. I'm not the conversationalists right now. LOL. And everyone, thanks so much. Acupuncture and no gluten it is! God will make a way for me. :)
Chronic pain is so, so hard. I have arthritic symptoms that come along with my autoimmune disease. It's hard to understand if you haven't experienced it. May God grant you peace and freedom from pain.
Mary
Also, my grandmother was a huge fan of St. Francis. I have one of her statues and it always reminds me of her.
I feel WITH you, Claudia! I have Hashimoto's and it's recently been hugely complicated. Found out I'm massively deficient in Vit D. It can make you ache all over like fibro, which I also have. The BEST thing I've been able to do for fibro is cut out sugar completely (10 years ago). Symptoms almost immediately disappeared. And during the times I've cut wheat out completely, I definitely feel even better. (Never GREAT, because the stabbing pain in the eye remains, but St. Paul had his thorn, too....) I WISH medications helped me more than they do, but I am like you. They've now had me on four different anti-seizures meds form my eye pain (trigeminal neuralgia) and I end up in the ER each time. Then I have to go off the med cold turkey, which is ill-advised. They want to start me on Wellbutrin for my eye pain, but I have taken a pass for now---am not up for more medication problems at this time. It's too exhausting! Some of the supplements that might help can be cheap, depending. My Vit D3 is very cheap, and if it helps me get past some pain and disability, YAY. Praying for you, dear friend!
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