Depression, Chronic Fatigue, something else? Or am I being a hypochondriac?

[Amiunwell]

I have had depression for 3 years and my problems are usually attributed to that but I often wonder if they are down to something else. They seem so unrelated but I just don't know. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I can usually get through the week but by the weekend I am sooo tired. It's so hard to get up, my body doesn't want to move and I can barely stay awake during the day. Sometimes my fingers don't move well enough to type properly.

Sleep doesn't make me feel better. I used to have insomnia but even when that is under control, I feel exhausted and can sleep for 12 - 16 hrs.

I often have aching joints, mainly my fingers and hips to the point where I sort of limp when I walk. They don't swell and my doctor seemed a bit baffled.

I have great difficulty concentrating and articulating - my DC (4) finishes my sentences for me because I cannot find the words or remember what I was going to say

Other random things that may well be just the way I am:

I can't walk in straight line, am quite clumsy and drop stuff or fall/ trip for no reason. I have nightmares about this.

I am often too hot/ too cold - it's not consistent which.

I am very sensitive to light and always wear sunglasses whether it s sunny or not. My eyes hurt if I don't but people have commented and taken the piss a bit I have a slight astigmatism so it could be related to that.

This is probably all perfectly normal, I just feel like there are so many little things that I can't fix. I don't feel like my usual sparkly self but this is probably due to tiredness and depression.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Could be a migraine.

have you a sore/stiff neck?

[Amiunwell]

No stiff neck.

I occasionally get headaches - I'll have 2 or 3 one week and then nothing for months but I'e never had a migraine.

[jasper]

no it's not normal.Whether it s part of your depression I can't say.

Go back to your GP and give a detailed list of your symptoms.

Are you on medication for your depression?

Your GP should be able to work out a drug that will treat it. This can take a while as different folks respond to different drugs.

I have suffered off and on for years.Antidepressants saved my life.

[Amiunwell]

Am on ADs and also was just prescribed ritalin to help with concentration

The ADs have saved my life too.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

I had symptoms pretty much the same as this, I went to see a neurologist who diagnosed Migraines. It is possible to get them so badly that they affect balance etc, it's called an aura. You can have migraines without having a headache, weird hey! Anyway, he wanted to pop me on to some nasty epilepsy medication so I went to see a chiropractor instead (I've no idea why), he found some stiffness in my neck that was irritating a nerve. It was odd, when I looked one way my legs were so weak there was no resistance and he could push me off the table. When I looked the other way my legs were alot stronger. It is worthwhile getting a referal to a neurologist just incase it's soemthing else and a chiropractor aswell. You never know.

[StrongCoffee]

sounds to me like depression and/or thyroid problem. Is anyone in your family has this? I would definetely ask for blood test.

[Amiunwell]

I really felt like my depression was under control and has been for a while. My dr & I were talking about coming off my ADs. I am just tired! And achey.

I've had my thyroid checked so I know it isn't that.

I will see what the doctor says. I can't go for a few weeks but thanks for the suggestions.

[jasper]

you sound like me. I have asked for thyroid checks twice in the last 2 years - all normal.
What is your diet like?

Please press your GP for a resolution. This is not normal and you should not have to struggle through life like this.

[Amiunwell]

My diet isn't awful - it's been better but I cook proper meals from scratch (even if it is just quick stuff like omelets) and I eat quite a lot of fruit and veg and very little processed stuff. It's worse when I am tired & I am sure that it makes it worse. For example, today I have eaten bread (wholemeal) because I couldn't be arsed to cook.

[jasper]

ok I have run out of sensible suggestions!
Get thee to a doctor

[jabberwocky]

I have to say that all but the aching joints sounds like something neurological. You really need to get a referral from your GP to a specialist and get a thorough going over.

[WhatToDoIAsk]

You're symptoms also sound like a classic case of CFS ME.
Sounds like you have had a batch of blood tests, all the same, be pesistant with the doctor.

[WhatToDoIAsk]

persistant also similar symptoms with fibromyalgia.

[vicloumic]

hi you have CFS ME for sure!!! i also have this and your symptoms are identical to mine! obviously go to your doctors so they can do tests and rule any thing else out but im pretty certain this is what you have. i see a specialist at the royal free hospital and they are fantastic there! if you want more info then please write back and il do what i can to help you and point you in the right direction, i am a mum to 4 children so i know how tough it can be.

[LteMadrid]

Well I could give you an alternative diagnoses but similar to ME and fibromyalgia which are Lupus or Antiphospholipid syndrome or any of the other autoimmune diseases.
I was like you many years ago and the fatigue is hard to explain to people, the aching joints are typical for many autoimmune diseases and the clumsiness is how I became right before my diagnosis of antiphospholipid symdrome (Hughes syndrome). None of these need to be scary things to have but you need to see a rheumatologist for them.

Dont let the GP just fob you off as these things typically hit women late 20's and 30's (dont worry, wont ask how old you are! )

[Amiunwell]

Thank you for all the replies. I don't feel like such a hopeless case now. I will google those suggestions andd talk to my GP as soon as I can.

I am in my 30s Madrid

[PollyLogos]

These symptoms aren't "normal" ie we don't all have these manifestations when we are tired.

I'm not in the UK so I'm not sure how these things work but I don't think doing a google search and taking the results to the doctor should be necessary. You need an appointment with a neurologist, as Jaberwocky suggests. If your gp won't refer you, can you see another gp or even just go in to A&E one day when your symptoms are bad?

[Saltire]

I have just seen this thread, and you could, in all honesty be desrcibing me. I have Fibromyalgia - it took years to get a diagnosis, I was fobbed off with flu, a virus and at one point I was told it was growing pains. I get pain - although mine isn't in my joints, more the muscles and ligaments, I have concentraiton problems,(and this often results in me typing compete waffle on here, or be talking to someone and completely forgetting what I was saying)
get too hot/cold, sore eyes and visual problems (like those asscoiated with a migraine), headaches,and the most awful fatigue, which has really got worse over the past 6 months. I work 12 hours a week, and even that I struggle with.
Fibromyalgia (FMS) and ME have very similar symptoms. I got my diagnosis by seeing a doctor who said to me one day "have you ehard of FMS" when I said no, she said she was referring me to a Rheumatologist and it went from there.