please give me some advice on AD's

[scribbles1980]

Depressed now since November. Life really getting me down. I don't feel suicidal but just want to run away.
No enjoyment in life at all.
Back to the doctors on Monday. Thinking of asking for ads .
I'm frightened after reading that they can make you feel worse & side effects.
Please can anyone share your positive stories.
Thanks

[scribbles1980]

Meant to say seretonin apologies for my bad spelling!

Yes depression suck 2little hope you are feeling better?

[2LittleMonkeysJumpingOnMyHead]

So glad you're feeling better. Depression sucks :(

[Paddypaws3]

That's fantastic, so pleased you're feeling better! You sound so much brighter too :).

Going back to work went well thanks. Felt a bit daunting but I hit the ground running and was soon back into the swing of things. I have very lovely colleagues who helped immensely too.

To us!

[scribbles1980]

Meant to ask how work went paddy?

Thank you Goood glad you are feeling better too!

[GooodMythicalMorning]

So glad you are feeling a bit better. My anxiety has been much better too. Just have stomach flu to contend with .

Hope you continue to feel better.

[scribbles1980]

Hi everyone, I thought I would give you a bit of an update.

Two things have happened this week and I would like to hear your thoughts on the first one please.

1. So I told my friend about taking the ads. She knew how bad I had been feeling. I told her what my gp had said about lacking seratonin. She said that unless they measured my seratonin levels then that was rubbish. Once they have proved that your brain is not producing enough seratonin then your are classed as clinically depressed. Not sure if this is correct but I thought that there isn't a way to measure seratonin levels? Thoughts please?
   

Anyway, the second thing is that I feel SO MUCH BETTER!! Hooray.
I have been a bit frightened to post this in case it is just a blip. But I can really feel a difference.
I think it has taken just over 6 weeks to get to this point. But it is so worth it. If anyone has been reading this thread because they are unsure whether to take ads then I would say please give them a try.

I also wanted to say a big thank you to everyone's support. Without you I don't think I would have taken the ad's & may have given up after a few weeks.

If you are still struggling please bear with it or maybe change your meds. Because at the moment (fingers crossed) I feel like a different person.
I don't want to appear as if I'm gloating. I just really wanted to make a point of how the ads have had such a positive effect.

Thank you all so so much for your support & sharing your own stories.

Mumsnet at its best!
Oh and sazerashez I hope the interview went well

[scribbles1980]

Sorry to hear that you haven't been well sazerashez . Hope you are feeling better today & good luck with the job interview.

Thank you SooBee61 I'm really hoping that these meds work. I don't think I could go through the whole process of coming off them & trying something else.
Glad that you are getting help. It's good to hear positive stories.

[SooBee61]

It's worth remembering that SSRI's only work on about 70% of those who take them. And finding the one that's right for you is a real lottery, GP's can only go on their past experiences with patients.

I take a minimum dose tricyclic (old style) AD at night. Tricyclics have been going years and years and have a sedative effect, hence taking at night. They are not so routinely prescribed because they are dangerous in overdose but if you're not suicidal that ought not to be a problem. Mine is called Dosulepin. Good luck.

[sazerashez]

Glad things are sounding better.

The job application went well thanks and I have an interview on Tuesday. This weekend has been a write off as I came down with food poisoning and spent all of Friday night and all day yesterday throwing up. Horrific. Today I am wiped out and too knackered to prep for the interview plus my partner is abroad from today and I'm looking after 2 little kids whilst trying not to fall asleep/ vomit. Citalopram has better get me through the next couple of days!

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Yes sunshine makes everything easier. Anxiety definitely gets worse in winter.

[scribbles1980]

Oh yes the sun definitely helps with me. I keep telling my DH that I need to live in a warm country.

Glad you're feeling well enough to return to work. Maybe the structure will help? I have been doing some work from home and it makes me feel like I have achieved something . Small steps

[Paddypaws3]

I feel well enough. Not 100% perhaps but feel I can't justify taking any more time off.

The sun really helps, doesn't it?!

[scribbles1980]

Oh that's good paddy are you ready to go back?
I'm feeling better today, maybe because the sun is shining.
I just checked my diary and I am actually going into week 5 of taking the meds (how quickly that has passed).
Good luck to everyone going through similar stuff.

[Paddypaws3]

No, I'm sticking for now and reviewing again in a month. Back to work next week too...

[scribbles1980]

Yes, I tried carazette last year but they made me feel worse.
Are you going to increase your dose paddy?

sazerashez how did the job application go?

[Paddypaws3]

Pmt definitely doesn't help. The Dr put me on cerazette last year which has been an absolute godsend and worked wonders for my dreadful pmt. I don't bleed either which is an added bonus .

If you're still tearful, it doesn't sound as though you're quite there yet. 6 weeks is a totally normal length of time to fully feels the effects so there's time yet. I'm barely crying now.

Don't dismiss the idea of increasing your dose if need be. I doubt you'll become a zombie. I find that I become very desensitised (if that's the right word ) and just don't cry at very normal things (things that people would normally cry about). If it comes to that, you can always reduce again if you don't like how it makes you feel.

[scribbles1980]

Hi paddy & sazerashez thanks for checking up on me!

A bit like you paddy feeling a bit flat. My period is due, I'm late (defenitley not pg). I'm never late, would the meds effect this?
Normally I'm a shouting, highly strung mess but I do feel calmer but tearful.

Going into my 4th week now. I did read somewhere that they can take up to 6 weeks to work?
Still have that can't be bothered feeling so I'm frightened to up the dose as I think I would be zombie like.
I'm going to give it a few more weeks. I haven't had a drink either. Normally when I don't drink I feel so much better. But I do think the pmt doesn't help.
Keep praying they will eventually kick in.

[Paddypaws3]

I just came to check in with you too :). Hoping things are slowly improving.

I'm feeling ok. Definitely better than I was but not fantastic. I guess I just feel a bit "flat" if that makes sense? I certainly feel calmer and my patience has increased with the children but...

I'm seeing my gp on Thursday so will ask if he thinks I need my dose increasing. I'm 4.5 weeks.

[sazerashez]

How are you getting on?

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Dh not Dhabi

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Yes. Dhabi noticed a change before I saw it myself so that's a good sign.

[scribbles1980]

Thanks all

I spoke to my DH and H3 said he could see a definite change in me. So maybe they are having an effect.
It's just this bloody can't be bothered feeling. The doctor said that could be the depression so give it more time
He did suggest taking them at night but as I am sleeping well I'm a bit worried about doing that.
Thanks again I am very grateful to you all x

[GooodMythicalMorning]

3 weeks still isn't long. It took about 6 weeks for them to kick in for me.

[sazerashez]

Hi

Don't forget that you have had times when you felt things were turning around. It's still early days. There will be moments when you still feel sad. I had a massive one yesterday. They don't make you immune to blips unfortunately! But on the whole they really do work. Just give it a bit more time and remember that they made you feel better last week and will do again.

[2LittleMonkeysJumpingOnMyHead]

When do you go back to the dr? Don't worry if s/he suggests a higher dose, or different meds. You just have to find the right thing for you.
But this is one day. It could just be a blip. It seems your proportion of good to bad days has shifted massively. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.