So, apparently I'm depressed.

[Sephrenia]

I went to the doctors this morning because I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I told her about my symptoms and she said I was mildly depressed.

Symptoms I'm having:

-Really tired all the time, no matter how much sleep I get
-Only brief windows of useful energy in which I get as much done as I can (although that window has become smaller since starting work)
-My joints ache a lot now
-My muscles have started to ache a lot although I'm not sure how much of that is the new job.
-If I stay in one position too much, I stiffen up and it takes ages to get rid of it
-My legs keep going weak and almost going out from under me
-I've gained two dress sizes in two months despite no changes to my diet and I always feel bloated
-My memory is shot, for example, my DH will tell me something and five minutes later I've forgotten it. This has been happening for months.
-I keep getting words mangled so I'll ask for the remote instead of my coffee

I've just started a new job and I love it to bits, it's brilliant getting to meet people and do something that's contributing to society, but apparently, that's not going to help my so-called depression. I even have a holiday in Rome on the 4th December that I've been looking forward to for ages. I really don't have anything to be depressed about other than feeling ill and weak, so I don't really agree with her diagnosis. Would I be right in getting a second opinion?

She's got me booked in for a blood test 'just in case it's something else' on Thursday but she's almost 100% sure that I'm depressed. What do you lovely MNers think? Does it sound like depression to you and I'm just in denial?

I've got to admit, if I wasn't depressed before I walked into her office this morning, I sure as hell feel like it now!

mmmm could be depression or sounds a bit like low thyroid to me or anaemia.
You should stick to your guns though and if you dont feel it is depression then dont let the Dr talk you into it. Find out what she has tested you for and what the results were exactly.

Thanks for replying!

She's getting me tested for anaemia and my thyroid on Thursday. I was leaning more towards anaemia because I'm susceptible to it.

I was just surprised that she suddenly decided I had depression based on a ten question sheet thingy she gave me that bore almost no resemblance to any of my symptoms apart from the no energy and tired all the time.

I don't think she's taken into account the fact that I had open surgery in April and I've never recovered well from surgery either. I was bedbound for 8 weeks after that op, and it took ages after that to become normal again. It's even in my notes that I take longer to recover than most people because my system doesn't cope well with it.

I'll just keep plodding on until the bloods come back :)

Menopause?

The very fact that you have positive feelings about a new job, are coping with it, enjoying its challenges and also are looking forward to the holiday doesn't to me suggest depression. People with depression tend to have no positive feelings about things in their life, would struggle with confidence and self esteem for new challenges and have a flat feeling even about a holiday.

Your symptoms do sound a bit more physical and I wouldn't be surprised if it was an underactive thyroid.

If you are able to query the depression diagnosis yourself I think your gut instinct is telling you it isn't right.

Jasminerice, that's actually possible. I was sterilised in 2007 and my operation this year was to remove an ovary. I didn't think about that one, so thank you :)

I'll go back to my doctor Jinx, it just doesn't feel right to me. I've had PND so I know what I'm like when I'm depressed and I don't have that wading through treacle feeling at all which is what had me questioning it.

Thank you both for replying!