Suffering from post viral fatigue, GP has offered prozac, should I accept?

[LittleB]

Thats it really. I had a bad virus in October, and haven't really recovered. I've had other viruses since, currently got a chest infection. The fatigue is leaving me really achey, painful joints, very tired. I pick up for a few days, then get ill again, and its really getting me down. I've been in tears a few times which is very unlike me, I was in tears at the GPS. Hes said I should pull through, spring is likely to help me pick up, it usually does ( I work outside some of the time and have always been affected by the weather). I said how its hard coping with working part time, being mum to 2yr old. keeping house in order and not feeling I'm doing any of these well at the moment etc, but with this illness too I'm struggling to cope, and each time I get ill again I feel more down. I don't have depression, I'm just low and struggling. Should I just hang on for a few more weeks and hope I pull through, or do I try Prozac, he says think about it.

DH has had this twice in the last 5 years, both times he had to take time off, once 12 weeks and another 8 weeks. The doctor said all he could do was rest, no drugs were ever mentioned. Dh is going back to the doctor next week though, as he is still not 100%.
He is on lots of meds for PsA though, so I wondered if it was to do with that. I sometimes think that he feels rubbish so gets down and it all turns into a bad circle...I think the way he feels is making him depressed, so maybe that's why your doctor is suggesting prozac?

When I went to the drs I was expecting him to sign me off, he told me to have the rest of this week off, and go back in Monday. I've had about 5 weeks off in total over the winter, including two weeks signed off when I had the original virus, none off for just the post viral fatigue, only when I've had other things too. I know exactly what you mean about the feeling rubbish which gets him down, thats what I've had, just woken up in the morning and cried because I'm ill again. It feels silly as its not serious but its eneough for me to miss work and struggle to cope so its serious enough I guess?

all three of my nephews and nieces have had me/pvs/glandular fever (two more than once), plus 2 daughters of close friends. Some were prescribed antidepressants, and the parents of the ones who got antidepressants both feel very strongly that they had a hugely important positive impact on the recovery process. If i were in the same situation I would give them a try.

Lb, that's how my DH felt too. He is managing to get into work now, but is really struggling, and we can't afford for him to have any more time off, although like I said to him, his health comes first, and we will find a way. It's really knocked him for six. When he was off he was napping in the afternoon, and even now when back at work he is still struggling by mid afternoon. I worry about him driving home from work.
If I was you I would book back in with the doctor just in case you are still feeling ill next week. First time round I think it took DH 6 mths to fully feel normal again, this time its 4 mths so far.

missingtheaction, I have just copied your post to my DH, I am hoping he can bring himself to ask the doctor about them next week

Thanks missing, thats really useful to know. I've read lots about prozac for anti-depression but not for pv fatigue. Manky i hope your dh recovers soon. I'm still tryin to find out more about prozac before I decide what to do. I was ok to work last week, had to take it gently, I do enjoy my job fortunately but it is quite physically demanding which I'm finding pretty hard at the moment and having to ask for help from colleagues with some things, which I don't think they really understand. I'm not napping in the afternoons, but I am resting, my MIL has taken dd for a few hours to let me rest,which is great as sometimes being at work can be a rest compared to being at home wuth a 2yr old dd.

LB, I know what you mean, my youngest is 2 and is hard work, lol.
It really annoys me, dh has a job which should allow him to work from home on bad days, but his sompany won't allow it...grrr.
I hope you feel better soon.

lB, I've had pvs twice - once after glandular fever and once after shingles. It sucks! I found prozac-like drugs helpful to lift my mood and they gave me a little more energy. Worht a go, but they take a few weeks to kick in. hope you are better soon.
btw, I had it for 9 mths first time and 5 mths second time.

Thanks Nicky, thats useful to know that they can help with energy levels too. Manky, sorry to hear your dhs bosses won't let him work from home, its counterproductive for them not to help him really.

LittleB - I had ME about 9 years ago and the specialist I saw treated me with a cocktail of antidepressants. I think I took 3 different ones in quite high doses. I wasn't depressed at all - just exhausted, permanently in pain and generally unable to function on any decent level.

They made a huge difference and I was back to work full time in less than a year (far quicker than expected)