Hello to all

Status
Not open for further replies.
Annette

Annette

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi, I just found this group whilst having a break at work 🙂
I've been diabetic since I was 4, had a pump for 3 years now. Diabetes doing ok, but depression just kicked up its ugly heels - possibly I'm genetically prone to it (my sister has it), possibly its a side effect of the diabetes, maybe both. At the moment, my diabetes is steady enough that it is not being affected, long may it continue. I'm trying (with the GP) to find tablets that suit me - third time lucky as the ones I started on gave me panic attacks, the next lot upset my stomach majorly.
Any advice how people deal with the black dog?
 
Hi Annette, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about the depression, I think it can hit most of us in one form or another, and when it does the diabetes doesn't help by placing an extra set of rules on us when we probably don't have the energy to deal with them. So, it is good that you are managing to maintain your blood sugars.

I don't personally have any experience of depression meds, but I know we have members who do, so I will leave it to them to share their experiences. What meds have you tried?
 
I've tried Citalapram (panic attacks) and Escitalapram (stomach upset). Am currently using Mirtazapine (I think that's what its called) and and am about to add another one to that because it isnt working well - get it tonight.
I've known of others who couldnt use Citalapram, but usually Escitalapram is tolerated, so I admit I felt a bit bad having to give up on that one as well. I just hope this latest addition works. Its like if I jumped up and down, I'd rattle - I also take a statin and metaclopramide (for mild gastro paresis) and am likely to have to take another to settle my stomach because the Mirtazipine updets me a bit too. Chemist shop, anyone?
 
I've battled depression most of my life and sadly, never found a pill that helped, and one or two that actually made it worse. Talking it through seems to help and my surgery has a 'listener' that I can go and rant at, though they can't talk back. If I feel bad enough I'll go and do a 'stream if conciousness' thing there for an hour. The best solution, though, is talking to my friends, I have a support network of pals who suffer the same way and we take turns helping each other, we spend a lot of time in coffee shops on the theory that just getting out of the house is a help. Like this place, they know what it's like from the inside, they get it because they live every day with it. Perhaps you could do the same where you are?

Oh yes, welcome to the forum.

Citalopram made me feel suicidal and Mirtazipine turned me into a Zombie.
 
Last edited:
Hi Annette welcome to the site and pleased you have posted. It is hard when feeling depressed for what ever reason and especially if it returns from time to time. A site which is quite helpful for tools and ideas on how to deal with different mental health issues is http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/.
Medication can be helpful as a quick fix but long term is to get some psychological intervention to help maintain wellbeing.
I do hope you start to pick up soon Annette but in the mean time hope this is helpful 🙂
 
Hi Annette, unfortunately I can't offer any advice on meds, but I'd like to say "Welcome to the forum" 🙂
 
I think it's amazing the number of different drugs there are to help such things and yes, sometimes you do indeed have to kiss a lot of frogs.

It's also amazing that I did so jolly well on Citalopram - doc had put me on Fluoxetine first - did nowt - but the C actually CURED my panic attacks! LOL See what I mean? Also we have a really good mate who is what used to be called a a manic depressive - and Fluoxetine is the ONLY one that does anything for him.

But more than any drugs, the CBT based counselling I had alongside them, I believe helped me as much if not more.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top