CM and Depression

[cekj79]

I was wondering how many chiarians are treated for depression.  This has definitely taken it's toll on me physically and emotionally.  I feel myself getting depressed and losing my temper a lot lately.  My husband told me that he misses my smile:(  I have a wonderful life but am having a difficult time dealing with my physical limitations and the lifestyle changes it imposes.  
How do others treat their depression?  Counseling?  Medication?  Just curious.  

[Sexybare]

I was also told as i was younger that my symptoms were from anxiety and panic attacks. In whicj meds never worked.

[cekj79]

Thank you all so much for the advice and kind words.  My husband is a pharmacist so he thinks I need to bring up the depression to my dr.  I hate that so many others also battle depression/anxiety but it's nice to know that I'm not alone.  I think I'm just sensitive to it bc I was told as a teenager that my chiari symptoms were just anxiety and panic attacks.  I feel that if I acknowledge that I am depressed and anxious that they'll ignore all of the legitimate symptoms.  It is very comforting to have the support of this forum.  

[bookworm79]

Linnie, I was like that too.  No meds...so sick of meds.  But found this drug and it works for me until/if I have surgery.  It's the only one I take and by being more alert, more energy, I'm less depressed/anxious.  I hate to tout or push pills because I was sick of docs saying, "here's a pill, oh need more, a side effect you say, oh well here is another pill for the side effect."  It was a viscious cycle and I didn't want to be a "pill popper."  But it's what works best for me now.  I'm hoping if/when I have surgery, it will eliminate all of the issues/need for any med.  But until then, this is what works for me.  And you're right about the dependency versus addiction.  That was why I didn't want pills.  I thought if I came to "need" it, I would just be a druggie pill popper.  But they explained there is a difference between needing the drug and wanting it for a high/abuse etc.  I learned to look at it that way.  I have confidence that the surgery will eliminate most of the sleep disorders situation but until that route has been decided, I'm getting by.  And this forum has been a huge help.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

[linnielou232]

You took the word's right out of my mouth that I expressed to my NS last Tues.  I went from not taking and not wanting no med's to at least 3 different med's every day, pain, anxiety, blood pressure.  It's very flustrating and having Chairi has consumed me emotionally and physically.  Not just me, but my family also.  I told him.  I am very blessed and grateful.  I have nothing to be depressed about and his reply was.  With pain comes anxiety, anxiety come depression etc.  We don't want these problem's, but Chairi has brought them to us.  I agree with bookworm about the med's.  We have to do what is best for us.  I am also seeing a pain specialist and she set me a ease to pain med's because I have a concern for taking thing's that might mess up something else in my body, she replied saying there is a difference in wanting them and needing them.  Us with Chairi have to deal with thing's differently.  This is a lesson I am just learning and accepting.  I am now trying a patch which is time released and for me it seem's to be working.  As both my dr's said to me this week.  That we are in a circle and we don't know how to end it because of the pain and misunderstanding of being dx'd with Chairi.  I am also very thankful for this forum because we all can relate to what you are going through and will help as much as we can.  It's the accepting of change I feel is the worse for us.  I guess that is why we shouldn't plan our lives because we just set ourselves up for disappointment.  I try to look at each day as a new day and just try listening to your body and it will let you know what to do and not to do.  Your in my heart.  Wish you the best.  Just wanted to reasure you that it's o.k. if we have to take a med to help us get through.  Never thought I would feel this way, but it is part of the accepting I guess.  Wishing the best for you.

[selmaS]

  Hi...many of us are dx with depression or anxiety, the fact is we may have is, but too many Drs stop there and do not look  for y we r....the reason is the compression of the brain stem.

When I was in High school I was sent to individual and group therapy....and also given prozac....it didn't help bcuz that was not the root issue...

I quit the individual therapy after 3 sessions as the shrink said the same thing to me each time I went...u do not have a brain tumor (not sure how he knew, no tests were ever done) u r not going to die, what do u want to do when u graduate.....the 3rd session I stood up and said...I know what I won't be doing, wasting ne more of my time coming here, and I left....lol...I was 17!

It can take way too long to get a dx, and that will depress neone, but pain can also cause depression....and last as I already mentioned, the compression of the brain stem can cause depression as well...not to mention that the cerebral tonsils also affect emotions,moods, etc....we can have ours go all over....it is a roller coaster ride like no other.....

  I did not find a med or a therapy that worked, helped, whatever....surgery and releasing the pressure did ...JMHO of what worked for me.

   "selma"
  

[bookworm79]

If I can mention something and this is only my experience, I can't speak for anyone else.  Because of my sleep apnea which I'm sure it attributed to Chiari because I really have no other risk factors, I am so tired all the time and because I'm so tired, I take Provigil.  I have taken Nuvigil as well.  While I never wanted to take pills the rest of my life, I don't know what I would do without this drug.  It has made a huge impact on my life.  Because of the sleepiness, attention, concentration, memory issues etc, I didn't think anything would help.  Then came Provigil.  For the first time in years, I'm alert, I can pay attention, I even started taking education courses for my job again because I can stay awake, focus and retain the information.  Sometimes I have to break it up and take it throughout the day as I start winding down depending on how hectic the day is but it's so worth it.  I don't even care if I have to "pop a pill" - this pill - for the rest of my life if it means I get to have this outcome every day.  It is a stimulant but not an amphetamine and not in the same class as say adderall or ritlan.  Something to consider.  May not work for everyone but has for me for some time now.

[Sexybare]

Definatly depressing. For me i have anxiety and was takin paxil but it didnt help so i have my xanax if i need it. But not advised to take with vicodin. So do i deal with the pain or anxiety?! Lol. I go thru the day happy and sad both. My kids call me bi polar necause my mood changes so fast. Its the chiari. Its deff hard to cope with. But get on here and talk to all of us. We know your struggles. We help each other get by ;)

[Rylanesmom]

I too gave a quick fuse and cry easy ... I am now a little at ease knowing it is the chiari and I feel bad dang it!  I miss my happy go lucky smile too.  That girl has been replaced by one who is in pain and doing my best everyday to choose to have an ok day.  I lie and say I am ok and try to make everyone else comfortable.  I tried celexa, cymbalta, and amatryptaline before diagnosis because they always think stresses causing your problems .... Well it did not fix them because I have chiari!  I went last week to Dr Oro and they said scored low on depression but high on anxiety which makes sense with the new diagnosis.  They said it is life changing and ok to be upset!  So nice for someone to say it is ok to be upset!  I am sure that there is nobody that misses you feeling well more than you.  Only you know the full picture and how bad it really is.  My pcp started me on wellbutrin today because I wanted something to raise my every level and balance the anxiety.  I have Xanax for when I can't quit crying.  I understand what you are saying it is hard to smile when you feel bad!  I am on 2 new pain meds and I feel I have smiled more in a week than I had in 15 months.  I am not a pill taker but could no longer push my way through.  I will pray for you...we are not alone.