Today is blah

Normally I love thunderstorms, so the fact it is cloudy and rainy really isn't pertinent...I think maybe depression is starting to kick in. Everything is just blah to me.  Was just curious as to when others (who went that route) decided they needed anti-depressants. I just want to be sure I don't get so far as to have some crazy thoughts or something like that.  Been getting a bit worse as days go on.  Kind of why I didn't post or come on here at all yesterday.
Maybe its from being out of work, or just thinking about all the side effects and how they made me feel..or knowing bills might get a bit backed up...Any input would be appreciated =0)

[desrt]

I got a 'script of fluoxetine (generic Prozac) at 12 weeks but didn't use it. Tried to improve my serotonin levels with exercise instead and finally quit tx at 23 weeks. I probably could have kept going if I'd taken the ADs.

[sunshine585]

I read that depression is a very common side with treatment, so I decided to go on Ad's 1 month prior to starting tx. In spite of that still had my bad days. I found that I really had to work at it to keep my spirits up some days. Keep yourself busy, so you don't focus on your sides or probs. If you feel up to it go for a long walk, ( I tell myself, I can't go home tl I have a smile on my face). I have an ipod with "happy music" on to help distract me. Don't isolate yourself! My world is very small right now, too tired to keep up with lots of people. But I do make a point of keeping contact with a few people on my good days. Also I found with me the felings don't last, so I get a chance to regroup. I hope, I might've been of some help to you. You have my support. By the way I'm on wk 35 and still hanging in, keep forging ahead.
                 S

[NJDrummer]

Yeah I been slowly talking to less and less people...and those I do talk to is minimal. I recognize that I am feeling a little down and talking to less people, but at the same time I don't feel like talking to them. Strange to know I feel a certain way, but still can't force myself to do something about it.  I guess I need to try a bit harder and at at the least force myself to take a walk or two.

[epiphiny]

This is my 2nd tx and the first time round I got very, very depressed; I reached the suicidal ideation phase before I realized it and then had to be forced to take ADs.  I never came off them in between txs so I was already taking them when I started this 2nd round but I found after about 4 weeks I started bottoming out again (for me it manifests as crying all the time but having no real reason why) and I had no hesitation in doubling my dose immediately.  I went from 20mgs Prozac per day to 40mgs.  My mood stabilized pretty and I'm maintaining an even keel so far.

This treatment experience is so much better than the last and I really do put it down to getting on to the ADs asap and not letting the depression get the better of me.  My NP also told me that in her experience people who get too depressed on tx don't fare as well in the long term.

The interferon is known to deplete your serotonin so it makes sense that we need to replace it as we can't make it fast enough.  On top of that there is the low hb counts that can also contribute to feeling blah.

Btw, I also found the ADs have really helped me with brain processes and cognitive function.  And Omega 3 really helps both the brain and the mood.  And water!

[sunshine585]

You know there are days that I just don't answer the phone, and thats ok allow yourself that, but not too much. You're not alone, I was thinkng this morning, it'll be nice when After tx I can wake up in the am and actually feel like jumping out of bed, instead of forcing myself to get up.

[lolitriqui]

i went on AD's about 30w into TX; should have gone earlier; bills are ridiculous on TX; thunderstorms, i love too; this TX is to me a total mother earth disconnect..........good luck to you..........

[comeagain]

You go around  wishing the phone shall ring all the time, but when it rings you dont answer, that is being on the meds. If you just can accept that, its no big deal.

Hang in you are young, they say this is a silent diseas and many people have no sypthoms.
I dont just think that is the real fact the truth is, that its developing so slow so you think every pain and  problems is normal such as the nervs ,stress ,age etc etc its not until you get well you understand how sick you really been.

Ive had it for 35 years as said you are young ,easier to get rid of it when young, wish I could  have treaten when I was 30.

Good luck and get this shiit out of your system.

ca

[NJDrummer]

I am going to ask the doc about antidepressants.  I had tried prozac once before and it seems to almost make me speed.  I stopped taking it after a week because I thought it was the prozac that did it. Maybe It was just anxiety. I gotta call my doc in a bit anyway because I gotta see why he hasn't sent pperwork to my disability insurance yet anyway. I have really bad heartburn and a number of other things I just chalked up to getting older or something.  I am curious to see how much my feelings and health changes once this demon is out of my body.  Not to mention the relief of knowing I don't have to wonder if it will develop into cancer or cirrhosis. I can deal with not answering the phone so long as it keeps the depression to a minimum and not getting crazy thoughts.  Gonna try and get myself back into some AA meetings as well I think. I'm taking any help i can get right now.  

[NJDrummer]

With taking anti-depressants...is there any correlation with taking them that also relieves anxiety?

[Marcia2202]

I started getting a clinical depression on my second week of treatment, got prescribed 10mg citalopram (Celexa) and I was lucky that they worked already after 6 days. I was in the deepest darkest hole I've ever been... I don't even want to think back to that.

It also works against anxiety, they say. I have no experience with that, because I didn't experience anxiety.

Your doctor will know what to prescribe for exactly your symptoms, if you decide to go that way.

Here is a good module from Clinical Care Options about the management of depression on HCV treatment.

http://www.clinicaloptions.com/Hepatitis/Treatment%20Updates/HCV%20and%20Depression%202008.aspx

You will have to sign up first, but it's free.

God Bless,

Marcia

[NJDrummer]

Thanks. I will check it out =0)

[chefsalad]

drums, it has been dark for several days now, yes very depressing. I am right along with you. I believe I am having the depression (or anixiety ) at it's fullest now at #27. Will find out tonight when I am proplerly diagnosed. I'm afraid to get on these nut pills but we have to do what we have to do.I am investigating them the best I can.. This all seems so crazy. I know of someone who took Effexor and it made them "speedy" too. I guess our bodies are all different and it might take a couple times to get it right. Take in a meeting. the being around people will help. An AA meeting is a great support system. work on getting through this day. Yes, one day at a time.

[epiphiny]

Hmm, the speedy thing, well....  I guess you could say it does that from time to time but I found that before I upped my dose all i could do was in sit in my chair, lega and arms feeling like wood with no motivation to stand up, and this was at work where I HAVE to stand up and talk to people.  I kept telling people I had 'lost my mojo'.  Feeling like that and crying all the time were the main reason I decided to up my Prozac.  For me the ADs just make me feel normal and I think that if you have a genuine serotonin deficit which I am sure you will have, then the ADs just level you out to a normal plane.

I also suffered from anxiety attacks first time round and have not really experienced those this time so, for me at atleast, the ADs have also helped with that.  Plus I am too fatigued to get too het up these days!

I think the most positive thing about the ADS for me is that they allow me to observe myself and I can see when I'm acting inappropriately to the situation and give me those few moments needed to decide not to speak, or take time out from a potentially volatile situation.

Of course, everyone responds differently to different ADs ao it may be that you have to try a few until you find one that suits.  Prozac (the original brand not the generics) were my 2nd attempt, the first ones I tried made me feel completely out of control.

Here in NZ, treatment clinics start people of ADs before they start them on the tx as a matter of course.

Good Luck :)

[NJDrummer]

thanks everyone for the input =0)