Dirty little public secret. Now you know!
I'm at 6 months post now and just began noticing real signs of depression. No energy, no enthusiasm, etc. We just bought a new home that I love and everything else is great also, so I'm baffled, but I see my new doc Tues., so will address these things. Personally, I'm gonna try what Califa said about acupuncture. Cannibis is not for me, as I'm a recovering alcoholic, addict, junkie and the last thing I need is a new addiction. LOL.
Califa: Never thought of acupuncture for endorphins before. Thanks, I think I'll try it by golly!
Joni
I think you might be rushing things a bit neal. I felt better and better after tx(now 5 months) but give it time-your body was saturated with the drugs and I know they did a hell of a job on my attitude. More patience required-Bites don't it?
It took me three months after tx to stop going downhill, physically and emotionally. My HAIR fell out more after tx ended for 3 months. Now it is back pretty much where it was. The result of 3 months of tx seems to be something called diverticulitos - she said pockets on the colon. I kept asking pockets of WHAT?
I am 7 weeks post treatment. The first three weeks were heavenly. I could think again. I had energy. I could be outside again. It was a warm September and the world around me glowed. Then a project at work brought up a lot of old business, stuff I'd finished with a long time before tx. It took about 3 weeks to sort it out. After I did, my wife pointed out that I did not get anxious or insecure all thru tx. Now, after tx, I'm a little more vulnerable than I was going in. I'm doing OK, but I think it's going to take longer than I thought for that last 10% recovery.
This too will pass I felt the same way and am getting better every week. We have been to hell and back and it will take some time to get better than ever.
I can see how being on the other side of tx might be some kind of serious anti-climax. I mean, it's such a total marathon, you're so absolutely focused on one all-encompassing life-and-death goal, and then, it just stops. No welcome back parties, no tickertape parade, just hurry up and get back in line and wait. And welcome to the rest of your life, with all of its boredom and petty annoyances. So now what, right? I swam heroically upstream -- for what? For this? To get caught and eaten and turned into salmon burgers?
A medical friend tells me this is pretty common after treatment. Great, so you got lots of company! Well, that'd be more fun than drinking alone, if that were logistically posssible. No, seriously, alcohol is an especially bad drug right now--Chev's right--because it is a central nervous system depressant. (Sounds worse when you spell it all out.) And for the liver it's as toxic as it gets. Other than that, there's not much wrong with it! But whatsamatta with cannabis? Far more benign medically and might actually put you back in touch with yourself and get the energy flowing again. Dissolve those fear knots. Put the zing back in things. But that might not be a possibility, so here's another crazy idea: acupuncture. If you're in an area with some decent licensed acupuncturists, you might want to try a few sessions. The endorphin release is pretty great, and it would be very physically and mentally restorative. This could be a great gift to yourself post-tx.
NO drinkin until at LEAST 6 months post tx.
You just completed a course of some VERY heavy meds. They affect your mind and attitude. I went the other way from you....NOTHING bothers me now. That is perhaps as big a problem as yours.
Tx changes us mentally. So now you're worried that you may have become a "butthead"??? SO WHAT?? Maybe you need to become a little more "hard core" in your attitude towards the general public. Most of them are buttheads anyways and deserve a good tongue lashing. (calm down Chevy)
It takes a good 6 months to really get back to any kind of "Normal". If you're still kickin cats and cussin kids at 6 months post tx....THEN start lookin at gettin help.....or just go with it.
In the meantime....find things to make you laugh. I mean REALLY laugh. Once you start those endorphins flowin they will keep on commin. Make it happen...........
Hi, it took me and my husband at least 6 months to a year to get anywhere near back to how we were prior to tx. In fact, my husband really never has gone back totally to the way he used to be. His moods are not nearly as unpredictable as on tx, but now he is moody and he was always the most mellow guy before all of this. So, as far as me, well I've always been an up and down kind of person and had to take anti-depressants before, during and still do since tx. I was really a mess even on the extra meds when I was on tx. Hang in there because it does get a lot better. But it's slow going for some of us. Recovery from Peg/rib is a long process and gets better as time goes on. Just know that you are not alone in this. A lot of us have been there too. Really, it does eventually get better. You can always consult your physician about it if it gets too much for you. Take care and keep hanging in there, Hopiangel
My energy level also was much better about that time. I was very anxious, irritable and had sleep problems at 10 weeks too but I chalked that up to not yet having any PCR done post tx. I finished mid July and for the first time just this week I am sleeping like haven't in 2 years. It's great and I hope it stays this way. I hope it happens for you too. LL
I'm about 6 wks post-tx and haven't noticed anxiety and depression increasing any. However, I have noticed that my irritability and impatience has not improved much, if any at all, yet.
Let's see what others have to say.