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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Depression
        
(Message started by: Gestrin on Sep 17^th, 2003, 2:00pm)

Title: Depression
Post by Gestrin on Sep 17^th, 2003, 2:00pm

I want to start by saying how great it is to find such a fabulous site. I have suffered from CH for many years and have had three strokes caused by the effects of CH's. At age 38, I am tired of dealing with the pain and the challenges CH bring me. I work a 45 hour work week and am able to maintain, but when the CH start their cycle I am doomed. I am in a bout of CHs at this time and the depression I am feeling is terrible. Do others suffer from great depression too? The depression is new for me and something I have not had in the past. Please share if this is normal. Thank you!
Todd

Title: Re: Depression
Post by taraann on Sep 17^th, 2003, 2:09pm

Hi Todd, sorry to hear you are having such a bad time lately. I just posted a thread the other day about depression. I'm not deeply depressed, just lately when I feel that pressure that tells me I've got a CH coming on I feel very depressed. Mostly during the day I dont get too awful depressed (my CH's during the day arent too awful severe) but nighttime is awful for me pain wise and mood wise. If you are feeling depressed all the time or most of the time you should go see your doc, there are many medications out there to help depression. Hang in there and Welcome to the board.

(modified for bad grammer and spelling ;D)

Title: Re: Depression
Post by BarbaraD on Sep 17^th, 2003, 2:57pm

Todd,
Depression seems to go with a cycle. ??? That's what this MB is all about -- support. We come here when we're depressed or hurting.

Sometimes Jonny can just tell us to *()&&^ off and that cheers us up. Sometimes Denny can wisecrack us into a smile or sometimes we can just read that someone is more depressed than we are.

I've been here since the beginning and trust me -- get a chair and stay a while --- you'll be ok - you're with family and friends who know how you feel and care. That seems to work as well as the meds that are out there. At least it does for me. ;D

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Depression
Post by hopefull on Sep 17^th, 2003, 3:04pm

Are you taking any meds that have a side effect of Depression?.... and call your Dr. if nothing esle but to let him know...He can only help you if you tell him

Title: Re: Depression
Post by hopefull on Sep 17^th, 2003, 3:05pm

Oh and the strokes was that because of the hi blood pressure you have with the CH's or do you know exactly why?

Title: Re: Depression
Post by TxBasslady on Sep 17^th, 2003, 4:20pm

:)
Hi Todd
You are very lucky that you found this site. I never had a reason to look for a headache site till Jan. 02. I had 2 ch's, very painful, but lasting only 15 min. or so. Scared me to death, honestly thought I was gonna die.

I ended up here, and have come here often to read and see what I could learn. Really, I think I was trying to figure out the "why me" syndrone.

In Aug., of this year, I went into a ch cycle that really caught my attention. The pain was worse, than the 1st I had and the ha's lasted for 1-2 hours. The "beast" always came for me between 2:30- 3:30 in the a.m. I did get very depressed, I was scared to go to bed and would have done anything to rid myself of the pain. I tried total sleep deprivation. Thought if I just didn't go to sleep, I would be ok. Of course, that caused other probs. So, I decided to just stay awake past my scheduled time of the visit from the "beast". That doesn't work either...lol. He just came for me later.

I came here and posted and the doors to a whole new world opened for me. I found support, understanding, humor and so much more to help me to cope with this. I have learned so many things and met some of the greatest people in the world.

I have been pf for 8 days now, due to a Prednisone taper. Still have 7 days to go on the taper, but am going to try to remain optimistic. I have not had the many years of suffering that you and alot of the others have had. So, while I am sorry that you have to be here, I am so very happy that you are. I hope that you too find what I have found. These folks are the greatest and they are here for us 24/7. There are so many things to learn and alot of great ideas to help you make it thru.

Wishing you many pfdan's............. 8)

Jean

Title: Re: Depression
Post by RevDeFord on Sep 17^th, 2003, 5:16pm

Even as a pastor, I suffer from depression. Church members and other people think as a pastor I should be all peachy kean and hunky doory. That is not the case.

One of the things that used to make me more depressed is that I used to think that I shouldn't be depressed. I used to think that there was something wrong with me for feeling the way I did.

Then I was studying the Bible one day and came across the story of Elijah. Elijah was a prophet who won a great victory for God on Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18. He leads the people of Israel back to worshipping God, he destroys the prophets of Baal, and he is victorious. Then he hears that Jezebel is after him to kill him and something clicks in his head. He runs and runs and goes into hiding. The Bible says that he fell asleep. The angel woke him up and prepared food for him. He fell back asleep. This happened 2 or 3 times. As we all know, sleep problems and food problems are commonplace with depression. Additionally, he prays that God would take his life from him.

Here was a man of God revered by Israel as one of their greatest prophets, and yet he suffered depression.

Realizing that it is ok to be depressed was my first step in realizing that it is ok to be depressed! It is ok. The question is, now what do you do?

Come here, get encouragement, understand that we have been and are where you are. We know the pain, the hurt, the depression, the questions, the fustration, the anger. And we are here for you.

Title: Re: Depression
Post by toothpick on Sep 17^th, 2003, 6:18pm

Hey Todd

Get depressed after a few weeks into a cycle been a newbie a month and a half and after a long cycle finaly feeling like replying on the board so for me it seems to end with the cycle. But if it seems out of the ordinary for you or friends are telling you something dose'nt seem right with you see a doc about it and check out eveything here. Good people and good advice from the old guys

Hang in there Todd

Russ

Title: Re: Depression
Post by Carl_D on Sep 17^th, 2003, 6:26pm

Hi Todd
I deal with clinical depression. Since I became chronic back in February of 1998, I lost everything I had, including some friends who just couldn't understand me, or was tired of me always having to bail from being in pain. That is thier loss, but i still got pretty depressed. Here it is 5 1/2 years later and while I am back to living life again, I still get depressed with thinking "what if" all the time. The important thing to remember is this: You have cluster headaches, they do not have you.
Make the most of each and every moment you are painfree.

Peace,
Carl D

Title: Re: Depression
Post by nancyc on Sep 17^th, 2003, 11:14pm

Hi TOdd, i could really relate to your post, bro...I, too, suffer from depression alot...from chs, the meds i am on for them and just plain life in general sometimes...One thing that I have truly found to help mine is this site...There are some fantastic people here that will jerk you up by your suspenders and tell you to get it together when you start getting too down...Please hang around ...You wont find any better support than you will here with this family! Welcome and feel free to email me anytime...smiles,nancyc

Title: Re: Depression
Post by Jewel on Sep 18^th, 2003, 7:47am

Sorry you're depressed. Boy have I been there. Unfortunately, my depression isn't caused by CHs. Ever tried Celexa. It works great for depression and I've heard others say it works for clusters too.

Title: Re: Depression
Post by stuey on Sep 18^th, 2003, 9:52am

I would be depressed too having gone through what you've been through and if you weren't depressed through all of these hardships THEN I'd think something was wrong with you. We are all human and entitled. Do you have anyone in your life you can let it all out too? Well we are here. I am curious why you were stroking also? I have high blood pressure and take verapamil for that, but also take 960 mg to stop the attacks, and it has worked for me. I was depressed and felt it was natural to be and family and friends thought i had plenty reason to be depressed too and let me be and listened and then I found this website and others who actually understood how painful these attacks are. So don't feel guilty at all if you are, you have people willing to listen and get it all out too.

Title: Re: Depression
Post by Cerberus on Sep 18^th, 2003, 5:47pm

Oh boy! CH and depression......

Howdy Gestrin,

As you have probably read by now, Depression and CH go hand in hand. The latter caused by sleep deprivation, Axiety over the next HA, etc. Get Some meds for it, be prepared to feel like a guinea pig fora while , sometimes finding the med that works and wont make you sick takes a while, and there is a shitload to go through. Hang around the board, its good for helping keep the depression at bay, great support here.
And last but not least feel free to VENT, let it all go hell ya can't be anymore bizarre than alot of the posts I've seen here. (no offense guys, just keeping it real)

PFDAN and many well wishes to you,
Ramon