Major Depression

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pabbie
pabbie Member Posts: 370
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

I was recently diagnosed with major depression. Has anyone else been diagnosed with major depression?

I dealt with and am dealing with the aftermath of two cancers. Colo-rectal (stage 3)-Major surgery, chemo., & rads. (1999) Breast Cancer (Stage 2) Lumpectomy, radiation & tamoxifen. (2008 to current)

My medications for depression/anxiety are Celexa, Clonazapem (Klonopin) and a mood stabilizer.

What has helped you with your depression? I do know that some anti-depressants interfere with the tamoxifen.

My depression makes me feel like I am in slow motion like molasses but the anxiety has been helped w/ the celexa and clonazapem.

The mood stabilizer helps with irritability.

Thanks for the support.

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  • WendyInCalif
    WendyInCalif Member Posts: 172
    edited March 2009

    I believe I have major depression but my ins is keeping me from an actual DX.  Death of mother, brother (suicide) and breast CA all within six months along with loss of a job I wanted and a guy who turned into a creep...I am on prozac.  they stopped the xanax which helped anxiety and allowed me sleep.  Now on provigil to get through work day.  Am familiar enough with myself to know this is serious.  Have finally found a PCP who will see me.  If this keeps up, I am going to try to get electric shock therapy as it has been 2 years and I am still sinking.  No family now and there is no safety net.  Job is a problem and I need to get back in form before I lose everything.  Not even wine is letting me escape from this vacuum I feel I am in - a hollow place where my senses are dulled and auto pilot is getting me through the absolutely necessary functions, namely work and a long walk. 

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  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited March 2009

    Dear Wendy,

    I am suffering from depression as well.  I send you support and hugs for a quick recovery and a sense of feeeling better soon.  I know how much it sucks.

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  • BFidelis
    BFidelis Member Posts: 156
    edited March 2009

    Hi Wendy,

    First, my heart goes out to you for the suffering you have.  Sounds like you know yourself very well and finding a PCP is good.  It also sounds like you need some real human support to go along with chemical support.  If you don't have a local group (or don't go for that sort of thing) please feel free here.  This forum was started precisely so that those of us dealing with major depression, anxiety, etc., have a place where we can really ask/question anything.

    Dona Nobis Pacem,

    Beth

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  • zuffa
    zuffa Member Posts: 95
    edited March 2009

    Wendy - my heart goes out to you.  If you are having problems with your insurance, try contacting the American Cancer Society and the hospital where you are being treated -- which should have a social worker who works with cancer patients -- depression is a major side effect of breast cancer for many.  They may be able to provide some assistance to you to get what you need. 

    Dr. Decker -- so glad to see another post from you!  Keep up the good fight! 

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2009

    I had my appt. with my onc today and we discussed tamoxifen. I'm only on 15mg. in which 20 mg. made me more down. He wouldn't say 15 mg. was ok because 20 mg is the norm. He thinks maybe I could try another anti-depressant to increase my tamoxifen dose. He says some women really metabolize the tamoxifen but if that is the case then you would think 15mg. is OK.

    Wendy-I sent you a private e-mail awhile back. I offer you my support. Dr. Decker-I also send you support and hugs.

    Take care.

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  • cindy1cpa
    cindy1cpa Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2009

    I understand how bad depression feels. I gave up my business that I built and filed BK because the depression was so bad.  Then just as I was thinking about trying to get back to work my mom was dx with bc in Oct and then me in Dec. I had my mast in Feb. I freaked out the doctors in the hospital because I was talking about dying. Now my ps is holding off on doing anymore surgery until my "psych" problems are handled. Her words not mine.  Of course, that just makes me more anxious.  The longer that I have to postpone other surgeries just makes me more crazy.  I want to go back to work and find a new job, but how will I explain that I will need time off in a few months for more surgery? It is just crazy.

     The docs want me to start Tamoxifen, but I don't want to because the SE include depression.  I don't need anymore help in that department.  Even my psychiatrist thinks that it is not a good idea to go on it.  They also want me to stop my birth control pills because of the hormones. They suggested an IUD, but I'm not thrilled with that idea. What to do??

    Depression is bad enough by itself, but even worse with a bc dx.

    I wish for better times for all of you!

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  • hi5
    hi5 Member Posts: 374
    edited April 2009

    Hi Wendy:

    I was dx'ed almost 3 years ago and it is just in the past several months that everything has hit me and I have become depressed.  I wonder if you can have everything hit you years later?

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  • BFidelis
    BFidelis Member Posts: 156
    edited April 2009

    Hello hi5,

    YES it is quite possible to have 'no issues' for years and then for everything to hit.  Sometimes the 'crises' of the moment keep our feet on the path and work as a kind of 'defense mechanism' to help us get through.  Then when things get 'normal' and our defense mechanism is down, we get hit.  I think they even talk about "delayed onset" PTSD vs. "immediate onset" PTSD.  Don't be afraid to talk to your PCP or other trusted doc about medication or referral.  If you PCP doesn't listen, try your OB/GYN.  (You might have a better/closer relationship with him/her.)  Just keep asking til you find someone who says, "You don't need to suffer."

    Peace,

    Beth

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  • saltwater-cowgirl
    saltwater-cowgirl Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2009

    Hello All,

    I just cry cry cry... maybe depression(?)/fear hit me hard 3 and a half years ago when I was DX...Now I feel as if I am back to square one. My Drs are not worried about recurrence, but that is all I do, worry about it!

    I still manage to run about 15 miles a week, eat well etc. I started femara last june after 2+ years on tamoxifen(which i felt really well on)...I think it is the Femara that makes me feel physically bad, then I think bc has come back...I do not know how to live life anymore.

    Saltwater-cowgirl....

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  • marylisa54
    marylisa54 Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2009

    Hi! I have suffered from chronic depression all of my life.  Then came breast cancer, ICU for 38 days from another problem, then loss of job, loss of husband to divorce, etc...so I understand about depression.  I began taking Paxil and it has helped me tremendously with the anxiety as well.  I take Arimidex 1mg daily and I know it has some side effects that may contribute to my depression. Learning how to recognize the first signs of a "funk" has helped in waylaying a bad depression siege.  When I feel a deeper drop in my mood coming I will get out of the house, call people and just talk about anything, find online support groups (like this one-:-}  ) Get active.  "Move a muscle, change a thought".  It is very frightening to be in a deep depression and I have learned to do ANYTHING (within reason) to get myself out of it.  You are not alone.

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