Depression and Chemo

dibel
dibel Member Posts: 161
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Depression and Chemo
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  • dibel
    dibel Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2007

    I have 2 more chemo treatments of Taxotere left and have found the holidays to be almost more than I could bear.  For the past several days, I've had multiple tearful meltdowns that I haven't been able to control.  This is NOT like me!  My sister thinks I'm severely depressed but I don't know if it's just because I feel like crap, the holidays or true depression.  Did any of you have depression during your chemo and if so, did you seek meds?  What type and how did that work for you?  Should I just suck it up and get through the next  6 weeks???

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  • thomcat
    thomcat Member Posts: 356
    edited December 2007

    Dibel:

    I did have depression during chemo but didn't seek meds for depression.  I was taking Ativan to help me sleep but other than that I sucked it up until I was done.  I don't know if that was good or bad but I did end up taking Effexor when I was done which has helped plus I have joined a support group.  I finished chemo 3/07 and have had depression during the holidays myself.  Can't really say why....the dx or what.  I suggest talking to your oncologist about it.

    HTH and I wish you the best with your remaining txs.

    Cathy

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  • CaNatalie
    CaNatalie Member Posts: 70
    edited December 2007

    Hi Dibel,

    I just wanted to say you are not alone! I am on chemo (four down two to go) and definitely have days were I feel depressed. I am sure during these tough times the holiday season does not help. I have found that finding someone to listen and let me have my crying moments help. Also the support on this site has really helped on the most horrible days. As far as drugs go my personal choice has been Ativan but I know a lot of women who go on anti-depressants during these hard times. I think whatever you need to get through will be the right decision for you. Hang in there...you will get through this! It sounds like you have a great support system with your sister.

    Take Care,

    Natalie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    When I was first diagnosed, I can't say I was depressed, but more upset.  I did seek out anti depressants once I had met with the oncologist and we discussed the chemo & such, because I knew there was going to be no way I could get through it, hair loss & all, without it.  I knew that the other medical conditions I already had were just not going to do well with this added to the mix.  There is no shame in asking for help with it - you can ask your provider for a low dose one with minimal side effects.  Good luck!

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  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited December 2007

    prozac

    I remember those days very well......Prozac helped me so much, and still does with the hot flashes.

     If you feel you need something, then ask for it. Try it for at least 30 days. Then make a decision weather to stay on it or stop. But give it a chance.

    Best of luck.

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited December 2007

    What you have is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  It is similar to the war vets.  This is a very long, lonely and nasty journey.  It does not go away when the treatment ends, it just gets worse.  People smile and say, "Oh, isn't it nice you are all well".  Try not to beat them senseless, going to jail will not help!

    Anti-deps are a big help and Xanax or Valium for the break=thrus or the days of appointments.

    Honey, what is happening is you have lost all confidence in your body and in your life expectancy.  This gets better with time.  But meanwhile, you suffer, really suffer.  Knowing we are all in the exact same boat helps.

    Gentle hugs, Shirlann

    .

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  • dibel
    dibel Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2007

    Shirlann,

    Thanks so much for your explanation.  Just hearing you call me "honey" made a difference.  I wouldn't have thought this was Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome but maybe so?  Should I see my general physician or the chemo Doc for meds?  Christmas Eve, I had a meltdown and my husband sat with me while I told him I didn't even know if I would be here next Christmas.  I guess that's normal.  Then another so-called shallow friend--that's what has affected me so much.  I sent her an email telling her I had some meltdowns over the holidays and she wrote back and told me where she had Christmas dinner (at one of my favorite restaurants in Fl) and told me she was fishing and shelling on the beach.  Never even acknowledged my feelings.  I think I can be safe in cutting off that relationship. 

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited December 2007

    Listen to Shirlann, she knows what she's talking about.

    It's so absolutely normal to go into a funk with this disease.  For awhile, back around the time of my surgery, I took an antidepressant.  It did help.  I think I may try again as I've been in a real dark spot through these holidays too.  You're not alone.

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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited December 2007

    I didn't have too much depression during chemo once i got over the shock of my diagnosis.  I felt that I was doing something proactive.  Once, I had surgery, however, the depression hit like a lead balloon.  I had quite a bit of pain for almost 3 weeks, was nauseous a lot of the time and my pathology report was ugly.  I was crying at just about everything.  One day I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription and it wasn't ready.  I started to cry.  Anyway, I picked up a prescription for Effexor yesterday.  I'm looking forward to feeling better in a couple of weeks.  I think Shirlann hit the nail on the head - loss of confidence in my body,  concerns about life expectancy and emotional vulnerability.  Thanks to all on this list for your support.

    .

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited March 2008



    Shirlann is definately on to something with the conceptual diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from breast cancer. It's often marked be a lonely, scary revisiting of one's original diagnosis, and wondering about replays, i.e. recurrence.



    Not everyone suffers the same, but this is a major problem whether it be PTSD (or post traumatic breast synderome, PTBD, as I envision it) or depression with a replay component, it is real and needs treatment.



    I think psychiatrists should consider a new DSM IV (current diagnostic code) just for this, to allow greater recognition and of course calling it what it is so no woman or man may suffer alone or suffer in shame. The old "pull yourself up by your bootstrap" approach does not work with this disorder.



    Done with my two cents worth.Thanks for listening!

    Tender

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited December 2007
    Yup - exactly as Shirlann described and also happens when you have dr appt or a scheduled mammogram, etc.  Some how we need to find our new self as we can never return to the way we were before bc. Cry
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