Depression in RA and Fibro | Arthritis Information

 

Hi, I'm Dottie, and I'm pretty new to this site, but I would like to know does everyone feel depression with the RA and Fibro?  I've had Fibro for over 25 yrs. then I was diagnosed with RA 3 months ago.  That sure was a big wammie for me toswallow.  I was ok when I got up this morning, and pow around 4pm, I was all over the place.  I was edgy and annoyed.  I just can't understand why this happens.  I seem to be more angry than have a nice mood.  Could someone post me back about this?  Thanks      Dottie51

Connie

Dottie,

What you are describing is grief which is also involved with this disease, and yes, so is depression and anxiety. The loss we go through with RA and Fibro is immense parts of our lives disappear. It takes some adjustment in my estimation a good three or so years really to being to manage RA and allow ourselves to grieve.

I will write a longer post for you about this but right now I have to drop my girl at her grandparents so you will hear from me later on.

I suggest you allow yourself to feel and 'be' whatever you are at the moment, it will help you get through it. If you try and stop those emotions you will simply get stuck in them. Cry if you want to, be angry...punch pillows, write it out...be whatever you are. What you are experiencing is very very 'normal'.

Hi Dotti, and welcome. It's hard for me to say if "everyone" goes through it...my own experience is that I had the depression (on and off for 20+ yrs) long before the fibro (7 yrs) and the RA (1.5 yrs).  But I think it is very natural and "normal" to have depression with either one of these diseases, even more likely if you have both, and even more likely than that if you are newly diagnosed.  I remember the day I got diagnosed, realizing that all along I thought the fibro meant I wasn't going to have to deal with any other big chronic problems.  The realization that I had RA too, and that I might develop even more problems, was truly overwhelming, even devastating.  For awhile.  It takes a lot of time to adjust.

The other thing I wanted to say is that I don't know what meds you are on, but many of them can exacerbate depression, especially pain meds.  Next time you see your dr, you should mention the depression and see if there's something to help, either changing/removing meds or adding them.

I haven't found any prescription meds to help my depression (either they don't work for me or the side effects are too much), but I have been taking SAM-e as a supplement for a long time and it has helped me quite a bit.  I also go for counselling every other week.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this, but you seem to have a good understanding of what it is and where it's coming from.  We are handling a lot and it is only natural that our moods are going to reflect that.  Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to go through whatever you need to go through.

I have been diagnosed with RA and fibro and also struggle with depression from time to time. I try to make sure I don't stay "stuck" in a depressive state for too long. Sometimes a good night's sleep tends to help my mood lift. Last weekend I had a full breakdown where I cried for a few days, reached out to others, and finally devised a plan to break out of the depressive mode. I am on cymbalta, which works ok at times. Even on this medication, I do find that I feel symptoms of depression periodically. I think this is normal with RA, as well as other chronic illnesses that cause pain. Therapy can be a great tool, as can medication if warranted. If you find that you are not able to pull yourself out of depression, or tend to linger there too long, it is definately time to seek some type of help. My motto with this is, misery is a place that we can expect to pass through from time to time, but be careful not to take residence there. ie: it's normal to get down and discouraged and sad from time to time, but when it begins to become a way of thinking and feeling, it's time to find a way out. I hope you are feeling better soon. love and hugs, juliahDottie,

You seems to be dealing with two things here and I will separate them as they probably both need to be dealt with apart.

First of all you are experiencing a grief process triggered by your dx. This is something all people dx with a chronic illness go through. The hard stuff with an RA grief process, is unlike grief with death, there is not as much closer for us, we struggle with that depending on our flares and remissions etc.

The grief for me has required a long journey of acknowledging my feelings as they arise and letting them be present. I have/am also having counseling to assist me with this.

Then there is the depression. That is something that will probably be on going too and is intertwined with the grief process but needs to be dealt with apart. For this if it continues, you may need an anti depressant and I am also on a mood stabiliser that works wonders.

So basically, Dottie, you are perfectly normal, love. You are experiencing what most of us have experienced being diagnosed with a chronic disease.

Reach out here when you need help here, we are always willing to listen, that's what we do for each other...support, listen and empathise.
Dottie,

Sorry I meant to include this link in my last post...RA brain tonight. This is a good site showing the grief process and what's involved in it.

http://changingminds.org/disciplines/change_management/kuble r_ross/kubler_ross.htm

Thought it might be helpful for where you are at.

Hi, dottie, I think part of this depression comes when our family

I think every person on this forum gets to whine and complain, and cry and stomp and carry on just any old way they feel like it, and we are here (amazing isn't it , 24/7) no matter

So, we deserve to cry whenever we feel like it, we have a serious disease, it is getting in our way of living our lives like we use to, we can't be the parent/spouse/grandparent we USE to be, that's a loss. But, we can sort out the treatment and do pretty well (hopefully!) I'm not playing on the tennis team, but heck I get to ride in a golf cart and drive along hitting the ball in a beautiful setting with my dear husband. NO I don't play as well. NO I get tired and quit after 16 holes and not 18, but what the HECK I'm out there!!

We can adjsut the housework, the gardening, we can be depressed one day and then feel better the next, maybe. It's a work in

We need good doctors, good family with understandaing, and great friends (this forum provides friends who understand, perfectly how we feel)

Hugs friends! didn't mean to go on and on, Lynda
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