treatment resistant

[Springvale23]

I have been on meds on and off since I was 21 and I am 69 now. Been on continuous anti depression meds for over 10 years. Diagnosed with Depression, cyclothymia (a mild form of bi polar) and anxiety, including social anxiety.

My question is, meds have never worked for me. I get small windows of days and some times weeks of feeling good and productive ,then spiral downwards. At a very low point now and can’t function. Not washing or leaving the house. I am wondering now if I am treatment resistant. I am considering asking for electric shock treatment. My life is wasting away.

Any help offered and opinions welcome

[gajh]

I don't know if your insurance covers it but two other options other than electric shock treatment are Ketamine and TMS Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Both are used for treatment resistant depression. You might want to check with your doctor.

[Springvale23 in reply to gajh]

Thanks. I am in Uk , but will approach my doctor.

I have been taking over the counter sleeping tablets and I do think they cause problems with depression side effect also.

[bethelbee in reply to Springvale23]

Sleeping pills, OTC or RX can have an effect on depression.

[bethelbee]

I'm 68 and became treatment resistant to meds a few years ago. Had been on them for decades. They did help for a while. My therapist recommended TMS and it was the best treatment to happen to me in a long time. I've had 3 rounds. The results of the first two each lasted about 6 months and the third is still working after close to 2 years. It is a noninvasive treatment. I would consider that way before ECT as there are risks of memory loss with ECT(happened to a friend of mine).

[Springvale23 in reply to bethelbee]

Thanks for your response. Will look into TMS

[bethelbee in reply to Springvale23]

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about it.

[Springvale23 in reply to bethelbee]

Is TMS still working for you. Is treatment on going?

I have hit another wall with meds not working. Latest few tablets , Mirtazapine , severe side effects of muscle pains in legs and arms and now Vortioxetine that stimulates me and prevents me from sleeping longer than 3 hours. Even with sleeping tablet

[bethelbee in reply to Springvale23]

Sorry you've hit another wall with meds.. TMS is still working after 3 years. Have been dealing other health issues and without it I've no doubt I would have really spiraled down. I've had a few down times but nothing major . I would definitely recommend at least looking into getting TMS, talk to your doctor. Right before I had my 2nd round I was not doing well at all and if not for treatment may not be sitting here today. As with any treatment results vary and it doesn't work for everyone but does have a decent success rate. Treatment is typically 5x wk for 6-7 weeks(unless something has changed since I had it). Please keep me posted if you want to. Take care.

[Springvale23 in reply to bethelbee]

Thanks for your response. Getting call from dr on Friday.

Having bloods done today. My thyroid levels were low and tablets increased a month ago. So just getting checked out.

I took a full tablet last night , Temazepam 10 mg and slept 9 hours with only 2 short breaks. Dr had advised only half tablet.

A one off or progress , not sure.

Will keep on Vortioxetine in meantime also. Will update on Friday.

Thanks again

[designguy]

I had difficulty finding a med that would work for me after trying a half-dozen that didn't. I ended up doing a psychopharmacological test that used my dna to determine which meds were best suited for me. The test showed that none of the previous meds were right for me and I started on one it recommended and it has worked well. I live in the states and my test was from Genesight and I don't know if it's available elsewhere. I think there is a similar test in the UK from Myogenes.

[Springvale23]

hope the meds you are on are still working.

I am still struggling with side effects from most meds I am on or else get no benefit from them.

Currently on Vortioxetine . But it is disturbing my sleep and ability to fall asleep. Even after taking a sleeping tablet.

[mauv]

Tried TMS and had no results. Hope you have better luck. It depends a lot on how long you have suffered with MDD. I tried ECT 2 rounds 36 txs and no results either. Lokoking into nasal ketamine tx(sparvato tx) now. I have been resistent to antidepressants for 5 yrs. I will be 80 on Feb 22. Talk to a Psychologist 1 time a week. Rely on my strong faith and daughter and friends, but would love to get some relieve from the depression too. It has been a very difficult road but we have each other because we understand each other. We don’t walk this road alone. Good luck with your TMS txs Springvale23

[Springvale23 in reply to mauv]

Have had 2 better nights sleep. Took 10mg of Temazepam and slept for 7/8 hours. Still feeling on edge during the day. It’s under 2 weeks since I started Vortioxetine so maybe still early days.

Have arranged to collect an order from local shopping centre and meeting a friend there for coffee.

Not enthusiastic about this but glad I am well enough to make an effort.

Plan on getting bus rather than driving. The fresh air will be good walking to and from bus stop and shop.

So small benefits today .

[Springvale23 in reply to mauv]

sorry your journey to recovery has not been good. It’s a blessing to have family support and your faith.

[Beevee]

Hi Springvale23

I don't think anxiety & depression is "treatment resistant."

I think people reach this conclusion because they have tried everything to change the way they are thinking and feeling.

However, have you tried doing nothing about those negative thoughts and feelings and learned to accept them?

The thing is, anxiety/depression is a paradox. The more I did to try and get better, the worse I became. It was my resistance to the symptoms that kept them coming!

I learnt that to overcome anxiety and depression, I had to stop trying to recover and feel the symptoms willingly. They are perfectly natural under the circumstances [stressed about being stressed] and my mind and body was waiting to recover once I stepped out of the way of myself and accepted it all.

Treatment resistant was a topic I posted on this forum a few years ago which you might find helpful.

Best wishes ❤️

[Springvale23 in reply to Beevee]

I understand what you mean. I have completed 3 separate courses of CBT. and have tried to manage . I also understand that comparison is no friend to me.

However at times when I can’t get out of bed, washed , dressed or make food, it’s hard to accept.

I still believe there is @ chemical connection to our mental health. I have cyclothymia on bi polar spectrum and at times meds are essential to my survival.

I will read your article.

Thanks for input

[Beevee in reply to Springvale23]

I'm not discounting meds to help out but I didnt want to rely on them. I didnt need them before severe anxiety / depression came knocking so why now. Call.me stubborn but knew I had to learn how to cope with the symptoms and not crumple.

My journey basically mirrored the consistent pattern described by Dr Claire Weekes in her books which included depression [fatigue of the spirit caused by nervous suffering]

There may well be a chemical imbalance but from my own experience, I think any imbalance is caused by the depression and not the other way round.

I threw away my medication [tried a few but made me feel worse] and fully embraced acceptance of the symptoms and over a periid of time, they all disappeared.

During recovery, there were very good days and ery bad days [bi-polar?]. Recovery felt it was fully within my grasp one day but elusive the next day.

I truly believe that many of the mental health labels given by the medical profession all stem from fatigue of the nerves and perpetuated by the constant fight to feel a different way.

❤️

[Springvale23 in reply to Beevee]

Thanks for your input. I will continue to post with my journey.