Seriously low & anxious. Is it related to my cirrhosis?

[acjb007]

For a few months I've been feeling really low for no reason. The stupidist of things cause me great anxiety. I'm in bed sleeping most days & have a low appetite. Does anyone else feel this way? Can it be related to my cirrhosis? I'm already taking anti anxiety and depression tablets.

[Hidden]

I personally believe that if you can understand why certain things happen, it helps in accepting the condition.

I am presently doing an online course with, "futureLearn" the course is entitled, "Integrating care: depression, anxiety and physical illness King's College London" this course explains the link between the physical medical conditions, and the mental health response.

For many years it was always believed that the mind and the body were two separate entities. and that what happened in the body could never effect the mind, due to the blood brain barrier. It has however, recently been discovered that this is not the case.

When the body (in this case the liver, and possible varices) becomes damaged, the immune can be tricked into thinking that the body is under attack. It then starts dumping white blood cells into the body (Macrophage) to fight off and attack any germs and bacteria. The immune system also sends out a small proteins called, "Cytokines" . It has been discovered that these Cytokines can indeed cross over the blood brain barrier and effect mood changes and bring about depression and anxiety.

Prof Edward Bullmore, explains this in his book, "The Inflamed Mind". It may also be the reason as to why so many people suffer with Survivors Guilt and PTSD after a liver transplant.

Ed Bullmore explains this in a short video, which you might find helpful: youtube.com/watch?v=hX2B3Ij...(Not working as expected?)

Like I said at the start, understand why something is happening, makes it easier to accept it. Just one less thing to worry about.

I hope this helps.

[Laura009 in reply to Hidden]

How does one differenciate between a personality trait and a mental illness? The lines seem very blurred to me

[Hidden in reply to Laura009]

Time for new glasses?

[Laura009 in reply to Hidden]

Hahaha

[Hidden]

A quick check of your posting history reveals that you have a pretty damaged liver. Taking anti-anxiety medication & anti-depressants would be placing your liver under further stress possibly contributing to you feeling low by making it harder for your liver to perform all of its functions well.

If you continued to drink alcohol despite having cirrhosis you would be warned that you were acting irresponsibly and killing yourself. When a doctor prescribes optional anti-anxiety medication & anti-depressants to a patient with cirrhosis it shifts responsibility to the doctor 'legitimizing' it despite the medication causing the liver to work harder.

Do you absolutely need the anti-anxiety medication & anti-depressants? If you and your doctor feel that you do then the trade-off is that your liver is being made to work harder with the accompanying risks and side effects. I don't have cirrhosis but I do have serious health issues which are made worse (my blood pressure soars dangerously high) if I take anything that makes my liver work harder so I take nothing more than an occasional over the counter painkiller.

Have you been evaluated as to suitability for a transplant?

[Laura009 in reply to Hidden]

Very good points Edward.

I am intrigued by yet another of the latest conditions which seems to be very much on the increase.... Anxiety. We may all have moments of a rush of adrenaline or moments of anxiety, before a big event as a for instance, but at what point does anxiety become what now appears to be another crippling mental illness ?

[Laura009 in reply to Hidden]

Ps ..... for which incidentally you can now be a blue badge holder ???

[Hidden]

I suffer with anxiety as well. I made a mistake yesterday and decided that alcohol would help. My anxiety was wicked bad. It would have been smarter to take my anti anxiety meds. Perhaps you need to talk to your doctor and have your meds adjusted.

I'm sorry that you are having such a difficult time.

Take good care.

[Couch1]

I wish I had the answer to that...