Endo and depression.

[Bride2be]

Has anyone had any experience with this? I've had depression for over 10 years and managing it really well for the last year or so with meds. Suspected endo since I started my periods 15 years ago and finally going for a lap shortly. The problem is at the moment when one day/ week I feel fine and can cope and then the next, like today I'm a mess- just so down, in pain and can't think straight. It is really affecting my job and my GP is being useless and just keeps telling me to wait for the lap results- end of. I'm 28, getting married in a few months and hope to God I can conceive in the summer. Just feel like I'm in pain limbo and really depressed.

Has anyone had experience of this and can anything help?

Thank you,

Katie x

[Impatient]

If you are on meds, perhaps you need to try a different kind (there are so many) and see if you can find one that better suits you now. Depression has nothing to do with lap results, or rather lap results will not sort out depression.

Anxiety about wedding and illness and surgery are all going to impact your fragile state of mind, as they would anyone with a perfectly healthy noddle too.

There's so many variations of depressive illness, and I suspect most of us with endo have at some point or other become really depressed over our endo and other aspects of trying to cope.

Some do take anti-deps others try and cope without.

I've had them in the past when I had a breakdown with clinical depression and they were awesome, not without side effects, but still they got me back to the land of the living again.

The first ones I went on didn't suit me at all, so I was switched by my GP to a different sort and they did the trick.

There are lots of things to try and elevate the serotonin levels in your brain.

In additon to anti-deps, oily fish is good for the brain and so too codliver oil. Though it's rather icky to consume.

There are relaxation techniques to relieve anxiety, through sports and exercise, hypnotherapy, various homeopathic remedies, distracting techniques and so on.

All involve some effort, which is probably the last thing you feel like doing on top of everything else. There are no quick fixes for low levels of serotonin in the brain. You will have taken some time to reach where you are now, and it will take some time to pep up again.

Getting the right anti-dep meds can make all the difference. If you have been on the same sort for a long time because till now they had been working, then it is probably time to switch to a different sort of anti-dep and see if that can pick you back up in a few weeks time.

[Cloudyrain]

Ah honey it's really hard.

Depression could be related in a response to the pain the problems caused by endo, it could be a separate entity, or a combination of the both. Have they asked you to chart your moods in relation to your cycle to see if there is a pattern (e.g. Hormonal cause). Also, you should be able to receive counselling so seek this if not.

Good luck with the lap. As for the baby thing, just remember for perfectly healthy people with no problems at all it takes 12-18 months to conceive so don't put pressure on yourself for it to happen at a specific time.

Good luck, don't really think I have helped much! Maybe have a look at the endo diet as some of the "no" foods are also good to avoid if you have depression (e.g. Caffiene) x

[Bride2be]

Thank you. Cloudyrain, you are so right about me putting pressure on myself and I am a bit on a control freak. It was a while ago that the doctor told me to 'listen to my body' but it just seems to leave me feeling tired and ill all the time. My moods have always seemed to be linked to my cycle so I will keep an eye on this,

Thanks ladies x

[psychosue]

Being in pain does get you down. I suffered from depression for year but seem cope better now. Liked what your doctor said about listening to your body. I used get so confused and hated when my partner said that the time of the month must be due, he could tell but my moods and behaviour. I now have an app on my phone that tracks my period, moods and symptoms.

It doesn't stop the pain or the moods, but I feel more in control. I can be good to myself and take it easy, the week before my period is due cause usually when its worse.

Hope all goes well with your plans for your wedding. I was also a mess before I got married, I was due to get my lap before my wedding and was in a total panic that it wouldn't get done in time. It all worked out in the end.

As for your pain its been an on going trial with various meds, I get keep going back to the doctor. I've had various GPs over the years but have found a good one now, who understand me, and takes the time to listen.

I have also had problems coping at work, my employer sent for a medical and thought I might lose my job but they are now more understanding.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself to conceive, your still young, one thing at a time. Good luck x

[Cloudyrain]

Just a thought but if you do find it linked to your cycles it might be worth asking for some blood tests to check your hormone levels as it's very very common to suffer extreme emotional variation because of PCOS.

Im not making a diagnosis of you or anything, but just worth considering. For a few years in my early 20s I suffered quite bad (depression/anxiety then better for a few weeks then bad again). I handle it quite well now, but it was only the other year when I wad diagnosed with PCOS that my GP suggested it has likely been the cause of my depressive phases (e.g. Times when I wasn't on any hormonal drugs I was suffering mentally).

Take care honey x