Lupus depression

[Museumgirl]

Been suffering through really bad lupus flare ups for the past few weeks. Just recently the depression has hit me hard.

Any advice?? I am desperate to stop feeling this way. Not on any meds.

[ava97]

depression is really painful for lupies.but u can enjoy moments withs your friends or your family.sshare everythng with your mother....you have to enjoy life.then you can forget your loneliness. I feel really hopeless sometimes but try my best to overcome it

[Museumgirl in reply to ava97]

Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it. The depression comes and goes, but when it hits, it's really bad >.<

[overnighthearingloss]

I am not a doctor nor medically trained but might be worth googling vitamin b3. Are you maybe low in this.

And/or d3 the sunshine vitamin

[Museumgirl in reply to overnighthearingloss]

Thanks for the response! I've been taking b3 (and the other b vitamins as well), as well as d3. I have heard of St. John's wort and just bought some, have you tried that before?

[overnighthearingloss in reply to Museumgirl]

No never taken that. I'm lucky that I sometimes get a bid fed up but it's never extremely disabling to me. But it seems you have to be sure to eat a well balanced diet and reduce the stuff that does not have too many nutritional positives.

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

Nutrition is being shown to have very wide ranging effects.

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to Museumgirl]

Oops sent to wring person. But maybe vitamin D?

[Freckle1000 in reply to Museumgirl]

Ask your Doctor before you take St John's wort. Sometimes it doesn't mix with some Lupus medications.

[happytulip in reply to Freckle1000]

Agreed. St Johns Wort, mixed with certain meds can induce psychosis. ALWAYS tell a doctor if you are taking st Johns Wort.

As for your depression, go to your GP and maybe see about some councelling. Talking therapy has helped me. Good luck xx

[Ladyuponthelake in reply to overnighthearingloss]

Maybe vitamin D too?

[Twts]

I experienced too and sometimes it feels like it is so hard to get out of... try and do things that make it seem like you are in control if that makes sense. For me that is I get up I clean my whole room, I will let as much light in as I can take (I become really photosensitive so on sunny days this is not an option), listen to uplifting music, wash shave do your hair really pretty, small things like that.

Also super cliche but ive bought 1.5 litre water bottles I make it my mission to drink it all in a day, I now take a supplement pill with it... in hopes it makes a difference. The flares drag your mood through the mud so it is up to us to try and do any little thing. Maybe get candles and light them in your room.. boo a massage if you can. Attempt to eliminate most if all of the stress as this is the quickest way to get rid of a flare.

I really hope you overcome this. Lupus warrior xxx

[Museumgirl in reply to Twts]

Thank you for the response, I'll definitely be trying some of those (especially the massage, hehe). I definitely forget about the water often, thanks for the reminder.

[Dearne]

No useful advice I'm afraid just support I know what is like you are not alone with this feeling

[Museumgirl in reply to Dearne]

Means a lot to me anyways, thanks

[rja1940]

i wish you well hun just found out i have too and i do not think it as sunk in my mind yet well i have a lot of other issue i am just taking it one day at a time

[Museumgirl in reply to rja1940]

Sorry to hear that, same here, one day at a time.

[chrisj]

I find walking helps lift my spirit and rest when I'm tired, short naps

Meds have helped manage Lupus very well for me and I'm wondering why you aren't taking any???

[Museumgirl in reply to chrisj]

I am afraid to take any meds at this point, I've been trying to even stay away from tylenol and stick to turmeric pills to deal with the pain.

[fabwheelie]

Hi It's worth talking to your GP about this. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. People with Lupus can get depression as a result of just living with the symptoms and limitations it puts on us, but also depression is often a symptom of Lupus in it's own right

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Museumgirl,

I am glad to see that you have reached out for advice via this forum; you have received some good responses so far and I am sure others will benefit from your post too.

Sometimes, certain situations can be overwhelming which is why talking to someone can help relieve any anxiety that you may have. If you would like someone to speak to, we can provide you with LUPUS UK contacts who you can chat with over the telephone. These contacts are volunteers who mostly have lupus themselves; they are not medically trained but are there to offer support and understanding. If you would like a local contact to speak to, you can email me at [e-mail] with your name and address.

You mention that you are not on medication, is this regarding medication for depression?

It is possible that some treatments for lupus such as prednisolone (steroids) could trigger or exacerbate depression and/or anxiety. We recently published a blog article on ‘coping with depression and anxiety’ which you may like to read: lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-...

I encourage you to keep using this sociable forum. Please let us know how you get on, wishing you all the best.

[Thrkllmdeb]

Hi, I don't have any advice I'm afraid , I'm struggling with it also 😦.I have no patience either a few home truths have been told which isn't like me at all . I hope you feel better soon 😊

[LLH76]

Hey, I’m undiagnosed but got a lot of the markers.

I’ve suffered with depression since childhood, now 41, it’s one of the hardest things to deal with, chicken or egg in its relationship with Lupus, but for me sometimes I am so desperately low that I have terrible, irrational thoughts, even harder to deal with when I have a son with mental health problems, so trying to keep everyone else above water when I’m actually drowning myself.

I have noticed I’m worse if I miss my dose of hydroxychloroquine though?!

Try and find something that makes you happy and gives you a sense of escapism from the hum drum, easier said than done when sometimes you can’t see out of the hole I know, but learning your own emotional/mental warning signs can be half way to nipping a more severe episode in the bud...for me I start to have visual disturbances etc, so I know when I’m going downhill.

Luckily it’s a topic that is getting talked about more and more and the stigma attached to admitting you are struggling has diluted over the years, however, I know only too well that explaining and expressing how we feel to those closest to us is probably still as hard as it’s ever been because we don’t want to hurt them.

It’s often another hidden illness to add to our many bows of hidden illnesses...

[Lisalou19]

When I read posts like this, it breaks my heart as the struggle is so real.

I’m generally such an up beat joyful person , then this fatigue and depression hits hard. I’ve said so many times I feel like I’m living with bio polar

My only advice, as hard as it is get up and do something, keep the body moving to stop the brain ticking. I find just sitting there , sends you into a deeper depression. I force myself out, although I think everyone can see how low I feel. I keep my head down and walk, even it only for 10 minutes.

I don’t like the thought of taking anti depressants, as my good days are so good I don’t resemble being depressed.

I hope you start to feel better real soon. Xx