PV and Depression

[rkhabtec]

PV and Depression has anyone experienced this? Thanks

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

hello, living with a chronic disease, like PV, can cause anxiety and depression because of the many changes that having PV will have on your daily life, so yes many people with PV and the other MPNs do have periods of depression. It would be advisable to discuss this with your GP who can offer you many ways of coping with depression, so do go and have a chat with your doctor about this. It might help you to have a buddy to talk to, a buddy is someone who has the same MPN so can offer advice and support from the perspective of someone who understands the challenges of living with PV, a buddy is not a trained counsellor or therapist, but they do know what it feels like. If you would think you would like to have a buddy to talk to please email me at [e-mail] and I can send you the details.

Kind regards, Maz

[jillydabrat]

Hi my lovely, I think anybody with a chronic condition will suffer from anxiety or depression. I have been on antidepressants for years, well before I got diagnosed with PV. I think people keep the condition from friends and family but I have found talking through my concerns the most therapeutic thing I could have done. Don't be afraid to seek advice from your GP, it is far better to admit your struggling.

Take care

Jill

[hunter5582]

I think you would hear from plenty of people that a period of depression coming to grips with having a chronic illness is pretty common. In a sense, it is normal to feel depressed about depressing situations. This will usually get better as you come to grips with the PV and learn to manage it. As Mazcd suggests, do talk to your treatment providers and seek help with it. Options range from engaging your own support group, counseling (CBT is especially helpful), and medications when needed. Your docs should also look at your current medications as some (e.g. Pegasys) can have depression as a side effect.

Some of the other things that would help are: good nutrition, exercise, getting outside and reasonable exposure to daylight, spending time with people you love, doing things you enjoy doing. That latter - having fun - often gets overlooked.

Hope you get to a better place soon. All the best to you.

[Wyebird]

I have ET and yes I get extremely low. It’s taken me 4 years to accept what I have . Partially I think because it’s taken that long to get platelets under control. Partially the family thinking there is nothing wrong and not noticing my fatigue.

Try not to be alone. Try and join a low impact social club. Even if you are not particularly interested in the event. Lol. I do yoga and swim. Often having coffee with other gym club members after. Guy’s have a support group.

Failing that do phone Macmillan . They helped me. What about asking Maz for a buddy.

Please let me know how you get on.

[Alex9621]

I was diagnosed with PV 3 years ago and have had periods that have been hard to deal with. For me when something new comes up medically is when I find I have the hardest time. I feel I may even get somewhat paranoid over it. I think maybe most of us go through this, maybe not. I feel as if I get one thing under control only to have something else to deal with medically. Each time that happens I am thinking will this mean another hospital stay, another needle stick, will my vain infiltrate (or blow), will it mean chemo everyone talks about, and the list goes on and on. You have to deal with all the doctors appointments and change in doctors. No wonder we get in a tizzy?