Depression & lung conditions

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Wheezy replied on 03-02-2011 9:28 AM

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Waiting lists & Drs with no bed side manners! I think we have all been there. Complaining about Drs is good otherwise they get away with it. Its so cold here today with a bitter wind. Did the school run again & got rather chesty. Had a neb & am poodling again today. My sister is having surgery today with an over-night stay in hosp so I am abit anxious today. That along with the cold which took my breath away this morning could be why I am so chesty. Hope your days go well my friends.

Wheezyrie

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Ian replied on 03-02-2011 11:15 AM

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Hi, Wheezyrie  Stress and anxiety have a bad effect on breathing, they are like heavy weights that we are trying to drag along with us, we have to find coping strategies that will remove some of that weight and make going forward easier. For me making a list of the positive things and trying to concentrate on them is helpful but as we are all different, finding what works will be different for each of us so finding what works for others may be of some help in finding your own method.

all the best

Ian

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Wheezy replied on 03-02-2011 11:54 AM

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Thanks Ian. Anxiety levels have just gone up again! Just had a phone call from my Dr, he is making up my usual repeat prescription & wants to change my inhaler that the specialist put me on in Jan. I dont know what to do. I dont want to rock the boat with the specialist. One good thing though is he going to give me anti-bios & steroids to keep indoors on standby & nobody has offered me this before. Sorry Ian I am thinking outloud, will talk all this through with BLF nurse who is ringing me again on Fri, I think she said. I'm so confused & still no news from my Mum about my sister.

Wheezyrie

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Pollyanna replied on 03-02-2011 5:55 PM

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Hi Wheezyrie

you sound as though you have too much to cope with at the moment. 

How old are your children? Is there any chance you could get more help with the dreaded school run?

I know I always kept my medical problems very private and noone knew how hard I was finding routine parenting stuff. You might be surprised to find how many people are willing to help out if you ask. Other Mums can be very supportive and it 's worth asking. or if you can't at least let school know you are struggling they could come up with some ideas. You need to share this problem aand not over burden yourself.

Iknow easier said than done.

good luck with it all

Paula x

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Wheezy replied on 03-02-2011 8:12 PM

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Paula, thank you for your kindness & I can relate to your wanting to keep things private. I put a brave face on. My daughters are 16 & 14 but my eldest is disabled & I am her full-time carer. I dont really have anyone to help except my parents but they will be helping my sister out now with her three who are all under ten. My sister had a 'ladies problem' op today & will be out of action for six weeks. My hubby helps out when he can with the school run but usually has to start work early. I am still trying to get respite care for my disabled D but it is proving quite a battle. Thanks Paula, you take care.

Wheezyrie

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Wheezy replied on 03-09-2011 6:34 PM

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Hi all, need to be with peeps who understand right now. How are you all? I am on here every day but dont always have anything constructive to say! I love reading all your updates & news. At last I am feeling the benefits of the Symbicort inhaler the consultant put me on. I have used one & am on a new one. I am using nebs a little less too which is good. I just wish the tiredness would get less. I wake up tired & seem to be tired all day. Oh well, cant have it all I guess! Thanks for reading, sorry its not very interesting!

Wheezyrie

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Ian replied on 03-09-2011 6:46 PM

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Hi, Wheezyrie just being able to talk with people that understand is why we are here, finding the positives in situations so that we can help each other through the dark days.

Would this site help deal with some of these feelings.

http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/

hope it helps

Ian

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Pollyanna replied on 03-09-2011 6:47 PM

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Hi Wheezyrie I'm like you I have to keep looking in to see what's going on. Glad to hear the inhaler is working for you, but understand how this wretched tiredness can get you down. I went back to bed this morning after seeing the kids off and stayed there til midday. I just about managed to be dressed and looking relatively "normal" when my son got home this afternoon. The first thing he said to me was oh have you got pneumonia?

I don't think I look that bad but it's what worries them if I'm not well.

Hope your sister is ok.

Keep reading

Paula

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Wheezy replied on 03-09-2011 6:55 PM

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Thank you Ian, I have looked at the link & will be going back on there in a minute. You are so kind. Paula, I am sorry your son thought you were poorly! I am so drained, can't concentrate on anything much either. My sister is fine thank you but my youngest had an op today so it's all happening right now! My D is fine & resting in my bed now. She will be off school for the rest of the week now. No school runs, goody! I have so much in life to be grateful for that I feel so guilty for feeling so down. I am hoping it will lift soon. You take care. Thanks to you both for your words & kindness.

Wheezyrie

P.S Its good to see new members posting.

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margaret1 replied on 03-09-2011 7:19 PM

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Hya everyone......you are not alone with the tiredness ......most people i see most days are complaining about this awful 'cannot pull myself together' feeling.......these people are all retired and most of them are physically fit.....

my theory is that it is the weather......it seems as though we have had a particularly long winter.....up here (the North east)...even though the sun is shining...it is bitterly cold.....its depressing.....when is it going to be spring????.....we have crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops.....i even have some wallflowers in flower on my patio.....

we should all be bouncing about like 'spring lambs'.......oh what about the poor spring lambs?.......they must be freezing.............sorry i have made you all more depressed than when i started this post......

just go with the flow and don't worry..........just think of how good we will feel when we are out in some good warm fresh air...............and maybe wearing 4 layers of clothes instead of 8...........just shut your eyes and try to imagine it........it won't be long and it will be for real........isn't life exciting

cheers margaret

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Dave replied on 03-09-2011 7:22 PM

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Hi Margaret

I don't know how you do it but, you really have the knack of lifting people. Thank you.

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margaret1 replied on 03-09-2011 7:33 PM

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Hya Dave...that is so nice of you to say that......but i have been down 'there' myself.....i know exactly what it is like .......thankfully i think the.... downs = 5%....ups =95%...........so i am extremely lucky......and of course the funny things on here can lighten any ones day.....THANK YOU

cheers margaret

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kimberley replied on 03-15-2011 11:50 AM

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sorry i didnt reply weezy am trying to get used to the site hope your well and happy today  xxxxx

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Wheezy replied on 03-15-2011 11:55 AM

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No probs hun, how are you getting on? I have been thinking of you. I am not too bad thank you except we have thick fog here so I am staying indoors, it triggers my asthma. Take care for now & lovely to hear from you.

Wheezyrie

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Snowy replied on 04-12-2011 2:16 PM

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Hi, joining the discussion late just to say I totally sympathise with the depression issue... it's something I've struggled with all my life, but over the part year I've been suffering with an 'atypical' (and apparently undiagnosable/untreatable) problem caused by foreign body aspiration, and the depression and anxiety that comes with it has been horrendous. Many days I'm spending half the morning in tears, and it's so hard to concentrate on work (fortunately I'm self-employed but it's still so frustrating...)

Things I'm doing to try to help myself include making lists of all the things I've managed to achieve despite the discomfort, making lists of all the nice things hubby and I have done together, taking special care to appreciate the beauties of nature, lovely spring weather and blossom and so on... Muffling the symptoms with painkillers or valium and spending some time in my favourite coffee shop! Oh... and the odd glass of wine or whisky (not healthy but makes life more mellow for a few hours). At the healthier end of the spectrum - yoga!

And trying to remind myself that every morning I wake up, there is still hope that I will get better eventually...

Best to all, I loved reading your comments.

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Ian replied on 04-12-2011 3:01 PM

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Hi, Snowy as you are already aware the use of valium and whisky for visits to "mellow" is dangerous because it is quite possible that you will not make the return trip some time soon. You know that you need help to deal with this issue and I would urge you to get it as soon as possible, the hope that you will get better will have stronger foundations if you are receiving the right help and support.

you are not alone

Ian

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harry replied on 04-12-2011 3:15 PM

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Hi Snowy, were here to give you some uplift when you feel low, slug is world champion at feeling low so he speaks from experience...one step at a time gets you there and sharing things that trouble you are very good positive step...may I ask what sort work you do ? hope we will be chatting to bring you to a better place...no more tears...just log in and chat...

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Wheezyrie replied on 04-12-2011 3:48 PM

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Snowy, I am sorry to read that you are suffering. I have good days & then very bad days with the depression. I think you are doing lots of positive things to help yourself, I like the list idea & I am going to try it. When the black cloud is hanging over us it is hard to think about the good times but its these good times that then help us to move on. I am thinking of you too & I hope you feel able to join us more. We are a friendly bunch! Take good care for now.

Wheezyrie

xxxxx

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Snowy replied on 04-12-2011 4:01 PM

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Hi Ian, yes I know, I know. I shouldn't self-medicate, and I don't do it to excess, but I'm not feeling resilient enough not to at the moment. I do have hope that eventually my condition will right itself, wheras I'm very aware that most people on this board have chronic conditions that they'll have to manage for the rest of their lives... and I'm in awe of their strength. (I wrote about my stupid problem on the COPD board if you're interested... you'll see why I'm reluctant to keep seeking medical help!!!) Thank you so much for your kind words.

Hi BCO (er, not sure what to call you) - thank you too for your kindness, I feel a bit tearful now but in a good way! Work-wise... I do some freelance writing, and some arts and crafts-type stuff... I was doing a part-time job too but stopped, partly because of my throat/lung problems and partly because the pay was crap and the work knackering! It would be nice to feel fit enough to go back.... but I expect everyone on the board feels like that too!

The folk on here seem so nice. I've been on other health boards where many questions are ignored, or receive such facile, idiotic answers, you wonder what the point of the board is! It seems different here...

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Snowy replied on 04-12-2011 4:13 PM

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Hi Wheezyrie too! You must have posted at the same time as me! I really feel for your down days, not to mention frustration with medical staff!

When I went to A+E with my problem, the 3 docs I saw - two male, one female - were SO good-looking they could have starred in Holby City - the female ENT looked like a Bollywood actress - and all so nice and kind to me and yet, at the same time, completely patronising and dismissive! And then the ENT guy I saw later - he was nice too, but did that thing of talking to my husband, not to me, and not really listening to what I was saying...

Same with my GP. Sweet as anything, but completely dismissive. "No, you can't possibly have that - you'd be coughing up blood and pus by now." Oh right. Pardon me for not having the correct symptoms!

Trying to insert a smilie but it won't let me... so :-)  and xxoxx

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Ian replied on 04-12-2011 6:28 PM

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Hi, Snowy when Valium is mixed with alcohol it increases it's depressive effect so things will seem worse and you will struggle to put anything positive on your list whilst depressed.

You have had the strength to get you this far so do not give up in your search for the right medical help, we all have our own mountains to climb and you just need to carry on using any help and support to get to a better place.

keep searching

Ian

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Wheezyrie replied on 04-12-2011 7:09 PM

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Snowy, I am sorry you found the Dr's to be so dismissive of your illness, its awful isn't it when you know there is something wrong?! I know what you mean about the goodlooking staff! I am livid at the moment as my appt to see my consultant was changed from June then to Aug & now its in Sept! I am fuming as I have to fight my own surgery to get a replacement of the inhaler the hosp put me on as they think its too expensive & I wanted to talk to the consultant about it! Anyone I'll stop moaning now, it wont get me anywhere except to make me wheezy! Keep taking each day as it comes & we are here for you. A smile back for you : )

Wheezyrie

xxxx

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Ian replied on 04-19-2011 9:31 AM

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This link has some advice on depression and the triggers for it,

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/04April/Pages/zeta-jones-highlights-mental-health-issues.aspx

hope it is helpful

Ian

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David M replied on 07-02-2011 6:55 PM

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have to get help for the bad days friends and family is what you need more than drugs that make you feel bad