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DEPRESSION AND TN/ATN

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A forum to discuss the challenges of how depression affects TN/ATN and our daily lives.

Location: subject-specific group
Members: 57
Latest Activity: Mar 29

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Discussion Forum

Somnolence - Is it Depression or Medication?

Started by Stef. Last reply by elaine48 Dec 21, 2011. 18 Replies 0 Likes

Hello, friends. I've been having a problem. During the day, I have a general feeling of "dread". Mornings used to be much different. The alarm clock rang at 6 a.m., or 5:45, if I had gone to bed…Continue

Bilateral ATN...Is there any hope

Started by jd42608. Last reply by elaine48 Dec 13, 2011. 14 Replies 0 Likes

I have underwent MVD two years ago. about a year ago my TN came back but to my suprise it started on the left side of my face and not the side that the MVD was performed on. This was the first time…Continue

BIPOLAR 1 - ADHD - SEVERE ANXIETY DISORDER AND NOW TN

Started by Phoebe. Last reply by Phoebe Dec 2, 2011. 5 Replies 0 Likes

Anyone here in the same situation? I really would like to speak to someone with these same conditions. Everyone has been helpful even without the added conditions but ya'll know what I mean. PhoebeContinue

Is there Hope

Started by catlover. Last reply by Asmara Nov 29, 2011. 7 Replies 0 Likes

I am so discouraged. I use to have a life until this t.n. got worse. I had radio surgery. Not the gamma one. I have more pain now then when I had the surgery. No medicine works. Anyone have surgery…Continue

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Comment by Kristen C on February 26, 2012 at 11:32am: I am really struggling with this spiral of feeling depressed -> hurting worse -> hurting worse -> feeling like there's no hope -> feeling worthless -> not dealing well with the pain -> feeling like a burden -> feeling like I can't cope -> feeling more depressed -> worse pain etc etc etc. Not to mention side effects from both my antidepressant and the anticonvulsant. And gaining weight, having no energy etc don't help matters either. I feel like my friends and family are worn out by my constant complaining and there is nothing they can do to help. Anyway. Ifeel like I need so much more help than anyone can give.

Comment by Meme78 on February 5, 2012 at 11:39pm: I have been dealing with depression for years. Mine has gotten worse since I became really sick around 2001 and over time it progressed and I develped more diseases. Since 2004 I have been diagnosed with over 8. 3 are autoimunne diseases which can become life threatening. All are chronic and mentally devistating. I also have family issues, mainly my troubled teenager son. My stress never goes away. My husband doesn't know how to be supportive even when I've told him how. My depression became anxiety and depression. Over the last 9 months or so I have been seeing a pyschiatrist and counselor. It helps, but I don't think I will ever be truly free from either, just too much stress with my son and health. I still find myself wanting to deny my health issues. I still dream of the dreams that never will be. I am still in the grief process.

Comment by raquel drumb on November 29, 2011 at 9:24am: Hey Crystalv! I saw your response as I have been doing a research on PTSD about this whole thing. I never accepted my illness because I was a single mom (the Dad is useless) so I had to support everyone. I was back at work 4 days after my surgery. By pushing my illness to the side, I was able to function like a robot. Now that I had my MVD and a ton of time to think versus just lay on the couch and cry, I am getting angry. I have not heard others say they have PTSD over this so thanks for talking about you situation. Please keep me updated.

Comment by crystalv on August 19, 2011 at 7:39pm: It's interesting. I didn't realize how emotionally traumatized I am from all this until I tried to go back to work. Not only did my pain flare up, but I was an emotional wreck and couldn't stop crying, especially when someone welcomed me back. It's become clear to me that I have severe PTSD and really need to work on that. I'm sure glad my doctor put me back on disability. Hopefully I can work on these issues.

Comment by Stef on July 29, 2011 at 10:03pm: http://www.psychweekly.com/aspx/article/articledetail.aspx?articlei...

Here is an article regarding the way mentioning depression can sometimes cheat you out of the relief you need from doctors. But, yes. I'll be the first to admit to you, I am in chronic pain, and it's depressing.

The story below is inspiring to me. At least I can still see and speak with my girls. I love them so. Thanks for posting.

Comment by lucylucy on July 18, 2011 at 1:38am: Just something I read in the Sunday papers yesterday. A lady had a stroke at the age of 40 and had locked in syndrome. This meant that nothing worked she was completely paralyzed and could only move her eyes to communicate. She had 2 daughters aged 12 andf 14. This made me think although I have this illness, there are some far worse than me. This lady was in a nursing home, but had a caring husband looking after her 2 children. How sad is this story, that this lady cannot bring up the 2 children she brought into this world. She can see them and barely communicate, but as for relationships, she has lost the wife/husband and mother/daughter relationship. We may be going through all sorts of pain, which is also very very hard, but we do have things to be grateful for. This story brought me back down to earth, when I know that I am getting depressed with all this.

Comment by Julie on July 3, 2011 at 5:37pm: I know things can be worse, but I'm either angry, sad, or tired. And these stupid meds cause the emotions for me. All of the side effects are the same. Who wouldn't be depressed w/ this unecessary health condition. Not all treatments work, & of course for the 2nd time in my life surgery made everything worse. Gamma Knife is a joke, & my face is like a wild bee hive shooting pain everyplace where the Gamma Knife was done. All I want is for my doctor to say I'm sorry & hug me. I know that sounds odd, but I just want him to acknowledge that I'm one of the many who didn't get a good result. Now I'm on more meds.

Comment by Sue Richey on June 29, 2011 at 8:33pm: Yes, preparing days ahead is right. Sunglasses, eye patches, medicine, towel to cover eyes, planning trip to be out of bright light. If people only realized how lucky they are to be able to see without pain!!!

Comment by Stef on June 27, 2011 at 9:10pm: Thank you, G-Force, for creating this group. It was needed. This is a life-changing condition. I have never been the type to be very depressed, but Atypical TN makes me feel hopeless sometimes. This is a very poignant forum.

Comment by Sue Richey on June 27, 2011 at 3:56pm: Kim, I can totally understand. My eyes have been hurting for one year now, burning, stabbing, ants crawling, sensitivity to light, I can hardly read, watch TV or be on the computer. Post-herpetic TN. I am not on 900 mg Gabapentin daily, I hope my body gets used to it, it is making me rather unstable on my feet, sometimes it feels like I am in a fun house. My depression comes and goes, when its bad, its really bad, my whole body is heavy and I feel like I am walking through cement. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN (except you guys). How many times must I hear "you don't look sick." No, I can't look at the fireworks, no I don't have a shingles rash, yes, I am taking medicine, sorry I can't remember your name. I've been close to suicidal a few times. My eyes are slowly improving with so much sublingual Gabapentin, even this slight improvement helps with the depression. I pray a lot and listen to uplifting music. I also hold my stuffed kitty toy, which to me is as close as I can get to my darling kitty who died. Simple, infantile things to get me through the night. I also sit and rock and say "I'm all I've got." I do have a dear husband, but they can only understand/take so much.