Re: Depression....Theory.....Oh, here I come with another poll

[Guest guest]

Bruce: For me it was at least 3-5 years before diagnosis of IPF

that I was depressed and sought medical intervention. Of course I

had other more personal things going on at the time too, including

divorce and so on, but I whole heartedly believe the depression was

intesified due to the stress, fatigue and lack of oxygen which

wasn't addressed as anything other than asthma flare ups and

pneumonia.

Tina

IPF/April 07/Ohio

>

> My counselor has a theory she'd like explored. Now, she has

treated

> many diabetes patients and she's found that a year or so before

the

> diagnosis depression or worsening depression hit them and this has

been

> somewhat confirmed and documented by others.

>

> So, she asks, and I think may have a point. Did many of us find

> ourselves depressed or find it worsening 1-3 years before our

> diagnosis. I think it might well make sense and at least is true

in my

> situation. I'd suffered from depression but my huge downturn with

it

> and anxiety was about 2 years before IPF diagnosis. I firmly

believe

> that it was intensified by fatigue, lack of energy, just lack of

> oxygen, I had no idea about yet.

>

> Obviously we all have something to depress us now. But think back.

Did

> you have depression hit or increase before the diagnosis. Might

that

> have been a sign of things ahead in some way. See, my counselor

always

> believed in addition to the mental health issues there was a

> contributing physical issue not being found. She turned out to be

quite

> right.

>

[Guest guest]

Well, for me depression and anxiety were long ago diagnosed. However,

the plummet occurred almost exactly two years before diagnosis. And,

without question, in some ways I was affected by the undiagnosed IPF.

For instance, I had exercised some in 2005, had a concussion in

January 2006, and when I tried to start exercising regularly again I

just couldn't do it. Ten minutes on the treadmill and I was

completely wiped out.

I think so much depends on how long we were undiagnosed. I get a bit

angry when I think of something as simple as a six minute walk and I

never had one before August, 2007, when I insisted something was

wrong, and that led then to immediate pulmonologist and diagnosis.

Also, I already had a CT from June, 2007, that clearly showed the

fibrosis, but they were looking at other things and at swollen lymph

nodes. I fully believe my diagnosis should have come at least one, if

not two, years earlier. For IPF, thats a very significant percentage

of your likely lifespan and certainly would have made some

differences in how I spent that time.

Meanwhile, whats done is done and I'm just making the most of the

present, but I am going to suggest to my primary physician that their

practice adds routine six minute walks, at least for anyone with

shortness of breath, even if they believe its allergies, asthma, or

just being out of shape.

> >

> > My counselor has a theory she'd like explored. Now, she has

> treated

> > many diabetes patients and she's found that a year or so before

> the

> > diagnosis depression or worsening depression hit them and this

has

> been

> > somewhat confirmed and documented by others.

> >

> > So, she asks, and I think may have a point. Did many of us find

> > ourselves depressed or find it worsening 1-3 years before our

> > diagnosis. I think it might well make sense and at least is true

> in my

> > situation. I'd suffered from depression but my huge downturn with

> it

> > and anxiety was about 2 years before IPF diagnosis. I firmly

> believe

> > that it was intensified by fatigue, lack of energy, just lack of

> > oxygen, I had no idea about yet.

> >

> > Obviously we all have something to depress us now. But think

back.

> Did

> > you have depression hit or increase before the diagnosis. Might

> that

> > have been a sign of things ahead in some way. See, my counselor

> always

> > believed in addition to the mental health issues there was a

> > contributing physical issue not being found. She turned out to be

> quite

> > right.

> >

>