Guest guest Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 The days that I feel unwell, it can be hard. I have two general techniques to snap myself out of it: I have a fridge magnet that says, " If you're going through Hell, keep going... " Winston Churchill Another trick: I read a number of years ago that people who believe in reincarnation believe they choose to reincarnate in more difficult circumstances as they evolve on the path to Nirvana. If that is the case, then we all must be fairly old souls. That thought allows me to feel a little smug, despite my physically feeling lousy. All trying to be a bit flip aside, I have had nearly a quarter century to get my head around all of this -- I was Dxed with UC back in 1984. At this point in my life, I have been " ill " many more years than I was ever " well, " and it is as much a part of me as my green eyes, my sarcastic sense of humor and my pathetic head of hair. I don't know who I might have been if I hadn't gotten sick. Do I wish I were blissfully unaware? YES! But that isn't my reality, so I have no choice but to play the hand I have been dealt and try to make the most of it. Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 , Reading your earlier posting about your husband being 32 and having a young daughter reminds me of me. I was 33 when I was diagnosed, had two young sons and my wife and I worried a lot about what the future would bring (if I caught a common cold, we wondered if it was the start of the end). I did not want to spend money on dental crowns because I did not believe I would live long enough to get my money's worth out of them. But now (19 years later), I have four sons (22, 20, 16, & 13) and my wife believes I will outlive her (I don't, but I no longer think my death is just around the next corner). Faith in Jesus is my coping mechanism. Keep the faith and the faith will keep you. Ian (52) PSC 89 How do you cope with depression when having PSC? Looking for something to help ease the worrying of my husband. Any ideas? -- Ian Cribb former P.Eng. (resigned in good standing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 i admire your outlook.it must have taken a great deal of time to come to this conclusion.even though there is nothing that you can do to change the circumstace of our lives, as humans we can't help but wish and question " what if " chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Chris It has taken me a long time to come to this point, and there have been times when I have wished things were different, but nothing can undo the past. The last thing I want to do is find myself at the end of my life, looking back and regretting all the time I wasted feeling sorry for myself. I often think of Herrick's poem, " To The Virgins To Make Much of Time " when I start to get in a funk: GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying : And this same flower that smiles to-day To-morrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting. That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer ; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may go marry : For having lost but once your prime You may for ever tarry. Colleen again: I've wasted years on stupid boyfriends and in stupid jobs that I hated. I try to do something that makes me happy every day. The only true regrets I have: not traveling more, not meeting my husband sooner and not finding knitting and spinning sooner! All those things are purely enjoyable additions to my life. Except for the days when my husband is annoying me! LOL! Stepping off my philosophical soapbox now, Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 At the conference there was a lady that spoke about depression. She was saying the best thing you can do is seek professional help. I know what you are going through. I have had it for some time. LEE G > > How do you cope with depression when having PSC? Looking for something > to help ease the worrying of my husband. Any ideas? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I was out of town and so did not have much chance to respond, earlier. As Lee have mentioned, I think professinal help is one way to go if you think other ways are not helping. Talking to his primary doctor first would probably be more helpful. I was put on an antidepressant, 3 or 4 years ago. It was PSC plus some personal problems, too. That is why he also referred me to a cousler that works with him to help me with the depression, too. I was very much against taking an antidepressant. But finally agreed and so i tried a couple of drugs and ended up with Paxil[40mg] at the start, with not much physical side effects. It is a treatment and also not habit, forming. I did notice some improvement within the first few weeks, but then i started to notice some episodes of a deeper sadness. My doctors were still very much on continuing the drug believing that it will eventually, help. I did, but with my persistence, they started to cut on the dose gradually until down to 10mg, for about a year, now. Actually, i did start to feel more improvement with the 20mg, dose but those epispodes of sadness were still oscuuring. The 10 mg, i believe was just the right dose and it did really help. But worry is still there, of course. It does go linearly with the disease. Interestingly, more than one doctor has told me that i would probably be hurt more from worry and it can kill me, than from PSC! AS the disease has brought its side of damage, physically ansd mentally, there were also some positive mental and spiritual changes. My views on life has somehow changed and for example, what i use to take for granted now i don't. I do rely more on faith in God and try to appreciate every day and things, even the simplest of them. Living daily with the disease, even without depression is very tough. My URQ pain has much increased lately. And Although i am on a diet most of the time, any food item take now, trigger more irritability and so the pain. I do try to do some excersice when i feel a little better. And that does help a lot. Also i do try some relaxation techniques. Just very simple ones. If your husbsnd's doctor choose to prescribe him an antidepressant [and they usually do], then he can try one. I have heard from some in the group that Zoloft, [i am not too sure] can be very helpful. I do not remember the side effects, part. I hope that your husband will start to feel much better soon. Take care. PSC/UC Subject: Re: Depression w/ PSC To: Date: Sunday, May 25, 2008, 11:30 PM At the conference there was a lady that spoke about depression. She was saying the best thing you can do is seek professional help. I know what you are going through. I have had it for some time. LEE G > > How do you cope with depression when having PSC? Looking for something > to help ease the worrying of my husband. Any ideas? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I was out of town and so did not have much chance to respond, earlier. As Lee have mentioned, I think professinal help is one way to go if you think other ways are not helping. Talking to his primary doctor first would probably be more helpful. I was put on an antidepressant, 3 or 4 years ago. It was PSC plus some personal problems, too. That is why he also referred me to a cousler that works with him to help me with the depression, too. I was very much against taking an antidepressant. But finally agreed and so i tried a couple of drugs and ended up with Paxil[40mg] at the start, with not much physical side effects. It is a treatment and also not habit, forming. I did notice some improvement within the first few weeks, but then i started to notice some episodes of a deeper sadness. My doctors were still very much on continuing the drug believing that it will eventually, help. I did, but with my persistence, they started to cut on the dose gradually until down to 10mg, for about a year, now. Actually, i did start to feel more improvement with the 20mg, dose but those epispodes of sadness were still oscuuring. The 10 mg, i believe was just the right dose and it did really help. But worry is still there, of course. It does go linearly with the disease. Interestingly, more than one doctor has told me that i would probably be hurt more from worry and it can kill me, than from PSC! AS the disease has brought its side of damage, physically ansd mentally, there were also some positive mental and spiritual changes. My views on life has somehow changed and for example, what i use to take for granted now i don't. I do rely more on faith in God and try to appreciate every day and things, even the simplest of them. Living daily with the disease, even without depression is very tough. My URQ pain has much increased lately. And Although i am on a diet most of the time, any food item take now, trigger more irritability and so the pain. I do try to do some excersice when i feel a little better. And that does help a lot. Also i do try some relaxation techniques. Just very simple ones. If your husbsnd's doctor choose to prescribe him an antidepressant [and they usually do], then he can try one. I have heard from some in the group that Zoloft, [i am not too sure] can be very helpful. I do not remember the side effects, part. I hope that your husband will start to feel much better soon. Take care. PSC/UC Subject: Re: Depression w/ PSC To: Date: Sunday, May 25, 2008, 11:30 PM At the conference there was a lady that spoke about depression. She was saying the best thing you can do is seek professional help. I know what you are going through. I have had it for some time. LEE G > > How do you cope with depression when having PSC? Looking for something > to help ease the worrying of my husband. Any ideas? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I was out of town and so did not have much chance to respond, earlier. As Lee have mentioned, I think professinal help is one way to go if you think other ways are not helping. Talking to his primary doctor first would probably be more helpful. I was put on an antidepressant, 3 or 4 years ago. It was PSC plus some personal problems, too. That is why he also referred me to a cousler that works with him to help me with the depression, too. I was very much against taking an antidepressant. But finally agreed and so i tried a couple of drugs and ended up with Paxil[40mg] at the start, with not much physical side effects. It is a treatment and also not habit, forming. I did notice some improvement within the first few weeks, but then i started to notice some episodes of a deeper sadness. My doctors were still very much on continuing the drug believing that it will eventually, help. I did, but with my persistence, they started to cut on the dose gradually until down to 10mg, for about a year, now. Actually, i did start to feel more improvement with the 20mg, dose but those epispodes of sadness were still oscuuring. The 10 mg, i believe was just the right dose and it did really help. But worry is still there, of course. It does go linearly with the disease. Interestingly, more than one doctor has told me that i would probably be hurt more from worry and it can kill me, than from PSC! AS the disease has brought its side of damage, physically ansd mentally, there were also some positive mental and spiritual changes. My views on life has somehow changed and for example, what i use to take for granted now i don't. I do rely more on faith in God and try to appreciate every day and things, even the simplest of them. Living daily with the disease, even without depression is very tough. My URQ pain has much increased lately. And Although i am on a diet most of the time, any food item take now, trigger more irritability and so the pain. I do try to do some excersice when i feel a little better. And that does help a lot. Also i do try some relaxation techniques. Just very simple ones. If your husbsnd's doctor choose to prescribe him an antidepressant [and they usually do], then he can try one. I have heard from some in the group that Zoloft, [i am not too sure] can be very helpful. I do not remember the side effects, part. I hope that your husband will start to feel much better soon. Take care. PSC/UC Subject: Re: Depression w/ PSC To: Date: Sunday, May 25, 2008, 11:30 PM At the conference there was a lady that spoke about depression. She was saying the best thing you can do is seek professional help. I know what you are going through. I have had it for some time. LEE G > > How do you cope with depression when having PSC? Looking for something > to help ease the worrying of my husband. Any ideas? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.