Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 >How do you cope with depression when having PSC? Looking for something >to help ease the worrying of my husband. Any ideas? The old story been there done that, but depression is really just a state of mind. For me I refused to let the disease get to me. I forced myself to keep busy and not dwell on the problems I was having. My part time job kept me active and my mind on something else. Living in a small town it was easy to find something to volunteer at, and the best time I had was to work teaching computer usage to young children at the local library. The enquiring minds kept me thinking all the time, and it took my mind off the real issues. Being kids they did not look at you like an adult and try and work around you looking at your mild tan. Working with adults I found was not worth it as they had other issues they wanted to chat about. My advice is to keep busy and occupy the mind with something else...... Bill Booth tx 09/06sunny Sundridge, ON No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 269.23.21/1456 - Release Date: 5/20/2008 6:45 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Hi - My husband Fred, PSC 04, UC 06, has been fighting depression ever since we met - but I don't think there's a connection - ha! (He also has some anxiety and ADD.) But in the last few months he's found some significant relief through taking SAM-e, an over-the-counter, all natural substance found in every cell in our bodies. (See http://www.raysahelian.com/sam-e.html as an example web page re: SAM-e.) You can look through the PSC message archives to find more info on SAM-e, or do a Google search. (Acroym stands for S-adenosylmethionine.) It's only one of two over the counter substances with proven research behind it regarding its efficacy as an antidepressant; it's as effective as Prozac or Wellbutrin, etc., without any side effects - other than cost! The only other all-natural substance with " mucho " scientific research behind it proven to be effective for fighting depression is fish oil. Fred takes a VERY high dose of SAM-e - 2400 mg per day, along with folic acid. (He also takes calcium/magnesium/vitamin D and a multi vitamin.) The standard dose for depression is 1600 mg, but Fred thinks maybe the manufacturer short-changed him on the potency, so he upped it. He used to recommend NatureMade brand, but now thinks he'll be ordering the NSI brand of SAM-e. Most manufacturers of SAM-e cannot be trusted as to the potency, so if you plan on purchasing it, do some research. And most importantly, like any other med or supplement, consult with the doctor first. I believe Arne, another of our active PSC members, takes 400 mg. a day of SAM-e, mainly due to its good-for-the-liver qualities. (Arne's not depressed - he's " alive and mostly well, " as his signature states.) Happy Wife of " Turn that Frown Upside Down Fred! " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I do take SAM-e, but I'd be careful about stating it has no side effects - that may be true for " normal " people. A metabolite of SAM-e ends up being part of the bile transport cycle, so you could conceivably disturb the equilibrium. I have taken it for several years now, after getting an OK from my hepatologist. " It probably won't hurt anything " was not exactly a ringing endorsement, though! I was asked to supplement my diet with 1000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid last fall due to high MCV (mean corpuscular volume). This is a typical side effect of sulfasalazine (UC med) - it impairs folate absorption. The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in 30+ years. We'll see if it helps. Arne 57 - UC 1977 - PSC 2000 Alive and well in Minnesota ________________________________ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Hussey ....But in the last few months he's found some significant relief through taking SAM-e, an over-the-counter, all natural substance found in every cell in our bodies...It's only one of two over the counter substances with proven research behind it regarding its efficacy as an antidepressant; it's as effective as Prozac or Wellbutrin, etc., without any side effects - other than cost!.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 -----Original Message----- I was asked to supplement my diet with 1000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid last fall due to high MCV (mean corpuscular volume). This is a typical side effect of sulfasalazine (UC med) - it impairs folate absorption. The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in 30+ years. Geez, this is the first time I’VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes! Son Ken (34) UC 91 - PSC 99 - Tx 6/21 & 6/30/07 @ Baylor in Dallas _ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Barb,How long have you had UC? I didn't realize you had it.Marie To: From: barbhenshaw@...Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 17:39:57 -0500Subject: RE: Re:Depression w/ PSC -----Original Message----- I was asked to supplement my diet with 1000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid last fall due to high MCV (mean corpuscular volume). This is a typical side effect of sulfasalazine (UC med) - it impairs folate absorption. The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in 30+ years. Geez, this is the first time I’VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes! Son Ken (34) UC 91 - PSC 99 - Tx 6/21 & 6/30/07 @ Baylor in Dallas _ Make every e-mail and IM count. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Barb,How long have you had UC? I didn't realize you had it.Marie To: From: barbhenshaw@...Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 17:39:57 -0500Subject: RE: Re:Depression w/ PSC -----Original Message----- I was asked to supplement my diet with 1000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid last fall due to high MCV (mean corpuscular volume). This is a typical side effect of sulfasalazine (UC med) - it impairs folate absorption. The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in 30+ years. Geez, this is the first time I’VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes! Son Ken (34) UC 91 - PSC 99 - Tx 6/21 & 6/30/07 @ Baylor in Dallas _ Make every e-mail and IM count. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Barb,How long have you had UC? I didn't realize you had it.Marie To: From: barbhenshaw@...Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 17:39:57 -0500Subject: RE: Re:Depression w/ PSC -----Original Message----- I was asked to supplement my diet with 1000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid last fall due to high MCV (mean corpuscular volume). This is a typical side effect of sulfasalazine (UC med) - it impairs folate absorption. The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in 30+ years. Geez, this is the first time I’VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes! Son Ken (34) UC 91 - PSC 99 - Tx 6/21 & 6/30/07 @ Baylor in Dallas _ Make every e-mail and IM count. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Jeez -- I thought everyone knew that. My GI had me taking folic acid when I was taking sulfasalazine way back in the mid-80's, so over 20 years ago. I think it was around the time that research was being done on maternal low levels of folic acid being linked to birth defects, too. Colleen The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in > 30+ years. > > Geez, this is the first time I'VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason > my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Jeez -- I thought everyone knew that. My GI had me taking folic acid when I was taking sulfasalazine way back in the mid-80's, so over 20 years ago. I think it was around the time that research was being done on maternal low levels of folic acid being linked to birth defects, too. Colleen The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in > 30+ years. > > Geez, this is the first time I'VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason > my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Jeez -- I thought everyone knew that. My GI had me taking folic acid when I was taking sulfasalazine way back in the mid-80's, so over 20 years ago. I think it was around the time that research was being done on maternal low levels of folic acid being linked to birth defects, too. Colleen The disturbing thing is that this is the first time I've heard of it in > 30+ years. > > Geez, this is the first time I'VE heard of it, but no doubt the reason > my doctor put me on it. I take 6 - 5oomg of sulfasalazine a day. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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