Henry to Kimber depression.

[Guest guest]

For some reason I always get depressed after coming home from the hospital

due to a case of pancreatitis and this time was no exception, just seemed to

last longer than usual.

_______________________________________________

Dear Kimber, Thank's for the update. I was getting worried that you had

another bad attack and were perhaps back in the hospital. I'm sorry that

you've had a bad case of post hospital blues. That's certainly

understandable, and I really appreciate your sharing that with the group

because I have the same thing happen to me on a regular basis and have come

to expect it, but have never understood it, or talked about it specifically.

I mean you'd think that we'd be glad to be back home and feeling somewhat

better. Now that you have shared this with me, I'm going to ask my pain

management psychologist about this. I wonder if it is related to hormonal

changes, or the cessation of high doses of I.V. medications?

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you noticed these post

hospital blues? They always hit you like clockwork? The first time I

specifically remember it happenning was around 1994, when a tropical storm

came ashore the day I was released. It's been happening since then even

though I have usually initially very happy to escape the dreary hospital.

There have only been a couple of times when I felt that they were releasing

me too early and ended up back the next day. Please feel free to e-mail me

back any thoughts-ideas that you have about why you believe this happens in

this situation. I'd appreciate any feedback because this perplexes me.

My e-mail address is:

howmtp@...

Or if you prefer you can post back here. Whatever suits is fine with me.

While I'm sorry, and I sympathise with you for having this problem, it gives

me some measure of reasurance that I'm not the only one who experiences this

type of depression. I'm glad that you are feeling better, and it's always

nice to read your posts. Take good care and let's hope that you don't have

to go back into the hospital anytime soon.

Your Pancreatitis Pal,

Henry

[Guest guest]

Henry,

you know, I don't remember when I first noted that I get depressed right

after having a hospitalization. I know I didn't the first couple of

cases I did. I think this started after I realized that they weren't

going to stop or go away, which kinda of wipes out the initial good

feeling of just getting out of the hospital - which always makes me feel

somewhat trapped while I'm there. It's something I'll have to bring up

with my own psychologist. I'll let you know what theories we come up with.

Anyone else out there get these post hospital blues?

I'm glad that this helps you feel a little better about them. Maybe it's

just a normal reaction to a chronic problem. It is comforting to know

you are not alone in how you feel and react to a chronic illness like

this one. Just as it makes most of us feel better to have the company of

all in this group. We are sad that you have the problem too, but glad

that we aren't alone and that someone out there understands completely

what we are going trhough.

If I'm lucky, I won't have to go back to the hospital until around this

time next year (when I usually tend to end up in there between Nov and

Feb of the year).

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.