Depression

Ginny - lots of good wishes for a speedy recovery from your knee op.

Thank you Mishap

Thank you Mishap

Here's to a speedy recovery from me too ginny

Mishap, sounds like you are on the upward slope, Lets hope it continues.

Ginny, it's those @@~@@:** exercises now !!! No pain no gain (or at least that's what I keep telling myself)

Been on my feet most of today at RHS Hyde Hall, knee is a bit sore but not bad. Will try with no pain relief tonight.

Just had a 'fat finger' moment and think I may have accidentally 'reported' a post, (but not sure which), on this thread... I'm not really sure how it works, but my sincere apologies if I did and anybody was upset by it.

Don't worry, if it's one of my posts, I am probably due a report someday.

Thanks, pompa!

Just seen physio. She thinks that hip-wise I am doing fine, but that I am doing too much - in every way: exercises, activity etc and says that I must take it easy - how much more easy can it be possible to take it without being comatose!

She is not in favour of the hydrotherapy that the consultant suggested as she thinks that whilst I am still quite flaked out it will be too much for me; also she thinks that I need to get the whole heart rhythm thing sorted before embarking on it. Given that a shower can knock me out for several hours, she could be right!

She is keen for me to keep using crutches - or sticks - in order to encourage normal walking without a limp - she says you can get into the habit of a limp if you try and walk unaided too soon.

She says that there are many others like me who take a long time to surface fully from the surgery and who get depressed; she was not surprised that I was depressed after all the heart and other problems.

So...on the whole she was encouraging; but I am not wild about the long recovery period that she is proposing.

I have been better in mood for a few days; but not quite so good last night and this morning. I have to hope that it will sort itself out over time.

You sound so much better Mishap, you've just got to take things slowly. Please don't worry.

You sure do sound more positive Mishap. I'm sure you are expecting too much too soon and stressing yourself unnecessarily.
You will still have bad days/nights, but they will get less and the good days will dominate.

So, one week on from second knee replacement. Doing ok and physio' pleased with me but I have in fact been told off for doing too much!

Things are progressing in much the same way as before except this time I can already lift my leg from the bed ( took me 3 weeks last time). Also, I am not sleeping so well at night which means I am feeling much more tired.

Hope others are continuing to feel a bit better each day.

WOW, ginny, you are doing well.
I'm in pain again now, stopped the co codamol a week ago, was not keen to replace it with anything until I had got over the withdrawal. Started on paracetamol an hour ago.

Wouldn't ibuprofen be better pompa?

I believe that you can alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol i.e. ibuprofen at 10am, paracetamol at 12.00, ibuprofen at 2pm if pain is severe?

I can't take Ibuprofen with fluoxetine, I will be seeing the Doc on the 2nd Dec, will see if he can give me a blocker so that I can used Ibuprofen or possibly a stronger NSAID

NSAid + Fluoxetine = danger of stomach bleed.

Paracetamol has taken the edge off the pain.

Have been awa' for a while so only just seen this thread. I'm sorry to hear you're feeling low, pompa. I am no stranger to depression or anxiety myself and have felt pretty dreadful until relatively recently. A change of medication from my psychiatrist has brought a change for the better when I believed it impossible. I don't know whether it's a temporary improvement but as anyone who suffers from depression will agree, any respite is welcome.
I have been given escitalopram, which, together with pregabalin for anxiety, is really helping my mood. If you haven't already tried an alternative I'd recommend doing that, but I might be teaching my gransnetters to suck their proverbials....

I am also on escitalopram, with mexazolam for anxiety. I felt great on it for a while but recently had to have the dose doubled as I had not been coping very well. So far, so good. I wish I had been offered them years ago as I have struggled for a long time

pompa I wish you luck.

Well here I go again. I have been not too bad for a week or so, but yesterday felt that horrible sinking feeling again and went to bed feeling grim. Woke up today with a pressure sore starting on my heel - I am having to sleep sitting up (heart problem) and my broken foot has impaired circulation. I also have a sore bum from sleeping in that position.

My hip is giving me more pain; as is my knee. And the last straw was my IBS - sitting on the loo in pain and feeling sick as a dog.

Some days it does not feel worth even trying to keep going.

This evening I was meant to be going out to the pub to an event that I had been invited to and it was to be my first proper outing since the op - there is no way I can go as I am just a weeping heap; but not going will make me feel even worse as it was to have been a landmark step back into some sort of normality.

I suspect that the beta blockers might be aggravating the depression - and I can't take an anti-depressant because it irritates my heart. I can see no end to all this.

Gripe over.

Oh Mishap I wish there was something we could do other than send virtual (((hugs))). I suppose it's bound to be a case of two steps forward and one back - you had been sounding so much better - well not so down.

Can you bring yourself just to go for a little while? If only to sit at the back and slip away early? Just to get out may help even if it exhausts.

So sorry Mishap I can't offer any solution,I just hope you soon see some light at the end of that long dark tunnel. My own mantra is "this too will pass". I hope this is true for you.

Mishap Just try and get through today and maybe tomorrow will be a bit easier. You're having such a tough time, it must start to improve soon (((hugs)))

Mishap, I wish I could help, so cruel that you are suffering so much.

What i may be able to help wth is your pressure sore.

I had a similar problem many years ago when I was in hospital for many weeks. The sister made what she called a donkey. You need a strong (double preferably) sheet and a firm pillow, wrapt the pillow in the sheet so yo have a firm sausage with two long ends. Put the pillow at the bottom of the bed where you can push your feet gainst it nad tuck the two ends under each side of the mattress. This will stop you sliding down the bed and should help your bum & heels.
This is what you are trying to achieve.

www.welcomemobility.co.uk/images/products/medium/NR_M82734.jpg

There are a number of commercial products available, not sure how expensive they are.

I assume you do not have a footboard on your bed, if you have it ie easy to put a support in.

So sorry Mishap, I know how grim depression is. Try to hold on to the thought that as surely as it comes it does in time also lift.
Sending ((hugs)) and best wishes x

Mishapsorry you are feeling down again and have so many other problrms adding to your troubles. As annsixty said it will pass. You will feel better again and hopefully very soon. Lots of ((huggs)) in places where it doesn't hurt.