Depression

Sans taste sans eyes sans everything

I suppose heart failure sums up death from old age. Along with the failure of everything else.

I have found St John's Wort to be useful for low mood.
Be careful, tho, if you are on any other medication and definitely don't take it if you are on any anti-depressant.

Annsixty, please don't feel "got at", nobody doubts what you say, we are just discussing the vagaries of our systems.
Considering my Doctor put "funny turn" as the reason for a 12 hour mental blackout on my medical notes, I'm sure they can put whatever they think the most likely. (He later agreed that I probably had TGA, but my notes still say "funny turn")

No, I believe you. You probably had a very lax registrar. It wouldn't have been accepted in Wednesbury area.

I am starting to feel a wee bit "got at" here. I would scan and send my mother's death certificate if only it didn't contain personal details I wouldn't want in the public domain.

Pompa if you haven't been seen by a doctor in the last 14 days or the quack is puzzled there usually is

We're a cure for most things!
(If by cure, you mean dehydrate, preserve and turn leathery)

They put pneumonia on Dad's certificate. I don't think he really did have it - there had certainly been no suggestion to us in the preceding weeks that he did. He was weak and debilitated from fractures and surgery and had a non-specific virus - I was worried about whether they might want a PM. I was glad that they put that on the cert even if it was not strictly true as we were able to get on with the funeral.

I too was under the impression that old age would not suffice. Not "medical" enough!

Just been to a counsellor re my depression - at my DD's instigation and with the best of motives on her part - but found the woman vague to the point of airy-fairyness. Not really my cup of tea. I think I will give it a miss. I think Gransnet is more effective!

I was under the impression (perhaps wrongly) that if you died without any apparent medical reason (ie being treated by a Dr.etc) that there was always a post mortem.

We were never allowed to do it in the past. In fact the cause of death can't be old age. It must be a sequelum such as heart failure.

Oh dear. Getting cheerful again.

Surely they put "old age" on a death certificate if an old person passes quietly away in his/her bed. There is not a post-mortem in all cases.

I think anxiety brings more physical symptons.

annsixty - I think depression has different forms. I know people who have had depression with no physical symptoms but have still suffered terribly.

Galen I found my mother's death certificate last evening and the cause of death is only given as Old age. This was June 2006 so I assume the rules have changed since then.

Mishap All good wishes to you.

I have read and re-read this thread and have contributed to it. I now realise that although I have been depressed and have been treated for it,once a few months with Prozac and now am taking Citalopram, I have never actually had depression. When I read your experiences which are physical as well as emotional it is an entirely different condition. I had a low mood due to a problem in my life. I sympathise so much now that my understanding is clearer. Best wishes to you all going through it.

I think he's better!

No pompa - not that sort of alternative therapy!

I've seen adverts for these "alternative" therapies in the personal columns of certain papers. All afternoon - wow, you must have more stamina that I thought. Not my scene but hey, whatever floats your boat, who am I to judge. Hope you enjoyed it.

Bed for me now - all afternoon, who'd have thought ????

I also meant to say that I have just spent the afternoon on the receiving end of an alternative therapy here at home - not something I am really into, but I was offered some sessions by a friend, and have benefited from the kindness that motivated the offer. It was very restful, and that has to be good.

Katy - that is an excellent description! I am glad that you are singing again.

I am so lucky that no friend or family member is of the "pull yourself together" brigade, and I have made a decision that I will answer kind enquiries about how I am with the honest statement that I am suffering from depression, rather than some banal comment about being a bit tired at the moment.

Responses have been overwhelmingly understanding and caring. And quite a few fellow-sufferers have crept out of the woodwork and been happy to tell their tale, and to encourage a belief that it does pass. The only difficult bit has been a member of my OH's family who lives abroad and will be in UK next week, and wanted to come and stay for 3 days. He says he will look after me and do things to help, but I have had to put him off as I just do not have the energy for consistent socialising for such a long period - the response was to hope I am better soon, but added the barbed comment that he was "sorry you do no think I am able to help." I do not blame him, as he clearly does not understand how it feels, but I will have a few fences to mend when I am feeling better.

I am glad that you had such an understanding boss in the end pompa and thank you and everyone else for encouragement and advice - I'm resting - honest!!

I'm fine, now I have the way forward for my hip, I'm back to my normal chirpy self.

Mishap needs your hugs &

I do hope you both mishap and pompa feel better soon. Depression is really awful.